B2B Concert of Prayer – Get Out of the Rut #925

Posted on November 18, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 925

GetOutOfTheRut“Get Out of the Rut”

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. (Psalm 40:2-3)

When I was young (and foolish, some would say) I loved to go four-wheeling with my Jeep. As a consequence I have had to get myself out of many ruts over the years.

There are however other kinds of ruts that we can get into in life. Our jobs can feel like a rut, doing the same thing at the same place in the same way, day in and day out. When couples take each other for granted their marriage can feel like they are in a rut. We can also get into a rut physically, emotionally and spiritually.

You know you are in a rut when you have lost the enthusiasm and excitement for each new day. You have gone from ‘being in the groove’ to being stuck in a rut. The good news is that there is hope and that hope is found through Jesus Christ. He can revive your heart. For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15)

Are you motivated to get out of your rut? One or more factors are necessary to motivate us to get out of our rut. The rut has to be painful and it has to apply pressure in order to motivate us to change. There also needs to be a vision, hope or promise of something better.

When your physician tells you to change your lifestyle or risk heart disease and stroke, you have the pressure to motivate you out of your rut.

When your spouse says they want a divorce, you feel the pain to motivate you to go to marriage counseling and get out of your rut.

When your boss says that your work performance is not up to par and you risk losing your job you feel the pressure to break out of your rut.

In order to get out of our rut we have to first accept responsibility for being there in the first place. Just like I chose to take my Jeep down a trail that got me stuck, we too choose questionable paths and make lifestyle choices that are not in our best interest. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-9)

Don’t procrastinate your decision to break out of the rut. When you say you will do it ‘one of these days’ you really are saying ‘none of these days’. If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never sow anything and never harvest anything. (Ecclesiastes 11:4; Good News Translation)

There is a lifestyle groove of peace and joy that is found in walking with Jesus. Believe you can – through Christ. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Good Seed #924

Posted on November 10, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 924

seed label“Good Seed”

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. (Matthew 13:24-26)

When I help people select grass seed for purchase they almost always reel from sticker shock when they see the price of good seed. Good seed is pure seed. In our reference Scripture the man sowed good seed and his enemy sowed the weeds. As I read this passage in Matthew I was challenged with the question as to whether or not I am my own worst enemy in that I am sowing noxious weed seed in my heart along with the pure seed of God’s Word.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

The man in Jesus’ parable allowed the weeds to grow with the wheat so that the weeds would be more readily identifiable when they reached maturity and bore grain. Sometimes weeds can have the appearance of the good plant – that is until the plants bear fruit. You can tell the noxious weed by its fruit.

…the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)

Another aspect of good seed is that it has little if any inert matter. Inert matter occupies space and weight and provides no value to the purchase of good seed. How much inert matter – the useless things with respect to the eternal kingdom of God do I allow to choke the good seed of God’s Word in my life?

…but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. (Psalm 106:35-36)

Good seed will have little or no other crop seed mixed in. How pure is my relationship with God? Do I accept His entire Word as Truth or do I pick and choose what appeals to my flesh while ignoring the more convicting passages? Have I diluted my faith and the power of God’s Word by embracing non-scriptural doctrines and practices?

Good Seed is expensive because it is pure seed. The pure seed of God’s Word however is priceless and it is free for all who will embrace its Truth.

May the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control be evident in your life testifying to the good and pure seed of Christ’s presence in your heart.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Excess Baggage #923

Posted on November 2, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 923

leavebaggage“Excess Baggage”

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

We have moved eleven times over the last four decades and even though the more recent moves were of the downsizing variety I have found that we still have too much baggage.

I was reminded of this excess baggage during my prayer time this week and the spiritual implications of being weighed down and burdened by worthless thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We all struggle at times in our lives with the burden of excess baggage that has no present or future value.

How many of us carry bitterness toward others that stems from unforgiveness of a past hurt? The very mention of someone’s name or the sight of them can literally make us ill when we carry the baggage of bitterness and unforgiveness toward them.

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22)

Many people carry guilt from things that they did in the past. Still others are burdened with guilt that stems from having been victimized by others. Guilt is a burden that the enemy of your soul uses to hinder your ability to serve God fully and completely. When you accepted Jesus Christ you have been set free from guilt and condemnation. There is no reason to carry this excess baggage any longer.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24; Romans 8:1)

Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the excess baggage that you are needlessly carrying through life. Allow the Lord to relieve you of your burden.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; (Psalm 55:22)

May the Holy Spirit empower you to let go of your excess baggage burden and to receive lasting freedom through Jesus Christ.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Leave Different #922

Posted on October 20, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 922

change ahead“Leave Different”

…no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered… (Ezekiel 46:9)

On the surface this Scripture reference from Ezekiel chapter 46 deals with orderly traffic flow through the temple when people would come for worship. Many churches today that have back to back worship services also have a prescribed order to enter and exit the sanctuary in order to avoid congestion. However, if we look a little deeper there is a spiritual application as well.

The word translated ‘way’ in the original Hebrew text is ‘derek’, which denotes a trodden road and is used to describe figuratively a course of life or mode of moral action and character.

God is telling us that we should not enter His presence and leave without being changed. We should not go out the same way we came in. Our course of life, our moral actions and character need to be purer and more holy.

…it is written,  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

You worship God and enter into His presence with every spontaneous prayer throughout the day. You enter His presence during your daily devotional prayer time. You enter His presence when you attend church services. You should not leave the same way you came in. Every encounter with God should change you and help you grow to be more Christ-like. We need to enter His presence seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, not seeking an eternal blessing machine.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. … your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:6-8)

Far too many of us who profess to follow Christ seek a social club experience in church. We are entertained by the music rather than ushered into the presence of God in worship and praise. We consider it meddling when the Pastor preaches the truth of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit begins to prick our hearts for change that we resist. We then leave the same way as we entered – unchanged.

May the Holy Spirit create in you a hunger to be more like Jesus Christ. May your every uttered prayer and each of your encounters with the presence of God work to bring about change as you yield to the potter’s hand allowing Him to mold and shape you into the vessel He desires for His good purpose and to fulfill His perfect will.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Believing God #921

Posted on October 13, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 921

empty vessels“Believing God”

Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. (2 Kings 4:3)

The widow’s children were about to be taken into slavery by her creditor. She was in a desperate situation with no way out. She had in her possession a small flask of oil, nothing more. So she reached out to Elisha who told her what God would have her do.

How many of us would have believed the Word from God and gone after even one jar? After all, the flask of oil would probably only have coated the bottom of the first jar – what a ridiculous waste of time. Surely there had to be a better way to raise the money needed to keep her children out of slavery and to provide for their needs.

Note Elisha’s admonition to not ask for just a few jars which would have been indicative of a lack of faith and trust in God. What if the widow had doubted but went along anyway to humor the prophet? What if she had only borrowed one or two small jars? Note that the oil stopped flowing when the last jar was filled (verse 6). It would not have been enough. She would have missed God’s best for her by her lack of faith and trust in Him.

Believing in God is not the same as believing God. We may believe He is our creator. We may believe everything the Bible reveals about Him. But do we believe Him? Do we have faith and trust in His Word to us? God says “Do Not Worry” – Do we worry? God says “Do not be afraid” – Are we fearful? God says “Do not doubt” – Do we doubt? God’s Word says ‘”If you do this, I will do that.” Do we ignore some of the tougher exhortations and water down others to fit our desires?

Are you faced with an impossible situation in your family or work? It may be financial or health related. God says that what is impossible with man is possible with Him. …with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

Can you believe Him? Can you be fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He promises for His children? Believe in Him. Study His Word. Get to know Him intimately as one knows the closest of friends. Believe Him. Take Him at His Word. Act in faith and trust and take the steps He directs for you no matter how illogical they seem to your carnal mind and remember, don’t ask for just a few jars.

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith … fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20-21)

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Jumping to Conclusions #920

Posted on October 5, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 920

jump-to-conclusions“Jumping to Conclusions”

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24)

A behavioral study was conducted where a poorly dressed man stumbled, fell and lay face down in a busy pedestrian walkway. Very few stopped to help him. Most simply walked passed averting their eyes. Later, the same man dressed in a business suit stumbled and fell in the same manner and place. Numerous people hurried to assist him. The only difference was how the man was dressed – how he appeared.

We make judgments every day. The word ‘judgment’ is defined as the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. When we jump to conclusions by judging by appearances only we fail to make a considered decision. We fail to judge with right judgment.

The Christian church body is as much at fault with judging by appearances as is our society as a whole. We see someone wearing a hooded sweatshirt and we think criminal. We classify people as ‘less than’ by how they dress, what they drive, and where they live. We forget that we are all equal before the throne of God. Righteousness and wickedness are matters of the heart, not outward appearances. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? (Psalm 82:2)

One of the most often misquoted, taken out of context Scriptures is Matthew 7:1. Judge not, that you be not judged. In context of this entire passage as well as the entirety of Scripture, God’s Word instructs us to judge, and to do so rightly. The following are lessons in not jumping to conclusions.

Ask God for the gifts of the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

We need to judge in accordance with the Word of God. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness… (2 Timothy 3:16)

Avoid judging questionable matters. The Bible is silent on many societal issues and we should not make issues out of what has no bearing on eternity with God. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (Colossians 2:16)

Avoid profiling others on appearance and personal affinities. Partiality in judging is not good. (Proverbs 24:23)

Have all the facts at hand about a matter – not hearsay and do not let your emotions cloud the facts. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)

May the Holy Spirit show you clearly the beam in your eye so that it may be removed before you attempt to remove the speck from someone else’s eye. May you have wisdom from God to judge rightly. May the grace, mercy and the love of Jesus flow through you in dealing with others.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Binding and Loosing #919

Posted on September 30, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 919

bindingandloosing1 “Binding and Loosing”

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)

Do you have a burden on your heart to pray for someone? Whatever the need is that the Spirit of God has burdened your heart to pray for know this: There is power in the Name of Jesus. God has empowered His children with the authority of Jesus’ Name to pray confidently according to His will. He has promised that whatever we bind or loose here on earth, it would also be bound or loosed in heaven. We must understand that we do not dictate to God what to do. He remains Sovereign; He is God, and we are not. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us… (1 John 5:14-15)

We have authority through Jesus as born again Christians. And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Luke 9:1-2)

The power belongs to Jesus. The power is in His Name, not ours. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17)

Remember: purity comes before power. We cannot live a compromised, lukewarm spiritual life and expect to have an effective prayer life. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

Binding and loosing can have two connotations in our prayers. We can bind (tie up) something evil preventing it from hurting whomever we are praying for. We can also bind them to something good like grafting a branch to a vine so that it may thrive on the nutrients from the vine. In loosing something we can be setting them free by destroying the chains that held the person we are praying for in bondage. Loosing can also mean to release something good in someone’s life.

The following are sample prayers to give you the idea of binding and loosing.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, I bind ____________’s body, soul and spirit to the will and purposes of God. I bind his/her mind to the mind of Christ that he/she may feel and know God’s thoughts, feelings and purposes of heart. I bind __________’s feet to the path of righteousness, that his/her steps would be steady and sure remaining on the path that God has called him/her to.

Father, in the Name of Jesus I loose every old, wrong, and ungodly pattern of thinking from _________________. I loose him/her from strongholds of unforgiveness that justify and protect hard feelings against others. I loose him/her from all generational bondages and associated strongholds.

In Jesus’ Name I loose the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in ____________’s life. I loose God’s stewardship character into _____________’s character. In your Name Jesus I bind the enemy and render him powerless from stealing and destroying your good work in _______________’s life.

I bind and loose these things in accordance with your perfect will, Father. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – Questionable Matters #918

Posted on September 21, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 918

stumbling-block“Questionable Matters”

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to…do anything that causes your brother to stumble. (Romans 14:20)

Do you find yourself facing choices and wishing for crystal clear direction? The Bible provides very clear direction in many areas that guide our choices in life. Do not steal, Honor your Father and Mother, Do not covet, and so on. There are however many choices we have to face in life that are not clearly defined by the ‘Thou shalt not’passages of God’s Word. These ‘gray area’ life choices are typically what become regulated by church doctrine and what is permissible for one denomination may not be for another further adding to one’s confusion.

These issues deal with smoking and drinking of alcoholic beverages. They even involve seemingly innocuous issues such as what is acceptable attire, whether to chew gum or dance, and which day is the Sabbath, as well as what meats and foods to eat. The early church wrestled with these issues as people with varied cultural backgrounds came together as the Christian Body of Christ and sought to follow Him and to glorify God in their lives. The modern church continues to wrestle with such issues today.

Beginning with Paul’s letter to the Roman church and in other Biblical passages we find guidelines for Christian conduct in questionable matters. We can prayerfully apply these guidelines to our questionable matter choices today and the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, will help us to choose wisely and not place a stumbling block in our path or in the path of others.

CONVICTION: The first of these guidelines deals with your personal conviction concerning the matter that the Bible is silent about. Are you completely convinced in your heart that it is right? If you seek a consensus of opinion by asking a friend, elder, or Pastor what they think then you most likely do not pass this first guideline test. You lack a personal conviction and it is a wrong choice for you. … Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. …For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:22-23)

CONSCIENCE: After you have made your choice do you have regrets? Are there consequences because of your choice that adversely affected you or others making you wish you had not gone in that particular direction? If you are not completely at peace in your heart then the choice was wrong for you and your conscience is prompting you to repent. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (Acts 24:16)

CONSIDERATION: You may be thoroughly convinced and at peace with your choice. However, this third guideline is where you walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Does your exercise of freedom cause someone else to stumble that may be weaker in their faith concerning this matter? If it does, then you should sacrificially give consideration to the brother or sister and not exercise your freedom in the matter. It has become wrong for you to do so. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?…Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:10-13)

May the Holy Spirit give you wisdom and guidance in questionable matters.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – He is Near #917

Posted on September 15, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 917

god-reaching-out“He is Near”

…that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for In him we live and move and have our being’; (Acts 17:27-28)

What do you reach for when you are anxious, stressed, or feeling like you have been gut-punched by life? Linus, a character from the popular Peanuts cartoon had his blanket to give him comfort. Abbie, from the NCIS television series reaches for her stuffed hippo doll. What is the first thing you reach for?

Far too many of us reach first for something or someone other than God. Tobacco products, alcohol or other drugs are the first choice for some people. Others seek out comfort food and indulge their senses in an attempt to temporarily escape the unpleasantness of the reality of their circumstances.

The truth is that anything that we reach for apart from God will leave us empty and only bring temporary comfort at best.

There is a God-sized hole created in each of us that only He can fill. There are times when life circumstances leave us empty, dry and without hope for a brighter future. We feel that we are wandering aimlessly in a desert wasteland, unsure which way to turn – merely existing, not thriving.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)

God is always near. He is not a distant God, too busy to bother with the stuff that bothers us. He is our omnipresent, loving Father who is attentive to our prayer and every need. He is always near us.

In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. (Psalm 86:7)

He is as close as the speaking out the Name of Jesus. Worship Him by reaching for Him first above all else in this world.

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

You may have to wait for the Lord to move the mountains in your life. Other times, His deliverance is instantaneous. Either way, remain steadfast in your hope and trust in Him.

Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:2)

May you know the very real and near presence of the Lord. May you know His peace and power to remain steadfast in faith as He leads you through difficult times.

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B2B Concert of Prayer – On Time #916

Posted on September 8, 2014 by ron021950

CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 916

“On Time”

on-timeThen Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1, NIV)

Flight monitors at airports list all flights and their status. We can see if the flight we are interested in is Delayed, Cancelled, or On Time. However, when it comes to meeting our needs, God is always On Time.

It may seem at times that an answer to our prayers is either delayed or cancelled altogether. We are then tempted to give up on prayer and our faith is shaken. We need to see this for what it is: an attack by the enemy of our soul to destroy our faith.

This is why Jesus taught us the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. She received justice by her persistence. How much more will we receive what we need from our loving Father when we persist in prayer?

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly… (Luke 18:7-8)

For several years we and others along with us have persisted in prayer about a particular need when suddenly and miraculously doors opened and the path leveled beneath our feet to make it all happen. It did not happen on my time table; however it did happen in God’s perfect timing and on time.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end…If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come… (Habakkuk 2:3)

Recently I had a financial need that had to be met on a certain date. This need was a result of God’s earlier answer to another prayer. With faith bolstered from God’s earlier ‘moving of mountains’ I persisted in prayer and trusted that the Lord would provide. On the date due, the finances were available – not before, and not after, but on the due date. God is always on time in meeting His children’s need.

May you call upon the Lord in your time of need. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. (Psalm 86:7)

May the testimony of my experience as well as the testimonies of others bolster your faith to persist in prayer, trusting that God will hear you and meet your need on time. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

May the Holy Spirit strengthen your heart of faith and make you strong and courageous as you wait for the Lord. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

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