Tag: Christianity

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New Testament Breakdown

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As the Old Testament was giving the promise of God’s coming Savior; the New Testament is, of course, how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Beginning 400 years after the Old Testament was completed, God’s plan of redemption is fulfilled by the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The New Testament was written beginning after 30A.D. and was completed around 70A.D. It has 27 books which are broken down into four categories: Gospels, History, Letters or Epistles, and Prophecy.

The Gospels

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The four Gospels are written as biographies of the life of Jesus Christ. Two were written as first-hand accounts: Matthew and John. The other two, Mark and Luke, were written by two men who took time to interview as many first-hand witnesses as possible, in order to share a complete look at Jesus’ life.

It is in the gospels that we see God’s promise fulfilled. Every prophecy given in the Old Testament concerning his birth, specific details of his life, and even regarding his death and resurrection, are fulfilled in the New Testament.

History

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The book of Acts is the only general history book in the New Testament. Written by Luke, the book of Acts continues where his gospel left off, and follows the life of the early church from Pentecost, through the expansion to all the world in the ministry of the Apostle Paul and others.

The point of the book of Acts is that those who had been looking for the promised Savior and then put their faith in Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of that promise, believed so whole-heartedly that they gave everything they had, including, at times, their lives, to see this good news spread to all the world. As we look at this early history of the church, we must decide for ourselves if Jesus is the promised one who is worth our lives, as well.

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Letters or Epistles

After the new church was launched in the Gospels and then began to spread through the book of Acts, there were two primary ways that the new faith was established and maintained. The first was through individual ministers of the Gospel who traveled from church to church teaching the Word of God. The second was through the distribution of written letters, also called ‘epistles,’ intended to teach truth, encourage believers, and correct errors in doctrine. Some letters were written to whole churches. Other letters were written to individual pastors and church members.

At the heart of every New Testament letter is a desire to point people’s lives, thoughts, and actions around the person and work of Jesus Christ. They affirm from the Old Testament that Jesus is the Savior whom God had promised. They teach us how He  sets us free from sin and death, and they encourage us to look to Him and to be transformed into His image, as we are being built into His body on the earth, until He comes again.

Here is a simple breakdown of the letters of the New Testament.

History records that once these letters were delivered to their intended recipients, that they were copied by hand, and shared with other nearby churches and leaders, so that the Word of God could continue to spread and be established in every town and city.

Prophecy

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The New Testament closes out the Bible with the book of Revelation. This is a book of prophecy, both forth-telling (recalling what Jesus has accomplished) and foretelling future events, as Jesus continues to build His kingdom, save humanity, and restore the world.

While there are many thoughts and opinions about the book or Revelation and its various prophetic messages, the main point of the book is Jesus. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In Revelation we get a glimpse into eternity where the promised one who was to come, is now seated on the throne, judging the rebellious ones who refused to accept him and ruling the world with his saints, as all of creation worships Him alone.

Just by this brief overview of the Bible’s breakdown, we begin to understand that from the first book to the last, the Bible is all about Jesus. As we continue to look closer at each of the books of the Bible in detail, this singular story will begin to take shape, woven piece by piece, as God’s promised Savior is revealed as the prominent theme in every one.

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

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Christian Healing: The Believer’s Authority

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In the last post, we discussed the issue of whether or not Christian healing is for today. Concluding that there is no biblical expectation that this (or any) spiritual gift would cease in the first century, we must now turn our attention to the practice of Christian healing. As I have studied scripture, I see two major elements continually at play when the Bible discusses the issue: the believer’s authority to heal given by Jesus and the anointing for healing which comes from the Holy Spirit.

Although these two things work in tandem (and are often indistinguishable in Jesus’ ministry), I believe it will be helpful to discuss them separately. Therefore, in this post and the next, we will take on the topic of the believer’s authority to heal, then later we will look at the Holy Spirit’s power for healing. 

In laying the foundation for the believer’s authority to heal, there are two areas we must discuss. The first is our own beliefs and expectations concerning our authority to heal, which we will discuss today, and then how we put that authority into practice, which we will tackle in the next post.

The Basis of Our Authority to Heal

Jesus made a very casual statement in the book of John, which has been the topic of much disagreement between Christians for millennia. However, as you know, my general approach is to simply take the Bible at it’s word unless there is something to imply there is more behind what is stated. In this case, there does not seem to be a hidden meaning. 

Jesus’ statement was this:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:12

This verse follows after an explanation in verse 10 that everything Jesus was doing was not on His own authority, but an extension of the authority of God. He then gives us His radical expectation that if a person would believe in Him, then that person will also do what He does! 

We have previously discussed that what He did was to fulfill all the Messianic prophecies he quotes in Luke 4:18-19. One of these Messianic promises which Jesus was doing daily when He made this statement was healing the sick, and now He says he expects that the disciples belief in Him would translate into their doing the same thing!

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The Name of Jesus – Our Place of Authority

Looking again at John 14, Jesus goes on to say:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:13-14

From this passage of scripture alone, it is easy for the human mind to race with unlimited possibilities. After all, Jesus said “whatever you ask,” I will do. Unfortunately, though, within the passage itself there is a limitation on the scope of this promise. It does not mean we can ask Jesus for a new Land Rover or for a million dollars, and expect it to come.

His statement that He would do “whatever we ask” was directly tied to our accomplishing the same works that He was doing by the Father’s authority! He is implying a chain of command!

Jesus’ Authority Becomes Our Authority

God commanded Jesus to heal the sick, in fulfillment of His promises (see John 5:19). That command carries with it the authority of the One giving it. Then, in the same way, Jesus commands those who would believe in Him to continue doing His work – including healing the sick. This command, therefore, also carries the same authority of God to do so that Jesus had. This is why when we pray for the sick, we pray “in Jesus’ name.” 

That phrase — “in Jesus’ name” — means that we are praying as someone who has a right to be heard in the heavenliness, because we have Jesus’ authority backing us up! It is the same as when a police officer shouts, “stop in the name of the law,” or when a judge places his name on a court order. The name of the person in authority is what validates the command, even when someone else enacts it! (We will discuss this topic further in the next post.)

What I want you to understand for now is that Jesus’ gave His own authority to the church, to continue the works He began, and He expects them to continue “in His name!”

Jesus Gave His Authority (Before He Gave His Holy Spirit)

Most people look at healing and think, “Well, I don’t have that gift” or “God can do whatever He wants to do. It’s not up to me.” This isn’t a correct attitude, however. This is why I said we must first fix our belief system, before we can talk about the practice of healing itself!

Do you realize that Jesus’ first commissioning on His disciples was not an impartation of the Holy Spirit — He would not impart the Holy Spirit to them until after the resurrection in John 20:22, and again at Pentecost. His first commissioning was an impartation of His authority:

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Matthew 10:1

After listing the names of the 12, it goes on:

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Matthew 10:5-8

Jesus does not tell the disciples to go and “pray for the sick.” He told them to go heal them. The disciples did it through the authority they had been given!

In Luke 10, Jesus “appoints” 72 others with the same authority and the same commissioning! 

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:8-9

I believe these instructions — proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons — are primarily what Jesus is referencing in Matthew 28, when He says “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you,” in the Great Commission. This is also validated by Marks’ rendering of the Great Commission in Mark 16.

…And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16:17-18

It is Your Authority to Heal

You may be asking, “why does any of this matter?” After all, haven’t we already laid a foundation and know that healing still happens today from the last posts?

Yes! But the point I want to make today is that not only does healing still happen, but that YOU, as a believer, have been given the authority to heal the sick. It is not someone else’s job.

The bible says that “all may prophesy,” not just the prophets (see 1 Corinthians 14:31). It also instructs all believers are to “do the work of an evangelist,” not just those with the gift of evangelism (see 2 Timothy 4:5). In the same way, the Bible teaches that all believers have authority over sickness and disease in Jesus Christ! However, we MUST believe in this truth, before we can effectively operate in healing.

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The Necessity of Faith

The Bible makes it very clear that there is a direct link between our belief and our authority to heal. Before we can get to the “doing” what Jesus did, we must do the harder work of “believing” what Jesus said.

Over and over again, the Bible tells us that it is belief that matters. One example is in the book of James:

Is anyone among you sick?… the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up…

James 5:14-15

In another story, Jesus comes out of His private prayer time and finds the disciples unable to heal a child with a demonically-caused epilepsy. After He heals the child, the disciples ask why they weren’t able to do so. Jesus answers:

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

When Mark shares his version of this same story, the family demands to know if Jesus can heal their child after his disciples had failed. Jesus reassures them:

(The boy’s father said) “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23

The Faith of the Sick Person

From this verse, it seems that not only does Jesus place the onus of faith on the one doing the healing, but He also includes the faith of the sick to be healed, as well as those in the crowd around Him! 

It is true that not only the faith of the one praying matters. After all, how many times do we see Jesus, the one who IS God, not base His authority for healing on Himself, but also on those He is ministering to? How often do we hear Him say the words, “Your Faith has made you well”? (See Luke 8:48, 17:19, 18:42, Mark 5:34, 10:52, and Matthew 9:22 for examples).

Still, I would caution putting too much emphasis on the faith of others, though, as you practice your own authority to heal. After all, when Jesus went to Nazareth — the faithless city — the Bible says:

And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6:5-6

Even when he could do no great miracles due to their lack of faith, Jesus’ authority to heal the sick was still working!

I will add that in my own experience, some of the most radical healings I have seen have been while praying for people who didn’t believer, and/or being surrounded by unbelievers.

You Have The Authority of Christ to Heal

The dynamic of the believer’s authority to heal is undeniably tied to their ability to believe, even more than it is tied to the power of the Holy Spirit working inside us. Again, I believe both are necessary, but you cannot deny that in the examples we have shared today, Jesus and those He personally trained healed people by their authority more than by their anointing!

Yes, there are those who are given a special anointing to heal, but healing in the Bible is not just a gift of the Spirit. It is a part of your inheritance in Christ. It is within your authority as a representative of heaven on earth. All you must do is believe it in order to see it.

In the next post, we will lay the foundation for how to operate in your authority, and actually heal sickness and disease, in Jesus’ name. For now, I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and testimonies in the comments below!

If you are looking for a good resource on the authority of the believer to heal, I would recommend the book, “Authority to Heal: Restoring the Lost Inheritance of God’s Healing Power” by Randy Clark.

As always, if you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would also be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email below. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for regular blog updates, and other ongoing #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership insights!

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Christian Healing: Is It For Today?

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In the last post, I laid out the biblical foundation of Christian Healing from God’s revelation of Himself as Jehovah Rapha – “God Your Healer” – up to the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy that healing would be in the atonement of the coming Christ. Although I believe that biblically we can prove that Jesus’ healing gift was not relegated to the future consummation of His Kingdom, we are still left with the challenge of proving that it was Jesus’ intention for healing to continue throughout the church age, now.

We left off discussing the fact that Jesus healed every sick person that was brought to Him. No one who believes the Bible disputes that fact. However, in answering the question of whether that healing would continue today, we must face certain objections that are often raised against divine healing moving forward.

Objection: Jesus Was God! We are Not!

One common objection to God healing today is, “Jesus was God; of course He could heal everyone. We are not!” This objection, however, voluntarily overlooks the humanity of Jesus in the incarnation.

The bible clearly states that although Jesus is God in the flesh, He willingly left His divine attributes aside, and lived life as a human being (see Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus was the perfect example to us of what humanity looks like when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and fully submitted to God. Theologically we call this “Christus Exemplar” or “Christ Our Example.”

As He laid down His divine attributes, we must understand that Jesus was not healing people through His own power as God! He was healing people as man, through the power of God the Holy Spirit, who He then gave to the church as a gift. Through the Holy Spirit, our spiritual DNA is reformed to be just like His!

We see this in the fact that Jesus did not keep His authority to heal for Himself, but He commissioned His disciples to do the same thing:

Matthew 10 tells us:

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Matthew 10:1

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Matthew 10:5-8

Jesus not only thought it was possible for human beings to heal the sick, but He gave them the authority and commanded it!

Objection: That Gift Was Only For The Apostles!

Again, the critic will argue that the supernatural gifts of the spirit were given only to those original 12 Apostles (or only for the Apostolic Age), in order to get Christianity started, but that the gifts did not continue past the death of the Apostles.

Yet, again, however, scripture itself overturns this argument as Jesus did not limit the transfer of His authority only to the Apostles:

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go, and He said to them…Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luke 10:1-2a,8-9

We clearly see Jesus Himself directing non-Apostles to heal the sick! And His healing ministry still doesn’t end there…

Should We Expect Healing Today?

 In His final charge to His disciples before leaving earth, in Matthew 28:18-20, He commissions them to instruct the next generation of disciples to continue in everything He had taught and commanded them!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I believe the “all” includes His command to heal the sick. In fact, in his presentation of this same “Great Commission,” Mark’s gospel says:

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16:15-18

The Great Commission, therefore, tells us that divine healing is intended to pass from one generation of believer to another. It would not stop!

So, should we expect healing today? YES! Not only is healing in the nature of God and the Atonement of Christ. It is also in the commission of the church!

I know many will still object to this fact by twisting minor verses in other places, but the truth is, you have to throw out a lot of scripture to conclude that Jesus does not heal today, through His church, and to believe that He is withholding that gift until His final return.

Objection: Why Are Some People Not Healed?

The short answer: I don’t know. Biblically you can point to many factors which might explain why some people do not get healed in prayer. 

  • It can be my lack of faith as a pray-er (James 5:15). 
  • It can be the person’s lack of faith as the one being prayed for (Luke 8:48, 17:19, 18:42). 
  • It can be the existence of unconfessed sin. 
  • It can be the presence of demonic strongholds. 
  • It may even be a case of the sovereignty of God giving grace to the person, in which their sickness unto death spares them from a worse state (see Isaiah 57:1, with an example given in 1 Kings 14:12-13)
  • There are likely many other reasons people are not healed in the now.

I cannot give a definite answer as to why some people are healed now, supernaturally, and some are left in their state of sickness. All I can say for certain is that healing IS in the atonement of Jesus Christ, and that whether now or at His second coming, every person who trusts Him will be healed completely.

What we cannot do is to say that because some people do not get healed, that it invalidates any healing at all in Jesus’ name and by the power of the Holy Spirit or that we should not pursue God’s grace for healing today. In the atonement, Jesus paid the price for all sin, and yet for whatever reason some people still do not get saved. The fact that some people still die and go to hell does not nullify that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

A Scholarly Explanation

I don’t want to dwell long on this point, but I do appreciate how Sam Storms in his article “Divine Healing” speaks on this issue:

Everything we receive from God finds its ultimate source in what Christ did for us on the cross. Therefore, the question is not whether our bodies receive healing because of the atonement of Christ, but when. We are forgiven of our sins now because of Christ’s atoning death, but we await the consummation of our deliverance from the presence of sin when Christ returns. We experience fellowship with God now because of Christ’s atoning death, but we await the consummation of that blessed relationship when Christ returns. We profit immensely now from the Spirit’s work in our hearts, but who would dare suggest that what the Holy Spirit is doing in this age is all that he will ever do? There is a glorious harvest reserved in heaven for us of which the present ministry of the Holy Spirit is merely the first fruits!

In other words, it is a serious mistake for us to think that every blessing Christ secured through his redemptive suffering will be ours now in its consummate form. All such blessings shall indeed be ours, let there be no mistake about that. But let us not expect, far less demand, that we now experience fully those blessings which God has clearly reserved for heaven in the age to come…

He goes on to say:

To insist that this physical blessing is future is not to detract from the efficacy or value of Christ’s atoning work, nor to deny that God often heals (at times partially, at times wholly) now. It is simply to recognize, as Scripture does, that God’s timing is often different from ours.

Sam Storms, Divine Healing (Oklahoma City, OK: Sam Storms, 2006).

So What Do We Do?

I 100% believe that Jesus is Healer. I believe this from the Bible. I believe this from church history. And I believe it from many personal experiences with healing, today. Does everyone get healed? No. However, I am not discouraged by that to the point that I would stop praying for the sick, and going after the Lord for more!

We must pursue Jesus Christ to heal ALL of our diseases now, with full faith in His atoning work and an unending hope for His miraculous intervention immediately.

We do not need to pray, “Lord, if it is Your will, heal…” He has made it evident that it is His will to heal. We must learn to pray, instead, “Lord, let your Kingdom come; let your healing be done, on earth (now) as it is (now) in heaven.”

As many respected charismatic leaders have said concerning the “already but not yet: it is not a matter of “IF” we can see God’s Kingdom power now, it is only a  matter of “HOW MUCH?” can we have on this side of eternity. To find out the answer, we must pursue Him for healing, in faith, for every sickness and disease we come across.

So what do we do? We lay hands on the sick, pray the prayer of faith, and believe God will be faithful to His promise. The rest is up to Him.

Hopefully this post and the last one have sparked something inside you to pursue the Lord for healing today! In the next post, we will begin to discuss the practical side of praying for the sick by looking at our authority to heal.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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The Anatomy of an Encounter with God (Part 2)

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What happens when we have an encounter with the Lord? In part 1, we discussed that God alone chooses ‘when’ and ‘how’ your encounter will happen. In this post, however, I want to explore what actually happens when God shows up. There seems to be some elements of an encounter with the Lord, that appear over and over again in scripture. Today, we will look at three of them.

We will continue with Saul’s encounter with the Lord in Acts 9, as we explore these things.

Element 1: God takes CONTROL

The first thing that happened when the great light surrounded Saul and his men, was that Saul lost control of himself. Acts 9:4 tells us that Saul fell to the ground, and verse 8 tells us that he was no longer able to see.

This is a common theme when the Lord shows up. We see the same thing with every time a prophet of the Lord is called into His presence. In Revelation 1:17, John tells us that upon viewing Jesus, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” The same thing happens to the priests in the Old Testament, when the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the temple:

“And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”

1 Kings 8:10–11

One other example, and possibly my favorite, actually happened with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to arrest Him. 

“Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

John 18:4–6

In many cases, the presence of God overtakes our own ability to control our bodies. When we lose control, there is no other option, except to submit to Him.

Element 2: We are overcome with CONVICTION

The second thing that happens in an encounter with the Lord is that our sin is brought into clear focus, and a strong conviction from the Lord leads us to repent.

In Saul’s case, we see this as Jesus speaks to him: “And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’” (Acts 9:4–5).

Saul had been a self-righteous Pharisee his whole life. He thought that his persecution against the church was an action in defense of God and true religion. However, when this encounter takes place, the error of his ways becomes very clear. God doesn’t beat around the bush. Saul’s actions were a direct sin against the Lord Himself.

Other Examples

This element of an encounter, too, is repeated over and over in scripture. When God shows up, it is to restore righteousness in the people He is touching. Take Isaiah’s encounter for instance. He is taken into the heavens, and he sees the Lord sitting on the throne. All the angels are there, worshipping. And what is Isaiah’s response?

“And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Isaiah 6:5–7

When we have an encounter with the Lord, it is because He wants to draw us closer to Himself, and take us further in our lives with Him. In order to do that, He has to bring us to a full “heart check,” wherein we realize our sin, make confession, and come out purified.

We see this same thing in Zechariah’s dream of the high priest, Joshua:

“Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.’”

Zechariah 3:3–4

In an encounter with the Lord, either He convicts us and makes us clean, or there is judgement leading to death. There is no other option. His goal is to have deeper intimacy with us, but His presence demands our holiness.

Element 3: We discover our CALLING

The final element that happens in an encounter is that the Lord will reveal more of His plan for our lives. Again, He is taking us further on our life’s journey with Him, and He wants to use us.

For Saul, this element came in through his instructions of what to do next. Jesus said, “but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do” (Acts 9:6). God then commissions Ananias to pray for Saul, saying, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15–16).

It was through this encounter that Saul is changed from a persecutor of the church, to an Apostle to the gentiles. His destiny was revealed.

In the grand scheme of things, those three days being blinded and out of control were but a tiny speck of time, compared to the lasting impact Saul (now Paul) had on the Kingdom of God. God had to grab control, and convict him of sin, so that Paul could be sent out to fulfill the calling on his life.

For some people, the calling that comes in an encounter with the Lord is simply the calling to be saved, and follow Jesus with their lives. For others, it is a calling to be better husbands or wives, and serve Him through their family. Some are called into careers and professions that will impact the world. Many are called into the ministry, with a promise of reaching nations.

While some of these things may sound “bigger” than others, the truth is that an encounter with God will change your life, personally, for the better. His calling will be the greatest adventure of your life, if you accept what He is asking of you.

Seeking Your Encounter

Once again, these three elements on an encounter are always evident when the Lord shows up. God wants to take control of your life, convict you of your sin, and call you into your destiny. And we should desire Him to do all of those things.

In the next post, we will explore the effects of an encounter, but for today, I want to encourage you, to begin to pray and ask God for your own supernatural encounter with Him. It doesn’t matter if you have had other encounters in the past. There is always more for those who ask Him (see Matthew 7:11).

Pray for more. Pray for visions or visitations. Ask God to show up and meet with you. He promises that we will find Him when we seek Him (see Jeremiah 29:13).

Each time I have had encounters with the Lord’s presence, I have been left hungering for more. I’m sure you will, too. I would love to hear about your experience in the comments! Make sure and tell us how these elements of an encounter appeared in yours.

Find out More

If you want to read more about personal encounters with the Lord, and how they can shape your life, I would like to recommend the book, “Defining Moments: God-Encounters With Ordinary People Who Changed the World.”

As always, if you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would also be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular blog updates, and other ongoing #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership advice!

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

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Episode 2: Salvation — The Christian Life Podcast

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Episode 2: Salvation

Salvation is the starting point for the Christian Life. In this episode we look at the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ, and seek to answer questions like: 

  • “Why does a person need to be saved?”
  • “How does salvation come?”
  • “How do we know Jesus is the only way to salvation?”
  • “Can a person lose their salvation?”
  • “Why do Christians feel the need to preach salvation to everyone else?” 

If you want to leave feedback, you can send me a voice message at Anchor.fm/thechristianlife.

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Principles From Joshua: #4 — Don’t Discount the Women

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Joshua had the great privilege of seeing God’s promise to Abraham become a reality. Moses received the vision for this new life in the promise land. God has directed him how to bring it about, but it was Joshua who actually walked the vision out. Yet hidden in the commands of Moses, which Joshua fulfills, there is a major principle which the church too often ignores: “Don’t Discount the Women.”

The Background

There is a man in the book of Numbers named Zelophehad. He was counted as a member of the tribe of Manasseh, when Moses issued the command to take a census of the new generation in the wilderness in Numbers 26. Verse 33 tells us, “Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters.”

As the story continues, we learn that none of those listed in Moses’ first census, appear in this second one. God had fulfilled his promise that the former generation, due to their sin, would not inherit the land (Numbers 26:63-65).

What happened next is a story of great boldness by the daughters of this man. In a culture where women were viewed as subservient to men, the Bible tells us, 

“Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers” (Numbers 27:1-4).

Once again this is a bold move. But what happens next, makes it all worth it.

The Principle Made Clear

The Bible tells us, “Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘The daughters of Zelophehad are right…’ (Numbers 27:5-7a; emphasis mine).

I wonder if any of the men standing around saw this coming. The women stand up and demand to be counted the same as the men were. And God said their claim was right! He goes on to make it a rule:

“You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter” (Numbers 27:7b-8).

God makes it a law in Israel that women are not to be discounted among His people. They were to have major legal rights and even the ability to own land. This has been a big point of contention in many cultures, even up to today.

Don’t Discount the Women

What we cannot say is that Israel interpreted this rule from Moses to give women full equality in their society. That is a shame. Over and over again, the Lord gives women equal opportunities for life and leadership among His people. We see Deborah rising up to become a judge (a saving hero) of Israel (Judges 4:4). There are women who take up positions as prophets, such as both Deborah and Aaron’s sister, Miriam (Exodus 15:20). Other powerful women rise up to rule, such as Queen Esther, who saved the Jewish nation. The Bible says God appointed her for such a time. (Esther 4:14). 

God could have just as easily used men in all of these things, but chose to use women. Why? Because He didn’t create them to be subjugated to men. He created them to be equal partners in life and society. In fact, at the beginning, in all of God’s perfect creation, the only thing that God said was “not good” was that the man was alone (Genesis 2:18). God therefore determined to make a “helper” for the man, and created the women to make it right.

The word “helper” is “āzar” in the Hebrew. Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, it is the same word used for God as man’s helper. As we have already seen in Joshua, God is our counselor, and we get our boldness from His presence. I don’t think anyone would mistakenly think that God’s “help” makes Him subservient to men. Neither should women be viewed that way.

The New Testament Perspective

Once again, I believe the Bible teaches that women were created as equals to men, even though the cultures depicted in the Bible did not practice this as truth. The New Testament, however, takes this principle to another, more obvious level, for the life of the church.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter is declaring that God’s prophetic promise to release the Holy Spirit onto all humanity was manifesting. And what did that promise say?

“But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16-18; emphasis mine).

The promise of the Holy Spirit – which means the promise of God to empower us to lead the world in salvation and equip us as rulers in God’s Kingdom – is not exclusionary! God does not discount the women!

In fact, Paul takes this even further when He writes to the Galatian church. He says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28; emphasis mine).

Moving Forward

I believe the day is quickly approaching when women will fully step into their equal destiny and authority in the Kingdom of God. We have tasted it in every generation, and it has always been a blessing. And it is growing.

I am so thankful, as a father of daughters, that our generation has some of the most powerful and respected female leaders in both the church and within secular culture, than any before. Yet I do not believe we are where God wants us to be.

Moving forward, it is time for all of us to check ourselves and see if we are discounting the role of women, either intentionally or not, and to make a course correction if necessary. It is time for men to stop acting like God’s call to be the head of the family, is justification to hold women down or treat them as servants to ourselves. (Even in the family, the call on men is to give up our own lives, to enable our wives to live freely. Just see Ephesians 5:25-30.)

It is time for women to stop believing the lie that they are second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. The world needs you out front. We need your gifts. We need you to demonstrate God’s power. We need you to teach us what you know of God’s heart. We need you to fulfill the callings and dreams God has for your life.

And to the church, it is time we begin to live by a very old principle. One that has been missed for far too long: “Don’t discount the women!”

What’s Your Takeaway

What about you? Whether you are a man or a woman, you have been affected by the lie that women are not equals in God’s Kingdom. Maybe you have even helped to propagate it. What do you need to reevaluate or change to help empower the women in our generation and beyond, to become all that God wants them to be?

If you are still wresting with this issue, and the biblical truth of it, I would also like to highly recommend the book, “The Other Half of the Army: Women in Kingdom Ministry” by Phill Olson, as your next stop on the journey.

As always, if you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would also be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular blog updates, and other ongoing #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership advice!

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Principles From Joshua: #3 — Protection Comes in the Counsel of God

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As we continue to look at principles found in the book of Joshua, we have already seen that God has big visions for each one of us. We have discussed the fact that boldness to fulfill that vision is found in God’s presence. We have also looked at the fact that God will bless us when we stay obedient to His direction and commands. Today, however, we will take a look at the dangers that arise when we become overconfident in our callings, and wander away from daily trust in His guidance. What we must learn is that there is protection that comes in the counsel of God.

The Background

In Joshua chapter 8, we find that the Israelite’s conquest of the promised land is on a roll. They have come into the land with power. They have taken down the great city of Jericho, and after dealing with the sin of Achan, God has delivered Ai into their hands. Joshua has built an altar to the Lord at Mt. Ebal to worship and celebrate. 

All of this has put a fear into the surrounding tribes, who know they will soon be the targets of Israel’s army. The Bible says, they “gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel” (Joshua 9:2).

There is one city, however, that decides to take a different approach to the Israelite invasion. The people of Gibeon, knowing they cannot win against Joshua, instead put together an elaborate plan of deception, to enact a peace treaty with Israel.

The Bible says that the Gibeonites, “acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us” (Joshua 9:4-6).

They faked them out! 

And Joshua bought it! Rather than recognizing that these people were playing them for fools, the people of Israel looked at their clothing and provisions; fully believed the story these people were telling, and signed the peace treaty with them.

How could such a trick work against God’s people? How could Joshua, the one who took Moses’ place as the prophetic leader of the nation, be fooled? The Bible tells us: “So the men (of Israel) took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them” (Joshua 9:14-15).

In fact, the next verse says it takes 3 days for Joshua and the Israelites to learn the truth, that these people were their neighbors in the promised land. When it is discovered that Gibeon’s inhabitants were one of the people groups meant to be chased out, the people of Israel are not happy with their leaders.

Joshua, in a story I find humorous, goes to the Gibeonites and asks them, “why would you lie to us like this?” The answer? “Well, we knew you would kill us, and we wanted to live.”

Joshua does keep the agreement with them and allows them to live, but because of their deception, the Gibeonites are turned into servants for the Israelite people.

The Principle Made Clear

Joshua’s failures were not because he was a foolish leader. It came, in fact, because he had been a great leader up to this point. The people had been on a roll! Joshua simply assumed the momentum of claiming their inheritance in the land could not be stopped. He assumed God’s blessing and protection over the nation, so he didn’t take time to ask for God’s wisdom in his moment-by-moment decision-making.

While it is true that God was continually present with Joshua, just as He had promised in chapter 1, it is also true that Joshua’s presence was missing in the relationship with God. He didn’t seek God’s wisdom and counsel, and it led to bad decisions. He compromised on God’s commands to drive the people out. This invited further moral compromise in the nation of Israel, as they would now dwell closely with the pagan inhabitants.

Protection Comes in the Counsel of God

Job says, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13). The psalmist declares, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever…” (Psalm 33:11) All throughout the Bible, we are reminded to rely on the counsel of God. 

Jesus Himself was to be called “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6). And Isaiah calls the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might…” (Isaiah 11:2).

Our Wisdom Will Fail Us

Despite the fact that He promises to be with us and guide us always, too often we act just like Joshua, and coast through life’s decision-making processes on our own. We assume that we have accurate information and sufficient wisdom to move forward ourselves. Yet, the truth is, that all of us, at one time or another, end up regretting decisions that we felt the most confident about.

Maybe a too-good-to-miss financial opportunity, turned out to be a scam or a bust. Perhaps the person we sought to give us love, ended up leaving us hurt. Situations get out of control. Money is lost. Business ventures collapse. Relationships are jeopardized.

None of those things happen because we plan for them. They happen because even with the best information available, we cannot predict the future. We cannot see inside the hearts of men. And we are unable to direct outcomes simply with good intentions.

God’s Wisdom Never Fails

When we know nothing, God knows it all. God is omniscient. He can give us the best counsel, because He knows the future. He can guide our relationships, because He knows the hearts of men. The Lord can lead us to success in every venture, if we will first lay them out for His guidance and stamp of approval.

The difficult thing is remembering that we are not called to live the Christian life on our own. It takes humility to come before the Lord, every day and in every decision, to get His counsel on the matter. Humility itself means recognizing our limitations, and depending fully on God to sustain us. This is why the New Testament writers, James and Peter, both tell us to humble ourselves before the Lord, so that He may exalt us (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6).

God Wants To Instruct Our Lives

What we take away from this principle is that, for the Christian, there is an inherent danger to living life on our own. Our protection comes in the counsel of God. We must not neglect it. Even if we are living our wildest dreams, and just like Joshua in the land, it seems the momentum will carry us forward, we must learn to pause, and seek God’s counsel. We must trust Him more than we trust ourselves. Then, we must follow His advise at all times, because our protection in life and ministry comes in the counsel of God.

So What Is Your Takeaway?

What about you? Have you experienced hardships because you neglected to seek the Lord? How have you learned to trust Him, and seek His wisdom daily? What will keep you closer to Him today, as you move forward in your life and calling?

As always, if you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would also be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email, below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular blog updates, and other ongoing #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership advice!

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Principles From Joshua: #1 – Boldness Comes In the Presence of the Lord

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If you are in ministry, I am sure you know that the visions God gives for the ministry are usually much bigger than the personal abilities of the ones He calls to complete it. This is normal. God’s plans will always be far greater than our own. If we are left to ourselves, we ought to be completely incapable of accomplishing them. The truth is, however, that too many people in the ministry find themselves living small lives and not accomplishing the visions God has given because their inadequacies and self-consciousness overwhelm them and paralyze them with fear. There has to be a secret to changing this. Well, it actually isn’t a secret at all. As we spend the next few posts looking at principles from the book of Joshua, today we will see that “boldness comes in the presence of the Lord.”

A Little Background

The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses. The Exodus period and forty years of wandering in the wilderness is complete. Now it is time for the people of Israel to come into the land of their promise. It is at this point that Joshua, who had been the assistant to Moses for many years, as well as one of the original spies going into the land, is called by God into ministry leadership. 

The Lord said to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses” (Joshua 1:2-3).

So Joshua is the new Moses. He is the head of the nation of Israel, and will now lead them into their inheritance.

There’s Still Something Missing

Filling the shoes of Moses was a big task. This man had led Israel for decades, and did so with many unusual talents. Moses spoke to Pharaoh with authority. He called down plagues on Egypt. He parted the Red Sea, brought water from a rock, and stood face-to-face with God, receiving the law, when all the people trembled and sought other idols. Moses was graced with supernatural wisdom in dealing with the people, and continually received revelation on where the people should go or what they should do.

Moses led Israel, not by his own strengths and abilities, but by walking daily in the presence of the Lord. That was the promise God made to him at the burning bush encounter! 

“Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ He said, “But I will be with you…” (Exodus 3:11-12).

Now, after years of the supernatural taking place, Joshua is called to take over for Moses? Joshua is called to lead the people into an even more dangerous place, conquering kingdoms and claiming the promised land? How is he supposed to do that? Who wouldn’t be afraid?

In the midst of this calling is where God’s promise comes to Joshua, just as it had to Moses. “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

The Fear-Breaking Presence

Moses was afraid of Pharaoh and the people of Israel when God called him to lead the people from Egypt. It was only on the promise of God’s abiding presence that he agreed to go. Over and over again, in his life, he brings this promise back to the Lord. In Exodus 33:15-16, Moses essentially tells the Lord, “If Your presence is going to leave me, then kill me now. I’m not doing this without You.” He knew that his fears were justified, if the overcoming power of God was not at work in and through him.

In Joshua, it is now this same fear-breaking presence of God that comes upon him. Immediately after making the promise to be with him, God expects Joshua’s outlook and expectation to change.

“Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:5-6).

Joshua’s strength and ability to fulfill the vision the Lord gives him is directly tied to the presence of God in his life. Boldness comes in the presence of the Lord!

It Bears Repeating

God continues speaking to Joshua concerning the mission ahead of him. He gives an overview of the inheritance at stake. He then directs Joshua to keep righteousness according to the law of Moses as a priority. This would be a sign of his being “strong and courageous” (see Joshua 1:7-8).

Then, once again, so there is no misunderstanding, God makes clear the source of this boldness. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

From this point forward, throughout the book of Joshua, we see the presence of God at work, enabling Joshua to do everything God directed him to do. The Lord parted the waters so they cross the Jordan river on dry ground, the same way their ancestors crossed the Red Sea. Joshua is continually directed by the voice of the Lord in where to move, where to rest, how to build, and who to attack.

Over and over again, the miraculous is at work in Joshua’s life. Just think about the wall falling at Jericho as an example.

What About Us?

For those of us in the church, this principle is unchanged. While circumstances have changed in the details: how God saves His people, who is called to ministry, how we are called to serve, etc. What remains the same is that the task is much greater than we are. God is calling us to take the Gospel to every dark corner of the earth. That is scary! He is calling us to disciple entire nations. That is beyond any of our skillsets! 

The only way we are able to do everything He asks of us, and fulfill the visions He gives, is to find our boldness in His presence. It is the same for the church as it was for Joshua and Moses! Our boldness comes in the presence of the Lord. The New Testament spells all of this out for us.

The Promise Is Made

In Jesus’ final day on earth, right before He ascended to Heaven, He reiterated the promise to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This isn’t the first time He told them that His presence would be with them, even if not physically. In John 14:12, He told them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” 

They were dismayed at His announcement that He was leaving, but in John 16:7, He again promises His presence to lead them and guide them in the work. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

In Luke’s recollection of Jesus’ final commissioning, He writes that Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Once again, His presence is tied with the strength and courage to fulfill the work God has called us to do in the earth!

So What Do We Do?

If it isn’t obvious already, we, too, must find our boldness in the presence of the Lord.

He has called you, as a believer, to do the work of saving the lost and expanding His Kingdom in the world. This task is bigger than you are capable of doing. The natural tendency is to be overwhelmed by the size of the mission and to shrink back in fear.

We cannot!

Just like Moses; just like Joshua, and just like the first apostles, we must learn to depend on God’s presence to give us courage. We must listen to His voice for the wisdom of what to do and how to go about it. 

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). We cannot let fear of failure, nor the size of the task ahead of us pull us down. It is true that everything is against us. We are fighting against bigger and more powerful enemies than Joshua did, and our enemy is actively seeking our destruction (see John 10:10). It is true that we are sometimes lacking in our knowledge and education. It is true that our finances run short. It is true that the size of our teams helping us complete the work are too small.

Yet it is still true that none of those things matter, because we have the presence and power of the Lord working on our behalf.

So what do we do?

  • We seek His presence, daily.
  • We listen for the voice of God. (See my blog series on hearing His voice, here.)
  • We await His instructions and wisdom to do the work.
  • We look for opportunities for Him to demonstrate His power.
  • We lay down our fear and find rest in the confidence that He is with us.

This is the principle we learn from Joshua, which has been demonstrated in every generation of believers in history! “Our Boldness Comes In the Presence of the Lord.”

Time to Take Action

So what about you? Do you live in fear of the calling on your life? Are you overwhelmed because God’s vision is too big for you to pull off alone? How can you seek His presence today to begin to turn things around? How does your prayer life need to change? Where do you need to seek wisdom and boldness to move forward? I would love to hear from you in the comments!

If you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would also be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email, below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for regular blog updates, and other ongoing #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership advice!

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How to Keep a Scripture Journal – Part 2

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In part 1 we talked about the logistics involved to keep a scripture journal, which is simple enough, but if you took the initiative to do those things, you know there is still something missing: actually journaling.

In this post I will tell you the sections or the elements that I have used in my own scripture journal for years and how it all works together for my quiet.

For most of you, this is just a jumping off point. Experiment with it and change it around to fit your own prayer and reading life. I assure you, this is not how mine started, and I am sure it will change some more as time goes on.

Date

Start of by writing the date… simple enough. When you go back to re-read your journal, this will tell you when that log was entered. It will also act as a divider between what you write today and yesterday.

Scripture

Next to the date, write out the portion of scripture that you are reading for the day. It would look something like this:

“July 13, 2019 — Read Genesis 1-2”

Underneath this heading, you will begin the actual journaling of what God is showing you in your reading. Write out the portion of scripture which the Lord highlighted during your reading. This may be a long passage or a small section of a verse, but be specific about the passage. If it is only a small part of what you read that day, you may even write the portion out.

You should then write out at least a paragraph explaining what you feel like God is teaching you through this. It may be big, or small; something personal to you or a new knowledge of Him. It could be something that challenges your understanding, or it may be a clarification to something you have been struggling with for a while. Whatever it is, write it down. For example:

“In Genesis 1:26, God says “let us make man in our image.” It is interesting to me that God speaks of Himself in the plural, which I believe to be a reference to the Trinity. God exists in a personal, intimate community. Then again in Genesis 2:18, God says, “it is not good that the man should be alone.” So He created the woman. This first family was also the start of Christian community. There is something about being created in the image of God which requires humans to live together and work for one another’s good…”

Continue to write until you have put into words exactly what God is showing you. If you have read my post on the “R.E.A.P. Method,” this is the E: Examine.

Application

Next you will move on to the A of R.E.A.P.: Apply. Write out another paragraph to yourself exploring the personal application of this new truth, as the Holy Spirit leads. If God is the one speaking this to you, then how do you respond? What do you need to do TODAY with this truth? What does it look like in the next few days or weeks? This is where it gets introspective, leading to discipline and a plan for personal sanctification.

Praises

After your Bible time, you should begin to turn your focus to a time of prayer. For me a journal is not only a record of my time in the Word, but it is also a tool for my prayer time for that day.

Begin by thinking back over the previous day and writing down all the things that you are thankful for. If your prayer time is in the morning, this would be a reflection on the day before. If your prayer time is in the evening, then go over the day you are just finishing. Since we know that all good things come from God, this will guide you in your praise of Him. Be sure to write out specific praises here; not just generalities.

Struggles

This is where you have to be honest with yourself and confront sin. Again, this is looking over the previous day, but instead of looking at what good things God did, you will look at how you have messed up. How have you not walked closely with Him when you should have, or where have you given into temptations.

Now, just for reference, this isn’t always ‘big’ sins. Most of the time this is where I have to confront my pride, selfishness, anger or anxiety issues. A brief overview of my journal would reveal that usually this section is dealing with my failures in relationship with others, rather than with God. Whatever the Holy Spirit reveals, this is the place to get them out and deal with them in repentance. Remember, “His mercies are new every morning.”

Requests

This section is where you will list personal needs to bring to God. For me, it is where I write out my requests for grace on my own life for the new day. It may be events or projects I will be facing over the next few weeks and how I need God’s mercy to pull it off. It may be that I am getting sick, or stressed, or depressed and requests in that direction as well. Simply tell Him what you need from Him at this point. He wants to take care of you.

People

Finally, you will list any requests on behalf of other people. It may be that people have asked you to pray for them. Maybe you simply know someone is sick or having trouble at work, or even that there is sin in their lives pulling them away from God. This list is a place to remind yourself that you are part of the body of Christ and it is not all about you. I usually ask the Holy Spirit, “who do you want me praying for, today?” as well.

Placemarker

Technically, this is not a section in your prayer journal, but it is just as important. It is related to the Requests and People sections, but it is a standard list you pray for every day, that doesn’t really change on a daily or weekly basis. You won’t re-write this very often.

Take a half sheet of normal paper and form it into a kind of bookmark. On this sheet, write out the requests and people you pray for every day. You should write them out by name, in the following categories:

  1. Family/Friends: List your spouse, kids, extended family members you pray for regularly, and any friends God lays on your heart for a season.
  2. Intercessory Assignments: List out the people God has called you to intercede for regularly. For me, I have a small group of ministry friends around the world that I have an assignment to pray for regularly.
  3. Church: Pastoral staff and families, long-term church goals and spiritual growth, community group, etc.
  4. Work: bosses, co-workers, customers/clients, etc.
  5. Lost People: Who are you asking God to save? Write them out here.
  6. Projects/Events: Do you have any major things going on that need regular prayer? Maybe you are writing a book or working to fundraise for a mission trip next year. List the things that will be in your prayer journal for some time in this section.

Because this is a separate sheet of paper, it acts as my placemarker in the journal. Just move it from page to page as you go through.

Putting It All To Use

Once you have spent time in the Word, looked at how it applies to you, and have listed all of your prayer items, then take time walking through your list with God. This may take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour or more, depending on your personal prayer life.

I know it might sound like the process of writing everything out first might make it seem pretty impersonal. I have not found that to be the case. Instead, having it all there in front of you as you pray will help you to keep focused on prayer, and not get distracted with the other things around you.

Even though it sounds like a lot of writing, this usually only takes up about half a page in my journal. And again, you may not use all of these sections, or you may have more. The idea, though, is that this is a tool which will help you draw closer to God and to have a record of how far He has brought you. It is great to be able to look back in my journal from years ago, and remember what the Lord has done in me.

So what do you think? Is your prayer journal different than what you have done before? What would you change? More importantly, do you think you might try it? Let me know. The comment section is for you.

If you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email, below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for blog updates!

(This post was originally published January 28, 2010. It has been revised and edited for reposting.)

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Five Supernatural Works of the Holy Spirit

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On my blog, I have written much about the Holy Spirit, hearing His voice, and some of His gifts. He is one of my favorite topics. However, I have never spent much time writing generally about who He is or what He does. I want to change that. In asking the question, “What does the Holy Spirit do?,” I want to look at 5 works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

After all, as followers of Christ, we should expect His Spirit to work in our lives! The Holy Spirit is God. He is one with the Father and the Son (Jesus). Yet, He is “God inside you.” He is always present. Once a person is saved, it is the Holy Spirit who comes to live with them; to help them and guide them in the Christian life. 

He brings conviction of sin and reveals righteousness.

Jesus said in John16:8 that“ when (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”  I love that the Bible does not just say that He convicts believers of sin and righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit of God who empowers human conscience to recognize right and wrong, and to feel guilt and shame when we do bad things.

This revelation of sin and righteousness is part of the ‘common grace’ God bestows on the world. It is what allows non-believers in governing roles to set up just systems of laws. This grace is what keeps communities civilized, and working for the common good. It allows restraint of our sinful nature, even when we do not believe in Him.

More than that, it is the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and righteousness at work in people’s lives that first draw them to the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ. Unless a person is aware of the separation between themselves and their creator, caused by sin, they will never seek a way to overcome the gap.

As Jesus said in John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

He is the one who gives us new life in Jesus. 

In a conversation with a religious leader of Israel, Jesus was explaining how a person enters the Kingdom of God. In John 3:3-6 He says, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus (the religious leader) said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’” 

We know that Jesus died for our sins, in order to allow us to be born again. Yet He tells us that it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are brought into God’s kingdom and family.

When a person puts their faith in Jesus, we often say things like “Jesus came into my heart.” That statement isn’t actually true, however. Jesus is seated in heaven at the right hand of God. It is the Holy Spirit who comes in and lives inside of us, mingling with our own Spirit, from the moment we believe in Christ. The Bible calls this being “sealed by the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). 

As we will see shortly, this is just the first step of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives as believers. There is so much more to come!

He makes us holy (or “sanctifies” us).

In 1 Corinthians 6:11, the Apostle Paul tells us, “ but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  It is not enough simply to be saved from sins and justified before the Father. We must be washed clean, and sanctified, which means “to be made holy.”

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, that when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and mingles with our own spirits, that He does a work to make us like Him. In fact, the command on the believer’s life is, “Be holy as I AM holy” (see 1 Peter 1:16).

As a student of history, I love reading about the great revivals of the past. What strikes me as very interesting in this study, however, is that most of the most powerful revivals did not start with miracles, healings, and supernatural wonders. They started with a conviction of sin and a great calling out to God to make us holy! The first Great Awakening in America was the international spread of what was first called The Holiness Revival in the U.K. The Welsh Revival, which preceded Azusa Street, began when a youth group confessed sin and called out to be made Holy.

This pursuit of holiness attracts the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and into our communities. Again, it shouldn’t surprise us that the Holiness movement, marked by a pursuit of “complete sanctification” in the Holy Spirt preceded the Pentecostal movement, marked by the pursuit of power.

God wants to clean us up and make us like Himself, before He wants to send us out as witnesses and examples to the world. In Him there is power and authority to resist temptation and put sin to death in ourselves. While we may never achieve perfection on this side of eternity, when we put our trust in the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives, we will definitely get closer to His perfect holiness, the longer we walk in Him. 

He teaches us. 

One of the more incredible things that Jesus said to His disciples is in John16:12-13: He said“ I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” 

I believe that the Bible is the final authority and revelation of God. It is to be trusted above all other revelatory “words.” Yet Jesus clearly says there is still more to be told to us, and that we should expect the Holy Spirit to speak to us.

As I have already written extensively on the subject of hearing God speaking to us, I will not say much here. (You can find those articles here, here, here, and here.)

However, we cannot neglect the fact that the Holy Spirit is not impersonal. He lives in us and wants to interact with us in relationship. We must listen to His teaching and wisdom for our lives!

He empowers us with gifts for His service. 

One of the last things Jesus spoke to His disciples before He left was concerning the Holy Spirit’s work. In Acts 1:8 He says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” This filling of the Holy Spirit with power has historically been called “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” This is very different than our being sealed with the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation. This is now an overtaking of our lives for service to the Kingdom of God.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit releases us to walk in the love of Christ for everyone we meet. As the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “the love of Christ controls us.” Being activated in that love, His power then comes to work releasing the Kingdom of God in power, signs and wonders.

Once a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they will begin to develop supernatural gifts, such as prophecy, healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, and many more. You can read about these gift in depth in 1 Corinthians 12-14, but please take note of the emphasis on love that Paul makes as He explains their use.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is secondary to salvation. This is why in the book of Acts, the question is asked multiple times of new believers, “did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?” (For examples, see Acts8:14-17 and Acts 19:2.) Often, the answer was no, so the mature believers would lay hands on them and pray for them to be filled.

The truth is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers, just as the rest of His works we have discussed in this post.

To wrap up, let me just say this to you, my dear reader. The Holy Spirit is still alive and active in the world. If you have never felt a conviction of your sin, or put your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, I would encourage you to say a simple prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to you. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

If you have been born again, but have never found freedom from your sin and temptations, then spend some time in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to give you power to overcome the sin in your life. Out loud, confess your sins to Him and take authority in the name of Jesus to rebuke those temptations in your life. He will empower you to find the victory.

If you have never heard the voice of God, then right now find a quiet space and simply ask Him to speak to you. If you need guidance in how to listen for Him, you can check out my other posts on that subject.

Finally, if you have never received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and His supernatural power to be a witness for Christ, you should begin praying for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and release those gifts to you. If you struggle with this, then find another believer how is baptized in the Spirit, and simply ask them to lay hands on you and pray for you to receive.

All of these things are for you! We must simply ask

As Jesus said in Luke11:14, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

If you are enjoying what you are reading on my blog, I would be honored if you would subscribe to my weekly email, below. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for blog updates!

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