Dare to Honor God

Pastor Ross preached last Sunday on Daring to Honor God from Malachi. Here are my thoughts and prayer.

God is preparing us for a visitation. He wants us to get ready and to be prepared for what He is about to do. He wants us to get our hearts right before Him and return to Him with all our heart. Then He will come with "healing in His wings" (4:2)

My prayer is that we would return to Him with honor. That we would stop giving Him the leftovers and honor God by putting Him first (Matt 21;33) I pray that we would give with a good attitude for the benefits of others that we might be a witness to the world.
ply words
May we be worshippers who honor God allow our worship to change us. May we get back to right relationships in our families and truly love each other (4:6) so that He can come in power and righteousness. May we give God His portion and test Him in this and see if He doesn't bless us. May we give in faith with a generous heart and spirit.

May we have a revelation of the supernatural power that comes when we release back to God his portion of the blessing and provision He has already given us. May God infuse what we have in our hand to give for His use with Holy Spirit power.

May we hear God's word as not simply words of instruction but words that come with power and the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. (1 Thess 1). Words that cause us to honor God, to respect Him and return with all our heart. May we revere His name so that the "sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings" (4:2). Then we will trample down the wicked and He will trun the hearts of the fathers to their children and the children to their fathers. (4:5)

What are the things I am living for?

"Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for"
Leonard Ravenhill

I found this quote when I was doing some research on revival. I will need some time to reflect on this and ask God to reveal the real condition of my heart and my passions. I am made aware of all the wasted time and the unnecessary things I do through out the day. The time spent in front of the television or even the computer. The time I spend on my own selfish desires and mindless hungers. What are the things that I do with my life that are worth Christ dying for? Father, strip my of all my perceived good works and allow me to see what is left that is worth Jesus dying on the cross. Purify me and help me to live each day in honor and glory to your name.

Gossip

Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts."

It seems these days that those who call themselves Christ-followers are as caught up with gossip as the rest of the world. It's not that we gossip ourselves, of course (though what we do in prayer will be the subject of another blog) but that we seem to be obsessed with reading about it or watching it on TV. Somehow, because we are not the purveyor of the gossip and its not about someone we know personally, we think that it is acceptable. This isn't limited to women's magazines and TV shows about the rich and famous either. We see it on Oprah, and every morning show that is out there. We can see it on every reality show and if you look you'll even see it on the news. We have an uncanny way of dressing it up and calling it something else. The news stations call it news we need to know about important people. The question is: why is it news and why do they think I need to know it? Let's not fool ourselves, listening to gossip is every bit as damaging as being the one who spreads it.

Here's what the word of the Lord says: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. The gossips words are inticing and intreaguing. They are tasty and delicious. But the bigger problem is what happens to these choice morsels. They are digested and go down into our inmost parts. In other words they go deep into our spirit and we carrying them around with us, living on and on. We love to hear that someone who appears so beautiful or accomplished really is not. We take it in and somehow it makes us feel better. But how often has a word of idle gossip slandered that person or proved to be out right lies. And when we heard it did we even question its authenticity?

God's word tells us to set (focus, determine, concentrate) our minds on things above and not on earthly things. Perhaps instead of "digesting" that tasty bit of gossip we should offer it back to God with humility (we could some day find ourselves in their position) and intercede earnestly asking God what He would want us to do.

As fun and unharmful the world may think gossip is as believers may we be all the wiser seeking to reflect the love and character of Christ in all we do.

Maralyn Mathias

As some of you know, Maralyn Mathias, one of our missionaries, passed from this life to be with Jesus the One she came to know so personally through her struggle with ALS. I am attaching a link to her blog for anyone who would like to read about her last days and the deep relationship that was formed between her and her savior. My prayer is that we all would come to that place of intimacy with Jesus.

You can find her blog at maralynsupdates.blogspot.com

Stand Firm and Pray

This was the emphasis for our week of prayer this past week. Ephesians 6:13 says: Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after having done everything, to stand.

Exodus 14:13 says: Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

Each day of the week we put on and prayed through one piece of the armor. This wasn't about saying a rote prayer and religiously putting on our armor. Hopefully through meditating on the protection of each piece, we were able not only to know the purpose of each piece but come to a clear understanding of how each piece offers us protection against the lies and schemes of the enemy.

My hope is that we learn to appropriate each piece in our lives. May we become ever more aware of the protection, power and strength we have as we know Truth, understand our Right standing with God through Jesus, hold confidently to our Salvation, ready ourselves to carry the gospel of Peace, allow God to increase our Faith, and earnestly desire to read and know God's Word.

Truth, Righteousness, Salvation, Peace, Faith and the Word of God. Know who you are because of Jesus. Be prepared to stand your ground for the enemy WILL come and we must be ready. God's promise is to deliver us if we stand firm.