A Word on Love

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

Love is that fruit of the Spirit that allows God’s power to flow through us by way of the gifts that He has provided. Loveless-ness causes friction. Removing love from this blueprint would be akin to removing the oil from your engine’s crankcase. A car without oil will run for a while, making a whole lot of noise, and then stop entirely.

A Better Illustration From God

And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the hem of the robe all around between the pomegranates: a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe to minister in, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Exodus 39:25-26

What’s the significance?

We might notice how the bells are symbolic of the Lord’s gifts and the pomegranates are representative of His love; a fruit of the Spirit (and friction-fighter). In other words, God has painted a ‘bell-fruit-bell’ picture for the church, with the pomegranate (love) as the cushion. Without this buffer of love between each gifting, would we not be left with a cacophony of metal clanging against metal, but with love in-between, each jingle is a clear tone, distinguishable one from another and harmonious one with another! This is how our spiritual gifts should flow.

Read Full Post »

Don’t Call Me a Prayer Warrior

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

Prayer Warrior

It’s a term we all recognize. I have used it, my pastor has used it, and probably every Christian I’ve been blessed to schmooze with through the years, has used it. We use the expression because it best describes the actions of those of the faith who earnestly lift others in prayer; who consistently and persistently go before the Lord with all requests, supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings, and often time while possessing prayer lists and maintaining prayer logs. They are classified as our  ‘go to’ people within the body of Christ when an appeal, a plea, or petition is desired. That brings me to a twofold question:

“Is the label right (and by ‘right’ I mean Biblical), and is it harmful?”

I’ll explain. First…

Is it Biblical?

The short answer is, I don’t believe so. While there are certainly folks in the church who fit the definition, I’m not convinced God would concur that a special designation is called for. Is being a prayer zealot a gift of the Holy Spirit? If so, I’m not seeing it. The Bible records three main passages regarding spiritual gifts: Romans 12:6-8;1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28. According to the list, we see…

Prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues.

But, I don’t see prayer warrior on the list.

I suppose you could make an argument that tenacious prayer falls under one (or more) of these categories, but I sense that’s when we begin to stretch the doctrine a little too thin. Let’s be honest, prayer is a vital component of each of these giftings, but is not the actual gift.

Is it Harmful?

Yes, I believe it is, and I’ll tell you why — our Father in Heaven desires that we all pray in this manner. Could we really believe that the Lord would want us to delegate our conversation to somebody else; someone who we perceive is better at it then we are? Where in the Bible does God suggest to us to go find a prayer warrior, or even to make a separate distinction? Nowhere that I can find, but I do see this…

“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34

Elevating someone to the status of prayer warrior may encourage the believer who happens to fit the mold, but it simultaneously sends an erroneous message that this person is gifted in a way that we are not, and therefore, we have been relieved of this duty. Do we really believe that? Aren’t prayer warriors doing the very thing that we are called to do? Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that prayer warriors are obedient, rather than gifted? Finally, should we be seeking out a prayer mediator when the Father has already provided us one?

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” 

Haven’t we also been given a Helper in our pursuit of prayer?

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26

Here’s the truth — God desires all His children pray in this manner! The fact that you don’t now is not the point. God never intended that in your discouragement (in this regard) you turn to another Christian, but rather you turn to Him. Therein lies the point!

Look at these directives from God’s word…

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

There is nothing in there that remotely suggests we find a prayer warrior to do this for us.

Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19

Do you see anything in there that implies this is somebody else’s job? Me either. The one thing that does jump out at me [is] that if we’re not praying like this, we’re throwing water on the fire that is the Holy Spirit. That cannot be good.

One more…

“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Ephesians 6:17-18

The Last Word

Try to look at like this — it’s the church (not God) that has created a prayer warrior status. When we serve to encourage others with the moniker, it is a wonderful, Christian gesture, but what we’re really saying (when we use the term), is that we recognize there is a great void within the body Christ that only very few are filling. It might be better to recognize this Christian’s faithful obedience instead. May I suggest that the next time we sense the need to identify another believer in this manner, that we also ask the Lord to examine our own hearts to determine why the title is not befitting for us. The question should not be, “Lord, why am I not a prayer warrior,”  but rather, “Why am I not submitted to Your will in my life?”

Am I suggesting we should not seek out others to pray for us?

Heaven forbid!

We are called to pray for one another. I’m saying that there is not a circumstance to ever shy away from being the type of communicant the Lord wants us to be or to relegate the duty to someone else. God wants to talk with us directly and has fully equipped us to be fervent communicators.

Talk — God is listening.

These articles may or may not be related:

• The Power of Prayer & The Spoken Word (walkingwithawarrior.com)
• Unanswered Prayer ~ (poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com)
• The Incense of Prayer (shawnethomas.com)
• Types of Prayer – 3 (Thank Him for What He Has Done and Will Continue to Do) (watchandprayblog.wordpress.com)
• Girls With Swords: Chapter 6 – “Becoming A Warrior” – “Saul’s Warrior Son” (Pgs 90-98) (girlfriendscoffeehour.com)
• I Got My Name (kelund.wordpress.com)
• The Pros and Cons of Being a Prayer Warrior (rosemichels.wordpress.com)
• Urgent Prayer Need Calling All Prayer Warriors! (deweymoede.wordpress.com)
• TALKing with God (via Kindling) (thesovereign.wordpress.com)
• I GET to go again. (heatherlconrad.com)

If you enjoyed the post please like it, share it, comment on it, or subscribe to it. Frankly, I am blessed that you stopped by to read it today. God bless you too!

Read Full Post »

Something About Fruit

“And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.” Deuteronomy 26:1-2

Dust Collecting

Several years ago while attending my first Creation Festival I found myself walking by the Gospel For Asia ministry booth where they were handing out a free book called, “Revolution in World Missions.” I took it (because it was free), brought it home, and placed it on a shelf where it sat, unopened, for five years.

Shame on me.

When I finally read the book the Lord opened my eyes and I was sorry that I had let the power of this book sit on a shelf, unused, for so very long. The Lord had given me a gift, and I received it, but I failed to use it. I share the story because I sense that far too many Christians receive gifts from God and allow them to collect dust.

The issue is subtlety addressed in the passage from Deuteronomy 26, in that we receive God’s inheritance (we possess it; we dwell in it), then we give (not hoard) the first-fruits as an offering back to God. But where do those fruits come from? If you said they’re from God, you’re correct, but they’re produced when we exercise and utilize the gifts of God. If we accept His gift, but do nothing with it, there is no fruit to be had.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you (1 Timothy 4:14a)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:6a)

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  (1 Peter 4:10)

God and Fruit

We know that God does not need anything from us; He already owns it all. So why all the fruit? I believe God does not want the fruit for Himself, but for us. As we obtain the blessing from God, utilize it, and endeavor to give a small portion of the yield back to Him, the result is a bountiful harvest that goes full circle bringing honor, glory, and praise to the Provider of it all!

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:8

Rotten Fruit

Funny thing about fruit; it doesn’t store very well. When we hoard it, or when we ignore it, it tends to rot. In contrast, when we use it, it tends to grow back in abundance. Ask my wife — she maintains the rose bushes around the yard. If you want a lot of flowers, pick off the buds before they bloom. The result is generally a yield three times greater than the original growth. God did that; the same design He worked into roses He worked into us.

Want More Fruit?

Give it away whenever the Lord moves in your heart to do so; or least make it accessible to anyone who desires to partake. We need not worry; our Father is faithful to replenish the harvest!  He has done it before, He is doing it today, and He will do it tomorrow.

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

The Psalmist reminds us that we’re not much more than a conduit for God’s gracious blessings to pass through. Tap into this marvelous deluge and it percolates up through the timber, transforming vital liquid into succulent fare.  All we need do is to position ourselves, or more precisely, allow ourselves to be divinely positioned in close proximity to this river of Living Water in order to receive the gift(s).

A Final Thought

If it seems that His blessings have abated and the fruit has dwindled, there stands the likelihood that we have moved to withdraw our roots from this incessant torrent. Know with certainty that the riverbed of the Lord never dries up. If your faith is dry it is because you have wandered away from the water source.

“But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

1. What do the verses say about God?
2. What do they say about us?
3. What should be our response?

These articles may or may not be related:

• Be Blessed. How? (kswpgoodfriends.wordpress.com)
• Step 3 Be Faithful In Obedience (shareaverse.wordpress.com)
• Devotional for the day: Deuteronomy 9:6 (johnmeunier.wordpress.com)
• Salvation (brakeman1.com)
• Psalms 1-7 (mybiblereadingplan.wordpress.com)
• Tithes (africanaprincess.wordpress.com)
• Ki Tavo: Thanks for the fruit (anitasilvert.wordpress.com)
• Return to Me! (shilohrestoration.org)
• If you want to know who you are in Christ (thebrokenheartedfoundationministry.wordpress.com)
• Step 4 Always Remember God Is Sovereign (shareaverse.wordpress.com)

Read Full Post »

Formula Revealed

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

When it comes to exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it’s obvious that churches have different approaches. Some have the ‘let all things’  part down, but aren’t too keen on the ‘decent and orderly’ perspective, while other congregations have nailed  ‘decent and orderly,’ but might be neglecting some of the gifts. The Apostle Paul adds some clarity by adding another component to the equation.

Let all things be done for edification. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:27, 33

Who’s Getting the Glory

Edification is just a fancy word for strengthening, or building up another person in the Lord as it pertains to the good of the church.  The root of the word essentially means, ‘to build a house.’ Properly exercised, edification does not take any glory away from God.  Ignored, it produces strife rather than peace. God is the author of peace and where there is no peace there is likely no body-building going on.  And where there’s no strengthening of the body there is probably no order or decency.  Reverse the negative trend and a usable pattern emerges.

All things + Order + Edification = A Strong, Loving, Peaceable Church

“This sounds like my church.”

Then I thought about it more deeply.  I remembered that my congregation, like me, is a work in progress.  If I’m honest, the church I attend is not operating as smoothly, as efficiently, and as effectively as we could.  I further see that I am part of the problem and by God’s grace, part of the solution.   Remembering that Christ is the faithful provider, if the situation is to improve, it can start with me.

I must purpose in my mind to exercise the spiritual gifts I have access to, in an orderly fashion, in a manner which builds up rather than tears down,  for the singular purpose of bringing glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am not saying that this is a work we must do.

If anything, it’s a commission that we get to do.  If there’s a sense of obligation that comes  from anywhere other than gratitude, the effort is of little use because it’s misguided. Our motivation in this realm is directly proportionate to gratitude, and if it isn’t, then a reexamination of doctrinal terms ‘deliverance and redemption’ would be in order.  Why is Communion so important?  This is why.

What are Your Thoughts

1. What does your church like?
2. What would your church like if it were filled with a hundred of you?
3. Do you have gifts you’re ignoring?
4. Are you ‘in order’ or ‘out of order’?
5. How’s your gratitude?

Related articles

• How to Have a Strong Inner Man (supportinggodlywomen.wordpress.com)
• Edification, A Building Up (godfamilycountrylove.wordpress.com)
• What the Bible Teaches About Edification (verticalviewer.wordpress.com)

Read Full Post »