Volume 9 Post/Email 6 – The Boat
by brian
In my lesson last week, titled, A Church That Walks On Water, I mostly applied the story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-36. Toward the end I asked the application question - "What might be represented by the boat?" A few answers were offered. I added security, familiarity, comfort, etc.
However, ultimately, I believe the boat represents human ability. The disciples had been rowing in the storm for over 9 hours in a manmade boat, using manpower to try and stay afloat. To leave the boat and walk on the water is to leave trusting and relying on self-sufficiency for that of God-sufficiency.
Our prayers shouldn't be, "Lord, help us do the best we can." (Have you ever prayed or heard those before?)
Our prayers should be, "Lord, help us get out of our boat."
-Brian
Volume 8 Post/Email 6 – Daily Bread
by brian
Three weeks ago I prayed the Lord's prayer for 2 consecutive weeks as part of my daily praying. One request that has become more meaningful for me as a result is the phrase, "Give us this day our daily bread."
I could have titled this message "Daily Prayer." Instead, I have chosen "Daily Bread," because Jesus teaches us to pray specifically for daily bread.
What does this mean? For what are we asking?
In my judgment, this has two meanings, if not more.
One, we are communicating our need and desire for our heavenly Father to provide our basic resources for living. We confess our dependence upon Him for food.
What a simple, yet important need and request! It is humbling and sobering to mentally clarify, understand, and accept that we even need God for food.
Two, we are expressing our need for Jesus. Jesus is the Bread of Life, and we need Him daily!
We need both physical bread for living, and spiritual bread for life!
Ultimately, we need Jesus for sustenance and nourishment!
Reflection Question: Am I receiving a steady, daily diet of bread (Jesus)?
-Brian
Volume 6 Post/Email 3 – Christian Fellowship
by brian
Today (Sunday) has been a bundle of blessings for me. The time spent in worship this morning and evening were both edifying. My youngest brother joining Jamie and I for worship and lunch was a pleasant surprise. Visiting in a home this afternoon with 7 other Christians for visiting and prayer was encouraging. And the icing on the cake was spending almost 3 hours at JA this evening. After an hour of worship, we spent almost two more hours in fellowship. I was blessed by the many personal and positive conversations and quality time building closer relationships. I thank God this evening for my church family. James Avenue is a congregation with immeasurable love and heart.
I was especially uplifted toward the end of the evening by the 20 minutes or so of talking with and listening to Tim share with me more about the details of their journey with Caleb. When you consider the time that passed until the news could get to the top where there was cell phone service, to the forty minutes it took for the helicopter to arrive after the 911 call and all the critical time that passed, to the numerous scary occasions after Caleb came out of his coma concerning his brain and even liver, kidneys, etc., it is truly incredible to see him walking and playing [and "amening" 
] tonight at James Avenue. It all goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), Caleb's story is one incredible testimony to the power of prayer. His healing and progress throughout the past 3 months is a tremendous encouragement and blessing to all of us. And as Larry mentioned tonight, seeing Tim and Tiffany's faith through this adversity is also a positive testimony and example for us.
I realize this elguy is a little more "informal", but I just decided to share some of the blessings of this day concerning the handiwork of God and a brief expression of my gratitude for times of fellowship and for Christian friendships.
-Brian
Volume 6 Post/Email 2 – Spiritual Healing
by brian
What I feel moved to mention today pertaining to a brief message of hope and application for elguy is on spiritual healing. Ultimately, this is what the church and Jesus is about. We all need the healing touch of Christ at our core. The spiritual darkness and inward struggle with sin we experience can always be healed by the Light! This week can be transformational if we will walk in the light (John 8:12 ; 1 John 1:7).
Wherever you are at on the path of spiritual recovery, accept my encouragement to pray privately and fervently this week about your life and sanctification. Be open while speaking (and listening) in your prayer closet to whatever change/repentance is needed and expected from Him.
When we seek, God responds. Whether through reading words in Scripture, words from a book or article based on Scripture, through prayer, people and conversations, etc. God is at work through the Holy Spirit opening eyes and restoring sight. When Jesus and the Comforter have our attention and cooperation they can do their work.
As we meditate upon our character, we should and must confess any identified struggles and sins. I John 1:9 promises that God will move to forgive AND CLEANSE US.
Will we join other saints across the globe this week in pursuing a closer walk with Christ?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 8 – Faith(#8)
by brian
As best biblical scholars can tell, Habakkuk was written in 607 B.C. just prior to the Bablyonian invasion and exile of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. This event results in thousands of casualties and loss of freedom for the survivors.
The first 2 chapters describe a conversation between God and the prophet Habakkuk about why this is happening to all of Judah, including the "righteous".
Chapter 3 concludes with a prayer set to music (v.1, 19). The end of the prayer is a powerful expression of faith, as Habakkuk tells God that no matter how bad circumstances become, he will continue to rejoice in the Lord. May this reading bless us.
3:17-19 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." For the director of music on my stringed instruments.
Reflection question: Would my current faith be described accurately as one of worship and rejoicing when circumstances are challenging or unpleasant?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 7 – Faith(#7)
by brian
Below are two other insightful and inspirational Scriptures on faith, prayer and angels. -Brian
Daniel 10:10-12 > A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you." And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
Acts 12:5-7 > So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the LORD appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
It's interesting to me that in both stories there was a delay in God's revealing his answer to prayer. For Daniel, the angel tells him in the next verse (13) that he was delayed 21 days, even though his prayer was heard since the first day (v. 12). For Peter, God waits until the very night before his trial (v. 6).
A good application/reflection question: For whom or what have I quit praying earnestly?
Volume 4 Post/Email 6 – Faith(#6)
by brian
Something that helps me to believe in the practice of prayer is angels. Not only are there hundreds of references to angels in Scripture, but there are several in the context of prayer. Often when praying I envision God releasing an angel or angels to attend to my request(s). Sometimes I even ask God to send an angel or angels as part of my prayer. Below are three Scriptures pertaining to faith, prayer and angels. (I will share two others in the next post!)
May these increase our faith, refresh our praying, and renew our worship. -Brian
Psalm 34:6-7 > "This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
Luke 22:43-44 >"An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."
Revelation 8:3-5 > "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake."
Volume 4 Post/Email 5 – Faith(#5)
by brian
Ephesians 3:20 reads, "Not to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us."
Prayer is an act of faith. We pray because we believe in the presence and power of God, and that God responds to our prayers from faith.
We cannot quantify the power of God, nor the power of prayer. God can do "immeasurably more" than anything we can ask or fathom. But we can believe in God's power and accessing this power through prayer.
Yet, sometimes we neglect prayer. Why?
And sometimes, we pray puny prayers. We do not expect much. Why?
We should believe in and pray to the God who moves mountains.
Furthermore, we should not give up on others, nor ourselves. God's Spirit can bless and change anyone. Scripture has numerous examples of people, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, but nevertheless, people who are positively transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Whenever spiritual conversion and spiritual change/growth occur, this is concrete evidence of the power of God at work in us.
For whom have you witnessed God's answer to pray in your past?
Believe in and practice Ephesians 3:20. It is a promise from God, who is faithful.
A good application/reflection question: Who am I currently praying for?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 2 – Faith(#2)
by brian
Do you navigate toward believing matters are possible, or impossible?
In Matthew 17:20 Jesus states, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
What an incredible concept! Mustard seed faith moves God to move mountains.
Jesus is looking for faith. Discipleship requires trust.
Consider some of the many challenging teachings of Jesus - forgiveness, not worrying, loving an enemy, generosity, servanthood, accepting ridicule and persecution, and prayerfulness.
Whether or not we do all of these hinges upon the issue of faith. When matters don't make sense, or we would tend to worry, faith is what transforms us and causes obedience to these teachings.
Faith and prayer are lifestyle choices and habits of Jesus-followers. Believing "the impossible" is to be typical for Christians. Jesus says, "Nothing" will be impossible for you.
Remember that whatever mountains are in your life are not nearly as big as the God in your life!
-Brian
Volume 3 Post/Email 8 – Colossians 4:2
by brian
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
When my spiritual life is unfocused, I suffer. A lack of devotion to speaking with God is costly.
1. I am not prepared to deal with Satan and temptation when I am not devoted to prayer.
2. My attitude drifts from being grateful and positive when I am not devoted to prayer.
3. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ is less of a priority when I am not devoted to prayer.
Colossians 4:3 reads, "And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."
Colossians 4:5 reads, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."
Am I watchful and thankful?
Without being devoted to prayer, being thankful is difficult, and being watchful even harder.
However, when my spiritual life is focused, God grants me wisdom and strength for any temptation.
When my spiritual life is focused, God cleanses my heart from ungrateful, unloving, and negative attitudes.
When my spiritual life is focused, God's will for my influence on others is my will, and so I am watchful for people to pray for and to have beneficial spiritual conversations with.
Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
A good measure for assessing my spiritual conversations is whether they are grace-oriented. Paul teaches us to be "full of grace" when talking with others about God.
Obviously, being "devoted" (vs. 2) implies an ongoing, continual, everyday practice.
Everyday Let God Use You to pray for others, speak with others, and be a Christian example for others.
Let's be devoted to prayer, being watchful and thankful!
-Brian