Pastor’s Blog 12.19.18

Discretion in its simplest definition is the ability to speak without causing offense. I would say that in my years of leading in the church, one of the greatest challenges to unity in the faith is the lack of discretion in church relationships. It seems some folks can’t rest at the end of the day until they offend someone. I have to credit my Mother with teaching me much of the art of discretion. Discretion and empathy are closely related.

So when do we say what we really think and when do we just keep our opinion to ourselves? Here is where wisdom steps in and tempers our communications and responses. Remember, wisdom anticipates consequences so before I say what I want or feel I need to say, I play it forward and think of the consequences first.

In my self-talk I am asking, “Is this the right time, place or opportunity to say this?”

“Am I willing to accept the fallout of what I am about to do?”

“What will the collateral damage be and is that a reasonable cost?”

You might be thinking, shouldn’t I say what I know is right? One of my favorite go to sayings is, “You may be right but lonely.” Let’s look at the best example we have – Jesus.

Matthew 8:2-4

2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” NKJV

Matthew 16:20

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. NKJV

Mark 7:34-36

34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. NKJV

Luke 8:52-56

52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”

53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.

54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”

55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened. NKJV

There are things that happen in our congregational worship that are precious, intimate, and private to people’s personal lives. It amazes me how some believers will capture a wonderful moment in a worship experience, and then blast it out on facebook to an unbelieving world of haters and mockers, and actually do more harm to the cause of Christ than good. When unsure, remember what I said above, think forward, ask yourself the questions…ask for wisdom! James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

This is a good reminder to anticipate the consequences and think before you speak, before you do, and before you post or tweet!!

Until next time,
Pastor Dave

The God of Justice is Rising…..

On Wednesday, 12.12.18 – a prophetic song broke forth about God’s justice arising.  It was not only powerful, but it came on the 12th day of the 12th month…(12 is the biblical number for government!)

Here is a link to the clip of this song:

The God of Justice is Rising

Here are the words…..

The God of justice is rising, the God of justice is rising,
He’s gonna make the wrong things right, He’s gonna make the wrong things right

The God of justice is rising, the God of justice is rising,
He’s gonna make the wrong things right, He’s gonna make the wrong things right

HEAR HIS ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah!  HEAR HIS ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The God of justice is rising, the God of justice is rising,
He’s gonna make the wrong things right, He’s gonna make the wrong things right.

HEAR HIM ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   HEAR HIM ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Lion of Judah  HEAR HIM ROAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The people of God, we are arising, marching to the task that He’s enforcing

Not holding back, lifting our voices – we’re gonna stand, we’re gonna stand

The people of God are arising, picking up their swords to fight

Lifting up their shields of faith, for there’s an army arising!!!!

He’s gonna make the wrong things right (repeat 8x)

Speaking/declaring: Empowered by the Spirit, praying, interceding, oh we are going to lift our voices, not going to be lazy anymore – awaken us from complacency and slumber!

He’s gonna make the wrong things right (repeat 8x)

The God of justice is rising, the God of justice is rising,
He’s gonna make the wrong things right, He’s gonna make the wrong things right

Speaking….

Trust Him, Trust Him – when you are questioned trust Him for the words, The Spirit of God will tell you what to say. when you are questioned – stand – no matter what comes our way

He has the victory – it’s all right it is settled, He has the victory!  IT’S FINAL!  IT’S FINAL! IT’S FINAL.

OH THE GAVEL HAS COME DOWN!

Declaring – A Generation rising, this generation is hope A strong generation – a strong generation that will stand – who will fight for the cause – the cause of Christ!  Truth reporters standing up for holiness and righteousness  – a generation rising

The God of justice is rising, the God of justice is rising, He’s gonna make the wrong things right, He’s gonna make the wrong things right. (emd)

WOW – the anointing and the power of God was on those words.  Then it was followed up by a prophetic word through
Emily Ferguson:

When Nichole began to sing prophetically about Justice – He dropped this word in me.  He showed me that a lot of our lives look like just total havoc being wreaked on them right now by the enemy and that everywhere we look, in every area of our life, it seems that we are being come against by the enemy.  Whether it is our finances, our relationships or health – we look at God and go – what is the deal?  I am doing everything I know to do, I am standing  – I don’t know why this is happening – and He showed me this:

The enemy has been weaving around our lives like a playground, thinking God has surrendered us for defeat – but God says No, No, No, I’ve just stepped back for development and equipment for what is coming in your life.  Because you have stood, and it feels like “I can’t do anything”, but you’ve stood so that means that you’re winning!  As long as you keep standing you’re winning! Regardless of what your emotions are telling you, as long as you’re standing you are winning.  And as you have stood in the pressing and you have continued to press back, you began to shine and that shining came from the anointing that is pouring from your life that is for what is coming next for you.  And I heard the Spirit of God say: RECOMPENSE! (Nichole shared a word about recompense and I heard it echoing in my spirit again) Recompense and it means to make amends to someone who was harmed or has loss in their life.  So God is sweeping through our lives with recompense.

I heard His Spirit say  – the tides are turning, the tides are turning!  That as the tides turn  – a tsunami size wave is going to blow through our lives and take out everything in its path that was not intended for you by God.  So continue to stand.  When it doesn’t come when you think it should, know that God is not fast but He’s on time.  He may not do it when you think He should but His timing is perfect.  So when the sweeping comes it will be perfect.  Continue to stand because the tides are turning.

Pray – God I pray right now and I prophesy over this room that we will be a people that will stand, that we will not be easily moved, we will not be swayed by our emotions and what’s happening, but I speak that we will be a people that is firm.  We will be moved by our circumstances, we will stand and we will be bold in the face of our enemy because we know the power that is inside of us and we will declare the word of God and His promises in the face of our adversary and we will remind him whose we are in Jesus’ Name.

Then Deborah Guthrie added – The Lord says WHEN THE DUST SETTLES I WILL STILL BE HERE!

 

 

Presence vs Presents

There is a popular worship song written by Amanda Falk that says:
“Your Presence is all I need, It’s all I want, all I seek, Without it, without it there’s no meaning” The song goes onto declare “I will exalt You Lord, no other name be lifted high.”

I can’t help thinking of this song in this  Christmas season. As believers and disciples of Jesus, this truly is a great time of year. It is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. Traditionally, it is a time of charity and giving.

It all started with God. For God so loved us, that He GAVE His only son, – Jesus (to us) to redeem us from our fallen nature. (John 3:16) And, let’s face it, if Jesus never did another thing for us, His sacrifice for us was enough! To know that we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus…to know that as we accept Him and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! (1 John 1:9)

Wow, if we truly understood what all that entailed  for us, we would live a more grateful and thankful life!

So we sing and we say that we need His presence, and that without His presence, life truly has no meaning. However, as we just came off of Black Friday, which in many ways swallows up Thanksgiving, it seems that in 2018, PRESENTS is the most important thing. UGH!

Think about it, when is the last time you saw hundreds of people rise before dawn to seek the “presence of the Lord”?

Have you ever known of a time when that happened nationally? Or even just on a certain day? How many times do we arrive at church on Sunday before dawn to gather with others to pray? Have you ever seen lines outside of a church to get in to seek the presence of the Lord? (I’m not talking lines for a special event, but just to seek Jesus.) Even on the National Day of Prayer – I don’t ever recall a news story stating that “thousands of believers across the nation arose before dawn and flooded the streets and government buildings with prayer groups seeking the presence of God for our families and nation.” Do you?

Yet, how many thousands of people do this very thing seeking “presents” for Christmas.  From Black Friday to the day of, the presents that come with Christmas are generally the focus of the season.

Yes, we have had a few times of prayer in Washington, D.C., and in our capitals across the nation, I am not discounting that. However, in the season where we celebrate the birth of Christ, what if we truly sought HIS PRESENCE more than we seek Christmas presents? Oh if we could only grasp the depth of changes that would come to our families, our cities and our nation if we began to truly seek Him.

You might say, how can that be when we have no way of this happening nationally? We can’t look at it that way. We MUST do our part and as as the changes come to us, to our family, to our church, then it will spill out over the city and the state and then the nation. It has to start with someone…..why not you and me?  It starts with one family and then another, etc.

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” The word fullness in the Greek means – to be satiated or satisfied. And the word joy is gladness, happy, laughter, pleasure. Friends, there is not one “present” that we can give for Christmas that can completely satisfy and provide joy. Oh, there can be laughter and pleasure, but nothing from this earth will last forever. And let’s be honest, most gifts get tossed before the next Christmas season. But the gift of life, salvation, the redemption of the cross of Christ for which Jesus was born, these are all ETERNAL. Not only eternal, but they will satiate, satisfy, encourage, redeem, give life, hope and peace!

His PRESENCE! Nothing comes close, nothing is worth more, nothing can compare to the presence of our God.

Maybe you are saying you don’t really know how to get in His presence. I was that way at one time. I had to learn. It’s simple, really. Get alone, pick up His word, and read. Then meditate on that word and begin to worship Him. Begin to declare His attributes – something like – You are worthy, You are holy, thank You Lord for all that You have done for me! As you begin to think on Him and praise Him for His glorious deeds, His PRESENCE will come! He inhabits the praises of His people! Praise is like a doorbell for God and He is always home!

So, here is the challenge for this Christmas season – SEEK HIS PRESENCE! It’s wonderful to give gifts – presents – to those we love. Giving was instituted by our heavenly Father!  But, I want to challenge you, every time you go shopping or look for gifts online, I want to challenge you to set aside some time just to seek the presence of Jesus.  If you will do this,  I am telling you, it will be a Christmas season like you have never known!

 

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