Listen

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  John 10:27

A wonderful thing is involving children in church league sports.  I had a bonus blessing while watching my granddaughter play basketball on her 6 to 8 year old team.  At halftime, in addition to getting a rest and refreshment, the official called both teams together and they all sat in front of him.  

As both teams sat together he read John 10:27.  He then asked the girls this simple question, “When you’re on the court during the game who do you listen to?”  Several good answers were shouted, to include “God,” “Jesus,” and finally one girl said, “My coach!”  That was the answer he was looking for, “Yes,” he said.  The referee then told them that because you know the coach personally, you recognize the coach’s voice, you then listen to the coach’s voice, and you follow what you are told. 

His point was simple.  No matter who is yelling what you’re to do, only listen to the coach’s voice to follow.  In every portion of life, you will hear a lot of different voices telling you what to do, but know the voice of Jesus, then, follow Jesus.   

Listen, follow,

Owen <><

Secret Whispers

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:6-8

The essence in prayer isn’t flowery words, long prayers, one’s status, or rituals (Luke 18:10-13).  The secret prayer will attract the Spiritual ear of the Father when offered in the Name of Jesus; then, God responds favorably (Luke 18:14, John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23).

When we know our, or someone else’s’ need, a simple, often private, prayer is all that is needed.  God knows the need before you ask, and hears the deepest secrets of your heart.  You are rewarded as God’s glory, compassion, and power is revealed.  What is the condition for answered payer?  Simply, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8).

 

He is listens to whispers, then whispers into your spirit.  

Owen <>< 

Take a Walk

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.   Hebrews 11:29

We go through life worried how we can accomplish our goals or overcome adversities in life.  Yet, we are needful of the simplicity of walking as God leads.

 

God lead the children of Israel through a wilderness, from hopelessness the adversary, the slavery of Egypt.  It was God who provided the ability to reach the other side, the desires of their heart, the Promised Land. God lead them to the place where they would have fullness of life, where there is no choice but to turn utterly to Him, walking away form slavery given by the world around them.

On life’s journey God makes things happen.  Moses merely had to lift up a rod and the water of the Red Sea parted in order to walk into God’s promise.  Although they journeyed through a dry place, the desert, God meet their needs of daily bread.  How?  On the lifetime journey Israel, as you and I, were enabled by walking in faith of God.  By faith they went through their greatest barrier:  Israel didn't swim across, nor wade, nor endure quick sand, nor did they run in fear—by faith they walked, walked on dry ground as the adversary pursued them.  The adversary, faithless in the Lord, pursued God’s children across the sea, realizing too late, that only the faithful enter the promise.  Israel, you and I, are to walk through adversity in faith. 

We may be asked by God to lift up the rod, or simply gather our daily bread.  We live by exercising the rod of God’s empowerment, and by gathering the provision of daily bread.  Whatever God has told you to do, by rod or by gathering, nothing else will happen until you obediently do so—doing so in faith brings you into the promise.  

By faith God will walk you into the promise,

Owen <><

Spirit Driven Church

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31

Purpose is good for the church and your life.  Servanthood is good.  Relationships are good.  Evangelism is good.  Revival and renewal is good.  Discipleship is good.  Without the power of the Holy Spirit of God good things will not reach their potential.  The Holy Spirit is the catalyst to move the community of Christ, the church, into greatness by fulfillment of God’s sovereign purpose, his good and perfect will.  This is accomplished by God moving through a:

Spirit Driven Church – A body of believers at peace and one in Christ, obeying and actively responding to the counsel and teaching of the Holy Spirit—experiencing and driven by the Holy Spirit of God moving through them.  As the church acts in the power of the Holy Spirit, the story of truth and hope in Christ comes to the hopeless; and, in turn, healing, wonders, miracles, and signs reveal the love, power, glory, and salvation of Christ.  A Spirit empowered church—Spirit Driven Church—is enabled to fulfill Christ’s command to love one another (John 13:24) and to accomplish Christ’s commission to make, baptize, and guide disciples to obey Christ’s teachings (Matt 28:18-20).

Spirit Driven,

Owen <><

Read:  John 6:63, 14:16-17a, 26; 15:26, 16:13a; Acts 1:8, 2:38

develop a healthy, robust community — #3

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.   James 3:18, The Message

Matt Redman sings the wonderful words, “You are worthy of all honor, glory, praise, and power” lifting the King of nations, Christ Jesus, up in song.  Yet, much, much too often, we don’t pour out such love, honor and dignity toward fellow believers in Christ.  Jesus revealed that people not in Christ would know who we are, Christians, by the love we have for one another, in fact, we are commanded to do that, (John 13:34-35).  Jesus added, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matt 25:45).  If we aren’t treating each other with dignity and honor—then, we aren’t treating Jesus with dignity and honor.

Honor is not lip service, Jesus said, some “people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8).  Our actions reveal our true heart.  Again God spoke, saying people “who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed” (1 Sam 2:30).  The phrase “lightly esteemed” also translates as being to be held in contempt.  Not showing honor to those in Christ, we hold then in contempt, we in turn, hold Christ is in the same manner, without dignity, nor honor. 

Peter teaches that we, Christians, are to, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).  This is how we first begin to serve God and honor the King, Christ:  we serve by expressing love through proper respect—showing honor and dignity—to fellow believers in Christ. As Jesus said, “My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:26).

In honor to you, that we may grow in Christ together,

Owen <><

develop a healthy, robust community — #2

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.   James 3:18, The Message

I have had opportunity in life to be with wonderful people with brilliant ideas; ideas which sometimes involve differing visions of how to achieve goals or have varied views in the process needed to move forward.  Seemingly, it doesn’t matter if I am serving on a church board, a national Christian organization, in the military, in a government organization, within business, with a community committee, or a recreational club, there is one saddening truth that arises from time to time: folks who should be in unity do not get along with each other.   

When Jesus commissioned Peter, I think all of us, to build his church (Mt 16:18), he said we were to build it with such energy that even the principality of hell couldn’t keep us from kicking in its gates and taking over.  God’s Word shares that we are to run from evil and have a life that seeks, goes after and holds on for dear life to what is good (e.g., Rom 12:9); this is done when we wholeheartedly desire peace; when we earnestly pursue peace, (Ps 34:14, 1 Pet 3:11).  I am not naive, there will be disagreement, but I am someone with a childish heart that is hopeful, I hope that we who identify with Jesus will display a character that reflects peace, love, and nothing less than the Spirit’s fruit as we are being transformed into Christ.

We all know that Jesus gave us a “new command”, but do we treat God’s command as a good idea when it suits us, or do we obey and put it into practice?  Jesus commanded, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).  If we who are in Christ aren’t working hard at “getting along with [loving] each other,” then what example are we giving our community?  If we don’t display love among ourselves, then how will those in our community know we are a disciple of Christ?  Worse, do we give a loud, nonverbal testimony of how not to get along, giving our communities a reason to avoid Christ?  One, last question, if we are not getting along, not being unified in Christ, how can we kick in the gates of hell? 

Desperately wanting to get along,

Owen <><

More to come:  We must live right with God and treat each other with dignity and honor – there is only one good community, and its meeting place is in Christ.  

develop a healthy, robust community

You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.   James 3:18, The Message

“Lord, help us bring your presence and peace and hope to our community!”  Is that your prayer?  Is that the prayer of everyone in your church body?  Is that the prayer of every body of believers in your community? 

I live in a community that such a unity is growing.  Pastors and fellow believers of several churches meet weekly at twelve noon, to pray such a prayer.  As I listen to the voices rising to God, my love and compassion for this community grows; I fill with joy as I hear the pleas that the saints cry out for this community and I am embraced by the presence of Christ’s peace.  I hear prayerful intercession for the souls of our community to find the healing of Jesus’ love, and I hear hearts weeping for the peace God’s Holy Spirit to spill over our community.  Such a gathering brings to my heart a joyful freedom from strife, a peace settles over my spirit.  I thank God for such a gathering of diverse Christians coming together.  I pray for others in Christ to join us in a unity of prayer, because, “In Christ's family there can be no division” (Gal 3:28a), but singleness in purpose.  I pray the same for all communities.

No matter the size of a church or a community of churches, if we are indeed in Christ Jesus, we are one (John 17:11b), one in faith and one in purpose—to develop a healthy, robust community.  I pray that we work hard together, serving our community in deed and by sharing the gospel story of Christ Jesus.

Owen <><

Stop Trying

Trying Christianity is hard work.   It is exhausting to try and be at Sunday worship or other gatherings; we try, but life takes time.  We try to pray and read the Bible routinely, we try to give of self, we try to give in offerings, we try to help at the church; we try, try, try, but, after all of that, we seem to go nowhere. 

May I suggest—Stop Trying! … The Lord says that it is:

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”

Zechariah 4:6

God has given us life, Jesus said that the life he has given was for us to “have life, and have it to the full,” Jesus’ purpose, then, is to give us “a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10).  That is the gift of life, for now and all eternally.  Trying to make God happy by your own effort leaves you feeling that you’ve fall short—you feel that life isn’t “rich or satisfying.”  Instead, stop trying to make God happy, let God’s Spirit work through you.  God’s reason for us to be a new creation, to transform into the likeness of Christ is what will allow you to celebrate life, not your efforts.  And, only then will others see His Spirit in, and pouring out of you.  Allow those who are weary to see more than what you do, let them see “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27).

Stop trying.  Stop trying to live by your might and power, only God’s Spirit working in you can bring you into the rich and satisfying life in which you worship more, fellowship more, pray more, give more, and then celebrate life more. Hallelujah!

In Christ,

Owen <><

Unreasonable Steps Full of Life

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Too often I, maybe you as well, go searching for God on an intellectual journey.  Yet, I have found more is learned when embracing life as a celebration achieved through the wonder, unexplainable miracle, and thanksgiving of grace.  I clinch to prayer, for there is found a release of joy.  My heart pounds when nearing the precious essence of life that is in everyone I meet.  Seldom is the breath of Life in my reason.  In intercessory prayer for others I see miracles; is that reasonable?  No, yet through my spirit I acknowledge how God moves. Christ’s Spirit hovers over me—in moments of gloom, my heart senses joy; in moments of fear my heart senses security; time and again, my heart hears what my ears of reason are deaf to.  I cannot reason why my Lord loves the likes of me, I nonetheless run to Him and he draws me into the fullness of his grace.  So, with reason aside, my soul knows that, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)—that’s how we, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”   When in step with Him, I truly find Him; and, I am in the midst of His peace.  May you, take such steps as well.

Taking Unreasonable Steps,  

Owen <><