Re-VISION: the power of seeing things anew

Guard the Unity!

January 30, 2010 — 1 Comment

“Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore!”

Psalm 133:1,4

If you’ve been consistent to give and pray and fast in these last four weeks, I’m confident that you are walking in a new place of spiritual awareness and strength – a different realm of the spirit. Your personal outlook has changed. Your family, job and church have begun to look differently because your perspective about them has changed. Scripture is filled with examples of synergy where people combined their efforts to do great things for the Kingdom of God. None of that was possible apart from unity. If you’ve done this series, you’re sensing it more than ever before. Guard it!

In Unity

Overwhelming Breakthrough!

January 29, 2010 — 1 Comment

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

Isaiah 58:9

Once more, read through the entire chapter of Isaiah 58. The promises here are overwhelming. This one comes in the middle of fasting, giving and prayer together in synergy. Verse 7 is giving – sharing your bread with the hungry, the poor, covering the naked. The whole chapter is dealing with fasting for the right reasons. The power of answered prayer comes in at verse 9 – “Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry and He will say, Here I am.”

There is nothing like the spiritual strength that comes from this kind of fast. Fast and pray this week and expect to hear from the Lord!

In Breakthrough, Fasting

Big Bodacious Prayers

January 28, 2010 — 1 Comment

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

There’s your lifetime warranty. We have “confidence” because God’s Word is true. It will not return to Him empty. (Isa. 55:11) His promises are sure. Don’t let the ‘according to his will’ phrase throw you either because you have a copy of His will – it’s called The Bible. It’s His revealed will. Read it to grow and understand your walk with Him. Pray according to it and your confidence in His Word will grow. 1 Peter 3:12a says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer.” Pray today in confidence!

In Prayer

The Joy of Giving

January 27, 2010 — Leave a comment

“ . . .remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 (ESV)

Our giving should be spiritual – Romans 12:1-2. Our giving should be systematic – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Our giving should be sacrificial – Luke 21:1-4. Our giving should be spontaneous – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

When I give money, I’m giving a piece of my life. My time and talent were exchanged for treasure – money. It’s a piece of my life when I give it. It’s spiritual. I give as I get paid, so it’s systematic. I can’t all the time, but once in a while, the Lord will call me to give something out of the ordinary – sacrificially. And, when the grace of giving is on my life, spontaneous needs can be met and bring amazing joy to the giver! It is more blessed to give than to receive!

In Giving

Harmonizing for Results

January 26, 2010 — Leave a comment

“Again, I say to you, if you two of you agree on earth about anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 18:19 (ESV)

Do you see how interdependent everything is in our walk with each other and with God? Two in agreement obviously creates a “prayer synergy.” Agree here is the Greek word, “sumphoneo.” From it, we get the English word, symphony. When two can get in harmony together, it will move Heaven and earth. This promise comes in the middle of a passage dealing with offenses and the right way to handle them. People who choose to follow this pattern of handling offense mature and get their prayers answered. Those who don’t – DON’T!

In Synergy, Unity

Fasting God’s Way

January 25, 2010 — Leave a comment

“Is not this the fast that I choose. . .”

Isaiah 58:6

Read the whole 58^th chapter of Isaiah to get what’s being said regarding the power of fasting for the right reasons. Verse 6 says it can loose bondages, bring deliverance, set people free and bring breakthrough. As we move toward the finish of this 28-day journey, I hope that you personally attempted the amazing spiritual discipline of fasting. Our church is fasting corporately this week. Choose your level of intensity – whether it’s one meal per day, all day, several days. If a medical condition won’t allow you to fast food, then fast something else – the television, the internet. Consider eating lighter. Pray! Expect God to show up!

In Fasting

How to Kill Your Prayers

January 24, 2010 — Leave a comment

“. . . since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

1 Peter 3:7b

We’ve learned the importance of praying in faith. However, there are other things that can hinder our prayers. Strife in our relationships can stop our prayers from being answered. Humility and unity aren’t just critical for good relationships between people – but God cares about them even more. Some people thrive on drama and strife and then can’t understand why they don’t feel close to God or can’t get their prayers answered. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Repentance should be our first prayer. This opens God’s ears to the rest.

In Prayer

How to Get Jesus’ Attention

January 23, 2010 — Leave a comment

“For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:4 (ESV)

Jesus talked more about money and its management and effects upon us than He talked about Heaven or Hell or even prayer. Shocking? Money and how we use it is far more spiritual than we ever realized. In Luke 21, Jesus is literally watching the offering plate. That alone is offensive to most Christians. Rich people are making a show of dropping in large amounts, yet Jesus is impressed with the two small coins of a poor widow. Why? Because he sees what’s left after we’ve given and not just the amount we give. The widow gave sacrificially. Have you ever given to God like that?

In Giving

Designed by God, Not a Committee!

January 22, 2010 — Leave a comment

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle. . .”

Exodus 25:8-9a

The covenant nation had an assignment. God raised up a “set man” – whom He had called and prepared to lead His people. While on the mountain, God gave Moses a command to build and a blueprint to follow – a pattern for the tabernacle. The Lord then stirred the hearts of the people to give of their resources – a complete list is found in Exodus 25. Then artisans and craftsmen (Exodus 31:1-6) according to their skill sets were chosen to build the furniture and fashion the tabernacle according to God’s pattern. God was very specific about wanting it done right. Each person had a part. Do you know yours?

In Synergy

Humility Gets God’s Attention

January 21, 2010 — Leave a comment

“Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?

Isaiah 58:5

Nothing seems to humble our hearts like deliberately leaving our bellies empty. We all know the hollow feeling when we haven’t eaten all day. The physical cravings are obvious. When we intentionally abstain from food in order to focus our hearts in prayer, those physical cravings seem to intensify the longing of our hearts. If we fast with the right motive – to draw closer to God, then we pray more earnestly and with a sense of brokenness. Humility gets God’s attention. 1 Peter 5:5c says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Prepare yourself to fast for a few meals.