Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do today. ...
"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 16:8).
In every challenge, every circumstance, every moment of my day, I have a choice of where I will look. And where I'm looking larging determines where I'm going.
Will I look to my problems? ...
No, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord."
Will I look to my past failures? ...
No, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord."
Will I look to man and other peoples' opinions about me and judgments over me? ...
No, "I will keep my eyes always on the Lord."
Will I look to the darkness of my world, with all its chaos and confusion, hatred and fear, violence and lawlessness, injustice and unrighteousness, dread and despair? ...
No, "I will keep my eyes always on the Lord."
I don't ignore those things. But I don't focus the priority of my attention on those things. I don't allow those things to define me or control, to limit me or label me. I don't honor those things by having more faith in those things and their power of destruction than my faith in my God and Your power of redemption. No, "I will keep my eyes always on the Lord."
As I wait and listen, I hear in my heart: "Look to Me and keep your eyes on Me. Listen to Me and keep your heart turned to Me. See that I am with you. Hear that I am leading you. Know that I am abiding within you and will not let you be shaken even when things are shaken around you." ...
Yes, Lord. Your written Word immediately comes to mind to confirm Your spoken word in my spirit: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28-29). And by the power of Your grace, by the abiding presence of Your Holy Spirit, Your unshakable kingdom is within me (Luke 17:21). "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose this day to keep my eyes always on You -- always listening for Your leading, always trusting in Your abiding presence of Your Holy Spirit within me. And as I do, I will not be shaken, for You are establishing in me a kingdom that cannot be shaken. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you unshakeable in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in you, as you keep your eyes always on the Lord, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
I read Psalm 91 over my family and my domain several times a week.
"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, 'My Refuge and my Fortress; my God, in whom I trust.... Because you have made the Lord your Refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation" (Psalm 91:1-16).
Yes, Lord. You are our Shelter, our Refuge, our Fortress, our Dwelling Place. You are the Almighty! You have prepared a place for us, for all who trust in You and call on Your name. And that Place is You. You are the Place of Your abundant provision and steadfast protection. In that Place, we will rest in You and look with our eyes to see all You have done for us from the safe and secure Place of Your Presence, no matter what happens around us (v. 8).
In the arms of the Almighty, You are our Abundance. You provide all we need according to Your riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen!" (Ephesians 3:20-21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be safe and secure in the abundance of all the Lord has prepared for You in your Father's arms, in the Shelter of the Almighty, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do, as I seek to begin my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
"Then (David) took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew new to the Philistine.... When the Philistine drew nearer to meet with David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand" (1 Samuel 17:40-50).
We are in a time when we need run to the battle and face our giants just as David ran to the battle to confront Goliath.
We are called to run to the battle in prayer over our cities. To pray and seek repentance, in solemn assembly of calling on Your name in worship and praise, in spirit and truth, in humility and unity, together as one blood in one faith in our God and Father of all with our “% smooth stones.”
These "weapons of (our) warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). These "weapons of our warfare" are not weapons of prejudice and pride, murder and violence, looting and lawlessness, intimidation and fear, chaos and control, isolation and division, rebellion and idolatry. These "weapons of our warfare" are not the physical weapons of this world, but the spiritual weapons we wield in humility and faith, in obedience and repentance, in the sensitivity and submission to Your Word and Your Spirit to pray in Your power and speak with Your voice, as we walk in love in the opposite spirit of the enemies we face. We "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
The "five smooth stones" in our "shepherd's bag" that are to be ready to be slung in our "sling" of faith to hit the mark and bring down the giants we face You were showing me that morning are these: The Word of God; faith and trust in God; intimacy with God; security in our identity as children of God; and our confidence in God to fulfill the purposes of God in our lives.
No doubt there are other stones, but these are the ones You're highlighting to me and perhaps for these times and these battles we face together as the Body and the Bride of Christ. These are the stones we're to carry in our bags to the battles we face, in courage and confidence in You, our Shepherd and Warrior and Mighty Giant Slayer. By the power of Your grace at work within us, may we sling the one that hits the mark to bring down the giant we face -- in our lives, in our cities, in our nation, in our world -- all in Your way, all in Your time, all for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be empowered to overcome every giant you face with the "stones" the Lord has provided for you as you run to the battle in humility and courage and faith, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends”Five!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Rock of my salvation, Shepherd of my soul -- I look to You and listen for Your voice, for Your sheep hear Your voice (John 10:4). ...
I believe I hear You speaking these words in my heart and bringing them up to my mind to ponder in the communion of prayer with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. And I have a sense these words not meant for me alone:
"Turn to Me.
Turn away from the TV.
Turn away from the computer screen.
Turn away from what you're worried will happen and
turn to the One who already sees all that will ever happen and
will turn it all to good.
Turn to Me.
Trust in Me.
In returning and rest, in quietness and trust, I will see you through." ...
Yes, Lord. Your written Word comes to mind to confirm these spoken words to my heart. "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15). "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I Am God, and there is no other!" (Isaiah 45:22). "Return to Me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you" (Zechariah 1:3). "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Many are at home today -- here in my home and around the world, even to the ends of the earth. Someone even said it's like "a forced sabbatical" for the earth as we respond to the threat of contagion from this virus and its spread of sickness, disease, and death. But it's also an opportunity to turn to You, to trust in You, to put all our hope and faith in You. Even the wisdom we receive of how to respond and the courage we receive of how to act ultimately comes only from You. You said, "Ask for wisdom, and I will supply it" (from James 1:5).
But it's also an opportunity to for us to invite the world to turn to You -- through our words, through our prayers, through our actions, through our example. Let those who don't yet know You hear Your call to turn to You, to find their peace in You, their security in You, their wisdom in You, and their hope in You.
Now is the time to pray for a great move of God across the earth! (Habakkuk 2:14) Now is the day of salvation! (Hebrews 3:13) Now is the season of great harvest! (Matthew 13:39)
Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- I turn to You. And by the power of Your grace and the moving of Your Spirit, may I keep turning away from all that's less than You. May I make more time for You. May I be free from any temptation to squander these opportunities and be free from any distractions from Your great purposes, to be part of Your great harvest in our day and to the ends of the earth. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38). Lord, I'm asking, even as I'm turning to You -- now and moment by moment throughout my day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you turn to the Lord to trust in Him and be free from distractions and anything less than Him to take hold of the opportunities set before us for a great harvest in these days, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
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In my last blog post last week I shared a paragraph from a Make Way Partners monthly news letter. It dealt with the mission’s status in Southern Darfur, Sudan, but it applies to us in so many ways. Here it is again:
"We are not people of a Pollyanna faith; rather we are a people called to run straight into the Darkness so that we might be the Light in the moment of despair. We are a people appointed to call out the names of Darkness so that those held in its grip might be set free. Christianity is not for the faint of heart, nor for the political aspirant—as sometimes the things we hold near and dear are the very entities, which we must confront for the Greater Good. Sometimes, in this naming of what is good for me and mine, we may even find the stain of ink bearing those names of innocents upon our own hands—as in how we as a nation may also profit from such wars. Still, we must boldly name, forge a new path, and rescue those who suffer the consequences of our profit and “security." Kimberly Smith
I told you it would take me a few days to unpack this paragraph. This morning I reflected on this sentence. “We are not people of a Pollyanna faith; rather we are a people called to run straight into the Darkness so that we might be the Light in the moment of despair.”
The picture above of the woman sitting on the ground was taken on my first mission trip to Africa with Make Way Partners in the three and a half weeks I spent in Southern Darfur. It was a hard trip. The woman is sitting in the dirt road of a small village in the 118 degree heat of the day. She is very sick, emaciated, starving and near death. She is so weak she is sitting in a mud pool of her own urine, as she does not have the strength to get up. I passed her and took this photograph as our Sudanese guide was taking us on a walking tour of the devastation in war-ravaged villages and areas in Darfur. The Sudanese people were just walking by her as we were doing, and I asked our guide “Why isn’t anyone helping her?” He said, “These people are poor. They are trying to survive. They are to busy trying to find enough food to feed and take care of themselves and their own family let alone to help this woman. They have nothing to offer her. She is near death anyways and will soon die.” We walked on in the heat to continue our hike through various villages and areas of the region. However, though I saw many disturbing things that day, I could not get the woman out of my mind.
The next day I got Benjamin, my Sudanese translator who was armed with an AK-47 for protection, and we head out to where we saw the woman the previous day. We found her and she was in the same place except dragged off more to the side of the road.
She was dead.
I stood there and looked over her, with flies all over her face and flying around her and at the Sudanese people walking by and I was very sad. So with Benjamin sitting under a shade tree watching over me, I dug a shallow grave in the hard sand and rock and I buried the woman.
As I was digging the grave I started getting angry. Angry thinking about how people could let someone starve to death like this and walk by! And none of the passer-byers for the three hours it took me to dig a grave in the sun-baked sand and rocks stopped and offered to help. Then God spoke in me. He said that is why you are here Gary. These people do not know me. They do not love me. If they do not love me, how can you expect them to love their neighbor? You are here to share with them the Gospel. To share with them that the kingdom of God is at hand and help lead them into adoption through Christ into the kingdom as sons and daughters of God. It is not until they embrace and see the immense value in themselves, and that they are worth saving, that they will see the immense value in others like this woman, and that they are worth saving.
I wrote out the sentence from above, and inserted my name in it and read it out loud to myself as Jesus speaking it to me. “Gary, you are not a person of a Pollyanna faith; rather you are a person I called to run straight into the Darkness so that you might be the Light in the moment of despair.”
Reflect today on this. Insert your name in this sentence and read it out loud as if Jesus was speaking in to you. “___________, you are not a person of a Pollyanna faith; rather you are a person I called to run straight into the Darkness so that you might be the Light in the moment of despair.”
I reflected how I was like the people who walked by the dying woman like she did not exist. Who is the person like the woman in the dirt street, that you and I, in our busy life, busy schedules, focused on ourselves and our time, taking care of “me”, trying to survive, that we fail to see, or worse see, see them dying in their own filth, and you do not have the time or love to help? And we know the Gospel, we know we are to love our neighbors and we have resources to offer.
My family, I pray you will reflect on, “Who are the people that don’t know God, that don’t love God so they can’t love themselves, and in turn can’t love their neighbors, that you are called to share the Gospel with them?” In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice in my heart, as I seek Your face in the heavens. ...
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).
You need to command us to "be strong and courageous" because we have a choice. We have the freedom choose to be weak and cowardly or strong and courageous. You need to command us to "not be frightened or dismayed" because we have a choice. We have the freedom to choose to be frightened or dismayed or to be bold and expectant of good things to come according to Your promises of the good things You have said.
You never promise us that what we will face will be easy or comfortable or without challenges. But You do promise us You will be with us. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we face, we will overcome and come through, with You by our side and with You in our hearts.
Along the way, we will learn obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8); and we will learn our identity through discipline (Hebrews 12:7). We will learn You're always with us by Your ever-abiding Presence. "For God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence: 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
So by the power of Your grace at work within us to choose well, may we take hold of Your Word: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let (our) hearts take courage!" (Psalm 27:14). As You command, let us obey: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10-18). As You encourage us, let us take courage in You: "I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Because You have overcome, because You come alongside us and abide within us, we can overcome in Your courage and strength wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we face. So by the power of Your grace, I choose to be strong and courageous, neither frightened nor dismayed, in You today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you choose well to be strong and courageous, neither frightened nor dismayed, in whatever you face, by the power and the presence of the Lord who is with us and abiding within you, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
I received a newsletter from Make Way Partners. http://www.makewaypartners.org They are the mission group with whom I went to Southern Darfur, Sudan. MWP has constructed schools, a church, and dormitories for the orphans there In one of the most hostile, lawless, evil, unreached places on the planet. The orphanage they built in South Sudan is now near the boundary line between North and South Sudan. Fighting and shelling is happening a mile and a half from them. While all the villages around them are fleeing. They are staying. Where can they go with these children that will be safe? No where. Kimberly Smith is the director and founder of MWP. In the newsletter she writes.
"We are not people of a Pollyanna faith; rather we are a people called to run straight into the Darkness so that we might be the Light in the moment of despair. We are a people appointed to call out the names of Darkness so that those held in its grip might be set free. Christianity is not for the faint of heart, nor for the political aspirant—as sometimes the things we hold near and dear are the very entities, which we must confront for the Greater Good. Sometimes, in this naming of what is good for me and mine, we may even find the stain of ink bearing those names of innocents upon our own hands—as in how we as a nation may also profit from such wars. Still, we must boldly name, forge a new path, and rescue those who suffer the consequences of our profit and “security." Kimberly Smith
There is so much in that one paragraph to try to unpack. It may take me a couple days. One sentence says, “Christianity is not for the faint of heart.” Christianity was born out of a bold, powerful, violent, earthshaking, cataclysmic, paradigm-changing event, The Resurrection of Jesus, that shook and effected all created elements that exist. Resurrection is not for the faint of heart.
Christianity was born out of an all-consuming, at all-cost, all-in, all -forsaking act of true love. True love is not for the faint of heart.
Christianity was never intended to be something you enter into “lightly.” When it is convenient and all the world is “safe.” Christianity is something each of us and our communities are confronted with “in our face” that we must reject outright or that, if we accept it, will demand the remaking of our complete worldview. This remaking is not for the faint in heart.
The magnitude of stepping into Christianity, is in and through Jesus you are not simply entering into a new religion, not simply entering into a new form of ethics or new way of salvation, you are stepping into a new creation. Stepping into new creation is not for the faint of heart.
We are in the season we find ourselves putting up boundaries, find the church putting up boundaries. I want to remind you that Jesus’ resurrection both burst through the boundaries of our present history and remains and impacts all within history. In Jesus’ resurrection, the faint of heart could cope with His resurrectiin and being a Christian if Jesus ultimately remains a wonderful and nice idea inside their minds and hearts, proclaimed for one hour on Sundays, and tucked away in stories in Scripture. However, to grasp and enter into the truth of Jesus, the truth of his resurrection that Jesus is the one who comes out of the tomb, who inaugurates God’s new creation in the world today is not for the faint of heart.
My family, open up your Bible to the Gospels, then flip to any page and put your finger down on a verse. Your finger will never touch a verse that supports Christianity is something "nice" or “safe” to be entered into lightly or for the faint of heart. I pray you will pray and reflect on your heart. Your heart towards Jesus, and your heart towards belonging in Christianity, in Jesus’ name. Please pray for me as well. (Though you realize that praying “in Jesus’ name”, means you are removing all the barriers and inviting, invoking, claiming and accepting all of the suffering, the cross, and resurrection of Jesus’ life over your life, is not for the faint of heart.) God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and comments below.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to lead me in Your ways and make me more like You today. ...
"Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Truly it seems we stand at the crossroads of our times. Truly the choices we are making now will determine our destinies -- personally and as a people, in our individual faiths and our churches, in our communities and in our nations.
Will we rush headlong on the path of self-destruction, divided and devoured from enemies without and within, blinded by rage and paralyzed in fear, hardened in bitterness and burning with vengeance? Or will we choose to "look" to the Lord our God in listening prayer, to "ask" for the ancient paths in humble trust, and to "walk" in the ways You set before us? Will we "find" rest for our souls or find out there's no rest for the wicked, no peace for the prideful and arrogant, and no place that is safe apart from obedience to Your will and trusting in Your ways?
Let us choose well. Let us choose this day whom we will serve. Let us choose what path we will take, with all of its consequences for our lives and our world.
So what are "the ancient paths, where the good way lies"? ...
As I wait and listen, it seems I hear You speaking in my heart: "The ancient paths are My eternal ways I have revealed to you in My Word and revealed to you in the ways of My Son who walked out My will as He walked on this earth for all to see My heart and know My ways and walk in them after Him." ...
Yes, Father. As I think on the life of the Son of God, the Word of God made Flesh to live and walk among us, I think of the good ways He revealed: To love God and love one another. Respect. Honor. The fear of the Lord. Kindness. Compassion. Mercy. Encouragement. Empowerment. Speaking words of spirit and life, blessing and peace wisdom and truth. Confronting evil with good, hate with love. Overcoming darkness with light. Obedient to the Father while growing in wisdom and stature and favor with God and with man. Self-sacrificing. Secure in His identity and fulfilling His destiny in trusting surrender, obedient faith, and expectant hope. Standing up for the downtrodden, speaking up for voiceless, while reaching up to the Father in prayer to be filled up with the Holy Spirt in power to live out a life that honored You and revealed Your Father heart to us.
Yes, Father. These are "the ancient paths, where the good way lies." As we stand at the crossroads -- as I stand at my own crossroads that confront me in every decision I'll make throughout the moments of my day -- may You give us the humility and wisdom to look up to You and ask for Your ways, along with the courage and grace we need to faithfully walk in them. As we do, we will find rest for our souls.
Lord, let it be so in me and in the hearts of Your people who are called by Your name in every tongue and tribe and nation of our world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may find rest for your soul and seek out the Holy Spirit and ask for the ancients paths, where the good way lies to walk in the ways of the Lord today, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, you are my way, truth and life. so I come to you this morning.
Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
We break down prayer into various descriptions: petition, intercession, thanksgiving…ect. Yet prayer is not fundamentally about these. It is not fundamentally about waiting around to hear God speak to us. Fundamentally prayer is the breath of Christian life. And the funny thing about breathing is if you do not breathe, you die. Breathe or die. Pray or die. Abide or perish. And this pertains to the body of Christ; to your personal Christian life, that of your church, and the church universal. The whole point of entering into prayer is it allows us to enter into God’s embrace and fill us with Hs breath of abundant life and joy. Jesus said he came to bring us life and life abundantly. (John 10:10) We breath in that life through prayer.
Something miraculous and powerful happens through Gods grace in us when we set aside a large block of time of an hour or more to pray. The enemy knows this and he will use anything from a dripping faucet to social media to interrupt it.
Some of us just have a hard time focusing on prayer for an hour and our minds drift and wonder. Don't get discouraged, keep at it! As a prayer aid I am giving you a great tool for prayer I received from Curtis Seargent, it is the Prayer Wheel. The Prayer Wheel divides on hour of prayer into twelve, 5 minute long each sections. The prayer Wheel is a wheel or pie that has 12 slices. Each “slice” is 5 minutes long. It aides you remaining focused in praying for n hour by breaking the hour down into 5 minutes sections. I have listed the 12 sections of the Prayer Wheel. Before you begin set the timer on your phone for 5 minutes or look at you clock. Then begin and spend 5 minutes in #1. Praise. After 5 minutes move to #2 Waiting. Continue praying this way through #12 and your hour of prayer will be complete. You can modify the time per section to 2 minutes each if you are at lunch or only have 30 minutes to pray, or add minutes to each section if you have more time to pray.
In this time of coronavirus with social isolation, distancing, and quarantines we find ourselves with more time on our hands. Instead of filling it by tuning in to TV, Facebook and, social media, I want to encourage you to use that time a a gift to tune your heart to God’s through prayer. Maybe your prayer life has not been what you have wanted it to be. Maybe you have found yourself short of breath.
My family, I pray you will commit to setting aside and spending one solid hour a week in prayer a week, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your comments on prayer. I would also love to hear reflections from those who since my first post have spent an hour of time using the Prayer Wheel.
PRAYER WHEEL
1. PRAISE
Start your prayer hour by praising the Lord. Praise Him for things that are on your mind right now. Praise Him for one special thing He has done in your life in the past week. Praise Him for His goodness to your family. (Psalm 34:1)
2. WAITING
Spend this time waiting on the Lord. Let Him pull together reflections for you. Think about the hour before you and the things you want the Lord to do in your life. (Psalm 27:14)
3. CONFESSION
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life which might be displeasing to Him. Ask Him to point out attitudes that are wrong, as well as specific acts for which you have not yet made a prayer of confession. Now confess that to the Lord and claim 1 John 1:9 so that you might be cleansed for the remainder of the hour before you, and then pick up and read the Word. (Psalm 51:1-19)
4. READ THE WORD
Spend time reading promises of God in the Psalms, in the prophets, and passages on prayer located in the New Testament. Check your concordance. (Psalm 119:97)
5. PETITION
This is general request for others, praying through the prayer list, the prayer cards, or personal prayer interest on behalf of yourself and others. (Hebrews 4:16)
6. INTERCESSION
Specific prayer on the behalf of others. Pray specifically for those requests of which you are aware. (Romans 15:30-33)
7. PRAY THE WORD
Now take the Scriptures and start praying the Scriptures as certain sections of Psalm 119 lend themselves beautifully to prayer expression. (Psalm 119:38-46)
8. THANKSGIVING
Spend these minutes giving thanks to the Lord for things in your life, things on behalf of the church, things on behalf of your family. (Philippians 4:6)
9. SINGING
Take your hymnal and sing a prayer song, sing a praise song, sing a song regarding soul winning or witnessing. Let it be a time of praise. (Psalm 59:17)
10. MEDITATE
Ask the Lord to speak back to you and keep a paper and pen handy, ready to relate the impressions that He makes upon your life. (Psalm 63)
11. LISTEN
Spend time merging the things you have read from the Word, the things you have prayed, the things you have thanked the Lord for, the things that you have been singing, and see how the Lord brings them all together to speak to you. (I Samuel 3:9-10)
12. END WITH PRAISE
Praise the Lord for the time you have had to spend with Him. Praise Him for the impressions that He has given you. Praise Him for the prayer requests He raised up in your mind. (Psalm 145:1-13)
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, As I begin my first morning reflection time in August seeking you let me hear from you in a fresh new way.
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:21-24
Jesus said, “… the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” V.24. Jesus tells us we must worship in two ways: Spirit and Truth.
Spirit: We must come into a state of worship where our spirit encounters the Holy Spirit. Where deep meets deep. All true worship begins and flows from the heart of God where His Spirit makes himself known to us and draws us into worship. “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to Godʼs will.” (Romans 8:27) All worship flows out of God's desire to be known by us. We can’t worship what we do not know.
We also cannot manufacture worship. It does not exist out of our will, heritage, or traditions. The woman at the well claimed her worship based on her descendant’s from Jacob. Yet John tells us, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-14). Worship also is not born out of our will or the manipulation of man. Worship is something we receive and enter into through belief and faith.
Truth: “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“ (John 14:6). Jesus declares that he is truth. In him is found true religion, true expression of the Father, true encounter with the Father, and true worship. True worship flows out of the Spirit of God and is centered on Jesus. Note how the woman has been concerned about the location and where people ought to worship, while Jesus is concerned about in what spiritual condition are people worshipping and who people ought to worship.
Jesus said, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Must worship in spirit and truth. Must worship in the Holy Spirit and Jesus. Have you ever simply yet powerfully experienced worship and prayer in the Spirit and in truth? What are your reflections of those time(s)? Worship and/or prayer times you could not explain or control?
My family, I pray as you begin your week you will honestly reflect on What do you worship in? When was the last time you let go of all formality and rituals and like a child simply yet powerfully experienced worship and prayer in the Spirit and in truth? “for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him”, I pray you seek the Father today in Worship, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Now take 8 minutes, click on the link below, and go back to your first love and worship.
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart....
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:1-17).
Your Word commands us "set your hearts on things above ... set your minds on things above." To "set" our hearts and minds requires a conscious choice, a deliberate action on our part.
To "set" our hearts and minds "on things above" also requires us to consciously choose the object and target of our heart's desires and our mind's thoughts. What does that mean? What does that look like? How would my life be different if I were to obey Your command of Your Word to "set" my heart and my mind "on things above"? ...
As wait and listen, from Your Spirit to my spirit, Your words come to my heart. ...
"To look to Me is to prioritize Me in you lime and time. To set your heart on Me, to set your mind on Me, is to trust in Me, to yield to Me, to obey me, to allow Me to put My desires in your heart and My thoughts in your mind. I AM the Thing Above. My thoughts and My desires are the things above. Choose this perspective. Embrace this priority. Your part is to willingly make this choice to prioritize me in you life. My part is to enable your desire to want this and your power to do this. This is the power of My grace for you. As you do, you will be dead to the rulers of this world, with it's worldly perspectives and priorities, so that your life will be hidden with Christ in God. You'll be lifted up and alive in Christ, as Christ is lifted up and alive in you. This is the life of Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is how I empower you to do all you do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, full of thanksgiving, full of joy, full of My presence, My love, and My power being fully expressed through your life." ...
Yes, Lord. Your written Word comes to mind to confirm this spoken word I hear in my heart: "God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God..." (Galatians 2:20-21). "For it is God who works in (me) to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).
So by the power of Your grace at work within me, I willingly, consciously and deliberately choose to look up to You, to set my heart and my mind on You and on the things above, on the things of Your will and Your Kingdom, rather than merely my will and the kingdoms of this world. Jesus, put Your desires in my heart and Your thoughts in my mind, so that Your perspective and priorities become my perspective and my priorities. I can't do any of this apart from You, but by the power of Your grace at work within me, I can do all these things through Christ who strengthens and empowers me (Philippians 4:13), through Christ who abides right here, right now within me (John 15:4); through Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray through this devotion blog you may be strengthened and empowered to set your heart and mind on Christ, so that your life is hidden with God in Christ and all you do, you do in the name and in the nature of the Lord Jesus, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to lead my steps in Your ways today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever" (Isaiah 9:1).
Thank You, Lord!
In these days of darkness and despair, violence and vengeance, sickness and sorrow, where things seem out of control and people seem out of their minds, so many wonder if there's light at the end of this tunnel. So many wonder if there's any hope to hang on to.
It was the same in the days of Israel when You spoke a word of hope through Your prophet Isaiah. At a time when the people could "see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish " (Isaiah 8:22), You spoke words of Spirit and Life, to turn their hearts to the One who would come in His Light in the midst of their darkness and shine His Hope in the gloom of their despair. Their time of darkness and despair would not go on forever! (Isaiah 9:1)
"The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For You will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as You did when You destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire" (Isaiah 9:2-5).
Isaiah was speaking of the coming of Christ, the Messiah of Israel, the coming of the One who would be their Light and be their Hope. And they would rejoice at the harvest of their salvation.
"For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!" (Isaiah 9:3-7)
This was a Word of Prophecy fulfilled in part at Your first coming and a Word of Prophecy to be ultimately fulfilled at Your second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:11-16). And it's also a Word of Prophecy being fulfilled in our hearts and our land every moment we humble ourselves in Your sight to pray and to turn from our ways and everything that would overwhelm us in our world to call on Your name and cry out for the help and hope that only You can provide (2 Chronicles 7:14; James 4:10).
So in repentance in prayer, in faith and hope, we call on Your name and cry out to You on behalf of our communities and all our land. Come Lord Jesus! Come in revival! Come in awakening! Come in our hearts and our communities and all our land!
You're the Light at the end of this tunnel! You're the Hope that lifts us up out of darkness and despair! It will not go on forever! A great revival, a great harvest of salvation is on its way in the hearts of all who will call on Your name! (Matthew 13:39) All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved! (Romans 10:13; Acts 2:21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be filled with hope to know this darkness and despair will not last forever. I pray you will humble your heart and call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with expectant faith for yourself, for your community, and for all our land, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Join us every second and fourth Friday of the month as we gather to pray for revival in our cities.
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, speak to me in this silence of my morning as I tune my heart to hear your voice.
If your plans are not intimidating to you, they are insulting to God. Why? because if they are not intimidating to you you do not need God to accomplish them. God delights and honors big faith. God delights and multiplying those of big faith. We cannot afford to be a people of small faith.
A faith that is not altered by how things end in this side of Glory. You do have those who’s great faith ended happily in this world, on this side of glory:
o Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den in Dan. 6,
o Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being saved from the fiery furnace Dan. 3.
And you have those mentioned in Hebrews 11:17-35a “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.”
But you also have the continued naming of others mentioned in Hebrews 11:35b-40. It does not always end in a happy ending in this world, on this side of glory.
“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
o You have the story in Acts chapter 7 of the stoning of Stephen.
o In Acts chapter 12 Peter was arrested. The church prayed and he was miraculously set free. Later in Acts chapter 12 James is also arrested. The same church again prayed for James yet he was beheaded.
How the story turns out on earth has nothing to do with whether God is glorified or not. It may not have a happy ending on this side, but on the other side God is glorified. But whether it turns out happy or sad by earthly standards, cannot take away or hinder the glory that comes from big faith. God delights and honors that faith. All those listed whether in the first or second half of Hebrews 11 were admitted into God’s Hall of Fame. They did not gain entrance into his hall of fame by how their life ended, but how their life was lived. They all were admitted because of their big faith. You get in God's hall of fame through big faith exhibited in how you are living your life.
Look at Caleb and Joshua’s story and actions in their entering into Canna found in Numbers chapter 13. They are not looking at the problems; they are looking at their God with big faith. Without a faith like this we pray for everything man can do but not for what only God can do. We have to be obedient to him if we want to see him at work.
My family, Spend time reading these stories of big faith found in Daniel chapters 3 and 6, Hebrews 11:17-40, Acts chapters 7 and 12, and Numbers chapter 13. Then with the Holy Spirit meditate on your level of Faith. Do you have big faith? Is it based and influenced by hope of fame in this world, or hope of entering God’s hall of fame in the new earth? Does your life exhibit big faith? What plans or journey are you obeying and following God though that are intimidating to you? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, with all that I am and all that I have I seek youths morning.
“And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.” (Mark 1:19-20)
The Bible does not contain the dates James and John, Peter, or any of the Apostles were “saved.” It does contain the day they became his disciples and began their “Hero’s journey”, a journey of following Jesus. Discipleship is a journey. And central to this discipleship journey is following Jesus and hearing from the Father. As I stated in my previous post Jesus’ whole journey with his disciples was to mentor them into forming a relationship with the Father in which they heard his voice. “And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)
You are on a “Hero’s Journey.” It is the journey of your life. And Central to your journey needs to be your relationship with God. What is central is not the church you attend now, or your present small group you are in. Though these may be a great source of help to you presently in deepening your relationship with God and where your journey is located now, your journey will continue on after your season with there is over. And your participation in them though important, is not the destination where your “Hero’s Journey” with God is leading you to go. They are stops along the way for encouragement to continue on your journey in life. If you take these things like church, small group attendance and Bible studies out of the central place and simply look at your life’s “Hero’s Journey”, your journey and adventure with God, your relationship with God, what do you see? Where are you going?
Please take 10 minutes to watch this Ted Talk video on “What is the Hero’s Journey.”
My family, When you finish watching the video, say a prayer for honest revelation from the Holy Spirit and then reflect on your Hero’s journey with Jesus. Where are you on your journey? Have you answered your call? Are you doing what make’s you happy? Have you entered the unknown? Have your returned and are you sharing the experience of your journey with your neighbors? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?” Matthew 16:24-26
For the past three days I have been looking at Matthew 16:13-26 and talking about Jesus’ model of discipleship which is based on two things: invitation and challenge. In verses 24-26 Jesus distills this down to its core essence. His invitation: follow me. His challenge: the cross.
Jesus’ invitation: Follow me. Christianity and discipleship is not an invitation into following and imitating a religion, but following and imitating a person, namely Jesus Christ. Your life is not called to try to conform to and imitate current church models, but it is called to conform to and imitate the life of Jesus Christ.
Jesus challenge: The cross. To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world’s narcissism, pride and self reliance and turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion. The point of the saying "whoever wants to save his life will lose it" is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.
Jesus’s message today is short and simple, so is my reflection.
My family, Read: Matthew 16:13-26; Galatians 6:12-18; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; Hebrews 12:1-2 Then take time a look at who and what are you following. Is it Jesus plus nothing? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything you added and to help you remove it. What is challenging you? Is it simply the cross? Have you added any unnecessary challenges and are trying to conform to things based on religion, tradition, habit, or culture? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these to you and help you remove them, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, through your Holy Spirit I place myself in the throne room of the Father and bow and worship you.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:18-23)
Jesus’ model of discipleship of invitation and challenge repeats again here. Jesus gives Peter a new kingdom name and invites him into the same intimate relationship and covenant he had with Abraham. Peter in Greek means “Little Rock.” He is now a co-heir in the kingdom, he has the power of those in the kingdom.
On one side of this covenant relationship is invitation, where we get the cupboards of heaven. On the other side is Challenge. We need to take on ownership of these gifts and power in a more and more responsible manner.
The challenge begins in the reality of the cross that is at the center of our covenant relationship. with Jesus v.21:
Peter struggles with the reality and challenge of the cross and rebukes Jesus v.22
Jesus name for Peter changes from Peter, “Little Rock”, to Satan “Adversary”. v.23 Jesus tells him earlier you had your mind on the will of the Father, now you have your mind on your will. That change in mindset changes our identity.
We were called to be fruitful and multiply, but also to rule. To take responsibility. Jesus is saying, I am inviting, entrusting you with all my power and authority, but I am challenging you, I need you to become the kind of person who can wield that type of power in obdeience. You don’t give your child the keys to your car if they are not capable and will obey traffic laws.
What feels like a harsh rebuke is a kind action. Jesus is telling him, and telling us, your place of power is not in front of me trying to lead me but walking behind me.(get behind me), I need you walking behind me, follow me in everything:
The way you talk to your children.
The way you talk to your spouse.
The way you treat your co-workers
The way you manage your finances.
The way you prioritize your time.
The way you take care of your health.
The way you___________________ (Fill in the blank).
Read: Matthew 16:13-26, Genesis 17:1-9
My family, I pray you take some time in prayer with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has a kingdom name for you, reflect on what it may be. In what areas of your life do you find it easy to accept the invitation of Jesus to pick up your cross and walk behind him in the strength of that name? In what areas of your life do you struggle with his challenge and step out in front of Jesus? in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning Lord Jesus, with all that I am I seek all that you are.
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-18)
In Thursday’s blog post I stated how Jesus’ life, His method of making disciples was one of invitation and challenge. Jesus invited his disciple into His life, exposed them to it, and challenged them by it. He then walked with them through the challenge. Jesus was always looking for the indication of growth in them. Then He would invite them deeper into Him, expose more of himself and his ways to them. It challenged them. He helped them through it. Looked for indications of growth, then repeated this process. A constant process of challenging them to die more to themselves, so they could live more in Him.
Jesus challenged his disciples and asked them “Who do the people say I am?” (v.13) His challenge went deeper still when he then asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (v.15) In Peter’s response Jesus saw real spiritual growth and real growth as a disciple. Jesus praised Peter because his response is not something you can discern from reading a book, from listening to a sermon, or attending seminary. This is only something that is revealed from the Father. Before it could be revealed to Peter by the Father, he had to first develop and come to the place where he could hear and discern the Fathers voice. This was developed in Peter through the hours, days, years of watching Jesus, being invited into His life, His rhythms of prayer, and the challenges Jesus presented Peter and allowed him to go through. Jesus was mentoring and discipling Peter and the other the disciples to hear from the Father and be lead by the Father like He is before he leaves. In Peter’s affirmation that “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus probably said to himself, “Yes! You are hearing the revelations of the Father!” His is the voice Jesus had been patiently, discipling these men to hear! I believe this was one of the reasons why earlier in the Gospels when people tried to seize him and kill and they failed. The reason why was said, “Because his time had not yet come.” Jesus had not yet mentored and discipled His disciples to the point that they heard from the Father, were being led by Him. He needed to accomplish this before the cross.
Jesus spent years discipling 12 men to get them to a place and level of spiritual maturity that they could hear the revelation of the Father, be lead by him and obey Him. He wanted them to become imitators of Him, disciples that are conformed to His image. And at the central core of being a disciple of Christ, is the ability hear the revelations of the father. To be one with the Father. “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)
If someone asked you, “Are you a Christian?” You would answer “Yes.” What defines you as a Christian is not what church you attend, your church attendance, whether your parents where Christians, the traditions or religious acts you practice or religion you follow. What defines you as a Christian is if you are a follower, a disciple of Jesus. If someone asked. “Are you a disciple of Jesus?, would you answer “Yes?” You want to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus invited and challenged His disciples, and He also invites and challenges you to achieve real spiritual growth and real growth as a disciple. His goal for you is also something you can not discern in your flesh, from reading a book, from listening to a sermon, or attending seminary. This goal is for you o be able to hear and receive revelations from the Father and to be lead and obedient to that revelation.
If you are able to hear the revelations of the revelations of the Father and allow Him to lead you, ask the Holy Spirit who are those you need to be discipling in this area? Who do you need to invite into and give real access to your life, your day, your rhythms, and let your life challenge them to achieve growth? They don’t need you to simply give them a book to read, invite them to your church to meet your pastor and and listen to a sermon, or attend a class. They need you to give them access to your life and disciple them like Jesus did, and like His disciples did, and you are called to do. If Peter and the other disciples after their time together, their “church gathering”, where they declared and came to the decision and conclusion that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, afterwards went out to lunch and simply went home and did not share, mentor, or disciple anyone, like most people who attend church do today, there would be no churches today, none of you would know of Jesus, and I would not be writing this post.
My family, I pray you pend time in prayer with the Holy Spirit and ask to hear and receive from the Father? It is impossible to become a disciple of Jesus if you can’t. What is hindering, distracting, clouding, or stopping you from His revelation in your life? What invitation and challenge of Jesus are you resisting? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal those people, processes, and tools you need to intentionally and actively seek out that will assist in discipling and can walk with you in this challenge. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the persons you need to start discipling and to connect you with them to begin before the end of this week, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
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When my wife and I were up in Lexington for the years I was attending seminary, our income was very limited. We were considered poor enough for our children to receive free lunches and health care through the state. I remember one time walking into the county office with my wife to renew are children’s benefits. Maybe the woman behind the desk who saw us was having a bad day, but she was very judgmental towards myself and my wife. My wife and I could tell she had a negative attitude towards us because we were “poor.” In our conversations she told us about a couple other programs we could apply for, however her derogatory attitude was one of “good luck“ getting into it. Nancy and I walked out thinking, the others programs probably don’t even exist.
People do not believe there is a heaven because of they way allot Christians treat them on earth. When Christians are around someone who is "lost," or of a different color, view on gender, social standing, “different look” or even level of spirituality, they are judgmental towards them. So those that are lost think, "There can't be a heaven or they would not have told me bout it." They do not like being around me as it is here on earth. So if there is a place much better than earth, where those there in heaven will to spend eternity together, and they don't like spending this limited time with me on earth, they surely would not tell me about such a place where they would have to be with me forever. The fact that they are telling me about such a place, proves to me it is a lie and that it does not exist.
I have told people who attend my church not to invite people to our church, but first invite them to get together for a cup of coffee, out somewhere of over your house for dinner. Why would you invite someone to your church, and faith, a deep, spiritual, even awkward place to a non-believer to enter, if you won’t first invite them out to dinner. The same applies to our methods of evangelism. Why would a Christian invite someone to spend eternity with them in heaven if they first won’t even invite them for a few hours into their life for a meal? In this time we find ourself in as a nation as we reflect on how we treat people different from us and how we open up real dialogue with others in some way different from us, I believe those in the church need to reflection this as well.
How we treat people matters. People do not care what you know, do not listen to you, unless they know you care. In my story above, as my wife and I were getting ready to leave her office, she asked me what I did for a living. When I told her I was a pastor and going to seminary, her whole attitude changed towards us. She basically choked on her attitude towards us previously and we became her new best friends. When she saw us as members of the body loved by God, it cut through and changed any preconceived attitudes and prejudices she formed against us. When we see everyone as members of the body and loved by God, it changes the way we relate to them, and they receive from us.
My family, I pray today the Holy Spirit reveals any prejudices or attitudes in you that are hindering you from inviting people “into” a relationship with you before you invite them “To” a church gathering or salvation in Christ Jesus. Pray over what may be hindering you from sharing and others believing the Gospel of grace in Christ Jesus you are called to invite others to receive, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC/ Toney UMC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
