Monday, September 25, 2006

Dragon Slayer

This weekend we had a prayer conference at our church and I was scheduled to teach three hours. At first it seemed like just another thing that I had to do in an already OVERCROWDED season. In fact, I think that I belly-ached a bit about it to my family. Have you ever said, "I'm so busy, I don't know how I'm going to do all of this." Or, "I'm so tired, I don' know if I have the strength." But the amazing thing is that God did give me the time and the strength and I truly believe that His purposes were accomplished. Isn't it amazing that when we are the weakest, He is the strongest in us. Well, maybe not amazing for that is what the WORD tells us happens. But it is truly amazing when it happens to "us." So may I just suggest today, that you give your overcrowded schedule to the Lord and allow Him to deal with it. Then REJOICE!

Picture…A man, short of stature and lacking any sort of visible muscle tone. He is kind of a scrawny guy, wearing a heavy, brass Roman breastplate and He is holding a huge steel sword. The picture looks like it’s a snapshot like the ones we have at home in a picture album. It appears that the picture was taken while the little guy was in mid-dance. The shot captures his feet in mid-kick; his eyes alight with an inner glow of confidence and His mouth in a Cheshire cat grin. The man is dancing near the head of an obviously dead dragon. I said to God, “Oh, I get it. He is rejoicing because he killed the dragon.”

Hear… the Lord say, “No. He killed the dragon because he was rejoicing.”

Consider: I think that some of us have forgotten about the warfare aspect of worship. We tend to think of worship as a preliminary part of the weekend services or something we do when God answers our prayers. But worship should never be relegated to just something that happens before the preaching or what we do to express our appreciation for God’s intervention. It is so much more than that. Among other things, worship can be a weapon we use to defeat the enemy’s plans. I’m not advocating that in the midst of our worship we stop and say, “Take that, you devil you.” I’m not even advising you put warfare scriptures into your times of worship. Actually, I don’t want you thinking about the enemy or your problems whatsoever when you worship. Worship is strictly about God, and to God. It’s not about us and it certainly is not about the enemy. Regardless of what we are going through, our God is worthy to be praised and worshipped. When we worship in the midst of pain and discouragement, without us even realizing it, our adoration of God becomes an act of faith. Because worship at such times is declaring, “Regardless of what I am feeling or going through right now, I know that you are worthy of all praise. I know that you are going to take this situation that I am in and turn it into something that will ultimately be for my good and your glory.” Nothing could upset the enemy’s plans more. Instead of focusing on what is wrong, we focus on what is right, and that is God.

Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment — This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! Ps 149:5-9 NKJV

We have the honor of binding the enemy’s strategies and defeating his plans by the high praises of God being in our mouth. Yes, there will be times when you will use your offensive weapon, the word of God. Yes, there will be times when you will need to do warfare in prayer over specific people and situations. But do not forget that your sincere praise and worship defeats your enemy the devil. Worship, exalts God, defeats the devil and makes us feel better in the process. There have been times I’ve wept in prayer and felt just as bad when I arose from my knees as when I bowed down. But there has never been a time when I worshipped God from the bottom of my heart that I have not felt a lifting of the heaviness I was experiencing. Worship is a win-win situation. There is just no way for us to lose. The only one who looses in worship is our enemy, that great dragon the devil. Having a difficult day? Worship!

Pray: “I’m sorry that sometimes I get so focused on my problems that I neglect my times of worship. There have been times when I’ve been in a praise and worship service and my mind was totally on what had happened, or what should happen. I repent of my selfishness and my shortsightedness. I love you. I worship you right now. You are the awesome God and Creator. You take the mess of my life and create something beautiful with it. There is just no one in all the earth, no, make that the universe that compares to you. There is no way that you are going to let me fail. Yeah, make mistakes, and even have setbacks…but fail, no way. You are my shield, my help, and my exceeding great reward. You are my defense, and my joy. You are my best friend and King. I love you. We’re going to make it through this season together and victorious. That I believe!”

posted by pastorc @ 11:42 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

"Breakthrough"

Last night I had our leaders for "Heart to Heart" over for dinner, prayer and vision casting. In the midst of running around cleaning and cooking, I had gone to my garden to cut some roses for a centerpiece. When I was arranging them a huge green bug jumped out of the mix. How I missed him during the cutting process is beyond me. Preparing for a sitdown dinner for 12 had me rushing around like craxy, and I just didn't have time to deal with the BUG. So I put a big mug over the critter and told the ladies when they arrived not to touch it. No one touched it. This morning, I couldn't ignore the mug any longer. I had to deal with it. There may be some things that you have been putting off that you need to deal with as well. Don't ignore the "bug" in your kitchen any longer. You may find dealing with it easier than you imagined. With that little bit of advice said, I hope that the following word picture from the Lord will be a blessings to your life.

Picture…I saw a beautiful field with wild flowers, but in the near distance there was a menacing dark fog rolling in. Looking at the approaching darkness, fear began to stir within my heart, until I heard a song, a joyous song coming from somewhere within the fog. The fear vanished as a man broke through the darkness strode into the light. He walked with purposeful, jaunty strides and there was laughter lines crinkling the corners of his eyes. He was singing a song of victory. It was kind of a catchy tune and I found myself singing along. It was impossible not to. Joy began to bubble up within me.

Hear…the Lord say, “I have come to burst your dark clouds of discouragement, confusion and doubt. I have come to fill your being with clarity, revelation and light. Sing with me a song of victory, and the victory will be yours.”

Consider: The Lord is going to burst through the darkness, the heaviness, the confusion and frustration in your life right now. He will replace it with clarity of thought, revelation and understanding, and a joy that is beyond description. But you will need to partner with him in this transformation and you can do that by beginning to make a joyful sound. Even if it seems indescribably difficult to do, make a joyful noise. It is in your own best interest. For the Lord wants you to know that this season is not the “amen.” This is not the end. Press on and praise Him. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 You are going to make it. Yes - you are!

Have you ever said, “I can’t take it any more?”
Did you actually take more after you made that statement?

The issue is not whether or not you are going to make it. YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT! The issue is whether you are going to make it in a manner that brings glory to God, or are you going to drag yourself through the mire. Are you going to make it pretty or ugly? Are you going to make it with rejoicing or complaining? The joyful shout will make all the difference.

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. Psalm 89:15-17

The phrase “joyful sound” comes from the Hebrew word that means to make an acclamation of joy, or a battle cry. It involves musical instruments, loud noise, rejoicing, and shouting. So it doesn’t even matter if you can carry a tune. It’s time for you to sing a song of victory. It is time for you to sing a joyful song.

Do you know the joyful sound? Do you know how to shout with joy in the face of adversity? There are times to rest in quiet satisfaction in the love of the Lord. There are times when we sit and just know that He is God. There are times when we peacefully meditate on His Word. And then there are times when we need to let it rip! When we boldly praise and worship God in the midst of a trial it becomes an act of faith, which moves God into action.

Prayer: “Jesus, I still can see the picture of you breaking through the clouds with a spring in your step and a twinkle in your eyes. You are so real to me right now. I love you so much, and I am beginning to understand how much you truly love me. You do not want me sitting here crying in my soup. You do not want me dragging through the motions. You have come to give me life and not just life, but one that is abundant and full of blessings. I praise you right now. In fact, I SHOUT praises to you. You are my King. You are my Friend. You are my victory. I can hardly sit here right now. Thank you for bringing clarity where there was only fuzziness. Thank you for bringing revelation when I didn’t know what to think anymore. Thank you for bringing joy into this difficult situation, In Jesus Name, Amen.”

posted by pastorc @ 2:57 PM 3 comments

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

"BANNER"

Can you believe it? Summer is over... it seems like yesterday, I was planting my flowers. But since those rainy cool days of spring, my daugher has moved to South Africa to do missions and my youngest son has come home from a year of ministry and training Mexico City, engaged. So maybe the days haven't just flown by after all. My point is that life is constantly changing. It is challenging to say the least. I pray that this word picture from the Lord will help you right now with all that is going on in your lives.


Picture…angels marching into the room in which you are sitting right now. They are not the seraphim that fly around the throne of God, each possessing six wings. Neither are they cute little cherubs that you might find on romantic cards and decorations. These are warrior angels wearing heavy armor and a fierce expression upon their face. One might even be afraid of them if it were not for the banners they are waving that proclaim the victory of the Lord. Solomon in describing the beauty of his bride exclaimed her as majestic as troops with banners. Such is the scene you need to picture right now. Angels that are fierce and beautiful, declaring the victory of the Lord are approaching you at this very minute.

Hear…the Lord say, “Is there anything to difficult for me to handle? Is there any battle that I cannot win on your behalf? I am sending warrior angels to battle on your behalf. You are not in this alone. Do not be fearful or discouraged. Know that I, the Lord, am fighting on your behalf, and I cannot be defeated. Rejoice, for victory is now.”

Consider: Whatever the battle you are waging, whatever the problem that you are facing, the Lord wants to give you victory today. He is especially concerned about cycles in your life, patterns of behaviors that have been repeated over and over again. He wants to break these cycles. It is like you are chained and you can’t seem to break free. It’s like you keep running in circles. Just as the children of Israel kept circling the same mountain, you have been caught in a loop that keeps bringing you back to where you started. It could be that every time you think that you are going to get out of debt an unexpected bill or financial obligation hits you. It could be every time you determine you are going to pray everyday you get sick and get side tracked. It could be a compulsive behavior, addiction or attitude that you just can’t seem to shake. It could be unhealthy relationships that you just can’t seem to break, or a compulsion that drives you. It could be gambling, drugs, alcohol, shopping, cleaning and even exercise. Compulsions come in all shapes and sizes and God wants to break them off of you once and for all. But this isn’t going to be a one-man show. God needs your cooperation, yes, He needs you cooperation and participation in the process.

  • The first thing that you need to do right now is repent, because God cannot intervene in your life if the enemy has a legal right to keep you chained. Jesus bled and died so that you could be free from sin and the bondages of the devil. But you must appropriate that forgiveness and liberty through repentance and RECEIVING God’s forgiveness.
  • Next you need to forgive anyone who has harmed you, including yourself. Un-forgiveness keeps you in changes. If you doubt it just read Matthew 18, especially in the King James Version. I love paraphrases because they help me to understand a lot of passages, but many of the paraphrases water this passage down. So if you can get your hands on a KJV please do so.
  • Now declare the will and purposes of God in your life. Do not pray the problem. Use the Word to declare victory in your life. If you have a prayer partner have them join you in this declaration.
  • Remember that this victory is His idea, His plan. He has dispatched angels to fight on your behalf, so declare God’s purposes with passionate faith.
  • Then spend much of the day and even tomorrow in praise and worship. Use the Word to declare God’s victory in your life. Create an atmosphere in your life that continues to break chains.

    Pray: “Father, in your name Jesus, I thank you that you have come into this place to break chains of fear, discouragement, sickness, poverty and compulsive behaviors. I thank you Lord for fighting on my behalf. I couldn’t do it all on my own, and neither could you. You ordained that we would be partners in your purposes. I’m sorry that I have just asked you to do all of the work in the past. I have said, God do this or do that for me. But enough of all that…I repent of ___________right now in Jesus name. I forgive ___________________right now in Jesus name. I declare your purposes in my life right now. I declare with your Word that nothing will be able to separate me from your love…not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture. None of this fazes me because Jesus loves me. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing — nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable — absolutely nothing can get between me and God's love because of the way that Jesus has embraced me. I am victorious.” (Rom. 8:35-39)

posted by pastorc @ 5:15 PM 0 comments