The Last Word

Praying til Pentecost Day 38

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

A member of my church in Georgia asked me one Sunday, "What are the last words you will ever hear a red neck speak." I was smarter than a fifth grader on that day, so I pleaded the fifth. With a dead pan face and perfect comedic timing he said, "Watch this!" I looked around and everyone else thought this was funny so it was safe to laugh. Gotta be careful these days in such a politically correct world. You never know when a joke session will turn into a lynch mob. I excused myself, and wrote these priceless words in the flyleaf of my bible. They are not inspired, but they do have ring of truth to them. That is what makes them so funny.

On a more serious note, our denomination is getting ready for another serious reorganization. Pastors in pulpits and people in the pews have been praying for the past year for some very special leaders who have been charged with the task of formulating a strategy for world evangelism. These folks will present a report at our annual meeting that will hopefully provide a sense of direction under the banner, "Great Commission Resurgence." Jesus launched his own version of this in once sentence.

Leave it to Jesus to keep church simple. He knew who He would leave behind to follow the directions. Every time I read the last words of Jesus, I am impressed with the brevity and the breadth of the commission He gave a small group of disciples. Before He ascended into heaven, He focused on their

Personal Poverty - "but you will receive power.
America on its worst day is still a wealthy nation. The American church still has an abundance of resources. What the church lacks is not the power to communicate what they believe, but the power to transform lives. Transformed people change the culture around them. They do not adapt to it, or camouflage themselves to hide in it. There had to be a personal admission before there would be any resurgence to the commission they received. They were poor in spirit. They needed a Helper, and would have to pray for God to give them what they had to have to live. Jesus would send them what they needed for an abundant life that would overflow their capacity to keep what they knew about Him a secret. This kind of praying is not about greed. It is about need.

Personal Responsibility - "...when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
The Holy Spirit's personal power was meant to be a personal touch that would be sent to individual people with willing hearts and open hands to receive. The Holy Spirit would not come upon an institution, denomination, idea, concept, or nation. He would fall upon and transform the lives of praying people. Transformed people change the world around them. They let their light shine in a dark world. They do not look for someone else to do it, and hire them to get it done for them.

Personal Mission - "and you shall be my witnesses."
In ancient times, paid witnesses were usually bribed witnesses. Nothing has changed in the past 2,000 years. The Greek word for witness is rooted in the same word that is transliterated "martyr." The early disciples had such a passion for their mission that death could not stop them from telling what they had seen, and heard about Jesus. The refocus of a denomination on the Great Commission does not have much hope unless the individual members of that corporate body recognize that the call to tell people about Jesus is not an option. Every believer is accountable to God to share the message of salvation. They are not responsible for the response to the witness. They are responsible to share it.

Personal Vision - "both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

This mission to tell people about Jesus would take some time for the disciples to grasp. What they heard was different from what Jesus said. They heard Him say that they were to be witnesses "to the Jews in Jerusalem, the Jews in Samaria, and the Jews in the remotest part of the earth." Their distorted hearing gave them a blurred vision. Jesus had a bigger plan and a wider net than the establishment of another ancient cult group. To reach the world with His message of hope, He sent His Spirit to His followers. He took His place in Heaven to intercede for them at the right hand of the Father. His people must see that they are citizens of a kingdom that has no earthly borders.

The message of the Risen Christ is so simple a child can get hold of it and even sing about it. "This little light of mine. I'm going to let it shine." Sing it loud! Say it proud! "Let it shine til Jesus comes! Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!"

W.A.I.T.

Praying til Pentecost Day 37

"To those He presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, 'Which' He said, 'you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' " Acts 1:3-5

One of the least popular rooms in the hospital is the waiting room. It is filled with nervous people and anxious thoughts. Those who enter into its four walls have been told to go there, and sit until someone comes to get them, to give them further news or to provide additional instructions. It always seems to be a place stocked with ancient magazines, bad coffee, and uncomfortable chairs. It is not a place that a person would choose to hang out unless they were forced by intimidating circumstances to do so. This room does not have the winsomeness of a Barnes and Noble easy chair, or a Starbuck's couch. It is not a place that people enjoy, and it always looks best in the rear view mirror.

Whenever I make a trip to the doctor or the dentist, I can always count on a lengthy period of time spent in a room the office manager has set aside for the purpose of waiting. I'm not exactly sure what the appointment time was all about. When I get that little card from the receptionist, I am always amused at the specific time that is written on it. When I call the physicians office or web site to double check on the time of my appointment, I am always urged to be there 15 minutes early. I am reminded that the doctor does not like to be kept waiting. Well, at least we both agree on something. I do not look on my little appointment card as a promissory note that can be cashed in the bank of punctuality. It is, at best, a shot in the dark at when the doctor will actually invite me to enter into his presence. I can always count on the waiting room.

Waiting is one of God's favorite courses in the School of Prayer. It is not an advanced class for the elite students. It is as basic as learning the ABC's before starting kindergarten. When you first learn to parrot the letters of the alphabet, you have no idea that slurring the syllables of ELLOMENNOPEE means you have just arrived at class and begun to learn how to spell the word pray.

When the Risen Lord ascended into Heaven, He commanded His disciples to return to Jerusalem and wait. Luke's account says, "When they entered into the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying...these all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer..." Acts 1:13-14

After the disciples experienced the departure of Jesus, they went back to the city, and began to pray for the promise of the Father. They were waiting and praying. They were in the right place, and they were doing the right thing. They had been obedient to what the Risen Lord had told them to do.

Power seeks a vacuum. That is an obscure way of saying that when something needs to be done, someone will always step up and do something whether it is the right thing or not. People are mobilized by the urgency behind the phrase, "Don't just stand there...Do something!" I love Ron Dunn's book, "Don't Just Stand There Pray Something." That is what they were told to do, and yet, it did not take Peter long before he kicked into large and in charge mode, and turned a prayer meeting into a business meeting.

Peter looked at the assignment that the eleven had been given. "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) After mulling this over in prayer for a while, Peter thought he had a plan. He said, "Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us...one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22) It was not an evil plan, but it was just not God's plan. Peter had done the math, and somehow figured out that if they added one more man to the mix, and rounded out their number so that they could be The Twelve again, then they could carry out the program of world evangelization that they had been given to do.

If Peter was the Rock, and James and John the Sons of Thunder, then Matthias should be nicknamed, "The Who?" Thomas was tagged as the doubting disciple. Matthias could be called the disappearing disciple. Peter had presumed that a little prayer had given him insight into God's game plan for reaching the world with the message of the resurrection. He hit on a plan, but he had not received The Promise. The power that the disciples needed would not be a result of adding one more man to their team roster. They didn't need something man made, but someone God given. They needed the Holy Spirit, and Matthias was a poor substitute for a winning witnessing strategy.

Waiting on God often creates more anxiety before it delivers on the promise of the Father. Waiting brings a person to the end of their resources, and clarifies their need for what only the Father can do. The word W.A.I.T. can be described as WITHOUT ANXIETY, I TRUST. Praying places your need in God's hands. Waiting keeps it there until God delivers on His promise. Taking the problem back into your own hands will rob you of R.E.S.T. For praying and waiting to produce the right fruit, you must RELEASE EVERY SINGLE THING into the hands of God, and keep your hands off of them. Resist the urge to fix something with a premature plan and give God the credit for it.

P.R.A.Y.

Praying til Pentecost Day 34

What does praying do for a person? Why make an emphasis on "Praying til Pentecost? Why make prayer a daily discipline, and a personal priority? The Risen Christ called His disciples together and told them to go to Jerusalem and wait and pray until the promise of the Father was delivered to them. The waiting and the praying must have seemed as tedious to them as it does to us.

Perhaps the toughest answer we ever hear from God is not, "No!" It may be that the hardest answer to handle from God is, "Wait!" Let me suggest that while you are waiting, and praying that you allow prayer to give you a new...

Perspective = without the persistent priority of prayer, it is impossible to obtain an maintain God's perspective on intimidating people and circumstances. Prayer provides H.O.P.E when we Have Our Perspective Elevated. Prayer takes us above the noise of battle and gives us the confidence of our victory we have through consistent companionship with the:

• Presence of God
• Person of Christ
• Power of the Holy Spirit

Praying and waiting also provides the means by which God offers us the joy of our...

Relationship = without prayer it is possible to lose touch with our true identity in Christ. Believers are children of God.

My father has encouraged thousands of people to take hold of the hand of God while they walk down the paths of life. He has counselled that the joy is in the journey, not just in the destination. When we know who our Father is we are not concerned about what kind of a welcome we will receive when we come home to Him. Two quotes have guided me down this path.

"Believing prayer transfers the promises of God into the context of your problem." Don Miller

"Prayer is the intimate communication between the Heavenly Father and His child." Don Miller

Through prayer we experience:

• Rebirth...It is the way we come on board.
• Renewal...the way we keep on breathing.
• Rest...the way carry on the conversation.

"Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

The kind of rest that Jesus offers to us is found int the yoke relationship. He is the Captain of the yoke, and we are the Novice. He offers His companionship, His shoulders, and His strength. It is possible to be in the right position, but not experience the rest that Jesus offers. Straining for what we want will not provide rest. It is only when we lean into His will and His way that we find true rest.

R.E.S.T results by Releasing Every Single Thing into the hands of God by rolling it off our shoulders and over on the shoulders of Jesus through prayer.

Abiding = the abandonment of hope in anything or anyone else as the source of life other than Jesus. It is the unbroken fellowship with Him that allows His fruit to flow through you.

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." John 15:7

• God's Accessibility through Christ
• Christ's Ability to believers
• Believer's Availability to Christ

Yet = the turning point in your prayer life...taking you to a whole new level of maturity and mission.

Before a believer ever comes to the real power of God that is available to them in prayer, they have to come to the end of themselves. It is not a matter of bringing more of themselves to the table. It is a willingness to admit an emptiness that can only be filled by God. It is not a matter of knowing more about God, but it is a matter of talking to God rather than about Him. David had the "shadow of death" experience that moved God out of the third person and introduced God to David in a more personal, face to face conversation. David's experience is not unique. Every believer who takes hold of prayer to have a face to face conversation with God will find that the kind of intimacy.

"Yea thought I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me." Psalm 23:4

"Yet, not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39"Revival is a new act of obedience." Charles Finney

Every believer is a potential prayer warrior, but potential just means you haven't done it yet. Prayer is the tool God has chosen to bring about change in your life, your church, your community, your county, your country and your world. Will you use it?

Review

Praying til Pentecost Day 28

"For we did not follow cleverly designed tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." 2 Peter 1:16
(Matthew 27:57-Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-John 21:1-11)

I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of pageants and dramatic interpretations of Scriptural events. They seem to always go over the top or fall so short of the simplicity of the Gospel message. From a bale of hay and a bathrobe to full scale laser shows the Christian creative community takes tries to get ready for their closeup and deliver their lines. Unfortunately, too often the flight of a dove descending on the Beloved Son turns out looking like a Gospel Blimp. Something always seems to get lost in the translation...simple truth.

Jesus revealed Himself as the Risen Lord without fanfare, laser shows and brass bands. His quiet revelation seems to be a deliberate sabotage to the efforts of promoters and musicians intent on making the message of the resurrection a huge crescendo punctuated with a hands held high, "TA DAH!"

Quite to the contrary, Jesus simply spoke her name to Mary Magdalene. To the couple on the road to Emmaus, He just pulled along side of them and eavesdropped on their despair. To the unbelieving disciples huddled in a room, He appears and speaks with a calming voice, "Peace." One the Sea of Galilee, He plays the role of a spotter on the shore, and points the weary disciples to a school of fish.

His personal touch to Mary provides a glimpse of the intimacy that the Risen Christ offers to people post resurrection. He may not be physically present, but He actively and accurately intercedes for the needs of His followers. He knows them by name!

His willingness to draw near to a couple in crisis on the Road to Emmaus, paints a picture of a Savior who is aware, available, and active in taking the initiative to deliver a compassionate word of hope.

His provision of peace in the midst of a group of fearful followers was a foretaste of His power to deliver a blood transfusion for courageous living that would turn cowards into conquerors.

His direction to His disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat reminds us that the catch always belongs to Him. Our effort without His guidance is an exercise in futility.

His provision of breakfast for His disciples reminds them and us that the Risen Christ will never be in their debt. He invites people to get in on what He is doing in the world. He doesn't need them to do for Him as much as they need to be with Him.

When Peter reflected on the Person of Christ and the power of the resurrection, he thought of His Majesty. For Peter, familiarity did not breed contempt.

Today, focus on the majesty of the Risen Christ, and thank God He is seated at His Father's right hand to intercede for you by name. He knows what you need, before you say it to Him, but say it anyway. You need to role the burden off your back, and place it in His hands. The power of the Risen Christ is found in His power to intercede for you and for me.

Reflections

Praying til Pentecost Day 27

"Do you love me more than these?" John 21:15

The death, and burial of Jesus initiated a crisis of faith for His followers. His death on the cross and placement in the tomb intimidated them and blinded them to the rebirth of their vision that only His resurrection could provide.

Crisis has been described as a dangerous opportunity. The Chinese combine the character for danger and the character for opportunity to form the word crisis. Life is filled with crisis. One of the least comforting contemporary proverbs of our day is, "We are either leaving a crisis, heading into a crisis or in the middle of a crisis." Not much hope out there these days.

Today I turn 60 years of age. That definitely registers pretty high on the old crisis meter. I can remember thinking that 60 years of age was ancient. I have a much clearer and generous perspective on that milestone today!

When I was 24 years old, I returned from two years of service in East Africa, and enrolled at seminary in Fort Worth. I made an appointment with the pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, and drove to the East Side and knocked on the door of the yellow, wood paneled parsonage on Hampshire. The man who answered the door was Dr. W. Fred Swank, pastor of Sagamore for 4o plus years. He was white-haired, pot bellied, wrinkled and sixty-six years old. I was stunned. I remember thinking, "So this is my future!?" Little did I know that 16 years later my family and I would move into that same parsonage, but that is another story.

Like I said, I have a totally different perspective on sixty today! I don't FEEL old. I may be in denial, but I find myself youthful in the one thing that matters most, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." I only seem to feel my age when I lose my confidence in the simple truth of that children's song.

I admit, I wince a little bit when I compare my passport photo of 1972 with my current picture. I feel like I am looking at an image of the son I never had. It is a little creepy to think that physical age can sneak up on you and transform your appearance, even while you are looking in a mirror every day. How does that happen?

Still, when I got up this morning, I did not FEEL sixty. I did not FEEL old. I felt fine. The crisis came when I tried to live like I was 22 years of age. I dusted off my road bike this week, and started out on a ride on a beautiful morning. The air was cool, and the sky was blue, and very little wind. It was a great day for a ride. What I ran into was a wall of reality. When I was 22 years of age, I rode my bike quite a bit. I even took part in a 60 mile race called Bear Downs my senior year at Baylor. I was young, fit, and a seasoned rider on the hills around Waco. I found out this week that Runaway Bay, Texas is home to the foothills of Mt. Everest. I was working my way back home after a brief, but leg burning ride when I looked up and saw my house on a far and steep hill. I had never noticed the incline when I was driving my car. I pulled into my driveway huffing and puffing, and could not dismount the bike without laying it down on the ground. At that moment, I did not FEEL sixty, I felt much older. The slow, steady climb up the hill revealed more about my birthday than I really wanted to know.

Crisis of faith may not be a crash at the crossroads of doubt and belief. It may be a fatigue that comes from a steady push up the hill. It is the little things that can cause us to stumble, or choke, like the rock in our shoe or the bone in our throat. They have a way of adding up over the years.

Prayer provides us the means to maintain constant fellowship or consistent companionship with the presence of the Risen Christ. Lack of personal time with Him has a way for cooling the flame of intimacy, and one day we wake up and realize that there has been a slow erosion of the love for the One who matters most.

When the disciples saw Jesus take His last breath on the cross, they thought that they had lost their capacity to have conversation with Him. When they heard He was alive again, they rejected the truth they heard. When He came to them in person, they ignored His command. They had great difficulty looking into the future because they were overwhelmed with the fact that things would never be the same again. What they could not see was the way the Risen Christ was trying to correct their vision, and prepare their hearts to believe the best was yet to come.

As I approach the home stretch in my years on earth, I find myself facing the same question Jesus asked of Simon, Son of John, "Do you love Me?" It is not enough to be faithful to the call of the Master. There must be a First Love relationship with Him. My body may not show it, but I find great renewal each day when I come to Jesus with a child like faith and trust to place the day into His hands. The mirror does not reflect the confidence of a child, but the image of the man. Still, I think I gain strength and comfort when I reflect over the past sixty years, and realize I have come this far by faith, and I will meet this crisis the same way. Happy Birthday to me!

Breakfast

Praying til Pentecost Day 26

"Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." John 21:10

"Come and have breakfast!" John 21:12

I love the invitation that the Risen Lord gave to His disciples. "Come and have breakfast." After they had been working all night long, Jesus points them to a great catch, and then prepares a warm fire and a fresh meal for His men. Maybe this is the forerunner of all those men's prayer breakfast that I have attended over the years.

Yesterday, I visited with an old friend of mine in Fort Worth. We have been able to stay in touch for over 30 years, but we do not get to see each other very often. He asked me to meet him for a cup of coffee before I headed back to The Bay. He wanted to know if I knew where the I-Hop was on Interstate 30 at East Chase. I told him I thought I could find it. The truth is, I could have driven there in my sleep. For six years, I took my daughters to breakfast two mornngs a week at that same I-HOP from 1992-1998.

Actually, from 1987-2001, I would take one daughter to breakfast on Thursday and the other on Friday. This is one of the smartest moves in parenting I ever made. I went to a lot of really bad "Burgee Keen" and "Mickey D" breakfasts before they discovered the I-HOP difference in 1992! I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally have a decent meal. The truth is, the breakfast time with them was never really about the meal. It was all about me spending time with my little girls and trying to build a personal relationship with them. I would hold the car door for them, and the open the door to the restaurant. I would hold the chair for them at the table, and treat them with every kind of respect that they deserved. I was coaching them on what to expect from a man. I would tell them when they were thumbsucking young to repeat these words if a boy ever tried to take them on a date and did not treat them with the respect they deserved. "TAKE ME HOME!"

A friend of mine had told me that rules without relationship always build rebellion. Early years in my ministry had been spent as a youth pastor, refereeing arguments between clueless parents and rebellious teens. I was determined to be more than a remote rule book to my girls in preparing them for the game of life. It was time well spent, and I do not regret a moment of it.

When we left Fort Worth to move to Georgia, the waitresses met us at our table to say goodbye. One of them said, "We have watched your daughters grow up here." That was the truth. My daughters grew from 12 years to 18 years of age, and 9 years to 15 years of age. They had moved from little girls to young women, and the waitresses had witnessed every stage in their rise to womanhood. That was not all. As I looked around the room in 1998, I could see other dads with their daughters. It had not gone unnoticed that I was having breakfast with my girls every week, and over the years the dads in the area got the message. They began to do the same thing with their girls. Yesterday walking around that IHOP was like stepping on holy ground for me. It was a real blast from the past. Later that evening, I met my daughters for dinner. They are now 30 and 26 years of age and accomplished, successful young women. I bought them dinner, but they took me out shopping and bought me a shirt and a pair of jeans for my birthday. We laughed and talked, and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. I can't help but believe that the joy we had last night was connected to the breakfasts we shared all those mornings years ago.

Can you believe the invitation? "Come and have breakfast!" It is just like the Risen Lord to know what His disciples needed before they asked. He already had breakfast cooking before they hauled in and counted their catch.

They were encouraged to bring to the table what they had caught, but Jesus had everything under control. He has never been in need of our contribution to His Kingdom. He always invites us to participate in what He is already doing. His invitation was more about renewing their connection with Him than it was about the meal. Simpy put, the disciples needed to reconnect with Jesus. He offered them physical and spiritual nourishment at the same time. This is what I like to call the perfect comfort food.

I know that every one is not a morning person. I just want to remind people that mornings and evenings are the same to Jesus. There are no dawns and sunsets in heaven. There is only perpetual worship and fellowship at the throne of God. The Risen Lord has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father and He lives to intercede for you and me. There is never a moment of the day or night that He is not available to reconnect with His followers. Breakfast is served all day long at the International House of Prayer. The kitchen is open, and He is prepared to serve what you need the most, a fresh sense of His Presence.

Quote of the Day: "Come and have breakfast." Jesus

Halftime

Praying til Pentecost Day 25

"Children, you do not have any fish do you?" John 21:5

"Half Time" was a book written by Bob Buford. In 1996 it had a signficant impact on my life. After reading it, I wrote letters to approximately 200 friends and mentors. I told them I was reaching a personal milestone of 20 years of marriage, and 25 years of ministry, and as I approached the second half of my life, I wanted to make sure that I still had my ladder securely placed on the right wall. I enclosed a card, and asked them to share with me the three toughest questions they could ask me about...
1. My devotion to God.
2. My relationship to Dana and my two daughters, Ashley (17) and Allyson (13)
3. My call to the ministry

I kept the notes, letter, cards, and computer discs that I received from these men. As I approach the age of 60, I find myself being drawn to read Buford's book again, and a review their wise counsel.

When the disciples finally obeyed the command of Jesus, and returned to Galilee, they went back to what felt comfortable. They went fishing. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was not a retreat into a hazy fog of relaxation, but it was hard work that required a great deal of sweat equity and long nights of casting and drawing nets before their was any payoff.

At dawn Jesus arrived on the scene. He was on the banks of the lake, and He called out to the disciples. Rather from the glazed eyes that come from sleep deprivation, or the distance of the boat from the shore, they did not recognize Jesus. They had spent the whole night fishing and had nothing to show for their labor.

It was not unusual for a spotter to remain on the shore and guide a boat to the ripples in the water that indicated a school of fish. Some people have speculated that Jesus was chiding the disciples with His remark. It was more likely that He was guiding them to a catch. It may have stung a little when a stranger pointed out the obvious to the weary fishermen, but they listened and obeyed what they heard.

The King James Version translates the words of Jesus in an way that provides a delightful play on words. He said, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat." (John 21:6a) The disciples had no catch to show for their efforts. They had obviously been casting their nets all night on the wrong side of the boat. The obedient response of the disciples resulted in a catch that almost sank the boat. "They were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish." (John 21:6b)

Buford wrote a decade and a half ago about the desire men have for significance in life. The first half of a man's life is spent on fighting for survival to achieve a degree of success. The second half is spent taking success and leveraging it into significance. The key is to know what is most significant in life and to give oneself to it with passion and purpose. There is a hole in a man's heart until he truly finds significance.

Some things never change, but changed men have experienced a change in the price tags of their lives. Peter was a fisherman by trade, but a disciple by heart. He once was motivated and driven by the goal of catching fish. The more fish he caught, then the more significant his life would be. After meeting Jesus, Peter was drawn to Him with a passion and a purpose that he had never known while fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus called Peter out of the boat, and commissioned him to become a fisher of men. Peter had a roller coaster reputation. Therefore, on the surface he appeared to be a very unreliable fishing guide for men in need of a new life in Christ. People looked at the white water of Peter's life, and saw shallowness. Jesus looked at the man and saw depth.

When Peter was absent from vital fellowship and intimate communication with His Lord, he went back to his comfort zone, fishing. When Jesus guided him to a successful catch, it no longer had the same grip on him that it had once had. While they were struggling to haul in the greatest catch of their lives, John told Peter, "It is the Lord." (John 21:7) Peter threw on some clothes, and threw himself into the sea and swam one hundred yards to Jesus. He left the catch behind because he was drawn to Jesus. What was once considered a success to him was no substitute for the significance of a restored fellowship with His Lord.

Casting a net on the wrong side of the boat can be compared to climbing a ladder of success all the way to the top and finding out the ladder was leaning on the wrong wall. "Half Time" makes a case for readjusting the last years of our lives with an intensity on what really matters the most. As we enter the 25th day of "Praying til Pentecost" it is half time between the Resurrection of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost. Have you heard a word from God? Have you obeyed what you heard Him say? Are you still casting your net on the wrong side of the boat? Are you focusing too much time on matters of success, but still find yourself drawn to a desire for significance?

Take the next 25 days and invest them in developing intimate communication between you and your Heavenly Father. Jesus calls us to prayer as the means to refocus our attention on what matters most in life. He still asks, "Children, you do not have any fish do you?" Remember, Jesus knows the empty condition of your heart. He is not looking for information from us, but he is waiting for an admission from us. Dropping a tight white knuckled grip on the symbols of success empties our hands and our hearts to receive the most significant gift God can give. The gift of the Holy Spirit magnifies the Person of Jesus Christ and everything else that we once held dear, shrinks in significane to a renewed and continuous fellowship with Him.

Quote of the Day: "One of the most common characteristics of a peson who is nearing the end of the first half is that unquenchable desire to move from success to significance." Bob Buford

Warning Signs

Praying til Pentecost Day 24

"Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." John 20:29

Roadside traffic signs are some of the least appreciated message boards in the world. No one takes them seriously. The "YIELD" sign has to have the greatest inferiority complex. Does anyone ever really yield to the traffic that is already on the main artery? Usually the first response of most drivers is to speed up and squeeze in ahead of the opposition as if a checkered flag is just a few feet away.

The various speed limit signs do get not much respect either. Regardless of the number that is posted on them, they are always rounded up or ignored altogether. Unless there is the presence of the resident patrol officer or state police car, the warning sign does not get much notice.

Flashing lights on the dashboard of a car, or bells that ding with warning signals are meant to be aids in caring for a vehicle or to be careful to buckle up for a safe trip. People have been known to put black tape over the lights and disconnect the seat belt bells. They were the same people who inspired the great Madison Avenue campaign for an oil company, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later."

The fifty days that separated the disciples from the gift of The Promise of the Holy Spirit were filled with unbelief. The unpardonable sin is the sin of unbelief, and Christ followers should be on the alert for any sign of it creeping back into their lives.

What are some of the signs that should not be ignored?

• Unstable in the face of crisis; talking more, and praying less.
• Nearsighted: determined to live on the basis of "Seeing is believing."
• Bitter: annoyed with God's habit of exposing lack of faith, and a lot of fear in your life.
• Embarrassed by the magnitude of God's promises and the wasteland of your reality.
• Locked in the prison of previous experiences and conventional wisdom.
• Impatient with the pace of events leading up to God's provision and deliverance.
• Exhausted by the effort it takes to make God look good to unbelieving people.
• Fear of consequences resulting from God's failure to get in on your agenda or on your schedule.

Jesus marveled or wondered at the unbelief of the people of His hometown who could trust Him to heal them, but could not find the faith to believe in Him as their Savior. His assessment of the day's work was different from those who had seen him perform miracles in their town. He was of the opinion that He had been unable to do any great work (miracle) there except heal a few people. The last word on the subject says much about what Jesus thought was important. "He wondered at their unbelief." (Mark 6:6)

When Jesus encountered an honest man who cried out, "Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) He met him at the point of his need, and helped him through the barrier of unbelief.

Principle: Unbelief is the flashing light on the dashboard of your faith that points out something is not right under the hood of your heart.

Jesus felt very strongly about unbelief in any form, and He especially warned against speaking any blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31)

In Greek language, "faith" and "believe" are clearly kissing cousins. They have the same root system, and bear a similar fruit. "Believe" is the verb form of the word "faith." To believe is more than an intellectual assent to a list of dogmas, the checking of the box on a membership card, the signing of a church covenant, or the successful completion of a catechism class. Belief is profoundly rooted in a faith. A person becomes a "believer" when they put their trust and confidence in the Person of Jesus Christ as their only hope of forgiveness and hope of salvation. Belief is an event and a process. It is an instantaneous response to the call of Christ on one's life, but it is also developed into much more by constantly placing it into action in obedience to His commands.

The Risen Lord came into the lives of His disoriented and discouraged disciples to deliver the good news of His victory over death, and the promise of the Holy Spirit who would be sent to them when He ascended into heaven. They would have difficulty grasping what He was saying until the Holy Spirit took hold of them. The result was a transformation of weak men into powerful spokesmen for the cause of Christ.

When the warning signs of unbelief are flashing in your face, and distracting you from the signs that God has posted along the way, don't forget to pray, "Jesus take the wheel!"

Quote of the Day: "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you!" John 20:21

Warning Signs of Unbelief

Praying til Pentecost Day 23

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.' After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, 'Peace be with you.' " John 20:24-26

One of my favorite plaques is one that I saw written in an imitation Hebrew font with the words, "SHALOM, Y'ALL." It puts the unique Texas twang to the common Jewish greeting to give it a contemporary significance. God always has a way of taking the common things in life and making them uncommonly significant. Three times in the twentieth chapter of John, Jesus says, "Peace be with you." He most probably was making this expression in the popular Aramaic language used among the people of His day. It probably was the word shalom. Shalom was a greeting used among the people of Israel in ancient times, and it remains a popular expression among Israelis today.

When it is translated from the Greek word, eirene, it carries an implication of prosperity, blessing, quietness, rest, or simply peace. Shalom, the equivalent expression in Hebrew, could be used as a salutation or a sendoff. Coming or going it was always appropriate to give a word of blessing.

With this greeting, Jesus was trying to calm the storm in the lives of His disciples. He had already sent them two messages to leave Jerusalem and return to Galilee. He had visited them personally, but one of the remaining eleven had been absent. Eight days later the ten men who had seen Jesus personally tried to convince Thomas they had seen the Risen Lord. He remained unconvinced. His attitude and remarks have pegged him for over 2,000 years as "Doubting Thomas." His name has become synonymous with unbelief and lack of faith. What a bad rap!

The ten disciples who had seen the physical presence of the Risen Lord were still in the same room discussing their options eight days after His personal appearance to them. They were still in the city of Jerusalem, and not a step closer to Galilee. They had heard the truth from the lips of Jesus, but they had not obeyed Him yet. Thomas may have not believed what he had not seen, but the ten disciples had not obeyed what they had heard. Thomas was in a state of unbelief, but the ten were in a state of rebellion. They had heard, but they had not obeyed. Delayed obedience is still a virulent form of disobedience. It is no great substitute for immediate compliance. Delayed obedience is rebellion. Hearing and ignoring what they heard did not place the disciples above Thomas. They were still in the process of taking what Jesus said under advisement. No wonder the disciples are so popular among churches today. Every one of them could be the patron saint of delay.

Eight days later, Thomas was the only honest man in the room. When Jesus entered the room for the second time, Thomas was there. At least he knew, and admitted he was an unbeliever. The other ten men were posers. If they were true believers they would have left a note for Thomas, and left for Galilee. Their act of obedience would have said more to Thomas about their beliefs than all of their pleading and lecturing.

Jesus came with the words of peace to calm the choppy waters in their hearts. The disciples had heard from Him eight days earlier, but they were still trapped in the harbor of their own fears. They had yet to apply what Jesus had already told them to do. Praying and waiting for further clarification of explicit marching orders may make a person appear to be spiritually sensitive, and humble. It is a mere mirage of true belief. In reality, it is true rebellion. The next time we find the disciples they have arrived in Galilee. Their rebellion only postponed a reunion with the Risen Lord. Their obedience put them in a position to hear from Jesus again.

One of the first warning signs of unbelief is being unstable in the face of crisis. It manifests itself in talking more and praying less. The Chinese form the word crisis by combining two different characters. One of the characters is danger and the other is opportunity. They consider crisis to be a dangerous opportunity. Christ followers become Christ "ignorers" when they talk more about a crisis than they pray about it. Christ followers get trapped in this prison of doubt when they fail to apply what they know to be true. Discussing the truth is not as important as applying the truth. Applying the truth always brings about consequences. Delaying to obey the truth brings about consequences too. The wise Christ follower will obey what they know to be true, the first time they hear it, with the right heart attitude and leave the consequences in God's hands. Regardless of the fear, remember, Jesus says, "Peace be with you!"

Shalom y'all!
 

Receive

Praying til Pentecost Day 22

"Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:22

The message of the Risen Christ to the eleven disciples included a mandate for His mission and the means to achieve it. First they would have to accept the mandate. Before there was any power for the mission, there would have to be an awareness of their weakness for the task. The scope of the vision, and the strength of the enemy made a daunting war look impossible to win.

God specializes in doing the impossible with some of the most improbable people. A quick look around the room at the faces of the ten disciples would not build up a lot of confidence. These were the chosen few who would lead the way in carrying out the world wide movement of God. Among them were a political zealot, a few fishermen, a tax collector, men with anger issues, and an assortment of other wannabees and underachievers. Thomas was conspicuously absent from the gathering mentioned in John's account. Eight days later he would receive a personal visit and a mild rebuke from the Risen Lord for his "seeing is believing" kind of faith. The prospects of Kingdom growth did not look good.

From the motley crew of men hiding out in fear of their lives would rise up and spread out around the globe the message of hope for a lost world. In a few short days they would be transformed into courageous and eloquent spokesmen for the cause of the Risen Christ. What they needed for this transformation to take place had not been received yet.

Jesus told them He would send them out to do what His Father had sent Him to do. He breathed on them and told them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This was not a little bit of the Spirit, or an early spark of the "flames of fire" that would come at Pentecost. This was a forecast of the spiritual dynamic that would be in play in the post resurrection world. They would be leaving a physical relationship with Jesus, and entering into a spiritual relationship with the Spirit of Christ. To receive the power of the Holy Spirit, they would have to breath in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Their willingness to receive would be preceded by a breathless anticipation. They would have to be out of breath before they recognized the stale air of personal effort and marginal ability was not enough for them to carry out the assignment they had been given. The loss of the physical Presence of Jesus would be replaced by the Promise of God.

One of the great joys of being raised in a Texas church has been the phenomenal "dinner on the grounds" celebrations. It doesn't take much effort to find a reason to throw a feed at a church. Any excuse will do. People who are new to this kind of event are always flabbergasted by the amount of food that is piled up on the tables. They are always amazed at the way the system works. It may not be a "loaves and fishes" kind of a miracle, but it is a pretty unusual way to plan a meal. You bring what little bit you have to the table, and you get to take part in a buffet of bounty. Over the years I have watched people bring everything from a sack full of greasy bologna sandwiches to a pan full of burned bottom biscuits. It just didn't matter. They did what they could do, and they were welcome at the table. One hundred percent of success in this kind of deal is showing up with what you can bring to the table, in order to get in on what you will never receive by sitting at home and pouting about how little you have. Receiving an invitation to one of these gatherings is an experience you do not want to ignore.

The disciples had come to the end of their rope. They had talked the crucifixion of Jesus to death and still did not have a grasp on the power of His resurrection. They were not breathless in anticipation of the Risen Lord, but out of breath from conversation with one another. They had been presented with a series of problems, and their math did not add up. Prayer had not entered into the equation before Jesus entered into the room.

When Jesus breathed into the stale air of a locked room, He unleashed a dynamic that would change the lives of a few men, and they would lead the way to transforming the lives of millions of people. It would all begin with the word receive. To receive what the Spirit could offer to them, they would have to come to the point of their need. When they brought what little they had to the table, God provided abundantly all they would ever need to carry out His mission.

Praying men and women are still in a position to receive what the Spirit brings to the table. People who are breathless in prayer can expect to have power for the journey. "Prayer is how we set our sails to catch the breath of Heaven." G. Campbell Morgan

Quote of the Day: "We do what we believe in; all the rest is just religious talk." Peter Lord