The Joy

“But now, I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, so that they may have My joy, made full in themselves.”
John 17:13

Jesus prayed for His disciples to be full of His joy. Those who choose to be full of themselves will never know the fullness of the joy of Jesus in themselves.

Joy is a confidence, and a calm that fills the heart of a believer with gladness, and spills out of them and onto others, even in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the world. To the world, this gladness looks like madness. To The Father, this calmness is a sign of His children’s faithfulness. They trust in His Word, and His Presence to see them through the storms of life, come what may.

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” V.14

The disciples trusted in God’s Word, and shared the same citizenship with their Savior. They were living in the world that made less and less sense to them, because it was no longer their home. Their homing beacon had been changed by the faith that came to them by hearing the word of God, and by embracing fellowship with His Son.

“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. “ V. 15

Jesus did not pray for His disciples to escape from the evil of the world, but to be protected from the evil one in it. Satan is a liar, and his aim in life is to steal, kill and destroy. He steals the joy of every believer who buys into his lies. He lies about the meaning, and questions the authority of the Word of God. He destroys the prayer life of believers, because he knows this is their source of their strength.

“The one concern of the Devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick

The joy of the Christian life is not a by-product of worldly entertainment, but a result of the filling of The Spirit of Christ. Entertainment has become the world’s substitute for joy. Drinking from the world of entertainment never satisfies a raging thirst for joy.

Sensual, sarcastic, and shocking entertainment must continually push the edge of the envelope of decency because what once tickled a sense of humor inevitably wears thin. The more the same punchline is used to get a laugh out of the audience, the less power it has. Comedians are often the most neurotic and joyless of people. They live for the approval of a fickle audience, and become prisoners of their own success, trapped in the desert of encore anxiety. When the laughter dies their lives have little meaning.

Joy on the other hand is the capacity to rise above trials, tests, and tears with a triumphal spirit. Joy does not come from tapping into a continuous stream of entertainment. The source of joy is the Spirit of Christ. Believers who yield their lives to His Presence will produce His fruit, the character of Christ.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus interceded for His disciples to be filled with His joy, not a man-made imitation marked by slap-happy giddiness. Love is the driving force behind the joy of Jesus. Knowing the love of The Father brings confidence, and raises the level of calm in the midst of the storm. The Spirit releases joy into the heart of the believer whether they are suffocated by the mundane, or overwhelmed by the insane crises of life.

Though the storm rages on, it is possible for joy to fill a wave-tossed disciple. This kind of joy comes at the point of their total dependence upon, and absolute surrender to the one who holds the whole world in His hands. Joy filled disciples don’t abandon the ship. They surrender themselves to The Captain.

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." - Corrie Ten Boom

Joy faces every trial, every test and every triumph with the same kind of confidence. The Spirit’s still small voice is heard within the deepest recesses of the believer’s heart saying softly, “This too will pass.”

Joy is an overflow. It is not just an outward expression of an inward feeling. Joy is an overflow of a filling, not a feeling. The filling of The Spirit cannot be contained or hidden by those who are filled with the character of Christ.

To the faithless, gladness may appear to be madness. To the faithful, joy is calmness not madness. Praying reduces the urge to panic in the face of an enduring crisis or a cantankerous person. Joy reflects the glory of The Father, by looking into His Son’s eyes in the midst of the storm. Prayer warriors refuse to panic until Jesus does. Like the old song says, “Turn You Eyes Upon Jesus.”

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Quote

"We have no basis to believe that we can come casually and sprightly to the Lord Jesus and say, 'I have come for some help, Lord Jesus. I understand that you are the Savior, so I am going to believe and be saved, and then I am going to turn away and think about other matters of lordship and allegiance and obedience at some time in the future.' I warn you, you will not get help from Him in that way, for the Lord will not save those whom He cannot command."
A. W. Tozer

My collection of this man's quotes is labeled, "Tasers from Tozer."

A daily dose of Tozer is like a double espresso for the soul. He jump starts my day, and reignites my desire to...

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Influence

"So Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel."
2 Sam. 15:6

Years of deep rooted bitterness in Absalom's heart bore the toxic fruit of strong rebellion against King David.

The "spirit of Absalom" is rebellion against God's chosen authority. It is ignited by a real or perceived offense, but it is fueled and driven by the evil one who cannot stand for God's man to stand in his way.

Absalom abused his position, as the King's son, and took possession of the affections of the people. He exercised authority that only God has the right to give, by undermining his father in the eyes of the people.

Blowing out his father's candle not only made him look brighter in the eyes of the people. It also ignited a civil war.

The spirit of Absalom is still with us, and is at the heart of most church conflicts. Pray for your heart to be purified from toxic thoughts. They not only poison you. They influence others.

NOTE TO SELF: It is hard to hate someone you pray for. It is not impossible, just hard. Make it hard to hate.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Listener

"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." Proverbs 15:29

The 'wicked" does not refer to a Broadway musical. It describes someone who is guilty of actively engaging in criminal behavior, without remorse or repentance.

"He heareth" reminds us that God gives heed to our need. As our loving Father, He not only hears our prayers, but He understands and responds to the cries of His children.

The "righteous" does not refer to perfect people, just forgiven people who actively embrace The Presence of God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus pointed out praying, giving and fasting as signs of righteous people. His emphasis was on their motive for doing these things. Those motivated by being noticed by others would miss God every time.

NOTE TO SELF: Your faintest prayer reaches the ear of God, and invites Him to lean down and lift you up with His strong hands. Whatever He has led you to, He will lead your through. Embrace His Presence. He is listening to you.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Key

"I have greatly longed of late for a broken heart, & to lie low before God." Jonathan Edwards, American pastor and leader of the First Great Awakening

Edward's blast from the past reveals to us the key to Awakening, a broken heart.

"It is amazing what God can do with a broken heart when your give Him all the pieces."
Samuel Chadwick

God's children must personally and corporately put out a welcome mat, by praying for His Holy Spirit to do in our hearts the one thing only God can do. He alone heals a broken heart and brings Spiritual Awakening.

The disciples came to Jesus, and spoke the four wisest words of their lives, "Lord, teach us to pray." Jesus responded with what has become known as The Lord's Prayer.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray to The Father, and to call out to Him alone to "deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:13

God is The Deliverer. Expect and accept no man-made substitute. Only God can mend a broken world, and He does it one broken heart at a time.

Put your broken pieces into His hands. Go to church and gather with broken people just like you. Listen to God's word as it is poured out by a broken-hearted preacher. The next Great Awakening begins with your next prayer and your first step towards Jesus.

NOTE TO SELF: If you desire to be more like Jesus, pray for your pastor. Jesus does. You should too. Have you prayed for your pastor today? He needs it & you need the practice.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Superintendent

At the 2007 General Council of the Assemblies of God, during his final message as General Superintendent Thomas E. Trask preached,

"What many churches are offering America is a new religion that guarantees no hell and requires no holiness. It's a limp spineless Christianity that does not confront sin for fear of being judgmental. It's an impotent gospel that tells people everything is okay."

Brother Trask warned of five dangers threatening the effectiveness of churches:

1. Situational ethics in which Biblical absolutes are rejected.

2. Falling prey to cultural seduction.

3. Cultural accommodation, in which churches are distorting Scriptures on issues ranging from abortion to social drinking.

4. Inclusive salvation-a view that everybody goes to heaven and no one goes to hell.

5. Passionless pulpits-preachers that make sure no one in the pew is upset at the sermon material.

Note to self: You have more in common with the AOG than you may want to admit. Don't lose your voice.

In 2016 many churches aren't in danger of speaking in tongues, but they are dangerously close to losing their voice.

God help us to TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Imperfect

"David became greater & greater, for the Lord of hosts was w him...David realized that the Lord established him king of Israel & that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel." 2 Sam. 5:10,12

David was an imperfect, God called man. When he forgot who called him, and where he came from, he lost sight of where he was going. Don't we all.

Bad leaders live to do wrong. Good leaders avoid doing what is wrong. Great leaders know God has placed them where they are to make a difference in the lives of other, not to make a name for themselves.

NOTE TO SELF: Do you live to make a name for yourself or do you desire to make a difference? Prayerlessness feeds your pride, but prayerfulness yields humility. Prayer changes people, and prayerful people are used by God to change things. Make a difference.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Preacher

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17

Double honor includes paying preachers and praying for them. Paying without praying leads to ineptitude on the part of preachers. Praying without paying leads to pious ingratitude on the part of the people.

Pray for preachers this morning. They need it, and you will benfefit from it.

God blesses His people with the kind of preachers they pray for. Prayerless people usually get the kind of preacher they deserve, and never appreciate the preacher they have.

Talking about preachers has the power to cut them down to size, or to puff them up in your own eyes. Praying for them has the power to lift up their arms in the relentless battle against evil.

Are you lifting up or cutting down your preacher?

When God's people pray for preachers, their prayers catch the wind of Heaven & God delivers His direction, protection and correction to His preachers.

Note to self: Pray for preachers. They need it. You need the practice.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Heart

“I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.” Philemon 1:12-14

“Sending my very heart” indicates that Paul transplanted his heart for prayer into leading others to do what was right. When church leaders want to get their way, they are tempted to bring the heat to remove the obstacle in their path. They would do better to turn down the heat and send their heart.

When Paul expressed his desire to get what he needed from a friend, he gave his heart to his friend. Bringing the heat by exerting personal pressure and exercising the art of gentle persuasion may bring a good idea into reality, but it often misses God’s idea in the long run.

Paul set the example of a man who didn’t need to lead with his need to get what he wanted. His life was marked, by giving his heart away, not by getting his way. He didn’t lead by compulsion, but by intercession.

Compulsion operates on “My Will.” Intercession has a heart for “Thy Will.” The process of intercession conforms “My Will” to "Thy Will.”

Prayer is an investment of one’s time and one’s heart into a heart transplant into the life of another person. The Spirit’s surgery in another person's life cannot be rushed, but it can be ushered in by intercession. God's call to intercession is done in The Waiting Room. When you push your way into the Operating Room, you contaminate the process with your impatience. Don't jar the scalpel from the Spirit's hands. Give Him the elbow room to do what He does best.

Paul refused to rationalize his legitimate needs, but he refused to use his needs as leverage over his friend to get what he wanted. He was aged, imprisoned, and in need of comfort. Onesimus offered relief, but Paul saw a danger in a sense of entitlement.

If the service given to Paul by Onesiumus appeared to be theft in the eyes of Philiemon, it could have caused a breech between two brothers. It might have disrupted the fellowship of a local church.

An escaped slave was no small matter. The escape of Onesimus constituted a loss of face for Philemon in the community. It was a substantial financial loss, as well.

Rather than command Philemon to get on board with what God had done in the heart of Onesismus, Paul prayed for the master to have a change of heart towards his escaped slave and to receive him, as his new brother in Christ.

Praying begins by yielding one’s will to The Father’s will. This is how Jesus prayed. After hearing Jesus pray, His disciples said, “Teach us to pray.” Jesus began with two words, “Our Father.”

All believing prayer begins by a child of God placing compete trust in a loving Father to do what is right for them. Prayer is not about the child getting what he wants. Prayer is all about the child getting on board with The Father’s will.

Jesus modeled the purpose of prayer. He prayed until His will was conformed to His Father’s will. When Jesus prayed, He gave His heart away to God, and received The Father’s heart as His own.

The heart of prayer is the matter of the heart. Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” The purpose of prayer is for the Father to implant His heart into His children. Prayerless children are heartless indeed.

To know The Father’s will is one thing. To receive The Father’s will is quite another thing. Praying softens the heart and opens the hands of the prayer warrior to receive The Father’s will.

Intercession is the process by which a prayer warrior calls on The Spirit of Christ to develop the mind of Christ in the heart of another person. Paul prayed for Philemon, not because Paul needed a devotional exercise, but because Philemon needed a heart transplant only The Father could give.

Leaders without followers are not marching at the head of an army. They are only taking a walk by themselves. Shouting out orders to people who have no heart to follow will never launch a movement of God. Praying for potential followers to receive a new heart for The Father prepares the church to receive the next Great Awakening. Unless hearts are prepared to receive the change The Father is capable of bringing into a person’s life, new believers will be stiff armed in the parking lot, before they ever get to the pews. Prayer prepares the heart and improves the vision of the local church to have new hearts and open arms.

My wife and I assist our local church by serving on the front lines. I put out the Welcome Mat in the parking lot, meeting and greeting people as they arrive. She serves at the Welcome Desk in the entrance of the church, seating guests in the Worship Center.

Most churches would be well served to give some fresh attention to the way they greet, meet and seat guests. Like fresh paint, hospitality covers a great deal of sin. .

Philemon was being asked by Paul to see the change The Father had made in Onesimus. He was no longer a slave, but a saint. He was Paul’s child in the faith, and Philemon’s brother in Christ.

Paul interceded for Philemon to have a change of heart towards a man that had wronged him. Prayer softens a hurting heart to receive healing, and prayer gives courage to risk being hurt again.

A great deal was at stake in the life of Onesimus and the local church. The Father is grieved when His children do not value what He has done in giving a person new life in Christ and adopting them into His family.

Onesimus was a real slave, but he serves as a poster child for what happens when The Father unleashes a Great Awakening. When broken people get cleaned up with The Father, life can get real messy with His children, all at the same time.

A hard heart can lead to a stiff arm. A softened heart leads to open arms. This only happens when The Father’s children pray for one another to love one another, to forgive one another, and welcome one another with open arms.

When they pray for one another God's children send each other their hearts and The Father gives them His heart.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Wandering

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." Psalms 23

David's sense of direction made him a great leader. He often wandered from God's path, but he never lost his road map back home.

David was often in danger, but seldom in doubt of God's call on his life. When David's love for his God was in the driver's seat of his life he always returned to The One who called him.

Note to self: Don't let the intimidation of immediate circumstances and intense hatred of evil people crowd out your intimate time with God. In the battle against evil, Jesus is by your side. Move closer to Him when you have wandered away.

When David wandered, he blazed a trail back home with personal prayer & private praise to God. Follow his lead.

TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!