Prayer Point #1

"Yet you do not have because you do not ask". (James 4:2b)

Have you ever wondered why the church seems to be so weak and powerless these days? Even though we have mega churches, Christian TV and radio, Christian books and magazines, websites of every description, evangelistic and missionary organizations, and well published programs and strategies it still seems that we have a very limited impact upon our culture and the world. What is true for the church as a whole is also true for the individual believer. How much of an impact are you having upon the people around you? When we read the biographies of believers in times past, we often see a different story. From the Book of acts to the 20th Century we have seen men that were greatly used by God for His purposes in their time. What is the difference between these men and us?
I believe the answer can be found in these ten simple words, "Yet you do not have because you do not ask". Is it because of our lack of prayer that we so little spiritual power and progress in our walk with Jesus? Have you ever cried out in frustration to The Lord not understanding what the reason is for your sense of spiritual stagnation? Could it be that much of our Christian lives are lived in presumption rather than prayer?
If we were to be honest, we would have to confess that many of us really believe in the effectiveness of prayer. The idea that we receive something from The Lord without our scheming, or having conferences and planning meetings, is totally foreign to our 20th Century minds.
But it was Jesus who said: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8).
In future posts, we will get into the specifics of prayer, but for now let's begin to take prayer seriously and begin to do it. It is the means by which God has determined to do His work in the earth. As Christians we certainly don't want to miss out on everything that God has for us. So, let's begin to pray and see what God will do in our lives, through our individual churches and in the body of Christ as a whole. Go for it!

A New Purpose

I started this blog about three years ago because I thought it would be a good thing to do.
It made sense to have an added resource with which I could minister to and encourage people in their walks with The Lord. As I have attempted to do this blog I have really fumbled around for a specific purpose. When something would pop into my mind, I would begin to blog about it. Sometimes there was some clear, encouraging thoughts, but several times I would not even complete the draft I started.
Recently I have received a new inspiration and purpose. The Lord has been dealing with me, and teaching me, a great deal about prayer. I would like to share the journey on which The Lord is taking me with as many as would like to come. I certainly do not claim to be an authority on prayer, neither do I claim that the thoughts of which I write are original to myself. I owe a great debt, first of all to The Lord, obviously, but second to that to the encouragement that I have received from men such as George Mueller, R. A. Torrey, and A. W. Tozer. So, if you are sensing this same calling upon your life, I would invite you to join me, not only in studying but also growing in and experiencing the blessing of prayer.

Pastor Chris

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you might obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24).

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)


Pretty much every one of us have made a New Years resolution of one kind or another. Probably the most common is to lose weight or to exercise. Usually these kinds of commitments don't make it through the first week of the year. We find that for some reason it just isn't in us to fulfill the resolution we have made. We simply don't have the strength in ourselves.
While that is the most common problem with resolutions, there is another. There are those, "the few, the proud", who seem to have the intestinal fortitude to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. You might say, "That's great! Isn't that the American way?" The problem is that they have set their goals by themselves and for themselves, and seek to fulfill them in their own strength.
In Daniel 5, we read the story of Belshazzar and the handwriting on the wall. This Babylonian king was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, who had taken the Jews captive, destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, and brought the articles of the temple to the city of Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up in arrogance, The Lord humbled him so that he became like an animal for seven years "till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25b). But Belshazzar didn't learn this lesson from his grandfather. Daniel prophesies God's indictment against him: "And you have lifted yourself up against The Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; AND THE GOD WHO HOLDS YOUR BREATH IN HIS HANDS AND OWNS ALL YOUR WAYS, YOU HAVE NOT GLORIFIED". (Daniel 5:23).
The point is that we were created in the image and likeness of God in order that we might have a meaningful relationship with Him, that we don't live our lives apart from Him, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that He freely gives to those who ask (Luke 11:13). We were not designed to live by our own might, or power, but by his Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
How is it that you plan to live in 2013? Do you plan to set your own goals and strive to fulfill them however you can, or do you plan to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and allow Him to add into your life all the things that you need (Matthew 6:33)? The Lord has a great plan for you this year that involves your good and His glory. Let's not be satisfied with anything less than all that He has for us.

Pastor Chris

Saving Your Life

"Then He said to them all, 'if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?'"
(Luke 9:23-25)

How much does Jesus mean to you? If you are a Christian you may be insulted that I would even ask such a thing. "Of course He's number one in my life." But saying that Jesus is number one means that there are many other things that get thrown into the equation as well. Do I take care of Jesus in the morning with a quick devotion, and then go on with everything else on your list? Jesus doesn't want to be a part of your life, or even an important part of your life. He wants to be your life. He wants you to look at every area of your life through Him. There is a simple test that you can give yourself to find out where you are with Jesus. Ask yourself the question: "When I have nothing to think about, what am I thinking about?"
Check out Colossians 3:1-4.

Keep your eyes on Jesus,

Pastor Chris

Blessings

I remember from my days at Columbia International University the words of then president Robertson McQuilken in addressing theological issues, "It is easier to go to either extreme than to stay in the center of biblical tension". This is very true when it comes to the issue of the blessing of God upon a person's life and ministry. On one side are the preachers of prosperity who tell us that it is God's will for each of us to be materialistically well off. On the other side are those who believe that we are more spiritual and earn greater merits if we go through suffering. The biblical balance is that God does fully intend to bless our lives, not necessarily with a lot of material garbage, but with real relationship with Himself. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3). These blessing are administered and applied by the Holy Spirit. Now, if you have a hard time with the fact that God wants to bless you, realize that there is a broader purpose to it, that you might be a blessing to others.

Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Great New App

Hi Everyone,
Just checking out this new Blogger App that I downloaded today. This should make it much easier to update.

God Bless,

Pastor Chris

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to share how much of a blessing it was to go to St Pete last night to see Pastor Chuck and Love Song. It was great to hear again those songs that I first heard when I was saved back in 1974. It was a special blessing to get to hear and speak with my pastor, Pastor Chuck. But the greatest blessing was that the Lord allowed me to see the work that He is doing in the people of Calvary Chapel Cape Coral. To see your excitement in the Lord, and how you were ministered to by Pastor Chuck was just the greatest blessing.
A verse that the Lord ministered to me earlier in my walk was John 11:40, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God". Then you might ask where the glory of God is seen. Paul answers that question in a couple of verses. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". And also Ephesians 3:21 says, " to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." The glory of God is seen as He works in the lives of His people. God will be glorified in Cape Coral as we each allow Jesus to continually be working in our hearts. Thanks for helping me to see the glory of God.

In Jesus,
Pastor Chris