WAKE UP TO THE WAR

"The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of".

Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

 

In my 20’s, I served under a senior pastor who had his share of war stories. Not so much those about church wars, but what it was like to be a boy while WW2 was raging. He would tell of scrap metal drives and victory gardens, of women riveters and uncles coming home permanently dismembered or never coming home at all. What I heard running underneath his accounts was the American mindset of the time: “We were in the war together. We saw ourselves united in the struggle.”

Peacetime came and America entered a season of greater prosperity. Boys came home, houses were built, and babies were born. We’ve had wars since then, but none would come close to spawning the level of national unity America experienced during those years.

As Christians, we often fall prey to the peacetime vs wartime mentality. When things are going well, we may think, “Oh, this is my breakthrough. The battle is over for now.” When unrest comes or a family faces opposition within or without, we think, “I guess we’re in another battle.”

This is a faulty mindset. Truth? We are always in a war. In fact, the battle may be more severe when it seems things are going great. Money in the bank, numbers up, strong friendships, even momentary euphoria--all of these can make you relax and think, “So these are the good days of blessing.”

Someone remarked recently, “Man, it seems like you guys, the leadership, all get along so well. There's a lot of unity and pride doesn’t seem to be a problem.” I told them it was no accident.

It isn’t just that we have a great team of leaders, which I think we do. Nor is it that we don’t have any big egos (which we probably do!). It’s that we get up and fight for what's good. We remind ourselves often that we are in a protracted war. An insidious force is fighting against us every day; unseen spirits, angels led by a dark lord, and a world with its agenda, also in league with my human flesh, are all conspiring against the work of Jesus. These dark powers are cooperating together to destroy unity, to spout constant discouragement, to fight for independence against our great God, and to spread lies about His goodness, faithfulness, and character.

“Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory.”

When I forget this, I am vulnerable. Every step toward faithfulness is warfare. Sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory. The prayers of the saints in the pre-service intercession on a Sunday morning. The office team prayer at a weekly huddle. The growing of ourselves in leadership and the acknowledgment of our blind spots. The prayer circles in the Wednesday prayer meeting when there are voices that say, “This makes no difference” or, “You’re not very good at prayer. Don’t embarrass yourself by praying with others.” The prayer before a Celebrate Recovery meeting. The news I received this morning that a women’s Bible study feels prompted to begin praying for our children’s camp. News that a man was freed from demonic oppression in a recovery meeting. When we listen well. When we lay down our iPhones to read scripture. When we ask a friend for forgiveness, when we confess our faults. In all these things, we are fighting the good fight. All of this is a reminder: this is the nature of war.

I’m not being negative. It’s our reality as Christians. And yet in all this, I am encouraged. I remain hopeful. God is with us. Jesus is interceding for us. The Spirit is helping and empowering us. The ultimate victory of Jesus and His kingdom is certain. But get out of bed. Put on your armor. Pick up the sword of the Spirit and keep your eyes open. If you're a Jesus-follower, we’re in this battle together. 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, BE ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV, empahsis added)

THINGS I'D LIKE TO NEVER HEAR AGAIN:

I have a few songs that if I never heard again, I would be fine:

"I've Got Friends in Low Places" by Garth - How many hotels have I been in while trying to sleep with this song playing in the bar downstairs?!!

"Pachelbel's Canon in D" - Every wedding and every music station in the doctor's office has used this song. Pachelbel's estate must be worth a zillion dollars with all the royalties.  

"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine - I never saw the movie TITANIC and will never see it. So don't start. This song gives me major cringe. 

Delete them. To think that those writers are getting royalties for those awful songs. It's a waste of hard-earned money. Okay. I'll stop ranting. 

Things Christians say that they need to stop: 

"Sending out prayers and wishes to you..."

Or....

"You're in my thoughts and hopes."

Vague. Bland. Unhelpful. 

Don't send any prayers to me. I appreciate your wishes. It shows you care and that you think kind thoughts about me. I'm glad you have hopes for me now and then in the middle of your thoughts about what you're having for dinner or how disgusted you are with the weather. 

But if you really love me? If you really care? 

Tell me you'll get on your knees even for 60 seconds and plead that God will have mercy on me. Pray that He will shower me with grace and enable me to be the man God wants me to be. 

Or pray the blessing that Aaron prayed, "Shawn, may the Lord bless and keep you; make His face to shine upon you and give you peace."  But don't give me platitudes. Don't flatter me with affection that has no diligence behind it. 

I'm not inferring you need to be a pro at prayer. 

The apostle Paul is helpful with this very thing when he wrote, 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18a  NIV)

There is room for all kinds of prayers and requests: childlike wonder, simple questions, pleading, cries, intercession, or an emergency "Help!" I also believe this includes praying with spiritual languages we don't comprehend. 

What is clarifying is the next directive: 

"With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Eph 6:18b)

When he says, "keep on praying for all the Lord's people", he is calling for perseverance and passion. Why does he remind us of this? Because of our tendency to give up, to lay it aside, to defer prayer in favor of "thoughts and wishes." Or because it takes faith and effort. Circumstances and the battle in the mind have a way of numbing us to the power of prayer. Voices that say, "It doesn't matter. God is going to do what He's going to do." Or even worse: "Everything happens for a reason." 

Yes, God is sovereign. His ultimate purposes will not be derailed. But as followers of Jesus, we are partners in intercession. When we stay alert to this and persevere, we are joining in the work of the Holy Spirit who "prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26 NLT).     

Do You Know Who You're Talking To?

I still feel like a beginner. You would think that after 50+ years of praying, I would be better at it. The questions still hammer me: 

·       Is God bored with my conversation? 

·       Have I prayed what's most important? 

·       What business is left undone? 

·       How selfish are my prayers? 

·       I wonder how Paul, the apostle, would advise me regarding my prayer life? 

So, I continue to learn, but also to beware of the pride factor. Feeling like a beginner isn't all bad. It is the professional pray-ers that God turns a deaf ear to. As Jesus said, "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words" (Matt 6:7 ESV). Or might we say, "for their well-crafted words"? 

I recently listened to John Owuchekwa's book, Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church (which I highly recommend.) He has a fine section called, "Do you know who you're talking to?" and relates the story of how his Mom would ask that very question when he had a request. Many of us heard that phrase as a warning from an authority figure. Kind of like, "Be careful, boy. Watch that attitude." But in his case, it was often as a plea for faith: "C'mon! Quit asking like that. Don't you remember? I'm your Mom. I can do something about that."

A friend of mine makes it a practice to pray regularly with men and women before appointing them to leadership. It seems like an “of course” thing to do, but he does it from another standpoint. He says you can learn so much about a person's theology by how they pray. I agree. When people pray, you find out they either know or don’t know who they they’re talking to.  They may reflect a small view of God with chatter and hip talk as if they are talking to a radio personality or a timidity that says, “Why should God listen to me,” ignorant of the gospel truth that by grace we are God’s chosen and beloved. And I’m prone to fall into both camps from time to time.

When I fall into the “just wanna chat with my buddy, Jesus” trap, I need a good dose of Isaiah,

"To whom then will you compare me,
    that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
    and because he is strong in power,
    not one is missing." (40:25,26)

And when I fall into the “why should God listen to me” camp, I need to hear Jesus’ words again:

"Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:9-11)

Both are in the Bible. Both are true. Our God is both immanent and transcendent. Both as close as the breath you breathe and as far as the proverbial edge of the universe. He is high and holy and he is meek and lowly. This should be reflected in our prayers.

Worship leaders as well as pastors would do well to remember this. God’s people learn to pray by listening to its leaders. They get their theology from the prayers you pray as well as the songs you sing. Give some preparation to your prayers as well as your songs and your sermon. Even if you need to jot down a note or two. Where did we get the idea that prayer is only effective if it’s off the cuff? Does your spouse appreciate your thoughts less if they are written down? Do they say, “Your words don’t count because you thought about what you would say”? Spontaneous is often honest, but isn’t it sometimes pretentious? When you feel the pressure to perform on the spot haven’t you sometimes said what you didn’t mean to say? Spontaneous doesn’t necessarily equal honesty.

I went through a period of a year or more where I prayed the prayers of Paul. I typed them out on a half-page and put it in my Bible; notably Colossians 1:9-12, Php. 1:9-11; Eph. 1:15-21, 3:14-21. I didn’t just read those verses but they often became a launchpad to some other more spur-of-the-moment prayers. I found the prayers of Paul shaped my theology and gave me verbiage for things I often felt but didn’t know how to articulate. (To my previous point, wise is the lover who takes some tips from Shakespeare or Ed Sheeran.)

Like me, you may feel like a beginner at prayer. Stay at it. Have confidence that as Dallas Willard said, “'Now when you pray, Jesus will walk right up to you and he will listen to you...”

ARE YOU TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT HELP?

But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (Mat 9:12 ESV)

I used to teach music, especially piano. There were students I always looked forward to and those that, well, I didn’t. The difference? A motivated student versus a motivated parent. Some students came because they wanted to be there. Others were there because they had to be there…or else. The self-motivated student came prepared and eager to learn. The student with a motivated parent was usually not prepared, hadn’t practiced and for me it seemed a waste of time and parent’s money.

It’s hard to help someone who doesn’t want your help.
 

As Matthew, the former tax collector, writes about his own calling and early days with Jesus, he remembers the details of a dinner. Maybe as the word spread about Matthew’s new vocation, friends and family gathered to see who this Jesus was. There was a combination of peers and curious seekers there with Matthew but the religious folks were on spy alert. Why was Jesus hanging out with that gang? If He’s really who He claims to be, you’d think He would rather be hanging with us.

Jesus’ response? Only sick people need a doctor. In other words, “It’s harder to help someone who doesn’t want your help.”

I’m sometimes surprised at the people who say “Yes” to Jesus. I shouldn’t be, but I am. When you see a nice average family who appears to have a good marriage and beautiful kids, it’s tempting to think, “Now that’s a family who would make good Christians.” But it’s often harder to help such a family see their need of Christ. The well don’t need a physician. Instead, often the most fruitfulness comes from the “most unlikely to be a Christian” type. 

Why am I telling you this? Don’t write off someone because they seem far from God. It’s often those who are sick of life, hurt, dysfunctional or downright mean, who are closest to the kingdom! They are the ones who find Jesus interesting and who want to hang out with Him. 

Like me, you probably have a list of people you are praying for to receive Christ, to come to Jesus and find life “because they would make great Christians.” Don’t stop praying. But maybe add a few to that list whom you think are surely far from the kingdom. There just may be another Matthew waiting in the wings who is willing to forsake his old life to embrace a new adventure with Jesus. 

Prayer: Father, You don’t look at people the way I do. You look at the heart. You know those who are the most teachable. Reveal the hearts around me that are truly sick and are looking for a Savior. [Now, wait for a moment and see what names or faces the Holy Spirit brings before you. Pray for them to receive the gospel and turn to Jesus.]

Expectations

While I was praying recently, I asked the Lord, "Spirit of God fall fresh on me." Almost immediately I heard a voice say, "What if it really happened? Do you expect it?"

I wonder how often do we pray but really don't expect much to happen.

Here's what I know. It's the strategy of the enemy of your soul to make you quit expecting God to ever do anything big. To make you feel isolated and alone in the world. To make you focus on yourself and what you don’t have and what you can’t do. To make you rehearse the past until you know it by heart…until all godly expectations are squeezed out of you, like being in the wringer cycle of a washing machine. To settle in the house of low expectations.

But don't do it. Don't fall prey to the oldest play in the book; the temptation from the serpent, "God is not gracious. He is not good."

I don't think it's chance that Jesus' best friend was named by God: John, which means "God is gracious."

I challenge you to expect good from God's hand today. He is gracious.

I Got a Rock

There's a scene in "It's the Great Pumpkin" with Charlie Brown and friends. After the first door of trick or treat, with bags in hand, they compare their treats:
 
ALL: "I got five pieces of candy!” “I got a chocolate bar!” “I got a quarter!”  
Charlie Brown: “I got a rock.”

Some see prayer like that. We can ask in prayer, but you never know what you're gonna get. It might be bad.
Jesus turns this idea on it's head in Matthew 7: 9, "Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?" (ESV). Jesus is saying, "Does any sane father give you a rock if you ask for bread?" No, is the expected answer!

Jesus continues,

10"Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (ESV)


Jesus has encouragement for all the Charlie Browns among us: "Your heavenly Father doesn't surprise you with something hurtful. So go ahead and ask."

Talk with God Everyday

Today I got one of those letters that made my day. The sum is this: "I had become lax in my time with God. The Bible was gathering dust. But being reminded that Jesus said, 'one thing is needful', I have recommitted to talking with God everyday--first thing in the morning. My life is back on track and I can feel the difference!"

Wow. That's what it means to grow as a follower of Christ--putting into practice what you're learning. 

For anyone who may have missed Sunday the 16th, I'll include some of the action points here on daily time with God in prayer:

TALK WITH GOD EVERYDAY

 A good place to start with personal prayer is on the pattern below. Remember each point of prayer with a different finger of your hand. Spend a few minutes on each one:

1)    Thumb – THANKFULNESS. Thank God for at least 10 things that happened yesterday and more.

2)    Forefinger – AUTHORITIES. Pray for leaders (government, pastors, employer and anyone who is an authority in your life.)

3)    Middle finger – WORLD. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122.6) and for missions around the world, especially those who are in relationship with Crosspoint.

4)    Ring finger – FAMILY. Pray for family and loved ones that they will know Jesus and those that don’t will repent.

5)    Little finger – YOU! Pray that God will root out the sin in your heart, make you the person you need to be who loves God’s Word, His people and His presence. Take time to ask God to speak to you. Wait and listen.

Urgent Prayer for Dave Dickman and Guatemala Team

• Our friend and brother, Dave Dickman was shot 5 times earlier today. He underwent surgery at approximately 10 a.m. He is out of surgery and currently in critical condition. Specific details of the shooting are not known but police are investigating. Please refrain from calling or visiting the hospital until further notice is given. We ask that you pray for Dave's complete recovery and strength for his family. 
• Several members of our Guatemala Mission team have been very sick since arriving in Guatemala. As well, access to the building sites is very difficult. Please pray for their recovery and strength.

Pastor Shawn & SCCC Staff

Why do people suffer even when doing good?

Bishop Gerald and Rich Schroeder just returned from their trip to see the 90+ orphans that we sponsor. Pastor Thompson, the overseer there, sent us a note after they returned:

"After you left India I have been to some of the flood-affected areas and the condition of the people is so sorrowful. People have lost their homes and family members. The crops were completely damaged and it seems the drought will put the rest in great trouble. At present, the cost of living on every thing has gone higher, the condition of living to many becoming hard. Please continue to pray for all of us . I really appreciate your visit while you were here with us. All our orphan children felt great in your presence and enjoyed having you here with us..." 

Why do people suffer even when doing good? Our study in 1 Peter on Wednesdays makes it very clear that Christians will experience suffering, persecution, trouble, hardship. The Christians that Peter was writing to were suffering persecution for their faith. In a similar way, not all sickness is healed. Not every child of God is delivered from tragedy, persecution and suffering. And Christians still die of natural causes.

The reason for suffering? Here are three:

1. This is a broken world because of sin. The evil prince still has some jurisdiction over this planet because Adam relinquished his rightful place as prince. Because of Adam’s sin, nature itself was corrupted. Death became a reality.  This is the result of the curse. (Romans 8:22; Gen. 2.17, 3:17)
2. We make bad choices. People don’t make healthy choices regarding their bodies, their finances, their marriage, their employment, careers and education. As a result, there are bad outcomes. (Gal. 6:7,8)
3. We don’t pray. We don’t ask for God’s intervention. (James 4:2; Ezek. 22:30)

 There are other reasons of course. But these are three big ones.

Therefore, when we look at the promises of God as in Psalm 91, we must claim these in the light of God’s sovereignty. We ask for healing. We ask for an end to suffering. But if we still suffer then we endure it with joy knowing that God has not abandoned us. If in His divine providence, God thinks it is best for the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter, to lose their lives for the gospel, then we continue to glorify God believing that He is still just and righteous in all His ways.  It is right to ask for “divine protection.” It is right to pray, “Deliver us from evil” and “Don’t put us to the test” (Matt. 6:13 BBE). But does God sometimes STILL allow us to experience suffering and testing? Yes! Does God still allow us to go through temptation? YES!

• Sometimes for our refining (Psalm 66:10)
• Sometimes for a witness to others that as we suffer we still honor God (1 Peter 3:14-18)
• Sometimes for reasons known only to God (2 Cor. 12:9)

 The bottom line? We should still pray. We should still give thanks in all things. We should still believe that God is good, even though life is hard...sometimes.

Too much informality

(The following is from my e-prayer bulletin but it is so much on my mind that I felt compelled to share it here as well.)

TOO INFORMAL?

There is a struggle in prayer. For me, it centers on how I should approach God. How do you approach the One who is both a “consuming fire” (Deu. 4.24) and our loving Father? He is the One whose judgment is sure and awesome. Yet He is also the One of whom John writes has “lavished” His love on us (1 Jn. 3:1 NIV). Do you feel the conflict? I identify with Tony Jones’ thoughts on this subject. He writes in Christianity Today:

“In two decades of youth ministry, I've heard a lot of conversational prayers to Father Weejus. You know, "Father Weejus ask that you'd be here tonight, and Weejus hope you'll really bless our time." I've heard a lot of unnecessary "justs" and "reallys" over the years, and inappropriate uses of the subjunctive mood ("We pray you would move your people and you would do your will …"). I'm all for conversational prayer. But a lot of it is sloppy, which, I'm afraid, has been bred by too much informality.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/001/12.75.html

“Too much informality.” I don’t mean to be harsh. But I’m afraid I agree. God sounds less like God of the universe and more like Santa Claus in some of our praying. The prayers of the apostles and the early church sound like they had a revelation of a bigger God than we pray to. Consider this one:

(Acts 4:24-25 NKJV) "So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, {25} "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?"

At the same time, we must hold this reality of a big, sovereign God in tension with another reality that is equally revealed in Scripture:
• God is a loving Father (1 John 3:1)
• God is compassionate as revealed through His Son (John 11:35)
• God is personal (John 14:21)

Maybe the answer is all the above. Maybe the struggle we have in the approach is a healthy thing. Let’s not hold one reality to the exclusion of the other. He is both a consuming fire and a loving Father. I don’t know about you, but rather than decreasing my faith, that revelation increases it.