In the Shadow of His Greatness
As the Lenten season continues to move forward, we should remind ourselves of God’s Greatness and remember that it is “to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” NKJV Eph 3:20-21 that His greatness is seen in us. But more importantly He is worthy of our praise.
The Compass is working on having an amazing history. If there was or is any goodness to be seen in the ministry of this church, (and I believe there is) it is only in the shadow of His Greatness. In the Old & New Testament we see His greatness in the lives He empowered and we are challenged and called into that greatness.
I want to invite you to continue your 40-day journey with me this Lenten Season to see what God will do. Moses spent 40 days with God and got the Ten Commandments, Twelve men took 40 days to explore Canaan and found the provision of God, Elijah traveled 40 days to meet with God and was refreshed, and Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before He began His ministry and we all are the result of that ministry!
What will happen to us in this 40-day Devotion is for us to find out. But God is already eagerly waiting to spend time with each of us.
Remember we will end our journey together on April12th in worship. We will have a testimony time to celebrate all that God has done in us and through us. This is an important time in the life of The Compass. God is already at work.
Pastor Terrance☺
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Prayer & Fasting
Jesus both taught and modeled fasting. After being anointed by the Holy Spirit, He was led into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days (Matthew 4:2). During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave specific instructions on how to fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus knew the followers He addressed would fast. But what is the purpose of fasting in the life of the believer today? Here are some answers.
Showing Humility and Repentance
One reason we fast is to demonstrate humility before the sovereign Creator of the universe. God responds when we diligently and wholeheartedly seek Him (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Sometimes this involves confession and repentance from sin. This was the case of the Ninevites when Jonah reluctantly told them God was going to bring judgment upon them (Jonah 3:5,10), 50 they called a fast and repented of their sin. Fasting demonstrates humility by acknowledging our dependence on God. In Psalm 35, David laments his enemies' harsh treatment of him in contrast to how he cared for them when they were ill. He humbled his soul by fasting and praying for their recovery (Psalm 35:13).
Seeking God's Face More Fully
A second reason we fast is to respond to God's love toward us. It is as if we are saying to God, "Because You are righteous and holy, and loved me enough to send Jesus to die for my sins, I want to get to know You more intimately."
Jeremiah 29:13 says we will find God when we seek Him with all our hearts. We may want to take extra time to seek and praise God by missing a meal or abstaining from food for a day or more.
When we deliberately set aside time for fasting, we are showing we want to seek God.
Asking for Something You Desire
Sometimes we fast to demonstrate our sincerity to God concerning something we truly desire. Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask God to protect His people as they journeyed to Jerusalem from exile. God responded by leading them safely to Jerusalem, delivering them from their enemies and ambushes along the way (Ezra 8:21 31).
Although fasting may show our sincerity, it does not guarantee we will receive what we desire. Maybe our request is not within God's will, or we may be asking with the wrong motives. David fasted for seven days when God struck with illness the child Bathsheba conceived by David. David repented of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. He humbled himself, fasted and prayed, but the child still died (2 Samuel 12:15-18).
Through fasting we can determine the sincerity and correctness of our requests.
Fasting to Know God's Will
Seeking God's will or direction is different from petitioning Him for something we desire. When the Israelites were in conflict with the tribe of Benjamin, they sought God's will through fasting. The entire army fasted until evening, and "the men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?"' (Judges 20:26-28).
Acts 13:1-3 implies that church leaders were seeking God's direction for their ministry through prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit responded by saying, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." In both instances, people fasted and prayed to determine God's will.
What Does it Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
Showing Humility and Repentance
One reason we fast is to demonstrate humility before the sovereign Creator of the universe. God responds when we diligently and wholeheartedly seek Him (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Sometimes this involves confession and repentance from sin. This was the case of the Ninevites when Jonah reluctantly told them God was going to bring judgment upon them (Jonah 3:5,10), 50 they called a fast and repented of their sin. Fasting demonstrates humility by acknowledging our dependence on God. In Psalm 35, David laments his enemies' harsh treatment of him in contrast to how he cared for them when they were ill. He humbled his soul by fasting and praying for their recovery (Psalm 35:13).
Seeking God's Face More Fully
A second reason we fast is to respond to God's love toward us. It is as if we are saying to God, "Because You are righteous and holy, and loved me enough to send Jesus to die for my sins, I want to get to know You more intimately."
Jeremiah 29:13 says we will find God when we seek Him with all our hearts. We may want to take extra time to seek and praise God by missing a meal or abstaining from food for a day or more.
When we deliberately set aside time for fasting, we are showing we want to seek God.
Asking for Something You Desire
Sometimes we fast to demonstrate our sincerity to God concerning something we truly desire. Ezra proclaimed a fast to ask God to protect His people as they journeyed to Jerusalem from exile. God responded by leading them safely to Jerusalem, delivering them from their enemies and ambushes along the way (Ezra 8:21 31).
Although fasting may show our sincerity, it does not guarantee we will receive what we desire. Maybe our request is not within God's will, or we may be asking with the wrong motives. David fasted for seven days when God struck with illness the child Bathsheba conceived by David. David repented of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. He humbled himself, fasted and prayed, but the child still died (2 Samuel 12:15-18).
Through fasting we can determine the sincerity and correctness of our requests.
Fasting to Know God's Will
Seeking God's will or direction is different from petitioning Him for something we desire. When the Israelites were in conflict with the tribe of Benjamin, they sought God's will through fasting. The entire army fasted until evening, and "the men of Israel asked the Lord, 'Shall we go out again and fight against our brother Benjamin, or shall we stop?"' (Judges 20:26-28).
Acts 13:1-3 implies that church leaders were seeking God's direction for their ministry through prayer and fasting. The Holy Spirit responded by saying, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." In both instances, people fasted and prayed to determine God's will.
What Does it Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).
Monday, March 2, 2009
Growing Up Spiritually
1. In Ephesians chapter 4 Paul talks about us growing unto a perfect (mature) person.
This word perfect means REACHING MATURITY!
2. According to Ephesians Chapter 4:14, one who is still a spiritual child is: tossed to and fro, carried away by every wind of doctrine, deceived by humanities craftiness and deceit
3. There is a similarity between spiritual development and physical development! 1 Peter 2:2, 1 John 2:13, Eph 4:15
4. Three Comparative aspects of Spiritual Growth and Development to Natural Growth ARE Development are:
1. Babyhood
2. Childhood
3. Adulthood
Mature Christians are responsible for those in the babyhood stage of Christian development.
STUDY THESE TRAITS AND STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:
BABYHOOD: ~1Peter 2:2, Mark 10:15-16
IGNORANCE
INNOCENCE
IRRITABLILITY
CHILDHOOD: ~Ephesians 4:14, 1 Cor 13:11
UNSTEADINESS
TALKATIVENESS
CURIOSITY
ADULTHOOD: (Maturity) ~1 Jn 2:14, Heb 5:12-14
ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE GOD AT WORK
DEADNESS TO CENSURE AND PRAISE
ESTEEMING EARTHLY THINGS LIGHTLY
How to you Monitor/Measure Spiritual Growth?
THE SUPER SEVEN (Dr. Keith Matthews)
On a 10 point scale, 10 being high, do the following, then use this as a basis
for prayer and reflection. In available, share with your lay pastor, and make a plan to grow.
____ Rate your life witness as fact (not words)
____ Rate your life in the area of confident, expectant prayer.
____ Rate your life as a conduit of God’s power.
____ Rate your basic confidence & faith in God in all things.
____ Rate your level of freedom from worry, anxiety, and fear.
____ Rate your level of mercy and compassion for those in pain or suffering injustice.
____ Rate your committed participation and service to the body of Christ.
Or… Develop Your own list based on your churches core values (the behaviors or fruit that you want to see in the life of a fully-devoted follower of Christ)
This word perfect means REACHING MATURITY!
2. According to Ephesians Chapter 4:14, one who is still a spiritual child is: tossed to and fro, carried away by every wind of doctrine, deceived by humanities craftiness and deceit
3. There is a similarity between spiritual development and physical development! 1 Peter 2:2, 1 John 2:13, Eph 4:15
4. Three Comparative aspects of Spiritual Growth and Development to Natural Growth ARE Development are:
1. Babyhood
2. Childhood
3. Adulthood
Mature Christians are responsible for those in the babyhood stage of Christian development.
STUDY THESE TRAITS AND STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:
BABYHOOD: ~1Peter 2:2, Mark 10:15-16
IGNORANCE
INNOCENCE
IRRITABLILITY
CHILDHOOD: ~Ephesians 4:14, 1 Cor 13:11
UNSTEADINESS
TALKATIVENESS
CURIOSITY
ADULTHOOD: (Maturity) ~1 Jn 2:14, Heb 5:12-14
ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE GOD AT WORK
DEADNESS TO CENSURE AND PRAISE
ESTEEMING EARTHLY THINGS LIGHTLY
How to you Monitor/Measure Spiritual Growth?
THE SUPER SEVEN (Dr. Keith Matthews)
On a 10 point scale, 10 being high, do the following, then use this as a basis
for prayer and reflection. In available, share with your lay pastor, and make a plan to grow.
____ Rate your life witness as fact (not words)
____ Rate your life in the area of confident, expectant prayer.
____ Rate your life as a conduit of God’s power.
____ Rate your basic confidence & faith in God in all things.
____ Rate your level of freedom from worry, anxiety, and fear.
____ Rate your level of mercy and compassion for those in pain or suffering injustice.
____ Rate your committed participation and service to the body of Christ.
Or… Develop Your own list based on your churches core values (the behaviors or fruit that you want to see in the life of a fully-devoted follower of Christ)
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