Prayer and ministry go hand in hand, but prayer is the higher calling.

Jesus prayed daily- usually many times a day.

Note to the ministry: Ministry happens anytime, anyplace. It is not just a “church meeting thing.”

The man Christ Jesus understood this. He understood that the flesh can do nothing apart from God's empowerment. 

So, he prayed. Daily and, in fact, several times a day.

We are to pray, first and foremost, for a closer walk (a stronger relationship) with God. 

Ministry flows from our walk with God. Our walk with God does not flow from our ministry. As we pray and walk and talk with God, he can guide us to minister to others in unexpected ways. He can open the door for ministry in places we never dreamed of. If we stay prayed up, he will begin to lift us up (in him, I mean. I'm not advocating a prosperity doctrine.). Why? To lift his name to a lost and dying world!

How often should we pray?

Short answer: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

The word “ceasing” here means “without intermission, incessantly, assiduously.”

Incessantly means “without stopping.” Without intermission means “without a break.” Assiduously means “showing great care, attention, and effort.”

By this definition, if we take it literally, we would all die soon after becoming a Christian. If we could never take a break, or stop praying, then we would never be able to eat, drink, sleep, potty, study the word, work for our living, etc. So, is he truly saying we must physically pray all day, every day?

I think not.

However, I do believe he is telling us not to neglect our prayer time with God. Always have an attitude of prayer. Always make prayer a priority. Do not let it get lost in the business of life or ministry. Make it a priority. Do it with “great care, attention, and effort.” Don't let it become a ritual of words. Don't reduce it to a short phrase or two. Do it with all we have!

David says in Psalms 63:1:

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; “

So, we should start our day, even if we must get up a little earlier, with concentrated and consistent prayer. Is that all?

Isaiah 26:9 seems to hint at nighttime prayer, in addition to morning prayer:

“With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. “

Daniel prayed three times a day:

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”- Daniel 6:10

And this he did, despite the king’s order that no man should pray to any other god, besides the statue that he had just erected. Daniel knew he was risking his life by praying to God. But he also knew that his time with God was the most important thing in his life. He might die from his choice, but at least he'd be right with God.

As far as I know, there is no limit on how many times a day we should pray- just as there is no prescribed time period we should pray for. Follow the leading of the spirit of God. Allow him to lead you. But, do not neglect prayer. Make it your top priority every day.

Without it, we become dry and hard. With it, we are watered with his spirit and pliable in his hands. 

Without it, we become a Pharisee. With it, we have his love to reach out to others.

Some of the saddest words in scripture are these:

Ezekiel 22:29-31King James Version (KJV)

29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.

Part of our prayers are praise. Part of our prayers is for our needs. But what God really wants are intercessors. He wants people who will pray for his intervention into the lives of people (and nations) that are not right with him.

How many people have we seen and thought, "They need God!" That should be a prayer prompt. 

How many people ask for prayer? Don't just say you'll pray, pray with them right there.

How many politicians and leaders are heading in unbiblical directions and advocating ungodly policies? Pray for them.

How many are sick with cancer, diabetes, blood problems, Covid-19, etc? Pray for them. 

If we think about it, there are millions of things and people to pray about and for. 

The more we pray, the closer we will get to God's heart. The closer we get to God's heart, the more we will pray, and the more we will be moved with the same compassion that he feels for lost souls, for hurting people. 

There is no higher calling than that of being a prayer warrior. Remember, somebody, prayed for us. Can we not return the favor?  

It's not glamorous. It's not glorious. People do not lift it up. But, to God, it is the highest calling we can ever have. Plus, you will grow closer to God than you ever dreamed possible. 

Finishing well- a heartfelt prayer.

I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. I've done a lot of wrong things. I've taken a lot of wrong turns.

Even with my walk with Jesus, I've stumbled and fallen more than my fair share.

I'm 54 years old now. I don't know how many years I have left. Della and I would like 60 more years together to love Jesus, love each other, and love other people. Scripture says I'm not promised tomorrow.

All I know is that I've reached a place in my life where my number one priority is to be sure that I run the rest of my race the right way- and that I finish my journey well for Jesus and my family.

That's my prayer. That's my plea to my Lord. Help me to finish just as well as I messed up when I started. Help me to redeem the time I have left by loving my family, loving others, and holding on to you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Cause at the end of the day, that's all that truly matters.

The burden and the joy of teaching- Preaching will save you, but teaching will keep you!

Ephesians 4:11-16

King James Version

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Preachers. 

Everybody loves preachers. 

Yes, the Bible does say that by "the foolishness of preaching" God will save the lost. (1 Corinthians 1:21). So, everyone is all fascinated by preachers. It's not uncommon to hear folks say, "I go to brother (x)'s church. He's a great man of God!" or "I love to hear brother (y) preach!" If they don't already have one, and somebody actually wanted to start one, there could probably be a multi-million dollar magazine- similar to the magazines at the grocery store check out lines that are all about the "stars" of our country (Who's in what movie, who's sleeping with who, etc)- all about preachers. Where they are preaching, what they are preaching, who had the "biggest move of God" this week. Top 10 most popular preachers! Sounds crazy, but some folks actually argue over that kind of stuff! 

Furthermore, in many places, seems like everybody has a Title. There's Pastor Jones, Evangelists Franks, Prophet Johnson, Apostle Horne, Bishop Johnson, Elder James, Deacon Grant (all made-up names to go with the Title, used for effect only). It seems nobody can be just Brother Mike or Sister Della anymore. Nobody's happy with just being part of the family of God. Everybody's got to have a Title! Nobody's content with doing things for the Lord and for people. We gotta have a special Title to go with it so we're recognized. I thought it was all about Jesus, not us?

Some get really crazy and add Titles the Bible doesn't truly mention: Senior Pastor, Chief Apostle (Yes, there are a couple of verses in Corinthians where Paul is trying to give honor to the rest of the Apostles and saying he's less than them where he talks about them as the chiefest Apostles, but Paul wasn't giving them a Title. He was merely esteeming his brethren as better than himself), Chief Elder, Head Deacon, General Secretary, General Superintendent, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear some folks call themselves Senior most excellent Apostle of (x) someday. Everybody wants a Title and everybody wants to be a preacher. 

But, though I've heard of Sunday School Superintendent -again not a Biblical Title, but an important job- I've never heard anyone making sure they are called Sunday School Superintendent Jackson. Why? It's not as glamorous. Why? It doesn't make you look large and in charge. After all, all they do is teach sometimes and make sure the right teachers are in the right classrooms. And you never hear somebody called Teacher Hanks! There's no "glory" in that Title in most people's eyes. But, teachers are a part of the "five-fold ministry!"

Let me tell the church world something. God didn't robe himself in flesh, go through Calvary, defeat death hell and the grave, and pour his spirit out on all flesh in order to create a religious upper class that everybody is to look up to! We are all equal in his sight! It doesn't matter what he's called us to do, we are all part of the body of Christ! He condemned those types of folks in the Bible. They're called Pharisees and Sadducees! The finger of the body is just as important as the big toe, or the knee, or the lungs, or the eyes, or a hair follicle. Everybody has a part in the body. Everybody has a calling. And I can't find a single scripture where we are told to be sure that calling becomes a Title and our name is to follow right after it! 

And one more thing before I get off my soapbox:

Yes God ordained preaching. I'm not belittling that calling. But, while Preaching will save you, TEACHING WILL KEEP YOU SAVED!!! Don't believe me? Read on and you'll see what I mean. 

So, today we want to take a look at a group of people that don't get a lot of praise and adoration in most churches: Teachers. 

Everybody talks about the "fivefold ministry" in Ephesians 1:11. And yes, 4 of the 5 listed there are preachers of some sort (pastors, apostles, prophets, and evangelists). These usually get the spotlight, the pats on the back, and (if there's any given) the money. Preachers get all the Glory. Preachers get all the hype. 

I contend that this verse should actually be called, the four-fold ministry. Why? Because it says Apostles (semi-colon) Prophets (semicolon) Evangelists (semicolon) Pastors AND Teachers (no separation of any kind between the two. In fact, Paul instructed Timothy to be "Apt to teach." (2 Timothy 2:24) Even Bishops are told to be "apt to teach." (1 Timothy 3:2) So truthfully, "Pastors and Teachers", in my humble opinion is the same office! If you're a pastor, but you can only preach, you need to step down!

In fact, let's break down some new Testament facts:

Matthew through John, we see Jesus ministering and doing miracles. In most places, it doesn't say that he preached. Most of the time it said he taught!!!

Yes, we have preaching in the book of Acts. But, it also tells us that they went from house to house breaking bread (teaching? Acts 2:46), in every house they ceased NOT to teach and to preach Jesus (Acts 5:42), and Paul showed the people and taught both publically and house to house (Acts 20:20).

Then from Romans through Jude, we have letters from the Apostles to CHURCHES and CHURCH PEOPLE teaching them (and us) how to STAY SAVED.

Finally, we have Revelations. It's a book of Prophecy given to the Apostle John to TEACH THE CHURCH ABOUT THINGS TO COME.

Notice a pattern here anybody?

We have 27 books in the New Testament. And nearly ALL of them are almost totally focused on TEACHING!! Preaching is awesome! I love to hear good preaching. I do preach myself sometimes. Preaching has an awesome place in the economy of God. But, my point is that TEACHING IS EVERY BIT AS NECESSARY AS PREACHING!! If you're called to teach the word of God, don't hang your head and act as if you're a secondary citizen in the kingdom of God. Be honored that God has called you into an awesome and necessary ministry!

There is a famine of the word of God in the land- worldwide. And it's not because of preaching. It's a lack of teaching!!

There are different ways to teach.

Some are called to go from house to house and teach Bible studies. There is such a need to do this! Many people won't go to the house of God, but they will accept a Bible study in their own home. Do it with wisdom. The enemy has many traps out there. But, there are ways to do it and do it well. Indeed, those safe ways need to be taught!

Some can lead small group studies in their own home. What do you think the Apostles were doing when they went from house to house teaching? And there are many good ways to do that! 

In the church building, there are different ways as well. 

Sunday Schools are very important, but most don't do it right, I believe. 

It used to be that Churches took teaching seriously. Teachers didn't use the Sunday School curriculum. Rather, they had their Bibles out. They studied and prayed until the Lord gave them a lesson for their class. Then, when they got the message, they prayed for ways to teach those lessons to their students that would reach into the student's hearts and impact their lives!  

There are people in our churches that have expertise in areas that are needful: 

Titus 2 tells us that Godly older women are to teach younger women about marriage and family and living for God. It also says Godly older men are to teach the younger men about marriage and family and living for God.  And it doesn't have to be the same older saints teaching them. It can be rotated around. After all, different older people have gone through different experiences and have valuable Biblical insight into these topics they can pass on. 

While we do not all agree on every topic, there are folks that know scriptures well. They can teach others what they've learned through prayer, study, and experience how to teach folks about Salvation, the Godhead, Holiness, etc. 

If you have musicians and singers that know how to teach music to younger folks, and you have the facilities to do it, what's wrong with teaching them at church? It can be done during Sunday School, or at some other time. But, it needs to be taught. 

Some folks could teach end-time theology. Yes, there are differing views on the subject, but what's wrong with teaching each of these views and letting the saints pray and see how God leads?

Some could even teach how to study scripture itself! Different teachers could rotate through, explaining what works for them. After all, people learn differently. Eventually, somebody's way of studying is bound to click with them.

There are many, many subjects, specialty classes, etc that can be taught that could help the church family to progress in their homes and in the family of God. God's house has many rooms. If people aren't taught about all this stuff (the gifts of the spirit and their Biblical explanations and use, the fruits of the spirit and how we learn to bear fruit, new converts classes to explain the basic doctrines of Christianity, the different callings and giftings that scripture teaches so that folks maybe can see the direction God is leading them, and on and on!

How many churches are doing these kinds of things? I understand that some do not have the facilities or the people to do all of this. But, pray about it! Some of these things can be done! And more can be added as the Lord allows in the future.

And while I'm on the subject, just because you're a pastor or prophet or Apostle, or evangelist doesn't mean a) you can't teach some of this stuff and b) you don't need to be taught some of this stuff yourself!

While there is great preaching in the land, there is also bad preaching in the land. Teaching, along with prayer and personal study, will allow us to recognize bad preaching and bad teaching when we hear it. That way, we can consciously reject the bad and keep the good.

Pastor Jeff Arnold tells his testimony of how he was trying to find God years ago. He and his wife were in a denominal church. But, because his wife had grown up in a godly Apostolic Aunts home, she was able to warn Brother Jeff off of bad doctrine and point him to true doctrine.

Because a SUNDAY SCHOOL teacher had a burden and taught sister Arnold truth, Brother Arnold would later be born again and their ministry would impact millions of lives!

Teaching is too important to leave to chance. Teaching is too important to leave to organizational Sunday School books. It must be done in prayer, sometimes fasting, and personal Bible study so that the TEACHER can get a lesson and anointing from God! Only then will it be Biblical teaching. And only then will it have an impact on the students that they teach.

Why do people think it's okay to be gay? The world teaches them it is- and the church doesn't teach that it's evil! Some do, but many don't.

Why do people think it's okay to watch whatever they want, read whatever they want, listen to whatever they want, wear whatever they want, sleep with whomever they want, etc? The world teaches them it's okay- but many churches don't teach them it's not!

To change and paraphrase what I heard Pastor Wayne Huntley say in a sermon called, "Preach them out of hell:" TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, TEACH, TEACHER!!! " We need to teach them so that they will stay out of hell!

So please, church, please! PLEASE return back to actually praying, studying, and teaching the word of God! Please do not take your calling as a teacher lightly. It means the difference between heaven and hell for some of your students.

Remember, Preaching will save you, but teaching will keep you!!!

An unexpected blessing!

John 1:45-50

King James Version

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Today, my family and I were going through our daily activities when the mail arrived. There was a card in the mail from a dear loved one. What a blessing! I definitely was not expecting this. An unexpected blessing is always a welcome change. It's like a cool drink of water in a desert place!

It made me think of another unexpected blessing.

Nathanael was a good man. A respected man. One who apparently was well versed in the law and the scriptures. He also was a man of keen insight and quick wit.  

How do we know this? 

When his dear friend Philip came to him (you always go to your closest friends and loved ones first when you have good news, right?) claiming to have found the Messiah, Philip told him the Messiah's name: Jesus of Nazareth. 

Immediately, Philip searches his memory of the scriptures and thinks, "Messiah? From Nazareth?" His scriptural quip is basically saying, "Please show me any scripture for the Messiah coming out of Nazareth. I'd love to see this!" 

You can almost hear the wry tone of voice!

Rather than engage in a scriptural debate, Philip simply says, "Come and See!"

How many more people could be won to the Lord if, rather than engaging them in trying to win the debate with them, we'd simply say, "come and see this Jesus I'm talking about!" 

Look at what he's done in my life! Look at how he works in our church! Look at his healings! See his deliverance! Feel his love! Yes, people can argue scripture, but they cannot argue your testimony, 

If we can get them into the presence of Jesus, and they can "Taste and see" how good he is, then they'll be open to hearing more about the scriptures. 

So, Nathanael follows Philip to where Jesus was. Truly, Nathanael was skeptical, but he couldn't help but feel some of the hopeful excitement and optimism that Philip most definitely had. You can almost see Philip, much like a young boy, dragging Nathanael behind him to meet Jesus! 

Then, Jesus does the most amazing thing. He didn't introduce himself to Nathanael. There was no formal, "Hello, I'm Jesus. And who are you?" 

Rather, Jesus speaks to Nathanael and says, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile!" It's as if Nathanael were an honored guest and Jesus was announcing him to the world. In fact, what Jesus actually said about him was, "INSIDE of Nathanael, there is NO subtlety, NO Deceit, and NO trickery of any kind!"

WOW!

How many men and women do you know that could have that statement said about them? 

May we all strive for that! No manipulation and no decoys. In other words, as it says in Matthew 5:37, "Let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

Nathanael is so taken back he asks Jesus, "how do you know me?" He's shocked. Jesus has talked to him as if he's a lifelong friend. He's confused.

But Jesus doesn't let him remain confused. Just as with us, he only allows our confusion to last for so long before he speaks his word into our confusion and rolls back the fog with his light. 

"Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee."

We're not told how far Philip and Nathanael had to go to see Jesus, but evidently, it was not from a nearby place that they traveled. Nathanael searched his mind and tried to remember seeing Jesus and his men pass by him while he relaxed under the fig tree. He knew that, even though he knew no one else, he did know Philip. He would've remembered seeing Philip and this small band passing by him. 

The implications of Jesus's words hit Nathanael like a ton of bricks. Jesus had not physically been there! YET, he had seen Nathanael there. He had known Nathanaels's character without knowing him physically! ONLY GOD COULD DO THIS!

He fell to his knees and cried out to Jesus, "Rabbi, thou art the son of God. Thou art the King of Israel!"

By calling Jesus Rabbi, he was offering to submit himself totally to Jesus. By calling Jesus the son of God and the King of Israel, he was recognizing Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! 

How many people today are willing to do that? 

Notice Jesus's response though: 

"Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these."

I didn't have to even do a miracle. All I had to do was reveal that I foreknew you and you believe? Hold on, baby! You ain't seen nothing yet!

Remember, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:" (John 6:44a)?

Here is a perfect example. Nathanael had no idea who Jesus was. This was before Jesus was famous. Yet, before Jesus was even a thought in Nathanael's mind and before Nathanael could submit himself to Jesus, Jesus was already watching and calling Nathanael. 

Just like Israel of old, we don't choose God. God chooses us. We don't just arbitrarily decide one day to look into the things of God and find him. God begins little by little, day by day, to call out to our souls. 

And if we respond to his calling, what a wonderfully unexpected blessing we receive! 

Let the watchman do his job- and respond the right way!

Ezekial 33: 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

We have seven dogs in our home. This means that we have seven watchdogs. None of them are small. They range from about 70 pounds to 110 pounds. So anyone who's foolish enough to break into our home will most definitely be in trouble!

However, the dogs will usually bark and growl and carry on to let us know something is up and to warn the person or people outside that there will be consequences if they don't leave. Unfortunately, we sometimes don't want to be bothered to check out the commotion. Sometimes, we yell at the dogs to "shut-up!" 

In ancient Israel, the cities were walled. They kept watchmen on the walls to scan the landscape- checking for any danger. God ordered that they be there. It was to warn the people and spur them to action. God told them that if the watchman sounded the alarm and the people did not respond, they would die- and their blood would be on their own hands.

Just as with our dogs, many people would ignore the sound of the warning trumpets. Some would be irritated. Some would even yell at the watchman to shut-up! 

But, what of the watchman themselves. 

6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

If a city came under attack, and the watchman didn't warn the people, then people would die. Because he didn't warn the people, God held the watchman accountable for every death he allowed. 

In the military, if you're on guard duty, you can get in serious trouble if you slack off or go to sleep while you're on guard. The guard is required to be diligent. If he is not, people could die- including himself. In a time of war, the guard can be executed if he doesn't do his job and people are hurt and killed because of it. 

God is just as serious about watchman as the military is about its guards. 

God told Ezekial: 

 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

God told Ezekial "I'm going to give my people warnings through you. If you tell them and they don't hear, you and I are okay, but they're in trouble. But, If you don't tell them, you have a problem with me!" 

Ezekial was arrested, jailed, and hung up (not with a noose) in one of the castle dungeons. People were telling their Watchman to "Shut-up!" Ezekiel went through a lot to obey his calling and his Lord. 

Today, God still has watchmen. They're called preachers. Preachers, be they Pastors or evangelists, are to listen to God. When God gives them warnings, they are to tell the people to "Repent!" Whatever sin(s) the Lord leads them to call out, we the people should listen in the fear of the Lord. Why, because the warnings are coming from God almighty, not the preacher. If we refuse the warning, our blood will be on our hands. We could go to hell. God is not playing! NO sin will enter into heaven. 

Too many times, we want to tell the preacher to shut up! Too many times, we want to ignore the preacher. We don't want to be bothered with having to change. If he irritates us bad enough, we may want to persecute him or try and get him fired. But, the preacher doesn't work for us. He works for God. The preacher is God's watchman to us. 

But, if the preacher chooses to scratch our ears and tell us what we want to hear, rather than what God is telling us, then we will still go to hell! We won't be able to tell God, "He didn't warn me." God gave us a conscience and most of our homes have a Bible in it. We can pray and seek God and read His word ourselves. In fact, scripture tells us to do just that. 

But, the preacher who refused to warn us will go to hell as well. He doesn't get off the hook because he refused to warn us. 

Beware, people, God is not mocked! God will one day call all of us to judgment. He is not playing with sin. If our preacher is warning us, don't fight him. Repent! And thank God you have a preacher that will stand in the gap for folks. If our preacher is not warning us, we need to find another preacher. The one we have is in it for personal gain of some sort and has no love for God or people. 

So let our watchmen do their jobs. Pray for God to warn them and for them to hear and deliver the warning. When the warning is given, let us seek God in true love and repentance! 

Pray for the watchmen and the state of the world. Jesus is soon returning and we all need to be ready when he returns.   

hedge trimmers

Job 1:9-10 King James Version (KJV)

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

The term "build up a hedge" about (x)" is used a lot in Christian circles. It is usually couched as a prayer of protection. Asking God to put a fence around us or someone so as to protect them (us) from the attack of the devil and his demons. 

Here in Job 1, we find that God will do just that. The devil wanted Job, but he could not get through the hedge of protection that God had placed around him. And we should all rejoice, that are born again of the water and the spirit, that the Lord does protect us. The enemy cannot just attack us without the Lord's permission.  

However, this leads to some questions, doesn't it? 

If God has a hedge around us, why do we go through hard times? 

We know that Job was very wealthy before the Lord lowered his hedge in limited fashions. Because the Lord agreed to lower the hedge, Job lost his kids, his wealth, and his health. 

We also know that it was for a limited time. After Job learned what he needed to learn, the Lord restored unto Job 7 times what he had lost. Great ending! But a horrible struggle until the Lord replaced the hedges he had around Job. 

But, are there things we can do to lose our hedge of protection? 

Job was a righteous man in the eyes of God. Why did God allow this to happen?

First, to test Job and prove his relationship with God was solid. God already knew the answer, but Job needed to know the answer for himself. It's easy to trust God when things are going well, but it's not until we find the "gold tried in the fire" within ourselves that we truly know we are on solid ground with God. 

However, a careful study of Job 1 reveals one disturbing thing in Job's life:

Job 1:4-5 King James Version (KJV)

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Apparently, Job was in the habit of trying to live for God FOR his kids. His kids got together for a party. It's telling that Job wasn't invited and wasn't there. What kind of goings-on were involved in his children's little gathering? Job's prayer reveals that he prayed for them in case they had sinned! Apparently, there were things they did at these parties that God would not be pleased with! 

I believe that it was because of this tendency to try and act as a go-between for his kids to God that actually opened the door for God to allow Satan's attack. 

Ecclesiastes 10:8

He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

When we engage in actions (or dwell on sinful things in our minds and hearts) that are contrary to God and his word, we are actually removing some of our hedge of protection- and things will get through and hurt us. God allows this in order that we can learn from it, repent of our sins, and he can then rebuild the areas that we've torn down. 

Remember Moses warning to the children of Israel: 

Deuteronomy 28 King James Version (KJV)

28 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

We, like Israel of old, are given a choice: Obey God and be blessed and protected. Disobey God and be cursed and lose our protection. If we keep disobeying:

Isaiah 5:5

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

If we do not repent, however, after however many attacks we've endured due to our sinful tearing down of our hedges, then God truly brings out the big guns: He will absolutely tear the rest of our hedges down. This opens us up to even more traumatic and even deadly attacks. 

It's not that he's totally given upon us. Rather, he's taking a spiritual switch to our spiritual backsides. He's giving us a good blistering! Why? So that we might come to the end of ourselves and repent. That way, he can cleanse us, restore us to right relationship, and rebuild the hedge around us. 

But, if we do not repent, God tries one more thing. He looks for someone else that will pray on our behalf that God would intervene in our lives before it's too late. 

This is why intercessory prayer is so important. We pray for the sick and the lost. But, we also pray for the saved that are on the verge of being lost. 

But, in this case, we are the ones in need of prayer. When noone responds in prayer for us, though:

Ezekiel 22:30-31 King James Version (KJV)

30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God

Then, God has no choice but to bring full-scale judgment against us. And this judgment can destroy us, leaving us forever lost. 

But, they cannot gloat when we are judged. The next one in need of intercessory prayer just might be them!.

When Jesus tells us, "I'll be there in a minute, just..." More lessens from our dogs

This afternoon I heard my daughter talking to her dogs.

They were in her room. She was in the kitchen doing something.

They wanted her attention and her presence. She was busy doing something.

They started whining. She was busy doing something.

They started yapping, she yelled out to them from the kitchen, "I'll be there in a minute."

They started whining and yapping. She responded, "I'll be there in a minute."

Finally, they started barking and whining and yapping. She marched up to the doorway and said, "I'll be there in a minute. Let me finish what I'm doing."

It sounds like a familiar conversation to me.

When we are stuck in a situation in our lives that we have no control over. And we realize we cannot do anything about it. So, from the area we are stuck in, we cry out, "Lord, I need a little help here!"

The Lord responds, "I'll be there soon."

That's not the answer we want to hear, So we start crying out louder, "Lord, I really need you to move in the situation now!"

The Lord responds, "I said, I'll be there soon. I'm working on something."

Again, in our lack of patience, we really start bawling and squalling, "Lord, you said you'd never leave me nor forsake me. I'm really stuck in this problem and I can't get out. Can you please move now!"

So, the Lord, in His mercy moves into the doorway of our situation and speaks across the trouble that makes us feel like we're divided from him: "I will be there in a minute. Let me finish what I'm doing. When I finish what I'm working on, you won't be stuck, you won't be separated anymore."

The first time we cry out, Jesus is essentially telling us:

Revelation 22:7

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

In other words, "Trust in me and my promises. I'll do what I said I would do. Just hold on."

The second time we cry out, Jesus is telling us: 

Revelation 3:11

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

In other words, "I'm still working. Don't lose faith. Your deliverance is closer than it was before."

The third time, in his mercy, he moves closer to us. His presence is in our vicinity. We can hear his voice clearly:

Revelation 22:12

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

In other words, "You've remained faithful to me. Just a little longer and I will fulfill the desires of your heart. My purpose will be accomplished even though you think it may never happen. Just hold on." 

All of this put another way: 

Matthew 7:7-8 King James Version (KJV)

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

So, brethren and sisters. Whatever you may be facing. Whatever you may be going through. Hold on. Keep crying out. God will finish the work and accomplish his purpose for our good and his glory. 

The word "quickly" actually means "suddenly" in the Greek. It may take some time for God to work situations and people into the order and places they need to be. It may seem to us like our dilemma is going to last forever, our trial will never end. All the while, the situation, and the enemy whispers, "All will be lost."

But, Jesus says, 

"I'm working on it to accomplish what I mean this situation to accomplish in your life. I'm taking some bad stuff out of you and putting good stuff into you. And when it is time, I will suddenly move in and set you free!"

All will not be lost. As long as we stick with Jesus, HE will win in the end- and us with him.