An excerpt from “Firestorm” by Ron Susek
Perhaps the simplest, yet most profound, restoration is found in the psalmist’s words, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes” (Ps. 37:7). “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Ps. 46:10).
In the Hebrew, “be still” carries the picture of an army marching in full battle array, fevered with readiness to fight. The command is to stop marching, lay down all weapons, and be at ease. The assurance behind the command is that there is a greater one than you who will be glorified by providing his sufficiency as your defender and deliverer.
I sat down and said out loud, “Here I am, God. Where are you? That wasn’t doubt or despair, just the emotional emptiness that accompanies fatigue. I began to read the Scriptures, gulping them like a man at a water hole in the desert. One day I read the Scriptures for fourteen hours, slowly feeling the refreshing power.
On day seventeen of my stay, I happened to read Psalm 46:10 and something completely unexpected happened. I felt that inner motor that tends to race twenty-four hours a day shut down -- literally. For three days I enjoyed such peace that I felt it too crude to request anything of God. I knew that he desired to answer all prayer; therefore, there was no need to inform him of my need. This was a time for worship and praise.
That encounter with “being still” not only fully reinvigorated me, it became one of the most cherished memories of my life. I know that God restores the heart, the mind, and the body. I experienced that in its full, wonderful force. I know he can restore you, but you must take the time to get alone with God and be still.
In this stillness there is a faithful waiting upon the Lord. Herein strength is renewed. Isaiah writes, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isa. 40:31) Think not, however, that being still and waiting on the Lord denotes doing nothing. Faith is not passive. You are told to walk and run while resting. But as you rest in the Lord, new energy fills your heart, even invigorates tired muscles. You are energized by resting in divine strength.
The renewal comes from the rest found in the stillness of faith. But what is rest? Is it mere relief? No, much more. It is completion. For instance, when God rested on the seventh day, it was not a matter of regaining lost strength but of looking upon the completed works of his hands. All was in a state of wholeness. Likewise, the rest that God will bring to you, even amid devastation, will be an inner completion—a wholeness. Well-being comes to your body, mind, and soul. I strongly encourage you to give the highest priority to being still, believing, and finding God’s rest in your rebuilding process during and after a bad conflict.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Rise Up
RISE UP! represents the heart of the Youth Department for the Church of God in West Virginia for the year 2009...We want to see every young person in our state RISE UP! in their...
Relationships with God, self, and others!
Integrity...doers of the Word, not just hearers!
Spiritual Gifts...taking their rightful place in the Kingdom!
Encounters with a spiritually diverse culture!
Rise Up and shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD shall Rise Up over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)
Join us on this journey and challenge. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Amen!
Relationships with God, self, and others!
Integrity...doers of the Word, not just hearers!
Spiritual Gifts...taking their rightful place in the Kingdom!
Encounters with a spiritually diverse culture!
Rise Up and shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD shall Rise Up over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)
Join us on this journey and challenge. We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Amen!
The Spirit Filled Life- Part 2 and 3
II
When we are filled with the Spirit, we have a happy funeral service. We die to self. A pastor had a funeral service for an elderly man. At the end of the service someone said to him, "Hey, this has been a wonderful day." The man continued speaking, saying, "I love funeral services where we can celebrate and praise the Lord for the home-going of one of God's people."
Every church needs to have a big number of funerals. Everyone needs to die to him or herself. Galatians 2:20 has some thrilling words, "I am crucified with Christ." The death by crucifixion is not a pleasant experience. Certainly the death of Jesus for us was one in which he suffered more than we can understand. We don't suffer like Jesus did when we "crucify ourselves," but we do come to the end of our self-lives, or we need to do that. Look again at the words in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ." The expression is "present tense." This means an "on going" experience. In other words, it means that continuously I am being crucified with Christ.
As Christians we need to "die." We die to self, to selfish wishes, plans, and dreams. This death is one "with Christ." The Holy Spirit wants us to die with Jesus. We need the cross to be directly in our pathway every day. And yet, this death doesn't put an end to life, but really the crucified life is the life that God wants us to have.
Notice that when we die with Jesus that we begin to live. "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Can we get this message? Do we apply it to our own lives? Have we died? Have you and I died?
None of us can fully understand the depths of Romans chapter six. In that chapter the Apostle Paul wrote about his personal experience. He said that what he didn't want to do, he did! What he wanted to do, he didn't do! You have been there and, haven't you?
The struggle between the "carnal, self life" and the "spiritual life" goes on. It will go on until God calls us home. The "fullness of the Spirit" helps us have a spiritual walk, and not a carnal, selfish life.
One man described the experience of a double life in this way. He said life for him was like having two dogs - - a good one and a bad one. The bad dog sometimes dominated and sometimes the good one became the master. The man said that the one who became the master was the one who received the most feeding. We need to "starve" the carnal life, crucify self, and let the Christ-life dominate.
We have a big problem with the ego or self-life. We want control rather than surrendering life to the Holy Spirit's control. We have an "I" problem which is a one-letter problem "i." The letter "I" is the central letter in sin.
"I" is the central letter in pride. The self-life needs to go to the cross. We need to be crucified, don't we?
We need to have a funeral service one time in life. But again, it's an every day experience. Paul wrote "I die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31). Where do you and I stand in relation to self-funerals? A new day will come in the life of every church when we all die! The spiritual life means death to our ways. Are we ready for our own funeral today?
III
When we are filled with the Spirit we will have life blessed with the fruit of the Spirit. Look briefly at fantastic words in Galatians 5:22-23.
We need to be known as people who love one another. The rumor got started in New Testament days that the followers of Jesus loved one another. Let's get that same rumor going where you and I live, will we?
The potential qualities of life for a Christian may astound us. What about joy? That's one fruit of the Christian life. We go places and carry on a ton of activities in search of joy. Some people travel all over the world, spending fortunes, simply to be happy. The recipe for joy is given in the list of spiritual fruit.
Another great word pops up in Galatians 5:22. Here we find "peace." So much of the world finds itself in turmoil. We don't have peace between nations, between denominations, between churches, and often within families. Too often peace is a missing ingredient. When we let the Holy Spirit fill us we'll be filled with "the peace of God that passes all understanding." Get down to the truth of God's control and His peace will overflow in life (Philippians 4:7).
Add a few other qualities to your life such as long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control and you'll find people staring at you in disbelief and amazement every place you go. The pastor may not recognize you. The spouse will discover that a "new creation" in the house. The children will become beautiful beyond words. The "Fullness of the Spirit" will do wonders for every person..
When we are filled with the Spirit, we have a happy funeral service. We die to self. A pastor had a funeral service for an elderly man. At the end of the service someone said to him, "Hey, this has been a wonderful day." The man continued speaking, saying, "I love funeral services where we can celebrate and praise the Lord for the home-going of one of God's people."
Every church needs to have a big number of funerals. Everyone needs to die to him or herself. Galatians 2:20 has some thrilling words, "I am crucified with Christ." The death by crucifixion is not a pleasant experience. Certainly the death of Jesus for us was one in which he suffered more than we can understand. We don't suffer like Jesus did when we "crucify ourselves," but we do come to the end of our self-lives, or we need to do that. Look again at the words in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ." The expression is "present tense." This means an "on going" experience. In other words, it means that continuously I am being crucified with Christ.
As Christians we need to "die." We die to self, to selfish wishes, plans, and dreams. This death is one "with Christ." The Holy Spirit wants us to die with Jesus. We need the cross to be directly in our pathway every day. And yet, this death doesn't put an end to life, but really the crucified life is the life that God wants us to have.
Notice that when we die with Jesus that we begin to live. "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Can we get this message? Do we apply it to our own lives? Have we died? Have you and I died?
None of us can fully understand the depths of Romans chapter six. In that chapter the Apostle Paul wrote about his personal experience. He said that what he didn't want to do, he did! What he wanted to do, he didn't do! You have been there and, haven't you?
The struggle between the "carnal, self life" and the "spiritual life" goes on. It will go on until God calls us home. The "fullness of the Spirit" helps us have a spiritual walk, and not a carnal, selfish life.
One man described the experience of a double life in this way. He said life for him was like having two dogs - - a good one and a bad one. The bad dog sometimes dominated and sometimes the good one became the master. The man said that the one who became the master was the one who received the most feeding. We need to "starve" the carnal life, crucify self, and let the Christ-life dominate.
We have a big problem with the ego or self-life. We want control rather than surrendering life to the Holy Spirit's control. We have an "I" problem which is a one-letter problem "i." The letter "I" is the central letter in sin.
"I" is the central letter in pride. The self-life needs to go to the cross. We need to be crucified, don't we?
We need to have a funeral service one time in life. But again, it's an every day experience. Paul wrote "I die daily" (I Corinthians 15:31). Where do you and I stand in relation to self-funerals? A new day will come in the life of every church when we all die! The spiritual life means death to our ways. Are we ready for our own funeral today?
III
When we are filled with the Spirit we will have life blessed with the fruit of the Spirit. Look briefly at fantastic words in Galatians 5:22-23.
We need to be known as people who love one another. The rumor got started in New Testament days that the followers of Jesus loved one another. Let's get that same rumor going where you and I live, will we?
The potential qualities of life for a Christian may astound us. What about joy? That's one fruit of the Christian life. We go places and carry on a ton of activities in search of joy. Some people travel all over the world, spending fortunes, simply to be happy. The recipe for joy is given in the list of spiritual fruit.
Another great word pops up in Galatians 5:22. Here we find "peace." So much of the world finds itself in turmoil. We don't have peace between nations, between denominations, between churches, and often within families. Too often peace is a missing ingredient. When we let the Holy Spirit fill us we'll be filled with "the peace of God that passes all understanding." Get down to the truth of God's control and His peace will overflow in life (Philippians 4:7).
Add a few other qualities to your life such as long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control and you'll find people staring at you in disbelief and amazement every place you go. The pastor may not recognize you. The spouse will discover that a "new creation" in the house. The children will become beautiful beyond words. The "Fullness of the Spirit" will do wonders for every person..
Friday, July 25, 2008
Being Filled with the Spirit Part 1
The Spirit-Filled Life
"Be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18
The Sahara Desert is the world's largest desert. Sahara is an Arabic word that means desert. That desert stretches 3,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean across North Africa to Saudi Arabia. It runs south into Africa for 1,200 miles. We might say that the Sahara is "full of sand."
The oceans are "full of water." The sky is filled with air. When the sun is shining on a cloudless day we say that the earth is "filled with light."
Christians need to think about being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. We need to have a life that is "overflowing" with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 states that we are to "be filled with the Spirit." The words in reality are, "Be being filled with the Spirit." Those words of Paul were directed to the Ephesians who were believers in an area that is now Turkey. The message was not to professional church leaders, but rather to ordinary Christians. The message is for us today in the place where we live. The "The Fullness of the Spirit" is for all Christians. All of us need a fresh touch from God, a fresh anointing, a fresh filling, and a walk that invigorates us by the Spirit of the Living God. God intends for us to have this kind of spiritual life and walk. Let's look at the meaning of "Being filled by the Spirit." What does this mean for us now?
I
When we are "filled with the Spirit," Christ is in control of our lives. He occupies the "throne" of life. Jesus is at the center of life. He has the rule in life. The Holy Spirit's fullness in life is to honor Christ and place him at the center of all we think and do.
The Holy Spirit's work is to exalt Jesus and let Him be the "Lord" of life. This means we walk with Jesus. We have communion with him. David wrote in Psalms 84:10, "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." When we are filled with the Spirit, Jesus permeates every fiber of our being. Our body, our mind, our spirit, our total self is under the dominion of Christ. The Spirit-filled life puts Christ in the center of all we do.
The Holy Spirit leads us to worship Jesus. One Scripture verse that is most instructive comes at the end of the Gospel of Luke. The moment had come for Jesus to return to heaven following his death on the cross and his bodily resurrection. Eleven apostles followed Jesus just outside the "Holy City." Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed that small group of followers. As Christ ascended into heaven, the disciples "worshipped Jesus, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:51-52). When the Spirit of God fills us, we turn every place we go into a "worship center." We worship Jesus in our church buildings, in our homes, in school, at play, at work, and all places. The Holy Spirit leads us to applaud Jesus and praise and worship him.
"Be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18
The Sahara Desert is the world's largest desert. Sahara is an Arabic word that means desert. That desert stretches 3,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean across North Africa to Saudi Arabia. It runs south into Africa for 1,200 miles. We might say that the Sahara is "full of sand."
The oceans are "full of water." The sky is filled with air. When the sun is shining on a cloudless day we say that the earth is "filled with light."
Christians need to think about being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. We need to have a life that is "overflowing" with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 states that we are to "be filled with the Spirit." The words in reality are, "Be being filled with the Spirit." Those words of Paul were directed to the Ephesians who were believers in an area that is now Turkey. The message was not to professional church leaders, but rather to ordinary Christians. The message is for us today in the place where we live. The "The Fullness of the Spirit" is for all Christians. All of us need a fresh touch from God, a fresh anointing, a fresh filling, and a walk that invigorates us by the Spirit of the Living God. God intends for us to have this kind of spiritual life and walk. Let's look at the meaning of "Being filled by the Spirit." What does this mean for us now?
I
When we are "filled with the Spirit," Christ is in control of our lives. He occupies the "throne" of life. Jesus is at the center of life. He has the rule in life. The Holy Spirit's fullness in life is to honor Christ and place him at the center of all we think and do.
The Holy Spirit's work is to exalt Jesus and let Him be the "Lord" of life. This means we walk with Jesus. We have communion with him. David wrote in Psalms 84:10, "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." When we are filled with the Spirit, Jesus permeates every fiber of our being. Our body, our mind, our spirit, our total self is under the dominion of Christ. The Spirit-filled life puts Christ in the center of all we do.
The Holy Spirit leads us to worship Jesus. One Scripture verse that is most instructive comes at the end of the Gospel of Luke. The moment had come for Jesus to return to heaven following his death on the cross and his bodily resurrection. Eleven apostles followed Jesus just outside the "Holy City." Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed that small group of followers. As Christ ascended into heaven, the disciples "worshipped Jesus, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:51-52). When the Spirit of God fills us, we turn every place we go into a "worship center." We worship Jesus in our church buildings, in our homes, in school, at play, at work, and all places. The Holy Spirit leads us to applaud Jesus and praise and worship him.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Calling
By Roger Fields
I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. My calling is sure; my challenge is big; my vision is clear; my desire is strong; my influence is eternal; my impact is critical; my values are solid; my faith is tough; my mission is urgent; my purpose is unmistakable; my direction is forward; my heart is genuine; my strength is supernatural; my reward is promised; and my God is real.
In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.
I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes, or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit, or surrender.
I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down. My calling is to reach young people for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.
I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears, and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.
I am a minister. I minister to youth. This is who I am. This is what I do.
I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. My calling is sure; my challenge is big; my vision is clear; my desire is strong; my influence is eternal; my impact is critical; my values are solid; my faith is tough; my mission is urgent; my purpose is unmistakable; my direction is forward; my heart is genuine; my strength is supernatural; my reward is promised; and my God is real.
In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.
I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes, or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit, or surrender.
I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down. My calling is to reach young people for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.
I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears, and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.
I am a minister. I minister to youth. This is who I am. This is what I do.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Find Your Strength Zone
“He alone decides which gift each person should have.” I Corinthians 12:11 NLT
We all have equal value in God’s eyes, but we don’t have equal giftedness. In their book Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton state that every person is capable of doing something better than the next 10,000 people. And they support that with research. They call this area your strength zone, and they encourage you to find it and make the most of it. It doesn’t matter how aware you are of your abilities, how you feel about yourself, or whether you have previously achieved success. You have talent, and God requires you to develop it! But you can only develop the talent you have, not the one you want. When it comes to your character, you must never stop working on your areas of weakness. But when it comes to fulfilling your God-given assignment, you must recognize your strength zone and give yourself to it. Dr. John Maxwell writes: “It’s been my observation that people can increase their ability in an area by only 2 points on a scale of 1-10. For example, if your natural talent in an area is 4, with hard work you may raise it to a 6. In other words, you can go from a little below average to a little above average. But let’s say you find a place where you are a 7; you have the potential to become a 9, maybe even a 10, if it’s your strength zone and you work hard! That helps you advance from 1 in 10,000 talent to a 1 in 100,000 talent – but only if you do the other things needed to maximize your talent.” So, find your strength zone!
We all have equal value in God’s eyes, but we don’t have equal giftedness. In their book Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton state that every person is capable of doing something better than the next 10,000 people. And they support that with research. They call this area your strength zone, and they encourage you to find it and make the most of it. It doesn’t matter how aware you are of your abilities, how you feel about yourself, or whether you have previously achieved success. You have talent, and God requires you to develop it! But you can only develop the talent you have, not the one you want. When it comes to your character, you must never stop working on your areas of weakness. But when it comes to fulfilling your God-given assignment, you must recognize your strength zone and give yourself to it. Dr. John Maxwell writes: “It’s been my observation that people can increase their ability in an area by only 2 points on a scale of 1-10. For example, if your natural talent in an area is 4, with hard work you may raise it to a 6. In other words, you can go from a little below average to a little above average. But let’s say you find a place where you are a 7; you have the potential to become a 9, maybe even a 10, if it’s your strength zone and you work hard! That helps you advance from 1 in 10,000 talent to a 1 in 100,000 talent – but only if you do the other things needed to maximize your talent.” So, find your strength zone!
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