SEEKING AND FINDING SUCCESS

JOSHUA 1:7-9

7   Only be strong and very courageous;  be careful to do according to all the law which Moses,     My Servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.   8   This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you will make your way prosperous, and that you will have success.   9   Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

None of us would ever make it our goal to fail, but many do fail and success eludes them.   God's Word gives us a simple formula for those who wish to avoid failure and find success.  To understand the passage, we have to put ourselves in Joshua's shoes.   Moses has died.  Joshua surely feels the pressure of needing to succeed.  The passage gives three simple lessons.

• When Seeking Success I should speak of God TIRELESSLY-- "this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth." (v. 8)  What a strange turn of phrase -- shall not depart out of your mouth."   Sometimes a parent might say, "I never want to hear those words coming out of your mouth."  This actually means the exact opposite.  The cloud and fire did not depart from the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness.  The cloud and fire were with them 24/7.   If I am seeking success, I should speak of God tirelessly.  I should be talking about Him 24/7.  Let me share with you what God has been teaching me.  When I speak of God tirelessly I am constantly reminding myself and others of who God is and how he has dealt with me.   
• When Seeking Success I should meditate on God TENACIOUSLY-- "you shall meditate on it day and night" (v. 8)   To meditate is to "mull it over -- think about it.  In this passage I can see Joshua mulling over what God said in the previous verses.  God said of the land, "I am giving it to you.!"   God said, "every place your foot shall tread."  God said, "I am with you."  God said he will not fail me or forsake me.  God's got this.  I can rest in His promises and know that success is simply discerning and doing the will of God.
• When Seeking Success I should obey God TOTALLY-- "be careful to do all the law which Moses My Servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or the left."  I must be careful to never become diverted to the right or to the left.  So much in this world is pulling me one way or the other, but I must test all I see and hear by the grid of God's Word.   

Following these simple steps I can be assured of success.   So, today I will speak of God tirelessly, meditate on Him tenaciously, and seek to obey Him totally.

SPIRITUAL GPS? GUARANTEED!

5   Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6   In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

7   Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

If you use a GPS, you have had the experience of being "redirected" or told to "turn around."   In Proverbs 3:5-7 the Lord gives spiritual GPS -- how we can know we have God's direction.   In verse 6, it says and HE will make your paths straight.   The rest of the passage gives instruction on how to receive the direction, but it guarantees that God will direct.   In fact, the construction is an intensive and could be translated "He Himself will make your paths straight."   This word was used of those who would travel in advance of royalty and make the path clear.  The Lord promises that if we live in accordance with Proverbs 3:5-7, He will provide the direction we need.  The KJV says, "He will direct your path."  But, what are the stipulations for getting the direction?

• I must be rightly related to the Savior.  
• Trust in the Lord with all your hear.   The word trust occurs in the Old Testament over 1500 times and it means to put your confidence in, or to put your faith in.   I can confide in God in every area of life, and I must do so to receive direction.  I should RELY on the Lord in every area of life.
• In all you ways acknowledge Him -- I must RECOGNIZE the Lord in every area of life.  I cannot compartmentalize and have the Lord only part of my life.   He wants me to acknowledge Him in every area -- public and private.
• Fear the Lord -- I must REVERENCE the Lord in every area of life.   It is not that I should be afraid of punishment; rather, i should fear violating the relationship I have with the Lord.   Perfect love casts out fear.  When my love is right, I can stand before Him with no fear.
• I must be rightly related to self
• Do not lean on your own understanding.   This word is used in Kings of someone leaning on a sword to support his weight.   I can't put my confidence in my ability to understand; rather, I must trust in the Lord with all my heart.   If I don't lean on God's understanding as found in His word, I have no other choice than to lean on my own.  Therefore, I should make it my aim to know His word and apply it in every area of life.  I must REJECT HUMAN UNDERSTANDING in favor of God's principles.
• Do not be wise in your own eyes.  I must also REJECT HUMAN PRIDE.   It is so easy to believe that I know what is right or best.  Instead, I should daily fight the pride that so easily manifests itself.  Perhaps my relying on my own understanding and being wise in my own eyes can be measured by my prayer life.  Do I seek His wisdom or do I rely on my own?   
• I must be properly related to sin.
• Depart from evil.   The word used here is one of several Hebrew words that can be translated "depart."  The focus here is change of direction.  If I have been going the wrong direction, I must not only stop, but reverse direction and go toward righteousness.   

If I follow these simple steps, God guarantees me spiritual GPS that is never out of date.

When We Work -- WE WORK! When WE PRAY -- GOD WORKS!

Yesterday Ephesians 3:14-21 reminded us of the resources behind our prayers -- "according to the riches of His glory."  Today, I am taking a look at the requests Paul makes in his prayers for the Ephesians.  They are a model for us to follow when praying for family, friends, ministry colleagues, and any brother or sister in Christ.

The Requests in Prayer

• I am praying that you will be RESPONSIVE to the Spirit -- "that you might be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man" (v. 16)
• In order to be strengthened I must surrender to God's spirit.  I must listen carefully for His direction and the result will be a divinely directed life and a divinely protected life that is strengthened inwardly for the spiritual battle.

• I am praying that you will be properly RELATED to Christ -- "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (v. 17)
• I can pray that Christ will be at home in my heart and in the hearts of those for whom I pray.   Sometimes I can be in a place where I don't feel welcome, but may it never be that Christ is not a honored and welcomed guest in my heart.
• I am praying that you will REALIZE God's love -- "that you might be rooted and grounded in . . . and able to comprehend the love of Christ" (vv. 17-18)
• So often when things don't go our way we are tempted to doubt God's love and call His character into question.   If only we could comprehend the depth of His love for us in every situation!
• I am praying that you will be RULED by God's character -- "that you will be filled with all the fullness of God" (v. 19)
• When a person is filled with rage or anger, they are under the control of that emotion.   To be filled with the Spirit is to be under His control, and to be filled with all the fullness of God is to be under His direction and control.
• I am praying that your life will REVEAL God's power -- that you might experience God's power in you "to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you ask or think" (v. 20)
• How different our lives would be if they reflected God's power rather than merely our own strength.   I can pray that I and others for whom I pray will be dependent upon God and always careful to praise Him for what He does rather than to foolishly believe I made it happen.
• I am praying that your life will RESULT in God's glory -- that your life will be "to His glory in the church to all generations" (v. 21)
• If these requests are fulfilled in my life, it will be a life lived for the glory of God and it will impact generations.

I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!

Ephesians 3:14-21

14   For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

15   from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name.

16   that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,

to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man

17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18   may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth

19   and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20   Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,

according to the power that works within us,

21   to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.

“I am praying for you!”  We have all heard or said that many times.  Unfortunately they are sometimes words that roll off our lips rather than a rock solid commitment to lift up a brother or sister before the throne of grace.   Ephesians 3:14-21 is one of four times when Paul prays for believers.  It can be a model for our prayers as we learn and live the timeless truths of these verses.

v  The Resources Behind Prayer – “according to the riches of His glory” (v. 16).  Each year Forbes magazine publishes its list of the wealthiest people in the world.   In 2017, Microsoft's Bill Gates topped the list for the fourth year in a row and second and third were Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos respectively.   Fortunately for these three, the fortune of Sam Walton was split three ways between Alice, Tom, and Jim Walton -- otherwise they would have dethroned and trailing badly.   

       The Greek language in this verse is very precise -- it says "according to" the riches of His glory.  The other construction would be "out of" the riches of His glory.  Suppose Bill Gates showed up at your home and announced he had decided to help you out financially with the cost of college education for your children.  You would be ecstatic; your problems would be solved; you would be set.  But wait, suppose he reached in his pocket and handed you $5.  Your disappointment would likely be hard to hide.  Why, because Bill Gates would have given to you "out of" his wealth -- that is, just a PORTION of his wealth.   On the other hand, had he given to you "according to" his wealth, his gift would be not just a portion of his wealth, but PROPORTIONATE to his wealth.   

       When we pray, we can pray "according to" the riches of His glory!   There is no limit!  He is all knowing, all powerful, and able to do "exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think."   It is possible to make an ask that even Bill Gates or Warren Buffett could not fulfill, but no such limitation exists with our heavenly Father.   He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He can do anything.   This assurance should embolden our prayers and encourage us to enter boldly into the throne room and ask for Him to do the seemingly impossible -- it is His specialty!

       More thoughts from this passage tomorrow, but for now, take a look at the requests in this prayer and pray!

v  The Requests in Prayer

Have you ever wondered how to pray for a friend or family member?   Today I can pray this prayer for every person I know, and know that I am praying in the will of God.

o   I am praying that you will be RESPONSIVE to the Spirit – “that you might be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (16)

o   I am praying that you will be properly RELATED to the Son – “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (17)

o   I am praying that you will REALIZE God’s love – “that you might be rooted and grounded in . . . and able to comprehend the love of Christ” (vv. 17,18)

o   I am praying that you will be RULED by God’s character – “that you will be filled up with all the fullness of God” (v. 19)

o   I am praying that your life will REVEAL God’s Power – that you might experience God’s power in you to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all that you ask or think” (v. 20)

A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT

I CHRONICLES 28:9,10,20

11   As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father

and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind;

for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts.

12   Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you

to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.

20   Then David said to his son Solomon, Be strong and courageous and act;

do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God is with you.

He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work

for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

David had the task of offering instruction and advice to the wisest man who ever lived.   His words were rock solid and set a pattern for any who would be wise in any generation.

A Mandate for the Wise

In verse 9, David tells Solomon to "know God" and to "serve Him."   To know God is far more than to have an intellectual awareness of Him; rather it is experiential knowledge that is based on repeated interaction.   My brother knows cars.   He does not have just an awareness of cars, he knows them inside and out.   His many years of experience as a mechanic have provided an understanding that is beyond recognizing the different makes and models.   David tells his son that he should have a growing intimacy in his awareness of God.   Further, he should have a growing involvement in his activity for God -- that he should serve Him.

That service should be marked by a "whole heart" and a "willing mind."   When i serve with a whole heart, I will hold nothing back; I will be single minded; I will give little thought to the cost of serving, and no complaints will cross my lips.   My service will be marked by dedication. A willing mind indicates I will delight in my service.  I will view it as a blessing rather than a burden and my service will be marked by delight rather than viewed as a drudgery.

A Motivation for the Wise

"For the Lord searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts."   Knowing that God realizes what is in my heart should motivate me to always do my best and seek excellence.   God inspects what I do.  He inspects how I do it, and He inspects why I do it.  Further God rewards what is in my heart because if i seek Him, I will find Him.

A Mission for the Wise

"Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you."  How amazing that God would consciously choose you or Me to do any part of His work.   I should approach every day and every task knowing that He formed me and knew me before I was in my mother's womb.   I should be conscious of my calling.   Further, I should be courageous in my calling -- David says, be strong and act.

The Means Provided for the Wise

"Be strong" could be translated be strengthened.   It is not that I must be strong in my own might; rather, I can be strong only because He provides the strength.   I need not fear or be dismayed because the Lord my God is with me and He will not forsake me until the work is finished.   I can be strong in God's power.  I can be sure of  God's presence.  I can be stedfast in God's purpose.

Living for Christ in a Counter Culture

Living for Christ in a Counter-Culture

7   The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment

and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

8   Above all, keep fervent in your love one for another,

because love covers a multitude of sins.

9   Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10   As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another

as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11   Whoever speaks is to speak, as it were, the utterances of God;

whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;

so that all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,

to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.

I Peter 4:7-10

Peter writes to a group of believers who, like us, live in a culture that is rapidly moving away from God.  The challenge for believers then and now was to live for Christ in a counter-culture, and to do it in a winsome way that “will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect” (Titus 2:10).

The Motivation for those Living for Christ in a Counter-Culture

Peter begins with what some might call a doomsday message – the end of all things is at hand.   But the word used here never refers to a temporal or chronological need; rather, it points to the culmination.   Peter is saying – Christ is coming!   Because He is coming we must keep the main thing the main thing and not waste our lives on lesser things.  Someday we will stand before Him to give an account, and that accountability ought to motivate us to live for Christ in every circumstance.

In verse 11 Peter tells us that our motivation ought to be that God would be glorified in all things.  In fact, Peter reminds us that our God is worthy of that glory because “glory and dominion belong to him forever and ever.”  It’s all about Him.  “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30).

The Mandate for those Living for Christ in a Counter-Culture

v  Maintain Perspective so you pray effectively – “be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (v. 7)

If we are to live for Christ in a Counter-Culture we must think clearly and biblically.  We must run everything we hear, say, and do through the grid of God’s Word.   The danger for those living in a counter-culture is that they will be influenced by the CULTURE WHICH SURROUNDS them rather than by the CHRIST WHO SAVED them.  Not only must we be of sound judgment, we must have a “sober spirit.”  Peter counsels that we should be alert and aware of vulnerabilities.  We must be circumspect, looking around because Satan desires to devour (I Peter 5:8).  All of this is for the purpose of prayer so that we recognize and confess our dependence on the Lord.

v  Fervently love to the point of forgiveness – “above all fervently love one another, for love covers a multitude of sins”(v. 8).  The emphasis here is “above all.”  We must make it a priority to live in peace, harmony, and unity.   Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you” (John 13:33).   The law had long ago said “love your neighbor as you love yourself,” but Jesus raised the standard to love “as he loved.”

The extent of love is described as “fervently.”   The word was used in the athletic arena of a runner stretching to cross the finish line.   Loving fervently means I stretch outside my comfort zone and exercise an act of the will to love.

The evidence of love is that “it covers a multitude of sins.”   We should be willing to stretch to the point of forgiveness, setting aside the grievance.   We should be “forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave us” (Ephesians 4:32).

v  Never grumble at a God-given opportunity to give – “be hospitable to one another without complaint” (v. 9).

The word “hospitable” means a “lover of strangers.”  No doubt, there is someone right around me that I can encourage today and “esteem better than myself” (Philippians 2:2).

v  Serve rather than sitting on the sidelines – “as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another” (v. 10).

As you serve, think about the source of that gift – it came from God.  Serve, but do so selflessly – employ the gift in serving others.   Serve, but do it as a steward of the grace of God.   Serve, but do it in the strength God supplies. 

As we apply these principles we can live for Christ in a counter-culture. 

It's Not What We Say About Prayer that Makes the Difference!

Someone has said, "It is not what we say about prayer that makes the difference; it is what we do about it."   James 4 makes clear that "you have not because you ask not."   Sometimes the reason for our lack is simply a lack of asking.   This is amazing given the spectacular promises Scripture makes regarding prayer.  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).   Here are five quick thoughts on how we can and should pray in 2018.

1.    Pray for Laborers -- Luke 10:2 instructs, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."   Jesus told us plainly that the key to getting workers is to pray.   In fact, Jesus told His disciples to pray, and He knew full well that He intended to send them.  Perhaps sometimes we are reluctant to pray lest we be sent!  The harvest is plentiful, and we need more workers.   I am praying for new workers in CEF across the USA and around the globe and that we will exceed 3500 workers worldwide by the end of 2018.   Whether for CEF or some other kingdom endeavor, the key to getting laborers is going to the Lord on a continual basis and asking Him to burden the hearts of men and women to answer the call.   I challenge each of us to pray for laborers.

2.    Pray with Persistence -- Luke 18:1 states, "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart."   Jesus acknowledges that sometimes we will grow discouraged in praying and want to give up praying.  But He then tells the parable of the judge and the widow who was repeatedly asking.  He does so to underscore the importance of our remaining persistent in our prayers.   Sometimes I may want to give up or give in, but when I am praying in the will of God, I need to pray on!   In this year ahead, I want to pray for laborers with greater diligence than ever before and ask the Lord to open the doors, lead us to the right people, and provide the resources necessary to fund those who answer the call.

3.    Pray for the Nations -- Psalm 2:8 says, "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession."  We need to be praying for lost people all over the world and asking that the Gospel might go forth in those places in power and demonstration of the Spirit.   CEF is currently active in nearly every nation on earth.  One nation we can all pray for is North Korea.  I encourage you to pray for openings for the Gospel in Muslim nations and other hard to reach places.   Jesus told us to go to all nations, and His last command must be our first concern.

4.    Pray in Faith -- Mark 10 records the parable of the fig tree.   Days earlier Jesus had cursed the fig tree because it was barren.   In Mark 10:21 Peter remarked about the cursed tree while on the return trip; Jesus took this opportunity to instruct His disciples about prayer -- "Have faith in God!  Truly I say to you, whoever says to the this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him'" (Mark 10:22,23).   In 2018, let's trust the Lord to do "exceedingly abundantly beyond anything that we could even ask or think."  In the words of John Wesley, "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone; Laughs at impossibilities, and cries, IT SHALL BE DONE."   

5.    Pray for Our Leaders -- I Timothy 2:2-4 instructs us to pray "for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."   These verses link our prayers for our governing leaders to evangelistic efforts.   Thus it comes full circle.  

We ought to pray for laborers to do His work, and we ought to pray with persistence that His work will be done among the nations.  These prayers ought to be offered in believing faith, and we should do so knowing that our prayers for our leaders will impact them and our ability to be on mission sharing the Gospel with every creature. "It is not what we say about prayer that makes the difference; it is what we do about it." 

2018:  A Year to Be on Mission Reaching the Next Generation

Children – they are the largest people group on the planet making up one third of the earth’s population.   They are the largest unreached people group even though they are the most receptive to the Gospel.   Eighty-five percent of those who today profess Christ, came to Christ prior to their 15^th birthday according to surveys done by George Barna.   

Often overlooked, abused, and neglected, children are open to the Gospel, and it is incumbent upon the church to do everything we can, while we can, to reach as many as we can before the door of opportunity slams shut.

One only needs to look to history to learn the strategic significance of impacting the next generation.  Every major movement has grasped the need to target the next generation in order to advance its agenda.   Centuries ago, Nebuchadnezzar singled out the best and brightest of the Hebrew children and sought to “educate” them in the way of the Chaldeans.   He understood the significance of the next generation.  It was Lenin who boasted, “Give me just one generation of youth, and I will transform the whole world.”  Lenin understood the significance of the next generation.  Adolf Hitler put is slightly differently, “He alone who owns the youth, owns the future.”  The importance of engaging the next generation with the Gospel cannot be overestimated.  

When the nation of Israel was in decline and in desperate need of revival, God’s Word to them was clear.  “Tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done . . . that they should put their confidence in God” (Psalm 78:4-7).  Sharing the good news with the next generation is critical to impacting our nation for Christ!  

For over 80 years, the singular focus of Child Evangelism Fellowship has been the next generation.   The time has come for children and youth to be the focused priority of the church.  Every child . . . Every Nation . . . Every Day is the burden of Child Evangelism Fellowship, and we are committed to reaching every nation with the good news that God loves them and that forgiveness of sin and eternal life are available freely to them.   But time is of the essence!

Every day children are passing through the window of time when they are most open to the Gospel (ages 4 to 14).   In nations all across this world, children are passing into eternity without ever hearing of Jesus’ love for them.   Doors of opportunity are closing as our world marches toward the end times and our Lord’s return draws ever nearer.    Now is the time to take the Gospel to every corner of the globe.  Now is the time to invest our time, our talent, and our treasure in the Great Commission.  We invite you to join us in our quest to be obedient to Jesus’s command to take the Gospel to every creature and together attempt great things for the glory of our God.