Small Prayer, Big Reveal

I once lived a life believing and praying but not being fully connected to the Lord. It wasn't until I made a conscious decision to allow God into every aspect of my life, that I began to really see and know Him. The following story may seem insignificant but it changed my understanding of how God works in the life of those who surrender all to Him .

One Summer not too long ago, I bought a swimming pool for my sons who were 9, 7, 7 and 2 at the time. It was an unseasonably hot Summer that year and my boys were spending way too much time cooped up in the house. The pool was a decent size, it claimed to hold 5 adults. Set-up was suppose to be quick and easy. All we had to do was blowup the sides with an air pump. A few years before this we had purchased a heavy duty vacuum cleaner that could be converted into an air pump. A little air-nozzle attachment that came with the vacuum was needed in order for it to work as a pump. This little attachment had been missing for quite some time, but I knew it was in the house somewhere. I searched on and off for about two days but was unable to find the piece. We have a basement that is unfinished. It's was filled storage boxes and things that we haven't seen or touched in years. We probably couldn't have found a small elephant down there if we tried. So when I went down to the basement to look, I searched for a while then gave up. It was just too overwhelming. At that point I was ready to throw in the towel and buy a regular air pump.

Before conceding to failure, I thought to myself... I don't know where the vacuum attachment is, but I bet the Lord does. I thought it might be a petty thing to ask for, so in my prayer I apologized to the Lord for the shallowness of my request. After my brief prayer the thought came into my head... go down into the basement one more time and take another look. So straight away I went back down into the basement, walked to the middle of the floor and turned to face an old basket packed with old tools and useless items. There in the middle of the cluttered basket was the air-nozzle attachment. The very small circular tip was barely visible, I had to strain my eyes to see it. The other half of the attachment was buried out of sight among the clutter in the basket. For 2 days I relied on my own feeble abilities then when I turned it over to the Lord, He showed me who was able in less than 2 minutes.

Some people may think this story is small and maybe a bit insignificant, but it's one of the many ways that the Lord has revealed Himself to me personally. I am now able to see His hand working in even the smallest of situations and I am so thankful. Nothing is too small or insignificant for the Lord...

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Now, we all know that God doesn't drop the answers to our prayers into our hands, right away every single time. Sometimes He uses big trials and situations in our life to strengthen us and to mold us into better Christians. But when He does step in and reveal His power, whether the situation be big or small, it has away of penetrating right to the soul, strengthening our faith tenfold.

If you haven't done so already, take the time to look back on the many different ways the Lord has reveled Himself to you. Keep a prayer journal then whenever you feel discouraged open it up and reflect on the wonderful works that He has done in your life. Know that you're a child of a power God and He is able.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, always pray and move forward in full faith.

Is My Worship Better Than Yours?

For many years various Christian denominations have claimed to have a better, more acceptable form of worship than other Christian denominations. I've often wondered, is this idea rooted in the word or is it substantiated primarily by personal preferences?

If we look closely at the scriptures we find that God gave specific instructions concerning how the temple was to be constructed. We can also find strict instructions on how and when sacrifices were to be made. If we hearken back to the story of Cain and Able we see that the Lord was very particular concerning these things (Gen 4:3-5). But what does the bible say about the act of worship and praise? Is the Lord particular about how this is to be done? In the story of King David found in 2 Samuel 6:14-23, there is a lesson to be learned. In David's heighten state of joy, he worships the Lord by dancing quite vigorously. He danced so hard his clothes fell off. David's wife was ashamed by his exaggerated act of worship/praise and she quickly criticized him. The bible then tells us that she was punished for this and lived out her days unable to bare children.

Today the ugly spirit of criticism is alive and well in our Christian churches. This critical and judgmental nature slowly eats away at the integrity of Christianity as a whole. Outsiders take notice of the intolerance within our own faith and they don't want to be a part of it. How can we share the gospel with lost souls if we ourselves behave like the lost?

In order to rid ourselves of this "critical" spirit we must ask... Are parishioners from one denomination more likely to be saved than parishioners from another Christian denomination, based on their worship style? The bible says this...

1 Cor 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Rom 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

As far as I know there are no Christian denominations that deny that Jesus is Lord and Savior. So if all who believe will be saved as stated in the bible, why waste time being critical of each other?

The bible also says that all Christian believers belong to the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-14). With this fact in mind, what good is it to criticize one part of that body? Are not all parts needed to make a strong and functioning body. Would you criticize your tongue because you think your eyes are more useful? No. So why do we criticize our fellow Christian bothers and sisters for the way they worship? So with that being said, is it ok to say that anything goes when it comes to worship within our Christian churches? The bible says this...

1 Cor 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints.

When you enter a church you should not be over come by a feeling of confusion and disarray. Everyone should not be chanting, falling out and speaking in tongues. A scene like that would be more likely to scare away unbelievers than it would be to draw them in. Moreover the bible says this concerning the speaking of tongues as an element of worship in the churches...

1 Cor 14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

1 Cor 14:27-28 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

Now there are some churches that are quite UNcomfortable with speaking in tongues in their worship service and try to discourage this element all together. Is this approach biblical?...

1 Cor 14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

The apostles were the founders of the Christian church. They received special insight and knowledge by way of the Holy Spirit. In their letters to the churches of those days it was quite clear that a certain degree of order should be exercised within in the churches. Nothing should be done for show. Instead all things should be done for the purpose of spiritual learning, encouragement and to respectfully give praise to God. Outside the church, worship and praise can take many different forms. There are no biblical texts to disprove this.

The point that I would like to get across is this... Let's not waste valuable time criticizing and finding ways to damage the Christian body of believers. We should not be a stumbling block to fellow Christian brothers and sisters who's worship style may differ from our own. As Christians we should have one united purpose. That purpose is to draw in the spiritually lost and feed the hungry souls. Our God is not a simple God. He is able to discern what is genuine and what is counterfeit. He will be the judge of all. Remember, Christ has sheep in many folds. When the time comes to call His sheep, He will do so. His sheep will hear His voice and take their place among the multitude of believers. The bible says...

James 5:9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

A divided Christian body is exactly what Satan wants. A divided body is much easier to conquer than one that is diligently working in unison for one purpose. Again that purpose is to spread the gospel, save the lost and feed the hungry (literally and spiritually). Let these Christian acts tell you whether or not a group of Christians are working for the Lord or working in the interests of Satan.

What we all need to do is relax, do what we Christians are called to do and watch the Holy Spirit work... Please the Lord and shame the Devil.

Are You In The Judgment Seat? Are You A Saint?

Do Christians have the right to judge? I've heard many Christians throughout my time give biblical texts to condone the judging of others. Unlike popular belief, the bible reveals that not all men are called to be saints and therefore have no right to judge others.

The bible says that there are prophets, saints and those that fear the Lord (the multitude)...

Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

1 Cor 12:27-30 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?.

Not everyone is a prophet and not everyone is considered to be a saint. The saints were anointed by the Holy Ghost and given power. They have the authority to judge matters concerning the followers/believers of the gospel. The book of Corinthians is a letter written to those called to be saints. In this letter we can find evidence that the saints were given a little extra dose of the Holy Spirit and were authorized to judge earthly matters...

1 Cor 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto US by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of US, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Cor 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1 Cor 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

1 Cor 6:2-6 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

The following texts were addressed to All the brethren and provide this advice on judging others...

Romans 14:10-13 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

The texts given above, urge the brethren NOT to judge each other (they do not have the authority to do so). Instead they are instructed to encourage one another.

There are other books/letters written to both the saints and the followers: (Philip 1:1) (Col 1:2). These books do not contain any relevant texts pertaining to the judging of others.

The bible tells us that it was regular practice for the brethren to collect money for the saints (1 Cor 16:1). With this fact and previous texts given above, we know that not all people were considered saints. This is the same for this day and age. Therefore ALL people should not put themselves in ANY kind of judgment seat. It's best to follow Jesus' own words...

Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Why are we as believers UNWORTHY to judge others within the church or outside the church for that matter??? The bible tells us...

John 8:15-16 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

Rom 2:16 ...God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ...

So don't be too quick to judge one another. The job of parishioners is to draw in the spiritually lost, show genuine love for ALL people, encourage each other and most important of all PRAY. Pray for those who seek spiritual healing and freedom from sin. TRUST the power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Lord can see the heart and mind of the sinner and is worthy to judge. If there is some good in a sinful soul he/she will be changed by the Holy Ghost. If no good can be found in the soul the Holy Spirit will chase them right out the door. It's not the job for the congregation.

The Lord will judge the repentant and all unrepentant sinners in His own time. Just relax and watch the Holy Spirit work.