The Prayer Wisdom of Satchel Paige

I have no idea if famous baseball player, Satchel Paige was a follower of Jesus, but I did come across a pretty good quote of his about prayer...

"Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines"
~Satchel Paige, 1974

Our prayers (and our cries for revival) are to be daily and consistent despite if life is good or bad.

How Do We Pray?

Below is today's devotional from the "Seeking Him" website (http://www.seekinghim.com/radio/today.php). It is a challenge to how we pray. Do we pray safe prayers or do we go to the edge of faith and pray that God will shake us up as people and as churches?

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Does it seem safer to ask God to look down on us or to come down to us?

In Isaiah 63 the prophet asks God to look down from heaven. He asks God to look at the people's sin.

Then, in the next chapter, he changes his request: Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down. Isaiah is asking God to become more directly involved, to stir things up, to change the hearts of people.

It's easy to ask God to look down: Lord, please watch over us. Please keep us safe. Keep us in Your care. It's more challenging to ask God to come down: Lord, please convict us of sin. Please interrupt our routine and show us Your plans, help us to embrace suffering so we can be more like You.

Lord, rend the heavens, and come down.
With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Day of Fasting

Below is an e-mail I sent out this morning to God's people at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church...

Good Morning:

Today is the second Tuesday of the month. Thus, it is the day we fast. Some will fast from food for the entire day. Others will fast during the daylight hours. Others will skip a meal or two. Others will fast from television or another activity. We fast in order to seek the Lord. We do so for spiritual breakthroughs in Harvey Oaks Baptist Church and in our lives.

Revival may even result! Elmer Towns writes in his book: Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough the following…

“Each of the sixteenth-century reformers also practiced fasting, as did the leaders of the evangelical revivals in the centuries to follow. Jonathan Edwards fasted for 22 hours prior to preaching his famous sermon, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.’ During the Layman’s Prayer Revival in America in 1859, Christians fasted during their lunch hours and attended prayer meetings in churches near their places of employment. This revival broke out in large industrial cities of the northeastern United States.

Prayer was often accompanied by fasting as people sought the Lord for spiritual blessing during worldwide awakening in 1906. Billy Graham reports fasting and praying during his voyage to England to conduct his first British crusades in the early 50’s. The response in his meetings as that time has been described as one of the greatest revivals of our time. Many revival movements have advocated a return to the early Christian practice of fasting two days each week” (pg. 27).

Let us fast and pray that revival will come to Harvey Oaks Baptist Church.

Pray also for Neil Hughes, Heartland Baptist Director of Church Health. He will be preaching this Sunday at Harvey Oaks (“Fire & Reign: Emboldened by His Courage).

Reminder: There will be a time of fervent prayer for revival this Saturday in the church board room at 8:00 pm. This will be a time for us to really cut loose and pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to come and for the reign of Jesus over us.

Let us stay ablaze for Jesus!

Pastor Bryan

I am standing on the 18th hole at St. Andrews 

How Important is Fasting?

We are currently going through “Fire & Reign” at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church. Many of us are daily going through the 10-week daily devotional book. It is our prayer and goal that the “fire” of the Holy Spirit will come on us so that Jesus will “reign” in all that we do and say as God’s people.

A crucial element during “Fire & Reign” is the day of fasting on the first Tuesday of each month. For some, fasting for the day or part of the day was a brand new experience. Some could not fast from food because of health concerns. So they fasted from TV or spent more time in prayer.

Our second day of fasting will be May 2nd. It will be another opportunity to seek and long for more of God in our lives. I was at a pastor’s one-day retreat last week. One of the speakers was John Wesley Adams, an expert on the subject of revival. He said that American Christians are weak in the area of fasting. We simply do not possess the desire or discipline to fast. Researcher George Barna confirms that followers of Jesus in our country refuse to make the tough choices needed to become more like Jesus. In his latest report, he made the following observations…

“Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket. Because of such activities, they convince themselves that they are people of genuine faith. But when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, and to allowing Him to change their character and lifestyle, most people stop short. We want to be ‘spiritual’ and we want to have God’s favor, but we’re not sure we want Him taking control of our lives and messing with the image and outcomes we’ve worked so hard to produce" (www.barna.org).

Barna’s last statement is a tough one. Yet, if he is right, then we in the church are more concerned about maintaining our own image rather than allowing the power of the Holy Spirit transform us into the image of Jesus. If God is going to change our “character and lifestyle”, then biblical and God-honoring fasting will play a part.

That takes us back to our day of fasting on the first Tuesday of each month. Why should we participate? Besides the fact that Jesus assumed we would fast (see Matthew 6.16), fasting is a discipline that will help place God in his rightful place in our lives, in the church and in the world. John Piper, in his book A Hunger for God, writes…

“The supremacy of God in all things is the great reward we long for in fasting. His supremacy in our affections and in all our life-choices. His supremacy in the salvation of the lost. His supremacy in the establishing of righteousness and justice. And his supremacy for the joy of all peoples in the evangelization of the world” (pp. 78, 79).

Longing for the Supremacy of God

Bryan

Praying for Revival

In 1949, a group of desperate people in the small village of Arnol (Scotland) gathered at a farm house to pray for revival. Revival was already sweeping through the area, but not in Arnol where religious indifference ruled. During this period of prayer, just after midnight, a man rose to his feet and prayed:

"Lord, you made a promise, are you going to fulfill you .. You have said that you 'will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon dry ground' (Isaiah 44.3, KJV)... And I tell thee now that I am thirsty. Oh, I am thirsty for a manifestation of your presence and power. And Lord, before I sit down, I want to tell you that your honor is at stake!"

As this man prayed, the room they were in literally shook just like in Acts 4. Then revival came to the village. People could not sleep. Some went outside and walked the street under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Others knelt before their beds and wept over their sins. Within 48 hours, every young person between the ages of 12 and 20 turned to Jesus. Revival came to Arnol.

Let us all pray as God's reputation was at stake

Happy Easter!

He is RISEN!
He is Risen Indeed!

Good Friday

This is Holy Week for Christians around the world. Today is Good Friday. It is the day that died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Imagine the violations that we have committed against a holy God was paid for by Jesus on the cross.

Last night at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church, we had a Maundy Thursday service, and we participated in the Lord's Supper. It is appropriate to do so during Holy Week because we need to be reminded of why Jesus died on the cross

Before we celebrate the Risen Jesus on Resurrection Sunday, may we soberly reflect on our failings and sins--the very acts and thoughts and words that Jesus died for.

What Do We Need to Confess to God?

Often when we "confess" to God, we confess wrong words, attitudes and actions to him. However, it is also good to confess those things we should have said and thought and done.

The Book of Common Prayer is helpful in this regard. In our prayers, we need to admit to the Lord:"We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done."

Are We On Fire For Jesus?

In John Bunyan’s classic book, Pilgrim’s Progress, Interpreter shows Christians a small fire burning against a wall. And there is a man who continuously pours water on the flame, yet the fire only burn hotter and hotter. Interpreter explains to Christian that the man pouring water on the fire is the devil, and goes on to explain the reason why the fire doesn’t go out and actually gets bigger. Behind the wall is another man secretly pouring oil on the same fire. Interpreter then says to Christian that the man behind the wall is Jesus and “with the oil of His grace, He continually maintains the work already begun in the heart of His people.”

Martin Lloyd-Jones Take on Revival

Good Morning. Below is Martin Lloyd Jone's take on revival....

What is Revival? by Martin Lloyd-Jones

We can define it as a period of unusual blessing and activity in the life of the Christian Church. Revival means awakening, stimulating the life, bringing it to the surface again. It happens primarily in the Church of God, and amongst believing people, and it is only secondly something that affects those that are outside also. Now this is a most important point, because this definition helps us to differentiate, once and for all, between a revival and an evangelistic campaign.

An evangelistic campaign is the Church deciding to do something with respect to those who are outside. A revival is not the Church deciding to do something and doing it. It is something that is done to the Church, something that happens to the Church.

So then, what is it that happens? The best way of answering that question is to say that it is in a sense a repetition of the day of Pentecost. It is something happening to the Church, that inevitably and almost instinctively makes one look back and think again of what happened on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.

The essence of a revival is that the Holy Spirit comes down upon a number of people together, upon a whole church, upon a number of churches, districts, or perhaps a whole country. That is what is meant by revival. It is, if you like, a visitation of the Holy Spirit, or another term that has often been used is this--an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

What the people are conscious of is that it is as if something has suddenly come down upon them. The Spirit of God has descended into their midst, God has come down and is amongst them. A baptism, an outpouring, a visitation. And the effect of that is that they immediately become aware of His presence and of His power in a manner that they have never known before.

I am talking about Christian people, about church members gathered together as they have done so many times before. Suddenly they are aware of His presence, they are aware of the majesty and the awe of God. The Holy Spirit literally seems to be presiding over the meeting and taking charge of it, and manifesting His power and guiding them, and leading them, and directing them. That is the essence of revival.

And what does that mean? Well, there are general characteristics which you will find in every revival that you can ever read about. The immediate effect is that the people present begin to have an awareness of spiritual things such as they have never had before.

They have heard all these things before, they may have heard them a thousand times, but what they testify is this: 'You know, the whole thing suddenly became clear to me. I was suddenly illuminated, things that I was so familiar with stood out in letters of gold, as it were. I understood. I saw it all in a way that I had never done in the whole of my life.' The Holy Spirit enlightens the mind and the understanding. They begin not only to see these things clearly but to feel their power.

What are these things of which they become so aware? First and foremost, the glory and the holiness of God. Have you ever noticed, as you read your Bibles, the effect on these people as they suddenly realized the presence of God? Like Job, they put their hands on their mouths or like Isaiah they say, 'Woe is unto me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips.' They have just had a realization of the holi-ness and of the majesty and the glory of God. That always happens in a revival.

There can be a lot of laughing and lightness, and obvious organization in evangelistic campaigns. Not so in a revival, but rather awe, reverence, holy fear, the consciousness of God in His majesty, His glory, His holiness, His utter purity.

And that, as we have seen, leads inevitably to a deep and terrible sense of sin, and an aweful feeling of guilt. It leads men and women to feel that they are vile and unclean and utterly unworthy and, above all, it leads them to realize their utter helplessness face to face with such a God.

Or, like the publican depicted by our Lord in the parable, they are so conscious of all this that they cannot show their faces. They are far back near the door somewhere, beating their breasts and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

The holiness of God, their own utter sinfulness and wretchedness, their own unworthiness; they realize they have never done anything good at all. Before, they thought they had done a great deal, now they see that it is nothing--useless. Like Paul they begin to talk about it as dung and filthy rags. In their utter helplessness and hopelessness, they prostrate themselves and cast themselves upon the love and mercy and compassion of God.

This is the convicting work of the Spirit who takes charge of the situation. People may be held in that state for some time--not only for hours but sometimes for days and weeks, and months. They may become almost desperate.

Then they are given a clear view of the love of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and especially of His death upon the cross. At last they see it. Oh, they had always believed it theoretically, but it had never truly become real for them. They had honestly believed it, yes, but they had never felt its power, they had never known what it was to be melted by it, to be broken by it. They had never known what it was to weep with a sense of unworthiness and then of love and joy as they realized that 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

Suddenly it all becomes real to them, and they are given to know that the Son of God has loved them and has given Himself for them. It becomes an individual and a personal matter: 'He died for me, even my sins are forgiven,' and peace comes into their hearts; joy enters into them and they are lost in love and in a sense of praise of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

This now becomes the one thing that absorbs them. If they meet anyone they talk about it at once; everybody is talking about it, it is the main topic of conversation, it is the thing that absorbs all their interest. They desire to be together now and to talk about these things and so they get together, and they hold meetings. They meet every night to talk about these things and to praise God and to sing hymns to His glory.

Then they begin to pray, and there they are, hour after hour, night after night, longing to finish work so they might get together with other people who have experienced this movement of the Spirit of God. And that, of course, in turn leads them to have a great concern about others who are outside and who do not know these things.

I am giving you a synopsis of what you read in the books. They begin to get a concern for the members of their own family--husband, wife, father, mother, children, brother, sister--who do not know that they are outside. They tell them about it; they feel they must. There is a constraint that is driving them. They talk about it to people, to friends and to everybody, and they begin to pray for them. Prayer is always a great feature of every revival, great prayer meetings, intercession hour after hour. They pray for these people by name and they plead, and they will not let God go, as it were. They are intent on this with a strange urgency.

And then, after a while, hearing of all this and seeing the change in those whom they have known for so long, these others who are outside begin to join the meetings and to say, 'What is this?' So they come in, and they go through the same experience. And so it happens and thousands upon thousands are converted. Indeed, the whole neighborhood seems to be full of the Holy Spirit. He seems to be everywhere.

People are not only converted in meetings, some are converted as they are walking to the meetings, before they have even got there. Some are converted at their work, in a coal-mine, on top of a mountain. Some are awakened in the middle of the night. They went to bed feeling as usual, but they are awakened with an aweful sense of sin, and they have to get up and pray and plead with God to have mercy. Nobody has spoken to them at that moment--it is the Spirit of God that is acting. He is dominating the whole area. He is filling the lives of all the people.

That is what happens in revival and thus you get this curious, strange mixture, as it were, of great conviction of sin and great joy, a great sense of the terror of the Lord, and great thanksgiving and praise.

Always in a revival there is what somebody once called a divine disorder. Some are groaning and agonizing under conviction, others praising God for the great salvation. And all this leads to crowded and prolonged meetings. Time seems to be forgotten. People seem to have entered into eternity.

A meeting may start at six thirty in the evening, and it may not end until daybreak the next morning with nobody aware of the passing of the hours. They did not have to provide coffee once or twice halfway through. When the Holy Ghost organizes things, time, the body, and the needs of the flesh are all forgotten.

A revival, then, really means days of heaven upon earth. Let me give you one of the greatest descriptions ever written of what is true of a town when there is such a revival or a visitation of the Spirit of God. It was written by the great and saintly Jonathan Edwards about the little town of Northampton in Massachusetts in 1735.

This work soon made a glorious alteration in the town. So that in the spring and summer following, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God. It never was so full of love nor so full of joy and yet so full of distress as it was then.

There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought to them. Parents rejoicing over their children as newborn, husbands over their wives and wives over their husbands.

The doings of God were then seen in His sanctuary. God’s day was a delight and the congregation was alive in God’s service. Everyone earnestly intent on the public worship. Every hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth. The assembly in general were from time to time in tears while the Word was preached. Some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbors.

This is God visiting His people. Days of heaven on earth, the presidency of the Holy Spirit in the Church, life abundant given to God’s people without measure.

A revival is a miracle. It is the hand of the Lord, and it is mighty. It can only be explained as the direct action and intervention of God. Men can produce evangelistic campaigns, but they cannot and never have produced a revival. A revival, by definition, is the mighty act of God and it is a sovereign act of God. It is as independent as that. Man can do nothing. God, and God alone, does it.

But not only can men not produce a revival, they cannot even explain it, and that again is most important. If you can explain what is happening in a church, apart from this sovereign act of God, it is not revival.

A revival is something which, when it happens, leads people to say, as the townspeople said in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, 'What is this? What is it?' It is something that comes like a tornado. It is almost like an overflowing tide; it is like a flood. Miraculous things happen, things that are beyond the explanation and the wit of men.

Finally, look at it as it is described in Acts 2. Here are the apostles meeting together for prayer in the upper room. They had been doing it for ten days. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. That is it. Not always the sound, but always the consciousness of the mighty wind of God. The Spirit of God descends upon preacher, prayers, praying people, those meeting in conference.

Do we know anything about that, my friends? Do we believe in God coming in and doing things that we not only cannot do, but cannot even understand, nor control, nor explain. Yea, I ask you, do you long to know such things? To see such things happening again today? Are you praying for such a visitation? For, believe me, when God hears our prayers and does this thing again, it will be such a phenomenon that not only will the Church be astounded and amazed, but even those who are outside will be compelled to listen and to pay attention, in a way that they are not doing at the present time, and in a way that men left to themselves can never persuade them to do.

This is what God can do. This is what God has done. Let us together decide to beseech Him, to plead with Him to do this again. Not that we may have the experience or the excitement, but that His mighty hand may be known and His great name may be glorified and magnified among the people.

Do We Know What Revival Is?

Brian Edwards, in his book, Revival! A People Saturated with God writes that there are two or three generations that know nothing about revival. Edwards goes on and says that fewer the people there are to know and talk about revival, the less likely it may occur.

However, he writes, we must not forget that true revival is always the work of a sovereign God.

Let us work hard in prayer that fire from heaven will come to our churches.

Every Moment Counts

I am reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This evening I read the following: "Every moment and every situation challenges us to action and to obedience" (pg. 78).

It does not matter what we are doing. What matters is that moment is lived for the glory of God.

I am back in Omaha

Good Morning:

I am back in Omaha after spending two weeks at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. It was my final residency for my Doctor on Ministry of Degree. All that is left now is the completion of my thesis-project.

Bryan

Prayer for Revival in Boston

Last Sunday, I attended church at Tremont Baptist Church. There has been worship services in this renovated theatre since the 1840's. People like S.D. Gordon, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday and Billy Graham have preached in the church. Charles Dickens and Abraham Lincoln have both addressed the church.

After the service this past Sunday, a lady there told me that every Wednesday at noon, people gather to pray for revival. Three people began this prayer time, and the number has increased to around 80. These are people from the area who long to see God pour out his Spirit.

80 people are praying every Wednesday that God will send revival to the Boston churches. This is an awesome first step to experience revival. Let's pray for Tremont Baptist Church; and let's pray that other prayer gatherings will be formed throughout our nation.

Have a great day,

Bryan

The Cost of Discipleship

Good Morning. Here is another quote from the past to remind us that following Jesus requires our entire being. It is the well-known quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer taken from his book "The Cost of Discipleship"...

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die!"

Have a wonderful day. Let us love Jesus with all that we have.

A Great Quote About Reaching People

Daily, I receive, through e-mail, a Christian quote. Below, is today's quote. As you read it, notice how the emphasis is placed on the Christians within the local church...

"The tremendous power of mass-suggestion, which we call the
world, can only be confronted, and its victims cured, if they
are received into a body which is filled with a vivid,
vigorous, and conscious community life of the Spirit.
Individuals are powerless to cope with a power so subtle and
all-pervasive as this mass-suggestion is. If we are to save
and rescue sinners, there must grow up in our Church a Spirit
of Love and Brotherhood, a Christian community-life,
transcending class and national distinctions, as pungent, as
powerful, as impossible to escape as the Spirit of the world.
No Apostolic Succession, no Ecclesiastical correctness, no
rigidity of orthodox doctrine, can be themselves and in
themselves give us this; it comes, and can only come, from a
clearer vision of the Christ, a more complete surrender to His
call and to the bearing of His Cross."

... G. A. Studdert Kennedy (1883-1929), The Wicket Gate
[1923]

I Am In Boston

I am in Boston, MA until March 17. This is my third two-week residency for my Doctor of Ministry degree. I am working on the track, "The Preacher & the Message" under the direction of Dr. Haddon Robinson.

Today in class, Dr. Robinson said: “It is amazing how much you can learn from the Bible if you just read it!”

That is pretty good advice. Becoming saturated with God's word will prepare us for the coming revival.

Have a good evening

Bryan

In the late 1990's Billy Graham spoke to 10,000 itinerate evangelists in Amsterdam. In his final address to them to called for them to possess a holy determination to reach the world for Jesus...

"Let us light a fire of renewed faith to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the ends of the earth. Using every resource at our command and with every ounce of our strength. Let us light a fire in this generation that, by God's grace, will never be put out. Let us light a fire that will guide men and women into tomorrow and eternity. Let the Light of the world shine through the whole earth until he comes again."

Our neighborhood, our family, our friends, our enemies, our city, our nation and the world needs Jesus. Let us pray hard that we will both be a fire and lighters of fires for Jesus.

For His Glory!

Bryan

Does it Matter If We Pray Together?

Jim Cymbala, the pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle once said that you can gauge how much the people in the church love Jesus by measuring their commitment to the weekly prayer gatherings. Does it really come down to that? If the prayer gatherings are times when God's people praise him and cry out to him for renewal and transformed lives, then yes, these weekly prayer gatherings do tell us how much we love Jesus.

But it is more than that. Historically, corporate prayer preceded revivals. There is a renewed interest in prayer before revival and it is sustained during revival. Thus, if revival is to come to our churches and communities and cities and nations--then it would be worth our while to put Acts 2.42 into practice and devote ourselves to prayer. It will take courage and determination to do so, but we must do so for revival from heaven to visit us.

Have a great day

Bryan

Do We Lock Our Gaze On God?

Louie Giglio, in his book, "The Air I Breathe [worship as a way of life]" writes on page 101 that it is vital that during worship services we focus our gaze upon God and God alone. The primary reason we are in the church sanctuary on each Sunday morning is to worship Him!

Giglio does admit that our minds do wander on Sunday (Mine does--and I am the pastor!). Nevertheless, we are to work hard to fix our gaze on God the Most High. Scripture meditation and prayer a few minutes prior to the beginning of the service are essential to prepare our hearts and minds.

Praying for Revival

Bryan

Will Revival Come Without Prayer?

Good Morning. The beautiful recent weather in Omaha is over. Freezing drizzle, snow and colder temperatures are on the way. Oh well! God is always good.

Here is a question: "Will revival come without prayer?" The answer is NO

Many years ago, Arthur Pierson, the editor of The Missionary Review, made the following claim: "From the day of Pentecost, there has been not one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined" (quoted in Brian Edwards, Revival! pg. 84).

Thus, we must continue to cry out for revival day and night!

Bryan

Happy Valentine's Day

On this Valentine's Day, we who have the honor of being a husband can be reminded on the apostle Paul's word to husbands in Ephesians 5.25: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Jesus set the example for us by sacrificing his life for the church. We truly and joyfully live because of his supreme love for us. Thus, we love our wives in a similar fashion--it is about loving and nurturing her as Christ does the church.

What plans do you have for your wife today: a rose? a card? a date? candles and romance? Today is the day for such things. But what about doing the dishes or cleaning a room and fixing something for her.

And as Jesus intercedes for us, we can pray daily for her.

Have a great day

Bryan

Do Our Souls Converse With God?

It is easy for prayer to become routine and lifeless. I certainly have found myself in prayer ruts before. How do we break out of this? I like how the theologian Charles Hodge defines prayer: "prayer is the converse of our souls with God".

According to the dictionary, "converse" means "informal talk." Thus, prayer is our informal conversation with the Lord throughout the day. This is one of the keys to the command in 1 Thessalonians 5.17: pray continually! From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, we can carry on a conversation with the Lord.

Praying for revival

Bryan

The Steelers Win!

I have been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan since the early 1970's, so it was fun to watch them win their first Super Bowl since 1980. It was a pretty sloppy game as far as penalties were concerned, but a win is a win.

Though it is the "Super Bowl", it is just a game. Yes, I got excited during the game, and I got out of my chair at times (and I ate too much food). Still, it was only a game.

Compared to what truly matters, yesterday's game is nothing. Living for Jesus and his glory is the reason we exist. He is the main thing in all of life.

May His Name be forever praised!

Bryan

Can Slander in the Church Hinder Revival?

Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle charges all the new members of the church to deal with the sin of slander. It doesn't matter if they hear slander or are involved with it themselves. They are to put a stop to it.

Why? Because slander can render a church ineffective.

He says this of slander in the church: "I know what most easily destroys churches. It is not crack cocaine, government oppression, or even lack of funds. Rather it is gossip and slander that grieves the Holy Spirit."

Ephesians 4.29 commands us: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

When slander is on its way out of the church and encouraging words are the increasing norm, then the church will more and more reflect the image and heart of the Lord Jesus

Bryan

Steve Hawthrone on Correct Praying

What is our prayer life like? Mine certainly has room for much, much improvement. In the 2006 edition of Seek God for the City, Steve Hawthrone, Director of WayMakers writes...

"In drastic days, pray great things. Our tendency is to pray just enough to get by; to restore the status quo of our personal circumstances. But when dramatic and perilous times fall upon us, this is the very time to pray beyond ourselves. This the time to lift our vision toward marvelous chnages God is bringing as He brings glory to His Son" (page 1).

Now is the time to pray for great things. Are you praying for your city? I am lifting up the city of Omaha, Nebraska.

For Jesus Alone!

Bryan

Love Jesus Supremely

Good Morning:

I grabbed this off another blog site: http://www.268blog.blogspot.com/

And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

So, today...
Love Jesus supremely.
Engage culture with excellence.
Stay connected to the community of faith.

This is great encouragement for us as we live for the glory and praise of Jesus.

Bryan

Does Our Love for God Have Competition?

It is easy to say that we love God. We can even quote the scripture that commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. But do we? I know that I do not always love the Lord as I was created for. Augustine prayed this words:

He loves Thee too little
Who loves anything together with Thee,
Which he loves not for Thy sake.

All that we have are gifts from God; and all that we do is for his glory. May we delight in the Lord alone, and may everything else be means for further joy and delight in him.

Have a good day

Bryan

The Importance of Scripture During Times of Revival

True, heaven-sent revival will never be short of God's Word. Fervent prayer is vital, but so is the diligent study, meditation and preaching of God's Word. Brian Edwards writes: "All who have been used by God in spiritual revival were diligent in the study of Scripture and the application of the Scripture to their own lives. God uses men and women who submit to his authority. He does not begin revival with those who have no interest in his Word" (Revival! pg. 64).

May our Bibles become worn out and our hearts filled with God's Word

Bryan

The Powerful Prayers of Righteous People

This Sunday, I will preach on the second half of James 5.16: The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

The Greek word for power points to a power waiting to be released. All of us who follow Jesus have the potential to change the environment around us and the world through prayer.

Of course, it is vital that we are righteous. Our Christ-like behavior is linked to unleashing powerful and effective prayers.

Have a great day.

Bryan

Are We Serious About Revival in 2006?

Happy New Year to you all.

Brian Edwards writes in his book Revival! A People Saturated with God that "together with our prayerlessness, it is probably the unholiness of the lives of Christian leaders today that convinces God we are not really serious about revival" (pg. 62).

What will my life tell God this year?

Bryan

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone as you celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bryan

Holiness and Revival

Brian Edwards, in his book Revival! A People Saturated With God that holiness of life will always precede revival. He writes: "God looks for men (I would add women, teenagers and children) who will be willing to surrender anything and everything as long as their life can be kept clean. This is an essential part of personal revival" (pg. 59).

If revival is going to happen in our country, then let us pursue holiness and a passion for God's glory.

Cold Temperatures Do Not Matter!

Right now at 1:04 PM in Omaha, the temperature is 5 degrees. Yes, we are in single digits! Here is the forecast for the next few days. It will warm up later this week. 38 degrees is far better than 5!

Even though the outside temperature can be very cold, our heart can be hot with spiritual fervor. Romans 12.11 commands us to be "never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord".

Let us work daily at being spiritually hot for Jesus!

For Jesus Alone!

Bryan

The Prayers of George Whitefield

How shall we pray and prepare ourselves for the coming revival? George Whitefield helps us in this regard. On his way to Georgia in 1737 he prayed: "God, give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye, and then let men or devils do their worst!" (Brian Edwards, Revival! pg. 57).

Wow, may all those attributes be true in me.

Bryan

Personal Revivals

Good Morning.

God will send revival to individuals before he sends revival to churches and communities. According to Brian Edwards: "There has always been personal revival before public revival in those whom God uses. This personal revival may take many forms, but it always has the same effect: to convince of the greatness and glory of God" (Revival!, pg. 54).

Howel Harris was used by God during the awakening across Wales. On June 18, 1735, he met with God: "I felt suddenly my heart melting within in me like wax before the fire with love to God my Saviour; and also felt not only love, peace, etc. but longing to be dissolved, and to be with Christ; then was a cry in my inmost soul, which I was totally unacquainted with before, Abba Father! Abba Father! I could not help calling God my Father..." (pg. 54)

Before revival comes to America, it will first occur in the lives of people praying and longing for it.

Another Quote From Brian Edwards

Check out this quote from Brian Edwards book, Revival!

"Men whom God uses in revival have always been men who maintained a close walk with God and longed for a holy life. It was Robert Murray M'Cheyne who, so greatly used by God in Dundee in 1839, had prayed from his heart, 'Lord make me as holy as a saved sinner can be.' The evidence of the sincerity in this prayer is seen in the fact that people would be moved to tears just by seeing him in the pulpit or walking down the corridor of the church."

It is just like the song that goes "Holiness, holiness is what I long for; holiness is what I need!"

It is what we all need.

Happy Thanksgiving

Bryan

A Burning Passion for the God's Glory!

According to Brian Edwards book Revival!, before true revivals sent from heaven, there will be people anticipating for God to move in powerful ways. Edwards writes that such people "have met with God in a powerfully personal way and have a burning passion for the glory of God and a life of holiness" (pg. 48).

Am I such a person? I want to be.

Bryan

Getting Ready For Revival

Good Morning. It is cold in Omaha. Winter weather arrived yesterday.

In Brian Edwards book: "Revival!", he writes the first step towards revival is to consecrate ourselves to the Lord (2 Chronicles 29.5). He went on...

"If we start here, we have hope for revival. But we must start now. Whole books can be written analysing what is wrong with the church today, but there is hardly a need for this. We must simply admit that we are not eternity-minded people. We live like the world we are supposed to be saving: for the things of time rather than for the things of eternity. Our priorities are world-related rather than heaven directed; our treasure is on earth. Revival always begins by putting eternity back into the minds of the Christians, and only when the church takes eternity seriously can we expect the world to do so" (pgs. 44-45).

If this is true, then what are we waiting for? Let us draw near to God so he will draw near to us (James 4.8).

For Christ Alone!

Bryan

The Church Before Revival

Good Morning.

It is raining and snowing in Omaha this morning. We need the moisture. The American church also needs a fresh rain from heaven as well. Brian Edwards in his book, Revival! A People Saturated With God describes what occurs before, during and after revival. For example, what is the condition of the church before a revival? According to Edwards:

"Outwardly there may be many good things in churches today, but beneath it all is the rottenness of worldliness, carelessness, a lack of deep commitment and a triviality about holy things. Our churches are divided and quarrelsome; our leaders are proud of their reputations and hard-working to build their own empires. Generally speaking, Christians think and behave like the world and are afraid to act differently... Of course, some churches are growing and some sinners are being converted, but by and large we have become expert at simply shuffling the pack as dissatisfied or grumbling Christians move from church to church" (pg. 37).

Ouch! Are we ripe for revival? It appears so. Let us seek God's face.

For Jesus Alone! Have a wonderful day.

Bryan

Brian Edwards Wonderful Book on Revival

One of my favorite books on the subject of revival is by Pastor Brian H. Edwards. It is called: Revival! A People Saturated With God. The title itself is a great definition of revival. His title is based on Duncan Campbell's understanding of revival: "a community saturated with God" (pg. 26).

I have read this book more than once and I have marked it all up because it is both a history of revival and an encouragement to pray daily for God to revive the modern church. Edwards writes... "In revival things happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Meetings are lengthened, crowds gather, and sermons have to be preached, not because it is all arranged in advance, but because God is at work. People will arrive without warning for a meeting, moved by an unseen hand"(pg. 29). I will refer more to this book in later blogs.

For Jesus Alone!

Bryan

God's Mission in the World

Good Morning. I am back. Things have been busy with church and school. Again this blog is dedicated to the subject of praying for spiritual revival. When God sends a revival, it will begin with his people in the church. We will repent and turn back to God; and by his grace, we will be empowered to be the people he desires.

As God's Spirit is working on the church, people outside the church will be drawn to love and glory of Jesus. In other words, there will be conversions. The words of Acts 1.8 will be fulfilled. Jonathan Edwards reminds us that God's mission in the world is the salvation of souls...

"The work of God in converting souls out of the hands of
Satan, was begun soon after the fall of man, has been carried
on in the world ever since to this day, and will be to the end
of the world. God has always, ever since erecting of the
church of the redeemed after the fall, had such a church in
the world. Though oftentimes it has been reduced to a very
narrow compass and to low circumstances; yet it has never
wholly failed."

Happy Is The One...

I have several versions of the Bible. Below is Psalm 1 from the NET Bible (www.NetBible.com). Take a few moments to read it and allow the Holy Spirit to speak about the beautiful relationship there is between the followers of Jesus and the written Word of God.

Psalm 1

1:1 How happy is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked,or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of arrogant fools!

1:2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands; he intently studies his commands day and night.

1:3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams;it yields its fruit at the proper time,and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.

1:4 Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

1:5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

1:6 Certainly the Lord rewards the behavior of the godly, but the behavior of the wicked is self-destructive.

A Simple Definition of Revival

Duncan Campbell experienced genuine revival on the Isle of Lewis in the late 1940's. His simple definition of revival is: "Revival is a people saturated with God." When I think of being "saturated", I think of being soaked with water. I also think about the ground feeling like a sponge because it is filled with water. If we (our church, our small group, our campus, our youth group, etc.) are saturated with God, then we are filled with his presence and power and fruitfulness. And they only thing that matters is His Glory! May we be a people saturated with God! Bryan

Can the Glory of the Lord Fill the Church?

Good afternoon. It has been a while since I have posted anything.

Today I read these words from Ezekiel 43.5: "Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple." Could the glory the glory of the Lord fill our church sanctuaries each Sunday? If God's people will fervently pray and seek the Lord's face, then "yes", his glory will come revival power and renewal.

Let us keep at it.

Bryan

The Difficulty of Bible Meditation

Good morning. Here is my latest article for the Harvey Oaks Baptist newsletter.

Don Whitney wrote: “Those who make the most rapid, consistent, and evident growth in Christlikeness are those who have developed a daily time of being alone with God for Bible meditation, prayer and private worship.” Along with prayer and worship, Bible meditation is essential for our Christian growth. On October 23, I will preach a sermon for my Doctor of Ministry project. It is a problem-centered sermon where I will address the difficulty and lack of biblical meditation among evangelical Christians in America.

This is a “problem” because the lack of meditation on the Word of God will cause us to miss out on the treasures of knowing and delighting in God. My scripture text will be Psalm 1. The first three verses are:

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

The Hebrew word for blessed is a strong word that means more than “happiness”. The idea here is a person will experience God’s special favor and grace when he or she does not listen and follow the advice of people who are not followers of Jesus. Instead, the blessed person will delight in the Word of God. Delighting in scripture is linked to meditation on it.

This is where the problem often is with many of us—we simply do not meditate on the scriptures. We are aware of God’s promises when we do: we will be blessed by him and we will spiritually flourish and prosper just like a tree that is planted by streams of water (verse 3). Why is Bible meditation so difficult for us?

One reason perhaps is that it takes discipline to not only read and memorize a Bible verse, but then to repeat and reflect on those words. If we are convinced of the first reason, then that may lead to a second reason: that the discipline of scripture meditation will drain us of energy rather than refresh us and help become more like Jesus. We are already “over-loaded” with things to do throughout the day. We can hardly imagine actually setting aside even more time to meditate on the Word of God.

Yet, if we do, we are promised that our Christianity will be like a tree whose roots run deep into the soil. Such trees will consistently bear the fruit of Christlikeness and eternal impact on the people around us. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote during the days of Nazi Germany:

“Daily, quiet reflection on the Word of God as it applies to me (even if only for a few minutes) becomes for me a point of crystallization for everything which gives interior and exterior order to my life. Our previous ordered life has been broken up and dissolved in these present days, and we are in danger of losing our inner sense of order, too, because of the rush of events, the demands of work, doubts, temptations, conflicts, and unrest of all kinds. Meditation can give to our lives a measure of steadfastness…

…Meditation is a source of peace, of patience and of joy; it is like a magnet which draws together all the forces in our life which make for order; it is like deep water which reflects the clouds and the sun on its clear surface” (Meditating on the Word, pgs. 51-52).

On October 23, we look together on how we can all delight in the Word of God.

If God is Not Sovereign

Recently when I was in England, I bought a book by R.T. Kendall called "Out of the Comfort Zone." Most of the book is hard hitting and convicting. But here is somewhat of a humorous quote with a strong message...

"This reminds me of a friend of mine whose six-year-old son knelt at his bedside and prayed, 'God bless Daddy and Mummy and me and, oh yes, please take care of yourself because if anything happens to you we are going to be in an awful mess.' If God is not sovereign, there is no hope that our Lord Jesus will triumph in the end as he did when God raised him from the dead" (pg. 104).

Praise the Lord that He rules all things. Thus, he can be depended on and trusted even when life around us is chaotic.

The Most Powerful Word in the Bible

Good Morning. I pulled this off http//coregroups.blogspot.com. If revival is going to come to us, then we must daily surrender to Jesus.

The Most Powerful Word In The Bible

What is required?If any man will come. Discipleship begins with an option – IF. If any man would come... Discipleship is a deliberate choice, an act of the will. Many fall into discipleship at other’s request or by situation, but Jesus desires that his disciples choose to volunteer themselves as his disciples.

The terms:

1. Let him deny himself. Admission into Christ’s school of discipleship begins with self-denial – it is the first lesson learned and the foundation from which all other lessons are built upon. Those who have learned self-denial are those who deny themselves absolutely and do nothing to seek life on their own terms. They are those who lay down their lives for others and only for their good. They have understood the difference between time and eternity and have chosen to forsake this life for the time to come. They no longer love this life’s rewards such as thinking their time is their own, no longer love leisure, power, authority and financial security for they have discovered how empty these really are. They become free to follow Christ and in so doing, will inherit eternal life and begin immediately to experience abundant life and the benefits of truly following Christ Jesus.

2. Let him take up his cross. The troubles of believers are rightly called crosses – troubles including God’s afflictions, persecution for righteousness’ sake, troubles we encounter whether for doing well or for not doing evil. Isaiah calls this the bread of adversity and the water of affliction - my cross, my troubles are my substance (Is. 30:20). Every disciple has his cross. Every disciple must bear the cross that God has provided. My cross is not your cross. Your cross is not mine. I must not avoid, add to, or take away from that which Father God has made for me. I must take up my cross and not think what I am facing as an accident or evil, but I must rejoice in my afflictions for I know that it is working for my good. I must deny myself the pleasure of sin and the fleeting, deceptive advantages of this world for Christ.

3. Let him follow me. If I have denied myself, have taken up my cross, I now can follow Christ. He then bears my cross for me and bears it from me. I must follow Christ in all instances of holiness and obedience. As a disciple, I must study and imitate Christ, conforming myself to his example, regardless of what the world suggests or what troubles lie ahead. I must do well and I must suffer troubles for this is the way of Christ. A disciple studies to imitate their Master, and conforms themselves in every thing to his example, and continues in well doing, whatever troubles lie in their way. To do well and to suffer ill is to follow Christ. If any man will come after me, let him follow me. Those that come after Christ must follow after him.

Peace and Righteousness

Good Morning. I read from Isaiah chapter 48 earlier today and in verse 18, God said to his people that they forfeited peace and righteousness because of their rebellion...

"Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea..."

Are we missing out on God's perfect peace because we are not obeying him? Is our righteousness consistent like the waves of the sea?

I know that I need to pay more attention to God. How about you?

Bryan

Revival in 1949 on the Isle of Lewis

One of my favorite books on revival is by Brian Edwards: Revival! A People Saturated with God In the book is a description about the revival that God sent to the Isle of Lewis in 1949...

"In 1949, on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland, Duncan Campbell witnessed... scenes of conviction over personal sin: 'The awful presence of God brought a wave of conviction of sin that caused even mature Christians to feel their sinfulness, bringing groans of distress and prayers of repentance from the unconverted. Strong men were bowed under the weight of sin and cries for mercy were mingled with shouts of joy from others who had passed into life' "(pg. 116).

Oh, for this to occur in our churches today!

Why We Must Pray

Centuries ago, William Law (1686-1761) wrote: "He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life."

Prayer is more than just bringing to God our requests. Prayer is coming into the very presence of the Most High God. His presence will bring joy and an urgency to be His holy representatives in the world

The BGC Response to Hurricane Katrina

I just pulled this off the Baptist General Conference web-page (www.bgcworld.org).
Besides our prayers, the victims of Hurricane Katrina need our resources.

Posted: 8/31/05 | HOMEPAGE | WORLD RELIEF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BWAid Responds to Hurricane Katrina Devastation
August 31, 2005

Dear Pastor:

On August 29 Hurricane Katrina devastated the coastal region of Mississippi, killing more than 50 in Harrison County alone. Breached levees in New Orleans resulted in massive flooding. Mayor Ray Nagin said, "The city of New Orleans is in a state of devastation. We probably have 80 percent of our city under water, with some sections as deep as 20 feet." Suburbs were also hard hit, with one reporting 40,000 homes under water.

A number of churches and individuals have called the BGC asking how they can contribute to relief efforts for victims of Katrina, which struck Gulf Coast Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

The BGC will forward funds to Baptist World Aid and National Association of Evangelicals World Relief, our two primary partners in world relief. Both work through Baptist/evangelical churches and conferences to bring immediate disaster response, with a gospel witness.

Baptist teams from North Carolina and Virginia have already sent teams to provide meals and water, as well as crisis care counselors and water purification units. Other Baptist groups are heading for the affected areas. NAE World Relief is working with evangelical churches to provide assistance on a need basis, including clearing debris and clean-up equipment.

The BGC has forwarded an initial $5,000 to BWAid and NAE World Relief for these efforts. If your church wishes to participate in this effort, make your check payable to BGC World Relief and mark it for "Hurricane Katrina Relief" (project number 605026).

Ray Swatkowski, executive vice president

How to Respond to Hurricane Katrina

How should we respond to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina? Below are some words from a sermon Pastor John Piper preached on April 11, 2004:

"But just as much as we need a merciful Savior, we need a sovereign Lord. If Christ is merciful to us, but doesn’t have the sovereignty to rule the forces that threaten us, what good will his mercy be? Our lives are fragile and vulnerable in hundreds of ways. What will happen in Iraq—another Viet Nam, or worse? What will happen between Israel and the Palestinians and the global tension that situation creates? What will happen with North Korea and its nuclear threat? When will the next big 9-11 to come on American soil? What will happen to my health? Or the health of my children? My spouse? My parents? (Little children ask: What if mommy and daddy die?) What natural disasters will befall me or my family? What car accident or sniper or kidnapper may turn my world upside down? We are fragile and vulnerable—all of us.

If you are honest, you know that you cannot protect yourself from these things. And if you devote your life to trying, you will become a pitiful old man or woman barricaded and lonely behind the illusion of self-made security.

In other words, we need a sovereign Lord over the world. We need one who rules over Iraq and Israel and Korea and terrorists and disease and disaster and accidents—right down to the details of our lives. Not that he would always spare us calamity—the Bible doesn’t teach that he will—but if he is merciful, he will not let any calamity happen to us that he did not design for our ultimate good.

My point this morning is that Jesus Christ is both merciful and sovereign. Because he both died for our sins (so he is merciful) and rose from the dead (so he is sovereign)."

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/04/041104.html

Praying Myself to Sleep!

Last night I went to bed around 9:45 pm, but I did not fall asleep for a while (It must have been the soda I had in the evening!).

It is my usual practice to try to pray myself to sleep. In other words, I want fall asleep while praying. I do believe that is exactly what happened. I also woke up a couple of times during the night. I went to prayer again until I fell asleep. I am far from a prayer warrior, but I do desire to pray consistently!

Have a great day.

Bryan

Our Great Need for Revival!

What is hindering the Holy Spirit from sending revival to our country? Is it the lack of prayer and faith on behalf of God's people? Is it because the church has compromised and settled for a "cheap grace" as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it?

What do you think?

Bryan

Looking back to 1857

Good Morning. I grabbed this blog off nppnblog.blogspot.com. It is a great blog site on national prayer. Below, we are reminded of the great prayer movement in New York City

In 1857 America was in crisis. What had begun as a cultural divide over slavery had deepened into a spiritual rift. Had God created blacks to have the same self-evident rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as whites? Or did He intend them to be intelligent beasts of burden, put on earth to serve whites? Hearts North and South had so hardened over this question that resolution by force of arms seemed inevitable.

Then the stock market crashed, the economy collapsed, multitudes were thrown out of work, and no one had any answers.

But one man thought God might. Jeremiah Lanphier invited men in the business district of New York City to gather for prayer at Noon on Wednesdays. The first Wednesday, there were six. The second Wednesday, twenty. The third Wednesday, forty. The Great Men’s Prayer Revival of 1857 had begun.

Today America is again in crisis. The cultural divide has become a spiritual rift. No one has any answers. But perhaps God does. What if – we were to accept the challenge of Jeremiah’s example? What if we were to go and do likewise?

Jeremiah’s Rules

1. All who desire to seek the face of God in meekness and humility are welcome.

2. Come to pray, not to preach or proselytize, or be entertained. Just to pray.

3. Avoid controversial subjects and divisive prayers. Ask God to guide your prayers.

4. As you pray, be sensitive to those around you, who might not come from the same prayer tradition as you.

5. Prayer requests and praise for answered prayer are welcome, as are reports of what the Lord is doing elsewhere. Exhortations are also welcome, but no more than two in a row, and none should exceed five minutes. A bell can be rung to announce the next person’s turn.

6. Promptness is vital. The hour should begin at Noon and end at one. If you can give Him the whole hour, fine. If you can stay only a few minutes, that is also fine. Linger afterwards if you care to, but the closing benediction will be at one.

7. Throughout, be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit of God. It is His hour, not ours; we’ve come to please Him, not ourselves.

Guiding Principles

For he was looking for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. – Hebrews 11:10

Abraham was looking for a far city, whose foundations were already laid down by the Master Builder. So it will be for the Noon Prayer Hour. Erected on the firm foundation of the Word and Will of God, it will have His Spirit hovering over it, guiding the work.

From inception to completion, it will be His, and when it is ready, He will send His Spirit to speak it into existence.We will be living stones, shaped and prepared by God to fit into His temple of prayer.

Until it is finished, we will serve as watchmen and gatekeepers, awaiting His arrival and His command: Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shall come upon you.
Isaiah 60:1

Jesus revealed that the glory the Father gave Him is also given to us, that we might be one – in spirit and purpose, in one accord. As the work gets underway, let us always remember: Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. – Psalm 127:1

Jesus Told Us to Deny Ourselves Daily...

Here is a good quote from the past on denying ourselves for the sake of Jesus...

"One secret act of self-denial, one sacrifice of inclination to duty, is worth all the mere good thoughts, warm feelings, passionate prayers, in which idle people indulge themselves." ... John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

I Am Back In the Country

Good Morning. My wife, son and I just returned from a two week tour in England, Wales and Scotland. Wow, talk about being in places filled with history! I fell in love with Scotland! I would love to be a pastor there.

Last Sunday, we worshipped in the Westminster Abbey in London. The great Scottish missionary David Livingstone is buried there. He devoted his life to spread the gospel in Africa and to abolish the slave trade. I stood right by his grave.

Jesus Will Build His Church

It is my understanding that eight out of ten churches in America are have leveled off or are in a state of decline. What is answer? Spiritual revival will wake us up and return us to the Lord.

It is also helpful to remember that Jesus is the Lord of the church and that we are to keep our eyes on him. In Matthew 16.16, Peter confessed to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! In His response to this correct confession, Jesus said: I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it! What an awesome promise from Jesus. Let us focus on him. He is our treasure and our true delight.

A Pledge to be Sold-Out to Jesus

Good afternoon from Omaha. It is warm and humid again here. In the most recent copy of The Voice of the Martyrs, there is the story of 1,508 students who graduated from Emmanuel Bible College in Kota, Rajasthan, India in 2003. They stood side-by-side and made the following pledge. Oh, if we American Christians were just as fervent in our walk with Jesus...

"I stand with the apostle Paul in stating that 'for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.'

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my hand to serve all mankind

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my feet to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth no matter what the cost.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my lips by proclaiming the Good News to all who hear and by edifying the Body of Christ.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my mind as I meditate upon His Word and His promises to me.

I give all my earthly treasures and all that I possess to follow the way of the cross.

I commit to love my family, orphans, widows, lepers, the wealthy and the poor the way that Christ loved the church.

I will surrender my will to His will and life.

I commit to the service of the Lord by being a good steward of my time.

I surrender my body on earth to the perfect will of Jesus, and should my blood be spilled may it bring forth a mighty harvest of souls.

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb. I will seek to honor His command. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

Lord Jesus, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I love my India and my fellow citizens, and I claim India for Christ"

The students knew that persecution laid ahead for them. They were motivated to stake a stand and make a pledge to do so partly because of a story about a man who had been a Christian for only four months. With joy, he shared about his new faith Jesus with people in his village. But the villagers tied old shoes around his neck and forced to walk through the village as they beat him. He was also forced to drink the urine of a cow. However, as this Christian was both bold for Jesus and persecuted for Jesus, 100 people in the village turned to Jesus for salvation (The Voice of the Martyrs, July 2005, pgs. 2-3).

Our Treasures are Often Garbage

Good Morning. Below is John's Piper's most recent, "Fresh Words." He reminds us that we American Christians often treasure things that eventually will rot.

The Treasure That Turns Treasures to Garbage
June 29, 2005 — Fresh Words Edition
By John Piper

Philippians 3:7-15

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

Paul has a way of playing your game, winning, and then saying the game is bunk. He does it, for example, in 2 Corinthians 11:21–12:11 where he lists his “superior” achievements and then says, “I have been a fool! You forced me to it” (2 Corinthians 12:11). In other words, I can play your game of measuring myself by your standards, win, and then call it all worthless. It is fool’s play.
He does it again here in Philippians 3. He warns the church to watch out for the evildoing dogs who mutilate the flesh (people who insist on circumcision as a way of getting right with God). The problem with these people is that they “put confidence in the flesh”—that is, they bank on their works for justification (vv. 2-3, cf. v. 9). So Paul says, OK let’s play that game for a moment. And then he lists his works of the flesh and knocks his opponents out of the ring with legal achievements. “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more.” Indeed he does.

Then come three of the best verses in all the Bible. In essence: the victory I just won in the contest of the flesh is a pile of garbage (the Greek is skubala, v. 8). And the reason he uses such a strong word (refuse!) is that the alternative is Christ. Compared to Christ, being the greatest Pharisee of his time was foul garbage.

But that is too vague. Paul is not vague. He does not simply say that compared to Christ legal achievements are garbage; he is more specific. He says that what is superior to moral and religious achievements is 1) knowing Christ, 2) gaining Christ, and 3) being found in Christ.

1. Knowing Christ. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8). “Knowing” here is not just knowing the fact that Jesus is Lord. It is the kind of knowing that prompts the phrase, “my Lord”! He knows the supreme Lord of the universe (see 2:9-11) as his Lord. So there are two aspects to Paul’s passion for Christ here. One is the rational and relational knowledge of the greatest person in the universe. Paul’s mind and heart are full of Christ. The other is that he belongs to Christ as subject to the all-ruling, all-protecting Lord. This is better than being at the top of any human heap.

2. Gaining Christ. “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (v. 8). “Gain” means get all that Christ is for us in heaven, not just on earth. Paul has already said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21), because “to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (1:23). And he is about to say, “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (3:12). So it is clear that part of what makes human achievement a pile of garbage compared to Christ is that soon (and very soon!) he is going to meet the king—in a way far more full and intimate and stunning and satisfying than anything he has known here. And he has known so much of Christ here that the garbage verdict has been rendered on that alone.

3. Being found in Christ. “. . . and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (v. 9). Paul was overwhelmed by the fact that “in Christ”—that is, united to Christ by faith alone—he possessed a righteousness that was infinitely better than all his legal achievements could ever be. Paul knew he needed a righteous life in order to be accepted by God and in order to enjoy all the glories of Christ forever. He did not have such a righteousness in himself. He needed the free gift of righteousness from God himself. God gave it to him in Christ.

Therefore Jesus Christ was both the treasure he cherished and the one who provided the right to have the treasure. In Christ alone Paul had a right to know and gain Christ. And that is all he wanted. That is the gospel. This is what we mean at Bethlehem by Treasuring Christ Together. Christ alone is the ground of our acceptance with God and the goal of our heart’s desire. He is our righteousness and our reward. Compared to him (knowing him, gaining him, being found in him) all else is garbage.

Treasuring Christ together with you,

Pastor John

A Great Link About Revival

Here is a great link on the subject of revival: http://www.lifeaction.org/lam/. As you dig through this site, your heart will be encouraged to pray more for revival. May we all taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34.8).

Praying for Revival

The churches in America need revival. Fervent prayer always precedes a heaven sent revival. The prophetess Anna in Luke chapter 2 is a great example of persistent prayer. She prayed and fasted and worshipped in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem for at least 50 years waiting for the coming of the Messiah. In verse 38, she was able to see the baby Jesus when his parents brought him to the Temple to be consecrated to the Lord. Anna prayed! In the same way, we are to pray hard for a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit to blow through our churches.

Response to Henry Blackaby at the BGC Annual Meeting in Denver

Henry Blackaby spoke this morning on God's refining fire in our lives. After his message, Dana Olson of the BGC Prayer First invited the delegates to come forward to pray. Dozens upon dozens (maybe more, but I am not sure because I was close to the stage when I went forward) to cry and confess our sins. Many pleaded for a fresh touch from God. Mr. Blackaby has experienced corporate revival fist-hand. Perhaps it will come to the BGC.

I Heard Henry Blackaby Today

I was able to hear Henry Blackaby speak today at the BGC Annual Meeting in Denver. He said this statement: "If revival in America depended on your prayer life, would God grant it?" Honestly and with shame, I would personally say "no." If revival is going to come, God's people must pray. Have a good evening. Pastor Bryan

I Am in Denver for the BGC Annual Meeting

I flew into Denver, CO for the Baptist General Conference (BGC) Annual Meeting. It is beautiful here. There is still snow on some of the higher mountains. The landscape reminds me of the years I lived in Hawaii. There are mountains in Hawaii (there is no snow on them except on the Big Island).

I love these annual meetings because of the fellowship, corporate prayer, worship and preaching. Henry Blackaby will be speaking tomorrow.

The Perspectives Course Will Be Taught in Omaha

The Perspectives on the World Christian Movement will be taught here in Omaha from August 30 to December 13, 2005 at Christ Community Church. This course will motivate and challenge students to understand God's singular intent to bless all nations.

I have not taken it, but I know people who have. It will truly be life changing. If you are interested, contact LaVern Smith at (402) 734.1551 or at LaVern.Smith@worldteam.org.

The cost $195.00 plus $35.00 for the textbook and Study Guide. There is a $25.00 discount if you register before June 30th.

Have a great day. Pastor Bryan

Good Morning:

Check out this link about the current weather conditions in Omaha: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=986. I am in my air-conditioned office and the humidity is still getting to me!

Well, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were eliminated yesterday in the College World Series. It was a great baseball game and a great season.

Stay cool and drink lots of water.

Pastor Bryan

Michael Campbell Wins the US Open

Yesterday on Father's Day, I watched 36 year-old New Zealander, Michael Campbell win the US Open. Even though Tiger Woods made a charge, Campbell dug deep and played wonderful golf
on a very difficult course. See...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/golf/specials/us_open/2005/06/19/fourth.round.ap/index.html
Campbell's career has been characterized by ups and downs. During the broadcast, Campbell was quoted as saying that prior to the Open, he decided that it is time to go to the next level of golf. So he took the time in recent months to refine his game--especially his short game.

There is certainly a lesson for us followers of Jesus. Are we content with an up and down Christian life? Are we content with mediocrity in our relationship with Jesus? Or are we willing to do what it takes to go to the next level of faith? May we all dig deep into God's Word and delight in it. May we be people of prayer who possess a holy urgency to grow deep in the faith.

Playing Golf for God's Glory!

My sermon this Sunday on Father's Day will answer the question: "Can we play golf for God's Glory?" The answer, of course is yes because 1 Corinthians 10.31 says: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I love the game of golf and I do want to improve every year. But it is not to be more important that my love for the Lord. The second point of the message is simply: "Remember that golf is just a game". Here are some statements of that point...

Psalm 37.4 says delight yourselves in the Lord. That is command! Isaiah 58.14 says that we will find our joy in the Lord. We are to delight ourselves in the Lord even when that little golf ball refuses to go where we want it. Every golfer will have bad rounds and stretches of weeks where it seems like nothing goes right but it is just a game. ILL--Many years ago, I was with a friend at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and we saw a well-known golf pro hit a bad shot.

It was bad according to his standards. His approach shot to the green wasn't as close to the hole as he visualized. Most of us would be thrilled to be near the green. After he did that, he took his iron and just smashed it on a rock, and then he threw that mangled club into the woods. We were right behind him. I looked where he threw it and I thought, "I wonder if I can fix that!" But he destroyed it.

Well, he lost his temper. And on a professional level, there is a needed intensity in order to compete, but it is still just a game. And there are far more important things in life than golf. ILL--Several years ago after the conclusion of the 1995 Ryder Cup, the American team was beaten by the Europeans. The Americans went in the locker room feeling bad. Then Paul Azinger came into the room.

He is a pro who just recovered from cancer. He told the team: "Guys, this isn so bad. The sun will come up tomorrow. I had cancer." In other words, golf is just a game. It is temporary compared to the glories of eternity. When we die, our clubs stay in the garage or basement.

More Prayer is Needed!

Good Afternoon. Two Wednesdays ago, Harvey Oaks Baptist Church began a prayer time. It is a prayer time for the spiritual state of the church. We want to pray for the power of God to descend on the church. Seven people came to pray yesterday. As they walked into the sanctuary, they picked up a handout which is below.

"Harvey Oaks Baptist Church
Wednesday Morning Prayer (6:30 to 7:30 AM)
June 15, 2005

This morning's Scripture: Psalm 85. Especially notice the prayer in verse 6.

As we pray this morning, let us pray:

That God will send spiritual revival to Harvey Oaks Baptist Church (True spiritual revival will refocus our hearts and lives on the supremacy and greatness of Jesus Christ so that we will be the church that he desires. Someone once defined revival as "a people saturated with God").
That Christ-centered worship will occur each Sunday morning at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church. Psalm 100.2 says: Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

That the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit will descend on us every Sunday morning so that lives are radically transformed.

That Harvey Oaks Baptist Church will no longer be in a state of plateau (Eight out of ten churches in the United States have plateaued or are declining).

That God will cause many people around in the Omaha area to turn to Jesus for salvation. Pray that they will be fruitful Christians for God's kingdom.

That the remaining unreached people groups around the world will be reached for Jesus Christ.

Thank you for praying this morning. Have a great day as you live for the Lord Jesus.

Our Need For Revival!

Recently, I read in the book, "Breakout Churches" by Thom S. Rainer that eight out of ten churches in America are in a state of decline or have plateaued (Pg. 45). If that is the case, then the American church is in deep trouble. Acts 1.8 and the Great Commission (Matthew 28. 18-20) is not, on the most part being fulfilled by us. What is the answer to this. We must pray! Psalm 85.6 says: "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?"Brothers and sisters in Jesus, we must pray for a fresh new power from the Holy Spirit. Let us wake up and pray urgently for revival. I will welcome any feedback.

Pastor Bryan

How to Query God

Good Morning. Is it okay to question God? Below is a helpful article by John Piper. Stay strong in Jesus. Pastor Bryan

John Piper

Thoughts on Romans 9:20 - You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

Clearly Paul was displeased with this response to his teaching about God. Does this mean that it's always wrong to ask questions in response to Biblical teaching? I don't think so.

Paul had said some controversial things. Peter admitted that Paul was sometimes hard to understand: "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). Paul had said that God "has mercy on whom he wills and hardens whom he wills" (Romans 9:18).

The point was: his will decides finally whether we are hard-hearted or not. "Before they were born or do anything good or evil" God had mercy on Jacob and gave Esau over to hardness (Romans 9:11-13).

Someone hears this and objects in verse 19, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" To this Paul responds, "You, a mere human being, have no right to answer back to God."

The word "answer back" (antapokrinomenos) occurs one other time in the New Testament, namely, in Luke 14:5-6. Jesus is showing the lawyers that it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. He said to them, "'Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?' And they could not answer back (antapokrithenai) to these things."

In what sense could they not "answer back"? They could not show him wrong. They could not legitimately criticize him. They could not truly contradict what he said. So the word "answer back" probably carries the meaning: "answer back with a view to criticizing or disagreeing or correcting."

That, I think, is what displeased Paul in Romans 9:20. This leaves open the possibility that a different kind of question would be acceptable, namely, a humble, teachable question that wants to understand more if possible, but not rebuke or condemn or criticize what has been said.

For example, in Luke 1:31 the angel Gabriel comes to the virgin Mary and says, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus." Mary is astounded and baffled. Virgins don't have sons. She could have scoffed and argued. But instead she said, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). She did not say it can't happen; she asked, "How?" Contrast this with Gabriel's visit to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.

The angel comes and tells him, "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John" (Luke 1:13). But Zechariah knew that "Elizabeth was barren and advanced in years" (Luke 1:7). Different from Mary, his skepticism gave rise to a different question. He said, "How shall I know this?" Not: "How will you do this?" But: "How can I know you'll do it?"

Gabriel did not like this answer. He said, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time" (Luke 1:19-20).

So I conclude that humble, teachable questions about how and why God does what he does are acceptable to God. To Mary God gave a very helpful answer, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you" (Luke 1:35). This did not remove the mystery, but it helped.

I can't remove the mystery from Romans 9. But there may be more to understand than we have seen and I do not want to discourage you from pressing further up and further in to the heart and mind of God.

Wanting to be teachable with you,
Pastor John

I am back (again)

This blogging stuff takes discipline. It was another beautiful day in Omaha. Five years ago, I could not have imagined living in Omaha. But the Lord brought me (and my family) back home. Have a good night. Pastor Bryan

Back to Blogging

Hi. It has been awhile since I have posted anything. Last Monday, I was at the Master's Golf tournament in Augusta, GA. I met a friend from college and his cousin the day before in Atlanta. What a zoo Augusta was. There were 40,000 people on the course, but what a course it was. I was actually walking at Augusta National. I have watched the Masters for over 20 years, so to actually see the holes and fairways up close was cool. Oh yeah, there was some players there as well practicing including the eventual winner: Tiger Woods.

It is never too late to learn

I have spent the past three days in class at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. Dr. Haddon Robinson has brought in Dr. Don Sunukjian from Talbot Graduate School to teach us the stages of sermon preparation. Some of it was review, but much of it opened up new doors for me. I am being challenged to adjust my 20 year approach to sermon writing. Yes, the day is long and we sit on hard chairs for hours in class, but it is fun to learn new approaches. Dr. Sunukjian will be us for one more half day. Have a great day. Pastor Bryan

I am in Boston

Good Morning. I am in Boston for my two-week residency for a Docter of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Class actually is delayed by three hours because of a snow storm last night. It was a "nor-easterner!" I am in the class room typing this blog. I made it to school early. My rental car had around six inches of snow on it. The roads were all cleared on the way to school (about 13 miles).

It was good to see my classmates and Dr. Robinson yesterday. A couple of people dropped out of the program for various reasons. This past year went by fast.

I will try to post some more in the next couple of weeks. Have a great day. Pastor Bryan

Reaching People for Jesus

Part of my preparation for my second residency for my Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is the requirement that I read the book, “Culture Shift: Communicating God’s Truth to Our Changing World.” It is written by David W. Henderson and it is the most practical book on how to reach other people for Jesus. If you are wondering why people do not care about your faith and your Jesus, then you will want to read this book. Henderson will go back centuries to explain the forces that have been at work to shape our current attitudes. If you are interested to know why we are self-centered individuals, then get the book.

The book is a wake-up call for Christians to seriously work hard at fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus. Matthew 5.13 and 14 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. How can we bring preserving flavor and light to our world? Henderson points out that because our culture has changed, the days of door-to-door evangelism, cold-turkey witnessing and leaving tracts in restaurants are behind us. Americans are individualistic; and they tend to be isolated from others.

Henderson writes, “Our brazen preoccupation with self ripples through every tributary of our culture. It shapes how we do business, how we teach, how we parent, how we vote, how we marry. Not surprisingly, our individualism and self-concern wash over into the way we approach matters of faith. In a supreme act of self-reliance, we decide for God what is true about him and his intentions for us” (pg. 97).

Thus, if each person decides what is “true” about God, then they will have little time or tolerance for those who claim to have the ultimate truth about a relationship with God. Back in the mid 1970’s when I was in high school; some of us after youth group would sometimes drive to the Westroads Mall (in Omaha here) and witness to strangers using “The Four Spiritual Laws”. We found out that most people were willing to listen to us as we nervously shared from the tract.

Now that we are in the 21^st century, many people may not be as open for a total stranger to talk to them about their need for a savior. The problem just isn’t with the Christians sharing about Jesus. Self-absorbed individualism has allowed people to isolate themselves. Thus, the building of meaningful relationships becomes more and more difficult. As a matter of fact, many Americans are not very connected at all with other people. Three out of four Americans do not know the people who live next door to them. One out of seven people do not even know the name of their neighbors (pg. 103).

Henderson puts it this way: “Contrary to what you might see on a map of the United States, America is a land of islands. Disconnected and alone, we have forgotten the benefits of mutuality and life shared” (pg. 103). Of course, there are many “islands” in the church as well. We can see this with the superficiality of relationships and the lack of desire for many to be part of small group of fellow believers. No doubt, being part of a small group can be intimidating, but once relationships are formed and trust is found, then that is when authentic church life can begin.

So how do we communicate God’s truth and love to others? Well, there can still be a place for using a gospel tract, but only after a relationship has been established with people. And this requires the investment of work and time. Henderson writes that we must bridge the islands. Pastors must do that on Sunday mornings in the way they communicate God’s Word, and all Christians must do it in the way they form relationships with people who need Jesus.

Henderson urges Christians to put a premium on friendships and relationships. He writes, “A guarded, get-lost society requires that we approach people with the gospel in the context of a relationship” (pg. 113). How are we doing in the relationship building department? As followers of Jesus, we are to work hard at attaining loving and edifying relationships with our brothers and sisters within the church. Plus, we are to establish relationships with the people that God has put into our lives. I will close with one more quote from David Henderson:

“…it is crucial that we befriend non-Christians, winning our way into their distracted hearts and busy schedules. That means spending the kind of time with them that lets us get to know each other; having them over for a cookout, watching their kids play in a high school game; feeding their fish and collecting their mail while they’re on vacation, all while waiting and praying for the opportunity to comfortably and naturally talk about our faith” (pg. 114).

Was Galileo wrong?

I am reading a book by David W. Henderson called "Culture Shift: Communicating God's Truth to Our Changing World". What a wonderful and helpful book. Henderson referred to a saying on a t-shirt that said: "Galileo was wrong. The universe does revolve around me!" I know that my cat believes that, and it is probably reflects (or come close to) the attitude of millions in our self-absorbed nation.

The solution to this "I am the center of the universe" mentality is a passionate love for Jesus. Only he can set us free from ourselves so that we can truly live.

Have a great day. Pastor Bryan

The Words of William Law

Good morning. I want to share the words of William Law (1686-1761). His words correspond well with the second memory verse of the "40 Days of Purpose". E-mail me at bryan@harveyoaksbaptist.org if you know what verse I am referring to. Have a great day.

Pastor Bryan

"Religion is not ours till we live by it, till it is the Religion of our thoughts, words, and actions, till it goes with us into every place, sits uppermost on every occasion, and forms and governs our hopes and fears, our cares and pleasures."

RE: Loving God with All That We Have

Good morning. It is a colder and snowier day in Nebraska. The memory verse at Harvey Oaks Baptist Church this week is Mark 12.30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. As followers of Jesus, we are to love God with our entire existence. Jesus said that this is the greatest commandment in the Bible. In 1998, the Dean of Chapel at Calvin College, Cornelius Palntinga Jr. said these words about loving God...

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, says our Lord (Matt. 22:37). In other words, you shall love God with everything you have and everything you are. Everything. Every longing, every endowment, each of your intellectual gifts, any athletic talent or computer skill, all capacity for delight, every good thing that has your fingerprints on it-take all this, says Jesus, and refer it to God. Take your longing, and long for God; take your creaturely riches, and endow God; take your eye for beauty and appreciate God. With your heart and soul and mind, with all your needs and splendors, make a full turn toward God."