April 10, 2010

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

The old saying goes, "It's not what you know but who you know."

We wish that wasn't true but in most cases it is. It does pay to have friends in high places.

However, in this instance it makes an incredible difference and the Apostle Paul is reminding his brothers and sisters of the Ephesus Church. They had become weary in their well doing and concerned over the suffering of their beloved Paul.

In this portion of his letter he encourages them by reminding them that they have a Friend Who is well-positioned to help them through their struggles. Verse 20 summarizes his message to them. It may strengthen you to be reminded as well why it matters when you pray:

"Now to Him......"

The reason prayer matters, the reason it comforts us, and the reason we can find strength from it is that we pray to HIM - God! And the Bible makes it clear that each time we pray the Holy Spirit interprets our prayers and Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceeding for us! Every prayer involves all three members of the Trinity! God gets fully engaged in our prayers!

"Now to Him Who is able....."

Not everyone who cares about me and who would like to help me is able to do it. There are people I care deeply about whom I would love to be able to help but can't. BUT GOD IS ABLE! Never lose sight of that important truth - GOD IS ABLE!

Are you discouraged today? GOD IS ABLE! Are you overwhelmed by suffering? GOD IS ABLE!Are you fearful and anxious? GOD IS ABLE! So, remember! You are never helpless when you call on Him because HE IS ABLE!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine....."

So, how able is He? He is more able than we are even able to imagine! His ablility transcends our imagination! Don't worry if you don't have an answer to a situation! He does! Don't try to aniticipate God or out think Him or understand Him - you are not able! Just understand that HE IS ABLE! He will solve situations for which you have no answers and do it in a way you would never have thought of!

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"

What is that power that is at work in us? Faith! A what does faith unleash in us? Love! And how does that help? Faith believes in a God Who is bigger than life and greater than circumstances and love connects us with Him!

April 9, 2010

"I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:13-20

It is hard to find a richer portion of Scripture in all the Bible than these verses we are examining today. The Great Apostle talks about the relationship between God's love and your life, God's strength and your suffering, and your prayers and His power.

My biggest struggle is knowing where to begin.

Let me approach it from these three perspectives: the reason for prayer, the resource of prayer, and the reassurance from prayer.

First, Paul touches on the reason for prayer - suffering. Paul was concerned that the Ephesian Christians would be worn down by their concern for him and the suffering he was experiencing. It is hard to watch people we care about suffer and not be able to do anything about it. In those days, Christians everywhere were either suffering or living under the threat of suffering. So, it was not that they didn't have their own problems. But he was their spiritual father and mentor and he was stuck in a filthy Roman prison shackled to Roman guards.

Suffering wears you out. Prayer strengthens you. So a primary reason for prayer is to find strength in suffering through prayer.

Second, Paul reminds us that prayer is a resource. It is a resource because it connects us with our Source and our source is God! It is a resource because it is a relationship with the God of the universe. The relationship is love! God's love IS our resource! It strengthens us. It sustains us because it is a wide, deep, high, and long love! His love enstablishes us on a firm foundation. When we receive the love of God we receive His strength to endure suffering.

Third, Paul boldly proclaims his belief that prayer reassures us God is always doing more than we know in ways that we can't imagine. We can believe in God's love and we can receive it, but even then we cannot conceive all that He is doing while you praying. So, here is the reassurance - if you are praying He is working! And if He is working He is doing "exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think!"

Life is hard. Suffering is overwhelming. Life and suffering get bigger than we are. But when they seem bigger than us - pray! Because prayer assures us that God is bigger than life and he is doing bigger things than we can know, prayer strengthens us!

Are you facing big struggles? Do you need a big God?

I have some big news for you! If suffering is your reason to prayer, prayer is a resource that connects you in relationship to a God Who makes "all things work together for good"!

If you are praying - He is working!

April 8, 2010

"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

What would you do if you knew you would get away with it? The lure of sin without consequences has always been nearly irresistible since the time of Adam. It is an illusion but a powerful one!

On the other hand, how would it affect your behavior if you remembered that you won't get a way with anything?

The reason I mention this is because the first round of the Masters is being played today and though it is always a major world-class sporting event, but it is bigger that ever with the return of Tiger Woods to competitive golf.

Along with the attention to his exceptional skills as a golfer, there have been unceasing references to his scandalous sexual escapades over the past several years. His once impeccable image has been tarnished forever. Whether he ever becomes more renown for his golf or for his misbehavior remains to be seen.

Much of what has been revealed about his indescretions is very unseemly. I wish I didn't know all that I know about his licensious behavior and I don't care to know any more. But there are a couple of things I find worthy of mention in regard to all the reaction to Tiger's return and about his absence.

I find it refreshing to know that character still counts. Many of us thought that he was a person of great personal discipline and high integrity. We were so wrong. It turns out that he was seriously deficient in both character and integrity.

When it was splashed scandously throughout the media his sponsors began to disassociate themselves from him. They didn't want his disgraceful behavior reflect badly on their products.

Character still counts!

The second reassuring part of this is that morality still matters.

I didn't hear anyone say, "Wow! Being a serial adulterer is a really good thing!"

Everyone everywhere universally condemned his disgusting immorality and how it harmed his reputation, hurt his wife, and jeopardized his future.

In a world were immorality is often admired and moral standards are ridiculed, I found it encouraging to know that morality matters.

The world will be watching to see if he regains the mastery of his golf game. They will continue to watch to see if he can master his behavior.

April 7, 2010

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." Ephesians 3:16-17

This incredible prayer becomes even more impressive when you realize that the man who is praying to encourage the Ephesian Christians was imprisoned and chained to a guard. The very one who should have been seeking encouragement was sending this prayer to encourage them. As we saw yesterday, he was concerned that they would become discouraged because of his suffering. We conceded that suffering does get discouraging and prayer is supposed to be a resource for encouragement.

How is it that we discover prayer works?

By being prayed for and having that prayer answered.

Likewise, we discover God's glorious riches by declaring our poverty and we discover His strength by confessing our weakness. And we get both of those by receiving Christ.

How can you have His strength without having Him? You can't! He IS your strength! Until you have Him you are weak. No matter how strong you think you are you are weak until you receive Him.

And how do you receive Him?

By faith.

What does it mean to receive Him by faith?

It means you confess your sinfulness, your renounce your independence and rely totally upon His righteousness and grace for your spiritual well-being.

That is what the Apostle Paul did and it radically transformed his life! His radically transformed life changed the world. It has altered my world. But it only happened because I was honest about my own weakness and spiritual poverty.

It is precisely what Jesus meant when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God."

Here is the kernel of truth that you can wrap your heart and mind around - you get as much of God as you desire!

Pain and poverty are terrible things. I have been to the inner city of Chicago and Los Angeles and been overwhelmed by the unimaginable pain and poverty there. I have been to the cities and villages of Africa and seen the devastation of poverty there. When you look into the eyes of helpless, hopeless people you never get over it. But there is something about pain and poverty that clarifies the value of faith. The powerless quickly recognize their need for His power.

Paul's prayer for his beloved brothers and sisters in Ephesus was that they would realize just how spiritually weak and powerless they are so they would receive the rich and powerful measure of God's Spirit. He realized it through his suffering and prayed that they would, too.

How much of God do you desire? It depends on how much spiritual weakness and poverty you are willing to confess. How much of your impotence are you willing to exchange for His power? That is the only way you will receive it and receiving it is the only way you will know it.

April 6, 2010

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:12-15

Have you ever made this statement, "All I can do is pray"?

Me, too.

Very dumb!

Think about what you are saying when you mindlessly utter that sentence.

First, you are implying that prayer isn't that powerful of a tool. Secondly, you are saying that praying is a bail out when you don't know what else to do.

Neither one of those are even remotely true - not even close!

Paul is concerned that the Ephesian believers are becoming discouraged over his prolonged imprisonment and suffering. And let's be honest, suffering does get discouraging. One of the ways it gets discouraging is because you continue to pray and continue to suffer. Therefore, since your prayer doesn't relieve your suffering you conclude in your suffering that prayer is not effective.

If that was true then, think how much more it is true in this instant everything microwave world?

Here's what Paul knew that he wanted the Ephesians to know and we need to grasp - prayer is a powerful weapon against discouragement.

Why?

For one reason, discouragement can cause us to think that prayer doesn't work and cause us to give up prayer. That is self-defeating because faith surrenders to frustration.

Also, when we continue to pray despite the lack of visible results, we hold onto faith and keep God involved in our circumstances. That's powerful. Our faith sustains our hope.

Thirdly, continuing to pray in the midst of discouraging circumstances shows an understanding of what pray is and what prayer does. Prayer is communicating with God knowing that His spiritual forces and resources are at work in our behalf.

That is where the hope comes from! It comes from knowing that God is at work even when we can't see God at work!

Here is the bottom line - you either believe in prayer or you don't. If you only believe in prayer when you see visible results, you really don't believe in prayer. You are hoping in results not in prayer. If you really believe in prayer you will continue to pray despite the lack of visible results. You continue to pray because your relationship with God is so important you must be in constant communication with Him.

Prayer must be a first response not a last resort because prayer is about relationship NOT about results!

April 5, 2010

"But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16

For 40 days you have been committed to integrating your faith fully into your marriage relationship. That is something every believer pledged to do when they took their wedding vows. Being a believer is not something you do it is what you are and what you are becoming. The promise you made to your partner is the same promise you made to your God. As you live out the one you live out both. As you fail in one you fail in both.

If you grasp this truth and forge it into your spirit your "Love Dare" will not end but will become a way of life. You will see a steady growth in your spirituality as you see your marriage deepen. That reality is one of the things that has excited me about this study.

The key is commitment. While there is something in our human nature that resists and recoils against commitment, it is absolutely necessary for growth and health.

Ruth totally committed herself in this statement and it gives us a good look at this commitment piece. You can learn from her. I hope you will.

Simply stated commitment is eliminating all other options. Essentially, what Ruth said is, "I will choose this one option and nothing else. I will have no 'plan B'".

When you choose to follow God, that is your commitment. You are agreeing to follow only one God and honor Him supremely. You will have no spiritual "plan B".

When you give yourself to a partner in marriage you are saying that you will devote yourself fully to them emotionally, physically, spiritually and romantically. You will have no "plan B".

Going forward, continue what you have been learning and practicing about commitment. Remain fully committed to God and fully devote to your partner. Eliminate any alternate plans and throw your heart and your mind completely into the relationship. You will find an amazing joy and satisfaction in both!

Make the "Love Dare" your new way of living and thinking. Because the truth is that "Love Dare" and "Christian Commitment" are one in the same!

Commit to a future of being fully engaged in loving God and loving your spouse. I dare you!

April 4, 2010

"1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" 3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." John 20:1-20

They were overjoyed when they saw the Lord!

That phrase best capsulizes the emotion that Easter should bring to the human heart. Recognizing that Jesus is alive and that our sins are forgiven makes a world of difference in how we view ourselves, our God, other people and our purpose for living!

Everyone of these Christ-followers were filled with joy when they saw Jesus but there is one who was especially thrilled and I think this video clip captures that! Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFDknSGVmXw

BECAUSE HE LIVES PETER’S FAILURES ARE FORGIVEN!

Peter, a lot like you and me, was his own worst enemy. This was the disicple who had only one speed - full! He had some of the highest highs and a few of the deepest lows.

Peter had been with Jesus and a select few on the Mount of Transfiguration. He had seen the glorified Jesus along with Moses and Elijah! Peter had been there when the 5,ooo were fed and then the 4,000. He had been there when Lazarus walked out to the grave! For Pete's sake - he had walked on water!

But he had also vowed that He would never forsake Jesus and in the Garden he impulsively grabbed his sword and tried to decapitate the Roman guard. And on that fateful night after Jesus was arrested he denied three times and even cursed for emphasis.

It was that final failure that almost did him in - until he saw the Risen Jesus! Then he was filled with joy knowing that Jesus was alive and his failures were forgiven!

Do you have some failures that haunt you?

Have you betrayed Jesus with your decisions and choices?

Could you use a few “do-overs”? Does some forgiveness sound good?

Well, the good news is, as Peter discovered, JESUS IS ALIVE and your sins can be forgiven!

BECAUSE HE LIVES PETER’S FAITH IS FIRM!

Peter had fully invested all of his hopes and dreams in Jesus.

Peter had fully bought into all of Jesus’ teachings and accepted Him as the Messiah.

Peter had seen all the miracles and he even done a few himself.

But then everything was up for grabs when Jesus was arrested and killed.

But the good news is JESUS IS ALIVE and everything is TRUE!

BECAUSE HE LIVES PETER’S FUTURE WAS FOREVER!

For the last few days Peter lived in fear. They had killed his leader and he fully expected them to be coming after him.

He had left his business and his family and invested his entire future in Jesus – then Jesus was DEAD!

In just a few days his future had gone from safe, secure and certain – to fearful and murky.

But the good news is JESUS IS ALIVE and his future is FOREVER!

That is the great news of Easter - WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!

When He died on the cross He conquered sin. He pain the price for your sins and mine! And When He raised form the dead He conquered death! We no longer have to live in sin or fear death!

We can live in joy! We can live in freedom! We can live in power! We never have to be alone! And we know we will live forever!

BECAUSE HE LIVES!