Jesus Calling: January 3

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.
      Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace.

Psalm 31:19-20
New American Standard 
How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

John 16:33
Amplified
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

My Prayer
Lord, this is what I'm searching for in my life right now--to be refreshed. And it's in your presence where that refreshment is truly found. There is peace simply in You. Yet, this is not often my way, but instead I often think peace is found in having a better plan (getting organized or having my to do list filled out). There is nothing wrong with making these plans and getting organized, but they are not the means to me having peace. Peace is found resting in Your presence, taking refuge in You, abiding in You, being with You.

Lord, as I'm busy with so many tasks and responsibilities and roles each day, don't let me think for a moment that I can take care of myself and find peace apart from You. My refuge is found hiding in the secret place of Your presence. My confidence is in You Lord. Shift my focus; shift my ways. Teach me and train me correctly. I do not want to live in deception.

Lord, why do I think that you aren't engaged in my daily tasks? Why do I continually think that these tasks and duties are to be solved by my methods. You are with me. You walk alongside me. Help me to not be defined by my feelings, but instead defined by Your words.

Lord, you are there with me, so what should I fear? Nothing. You are my constant companion. You are there. Not just on the shelf for me to dial into when it is convenient. I can be of good cheer. Lord, I need help in this. I get so down on life. Last night, welling up in me, was this dissatisfaction. I got short with with my two oldest children. I got critical with how they were planning their world, thinking that those plans would not have the right outcome. There is no problem with helping them, but I need to help them in the right way. "But be of good cheer!" Take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted. Lord, I get tired of me and the way I react to things in life. Lord, I hate my impatience. And yet this should remind me how much more I need You for I am a sinner. My kids come home and come to me and I will up with disappointment and dissatisfaction. I let circumstances reign instead of the Peace of Your Presence. Lord, trials will come. But, a trial is not my kids wanting to be with me. When my oldest spoke of his leader from church and getting help from him, I hurt for a moment. I am selfish. I don't just want my kids best, but I want to be the reason they are getting the best. I wanted my son and I to work on things together, not him working with anyone else. Oh Lord, I want to be with my kids. And yet I have trained myself to be this tyrant, this judgmental person, with expectations. I feel disconnected from them. I want to be near them. When they were kids, it seemed easier, and yet, all too often, even at that time, I didn't take advantage of those moments. Now they are gone. Re-train me. 

Lord, I want to learn this. I want to learn this peace. Lord, I want to learn that you have overcome the world and so I can be of good cheer. Change my mood Lord. Sure, life is full of trails and frustrations and distresses; they never end. One ends. One gets completed and something new springs up. They don't end. They continue. That is the way it is. But, I can still be of good cheer. Re-train me. I want to learn how to be of good cheer. Lord, I don't want to be weighed down with all these problems. Right now, there is a weight. I'm letting these things take me down. I have many unresolved issues. Show me how to work through them and yet, at the same time, have Your peace; at the same time, be in Your presence; at the same time, be of good cheer. You Lord are my burden-bearer.

Don't let me get down by all these roles and responsibilities and unknowns and tasks and duties. It doesn't mean I am to avoid them. Lord, I need to address them head on. But, through that, help me to remain in Your presence, to be of good cheer, to notice You right beside me, to trust that You have conquered these problems and nothing can harm me. 

Lord, my friend is carrying a weight around today. Lord, help him to give it to You. Show him that he doesn't need those secret sins, but he can find peace and comfort and be of good cheer in You and away from those sins. Show him how you have conquered those things.

As my son begins his time of talking to a counselor today, help him to find comfort in this. Provide a good discussion and help him to see the value of yourself in him. Give him peace. 

Lord, give us wisdom in these car purchases and borrowing money. Lord, part of me wants to just borrow a lot of money so we have it. And yet Lord, you don't want us to be dependent on others and pay interest. Lord, daily I need to learn how to spend money. And daily I need to surrender this to You. 

Lord, if I'm to do this time with You, I need to get to bed sooner. Which means I need to stop thinking that rest is found in watching TV.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. Please purchase the book and support the author. 

Lord, wake me up

Lord, how is it that we continue to think we can live each day without going to You for guidance? Lord, I've settled for what I think is best without giving you the opportunity to author my life. I run around life, from task to task, moment by moment, thinking that the answer to a problem is around the next corner and me and my brilliant mind is on the cusp of figuring it out. And all the while, You wait for me to come to You and say, "God, ask me." 

I remember thinking yesterday Lord that there are two main things in my life that I've struggled with over the years and one is praying and the other is celebrations. Lord, I need to go to my knees. There are so many people and circumstances that I've agreed to pray for; there are so many circumstances in my life that are occurring that need prayer; there are so many future situations that need prayer; there are big decisions to be made in the future and you need to be there. Lord, drive me to my knees. I'm tired of living this inconsistent spiritual life where I'm on one day and off the next.

Lord, Bobby said something the other day that really hit me hard. We were talking about other people in my life and the thinking that they felt like, because of their hard work, because of their devotion, they deserved your blessing in their life. Lord, how quickly I am this person. How quickly I am this person that thinks, because of a few things I work hard on, my wife should be showering me with every kind of sexual blessing my dream world can think up. I seem to be able, for the most part, to put aside other things in life, but that I can't put aside. I want her to want me. Lord, wake me up. Re-train me and re-train my thinking.

Lord, the list of prayer requests in my life seems a little overwhelming. Lord, you know me and how I made grandiose lists, set out to arise every morning at 4am and think that, this point forward, my life will be marked by prayer. Sure it's possible, but Lord, I just want to change habits. It's like, spending time in your Word each day. I've been moving to reading 3 chapters a day. And yet, over the last month this has careened downward. I don't make time for You. I hope that in those moments of life when things don't need my full attention, that I can fit reading and prayer into life. Lord, re-train me.

As I begin to put my time and effort into preparing for this evangelism class at church, Lord, help me to not focus on the unknowns and the things I can't control (how many people will show up), but instead, may I focus on the things that matter most. May I be about prayer. That time needs prayer. Whether I have 5, 10 or 1 person arrive, train me to be a teacher. And help me to know what to say. Make me authentic. May your name be glorified, above all. I want to be challenged.

Ephesians 2:17-19

10/28/12 Message by Erik Christensen

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
(Ephesians 2:17-19 ESV)

There is a uniqueness in us. We are His representatives.
1. The proclamation of the Gospel
2. The position of the believers
3. The privilege of the saved

1. The proclamation of the Gospel

• Preach = tell something good
• In verse 17, the word is "Preach" - evangelize; to proclaim or to tell; to tell something good, more specifically to tell the Gospel
• to those who are far off (Gentiles) and to those who are near (Jews)
• What are we preaching? Peace rather than conflict; reconciliation "I have peace because of grace."

"Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
“and I will heal him."
(Isaiah 57:19b ESV)

• Peace provides healing (reconciliation = right relationship with God)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:1 ESV)

• Peace provides justification; (justified = as if you had never sinned)

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
(John 1:17-18 ESV)

At the incarnation Jesus preached peace; Jesus explained God

• The Gospel message comes from Jesus

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
(Galatians 1:15-16 ESV)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 1:8-12 ESV)

The Gospel cannot be changed; he didn't receive it from someone else giving it... (Not Joseph Smith)

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
(1 Peter 3:15 ESV)

[What an incredible verse; this verse has it all]
Be ready to give an accurate reason

2. The position of the believers

• Our access to royalty

Example - Erik gave an example of places he couldn't go by himself, like KAFB. But, when he is in the same car with someone, he can go right in. [Also sunport landside vs airside]

• Jews and Greeks have the same access
• We are one body

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV)

3. The privilege of the saved

• "No longer strangers" -  [Once saved, always saved; We are brought near]
• "Fellow citizens" [Bound together with another in terms of their political identity]

We are of God's household; of His family

• Our citizenship is in heaven

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Philippians 3:20 ESV)

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

(Hebrews 3:1 ESV)

Once again, it is emphasized again that Jesus is fully man. He took on our nature. And because of this he should be strongly considered by us.

Holy - set apart to God; being sanctified
Brothers - of one family; Author also considered those he was writing to as his brothers
Heavenly calling - pertaining to heaven, not earth; called from above
Consider - Jesus is worthy to be considered
Apostle - only place where it is applied to Jesus; sent from God; as Moses was the great apostle of God, but Jesus is superior in dignity and authority
High Priest - Jesus fulfills this office in every way as it is abolished in the fulfillment of Jesus
Profess - Of that belief which we profess; confess

We are set apart to God as we are of one family. Our calling is from heaven. Jesus is of great rank and value to be considered by all. Jesus, the apostle and the completed High priest. We confess Him.

Hebrews 2:18

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(Hebrews 2:18 ESV)

The word tempted takes on more of the meaning as put to the proof to see whether a person has sincere piety and love to God. We also see that Jesus showed he had a strength of virtue where no matter what came his way he could bear it. Jesus is qualified to sympathize with us because he has endured like trials. But, he suffered more than we could ever suffer. For that he is our brother and is never ashamed to call us brethren, we can rest our burdens on him.

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
(Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

Jesus became like man in every respect. This was essential. Nothing was to be left out. As such, the descendants of Abraham are his brothers. Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve. With a nature like ours, his compassion extends to us all the more because he knows and understands the trials we experience. Yet, his service (unlike ours) was always marked by faithfulness and this means we are safe. He surpasses the Jewish High Priest. "The Son of God became a man, that he might so fully enter into the feelings of the people as to be faithful, and that he might be qualified, as a high priest, to perform the great work of rendering God propitious in regard to sins." Before God, we now have favor and success.

Hebrews 2:16

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
(Hebrews 2:16 ESV)

To help means to take hold of one as by the hand. Mr 8:23 ("he took the blind man by the hand"), Ac 23:19 ("the tribune took him by the hand"), Lu 9:47 ("Jesus took a child and put him by his side") all give the picture of the actual person taking someone by the hand, to aid them, to come alongside. Jesus comes to our aid, not to the aid of angels. To redeem man, it was necessary for him to be a man. Yes, he is speaking to descendants of Abraham, but he is not excluding the entire human race; he is at this moment speaking to one of his children, but that doesn't mean he excludes the others.