Search Me, O God (June 26)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

June 26
Search Me, O God

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 139:13-24 | 2 Kings 9:14-10:31 | Acts 17:1-34 | Proverbs 17:27-28

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 139:13-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. [24] See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

God knows us completely. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees the motives behind our words and actions.

We think we know ourselves, but as Jeremiah reminds us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV). Our minds and hearts play many games to justify our behavior. Other times morbid introspection leaves us in a hopeless pit of false guilt and despair. But God sees through it all.

It is wise to pray the prayer of the psalmist daily. “God, you know me thoroughly. So search my heart. Test me and know my thoughts and cares. Show me the areas where I am causing offense.” As God searches our hearts, truth is revealed so we can deal with it.

Armin Gesswein often reminded us at the College of Prayer that, “what God wants is not morbid introspection, but Holy Spirit inspection.” Morbid introspection leads to false guilt, condemnation and despair. Holy Spirit inspection is completely different. As he searches our hearts, we can repent and be set free. God’s searchlight brings repentance and transformation and leads to freedom.

God search our hearts so we can be set free from sin and its effects and find the life that is full, free, and everlasting.

[Excerpt from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. Order and download the e-book today at amazon.com]

twinpeaks

 

More Information at http://www.joyinthehouseofprayer.org

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Quotes (Topics beginning with “H”)

Happy/Holy
“I do not believe that it is the will of God that we should seek to be happy, but rather that we should seek to be holy and useful.”
— A.W. Tozer, Man the Dwelling Place of God,104. —

“When the followers of Jesus Christ lose their interest in heaven they will no longer be happy Christians and when they are no longer happy Christians they cannot be a powerful force in a sad and sinful world.”
— A.W. Tozer, Who Put Jesus on the Cross?, 105 —

“…the people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world! People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight…”
— A.W. Tozer, Who Put Jesus on the Cross?, 117

Healing
“God heals and the doctor takes the fee.” –Benjamin Franklin–

Of the thirty-five miracles performed by Christ, as recorded in the four Gospels, twenty eight fall in the category of bodily or mental healing. That much of the supernatural ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ should be devoted to healing is most significant. The miracles of Christ were not promotional items, but were deliberately designed compassionate acts to relieve human suffering. They are an index the very heart of God.
— Dr. Keith Bailey, The Children’s Bread, 100-101. —

Heaven: What’s it like (in the words of children)

“There’s like this big banquet with turkey legs and pudding and potato chips and ice cream and cake. And you get to eat and eat all day. And there’s all kinds of refrigerators that stay open. And you can eat whatever you want. Except there’s no junk food. God hates junk food.”

“In heaven you got your gold houses and people with rings. So it’s kinda like down here, except more gold, and all the people are dead.”

“Heaven is like Disney World….without the sweat.”

“O.K. Remember how great Christmas was? Well it’s Christmas every day in heaven!”

From Kids Say The Greatest things About God by Dandi Daley MacKall

Heaven–Heavenly Minded
“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most of the next.”– C.S. Lewis —

Heaven Starved
“And here at last we find
Strict diagnosis of our malady,
Which is, in short, that man is heaven-starved–
Men are born thirsting for infinity.”
— E. Stanley Jones, Abundant Living —

History
“History repeats itself. It has to; nobody listens the first time around.”
— Woody Allen —

“History now comes equipped with a fast forward button.”
— Gore Vidal —

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
–George Santayana–

Holiness
“It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” — Robert Murray M’Cheyne —

“My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness” –Robert Murray M’Cheyne–

“Every man is as holy as he really wants to be.”
A.W. Tozer (Man, the Dwelling Place of God, 1966, p. 40)

“I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him.” C.H. Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 16, pg.221.

“There can be no such thing as perfect happiness till there is perfect holiness.” –Charles Spurgeon–

“What health is to the heart, holiness is to the soul.”
— John Flavel —

Honesty
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” –Mark Twain–

Hope

“Hope is never ill when faith is well.”
— John Bunyan —

Hopelessness
“More than any time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” –Woody Allen–

Humility
“I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other and that the taller we grew in Christian character, the more easily we should reach them. I find now that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other and that is not a question of growing taller, but of stooping lower and that we have to go down, always down to get His best ones.”
–F.B. Meyer–

“If I only had a little humility, I would be perfect.” –Ted Turner (attrib.)

“When you’re as great as I am, it’s hard to be humble.” –Muhammed Ali–

“Jesus Christ did not lift up humility as an idea. He lived it. When we serve others only for the sake of Christ’s glory, and not for the purpose of being appreciated by them, we will be humble as He is.”
— Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life, 147. —

“God made us and God is able to empower us to do whatever he calls us to do. Denying that we can accomplish God’s work is not humility; it is the worst kind of pride!”
— Warren Wiersbe —

Humor

“Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it.” –E.B. White–

Hunger for God
“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night. For all the ill that Satan can do, when God describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable and almost incurable.
–John Piper, A Hunger for God, p. 14.–

Hurry
“We cannot possibly flatter the Almighty by hurrying into his presence, flinging a song and prayer at him, and hurrying out of church back into our hassled lifestyles. God is never flattered by our sanctified exhaustion.”
— Calvin Miller, Out of the Depths 49

Hypocrisy

“The charge against the church used to be that it was ‘full of hyporcrites’. The charge today is subtler but no less indicting. Now we’re just called ‘plastic and fake.’ ‘People who go to church just aren’t real. I don’t think they’re trying to be deceptive, they just seem fake and act like their lives are better than I know they really are.”
Ron Martoia, quoting an unchurched man on the golf course, Morph!, 64-65

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Singing at Midnight (June 25)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

June 25
Singing at Midnight

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 139:1-12 | 2 Kings 8:1-9:13 | Acts 16:16-40 | Proverbs 17:26

Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 16:16-40

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose (Acts 16:25-26 NIV)

Sometimes going to a prayer meeting can get you in trouble. On the way to pray, they confronted and brought deliverance to a demon possessed fortune teller, which angered those who profited from her predictions. This led to confrontation, a beating and finally, imprisonment for Paul and Silas.

How would Paul and Silas react to these unexpected circumstances? They prayed and praised God, at the top of their lungs, into the night. About midnight, they were still praying and praising, and doing so loud enough that the other prisoners couldn’t help but listen.

Finally, about midnight, an earthquake interrupted the prayer and praise. The prison was demolished. The chains were broken. Paul and Silas were set free. Prayer and praise led to God breaking chains and setting captives free.

——

When confronted with impossible circumstances, remember that prayer and praise can powerfully deliver and set us free. As you approach midnight, do not fear. Do not give up. Keep singing. Keep praying. Keep looking for the intervention of God.

 

[Excerpts from Singing at Midnight, today’s devotional from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. Jeff’s book, Open Up Your Heart is now available at amazon.com]

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A. W. Tozer Quotes (Faith, Fear, Forgiveness, Future)

AWTzer TozerHead

 

Faith
“In the Book of Acts faith was for each believer a beginning, not an end; it was a journey, not a bed in which to lie while waiting for the day of our Lord’s triumph. Believing was not a once-done act; it was more than an act, it was an attitude of heart and mind which inspired and enabled the believer to take up his cross and follow the Lamb whithersoever He went.” [Born After Midnight, 16]

“Faith never means gullibility. The man who believes everything is as far from God as the man who refuses to believe anything.” [The Root of the Righteous, 120]

“Faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God. Believing, then, is directing the hearts’ attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to ‘behold the Lamb of God,’ and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.”
[The Pursuit of God, 90]

Faith as Paul saw it, was a living flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ. Faith in our day often means no more than a meek assent to a doctrine. [Paths to Power, 56-57]

Faith and Obedience
In the New Testament there is no contradiction between faith and obedience. Between faith and law-works, yes; between law and grace, yes; but between faith and obedience, not at all. The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith.
[Paths to Power, 24]

Fear
The only fear I have is to fear to get out of the will of God. Outside of the will of God, there’s nothing I want, and in the will of God there’s nothing I fear, for God has sworn to keep me in His will. If I’m out of his will that’s another matter. But if I’m in His will, He’s sworn to keep me.”
[Success and the Christian, 80]

Fear of God
The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid–that is the paradox of faith.
[The Knowledge of the Holy, 84]

Foolishness
“The notion that the careless sinner is the smart fellow and the serious-minded Christian, though well-intentioned, is a stupid dolt altogether out of touch with life will not stand up under scrutiny. Sin is basically an act of moral folly, and the greater the folly the greater the fool.”
[Man The Dwelling Place of God, 48]

Forgiveness
“The idea that God will pardon a rebel who has not given up his rebellion is contrary both to the Scriptures and to common sense.”
The Root of the Righteous, 43.

Future
“We must face today as children of tomorrow. We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come.”
— Of God and Men, 132-133 —

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Messy Growth (June 24)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

June 24
Messy Growth

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 138:1-8 | 2 Kings 6:1-7:20 | Acts 15:36-16:15 | Proverbs 17:24-25

Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 15-16

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (Acts 16:5 NIV)

The church in the book of Acts was growing in numbers, in faith, and in problems. Sometimes when we think of the church in Acts we forget that growth is often a difficult and messy process. It is wonderful to see the growth in faith and growth in numbers. Yet with all the excitement of growth there inevitably comes struggle, conflict and problems. All these require creativity and flexibility.

As a ministry team Paul and Barnabas had a great run. Barnabas was there at the beginning of Paul’s ministry encouraging everyone to give Paul a chance. He had been there to travel and minister with Paul. Issues developed and there came a day when these two godly men had to part ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Paul partnered with Silas. Despite the disagreement, the church continued to grow. Growth is messy sometimes.

———

Paul had ministry plans, but God had a better idea. Confronted by a vision, Paul shows creative flexibility and sets aim to bring the gospel to Macedonia. The church, now entering the European continent, grows more than geographically: it continues to grow in numbers and the believers continue to be strengthened in faith.

Growth is often messy. It can lead to conflict, to struggle and all sorts of problems. Remain flexible, follow God’s leading and trust him to give you wisdom and creativity. As you do, God works and the church continues to grow in numbers and to be strengthened in faith. What appears to us to be merely a problem is often a path to growth.

[Excerpts from today’s devotional from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson]

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I’ve Got A Better Idea (June 23)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

June 23
I’ve Got a Better Idea

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 137:1-8 | 2 Kings 4:18-5:27 | Acts 15:1-35 | Proverbs 17:22

Today’s Scripture Focus:  2 Kings 4:18-5:27

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.“ (2 Kings 5:10-11 NIV) 

Naaman was a valiant warrior, but he was also a leper. Urged by his wife’s helper, he set off to find healing from the healing prophet whose reputation for doing extraordinary miracles was already becoming well established: Elisha.

——
Naaman’s healing required humble submission to the simple acts of obedience prescribed by God through his prophet Elisha. When he stopped negotiating and started obeying, God answered and brought the miracle he desired.

Often the answer to our prayers requires an act of obedience. The miracle we seek depends on following through on the revealed will of God. We suggest alternate scenarios. We try to set the conditions for obedience. We want the miracle—the answer—but we want to dictate the steps it takes to get there.

The answer comes as we humbly submit to the acts of obedience that the Lord sets out in front of us. Often the path we have been seeking opens when we follow through on that one thing God has asked us to do but that we are resisting.  Do it—stop resisting, complaining, or trying to dictate alternate scenarios—follow through and see the miracle God brings.

[Excerpts from today’s devotional from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson. The e-book is now available at Amazon.com.]

 

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Breakthrough!

Praying through to a Breakthrough! This is one of the keys to bringing joy to your prayer gathering….check it out at my other blog “Joy in the House of Prayer”

pastorjeffsneighborhood's avatarJoy in the House of Prayer

prayerbs

Breakthrough

Having discerned the burden God has placed on our hearts as a group, we “pray through.” We persevere until we come to a sense of release. In some cases, we pray until we see the answer (this is the most obvious sign of a breakthrough). Other times we will pray until we sense that a breakthrough has come. This might be a sense of release of the burden, but it often comes with a sense of confidence and victory. The battle may have been long and hard, but there is a collective sense that today we have broken through and the answer is on the way. There are also times when we pray and pray and pray and while we have no sense of victory, we know that we have done all we can do for this time. Perhaps we will revisit it again another time to do further…

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Prayer Retreat coming soon!

 

flame

Malou and I have been enjoying a personal prayer retreat near the site of our upcoming prayer retreats. It is so good to get away from the rush of the city and up into the mountains to pray and read and listen.

I need refreshing times like this in my life. Maybe you do too. Can I invite you to join me for one of the two prayer retreats that are coming up in July and August?

It is just over a month before the first of the two retreats, it would be a great time to register. Need more information? Go to our ministry website: http://www.joyinthehouseofprayer.org

You can register online at http://www.joyinthehouseofprayer.org

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God’s Abundant Supply (June 22)

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

June 22
God’s Abundant Supply

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 136:23-26 | 2 Kings 3:1-4:17 | Acts 14:8-28 | Proverbs 17:22

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 3:1 -4:17

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. [4] Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” (2 Kings 4:3-4 NIV)

The widow found herself in a desperate place. Unable to pay her debts, her children were about to be taken into slavery. God saw the need and sent his prophet Elisha. God intended to work in such a way that His power and provision would magnify his goodness (as he so often does).

Elisha told her to gather jars from her neighbors—as many as she could. Then she began to pour the little bit of oil she had left into the jars. God began to multiply the oil and it continued to pour until she had filled all the jars she could gather. Then she was able to sell the oil and pay off the debt and have some left over to live on.

Elisha’s word to the woman demanded two things: obedience to God and expectant faith. As she obeyed the word of the Lord (gathering jars) and as she acted in expectant faith (pouring the oil in the jars), God provided.

God sees your need. He is more than able to meet it. His ability to provide is unlimited. Walk in obedience to God’s leading step by step, expecting his provision.

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Burden: “The B’s Of Praying Together in a Prayer Gathering”

Never allow your prayer meeting to be hijacked by requests for Aunt Matilda’s Sore Toe….check out the article from my other blog…”Joy in the House of Prayer”

pastorjeffsneighborhood's avatarJoy in the House of Prayer

prayerbs

This week we are focusing on the “B’s” of praying together with others in a prayer group. We’ve already considered, Be brief, be bold, be biblical and build on each other’s praying. Today we consider the issue of prayer “burdens.”

Burden. No one has taught me more on this subject than another of my prayer mentors, Wesley Duewel. His book, Mighty, Prevailing Prayer, is must reading for any serious intercessor. He describes prayer burden like this: “A prayer burden is a spiritual concern on the heart of God that is imparted by the Holy Spirit to someone whose intercession the Holy Spirit desires to use” (200). He elaborates,“Prayer burden begins as an inner impression that you should pray for a known or unknown need. It is a gracious work of the Holy Spirit applying spiritual pressure upon your heart” (194). He sometimes cites as an example, Paul’s burden for…

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