Archive for May, 2010

Dear TC-HOP Family,

Isaiah 56:6-7 says, “And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my alter; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” After driving out the money changers in the temple Jesus quotes this passage out of Isaiah to those He was teaching, and the priests and teachers of the law were so in fear of Him, they were looking for a way to kill Him.

So why was Jesus quoting this passage as He spoke? Why a house of prayer and not a house of discipleship or evangelism or justice? Why does God want His house to be called a house of prayer? Over the next few weeks I would like to look at some reasons God has proclaimed that His house shall be called a house of prayer.

First, that we may know Him and thus make Him known. Malachi 1:11 says, ”For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down(day and night) My name (reputation/glory) shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place (global) incense(prayers) shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering (wholehearted worship); For My name shall be great among the nations.” In order to know Him and make His name known we first need to spend time with Him in prayer and worship. God’s burning desire is to dwell with us. We were created for fellowship with Him. When God stated why Moses was to build the tabernacle, He said it was so, “that I may dwell among them.” God’s first words to John regarding the age of the New Heaven and the New Earth was, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.” (Rev. 21:3)

The most valuable way we have in getting to know God is spending time with Him in reading His word and in prayer. To quote E.M. Bounds, “We can never get to know Him if we use the vehicle of prayer as we use the telephone–for a few words of hurried conversation. Intimacy requires development. We can never know Him by brief and fragmentary and thoughtless repetitions of intercessions that are requests for personal favors and nothing more. That is not the way in which we can come into communication with Heaven’s King. “The goal of prayer is the ear of God.” (Spurgeon) and this is a goal that can only be reached by patient and continuous waiting upon Him, by pouring out our hears to him, and permitting Him to speak to us. Only by so doing can we expect to know Him; and as we come to know Him better, we will spend more time in His presence and find that presence a constant and ever increasing delight.”

How do we know that we know Him? I John 2:3-4,6: “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar.. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” Thus, the second part of our statement, making Him known, and the second greatest commandment, love your neighbor as yourself. Making him known is secondary because we cannot introduce others to someone we ourselves do not know.

The more time we spend obeying the first and greatest commandment, the easier it will be to fulfill the second. Our hearts desire is to know Him and make Him known.

Blessings,

Gary

5-24-10

Dear TC-HOP Family,

In Psalm 119:18 David says, “Open my eyes, that I May see wondrous things from Your law (word).   It is not enough to study the Word of God only, but we must encounter Him by using His own language, which is the language of Scripture, to speak to Him.  We can do this by having intimate dialogue with Him through the Word.  If we give ourselves to long and loving meditation on His Word and create an active dialogue with Him from our hearts, we will increase our encounters with Him.

Scripture is the “fuel for the fire” that gives us the conversational material in our prayer life.  It gives us language for the desire and passion within our hearts.  Using the Word of God in our prayer language with Him makes prayer easy and enjoyable.  This also includes singing the Word as well, as it says in Col. 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Not only do we encounter God through the Word, but we experience revelation of the Word through encountering God.  It takes encounter with God to experience revelation in the Word.  He alone gives understanding.  After the resurrection, Jesus opened the Scriptures to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35) and the eleven in Jerusalem (Luke 24: 36-45).

As we read through the Scriptures, we should pray the passages back to God.  Write down the things the Lord puts on your heart.  The goal is to turn Scripture into a meaningful conversation with Jesus.

As the Lord reveals particular truths to you, respond by thanking Him.  Take time to patiently and slowly do this and the Holy Spirit will tenderize our hearts through this.  Also, ask Him for a greater revelation of this particular truth.  Be persistent and specific and ask Him to open the eyes of your heart and give you greater insight.  Ask Him to show you other places in His Word that will increase this revelation in your spirit.

Some truths may exhort us to obey God’s Word.  We should respond by committing ourselves to obey Jesus in the way described in a particular passage.  Specifically speak to Jesus the intent of your heart to obey the truth.  Also, ask the Lord to empower your heart to obey a particular truth.  Ask Jesus to empower your heart with Divine enablement to obey the passage which will result in the growth of grace over time.

Paul prays in Eph. 1:17-19 that, “the Lord would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”  As we read through the Scriptures this week, let’s ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and that our hearts would be enlightened to the truths He has for us.  Ask the Lord to show you wondrous things through the Word and take time to dialogue with Him and experience the special encounters with Him as He opens your heart to His Word.

Come join us this week as we seek the Lord together in prayer at TC-HOP.

Blessings,

Gary

5-17-10

Dear TC-HOP Family,

             Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Having a vision and a passion to go deep in the Word of God is critical for us to mature in our ministry. 

As we spend time in active dialogue with God through His Word, the Word:

1) Imparts spiritual life, John 6:63; “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

2) Releases revelation, Ps119:18; “Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things in your law.”

3) Increases boldness, Acts 18:24-26; Apollos…a learned man, with a through knowledge of the Scriptures…spoke with great fervor…began to speak boldly in the synagogue.”

4) Equips us to enter into the fullness of our inheritance, Acts 20:32; “Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.”

5) Gradually transforms us into the image of God, II Cor. 3:18; “And we… are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The Word of God has supernatural abilities to build us up when it touches our heart.  It is not only accurate information, but it is living and powerful.  It changes our emotional chemistry in a dramatic way, by imparting spiritual life that is critical for us to be fiery and alive on the inside.  It also equips us to enter into the fullness of our inheritance, now and in the age-to-come.

Also, in Psalm 19, David magnified the Word of God in six statements concerning it. He said, the Word converts the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, endures eternally, and is true and righteous altogether.  The Word of God is perfect, sure, right and pure.  It is heart-searching and, at the same time, purifying in its effect.

In describing John’s own calling concerning the end-times, he emphasized the need of bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus, (Rev. 1:2,9).  The prophet Daniel was given view of Israel’s future history due to his diligence in the Word of God, (Dan. 9:2,20-27).  David’s love for the Word resulted in his commitment to stay awake through the night watches in meditation, (Ps. 119:148).

Finally, to quote E.M. Bounds, “Prayer invariably generates a love for the Word of God.  Prayer leads people to obey the Word of God and puts into the obedient heart a joy unspeakable.  The God of the Bible and the God of prayer are one.  God speaks to man in the Bible; man speaks to God in prayer.  One reads the Bible to discover God’s will.  He prays in order to receive power to do that will.  Bible reading and praying are the distinguishing traits of those who strive to know and please God.  Let it be said, that no two things are more essential to a Spirit-filled life than Bible reading and prayer.  They will help you to grow in grace, to obtain joy from living a Christian life, and to be established in the way of eternal peace.”

Come join us this week at the TC-HOP as we seek the Lord in prayer.

Blessings,

Gary

Dear TC-HOP Family,

            As this week Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, we are going to be centering our prayers this week at the TC-HOP on our nation and its leaders. 

            Many prayers this week will be centered on the familiar passage from II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name…” which is a very fitting verse to be prayed at this time.  I would also like to mention a few other passages and ideas the Lord has been laying on my heart to be praying.

            First, looking at the great intercessor, Moses, in Deut. 9 & 10, and how he came before the Lord three different times in forty days of fasting and prayer, interceding for the people of Israel as the Lord was ready to destroy them and start all over again with Moses.  In reading these passages I’m reminded of the role of the diligent intercessor which is still needed today.  Let us not take lightly the importance of coming before the Lord day and night on behalf of our nation, not just one day a year. I’m praying that more intercessors will be raised up to contend diligently day and night for our nation.

            This leads me to another point.  In Deut. 10:12-13 it says, “And now, O Israel (or we could say the United States), what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”  It is very important that we as a nation and a church restore the first and greatest commandment in our lives.  It is when this is restored and the fear of the Lord is upon our hearts that the Lord will move upon our behalf.  I’m praying for the fear of the Lord to sweep over this nation and that the church would rise up to restore the first commandment as first.  I also believe this is a Joel 2:12-17, moment for the church in this nation.  It is time for the church and our nation to, “return to me (the Lord) with all your heart, with fasting and weeping.”  Please read through this passage again and ask the Lord to place a burden on your heart for our nation and how He would want you to respond.

            In Isaiah 33:5-6 it says, “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion (or can fill our country, the United States) with justice and righteousness.  He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”  During our prayer times, let us exalt the Lord and remember it is He who rules and reigns and it is He who is our sure foundation.  As we pray for justice and righteousness in our nation, and ask for salvation, wisdom and knowledge, again it is stated that it is the fear of Lord that is the key for these things to take place.

            Finally, we need to speak truth and light into our nation.  I have been reading and praying Ps. 96, declaring His glory over our nation, and giving Him praise for His splendor and majesty.  Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise and we as a nation ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Say among the (our) nation, “The Lord reigns,” and He will judge our nation in righteousness and truth.  This is our sure foundation!

            Please come join us this week at the TC-HOP as we intercede for our nation.

Blessings,

Gary