Don't allow Satan

Don't Let Satan Rob Your Joy—

The Lord is saying to me that there's some of you who have pressed and pressed to see the doors open for you, but it just seems like they just won't get open.

I feel from the Lord to tell you, don't be discouraged. God is going to open doors for you that no man can shut. Don't let the enemy come in and rob your joy. Don't let the enemy come in and tell you it's never gonna happen.

For the Lord would say, "Do not be discouraged, because I am working behind the scenes to do things you can't know. I am moving chess pieces, as it were, behind the scenes so you can have a checkmate so you can do what you need to do—for your business, for your schooling, for your house and for your dreams."

The Lord says, "I am a dream maker." God is going to release a new ability to dream. It's time to dream again.

And the Lord says, "Don't let Satan steal those visions and those things I have put in your heart. It's time to rise up and say no to the voice of the enemy that would say to you, 'Oh, it's never going to happen.' This is the time for the violent to take it by force. Stand up and decree, 'No! I will have my doors open. I will have my breakthrough.'" 

God bless you.

Why You Need to Embrace the Lost Art of Saying "No"

   I descended to a whole new low in my parenting a little while ago. In a moment of paternal virtue, I offered an expedition to a local pottery painting shop to my elementary-aged daughter, For a brief moment, I was indeed “Super Dad!” And then came my spectacular fall from grace.

Sitting at the table, working together with great artisanal dexterity on a new bowl for our dog, I literally fell asleep. Twenty minutes later I found myself with her coat around my shoulders (“Dad, I thought you might be cold”) and Olivia on my cell phone with my wife, asking for advice on how to wake me up. The pottery shop, crowded with kids and super moms, appeared to have gone very quiet. Perhaps it was an attempt to let me sleep?

My falling asleep at the (pottery) wheel was a wake-up call of another type. There is something terribly wrong here. There is a crazy kind of busyness in my life that is just not working! Where do I go with this problem? What does faith have to teach me?

Well, you can’t make the case that Jesus does not know what it is to work absurdly hard and be exhausted. In Luke chapter 4, we observe Jesus pulling an “all-nighter.” We are told that “When the sun was setting” (verse 40) people came to him for healing and then we are told “And when it was day, he departed…” (verse 42), the inference being that He had worked through the night. But by light of the dawn, Jesus stopped what he was going and went to a deserted place to pray. Not surprisingly, the crowds followed. At which point, Jesus ostensibly said to them, “No.” Luke records “…[the people] would have kept Him from leaving them, but He said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.’” (verse 42b-43). Jesus said “no” that morning to a lot of hurting people, who genuinely needed Him and who had, literally, followed Him into the desert for their healing.

Can we chalk Jesus’ “no” up to exhaustion? Here we see evidence that Jesus’ guidance was from His Father and not from circumstances alone. The Father evidently told Him, “It’s time to move on. I want you to go to Judea and preach there.” The Father said “No” so Jesus said “No.”

What would my life look if I got my guidance from my heavenly Father and not just from my circumstances, no matter how apparently urgent those circumstances appeared? What if Jesus’ rescue plan for me from my state of “crazy busyness” — has a lot to do with my learning to say “no” to a whole lot of good things so that I can be freed up to say “yes” to the most important things? If so, how would I know the difference?

In our crazy busy lives making time to reconnect with the Father will no doubt feel counterintuitive. Perhaps it feels like God has just added yet another to-do to your long list! But if we are to allow God to break the hold that “crazy busy” has over us, this is where we must start. We are invited to bring our unmanageable lives to the Father — and tell Him the truth about how we are doing. I fell asleep in a pottery painting shop with my eight-year old daughter! I confess the extent of my problem and my incapacity to fix it on my own! This step is humbling, but crucial. We must acknowledge before Him that we are powerless to throw off our crazy busy lives, that our own guidance system has crashed! This place of confession is where we start. If not, we are simply going to come back to the place where all we can do is try harder… which will bring us back to the same end, but in a deeper pit.

What will I discover in this place of reconnection and confession? Jesus clearly knew what exhaustion felt like. And He knows each one of us so well. He knows of what we are made and where our particular breaking point is. “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14). I was recently convicted by this verse from Psalm 127: “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil...” So, what is the Lord’s response? To berate us?  The Psalm continues with His response, “…for He gives to His beloved sleep.” (Psalms 127:2). We expect condemnation, but what we find is mercy and compassion.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29). In other words, “I know you are weary. I know what got you here…I long for you to come to Me…And actually, if you will only ask Me, I will lift the burden of your self-propelled life and give you power to break the cycle of crazy-busyness.”He is the one who provides the strength and power to us in all our weakness.

How does He do that? This is the role of the Holy Spirit. Here is our capacity and power to say “no” to the good things so that we might partake in God’s best for us. The Holy Spirit supplies the power for us to live differently — the power to repent when we don’t live differently, the power to live changed lives. And all you have to do is ask. Do we imagine that God would demand some four-month silent retreat in a horsehair shirt, drinking only rain water, before deeming us worthy of the Holy Spirit? No, all we have to do is confess our inability to cease being crazy busy and just ask for His help. Jesus told us, “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).

So, having acknowledged my own power to change and having asked for the Holy Spirit’s help, I have suddenly found the inspiration and conviction to put into effect what Olivia and I call “The Saturday Plan.” This means I get up early on Saturday morning and complete whatever is still to be done for leading or preaching at our worship services on Sunday and then the day belongs exclusively to Olivia! And I managed to stay awake for all of it! I owe all of this to the power of God to say “no” to a few good things so that I might break free of being crazy busy and live in the moment.

I confess that I have slipped a few times. Some days “crazy busy” has a pull that is stronger than a black hole. Still, the power of God is greater and I have begun to recognize a process of repentance, compassion, mercy and His power to overcome that counteracts this gravitational pull.

Pasted from: crosswalk.com

God bless you.

The Staggering Picture of Christian Persecution: An Interview with Johnnie Moore

 Is your perspective on the state of the church worldwide too comfortable? What do you think when you hear about the astonishing escalation in Christian persecution in the 21st century? What should you be doing about it?

Describe the staggering picture of Christian persecution today.

Johnnie Moore: “Staggering”—that’s a good word! The stories in The Martyr’s Oath will stagger you, for sure.

Like the Syrian refugees I met who’d converted to Christianity upon arriving in a neighboring country. Word got back to a jihadist family member still in Syria. He wrote them a letter saying “If you don’t return to Islam I will find you and crucify you.”

The family wrote him back, “We will not leave Jesus, and we are happy to die for him but please don’t crucify us. We are not worthy to die as our savior died.”

Stop and think about that: they’re so willing to die for him, and we struggle so hard to live for him!

A thousand such incidents happen every week!

We’re experiencing the most significant moment of Christian persecution since the first century. We’re literally witnessing 1st century persecution in the 21st century. Pope Francis has said there are more martyrs today than at any other moment, and the persecution isn’t just isolated to a few countries, but more than 60 countries.

The numbers are overwhelming, but I wrote The Martyr’s Oath to get beyond the numbers to the lives of those effected—our forgotten brothers and sisters. Believers like Rose, whose husband and children were beheaded in front of her eyes by terrorists in Nigeria; and as the terrorists chased Rose, they demanded she convert by repeating “Allah Akbar,” but she replied to them every time by screaming “Jesus!” She’s a little lady who’s been through so much—she lost everything—yet she didn’t lose her love for Jesus.

We’re missing the power of our faith, and I’m convinced we’ll only find it through the lives of these dear people. Most Christians will never be able to meet them as I have; so, I’ve decided to document their stories for the greater church.

How do Christians in America deny Jesus?

Johnnie Moore: When a terrorist or a government official demands that you deny Jesus, they’re demanding you exchange your belief in him for something else. In America, we don’t need a terrorist or autocrat to make any such demands. We do it to ourselves all the time with whatever we value above Jesus; whatever pseudo god we put our faith in.

See, I have this conviction that you cannot actually experienced a full Christian life unless you’re being persecuted or are close to those who are. There are so many secrets of the Christian life, and so many miracles that are only accessed when your faith costs you something or costs something for someone whom you care about.

The New Testament books are largely written to persecuted believers or about persecuted believers.

We should not be emphasizing the persecuted church merely one Sunday a year; we should be connected to the persecuted church 52 weeks a year.

In the end, despite all the help I’ve given to persecuted Christians, I’ve always found that I’m the one who’s been helped the most. Their faith has—again and again—helped me find my own again.

We’ll never experience full Christian discipleship if we aren’t persecuted or if we aren’t praying for, praying with, and living alongside those who are.

THE MARTYR’S OATH

I AM A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. I believe he lived and walked among us, was crucified for our sins, and was raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures. I believe he is the King of the earth, who will come back for his church.

As he has given his life for me, so I am willing to give my life for him. I will use every breath I possess to boldly proclaim his gospel. Whether in abundance or need, in safety or peril, in peace or distress, I will not—I cannot—keep quiet. His unfailing love is better than life, and his grace compels me to speak his name even if his name costs me everything. Even in the face of death, I will not deny him. And should shadow and darkness encroach upon me, I will not fear, for I know though persecution may come, I know my battle is not against flesh but against the forces of evil. I will not hate those whom God has called me to love. Therefore, I will forgive when ridiculed, show mercy when struck, and love when hated. I will clothe myself with meekness and kindness so those around me may see the face of Jesus reflected in me, especially if they abuse me.

I have taken up my cross; I have laid everything else down. I know my faith could cost me my life, but I will follow and love Jesus until the end, whenever and however that end may come. Should I die for Jesus, I confess that my death is not to achieve salvation but in gratitude for the grace I’ve already received. I will not die to earn my reward in heaven, but because Jesus has already given me the ultimate reward in the forgiveness of my sins and the salvation of my soul.

For me to live is Christ; for me to die is gain.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Sign the oath.

In practical terms, how should Christians pray for and help the persecuted church?

Johnnie Moore: Every day ask God to do these things for your persecuted brothers and sisters: provide for them, protect them, and grant them the ability to persevere. You’ll start to pray with more depth when you better educate yourself on what’s happening around the world. A good start is the companion pamphlet to The Martyr’s Oath which is called The Ten Things you Need to Know about the Global War on Christianity. It has all the practical information you need.

How do persecuted Christians around the world feel toward the Bible?

Johnnie Moore: It’s their life and their most cherished possession. It’s their hope and their help. It’s God’s literal words and it helps them press on.

Explain the subtitle of your book, Living for the Jesus They’re Willing to Die For.

Johnnie Moore: It comes from a question that suddenly appeared in my heart after I witnessed 2,000 Bible school graduates take a martyrs oath. The Holy Spirit seemed to whisper to me, “If we worship the same Jesus and have the same Bible, then why do we struggle so hard to live for a Jesus that they’re so willing to die for?”

That question has shaped the last ten years of my spiritual journey. It’s caused me to search my heart again and again. I hope it has the effect on others, through The Martyr’s Oath, that it’s had on me.

How should Christians strengthen themselves to be prepared for persecution and to not let fear overtake their faith?

Johnnie Moore: I believe God gives us special grace to help us in moments of persecution. But I also believe he often uses his own words deposited in our hearts. We “must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

What are lessons to be learned from persecuted Christians forgiving their tormentors?

Johnnie Moore: Jesus’ forgiveness of our sins is the single most impactful part of the gospel, and when we forgive others who sin against us we’re shining his light most brilliantly. Every act of forgiveness brings a touch of Heaven to Earth, and it makes the gospel look as otherworldly and supernatural as it is.

Forgiveness is constructed in the DNA of the persecuted. One Egyptian pastor this spring delivered a sermon titled, “A Message to Those Who Kill Us.” In it he quoted Jesus, declaring the fact that the church would refuse to hate the terrorists, but would instead forgive them, pray for them, and love them. This is one of the reasons why so many terrorists are coming to Jesus.

What is a favorite Bible passage of yours and why?

Johnnie Moore: When I was 12 years old I selected a verse as my life verse, and I write it every time I sign a copy of one of my books. The verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says, “My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.”

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Posted from: Bible Gateway.

God bless you.