An Altar Call

Last night was great, in fact the whole day was. First a guest speaker at church who, at the end of his sermon, asked if anyone had a burden to give to God raise their hand. Next he said to raise your other hand and give it to God. Both my hands where high in the air. I felt like I had released that inner most part of me to God to let Him do His work in me.

But, I still felt like there was something more I needed to do. Unsatisfied I went through the rest of the Sunday in a spiritual zombie-like state, not moving upward the way I want my spirit life to be going. Finally I just felt the need to get out of the house, my prison, and see if a change of scenery would help. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says "Seek and you shall find" and in verse 8 Jesus concludes "he who seeks finds". So I guess I was seeking, I wasn't sure where I should look or what it would be I would find, but if Jesus promised the seeker he would become the one who finds who was I to doubt Him?

The first stop on my search was a Denny's. Not exactly Mount Sinai where Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments, but one should always start seeking on a full stomach (Proverb according to Bob). When I had finished eating my search too me to Target. If sin is missing the mark or the target why not get as close to the Target as I can. So I went in and shopped around the electronics department still debating on which flat screen TV I should get, but still never buying one. So rather than just standing there debating which one had the best picture quality I walked over to the music department and picked up a couple of Cd's.

Finally, I admitted to myself that instead of waisting time I needed to get to my destination. That place where "seek" becomes "find", that place I know I need to get to, but am still not convinced I will find whatever it is I am looking for. I pull my car into the parking lot and found an empty space facing the building. I sit in my car still listening to one of my new Cd's watching people going in the propped open door. I am at a small church in town that has a Praise and Worship night about once a month called Majesty Unlocked. I got out of my car, took a deep breath and sighed and walked into the building making my way to a seat in the very last row (a good safe place near the door).

From my vantage point I watched as the praise team began the music and started to sing. I saw many seated with hands raised high praising God, while others stood arms outstretched giving glory to the Lord. I listened to the testimonies of God moving in peoples lives and others read scriptures that have gotten them through hard times, but whatever was suppose to happen to me, whatever it was that I was suppose to find didn't seem to be there. So I began the countdown to leaving and continuing my search. I'll give it one more song, or I'll pray one more time or listen to one more testimony and if the Heavens don't open up wide and pour down blessings I'm out of there.

Finally times up. I am standing behind the last row of seats eye-balling the door. Someone I know walks by and I am tempted to ask them to walk me out so it would look like we had something to talk about rather than me trying to cut out early. As I formulated this plan I noticed the pastor of the church standing close by looking in my direction. In an effort not to look needy I began to sing the song and smile a little, too late. Next thing I know I am being hugged and I hear the pastor whisper a few words in tongues. This was followed by a translation that was so spot on it had to come from God since I had not shared anything about the quest I was on with anyone.

When he was done speaking the word God had given him for me he released the hug and simply walked away leaving me in awe of God and this mans genuine relationship with Him. My search hadn't ended, but what I was searching for was now coming into focus and was now within range of obtaining. I stood there through what may have been one more song I don't remember, when the lead singer said the pastor would like to do something different tonight.

On most Majesty Unlocked nights the purpose or focus is to simply worship God, it's not a time of laying on of hands or prayer request, but an open forum of a group of people spending some one on one time praising their king. Pastor Jerry felt lead to have an "Altar Call". They invited anyone with a need to come forward and someone would meet them there, lay hands on them and pray, joining their faith with yours to bring your need before God. I bolted for the front of the church the moment she finished the invitation and waited and waited and waited for what seemed to be forever for someone to come over or something to happen, but nothing. I stood there feeling more alone and now on display like the last kid picked to be on the softball team in school.

I closed my eyes and began to pray, after all God hears my prayers and He just spoke to me through the pastor. All I wanted to do was to seal the words he spoke in my heart and mind so that what would be found would not get lost again. With my eyes closed and my lips praying I felt hands on me. I looked up to see a man standing in front of me looking me in the eyes while pouring oil on his finger. He reached for my forehead making a oil cross on my face and went right into prayer. I stood there trying to hear and receive everything he was petitioning God for in my behalf. When suddenly I heard his words over the music and what I had been searching for was now mine and it was a word.

"Don't let this brother believe the lies of the devil". the moment I heard those words I grabbed the mans arm. I wanted him to know that in his prayer to God, God was now speaking to me through him and I got the message. When he finished praying the man hugged me for the longest time. By this point my inhibitions were gone and like David dancing in front of the Arc I didn't care anymore who was watching, I was too busy connecting with God. Mission accomplished I had sought and I had found just as Jesus promised me I would.

Sorry to take you down such a long path on a search that brought me no earthly treasure, but brought me closer to my God. I just needed to tell the story of how an "Altar Call" changed me once again. I know sometimes it seems pointless to step out of your seat and walk down an isle and stand or kneel by a wooden platform, but I now know it is those very actions that God notices and responds to that will turn your search into a discovery.

God Loves Me

In the past couple of weeks I've had the people closest to me point things about myself they feel need correcting. I don't believe they meant it with any malice in mind, but it started to make me think of why am I the way I am? That is after the anger wore off. I know there are things about me that some people don't like and I'm cool with that because I never sought to be a people pleaser. I would much rather work on being a God pleaser, after all He's the only one I know who gave up their Son for me.

And I'm sure I'm guilty, weather in jest or not, of letting people know areas of their life that need fixing. But I'm becoming aware of how destructive these words can be. If I were to follow my emotions I would dismiss my friends rather than dismissing their comments. As you can tell I was hurt by the comments. Satan loves this kind of stuff when it happens. He pushes in and tries to seclude me from others with the pretence that I won't get hurt if I'm by myself. But God reminds of His intention when He created man.

In the Message Bible it reads like this. God spoke: "Let us make human beings in Our image, make them reflecting Our nature..." And a little further down it says this. "God created human beings; He created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature."

Sometimes my eyes get off my Creator and I begin to look at His creations and I forget all the detail and time God put into making me who I am. In a recent sermon on the radio I heard a preacher speaking about all the songs and sermons that talk about our love for God, not that there is anything at all wrong with these songs, but in the process we forget how much God really loves us. I think from now on I will get my opinion of myself from the One who made me and then loved me so much He died for me... Wow, God Loves Me.

An Inmate Ministers To Me

The past few weeks I've been really dealing with a bad attitude. I know I keep hinting at it in my blog, but things were coming to a boiling point inside me and I needed God to step in in a big way. This past Tuesday while up at the prison I was sitting with some of the "mightier" worshipers, I mean these guys can really shout to the Lord. I felt unworthy to be standing with them and I wanted that feeling to end.

Finally I got up the courage to ask Chris, the inmate standing next to me, to pray for me. I thought he would lift my name up during his weekly Prayer Meeting with his cell mates. but a few seconds after I asked for prayer I felt his hand on my shoulder. The music was loud and trust me the only words I heard him say were "My brother Bob". Yet while he prayed I felt the overwhelming presence of God all around me. The Holy Spirit took back the controls of my emotions and I felt more alive than I have in weeks. After praise and worship I showed Chris the scripture in the Bible that was describing what I was feeling. Proverbs 18:1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

He took the scripture from me and told me he would see what God had to tell him to say to me. Below is the letter he gave me this past Saturday, take a moment to read it. So many times when I tell people I am in prison ministry they think I am dealing with a rough crowd, fact is I have found some of the most faith filled people I've ever met. Here's his letter, I didn't change a word or the way he worded things.

Proverbs 18:1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desires;he rages against all wise judgement.

The devil has found many ways to deceive us, unfortunately he has found a way to get us even when we isolate ourselves. Depression is a tool that the evil uses to try and turn us away from God. It's a very tricky thing to deal with, depression, because of the fact it clouds the judgement and perception of situations and events that take place in your life.

You start to believe or think that people are out to get you when the reality is that those people care about you and are concerned. So they try to help you by stating what it is they see. This causes you to get defensive and you end up shutting yourself out even more.

God wants us to be in relationship, not only with Him, but with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and also those who are lost. Together with our siblings in Christ we seek out the lost and bring them the Good News of of the Lord our God.

Our mind runs wild when we isolate ourselves and that can be life threatening. Talk always to our Lord. Take your problems and lay them at His feet, He can handle them without breaking a sweat or the law. When trying to take care of our own problems the devil takes advantage of us and can find a way to get us to break either man or God's law in order for us to find a solution for our problems. Unfortunately for us that solution is only temporary and false.

Always remember that our own desires aren't our at all. Those are the devils. Listen to the Lord's command and obey it. You can never go wrong when listening to the Lord. He has only our best in His interest.

Lord, Keep Me From Evil

This is the topic I have to preach at Brevard County Correctional Institute September 12. We're spending a Saturday in the prison were 4 of us have divided up the Prayer of Jabez and are preaching on each aspect of his prayer. I got keep me from evil that I may not cause pain.

My last blog brought up some discussion on legalism and what actually defines sin and we can debate those issues until Jesus comes to take us home. But as I study the scriptures on being crucified with Christ and that it's not my life I live anymore, but Christ who lives in me I have to examine my own actions.

Do I show anger more than I should? When things go wrong at work am I reflecting God's love? Am I the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city on a hill? Or am I someone who prays, reads the Bible, goes to church and still I react like a man without the hope that we all have in Jesus?

That's not what God or I want for my life. I want to be the person Bible describes in 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.

Without saying a word I want the world to know I have something real special going on inside me. When I do speak they hear the voice of God's love coming from my mouth and my every action is to build up and not destroy lives. I don't want to live by a set of rules, but to live how Jesus taught us to live.

John 8:31-32 (New International Version)
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I'll never know the truth until I hold onto the teachings of Jesus and without that truth I cannot be free from me...be blessed.

Legalism; Is It An Excuse?

I had a friend tell me yesterday that he and his wife were out with another Christian couple. During the conversation my friend mentioned to this couple that they don't go to any "R" rated movies. The woman responded, "Oh, we use to be LEGALISTIC" too.

What she was doing was justifying her own actions under the covering of legalism. My friend was taken back by this statement. Because he chose to believe that there are some things you don't invite into the house of God, he was doing something wrong or un-Biblical.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (Amplified Bible)
Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

So let me ask you this, would you bring a recording of something you watch on television into church for everyone to see? Would you bring your favorite "R" rated movie to a bible study for everyone to watch? No, of course not. Because it's God's house we do not want to defile it, so why if you're body is also God's house is this different?

Galatians 2:20 (New Living Translation)

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I heard a man preaching on the radio the other day and he said "Everything that you did or thought before coming to the cross needs to stay on that side of the cross." Agree or disagree, but how long will we walk down this road of compromise before we see ourselves in the end time prophesies?

2 Timothy 4:3 (New International Version)

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Gee, how did Paul know?

Predestined To Seek

I just got home from Life Group (a weekly Bible Study held at someones home) where we take time to discuss the past Sunday's sermon and how we can better apply it to our lives. Our discussion tonight began with the topic of loyalty, more to the point the lack of loyalty Judas showed towards Jesus as His betrayer. The facilitator of the group, Pastor Chris Hitte posed the question of predestination. Was this the fate of Judas to be born, live his life, find himself walking and fellowshipping with Jesus and then in a dramatic turn of events turn Jesus over to the men who would eventually see to His execution.

When we hear the word "Predestination" I think people either see themselves as predestined to be good or predestined to be evil with little or no choice to their outcome. As I drove home I thought about the entirety of tonight's lesson and as many voiced their thoughts or shared scripture Pastor Chris never once said "Sorry you're wrong" or "That's not what we believe". Instead he encouraged the group to even speak out more. As a result I began to see the love the group had for God's word. How much everyone enjoys sharing as we revealed more and more of the heart of God.

That's when God spoke to me. The predestination of the creation is to seek out the Creator. That's what we do every time we pick up the Bible or walk into a church. It's our destiny, it's why we exist, it's what we live for. We fall in love with a Creator who became a Saviour and fall in love with His word, to the point that we can't stop talking about Him.

I have this painting in my living room. It's called "The Creation" and shows the hand of Adam reaching out to the hand of God. As I look at it now I can clearly see that this has not stopped, we still are reaching out to God. We were predestined to die as sinners, but because of the death and resurrection of Jesus the gap that kept our hand away from God's was removed and we can once again reach our hand out, as Adam did in the beginning, and touch the hand of God. After all, it's what we were predestined to do...

Romans 8:29-31 (New King James Version)
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:29-31 (The Message)
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Are We Walking By Sight?

2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I've been asking myself this question the past few days. Am I walking by faith (the evidence of things not seen) or by what I see going on around me. When we see those in the body hit hard financially or stricken with illness or suffering disappointments in their lives we have to wonder what are we seeing? Do we become so overwhelmed by the symptoms of our distress that we neglect to see the abundance of power that God has bestowed upon us through His word to actually move these mountains? There's a line of a popular Christian song that says "Saviour, He can move a mountain", but Jesus said if we have the faith and command this mountain to be moved, it will be moved, have we forgotten that we have this power given to us by the Holy Ghost that's fueled by our faith?

I think it's time for the body of Christ to rise up and take hold of everything God has to offer. It's the time for healing, deliverance, financial blessings, restored families... We are suppose to be like a city on a hill, the salt of the earth...the "Go To" people. It's not too late, we can fix this. God hasn't walked away form us and said "No more miracles for them", He's right here and He's still in the miracle business and all these blessings and miracles will be ours if we just walk (live) by faith.

One of my favorite prayers of Paul the Apostle is found in Ephesians chapter 3. I love the way verse 20 reads in the Message Bible. "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" I want to put my faith in this God.