I was blessed by the resolutions of the great puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards, known for the famous sermon, “Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God”.

What is interesting to me is the focus on the attention of seizing the NOW, the DAY – to the glory of God!

Be encouraged and blessed:)

#1 Resolve never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends for the glory of God.

#2 Resolve never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

#3 Resolve to live with all my might, while I do live.

#4 Resolve never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

#5 Resolve to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

Onward …

“Bringing It To The Father”

21 Day Fast And Prayer

“Ask” “Seek” “Knock”

Luke 11:9-13

January 25^th thru February 14th

As we begin the new year of 2010, I would like to invite you to join me in these next 21 days for a time of prayer and fasting that we’re calling “Bringing It To The Father!” Jesus promised that if we “Ask”, “Seek” and “Knock” the Father will give to us the help, comfort and gifting of the Holy Spirit. Let’s begin the year giving our Father our attention, and giving room to the Holy Spirit in our lives!

What is fasting?

Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. It is denying bodily hunger to focus on hungering after the Lord. Jesus spoke of “prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). And there are different types of “fasts!”

For example …

#1 There is the “Full Fast” – which is drink only.

#2 There is the “Daniel Fast” – which is: no meat, no sweets, no bread (only water, juice and vegetables).

#3 There is the “Partial Fast” – from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm (or from sunrise to sundown) – which can be a “Full Fast”, “Daniel Fast” or where you give up at least one type of food.

The type of fast that you choose, the length of the fast, and whether or not you choose to fast at all, is entirely up to you. The Bible does not command that we fast; and if you choose not to fast, no problem, you can still pray! However, before beginning any fast, be sure to consult your physician.

God Bless you as you go vertical in prayer and fasting with the Father!

“It Really Happened, Once!”

C.S. Lewis, the great Oxford professor, was at one time a hardened atheist. Interestingly, what began the process that ultimately revolutionized Lewis’ life in becoming a Christian was an idea that came from, an unlikely source, an even more hardened atheist than Lewis who remarked to him, “the historicity of the gospels were really surprisingly good!” This same atheist then referred to pagan mythology of a “dying god” who rose again, then mused, “It almost looks as if it really happened once.”

Did it really happen, once?

The popular talk show host LARRY KING was once asked whom he would choose to interview if he had one person to choose from throughout history.  King answered that it would be Jesus and he would ask only one question: “Are you indeed VIRGIN BORN?” “The Answer to that Question,” said King, “would explain history to me”.

Why did King say this?

Because if Jesus was not virgin born, everything begins to break down! If Jesus was not supernaturally conceived in the womb of Mary then He was not God. And if He was not God then His death on the Cross really meant nothing at all. Even more, He was a fraud giving “False Hope” by claiming to be God in human form!

Some say that the Gospel’s were written by individuals inspired by imagination not historical realities. But if the Gospel’s are not true, if the Bible is a con, an attempt to CREATE a reality in the readers mind(inspired by an agenda and the imagination of man), the information used by the writer’s would have been counterproductive to their attempt to persuade a public that Jesus is the Son of God!

No one who would try to make up the story of the Lord Jesus, pawning it off as fact/credible, and write into the story shepherds being the first to hear of the news of Christ’s birth, why? Because shepherds were despised in this culture, regarded as thieves and not even allowed to stand trial as a witness. In addition, why would the leaders of the early Christian movement have made up the story of the crucifixion if it didn’t happen? As New York Times best selling author Timothy Keller concisely put it, “Any listener of the gospel in either Greek or Jewish culture would have automatically suspected that anyone who had been crucified was a criminal, whatever the speaker said to the contrary.” Keller continues, “Why would the Gospel’s depict the apostles – the eventual leaders of the early church – as petty and jealous, almost impossibly slow-witted, and in the end as cowards who either actively or passively failed their master? Why would anyone in the early church want to play up the terrible failures of their most prominent leader, Peter?”

The shepherds, the cross, the failings of the apostles… they are all mentioned in the Gospel narratives … BECAUSE they ARE a part of historical reality! Because the Gospel’s are ACCURATE historical accounts!

C.S. Lewis made an insightful observation that ancient fiction was nothing like modern fiction. In ancient times the details for epics and legends were sparse. He noted that the genre of fiction had developed only in the last 300 years! He said, “I have been reading poems, romances, vision literature, legends, and myths all my life. I know what they are like. I know none of them are like this. Of this (gospel) test there are only two possible views. Either this is reportage ….or else, some unknown (ancient) writer …without known predecessor or successor, suddenly anticipated the whole technique of modern novelistic, realistic narrative …”

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And, enjoy reading the “Christmas Story” of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. A story mixed with the natural and supernatural.

Because…

“It REALLY Happened, Once!”

It’s been an incredible year of God’s grace and new beginning!

I, believe, it all began two years ago at the start of 2008, when by prayer and fasting we sought the Lord for personal REVIVAL! I believe the Lord began a process of renewal in our lives and in the life of the church.

In the better part of this year, we have witnessed passion and public expression of praise and adoration for the Lord unparallel at Calvary, along with an excitement and buzz among the church family hanging together and fellowshipping long after services.

Simply, there is Joy!

And, the church has become a beautiful, REFUGE!

This morning we learned that Nehemiah prayed the prayer of “covenant!” He brought to the Lord the promises that God had given to Israel. Well, YOU, are a Nehemiah in this generation. I encourage you to also pray the promises the Lord has given us. Listed below are some great promises!

“Father, you promised to supply my needs …” (Phil 4:19; Matt 6:33)

“Father, you promised not to withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly …” (Ps. 84:11)

“Father, you promised that ALL things work together for the good …” (Rom 8:28)

“Father, you promised that I would not be tempted beyond my ability to handle it and that you would make a way of escape!” (I Cor 10:13)

“Father, you promised that I am saved by grace through faith!” (Eph 2:8)

“Father, you promised that in Jesus nothing shall separate me from your LOVE!” (Rom 8:35)

“Father, you promised the help of the holy Spirit if I just ask!” (LK 11:9-13)

You are a Nehemiah! We are ALL Nehemiah’s. Every Christian is a NEHEMIAH!

“Greg, that is not my name I don’t know what you’re talking about …”

Here’s what I mean:

 #1 The Lord called Nehemiah to make a contribution in his generation. We too have been called to build.

#2 Nehemiah’s work had to with Jerusalem. God called him to rebuild the broken down walls of Jerusalem. Our work has to do with Jerusalem in this way: Jesus is coming back to Jerusalem and we all play a role in this generation in getting people ready for the rule of the King in making the Gospel known.

#3 Nehemiah’s WORK was temporary but important to the big picture in the impacting generations to come. Our work is temporary, in fact, our “life” is temporary here on earth yet our contribution – though menial at times, is essential to the big picture and to a work that continues for eternity.

#4 There were forces that were against Nehemiah! This is true in our lives as well. All of us face a battle. The Bible says, “… we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We need to understand this. The stakes are high. We need to learn what is necessary to be victorious.

#5 Nehemiah held onto the promises of God which provided the right direction for his life and the strength that he needed (see Neh. 2:20)

Again, you need to know: YOU are a NEHEMIAH!

But you also need to know that there is a devil who is opposing your life and work. He is not behind every bush of opposition and temptation. However, he is real and he is motivated.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, two individuals who lived there, Sanballat and Tobiah, were very upset. Immediately, Nehemiah was in the cross-hairs of their scope. Similarly, as a Christian, you are a marked person. Sanballat and Tobiah wanted to weaken Nehemiah. They wanted to undermine his life and work in the care of the Jewish community. Neh 2:19 tells us that their initial method was the spearheading of a “misinformation campaign” by implying that Nehemiah’s leadership did not have the approval of the King. It was slander by insinuation. If true Nehemiah would be a traitor and anyone joining him would be committing treason.

It’s important to understand the temptation that Nehemiah faced at this point because by nature you will face a similar temptation. He faced the temptation to stop his great work and expend his energy on a public relations campaign to clear his name! The temptation he faced was the dividing of his focus and energy. The temptation he faced was to walk away from his chief objective of building the wall of Jerusalem. There was much at stake!

 Here’s the big picture …

 Building the walls of Jerusalem was the beginning of a great revival and awakening in Israel. The walls needed to be restored in order for the Temple to be fully operational, worship to be restored and God to be glorified. So, it was very important that Nehemiah, remain focused and disciplined on THE objective which was building the wall in Jerusalem.

If Nehemiah turned from building the wall and put his energy in answering slander with a public relations campaign justifying the integrity of his work, the enemy would have accomplished the goal of dividing Nehemiah’s focus.

Nehemiah would have been be expending energy on two fronts. He would have been divided and weakened, and the advantage would have gone to Sanballat and Tobiah. But Nehemiah chose to do what was right and profitable for God’s chosen people. He kept moving forward in his calling even in the face of personal attacks and the obstacles of ear and confusion.

 Remember, YOU are a Nehemiah. God has a calling on your life. There is a “WALL” the Lord wants you building. It’s the Gospel in this generation. It’s the ministry He has called you too. It’s your family! Beware, there is opposition to divide your attention and focus and weaken your resolve. Beware of the devil. He is real. Sanballat and Tobiah personified his influence. Today, may the Lord strengthen your hands. Build! Remember, YOU are a Nehemiah.

EVERYTHING that God has SAID is TRUE and WILL come to pass!  

The Lord wants us to BELIEVE this and when we do it is called faith and faith becomes the funnel through which God blesses our lives.

You can perhaps better understand why Scripture says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)

Think about the NATURE of what takes place when you CHOOSE to believe something. It immediately sets your thinking in a particular direction. What a person believes influences how they perceive things and how they live.

For example, if the fire marshal ran into your office warning you of an approaching fire you would then face a decision whether to accept the threat or not. It impacts the direction of your thinking. If you disregard the warning, you remain in your office. If you believe the warning you run out of your office.

Can you see how “belief” triggers thinking, and thinking impacts your outlook and ultimately what you do?

Now, the OPPOSITE of faith is doubt! Doubt is the lack of assurance and confidence that God will keep His promises. Doubt is NOT believing what God will do. It is a choice to live in uncertainty.

Remember: EVERYTHING that God has SAID is TRUE and will COME to pass! The Lord wants us to believe this and when we do it’s called faith and faith becomes the funnel through which God blesses our lives. So, what are some of the promises God has given us that He wants us to believe and accept to be true?

#1 He will PROVIDE our NEEDS Phil 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

#2 He will PROTECT us from ENEMIES Is 54:11 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper …”

#3 He will PROSPER us for our HIGHEST GOOD Ps 84:11”No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly…”

Every day your faith will be tested on whether God will PROVIDE, PROTECT and PROSPER your life. I encourage you, trust the Lord. Believe Him today. Accept His Word is TRUE! As you do, it will impact your thinking, your outlook and the way you live. When you believe him and His word you will “please” the Lord and experience His approval and blessing. 🙂

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FRIEND OF ISRAEL?

By Greg Denham

The best days are ahead for Israel!

One day all of Israel will know the Lord and know salvation in Christ. In the meantime, millions of Gentiles among the nations are coming to faith in Christ.

Does the church of today play a role in what will be the future of Israel? Does the church have a responsibility to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the people from which Messiah came?

The Bible says that a Christian should have a specific influence to the Jewish community. (Romans 11:11) What does that mean? How does the church influence Israel? What is the relationship that Christians should have with Jews throughout the world and in Israel?

Below, is what I believe is a Biblical vision of what it means to be a “Friend Of Israel!”

(1.) A Christian stands against the ignorance and madness of racism and anti-Semitism. There is no greater friend of sinners, of man, of Israel – than Jesus. History attests of unspeakable acts toward Jews by those who have worn a mask of Christianity. Genuine Bible believing Christians denounce these acts! Zechariah 2:8; Duet. 7:7-9a

(2.) A Christian is a Bible believer who stands on the promises that God gave Israel of a homeland in the land of Israel. God keeps His promises and cannot cancel His character. Zionism is the belief that Jews have a right to a national home in Israel. 1 Chron. 16:17-18; Ez. 26:24; Romans 9:1-5; Joel 3

(3.) A Christian believes in the whole Bible! The roots of the Christian faith sprang forth from the soil of Judaism which began in Jerusalem not Rome. A Christian has been engrafted into the promises that God gave to Israel of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. A Christian believes in the whole Bible and calls both Jews and Christians back to the study of the Holy Scriptures.

(4.) A Christian’s highest expression of blessing “Israel” and the Jewish people is demonstrating unconditional love toward Jews and helping Jewish friends (and the world) to see the hope and salvation of the Messiah of Israel, the Lord Jesus! The Bible foretold that through Abraham, “…all the families of the earth shall be blessed;” that “Salvation is of the Jews” and that the  “…the gospel of Christ … is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Genesis 12:3; John 4:22; Acts 2:22; Romans 1:16-17

(5.) A Christian is not anti-Jewish but on the contrary a Christian worships the “Lord God of Israel” and a Savior who is Jewish who demonstrated that He is the Savior of both Jew and Gentile by resurrecting from the dead. Jeremiah 31:31 says, “Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” The word Jeremiah uses for “New Covenant” is the Hebrew phrase “brith Hadasha” – from which the phrase “New Testament” comes. A Christian is not calling Jews to assimilate and convert to another religion, but rather to be complete in Messiah! Mt 5:17-18 … Jeremiah 31:31 … Romans 10:1-4

(6.) A Christian stands against Islamic extremism – which is rooted in racism and hatred that targets Israel, Christians and the non-Islamic world. Allah is not the God of the Bible.

(Copyright 2008 Greg Denham)

Hello to everyone !

Sunday morning we’re continuing our study in the life of Moses which gives us INCREDIBLE insight to the “Making Of A Man of God!” I thought I’d give a little preview to this Sunday morning’s message. By the way, for those of you who are following the blog series, “How We Got The Bible?” – more entries are coming soon! J

Exodus 3:3-4 reads “Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

This was certainly a WOW moment for Moses!

A burning bush that was not burning?!

The Lord was undoubtedly trying to get Moses’ attention and there will be times the Lord is trying to get your attention as well. It may be in an unusual event. What we think is a “coincidence”. A WOW experience. Perhaps a tragedy.

In such times it’s good to ask, “Lord, do you want my attention?” “Are you wanting to say something to me?” Why it is good to ask these questions? Because God is alive and active and HE IS OUR FATHER and we are a part of something bigger than ourselves: His Kingdom!

For Moses there was a definite “when” and “then” connection.

Initially, Moses had no idea it was the Lord. It was just a WOW experience: a burning bush that was not burning! But once he stepped aside, out of his routine, the Lord spoke to him and Moses answered, “Hinaynee” (the Hebrew word) which means, “Here I am” –“I’m here”– “It’s me!” Moses was saying, “You have my attention”.

Then Lord then instructed Moses to remove his sandals for he was standing on holy ground. Holy ground? Yes, Moses was in the presence of the Lord. It was a place of sacredness and sanctification. The Lord wanted Moses to step right in. He wanted him in a place where he was sanctified, set apart. As Chuck Swindoll notes, it was as if the Lord was saying, “Moses, I want you to separate yourself from your past. Furthermore, I want you to remove from your mind your immediate responsibilities. Give me your undivided attention. I want you to listen only to what I am saying right now. Separate yourself from every human thing. Draw an imaginary perimeter around yourself and stand still, Moses!” 

Aaah, is it time for you to do the same?

To say to the Lord, “Here I am! Lord, you have my attention. You have my life. Here I am! I separate myself for you alone!”

There is strong evidence that the first Gospel written, the Gospel of Mark, was penned some THIRTY YEARS after Jesus rose from the dead.�
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Obviously, thirty years is a long period of time for eyewitnesses of the life and ministry of Jesus to remember the kind of details that are recorded in the Gospel of Mark as well as the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.
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This point raises many questions that we will be exploring in future blogs such as, “What is the meaning of ‘Inspiration’ and ‘Inerrancy’?”
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However, at this time, I want to focus on the following question: “How was the message of Jesus communicated by the first Jewish believers before the New Testament was officially written and circulated as a source for doctrine and Christian growth?”
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There are THREE important perspectives to keep in mind when answering this…
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#1)  The Gospel was initially communicated by those who were eyewitnesses of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus! Prior to the literary works of the New Testament being circulated throughout Christian communities as a source for doctrine and Christian growth, the message of the Gospel came from “Apostolic Authority!”�
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This is seen on the day of Pentecost- fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead – when Peter preached to thousands of his Jewish countrymen and remarked, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses!” (Acts2:33)

Their eyewitness authority is also seen when Peter and John stood before the ruling council of Israel – who had threatened the Apostles and called for them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus – Peter answered, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)�
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Acts 2:42 says that the early church “continued in the Apostles doctrine” which was based upon their own personal experience of the life, miracles and teachings of the Lord Jesus. This gives perspective to Ephesians 2:19-20 which says “…you are …fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles …”�
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Did the Apostles have divine help with what they remembered?  You bet! 

Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you!” 

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#2) The early church began in Jerusalem and to the early Jewish followers of Jesus, their faith did not come from a vacuum, but was rooted in the person and work of Jesus and in the inspired literary work of the Tanach – the Old Testament. On the day of Pentecost, a day where God’s active presence was clearly visible for thousands to see, the Apostle Peter substantiated the unique experience by quoting from the prophet Joel! By doing so, the early church was proclaiming their belief that what was written about in the Old Testament was in the process of being fulfilled! Jesus even said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17)�
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So, when the question arises, “How was the message of the Jewish followers of Jesus communicated before the New Testament was written and circulated as a source for doctrine and Christian growth?” – the answer is, orally! It was communicated orally by the Apostles whose authority was based upon their own personal experience in the life and ministry of Jesus, and upon the Scriptures that had already been given in the Old Testament.  Personal experience in Christ, combined with the writings of the Law and the prophets were the key elements that made up the “the Apostles doctrine”. (Acts 2:42)
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#3) It is important to have proper perspective on the significance of oral tradition in Jewish culture. Author and Professor Timothy Paul Jones, did a great job researching this subject in his book, “Misquoting Truth!” (Intervarsity Press) He wrote, “We live in a time when printed records define our culture. This was not the case in first century. In the world of Jesus and Mary and Simon Peter, written records were secondary to spoken narratives.”�
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There are a number of reasons as to why spoken narratives were more authoritative than written records in the first century.
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First of all, the majority of the Roman Empire was illiterate. Secondly, the character of the person who was putting forth information deeply mattered to the ancient people.�
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Timothy Paul Jones writes, “At the end of the first century A.D., some Christian leaders still relied on oral accounts of Jesus’ life alongside the written Gospels and apostolic epistles. Papias of Hierabpolis put it this way: “If anyone who had served the elders came, I asked about their saying in detail – what, according to the elders, Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s followers …. For I perceived that what was to be obtained from books would not profit me as much as what came from the living and surviving voice.”�
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Furthermore, there is strong evidence in New Testament writings that the early church benefited from EARLY oral history. In fact, it is believed that I Cor. 15:3-7 was a proclamation that was celebrated and repeated orally after being passed down from the Apostles. It reads: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.”�
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With regard to this passage, Timothy Paul Jones writes, “So, how can scholars know that these words actually came from early oral history? In the first place, Paul introduced this summation with the two Greek words that clearly indicated it was oral tradition. These two words were “paradidomi” (“handed over”) and “paralambano (“received”). Ancient readers understood these two words – when used together – to imply that the writer was quoting words that he or she intended to become oral tradition. In this way, Paul clearly informed the Corinthians that he was about to pass on oral tradition.”�
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Some might say, “Everyone knows that when people pass along information orally, it is less than perfect and the stories are bound to change”!

Actually, oral history in Jewish culture was a proficient and effective discipline and was a reliable process in passing along important information. One way this was accomplished was through the use of rhythmic, repetitive patterns in memorizing information. It’s like memorizing the lyrics of a song. I still can recall lyrics learned in grade school – especially when accompanied with melody or rhythm. The melody helps me remember the words on the drop of a dime!

Stay tuned for more …