Many of you know that Living Waters Fellowship has started a Friday night meeting called the Throne Room. It was a dream that Pastor John and I have had for a long time and we were waiting for the time that the Lord would say, "Go". Some have asked, "What is this and Why is it called the Throne Room"? I'd like to write a little about it and perhaps eventually we will form a blog called the Throne Room.
What is the Throne Room ?
Years ago we did a study at our church on the tabernacle and the temple of God in the Old Testament and we realized that God desired to be with His people and that they would know the touch of His presence. There are a few things from that study that I'd like to review and perhaps it will be a frequent theme.
God's desire to dwell among us
Leviticus 26:11-12 says "I will set my tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God and you shall be My people." God desired to be a God who was present in the midst of His people and He still desires that today. The Word tells us that through the precious blood of Jesus we are the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 The God of the universe desires to have relationship with us and invites us to His very Throne Room right into His Presence.
It is a Holy Place
When we study the tabernacle in Exodus and Leviticus we see that the tabernacle is a Holy Place. So how do we come into this place knowing we are human and that we are not Holy on our own. Romans 3:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 let us know that through the precious blood of Jesus we are righteous before God...it is not our own righteousness but His that brings us into our presence. It is Jesus that makes us righteous and cleanses us. So what part do we have in all of this? We accept the wonderful gift of Salvation and receive His righteousness. We yield to Him and He is faithful to show us things that we need to lay at His feet. The Word says in Psalms 139-23-24 23Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. The Throne Room of God is a place of His glory and His presence and it is there we are undone so to speak....He shows us our heart and what needs cleansing and He shows us His mighty plans. Are you willing today to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart? Are you willing to allow Jesus to mold you into His image? Are you willing to see what He sees that blocks your entrance into His presence and let Him help you lay it all aside? We hope to see you at the Throne Room every Friday Night at 7 pm and we encourage you to come into His Presence everyday at home, work and play.
Next time we will look at Isaiah's Throne Room experience and how it changed His life forever.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Not My will but Thine
Resurrection Day is almost upon us. I love this season. My thoughts ponder the greatness of our Savior's love for us. To think that God the Son was willing to leave the portals of Heaven and walk among us as a man and to take our sin upon himself is amazing in its scope. Jesus, both fully God and fully man, made a choice that would change our lives forever.
Christmas recounts His entry into our world. The willingness of Mary and Joseph to take on what could arguably be considered the greatest assignment ever given to human parents gives insight into the Father's faith in their ability to instill the same total surrender to the Father in Jesus on a human level. Mary was told she would have a child as a virgin who would save His people from their sin, Joseph was told to go ahead and take Mary as his wife and raise the child...the Messiah of His people. Mary told the angel, "Be it unto me as you have said." Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife. These acts of obedience were not easy at all. Mary faced potential death or at least scorn of those who would never understand or believe that God had called her to bring forth the Messiah. Joseph would be looked upon with pity by those who think he was duped into a marriage with a young woman who didn't deserve him. Their willingness to obey was the basis of God's ability to trust them in the raising of the Christ child.
The garden prayer of our Savior reminds me of Mary's statement. He said, "Not my will but thine". Jesus was willing to obey the Father. The road ahead, though planned from the foundation of the world, was not an easy road to walk. His prayer was urgent...those he loved slept around him and one even betrayed Him. The pain involved in the way He would died was emense, but the taking on of our sin and being the spotless lamb is what made Him different from anyone else who died on a cross. "Not my will but thine" , he said...echoing Mary's words as a young woman, "Be it unto me as you have said."
Father God may we as a people, and as believers have a mind that declares...."Be it unto me as You have said, Not my will but thine". We love you Jesus.
Christmas recounts His entry into our world. The willingness of Mary and Joseph to take on what could arguably be considered the greatest assignment ever given to human parents gives insight into the Father's faith in their ability to instill the same total surrender to the Father in Jesus on a human level. Mary was told she would have a child as a virgin who would save His people from their sin, Joseph was told to go ahead and take Mary as his wife and raise the child...the Messiah of His people. Mary told the angel, "Be it unto me as you have said." Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife. These acts of obedience were not easy at all. Mary faced potential death or at least scorn of those who would never understand or believe that God had called her to bring forth the Messiah. Joseph would be looked upon with pity by those who think he was duped into a marriage with a young woman who didn't deserve him. Their willingness to obey was the basis of God's ability to trust them in the raising of the Christ child.
The garden prayer of our Savior reminds me of Mary's statement. He said, "Not my will but thine". Jesus was willing to obey the Father. The road ahead, though planned from the foundation of the world, was not an easy road to walk. His prayer was urgent...those he loved slept around him and one even betrayed Him. The pain involved in the way He would died was emense, but the taking on of our sin and being the spotless lamb is what made Him different from anyone else who died on a cross. "Not my will but thine" , he said...echoing Mary's words as a young woman, "Be it unto me as you have said."
Father God may we as a people, and as believers have a mind that declares...."Be it unto me as You have said, Not my will but thine". We love you Jesus.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
God's Love: While we were yet sinners.
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." NIV
John 3:16 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." NLT
As we start the study of God's love lets look at these familiar verses. God shows His love in these verses in two ways. First He loves us before we accept Him as Lord and King, before we are changed by His power and transformed by His light. He is our creator and could require our aligence through sure might, but instead He desires willing love, and willing fellowship. He loves us even when we don't love Him. He loves us even when we ignore His existence. He seeks to draw us to Himself, but He never usurps our will. He paid the price of salvation even before anyone accepted Him. Secondly God the Father gave Jesus God the Son to us as gift so that we would have a way of Salvation. He sacrificed because He loved us before we ever made a move toward Him.
I want you to understand God loves you just as you are right now. Many may be upset at that statement because they think you have to be perfect to receive God's love. God loves people even when they still have some stains and disobedience. I didn't say Jesus wants us to stay as we are..(in fact even if you've been saved for 20 years you still have things Jesus is working on in your life) He surely will help us and He will transform us as we renew our mind to the Word of God. He does however, love us right now mistakes, shortcomings, faults and all. He doesn't wait until we've gain a level of goodness...He is our righteousness. He doesn't wait for us to have our life all together perfect. He loves us now. Say that out loud. God loves me. I'm not perfect, I still have a ways to grow in Him...but He loves me now.
John 3:16 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." NLT
As we start the study of God's love lets look at these familiar verses. God shows His love in these verses in two ways. First He loves us before we accept Him as Lord and King, before we are changed by His power and transformed by His light. He is our creator and could require our aligence through sure might, but instead He desires willing love, and willing fellowship. He loves us even when we don't love Him. He loves us even when we ignore His existence. He seeks to draw us to Himself, but He never usurps our will. He paid the price of salvation even before anyone accepted Him. Secondly God the Father gave Jesus God the Son to us as gift so that we would have a way of Salvation. He sacrificed because He loved us before we ever made a move toward Him.
I want you to understand God loves you just as you are right now. Many may be upset at that statement because they think you have to be perfect to receive God's love. God loves people even when they still have some stains and disobedience. I didn't say Jesus wants us to stay as we are..(in fact even if you've been saved for 20 years you still have things Jesus is working on in your life) He surely will help us and He will transform us as we renew our mind to the Word of God. He does however, love us right now mistakes, shortcomings, faults and all. He doesn't wait until we've gain a level of goodness...He is our righteousness. He doesn't wait for us to have our life all together perfect. He loves us now. Say that out loud. God loves me. I'm not perfect, I still have a ways to grow in Him...but He loves me now.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
God's Love
"Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so" Most Americans know this little song even if they do not know Jesus as Savior. Over the next few weeks I'd like to share some Scriptures which assure us of this fact. We can know this in our head, but have reservations in our heart. Let's take some time to look over some amazing Scriptures to bring Father God's love for us into our reality so that we cannot be shaken when things happen that we don't understand, when we make a mistake or even when we outright fail, when we are walking our daily journey in this life. We all want to obey God and love other people...and that is good...but we can't give what we don't have....we must soak in His presence and begin to understand we have a God who loves us so much and that He can be counted upon to always love us. Today...Simply sing the little Song Jesus loves me. Here is one more song that assures us of His love. O How He Loves Us.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
God's Blessings in 2013
A look at 2012 reveals a year of trail and restoration. We've experienced and heard about folks that have went through the storms of life and yet have hung on to the hand of God with an expectant hope. It has been a year that threatened to steal hope from our nation (and for that matter people of other nations) and our people. It has also been for many a year in which that which was stolen from their life has begun to be restored. We are coming upon a year where God will show forth His mighty hand while the enemy continues to whisper to our spirit that we are alone and hopeless. We must listen to the voice of God and shut out the voice of the enemy.
This year expect to see the goodness of the Lord. Remember that he loves you with an everlasting love that cannot be stopped. He even knows the number of hairs on your head, he holds you in the palm of His hand. His plans for you are for good. Love Him with an expectant heart. Say with Paul, "that I may know Him and the power of His ressurection, and the fellowship of his sufferings..." Do not allow the enemy to steal your joy and expectancy.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Living Waters Prayer Point Day Five: Friday July 27, 2012
Hosea 10: 12 NLT
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
and shower righteousness upon you.’
God plead with Israel to turn from their wayward path and to come back to Him. He promised as they did so He would rain upon them with showers of righteousness. This year has been a dry year. The grass has been brown and the rains few and far between which have led to bans on water usage and burning . Last night and today were different though as a nice steady rain has showered our region with needed precipitation. The rain caused some roofs to leak and puddles to walk through, but the benefits for our dry land out weigh side effects.
God tells us to plant seeds of righteousness and we will receive a harvest. Israel had turned from the ways of God so they were hardened toward the things of God. The Lord advised, "plow up the hard ground of your hearts" and seek the Lord. Sometimes we don't even realize we have hardened ourselves about something for which God is trying to get our attention. Sometimes we find we've compromised and have gotten to the place where we don't recognize it. As we desire revival for our church and our homes our prayer needs to reflect that we need the Lord in every part of our life. We need Him to show us the areas that we have allowed ourselves to become blind to, the areas we've gotten hardened to.
Seeking the Lord is something that we all can engage in actively and in so doing we become receptive to God's prodding concerning our life. We become aware of seeds of righteousness and compromise. We can see God's blessing.
I used to love sitting on the porch with my father during a rain storm. I listened to the rain on the roof, and smelled the freshness of the water in the air. It seemed to wash over me and minister peace to my spirit. God's Spirit is like that too. When we rest in Him, when we seek His face, He shines upon us. He brings us righteousness and changers our life course. His rain brings godly change and peace.
Seek Him today, Let Jesus deal with your heart and your issues,
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Living Waters Prayer Point Day 4: Thursday July 26,2012
This week a major cult group made their yearly rounds in our neighborhood. Though they don't know the Lord and their doctrine leads people astray, it struck me that they are at least very diligent to preach their gospel. I've read books about how those in satanism and witchcraft regularly pray (not to God) against ministers of the gospel and their families. I wonder if we can be diligent to pray for our leaders. Listen to this verse.Hebrews 13:7-19 NIV
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
Some worry about this verse. We've all heard about misuse of power and authority...or about doctrinal error creeping in to the picture. Yet the truth here is evident. God desires that we know our leaders and have confidence in their calling and love. Even harder for some is the exhortation to submit to the authority of your Pastor. We want to do our own thing and we'd rather think of our Pastor simply as a friend rather than a person of authority. Yet God tells us through His word we should honor and be willing to obey our leaders in matters of the church. That doesn't mean we don't have a voice, but it does mean that we lay our pride down and submit even when we'd rather have our own way. Maybe we are asked to step down from ministry for awhile, maybe someone else gets the position in church we wanted, maybe we are asked to do a chore that we'd rather not have to do temporarily to help out in a time of need, maybe our suggestion is heard but not taken at the moment because the Pastor feels led of the Holy Spirit in a different way, maybe we are corrected in someway. I'm not talking about an abusive use of power or doctrinal error, but simply a willingness to yield to the authority God has placed. How we respond in these situations is key to our character development and shows our maturity. Do we get angry and grumble, do we gossip and declare that Pastor is not spiritual, or do we pray and yield?
Father, I pray for (LWF..Pastor John or place your Pastors Name here) and his wife (Sis Ruth or place your pastors wife's name here). I pray for my Pastor and his family. I know their are many pressures that come upon a pastors family. Give direction about what course to take and help him yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit in all things. Refresh his spirit and shake off the dust of discouragement. Bless financially so that he and his family can give their full attention to ministry. Draw him close to Your heart so He can hear Your voice clearly. Help me to make his job a joy as I yield to the Holy Spirit and also to my Pastor in areas where he is called to help me.
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