Proverbs 14:4 KJV  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

I heard a discussion on the radio yesterday about how professional athletes make it look so easy, as if they just came by these skills, while, in actuality there was an incredible amount of work that brought them to that level of excellence. They may have been born with a natural talent, but it was the maintenance of that talent that refined their performance. For every one of them there was a personal dream of what it would mean to be the best in their sport, and to obtain that goal, they were motivated to do whatever it took. Rising early in the morning for hours of practice and working out, studying the techniques of the champions, and humbling themselves to listen and do what their coaches and instructors directed them to do, they knew that, while all of this might be a challenge to their flesh, the reward was significant enough to endure it all. In fact, they came to feed off of and enjoy the maintenance as it began to produce evidence that they were moving towards their goals. Once there was significant value associated with the process, the flesh could no longer dominate when it was decided whether or not they would take care of their gift. The promise of reward was so great that there could be no consideration of anything other than diligently and on purpose giving themselves to enduring any challenge of the flesh.

For the athlete there is a specific set of challenging maintenance chores that will make success possible. For the farmer those chores are of a different nature, but there is a similar understanding that in order to gain the strength of the oxen in producing a valuable crop, some maintenance is required for its health and strength. For anything in life that is achieved on a level that brings value and reward there is a certain amount of maintenance required, some chores that will have to be done. Otherwise the body, mind, and spirit will never gain their necessary strength and that thing that could have been done so easily will remain not only very difficult, but impossible.

Mark 9:29 KJV  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus made it look easy, almost as if no effort was necessary at all. There was a reason for the ease of His performance, though, and it had everything to do with how highly He valued the strength and power produced only by the care given to prayer and fasting. You would think all His other qualifications would have been sufficient and His answer to the question of His disciples could have been, “You couldn’t cast out the demon, because you’re not me. After all, I’m the Messiah and I get all this power because of who I am.” The reply He did give, though, produced within His disciples a vision of making a difference in the kingdom and bringing deliverance and freedom to those in need. This was something they could very well do. This was something within their ability to pursue diligently and with purpose.

Each of us is specifically gifted to excel and be strong in various ways. For each of these ways there will be a certain path of maintenance that will make it possible to perform them. In pursuing the kingdom and the will of God, there are also challenges in the flesh that will have to be addressed. There will be no strength available for producing the crop (of salvation) or championship performance (of healing) apart from consistent care given to prayer and fasting. There will be a need for healing, direction, and deliverance both personally and in the life of someone we may touch. With focus on the valued vision of deliverance, the chores will be done diligently and God’s desire to embrace and impart in and through us will be accomplished.

Mark 16:9 Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved. (ASV)

Did you ever just not believe? It’s so good to be great at believing, but to be honest sometimes the ole believer just dysfunctions. I’m so glad that when it does, it doesn’t totally disable your identity, your position, your possibilities or your future.

Everybody talks about Thomas and how he refused to believe until he could actually touch the wounds and prove for himself that Jesus was alive. It seems, though, from this passage, that Thomas wasn’t alone, at least in his doubting, because it says here that ‘they’ disbelieved. And, it doesn’t say that two or three believed, but just Thomas was the lone doubter. All the guys there at the announcement had a major brain hurdle. Although Jesus had clearly stated what He was up to, either they were thinking about lunch or they thought He was talking about something more pre-death, because they really weren’t anticipating this amazing turn of events. They were also probably overwhelmed with grief and not thinking clearly and Jesus was probably wearing a different tunic and cologne, and – ok, they could have had a very long list of reasons, but bottom line is, without faith (belief) you just don’t have the capacity to please God, and they, for whatever reason were without it (Hebrews 11). As a result they were without peace of mind or any certainty about how to proceed from this point.

How incredible it must have been, then, when they were together in a closed room, and Jesus comes right through the wall to join them. Not only were they shown probably the coolest miracle yet, but they were also confronted with their own doubt’s exposure.  Their meal with Him is also more exposure of this doubt as Jesus actually gets after them a bit for their inability to believe before seeing. So then, when they were feeling like they had just blown it, He begins to tell them what they are going to do, and it has nothing to do with being put out to pasture for their failure. It’s like their favor- repelling doubt was overlooked for something else that was much more powerful- Jesus belief in them.

Disbelief has a way of putting a label on the brain and becoming an identity. Some people are bold and almost take pride in proclaiming their disbelief in something that Jesus came and gave His life in order to provide. Others might not make an audible proclamation, but there in the heart is a semblance of difficulty in swallowing the whole bite. In both cases Jesus displays a love and understanding that is just as impressive as the walk-through-wall thing. Rather than holding any of this failure against us, He just takes the opportunity of intimacy to replace the doubt with a display of Himself and the lack of hope or purpose with a clear vision of where we are going in our life as one of His very own. His view is never a backward disabling one, but forward and enabling. No matter where we find ourselves on the faith ladder, He sees us complete in Him, without doubt and totally qualified to heal, cast out and do all the stuff that requires only the special qualification of our intimacy with Him.

Mark 16:14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (ASV)

3 He being an emanation of God’s glory and stamp of his substance, and upholding the universe by the utterances of his power, after by himself making purification of our sins, has taken his seat on the right hand of the Majesty on High.
Heb 1:3 (MontgomeryNT)

Had to work on our PT Cruiser this week. The wheel bearings were shot and were making a roar that increased with pitch and intensity as you accelerated. After checking around as to what my options were, I ended up removing the pieces they were attached to, and looking for a shop with a special tool needed to free them from those pieces. After checking at a couple different places with high prices, I happened to remember a place on the way to Hunter’s school that was on a side street. I pulled in to the sand covered parking lot with large puddles of water from the rain that was coming down, and proceeded to find out if they could help me. They didn’t have a nice reception area like the other places I’d gone to, just a few large open bay doors with several men working on vehicles. Not knowing exactly where to go, I went on through one of the doors on the side and proceeded to look around for some help. These guys were really focused on their work and I found myself feeling as if I might be out of place until one of the uniformed workers let me know that I would need to talk to ‘him’, pointing to a somewhat older gentleman who also appeared to be ignoring me. I took the man’s direction and approached ‘him’ with an element of uncertainty. Instead of consulting with a computer and having to ask someone else who ‘knew more’, he just took his time, sort of squinted one eye, and told me a price that was half that of any other shop. While all the other men in the shop might have adequately told me something having to do with the bearing repair, if I really wanted to get to the bottom of the matter I would have to talk to the ‘boss’, the owner, and the only one who could really provide the answer and directive to get the job done. I discovered that it was by the word of this one man’s power that the shop successfully existed to provide excellence in service.

Oftentimes there’s a roar going on in our lives that seems to just get louder and more obnoxious the further we go down the road. Something has become worn and in need of repair that can only be done at the shop with the right tool. When you do find that place, it will be one that might have several people intent on their work who may be friendly and capable enough themselves, but who will always refer you to ‘Him’. It may initially appear that He’s not all that interested in helping, until there is a bold approach made to him and a face to face discussion as to what the problem is and what is needed for its restoration. There may be many others with possible solutions, but when it comes right down to it, there is only one ‘Him’ who upholds everything with ‘His’ utterance or His word. Wise counsel may come from elsewhere, but when you really want to get the job done correctly and at the right price, you’ll have to go to the One who’s words created all and sustains all with the expressions of His power.

This day may be in need of adjustments or repair. There may be issues that have been just building over time. I’m so thankful for Jesus and the way He has made right to the throne of grace where help can always be found. With boldness and great confidence we can advance to that throne where the job will get done who was the original Creator and who is right now the only one upholding all things by the word of His power. It may even seem that He is just ignoring and not really interested in helping, but as soon as an advance is made, there is always a discovery that He is the only one with an answer that doesn’t require reference resources. He is the one who will look you right in the eye and reveal the exact solution and provide the means to get the job done right.

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Luke 7:15-17 (ESV)

It’s almost magical what can be done with multi-media, lights, sound and action. That’s pretty much what we’re looking for these days, too – or so we’re told. The best use of all these will surely make the best impression and fulfill the great commission most effectively. Our culture is geared to the high tech and will never show up to a place where this appetite is not met.

Ok, they show up, but for what? What happens when there is another need other than that entertainment hunger, like healing, deliverance, restored relationships, or finances? For this woman that Jesus met she might have been impressed with a band they could have put together or maybe a nice banner show, but the real heart starter and belief transformer was the demonstration of a power beyond any earthly planning or human creativity. There was a display of His power to meet her right at the point of her heart’s breaking with a remedy. You might wonder how many brainstorming sessions Jesus had with His disciples about ministry growth and how to keep them coming back, but it would seem that these supernatural manifestations of His power alone provided the necessary drawing power of a heart connection to someone who could meet them at their greatest needs.

There are marketing firms and training sessions, along with books of ‘fishing’ methods and organizational leadership, but for all the preparation of man there is but one presentation that will truly turn a heart from a path to destruction. Only when there is an encounter with a superior power that exists specifically for their good and for their salvation, will there be a true conversion of the heart. Mental agreement and gratified flesh may produce a popular social gathering, but all the ‘successful’ plans for expansion and exposure will ultimately be rendered superfluous and insignificant if, upon arrival at the gathering there is never a life-transforming encounter with the Worker of Miracles.

Each gift is so precious and useful in bringing relevance of the Gospel’s message to a tech culture in need of an eternal heavenly impression. In all who have experienced the breath of life and its supernatural transformation there is great potential to reveal to a needy world just how real and pertinent our God truly is. There is an anointing and flow of the same power that raised Jesus Himself from the grave that is residing in all who have embraced His offer of life. Through gifts of music, art, governance and proclamation, there will be a wide variety of means for His power to be demonstrated, but when these gifts are utilized and when the people show, may they encounter the One who provided those gifts and may much more than just their minds and flesh be impressed by each gift’s display. It will be Jesus’ glory and His touch that bring the changes each heart is longing for. Through all that is said and all that is done, may what He did be the subject of conversations. Where He is exposed in His power and might, there will be an irresistible draw to His love and His light.

Genesis 4:26… At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.

A bit random, coming at the end of a chapter and in the same paragraph where it talks about the birth of Adam’s son, Seth. It’s sort of like- ‘and, uh, I forgot to mention that men began calling on the name of the Lord.’ What is very interesting, though, is that this is the last statement before one of those favorite parts of the Bible for all of us- some of the ‘begats’. But, these ‘begats’ have a little different form to them- they state the age of the participants, how long they lived before they begat their son, the years after that before they died, and their total age. My quick research shows that this is the only set of ‘begats’ that reveal this information for all involved. The reason, though, might be that all of these guys lived to be more than 700 years old, all except for Enoch, who didn’t really die, just went on up. Though the correlation isn’t actually declared, the placement of the ‘called’ statement right before the genealogy could very well be seen as a demonstration of what happened to those men who began calling on the name of the Lord.

The other element of this that inspires another ‘hmmmmm?’ is that they were calling, but I’m sure without the great volume of worship resources that are available to us today. They didn’t have hymns and the latest worship cds. They couldn’t go online and stream sermons from the most eloquent and inspiring ministers around the world. They didn’t even have scriptures that they could hide in their heart and keep them from going the way of Cain. All they must have known was to simply call, without scriptural correctness and musical preparation. All of that stuff must not have been necessary, though, for their calling to be effective and powerful. Theirs was a relationship with God that was pure and without pretense, but filled with an awareness of what happens to those who, like Adam and Cain, choose to fall out of worship and act as if God isn’t there. Theirs was a direct one-on- one that touched every part of their body with significance and longevity.

There are these little commercials that are used at the beginning of movies to impress the power of a telephone call and how important it is to silence your phone. I believe this section of ‘begats’ is like those, but with a reverse purpose. There is power in the call to bring a long, long life of abundant fellowship with God. Too many lines of communication have lost signal (or never found it) and reduced the impact of the call’s incredible power to bring life. Rather than silencing our phones, there is a great need to have them charged, on the high level, and filled with God’s ids for quick calling. Might not make it past 100, but there is promise of greatly enhanced and extended life of salvation and wholeness for all who will, like those early men, begin simply calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 14:3 ASV  Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

John 7:18 ASV   He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

It’s remarkable how consistent a message or theme can be coming from so many different members of an administration or organization. When the same belief/approach/method comes from the mouths of varying levels of supporting leadership and when it is maintained without variation great strength and support is given to the chief executive in accomplishing his/her goals and vision. This can be seen in a great way in the executive branch of our government. On any given day, members of the administration and its party are saying almost the exact same words with regard to certain issues in question. The unity of these words forms a bond of purpose and a coherence of strategy that is essential in fulfilling the heart and will of the president. When this information is clearly communicated to each member of the leadership team, and where they boldly declare these words as they are given, there is great promise of accomplishing incredible things for which the president has been empowered. If, however, any one of the team chooses to expound upon their own views and their own feelings regarding any of the issues at hand, all the ability of the president to implement his own policies is undermined. Even unrelated issues will have a demoralizing and disabling effect upon the chief executive to accomplish his will in every area. One dissenting or opposing thought spoken from even the least of the staff will bring a negative light to other areas where there still may be agreement. As powerful as the office of the president is, its strength is yet dependent upon the words of those who have been given power to carry out the president’s policies and vision. It is easy to recognize any who have failed to get the latest topic updates- those who have been closest to him and those who are a bit on their own.

It is meaningless to be a part of the kingdom, to wear the badge and claim the name if words coming out of the mouth are not in line with the heart and purpose of the Chief Executive. All direction and all strategy is given from Him, but where there is failure to receive this communication and comply with it, there is an undermining of a power that knows no equal. He, in fact, has given all power to those in His cabinet and those on His leadership team. As only the words He’s given are spoken with boldness and clarity, there will be an amazing implementation of His will. When, however, the words from even the least of us reflect a personal take or the perspective of ‘reason’, there is a disruption in the power as it is removed from its source. No matter how much pressure is being felt by life and no matter how great is the case coming from the opposition, there is a word from the top that alone must be spoken. It is by His direction alone that any statement will bring about His will for complete and total salvation and wholeness. Where the heart of God has been consistently considered, received, and rehearsed, there will be a bonding of purpose that will result in amazing displays of signs and wonders which are the heart and will of the Father. It will be easily seen, however, by the lack thereof, when the words being boldly spoken have another source than Him. Though the power is great to bring about change, deliverance, and freedom, it is dependent upon the expressed unity of thought that can only come from above. By His Word and by His Spirit alone will come the words that accomplish His policies and His vision.

John 7:38 KJV   He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Inspired by a New Year’s resolution, a gym promotion, or just wanting to get in shape, an exercise regimen is frequently adopted with anticipation for promising results. Often there is a desire to lose here, gain there, and somehow transform the body’s look to something more closely resembling one of those guys or gals on the posters. Quite often there is a temptation to just focus on the lifts that will accentuate certain body parts without consideration for the body as a whole. For there to be optimal results with health to all of the body, however, there is a need to include a steady focus on the core muscles, the stomach, lower and upper back and pelvic muscles. It is possible to have large chest, arm and leg muscles but still be at high risk for injury and have bad posture and poor balance if the core muscles aren’t adequately developed.

There can likewise be a strong motivation to develop in a strong relationship with God, often with great inspiration from very gifted ministers who have effectively developed in their faith and in their ability to display their spiritual muscles. It may be very tempting to delve into one particular area of doctrine or spiritual focus with great anticipation for rewarding results, but there is one area that should receive consistent attention if there is to be resistance to injury, a healthy posture and proper balance. There is a core that stems around our belly from which Jesus said will ‘flow rivers of living water’, and there is a necessity for this area to be exercised and strengthened on a daily basis. As the infilling of the Spirit is utilized through speaking with other tongues in a personal time of prayer and fellowship with the Father, there is a building up of those core muscles and an empowering that will affect the rest of the body as a whole. From these times of dedicated exercise of what has been freely given to us by the Holy Spirit will come revelation, understanding and wisdom as the Spirit is given an opportunity to influence and direct the mind and body also. As prayers are lifted up from a heart that has been strengthened in faith by exposure to the Word, there will also be a qualifying and enabling application of the Spirit’s power.

An incredibly effective exercise is available to us today through the enabling power of the Spirit. Our core can be strengthened, protected and balanced and enabled for healthy productivity in the kingdom.

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

2 Chronicles 20:22  And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

It’s not enough to just have that firearm packed in the holster on the hip. At least one bullet needs to be loaded before there will ever be the slightest danger of anything or anyone being damaged or injured. Once the ammunition has been placed in the chamber, though, there is immediate importance that certain precautions are taken so there isn’t accidental firing in the wrong direction. Barney Fife on the ‘Andy Griffith Show’ became a very different law enforcement officer once Andy would give him permission to load his gun with the one bullet he was allowed to carry. He had authority by just putting on the uniform, but he became a dangerous policeman as soon as his gun was loaded. The only problem was not knowing for sure which direction his gun might be fired.

Each of us have been loaded with an ability to communicate, with the result being either life or death. Even if there is no ability to speak due to a physical disability, there is still power present to convey either uplifting information or that which will bring destruction and death. As we gather to worship God together, we’re being presented an opportunity to take this capacity with which we’ve been equipped and exercise the positive communication of God’s goodness and mercy. As soon as sounds begin to be heard and the truth of God and His ways vocalized, there is activation of God’s power on our behalf with an assurance that God is most certainly working for us to accomplish greater things than we could even imagination.

While we’ve been loaded with the capacity, however, there is a choice to either let praise continually occupy the lips, or for quite the opposite to be given a voice. Destruction can quite easily wield its dominance using our very words as long as there is direction of our firing towards anything other than a kingdom purpose. Today we’ve been given the means of shutting down any evil access to our firing chamber (the mouth) by filling it to overflowing with praises that build up and bring glory to the God of our mercy and salvation. Allowing the Spirit to direct our lips, there will be a sound that makes way for the moving of an undefeated force of love, hope, and peace. Fire away.

2 Samuel 23:2 MKJV  The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me, and His Word was in my tongue.

Several years ago I was involved in an accident in which I struck someone who crossed in front of me at an intersection. Because it was I who struck the other person and because I was overcome by the drama of the moment I immediately jumped out and expressed my regret at the damage done to the other vehicle. The problem with the words I was speaking, however, was that they legally became a confession of guilt that would later be held against me. Though the officer at the scene concluded that the other person errantly pulled in front of me, when we went to court to obtain a decision from the judge the declaration of my mouth at the time of the accident completely undermined the facts of what actually took place. My words unnecessarily determined my guilt. Since then I’ve taken driver’s training to obtain a bus driver’s license and one of the things they stressed in a time of conflict is to never say anything, to remain silent with regard to any negative admission. They indicated that too often perceptions are skewed at the time of crisis and words become a very critical part of later determination of innocence.

Though he experienced more than his share of conflicts, David, at the end of his life was able to claim that his words were direct expressions of the Spirit of Jehovah. Rather than letting his emotions and the drama of the moment dictate the sounds he would utter, he became conditioned by his continual meditation and confession of God’s Word to speak only Spirit words. At many of the different periods of his life he could have easily gone down a path of self condemnation in just rehearsing the apparent realities in his life. In fact several of the Psalms reflect this draw on him to proclaim the desperation of the moment, but there was always a return to the faithfulness of God and the declaration of His mercy and unfailing love. Words of wonder were continually overtaken by Spirit words that brought righteousness and right standing to an otherwise guilty and hopeless situation.

There is power right in our mouths today to avoid potential downfalls that are awaiting our response to the conflicts surrounding us. Where His Word has been continually placed in the tongue, there will be a Spirit word spoken and justification secured. The judgment will be ‘innocent’ and freedom gained.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:20 (KJV) 20

It’s a bit of a wonder to me why someone would spend an extreme amount of money for a vehicle made to perform at speeds that are way above the legal limit. What good would there be in knowing what it is capable of while you’re just cruising down the road at the posted rate of speed, never really utilizing the car’s incredible power and performance? Though it might look most impressive in power and beauty, until the full range of speed is experienced and the handling is put to the test, it might as well be a low end gutless car that’s just getting you from one place to the next. For its potential to be something more than an imagination or a warm fuzzy source of pride, that machine will need to be taken where there are no restrictions, where it can be driven to its limits and beyond. Until then it is just a waste of technology, craftsmanship and money.

An incredible price has been paid for the Lamborghini (Maserati, Corvette, Lexus, whatever your dream car) that’s parked in our hearts. While it will get us down to the grocery store and across town to the mall, there is power in this gift that far exceeds our greatest imagination. In order really experience this power, though, we’re going to have to get beyond the restrictions, legalism, self-consciousness, and religion that would keep us functioning on the level of a puddle jumper. Once we get out there to the free and open road, there will also be a need for some bravery, a willingness to open it up and discover just how thrilling the ride can be when the power is applied to its full potential.

While our God is able and more than willing to do ‘exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think’, He’s not going to take off without us. The power that’s rumbling on the inside even now is just waiting for our foot on the accelerator. Actually, it will be the Word we are willing and obedient to boldly speak that will get us out of the garage and the side streets and out onto the open Autobahn. May this day be a day of daring departure from the ho-hum to the high performance demonstration of the Holy Spirit as He is designed and purposed to perform. No longer held back by our thoughts or hesitant prayers, He will do incredible things in and through us as He moves with beautiful heavenly precision.