What’s happening in the church today?

From high profile leaders to local pastors even to the people in the pew, it seems that problems with our morality continue to emerge. Over the last fifteen years many Christian leaders have experienced some type of moral failure. Ranging from adultery, divorce, homosexuality, financial improprieties and spiritual manipulation to name a few. I say this not to judge but only to point out, that we have a problem. I believe that our greatest problem is also our most serious sin. Prayerlessness. We attempt to blame our failures on others, our pasts, the pressures of ministry and the pressures of life in general. These things may be factors in our lives but I do not believe that they are the reason for our demise. Surveys suggest that pastors spend an average of 3 minutes a day in prayer. Not 30 minutes but 3 minutes. If the prayer lives of leaders is virtually non-existent then what can we expect of the people we lead. Hosea 4:9 states, “like people, like priest”. We produce what we are.

We must become people of prayer. When we are intimate with our heavenly father we hear His voice and desire to walk in obedience to Him. It becomes our primary desire to please Him. God desires to be sought and loved by the people that He loves. In this intimacy we become one with Him just like two people do in marriage. We become inseparable so that when the world sees us they see Him. This intimacy produces such power that we begin to resist the devil and he flees from us. James 4:7-8 tells us, “ that when we submit to God and draw near unto Him, He draws near unto us”. This gives us greater power to overcome.

In summary, the closer we get to God the more like Him we become in every way. In power, humility, holiness and love. It’s time we repent of our prayerlessness and begin seeking God in greater ways than we ever have before. Let’s be consistent and persevere in prayer believing that God will transform our lives in prayer. Prayer is our greatest privilege as well as our greatest weapon against moral failure.

The Treehouse

When you were growing up did you ever have a treehouse, clubhouse or some other secret hideaway? A place where you and friends could get together and make battle plans, camp out, or just share the secrets that best friends share. Also, a place where you could go to be by yourself. Whether it was to escape from the hustle and bustle of things or just to sit and think. It was a place where you felt hidden, protected and even empowered. Empowered in the sense of being able to see more than from ground level. In play, be it hide and seek or army you would have an edge over the enemy. You could see him coming way off in the distance.

Our relationship with God can be likened unto a treehouse. A secret hideaway. Psalms 91:1-2 says “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.” In Matthew 6:6, Jesus said “that when we pray we should go to our Father who is in the secret place.” We have a secret hideaway in God. A place where we can go and hide. Yes, hide. A place of retreat and rest. A place where we can unload our cares, deepest hurts and most burdensome sins. A place where our honesty is welcome and the expression of our thoughts isn’t trivialized. In the secret place our secrets are safe.

In this hideaway, we can feel the Father’s comfort and hear His voice. It is there we get our direction and learn how to be truly led by His Spirit. It is there away from the busyness of life that we gain a different perspective. In this quiet and secret place we see things from a different level. We see ourselves from a different level. Everything takes on a different perspective from this place.
It’s the place where God is and where He’s been waiting on us. The more time we spend there the more we become like Him. Our words, attitudes and how we perceive others begins changing. The work the Father does in us in secret is manifested openly. Our changed life becomes evident to all. We begin to walk in a level of protection that only comes from the God. We no longer need to depend upon our self protection and self defenses. He is our refuge and our fortress. I want to encourage you to daily find that secret hideaway in God.

God Must Be Busy

I was upset the first time that I heard this new song by country music artists Brooks and Dunn. My concern was and still is the potential message that it could communicate. The message that maybe God doesn’t care about us, which is absolutely not true. God does care about me and you. Even though the message could be misunderstood, I’m not upset anymore. I find it hard to be upset with people for feeling the same way that I may feel at times. I don’t believe that the overtones of this song are angrily sarcastic or an attempt to dissuade others from believing in God.

However, I do sense the hopelessness, despair and the lack of understanding as to why we don’t always get the answers to prayers that we’re looking for; especially when the requests seem to be unselfish and noble. We may pray for healing, protection, blessing, provision and peace believing that these are certainly in the will of God.

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t do what you ask Him? I have. Have you ever gotten to the point where you felt hopeless? I mean the barely hanging on kind of hopeless? I have. Have you ever been in a situation where your only way out was a miracle and your miracle never came? Or at least not the way you prayed? I have. Have you ever had times when your faith was weak and seemingly non- existent? Times when mustering up a mustard seed of faith was too hard? I have.

Brooks and Dunn went from singing about a faith in God that gets you through some of life’s toughest times in their song “Believe” to wondering if God even cares in “God must be busy”. The song isn’t completely one of desperation because a kidnapped little girl is found alive and the singers do declare their belief that they know He does answer prayers. It isn’t unusual for us to have great moments of faith followed by moments of despair. I Kings Chapter 19 illustrate this perfectly.

Elijah, the great prophet of Israel has just received a great manifestation of God’s presence, killed 450 prophets of Baal, declared a drought ending rain and out ran King Ahab’s chariot. He truly was walking in a great faith with great results only to find himself a day later wanting to give up and die. Yes, give up and die! He prayed for God to take his own life. Thankfully, God doesn’t answer all of our prayers the way we pray them. God raised Elijah out of his despair and he went on to fulfill his purposes in God.

On this journey of faith there are highs and lows. This is normal. If we hang on and don’t give up God will see us through. God does care about you!