Never Lost: Worship Devotional

Never Lost: Worship Devotional

by | Feb 28, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

Psalm 116:1-2:

“I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.”

Israel – throughout the Old Testament – suffered many trials and tribulations, fought many wars, endured famine, nakedness, captivity and sword… But God prevailed – He heard them every time they called. He never lost a battle.

I have had situations in my life where everything seemed impossible – where the waves seemed to overwhelm, the tempest raging around me.

I have had circumstances in my life that can’t be shared here, because it is not for the faint of heart – but the long and short of it is that I should have been dead. I could’ve, if it weren’t for the grace of God, easily been in an early grave.

I have seen, in my short life time, miracles upon miracles – I have seen debts being cancelled, families restored, bones straightened, tumours shrink – I have seen, through the power of a humble, earnest prayer (no shouting, no big words, no theatrics) a man on his deathbed restored to life.

And these are just the testimonies in my own life and the lives of those closest to me- miracles of provision, miracles of healing, miracles of restoration – there are a few of them happening around me right now.

Jesus said, in a conversation with His disciples: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19)

Job declares the following in Job 42, after the Lord confronts his unbelief and ignorance:

2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

It is easy for us to react to our circumstances from a place of doubt and ignorance – when the waves obscure our vision, it is simpler for feet to fail and the soul to sink.

And perhaps now you are going through the tempest, through the fire, through the storm – perhaps you are facing the collapse of your business, the breakdown of your family unit or marriage, or a problem with your health – but I am here to encourage you to worship in the midst of this storm – to set your eyes upon the author and the finisher of our faith – turn your eyes upon Jesus.

One of the first passages of scripture I ever memorised and committed to heart was Psalm 27. This was my first step towards understanding the Bible in context rather than just having a loose collection of disjointed verses and declarations. I was thirteen years old, and remember reciting it whenever I had an opportunity.

At that stage I was being relentlessly bullied at school because of my club foot (I would actually leave school at the beginning of my second year of highschool because of the bullying). I did not fit in – I was different. And the only comfort I really had was in these verses:

“1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

It might feel like a war has broken out against you. I have my fair share of battle scars – and I can tell you that the enemy has never prevailed – Jesus has never lost a battle!

In my addiction – God won the battle!

In the wake and aftermath of a toxic marriage and divorce – God won the battle!

In my depression and anxiety – God won the battle!

Every time a war breaks out around me the Lord prepares a table, even in the face of the enemy, even in the midst of the battlefield – and tells me to come and be still. He raises His banner. He fights for me.

I hear the words of encouragement Moses speaks to the Israelites: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14)

The Lord is our Light, He is our Salvation – and He is the Stronghold – the Strong Tower in which we find shelter from the storm.

He is our Defender and He is our Warrior King – the One Who Goes Before – and makes straight the way before us.

He has never lost a battle. Your situation, your circumstances, your diagnosis might seem impossible to man – but with God all things are possible!

He is setting a table for you today, in the midst of the battle and in the face of your enemies – He is giving you a front row seat for the victory to come.

He has never lost a battle and He never will.

Prayer: Lord, I declare today that You are the stronghold of my life. You are my light and my salvation. I declare today that You are the Mighty One who saves – and because of this I will fear no evil. Every enemy will stumble and fall in the mighty name of Jesus. I declare today that You are my victory. You set a table for me even in the face of my enemies – and I will rest and trust in You. You will fight for me. Your ways are higher, Your plans are better – I surrender to Your will for my life. I will trust You in the heat of the battle. I will be still and know You are God. You are my Victory. And I praise You, not only for what You have done, but also for what I know You are going to do. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Disrupt: Presence over Preaching

Disrupt: Presence over Preaching

by | Feb 27, 2024 | Disrupt

27 February 2024 Disrupt: Presence over Preaching

God is raising up a generation of evangelists who will preach – not through word but through deed. A generation that will demonstrate the power of God, as in the book of Acts. Demonstration, not focused on signs and wonders, but through an authentic life – a renewed mind is consistent. The change is undeniable. Demonstration through acts of service, kindness and love. Demonstration through giving, sharing and living like Jesus lived.

There will be signs and wonders. There will be healing and deliverance – but there will also be a very real move of God in the hearts of believers. No more ‘Sunday Lip Service’ Christianity – but real, authentic rivers that run deep and transform communities. 

God is going to strip many titles of their power in this season. Many thrones and strongholds are going to be pulled down. Many fig trees will wither for they have carried the fruit of bitterness and ego.

Those who remain standing will be those who know how to bow. Those who know how to sway and move with the winds of God. 

God is calling fishermen to come and build His Kingdom. The hierarchies have failed in a lot of ways – the systems man have put in place. The world mocks the church and laughs in derision because the church has become like the world.

It is time for authentic Christianity. It is time for the church to become the Church again – the Ecclesia – the household of the Lord. 

The world needs our presence – not our preaching.

Repent of your ego. Repent of your small ambitions. 

It is time we get our hands dirty – it is time we do the hard work of the Gospel again. Uncompromised lives sold out to the Truth. Hands and feet willing to walk on water and sit with sinners. It is time for us to crucify the church. It is time for us to strip ourselves of ourselves so that Christ can shine clearly in and through our lives. No more compromise. No more double standards. No more hypocrisy. No more ‘multiple personality disorder’.

Compassion rather than compensation. Empathy rather than esteem.

Presence over preaching.

Your preaching means nothing if people cannot see Jesus in you.

Your title means even less.

The only title that matters is servant.

1 Corinthians 4:20: 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

James 1:21-25: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 

Matthew 7:21-27: “Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

When the apostles, prophets, pastors – those with titles and esteem – stop declaring the uncompromised, true and faithful Word of God, the stones will cry out. God is raising up fishermen once again. Men who do not need to talk – but show the power of God.

 

I Speak Jesus

I Speak Jesus

by | Feb 27, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

Acts 4:12

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is power in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the power of God unto salvation.

As Christian’s we know this – we know that His Name is the name above every name. The Name of Jesus makes the enemy tremble. 

The Name of Jesus is power – it is healing – the Name of Jesus is freedom.

The Name of Jesus makes Jericho walls fall down and mountains crumble into the sea.

The Name of Jesus lights up the darkness and pulls down strongholds – His Name very much is life.

I like what Paul writes in Philipians 2:9-11:

“9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The power that is in the Name of Jesus – that beautiful, powerful, wonderworking Name above all names – is rooted in our faith in the Name.

When we believe that He is who He says He is – the Right Hand of God reaching out to pull us from the miry clay – and we proclaim His Name over our situations we will see change.

It is very much about believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. The two go hand in hand.

When we believe that Jesus is who He says He is – and speak the name of Jesus over your situation – you will see that situation bow before the power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

He said upon the cross: IT IS DONE.

Your healing and restoration is there.

Your provision is there.

Your deliverance and freedom is there.

In the mighty Name of Jesus – in the Name of the risen and exalted Christ.

In the midst of your storm speak the name of Jesus. Call Jesus – cry out to the Lord.

David says he waited on the Lord and that He heard his cry (Psalm 40), he called on the Lord and was saved from his enemies (Psalm 18). He pours out forgiveness and lovingkindness in abundance upon all who calls on Him (Psalm 86).

Speak the Name of Jesus in your situation today. He will incline His ear to you and pull you up and out of the miry clay.

Psalm 18:3: I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 

Jesus saves us from our enemies. He saves us from the voices in our heads. He saves us from ourselves. He saves us from death and destruction. He keeps us from drowning.

He is worthy of our praise.

He is worthy of adoration.

His name is high and exalted above every other name.

Walking in His name means walking in His victory.

Today I urge you to speak the Name of Jesus over your life, your situation, your circumstances – start walking in victory!

I also urge you to speak the Name of Jesus over your family, your church, your community – your country and continent.

2 Chronicles 7:14: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

It is time we get serious about speaking the Name of Jesus over every facet of our life, into every sphere of influence, and every circle of concern.

It is time we become a people of prayer again.

Revival is conceived in the womb of prayer.

Restoration is conceived in the womb of prayer.

The womb of prayer is where we speak the life-giving Name of Jesus.

Shout Jesus from the mountains. From the rooftops. Speak Jesus in the valley and in the streets. Speak Jesus over your family, your friends – and even your enemies. 

Speak Jesus and you will see the ocean split open before you.

Prayer: Lord, I know that there is power in Your Name, in the mighty name of Jesus. I speak Your name over every situation, every circumstance today, confessing what I know in my heart to be true – the Name of Jesus changes things. The Name of Jesus sets the captive free. The Name of Jesus heals the sick and makes the cripple walk again. Where life has sought to cripple me, Lord I speak Your Name. In the Name of Jesus I will get up and I will walk on the water. In the Name of Jesus I pray for revival, for restoration in my family, my church and my community. I pray that you will guide me in prayer today and show me other situations, people and places that I should speak Your name over. Help me make a difference here in the womb of prayer. Help me speak life over my life and the lives of those around me. And as I do, help me see the change it makes so that I can testify of Your goodness, grace and love – so that I can testify of the power of Your name. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Champion: Worship Devotional

Champion: Worship Devotional

by | Feb 26, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“You are my championGiants fall when You standUndefeatedEvery battle You’ve won”

Champion, Dante Bowe

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

1 Samuel 17:45, NIV

God is the God of the impossible.

In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) we read that the Philistines gathered their armies and pitched their tents in Judah – and sent forth their champion, a giant named Goliath.

Goliath taunted and ridiculed the Israelites – for forty days he came out every morning and shouted at the children of Israel.

1 Samuel 17:4-11:

“4 A champion (‘ish habenayim) named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”

The word translated as champion (‘ish habenayim) is more literally translated as the ‘man between the two’ – signifying a sort of intermediary or mediator. The word ‘champion’ here indicates a person who fights ‘on behalf’ of someone else. In Ancient times wars would often be settled by what was known as a ‘camp fight’ in which each camp would send forth their ‘champion’ to settle the dispute. Whoever won the battle would win the war. 

The Israelites, however, their whole army as well as their esteemed warrior-king Saul (1 Sam 11) were left dismayed, terrified and scattered.

While all of this is happening, a teenage boy named David is sent by his father to take provisions of grain and bread to his brothers.

David was not in the army, and scholars note that he was between the ages of 16-19 at the time, based on the timeline of events in 1 Samuel, the cultural context and the original Hebrew texts (Numbers 1:3, 1 Samuel 17:33).

The devil the Philistines sent forward asked for a man to fight. God sends a shepherd-boy. God sends David to stand publicly in the victory He ordained.

Goliath was quite upset about this, we read:

“41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”” (1 Samuel 17:41-44)

But David makes this powerful statement: “You come against me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel!”

And with one stone the enemy is shattered.

Yes, the Philistines sent forth their champion, armed to the teeth and full of pride.

But a humble teenager stood up for what he believed in and allowed his Champion to win the battle for him, through him.

Christ Jesus is our Champion. He fights on our behalf.

When I am weak, He is my strength. When the enemy breathes slander and murderous threats I come in the name of Jesus. My Champion has gone before and has already won.

Hebrews 12:1-2: (NLT)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Jesus conquered the grave. He has stripped death of its victory and its sting. He has left the devil exposed and naked – the enemies tents are torn, his pots have been cast asunder and his camp is empty – there is nothing there but empty threats.

We just have to realize who we are in Christ.

God takes the foolish things, the broken things and the lowly things – the humble things – and He lifts them up, raising them to glory.

Because of this we can cast aside the heavy garment of insecurity, our inferiority complex, our feelings of worthlessness and ‘not good enough’ and face every giant standing in our way. Whether that giant is poverty and unemployment, addiction, illness, family issues, your mental health – it has been shouting at you, mocking you, trying to intimidate you, trying to keep you down – but today the Lord has said ‘ENOUGH!’. Stand up in the name of Jesus and the giant will fall.

There is victory in Jesus.

And as you stand in the victory of our Champion, you also carry it forward. Your victory can lead to victory in the lives of those around you.

David stood in the victory that God had prepared. It was a personal victory but also a national victory – the victory was owned by every Israelite gathered there and at home.

Your victory will have a ripple effect.

As you testify about the victory you have in Christ you will help others see the same victory in their lives.

So, not only are you meant to be victorious in Christ, but you are also called to lead others to this same victory.

Stand in your victory today. And then carry it forward. 

Prayer: Lord, today I come against every valley spirit trying to keep me down. I come against every giant that has been making a mockery of my faith, and I take off this heavy garment of insecurity, fear and doubt. You have plans for me – plans for good and not for evil. Help me see today that the battle belongs to You, You have already won. As I bring my giants before you today Lord, I thank You that one by one they will fall and I will see my victory. And as I see the victory let me proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Help me lead others to You as I carry it forward, testifying of Your love and grace and proclaiming the power of Your Name. Amen.

 

A Million Little Miracles

A Million Little Miracles

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“I’ve got miracles on miraclesA million little miraclesMiracles on miraclesCount your miraclesOne, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all“

A Million Little Miracles, Maverick City

“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.“

Deuteronomy 10:21, NIV

It is sometimes so easy for us to get blinded by our situations and circumstances. So easy to forget the goodness of the Lord.

But as I look back at my life, with all of its up and downs, I can clearly see the hand of the Lord in my life.

No wonder David writes: 

Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5)

I sometimes forget just how good God has been to me over the course of the last 34 years – and in many ways the story of God’s move in my life has only just begun.

God saved me from the darkness of addiction. He pulled me from the jaws of death. Jesus took me from the miry clay and placed me on the solid ground of His love, mercy and grace.

But those are the big things.

As I write this I am reminded of all the smaller things the Lord does on a daily basis. How He moves people to reach out when I am feeling discouraged, a hug or a message at the right time.

How He provides – daily – and sees to every need. Every grain of rice, every slice of bread. 

How He guides – divine appointments, encounters and meetings that can only be seen as God moments.

How He heals – everything from the common cold and an upset tummy to our deepest grief, despair and sorrow.

If I were to start, just like David, telling of all His wonders I would never stop.

So, in writing this today I don’t have much to share in the way of words – but gratitude – so much gratitude. 

Where would I be but for the grace and love of Jesus?

I want to encourage you today. If you are feeling down, if you are feeling discouraged – Jesus is the way maker and the miracle worker – and He is preparing Your breakthrough.

He has never put to shame anyone who trusts in Him. Just rest in Him.

Pray with me: Lord, as I go about my day today, let me be mindful of Your hand in my life. Let me not forget that You move, not only in the roar of the oceans and the crumbling of mountains, but also in the small things. Let Your love not go unnoticed in my life today. In Jesus name. Amen.