Rest on Us

Rest on Us

by | Jun 18, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“As the Spirit was moving over the waters

Spirit, come move over us”

Rest on us, Maverick City Music

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1:2:

In the beginning – before the foundations of the Earth was laid – God had us in mind.

Fearfully and wonderfully created in the secret place of a mother’s womb, God has knit together a destiny blueprint for each of us – hiding deep within us potential and purpose.

But many of us find ourselves in a state of emptiness, formlessness and darkness – not yet having truly come into being.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:2: for ‘waters’ is ‘mayim’,

The word ‘mayim’, although unrelated etymologically, sounds a lot like our English word ‘mayhem’ – defined as violent or extreme disorder and chaos. What is even more interesting is the fact that the Hebrew ‘mayim’ comes from the root ‘mem’ which is also translated as chaos.

The world is, much like in Genesis 1:2: in a state of emptiness, formlessness and darkness. As a result many of us, our worldview being shaped by the world instead of the world being shaped by our worldview, are in this same state of confusion, desolation and chaos.

But God hovers over the waters – He hovers over our chaos seeking to bring it to order.

He wants to turn the hollowed out earth of our hearts into hallowed ground.

Paul writes the following in his second epistle to the Corinthians: ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word ‘mayim’ is also used to represent, symbolically, the nations – the peoples of the Earth.

God hovers over His people – seeking to bring them to order. To reform. To restore. To make His creation new again.

This act of reformation and restoration takes place through the indwelling of His Spirit – His Spirit coming and resting on us, dwelling in us.

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:16, 1 Peter 1:2)

It is not enough for us to just call on the name of Jesus – how could it be? Calling on the name of Jesus is just the beginning. 

We need to open up our hearts and let Him do His work in us. He calls us to come as we are – unwashed and broken – but not to stay as we are. He wants to transform us. He wants to bring us to that place where we can see the fulfilment of His finished work in us. He wants to bring us to the place where we can see the fulfillment of the promise He has placed in us.

God created each and every one of us with a purpose and a plan. He placed within each of us promise and potential. 

This being said, we are born into the ‘mayim’ of the world – into the chaos of the world – and come to Christ void, formless and out of darkness. We call on Christ and He pulls us out.

This is where His finished work in us begins.

This is where our physical reality starts catching up with His spiritual reality. It has all been ordained – the plans He has for us – it has already been paid for – the healing, the deliverance, the restoration. 

It’s like getting a ticket to a concert.

There is a Kingdom experience that has been made available to each of us. The ticket has been bought by the blood of Christ. We enter into this experience through the door of His sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean we know where to go after that. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is how God ushers us to our assigned seats – that place from which we get to see God’s story for His children unfold – a story written, produced and directed by the Creator of the Universe.

He calls us out of the chaos of the crowd and into this Kingdom experience.

He calls us out of the chaos and into newness.

And all we need to do is accept the invitation. All we have to do is open up to Him today.

We do this, very simply, through prayer, spending time in His Word and in fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. Through the practice of spiritual disciplines we open up to Him, inviting Him to rest on us, to work in us – to be made manifest through us.

All it takes is a yielded yes today. A want and a willingness to seek Him, to see Him, to experience Him.

All it takes is a want and a willingness to accept the ticket that Christ paid for and show up. To say ‘here I am, Lord!’.

And as we do this – as we commit to Him and let Him in we will see our chaos be brought to order, we will see God speak light into our darkness and breathe life into our dry bones.

Prayer: Lord, today I invite You to come and rest on me – come and do Your work in me. Through Your Holy Spirit, lead me deeper into Your Word and Your will for my life. Through Your Holy Spirit, awaken in me a greater need and love for fellowship. Ignite in me, through Your Holy Spirit, a fire that drives me to pray and to seek You in all things so that I might ultimately see You in all things. Guide me in using my time productively, help me redeem my time so that I might experience the fullness of Your Kingdom unfolding around me. Lead me away from the things of this world, and deeper into the heart of the Kingdom. Bring me out of chaos and into order, out of darkness and into light – and let me become an agent and ambassador of Your Kingdom Come in the world around me. In Jesus Name. 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.

 

Breathe

Breathe

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence
Living in me”

This Is The Air I Breathe, Hillsong

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.“

Genesis 2:7, NKJV

Jeremiah 29:13-14:  “You will seek (baqash) me and find me when you seek (darash) me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

As a former addict and alcoholic I spent a lot of time in 12 Step Meetings. One of the hardest hitting ideas in the Twelve Steps to me personally is step 11: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

CONSCIOUS CONTACT. When we look at the Word spoken through Jeremiah in the passage above we see that the Lord does not hide Himself from us – He isn’t hard to find – but it takes a sort of effort from our side.

Looking at the Hebrew words BAQASH and DARASH in this passage we find that the Lord requires two things of us.

“Baqash’ is also translated as ‘desire’, to ‘plead’ or ‘beg for’ and to ‘aim’. 

‘Darash’ is to get up and go looking, to ‘ask’, to ‘study’, to ‘call’.

What God is saying is: “I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU when you DESIRE ME, set your sights on Me – HUNGER AND THIRST for Me – and then ACT ON THAT DESIRE by LOOKING, by ASKING, by STUDYING, by CALLING.”

Our ‘contact’ with God needs to be ‘conscious’ – born of desire and pursued with action. Our ‘contact’ or ‘finding God’ should be intentional – an exercise in mindfulness.

I would like to add the word ‘constant’ to the mix.

Scripture encourages us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thes. 5:16-18, Luke 18:1:), to pray about everything (Phil 4:6:), to meditate on His Word day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2:) – Scripture encourages us to be consistent in our efforts for ‘conscious contact’. Scripture calls for CONSTANT CONSCIOUS CONTACT.

The Psalmist in Psalm 116 proclaims: I will praise Him as long as I live –  as long as I have breathe in my lungs – I will praise Him!

In Genesis 2:7: we read that God breathed life into Adam – and his lungs reacted – expanded, inhaled, exhaled… 

If worship is our response to our Creator, our response to the goodness and glory of God (Psalm 116) then Adam’s response to his Creator was the first act of worship.

If we meditate on this a little bit we might come to realize that our worship, our prayer, our meditation – our seeking out the Lord should be as breathing to us.

Just like breath is life to the body, so also prayer, meditation, the study of His Word, and our worship is life to our souls. 

God wants to dwell in our midst – He doesn’t want to come and visit once in a while. He doesn’t need a holiday home. He wants to tabernacle here among us. He wants to establish His throne here and now in our hearts and in our lives. He desires to be with us.

And all we have to do is breathe.

All we need to do is start being present in His presence. Being mindful of maintaining that constant conscious contact with the Lord.

Worship should become a lifestyle. Prayer should become a lifestyle. His presence should be the air we breathe. His Word should be the daily bread that feeds and sustains us.

God is not hiding. He is just waiting for you to make a move

God is still breathing life into dry bones. It is time you let your lungs respond.

Prayer: Lord, right now I invite Your Holy Spirit to come and invade my life. Let Your love and presence flood my soul. Hear the longing and the thirsting of my heart as I acknowledge that I am lost without You. Bring water to dry places Lord, feed me and restore me. Give me the wisdom to seek You, and as I seek You let it become like breathing to me. Ignite a fire in my heart that burns for You – awaken and stir up a longing that desires You above all else – and as I seek You Lord, I know You are faithful. As I seek You Lord, do not hide Your face from me, but allow me to see and experience the beauty of Your presence in my life today. Amen.