I’ve been reading the story of Joseph in Genesis 41. There is a repeated phrase, “The Lord was with Joseph and he was successful in all things”.

Now this sounds encouraging until you step back and read it in context. Many of this instances were in the midst of terrible situations. He was thrown into prison, he was bought as a hired servant, he was forgotten by those who he had helped. Yet, the Lord was with him and blessed him.

At one point in the story, the Favor of God was so strong on Joseph that it spilled over onto others who he was working for. His anointing even amazed the ungodly into the realization of the fact that God’s hand was on his life. Pharoh, Pottifar and others saw God through the anointing in Joseph’s life.

In today’s religious circles, we have turned favor into a prosperity gospel. Favor does not equal earthly blessing! God’s economy is based on things of higher value.

Be careful when you pray for a deeper anointing or more of God’s favor on your life. You may end up alone and at the bottom of the world’s value system.

Oh God, let us be so filled with your anointing that an in believing world will see You through our lives.

I read this earlier and wanted to share it. Great stuff!

Author: John Piper (http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/) In New Testament times swords were not for digging, shaving, or whittling. They were for killing. The only reason Peter cut off Malchus’s ear was that he missed (John 18:10). But Herod didn’t miss: “He killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:2). Many saints have felt the full force of the sword: “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword” (Hebrews 11:37). So it was and will be: “If anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain” (Revelation 13:10). That’s what swords are for. So when Paul calls the word of God the “sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17, he is serious—something must be put to death. And it is not people. Christians don’t kill people to spread our faith; we die to spread our faith. The link in Paul’s mind is given in Romans 8:13. If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. The Sword is for putting to death. And by the Spirit we put to death our sinful deeds. So I conclude that the way we kill our sins is with the Spirit’s sword, the word of God. All temptations to sin have power by lying. The are “deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). They tell us that the pleasure of the sin is worth it. The killing blow against these lies is the power of God’s truth. Hence the sword of the Spirit, God’s word, is the weapon to use. As John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.” That is what swords are for, especially the Bible.

Reading through the Gospel of John during the fast. Posting my thoughts on what speaks to me.

Today – John 2.

John 2:23-25 (NIV)

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Many people believed Jesus because of what He was doing – Miracles!  But notice that He did not trust them. Even though they were following him, He still did not trust them.

WHY?

Because “He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.”

Why do we work so hard to get man’s approval? We know that some people will disappoint us. They will leave us when things get tough and they will follow us only if things are going good for them.

Jesus did not let himself get caught up in the popularity game that we see so many people striving for in today’s society. When miracles began to happen, people began to follow. However, He did not let the crowds overshadow the Glory of His Father nor did He lose sight of the mission and purpose for which He was to fulfill.

God, don’t let Your Glory be stolen and replaced with man’s fame. Send the miracles when we pray and keep us humble in the midst of your blessing.

//PK

Today is the start of the 21 day First Fruit Fast for our church. This morning was an incredible service to launch the new year as well as the fast. God was in the room!

Our congregation is reading through the book of John for the next 21 days. A chapter each day; today is John 1.

This lept out to me when I read it…

John 1:10-12

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

His own people rejected Him. wow! 

Have things really changed that much over the years? I mean if Jesus were to walk into one of our services today, how would he be received? Would he be welcomed in our churches? Would he be invited into our circle of friends? Would we be concerned about how He is dressed or what he looks like or even the color of His skin?

I am blessed to be leading a fellowship of believers that is open and acceptive of whosoever walks in our doors. Sure we have our struggles and God is working on us. However, every week I am encouraged and thankful when I look across our congregation. There is a representation of all races and all walks of life. When we last surveyed, there were 33 nationalities represented in our congregation. One person recently commented, “this looks like heaven.”

We’ve still got a lot of work to do. God is molding us and continually making us into what He has planned and purposed for us. We’re not there yet…but we’re on our way.

My prayer is that we become so filled with the love of Christ, that when people walk in the front door, they sense the love of God. Before the songs are sung; before the message is shared; may people know that God is in the house simply by the love that we show towards others.

John 13:35 (New Living Translation)

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

+++

Further reading on fasting.

Matthew 6:1-18 (New Living Translation)

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,[a]
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b]
but rescue us from the evil one.[c]

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

//PK

kevin.harris@lcog.cc

http://kevinvharris.wordpress.com

1 Kings 19:11-13 (New Living Translation)

Do you see His glory?

Yesterday I slowed down enough to share a moment with a new friend. It came on the heels of me writing Sunday that we find fulfillment in helping others. We talked and prayed, then we hugged and he left. I’d never seen him before and may never see him again, but I know that in that very moment, God’s glory was present.

Sometimes God doesn;t come in the fire, or earthquake or thunder and lightening. Sometimes he comes in a still, small voice – simply knocking on the door of our heart. He wants to sit down and talk, you know like friends.

Let Him.

¹¹“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹²And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

   And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

At the Braves game. Last one of the year for me. Beautiful night at Turner Field.

I’ve been having some healthy dialogue with folks lately about this whole evangelistic approach to ministry. I’m convinced that what we used to call a revival (you know the series of meetings with a special speaker and musicians) has slowly changed it’s identity to something entirely different. I see revivals taking place now that are sparked by one-on-one contacts between people who are sincerely passionate for God and they desire to lead others to him.

I am seeing a revival in my own life. Not to reach “the masses” for Christ under a tent with a pumping B-3 Hamond organ playing. Don’t get me wrong, I love that stuff and grew up in that environment. However, I see revival breaking out in a coffee houses, in living rooms or on a bench in a park – talking with people – searching for answers to questions from the Sciptures that pertain to our lives.

Why do I feel weird about this? This is almost idential to what Jesus himself did. He spent time with people, he pointed them to God with His life.

My new greatest compliment - “I want to become a Christian like you. ‘Cause your life seems to be pretty cool and I’d like to be able to live like that.”

Does your “life” make people want to become a Christian?

What kind of REVIVAL are you starting?

I read this from my devotional recently and I wanted to post it as a chellenge for ALL of us. Take some time – turn off the sound, and read this prayer aloud. Then take a moment to reflect on what it would mean if you truly believed it!

O Lord, forbid that I would be so foolish as to be a lover of wages more than a lover of undeserved rewards. Make me feel the sweetness of being shown mercy. Work childlikeness deeply into my soul, and make me find my joy and rest in Your free gift of grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

The general assembly started today. Drove all night from Atlanta with the Teen Talent students to get here. What a trip!