That Still Small Voice

I Kings 19:11-13

11. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rock before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12. And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

 

For those not familiar with the story lets take a moment to recap whats going on.

 

Elijah was a mighty prophet of the God of Israel. Leonard RavenHill said, “When Elijah prayed, fire fell. When Elijah prayed rain fell. When Elijah prayed prophets fell. He altered the course of nature and strangled the economy of a nation, because he had an uncanny hold on God.”

 

So he receives a letter from Jezebel warning him that much like the other prophets he will be dead this time tomorrow so he panics and runs. He flees until he falls exhausted beneath a juniper tree. After being fed by an angel twice, he made a 40- day journey to mount Horeb.

 

Here he dwelled in a cave. Hes here for a while when out of the darkness of this cave God spoke and said, “what are you doing here?” Of course he was talking about his spiritual condition and not his physical location. “What is your heart doing in this current state Elijah?”

 

So He tells Elijah to get out of the cave. Theres a lesson there, we can’t stay in the cave forever! He then tells Elijah to stand on the mountain.

 

Here we find the mighty wind break the rocks, but God wasn’t there; Then came the earthquake that threatened to thrown Elijah off balance but God wasn’t there; Then the fire, yet God wasn’t there.

 

However, just because God did not appear in these forces of nature at Horeb, doesn’t mean God is never in the fire, earthquakes, and wind. Those on the Day of Pentecost witnessed the Spirit of God in the rushing mighty wind. The three Hebrew boys were there as God manifested himself in the fire. Paul and Silas experienced the power of the earth quake that shook the very foundation of the prison cell.

 

But lets look at the fire that fell on Jobs livestock and property, his servant said that God was in the fire, yet we know that satan reined fire in hopes to bring Job down.

 

This is the message God is trying to tell Elijah. God did not speak to him in an extravagant way, not hurricane force winds or extreme fire, or a violent earthquake. God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, what a revelation!

 

With the help of God Elijah called down fire and rain, he also brought on drought to the land; a mere man! Yet God is showing Elijah, its not all about spectacular signs and wonders, its not always going to involve a huge miracle.

 

Elijah received direction from the simple, yet powerful still small voice of God.

 

Heres the word I want to leave for you today. For the person thats seeking direction or answers, whether its a ministry decision, or if you’re looking for wisdom and guidance for your situation.

 

First its time to stop dwelling in the cave, it serves a purpose when the pressures of life forces you to run to the cave but you can’t stay there, its time to get up and get moving.

 

Second, Elijah was told to stand as God passed by, scripture doesn’t give us an amount of time he stood. It may be awhile at times that we may just have to be still and wait on God. Patience is key, if you receive a word from God, rest assure He hasn’t forgotten about you.

 

And last: I fear that as the apostolic movement, we can get so used to the spectacular moves of God, the signs and wonders, looking for the next big miracle, that we neglect that still small voice of God.

 

Please don’t misunderstand, I enjoy the supernatural moves of God in our churches, they serve a purpose, but the word of God is always going to precede the miracles of God.

 

So perhaps rather than looking for for the big sign in the sky, or the falling lights with the big arrow telling you what to do and where to go, you should be still, and know he’s still God. Find a quiet place, just you and Him. Pray, fast, open up the Word of God. And listen for that still small voice to give you direction.

Pain is Not Forever

Ive recently started reading a book titled: The Impassioned Soul, by Morton Bustard.  And a section of this book really stood out to me that I felt somebody needed to hear, its a little lengthy but if you’re going through a trial in your life and it seems like the pain wether physical or spiritual, or maybe even emotion just won’t go away, I urge you to read to the end. I pray it will bless you as much as it did me.

 

Pain is not forever:

Recently a dear friend of mine wanted to know if God was angry with her. The reason she had this question in her mind was from her suffering with leukemia.

 

Approximately a year earlier, little 8 year-old Kelly had been diagnosed with this disease. After much prayer, the cancer went into remission. It would appear that she would get to enjoy a full life. Later we would learn that this would not be the case. The cancer emerged from dormancy with a most horrible vengeance.

 

As we knelt on the floor beside her chair, my pastor and I both affirmed to this precious little girl that God was not upset with her. It was just the opposite. His love for her never wavered .

 

Service after service I watched this sweet family worship when it wasn’t convenient. As Kelly sat on the pew, hardly able to move, Dad would stand with tears streaming down his face in adoration of his Lord. They did not get mad at God or accuse Him foolishly. Of course they questioned why.

 

Asking why is human. There is no sin in inquiring why trials come and why we have to face the situations that confront us. In His blood-covered, pain-ridden body Jesus looked into the heavens and asked why.

 

The bible says it rains on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Good and bad people are stricken with cancer. The Psalmist David declared, “Many are the afflictions of the unrighteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalms 34:29). David did not say “from” but “out of”. There is a major difference between the two.

 

The fact that God still loved her was proven beyond any doubt early the next morning. I was on a plane bound for Canada while Kelly’s family and pastor knelt at her side. Words were scarce from Kelly. Being subjected to pain of this magnitude, coupled with the treatment for the disease, left her absolutely exhausted.

 

Through it all this little warrior put up a tremendous fight. When all eyes were focused on her, she thought of others. On one of my family’s earlier visits to see her, she gave my youngest daughter a cap. Kayla cherishes it to this day.

 

That morning, from a body racked with pain, Kelly managed to squeak out the words, “I see Jesus; He’s coming for me.” Those around her bedside admonished her to go and not linger for their sake. Releasing a loved one is not easy, but the task is much lighter when the final destination is considered.

 

In a moment it was over. Kelly’s face had no expression as she lay lifeless. Those present wept over the emptiness. This petite and precious child left one enormous void.

 

After several minutes passed, the room was vacated except for the motionless body of the child who had brought so much sunshine into each of our lives. When her mom and dad returned to where Kelly lay, they were astonished by what they saw. A smile graced the countenance of darling little Kelly.

 

I have no answer as to why an adorable eight-year-old was taken from this life. I along with everyone who knew her, wanted nothing less than her complete recovery. If there was a lack of faith, it certainly camouflaged itself well. The entire household possessed a strong love for God and a firm belief in His Word. Amid the emotions and the questions, her countenance spoke volumes.

 

When the news of her departure reached me and I was told of her smile, I remembered the words of our pastor. “Kelly, I promise you that you will not be in pain forever.” God obviously had no ill feelings toward Kelly; the smile said it all: Pastor, you were right. I’m not in pain anymore.

 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and wept, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalms 126:5-6).

 

Notice that David did not say “they that sow with tears,” but rather “in” tears.” That means sowing when its not convenient, being faithful through times of pain and heartbreak. It implies squaring our shoulders and meeting the task head-on through life’s storms and winds of adversity.

 

There is a reason as well as a reward for enduring such hardship. When all is said and done, we will have experienced a relationship with God we never had before. We never know him as the Lily of the Valley, until we tread through the deep, lonely, valley (Song 2:1). God could have spared the three Hebrew boys from having  to enter a fiery furnace, but if He had, they never would have seen the fourth man (Daniel 3:20-25).

 

We also have an enormous harvest. The barns and silos will be teeming with joy. Tears of sorrow will vanish, and our joy will be full.

 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).

 

All through life there is pain. There is pain of childbirth and the pain in growing. Many have made their exit from this life in pain, only to cross the chasm from the temporal to that great eternal place where no pain is felt.

 

Look into the sparkling eyes of a little girl. She dreams of being a ballerina. But before she dances with grace, she will practice in pain. We can endure pain more easily when there is a purpose for it.

 

Pain can be precious. A mother thinks so when she beholds the beauty of a newborn. It is worth it to the lad who becomes strong and tall- as well as to the person who knows Jesus is his Savior, when he is ushered by an entourage of angels into the presence of the King.

A Living Epistle

2 Corinthians 3:1-2

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.

 

We all have those in our lives we would love to see in church but for whatever reason they just won’t go. It can be discouraging at times, it can be stressful when that burden on your shoulders becomes too heavy to bare.

 

I want to encourage you today, living for God in front of them is just as important as living for God in our personal lives. We are living epistles, we are a living testimony. The way we carry ourselves in front of loved ones outside the church, speaks volumes of your walk with God. You might just be the only bible they will ever read, meaning when they see us they should be able to “read”

Forgiveness as the scripture says

Grace as the scripture says

Love as the scripture says

A living sacrifice

An ambassador of hope

Some who doesn’t fall in with the rest of the crowd along with temptation

 

Its one thing to read the scripture, its another to LIVE it. Dont just be hearers of the word, lets be doers as well, because let me tell you from personal experience: they are watching you, you’re different, you’re on a pedestal and they are looking to see if you fall. Give them something to look at, let them see the grace of God at work in your life. He created us in His image, I don’t know about you but I want to represent God in a way thats pleasing to Him.

 

One day they are going to walk through the doors of the church, and you’re going to ask them what changed your mind? And they are going to say, you.  I want whatever you have that is making you so happy all the time. Theres a “glow” you possess that I cannot ignore any longer.

 

It will be one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Prayer Meeting

Its one of the highlights of my week: Prayer Meeting Night!

You will always be able to find an excuse of why we can’t make it to prayer, why we can’t make it to church. Tonight while everyone else around us is either taking advantage of spring break, or going to the rodeo, I want to issue a challenge to you to put aside the distractions and excuses and lets get in the presence of God!

 

A lot of times blessings come after sacrifice, what are you willing to give up to have your prayers answered?

 

Tonight 7:30 @ Pentecostals of Santa Fe

12811 FM 1764 santa fe, tx

The Children

We have all heard it said before, “They need to keep a better eye on their kids.”

“That child needs discipline, I bet he minds then.”

“Did they really just spank their child? Thats whats wrong with him.”

And if we are honest with ourselves most likely we have thought the same ourselves from time to time!

We have always had a decent size Sunday school attendance, but yesterday it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I looked out after we dismissed Sunday school, I watched as kids ran to their teachers and followed them to class, excited looks on their faces. After everything settled down again I looked up and what was once a full congregation was now just about half gone! It seems like our Sunday school makes half our attendance on Sunday mornings!

God then quickened my Spirit, and He said, “This is a sign of a healthy church.”

I didn’t quite understand at first I mean, nearly half the church was gone!

But then I saw smiles on new parents faces as they watched their happy children excited to learn about God, and I can’t say for sure, but ill bet it was taking their minds back to when they were kids going to Sunday school, how much fun they used to have, the love their teachers showed them.

Thats when God spoke to me again, these kids are one of the keys to a growing church, they are going to be the catalyst that catapult the church into revival mode. Their parents will be more and rooted for the sake of the kids as God deals with them on a more personal level.

look, Jesus himself said suffer not the little children, He placed emphases on how we must come as little children, oh what would happen if we got as excited about coming to church on a Sunday as much as kids do?

We all know the familiar scripture, “Train a child in a way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

I believe that this does apply to parents, but what if we apply it to the church as well?

Allow me to put it like this, you want to find a way to make a new set of parents in the church mad, offend one of their children or upset one of them and that family will never come back. Now thats a hard pill to swallow.

My point is this as I close:

Love these kids, love their parents, get to know them, lead them by example in prayer and worship. Because if you think about it, that kid behind you might just be your pastor one day. That child on the other side of the church my just be a future music director. That little girl in the front crying, could be a Sunday school teacher one day.

BUT it won’t happen unless we love them and cherish them, for they are the future generation 😉

COME WITH EXPECTATION

Expectation is the birthplace of the miraculous!

The bible says signs and wonders will follow them that believe, I don’t know about everyone else but I believe great things are going to happen at Pentecostals of Santa fe! Come EXPECTING miracles! BELIEVE God’s healing virtue will flow through the services! And have FAITH that hearts will be touched in every person that walks through the doors of the church!

I don’t want to leave STIRRED, I want to leave CHANGED!

Join us tomorrow morning, 10:00 a.m. and again for our camp meeting service at 6:00 pm I DARE you to show up and see if God does a work in your life 😉

12811 FM 1764, santa fe

I will be looking for you there 😉

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayers are very important in the body of Christ, many times the only chance our lost loved ones have to be saved is by us standing in the gap and interceding on their behalf.

So then begs the question, what effects do my prayers have for someone else who’s living in the world?Do my prayers really matter?

Lets look no further than the story of Abraham talking with God about sparing the city of Sodom and Gomorrah if He were to find righteousness within the city. Now this is just me but I don’t believe Abraham was sitting on an old rock and having a conversation over the campfire. Abraham was interceding on behalf of his nephew Lot and his family, as well as anyone that might have any hope of coming to God. I believe this was and still is an example of intercessory prayer!

I also believe that had Abraham not step into the gap between God and the sister cities, we would have had a very different outcome that day. Why? Because God listens to our burdens, He hears our cries,
and he sees our hearts, and our sacrifice.

Likewise our prayers can make a difference in the lives of our lost families and loved ones, its a key to soul-winning. when we are in our prayer closet and our brother or sister are at the bar, or perhaps simply living a lifestyle that not pleasing to God, our prayers can cause God to move and speak to
that person right where their at, and speak to their hearts and knowing somebody is praying on their behalf. How powerful to know that God isn’t confined to our church buildings or our prayer closets, that our prayers can reach different zip codes, counties, states, and even around the world!

We should be sensitive to when God speaks to us throughout the day, when a name pops in our head or someones face, more times than not God is trying to tell us, stop and pray. I can tell you many stories of people in the church, who were almost in an accident or was dealing with a situation, only for God
to come through at the last minute and deliver for them, then come to find out through the “grape vine” someone received the burden to pray at that exact moment.

Theres also times when we need to intercede for those in the church as well.

The following is an excerpt from a book titled: The Intercessors

“We should pray for our pastor and his wife, for they labor to provide us with spiritual food. The pastor studies, prays, visits, encourages, preaches,and performs many other services in which he pours out his life for his congregation. His wife sacrifices her own feelings and desires to unselfishly allow him to fulfill his burden. By investing our intercessory prayers in them, we bless ourselves as well as them.

We should pray for our brothers and sisters in the church. We are our brothers keeper. In some forests, trees seldom topple over because they are so intertwined that they support on another in their branches and roots. By investing intercession in our brothers and sisters, we also help solidify, and
strengthen our own walk with God.

Investments sometimes demand sacrifice in order to bring benefits later. People will save a portion of their income to invest when they would really like to spend it now for something. But they wisely know
that it will pay dividends down the road.

Intercession may be sacrificial at times, It may be physically and emotionally demanding. At times a prayer burden will take a tremendous toll on a person. But taking time to pray when other things
press us for attention is investing now for a heavenly payday later.

Intercession is being kingdom minded. Intercession is seeking first the kingdom of God. Intercession is denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. If we lay up treasures in Heaven, we will never be sorry.

One song asked, “What good has my life been? Someday ill surely know. How many souls did I win? Eternity will show.” These words place our priorities in proper focus. By being used of God in proper
intercession, our lives can touch many others for eternity.”

Keep Pressing On

Keep Pressing On – Philippians 3:1-16

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the challenges of living for Christ?  You’re not alone.  Even Paul felt that way.  In 2 Corinthians 1:8, he honestly admitted that the troubles he and Timothy endured in Asia had taxed them beyond measure, and they feared for their lives.  But Paul said they learned their lesson: We should not trust in ourselves but in God” (v.9)

In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul again wrote honestly about his Christian walk, admitting that he hadn’t attained perfection:  “I press toward the goal for the prize.”  He identified this lifelong pilgrimage as “the upward cal of God in Christ Jesus.”

Years ago, a group of Englishmen tried to conquer Mt. Everest.  They pressed on against cold, wind, blizzards, and avalanches.  When they came within 2,000 feet of the peak, they set up camp.  Two men, Mallory and Irvine, eagerly pressed on, expecting to return in about 16 hours.  They never came back.  The official record said simply:  “When last seen, they were heading toward the summit.”

Whatever the obstacles, let’s keep pressing on in the upward call of God, Trusting in Him and not ourselves.  At life’s end, may it be said of us, “When last seen they were heading toward the summit!”

 

When the pathway seems long

When temptation is strong,

When your strength’s almost gone

That’s the time to press on.  Hess

 

When the pressure is on, Press on!!

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