“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
This Scripture verse is a tremendous promise we all know well and quote frequently. I want to take a closer look at it as we approach the New Year. This is a declaration of Almighty God over you and me that He has great plans for us. According to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, these plans were made for us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) Pretty awesome! God goes on to say that these plans will give us hope. How can God’s plans give us hope? Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for.” Hope is an expectation of something. In order to have hope, we need to know what God’s plans are for us.
I Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.” God’s desire is to reveal to us by His Spirit those awesome plans He has for us that will give us hope and establish our future. This revelation of God’s plan can come through Scripture, the Spirit speaking in a quit voice to our spirit, and through prophetic word. The key to coming into this revelation is to begin to put our hope and our future in God’s hands. Our hope and future cannot be in our education, job, ministry, family, government, etc. In these uncertain times we need to transfer our hope and faith totally to God. When we do, we begin to ask God what He wants us to do. We are no longer swayed by circumstances or people because our hope is in God.
When our focus is on God and we are really willing to follow His way, an amazing thing begins to happen; God begins to reveal by His Spirit these awesome plans He has for us that we could not even conceive in our own minds. These unimaginable plans are conceived in the mind of God and can only be fulfilled by God. That brings us to the second half of our Scripture in Jeremiah. Notice the word “then” which connects the last half of the Scripture portion to the first half.
After we come into the revelation of God’s plan and future, God says “then you will call upon me,…I will listen to you,…and be found by you.” When we understand God’s plans for us, plans that are too big for us, it causes us to seek God’s face and enables us to pray according to God’s will. Then because we are praying and working in line with God’s plan, He hears us and enables us to do what we can not do ourselves. That is when life with God becomes exciting and fulfilling.
God declares over you and me a hope and a future, but we have to believe and pray it into reality. God promised Abraham that he would have descendents as numerous as the stars when he was married to a barren woman. God promised a shepherd boy named David that he was going to be the next king of Israel. Both had to persevere in faith to receive the promise.
As you enter the New Year, I encourage you to resolve to put your hope and future squarely in God’s hands, pursue His will for your life and His alone. Once you have received a word from Him, do not let go until it has been fulfilled in your life. Have faith in God! He has an awesome future planned for you.
Andy Clark
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Scaffolding
Isaiah 9:6-7
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”
At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of The King. The multitude of angelic hosts announced His birth. What a celebration in heaven there must have been! The wise men came from afar to see the King who had been born and to give Him gifts. Under the anointing of the Spirit, Isaiah defines the character of The King. He is the mighty God who has no equal or competition, and yet He is our compassionate Father to whom we can turn at any time. What an awesome Father we have! He is Wonderful, isn’t He? He is our Counselor, where we can find wisdom. He is our Peace, no matter how great the storm.
This King of Kings came into the world to establish His kingdom. The authority or government of the kingdom is upon His shoulders, and of this kingdom there is no end. Jesus described His kingdom in Luke 17:20-21, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." His kingdom is not defined by a geographical location, country or people group. His kingdom is seated in the hearts of men, women and children around the world.
Paul writes that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17-18) Christ’s kingdom is not in what we own but in who we are. We are a kingdom of priests who represent God to the world and intercede before God for the world. We are the likeness of Christ, the earthen vessels that show forth the glory of God. Wherever we are, we are the kingdom, a kingdom that is ever expanding into the hearts and lives of those with whom we come in contact. Together we are being built into a spiritual house for His glory.
Only what is built in the hearts and lives of people is the true kingdom, the overcoming and eternal kingdom that will never pass away. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our organizations, programs and buildings are not the kingdom. They are simply the scaffolding that allows us to build the kingdom. Scaffolding is important but only temporary. God help us not to become so preoccupied and busy building and maintaining the scaffolding that we fail to build the building, the kingdom in ourselves and in others, the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. One day the scaffolding we have spent so much time, money and effort building will be swept away to reveal what we have built that is of eternal value.
In this holiday season, let us celebrate what an awesome King we have and that we are part of the greatest kingdom in the world today. Let us purpose to build His kingdom in us and in those around us to the glory of God the Father.
Andy Clark
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”
At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of The King. The multitude of angelic hosts announced His birth. What a celebration in heaven there must have been! The wise men came from afar to see the King who had been born and to give Him gifts. Under the anointing of the Spirit, Isaiah defines the character of The King. He is the mighty God who has no equal or competition, and yet He is our compassionate Father to whom we can turn at any time. What an awesome Father we have! He is Wonderful, isn’t He? He is our Counselor, where we can find wisdom. He is our Peace, no matter how great the storm.
This King of Kings came into the world to establish His kingdom. The authority or government of the kingdom is upon His shoulders, and of this kingdom there is no end. Jesus described His kingdom in Luke 17:20-21, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." His kingdom is not defined by a geographical location, country or people group. His kingdom is seated in the hearts of men, women and children around the world.
Paul writes that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17-18) Christ’s kingdom is not in what we own but in who we are. We are a kingdom of priests who represent God to the world and intercede before God for the world. We are the likeness of Christ, the earthen vessels that show forth the glory of God. Wherever we are, we are the kingdom, a kingdom that is ever expanding into the hearts and lives of those with whom we come in contact. Together we are being built into a spiritual house for His glory.
Only what is built in the hearts and lives of people is the true kingdom, the overcoming and eternal kingdom that will never pass away. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our organizations, programs and buildings are not the kingdom. They are simply the scaffolding that allows us to build the kingdom. Scaffolding is important but only temporary. God help us not to become so preoccupied and busy building and maintaining the scaffolding that we fail to build the building, the kingdom in ourselves and in others, the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. One day the scaffolding we have spent so much time, money and effort building will be swept away to reveal what we have built that is of eternal value.
In this holiday season, let us celebrate what an awesome King we have and that we are part of the greatest kingdom in the world today. Let us purpose to build His kingdom in us and in those around us to the glory of God the Father.
Andy Clark
Monday, December 13, 2010
In Christ
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as I look around today, I see so many facing challenges in their lives, whether it be with health, finances, family issues or ministry. I want to look at some promises today that will help you walk in victory whether facing the fiery furnace or a den of lions that seem to be ready to devour you at any minute.
Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
This promise of overcoming circumstances and people that may come against us is based on two godly principals. First, as children of God, being more than a conqueror is our heritage. Because Christ overcame we will overcome also. He has defeated the powers of death, hell and the grave. We walk in His resurrection power. God does not promise to keep us from attack of the enemy, but the attack will not prosper because of who we are in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, God declares that our righteousness of from Him. We do not stand in our righteousness but in the righteousness of Christ. This promise is not based on our goodness or our ability, but on who Christ is and what He has accomplished for us. We often fail to overcome because we are so aware of our weaknesses and failures, and we lose sight of who we are in Christ. Romans 8:1-3 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
I like to illustrate the principle of Romans 8:1-3 by placing a hanky over my fist. My fist represents my sinful nature, and the hanky the righteousness of Christ. The accuser of the brethren, other people, and even we ourselves often focus on what is under the hanky, while all God only sees is the hanky. I then begin to stuff the hanky into my fist to illustrate that over time as we walk in the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ that covers us begins to fill our life as we are changed from glory to glory in the image of Christ. However during the transformation process we are constantly covered by and stand in the righteousness of Christ.
Christ is our salvation, our healer, our provider, and our deliverer. God loves you not because of who you are or what you have done, but because of who He is. He is love. Victory is His because He cannot fail. Defeat is not in His nature. He has peace in the midst of conflict and turmoil because He is the Prince of Peace. As a born again believer, you are in Christ and it is out of your relationship with Him that you overcome and walk in love, peace, and victory no matter what circumstances you face.
Whatever weapon has been formed against you today cannot prosper because the God of the universe declares over you “this is their heritage and their righteousness is of me.”
Andy Clark
Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
This promise of overcoming circumstances and people that may come against us is based on two godly principals. First, as children of God, being more than a conqueror is our heritage. Because Christ overcame we will overcome also. He has defeated the powers of death, hell and the grave. We walk in His resurrection power. God does not promise to keep us from attack of the enemy, but the attack will not prosper because of who we are in Christ Jesus.
Secondly, God declares that our righteousness of from Him. We do not stand in our righteousness but in the righteousness of Christ. This promise is not based on our goodness or our ability, but on who Christ is and what He has accomplished for us. We often fail to overcome because we are so aware of our weaknesses and failures, and we lose sight of who we are in Christ. Romans 8:1-3 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
I like to illustrate the principle of Romans 8:1-3 by placing a hanky over my fist. My fist represents my sinful nature, and the hanky the righteousness of Christ. The accuser of the brethren, other people, and even we ourselves often focus on what is under the hanky, while all God only sees is the hanky. I then begin to stuff the hanky into my fist to illustrate that over time as we walk in the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ that covers us begins to fill our life as we are changed from glory to glory in the image of Christ. However during the transformation process we are constantly covered by and stand in the righteousness of Christ.
Christ is our salvation, our healer, our provider, and our deliverer. God loves you not because of who you are or what you have done, but because of who He is. He is love. Victory is His because He cannot fail. Defeat is not in His nature. He has peace in the midst of conflict and turmoil because He is the Prince of Peace. As a born again believer, you are in Christ and it is out of your relationship with Him that you overcome and walk in love, peace, and victory no matter what circumstances you face.
Whatever weapon has been formed against you today cannot prosper because the God of the universe declares over you “this is their heritage and their righteousness is of me.”
Andy Clark
Monday, December 6, 2010
Weapons of Our Warfare
"Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."— Revelation 12:7
There will always be war between the two kingdoms: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of good and that of evil, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan, until Jesus comes and casts Satan and his hordes into the bottomless pit. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility. There is no compromise or middle ground.
Daniel understood this battle in which we fight, a battle he took on to discover God’s will for the Jewish people in Babylon. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel sets himself to fast and pray for forty days until he received an answer. In verse 10 an angel appeared to him and said, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days.” (Daniel 10:12-14)
The enemy never gives up and is incessant in his onslaught, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. We must become as persistent as the enemy. Like Daniel, we must come into agreement with God and His Word, and persist until we get an answer. God sent an answer the first day Daniel prayed, but it took forty days of persistent prayer and fasting on Daniel’s part to receive what God had for him. II Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God.” What are these weapons of warfare that God has given us?
Ephesians 6:14-18 exhort us to, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” I had a missionary friend who, when he dressed every morning, he mentally put on the armor of God to remind himself of the battle he was in and what God had given him to overcome the enemy.
We do not overcome the enemy with the gifts of the Spirit, for those are for ministry. We overcome the enemy with the fruit of the Spirit--“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) The enemy has no weapon or defense against love, joy and peace. When the enemy throws everything at you and by the Spirit you maintain peace and joy, what can he do? Righteousness and faith will always quench every fiery dart of the enemy.
We are in a battle, but the victory is ours if we will persevere in prayer with faith, hope and love.
Andy Clark
There will always be war between the two kingdoms: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of good and that of evil, the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan, until Jesus comes and casts Satan and his hordes into the bottomless pit. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility. There is no compromise or middle ground.
Daniel understood this battle in which we fight, a battle he took on to discover God’s will for the Jewish people in Babylon. In Daniel 10:3, Daniel sets himself to fast and pray for forty days until he received an answer. In verse 10 an angel appeared to him and said, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days.” (Daniel 10:12-14)
The enemy never gives up and is incessant in his onslaught, sparing no weapon, fair or foul. We must become as persistent as the enemy. Like Daniel, we must come into agreement with God and His Word, and persist until we get an answer. God sent an answer the first day Daniel prayed, but it took forty days of persistent prayer and fasting on Daniel’s part to receive what God had for him. II Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God.” What are these weapons of warfare that God has given us?
Ephesians 6:14-18 exhort us to, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” I had a missionary friend who, when he dressed every morning, he mentally put on the armor of God to remind himself of the battle he was in and what God had given him to overcome the enemy.
We do not overcome the enemy with the gifts of the Spirit, for those are for ministry. We overcome the enemy with the fruit of the Spirit--“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) The enemy has no weapon or defense against love, joy and peace. When the enemy throws everything at you and by the Spirit you maintain peace and joy, what can he do? Righteousness and faith will always quench every fiery dart of the enemy.
We are in a battle, but the victory is ours if we will persevere in prayer with faith, hope and love.
Andy Clark
Monday, November 29, 2010
Do Not Fear
Do Not Fear (Do not worry or be anxious.)
Isaiah 43:1-2
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”
The call of God today in the uncertain world we live in and the challenges of life that often seem to overwhelm us is to “fear not!” When Joshua was called to lead Israel into the land of promise, a land of giants and walled cities that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable, the word of the Lord to him was to fear not, but be strong and courageous, because the Lord God was with him. Over and over when Israel faced insurmountable enemies, the command of the Lord was not to fear. When the tempest on Lake Galilee seemed about to swamp the disciples’ boat, the word of Jesus was, “Do not be afraid.”
In the portion we read today, God gives three reasons why we should not fear. We have been redeemed. Redeemed means to buy back something that belonged to you. I’m reminded of a story of a young boy who built a beautiful sail boat. He took it down to the river to play with it, the current caught it, and it disappeared down the river. One day, the boy passed a pawn shop, and there was his boat in the window. He went in and told the owner that it was his boat and even showed him his initials on the bottom of the boat. The owner said, “Sorry, boy, it is my boat now, and you are going to have to buy it from me.” So the boy went out and worked hard at odd jobs until he saved enough money to buy the boat. As he walked out of the pawn shop the owner overheard him say, “Little boat, you belong to me twice. First I made you, and then I bought you.” We should not worry or fear because we were created by God’s own hands and have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. You are highly favored by God.
God continues by saying “I have called you by my name.” Jesus said, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (John 15:16) God Almighty, the Creator of the universe who holds all power in His hand, has called you and chosen you by your name. Jesus goes on to say that “no one can snatch you out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Why? Because you belong to God! God goes on to say in Isaiah 43:4, “Since you are precious and honored and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you.”
Because of God’s great love for you and the price He paid to redeem you, you are extremely precious to Him, and He is honored by your presence. God is proud of you. You have His favor. Like Israel, who were in captivity in Babylon, when we are overwhelmed by what we face and the currents of life seem to be washing us away, we forget that we have been redeemed and we are now His. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31-32, 37)
Andy Clark
Isaiah 43:1-2
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”
The call of God today in the uncertain world we live in and the challenges of life that often seem to overwhelm us is to “fear not!” When Joshua was called to lead Israel into the land of promise, a land of giants and walled cities that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable, the word of the Lord to him was to fear not, but be strong and courageous, because the Lord God was with him. Over and over when Israel faced insurmountable enemies, the command of the Lord was not to fear. When the tempest on Lake Galilee seemed about to swamp the disciples’ boat, the word of Jesus was, “Do not be afraid.”
In the portion we read today, God gives three reasons why we should not fear. We have been redeemed. Redeemed means to buy back something that belonged to you. I’m reminded of a story of a young boy who built a beautiful sail boat. He took it down to the river to play with it, the current caught it, and it disappeared down the river. One day, the boy passed a pawn shop, and there was his boat in the window. He went in and told the owner that it was his boat and even showed him his initials on the bottom of the boat. The owner said, “Sorry, boy, it is my boat now, and you are going to have to buy it from me.” So the boy went out and worked hard at odd jobs until he saved enough money to buy the boat. As he walked out of the pawn shop the owner overheard him say, “Little boat, you belong to me twice. First I made you, and then I bought you.” We should not worry or fear because we were created by God’s own hands and have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. You are highly favored by God.
God continues by saying “I have called you by my name.” Jesus said, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (John 15:16) God Almighty, the Creator of the universe who holds all power in His hand, has called you and chosen you by your name. Jesus goes on to say that “no one can snatch you out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Why? Because you belong to God! God goes on to say in Isaiah 43:4, “Since you are precious and honored and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you.”
Because of God’s great love for you and the price He paid to redeem you, you are extremely precious to Him, and He is honored by your presence. God is proud of you. You have His favor. Like Israel, who were in captivity in Babylon, when we are overwhelmed by what we face and the currents of life seem to be washing us away, we forget that we have been redeemed and we are now His. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31-32, 37)
Andy Clark
Monday, November 22, 2010
United We Stand
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalms 34:3
It is through togetherness that we magnify and exalt the name of the Lord. Jesus prayed in John 17:21-23, “That all of them (referring to us) may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” Jesus is calling us into the same oneness as He has with the Father. This is achieved because He has placed His glory or very nature in us. The result of this unity with Christ and with each other is that the world will see Jesus in us.
This unity was demonstrated in the early church. Acts 2:44 says, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” The results were signs and wonders, they enjoyed the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47) When Peter and John were threatened by the religious leadership, then released, Acts 4:24 and 31 says, “When they (the church) heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God…. After they prayed, the place they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
The early church’s ability not only to stand but also to prosper in the midst of adversity was born out of their relationship with the Father and each other. With the growing opposition we are facing in the world today, we cannot afford to walk and minister in isolation. We need to take heed to the example of Christ himself and the early church, which grew in the midst of intense persecution. Our ability to penetrate the darkness relies on our relationship with Christ and each other. Together we need to take on the forces of darkness. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer, and when one part rejoices, we all rejoice. We need to pray for one another, encourage one another, and work together.
In Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones, the first prophetic word was that the bones were to come together so that flesh could come on to the bones. The second prophetic word was for breath to come into the bodies that they might live and become a vast army. I believe the prophetic word at this hour is that we come together in a greater way, believer with believer, church with church, until we impact our communities with the Gospel of Christ. It is only as a united body that we will stand and the glory of the Lord can be revealed through us to the nations.
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
Andy Clark
avclark@juno.com
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
It is through togetherness that we magnify and exalt the name of the Lord. Jesus prayed in John 17:21-23, “That all of them (referring to us) may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.” Jesus is calling us into the same oneness as He has with the Father. This is achieved because He has placed His glory or very nature in us. The result of this unity with Christ and with each other is that the world will see Jesus in us.
This unity was demonstrated in the early church. Acts 2:44 says, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” The results were signs and wonders, they enjoyed the favor of all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47) When Peter and John were threatened by the religious leadership, then released, Acts 4:24 and 31 says, “When they (the church) heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God…. After they prayed, the place they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
The early church’s ability not only to stand but also to prosper in the midst of adversity was born out of their relationship with the Father and each other. With the growing opposition we are facing in the world today, we cannot afford to walk and minister in isolation. We need to take heed to the example of Christ himself and the early church, which grew in the midst of intense persecution. Our ability to penetrate the darkness relies on our relationship with Christ and each other. Together we need to take on the forces of darkness. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer, and when one part rejoices, we all rejoice. We need to pray for one another, encourage one another, and work together.
In Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones, the first prophetic word was that the bones were to come together so that flesh could come on to the bones. The second prophetic word was for breath to come into the bodies that they might live and become a vast army. I believe the prophetic word at this hour is that we come together in a greater way, believer with believer, church with church, until we impact our communities with the Gospel of Christ. It is only as a united body that we will stand and the glory of the Lord can be revealed through us to the nations.
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
Andy Clark
avclark@juno.com
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Monday, November 15, 2010
Building a Life of Influence
Proverbs 3:3-6
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
Influence is birthed out of trusting and acknowledging God in everything.
Influence is evidenced in mercy and truth (NKJ), love and faithfulness (NIV).
The results are divine guidance, favor with God and man, health, and prosperity.
Peter gives this epitaph of Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:38:
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
We see here that the evidence of God’s favor and anointing power in the life of Jesus was His acts of mercy. These were acts that were born out of the will of God and fulfilled by God’s power. They were evidences to the world of God’s character and His favor.
This favor and influence in the early church was demonstrated through their lives of mercy. Acts 2:46-47 says, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 4:32 goes on to say, “Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Mercy is one of the key elements in God’s judgment of mankind. Matt 25:34-39 says,
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me….. Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
This kind of unabandoned mercy can only be birthed out of trusting and acknowledging God in everything. The results are divine guidance, enablement, favor with God and man, health and prosperity of body, soul and spirit.
Andy Clark
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
Influence is birthed out of trusting and acknowledging God in everything.
Influence is evidenced in mercy and truth (NKJ), love and faithfulness (NIV).
The results are divine guidance, favor with God and man, health, and prosperity.
Peter gives this epitaph of Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:38:
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
We see here that the evidence of God’s favor and anointing power in the life of Jesus was His acts of mercy. These were acts that were born out of the will of God and fulfilled by God’s power. They were evidences to the world of God’s character and His favor.
This favor and influence in the early church was demonstrated through their lives of mercy. Acts 2:46-47 says, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 4:32 goes on to say, “Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Mercy is one of the key elements in God’s judgment of mankind. Matt 25:34-39 says,
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me….. Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
This kind of unabandoned mercy can only be birthed out of trusting and acknowledging God in everything. The results are divine guidance, enablement, favor with God and man, health and prosperity of body, soul and spirit.
Andy Clark
Monday, November 8, 2010
Seeing Jesus
Luke 24:13-16
“That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.” (The Message)
Jesus had been crucified and the lives of his disciples were shattered. Even though Jesus had told them what was going to happen, it did not compute with their theology of the Messiah who was coming to deliver Israel. To them all hope was gone. But along with all the confusing events of the crucifixion of Christ, just that morning some women who had gone to the tomb came back and reported that the tomb was empty and they had seen Jesus. Luke 24:11 says “But they (the disciples) did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” Peter and John went down to the tomb and found it was empty “and wondered what had happened.” So the two disciples on the way to Emmaus “were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened” when Jesus comes alongside and begins explaining from Scripture all that had happened. But in the King James it says “their eyes were holden,” so they didn’t recognize Him.
What an amazing thing that they did not recognize the face or the voice of the one that they had walked with for three and a half years! Even after Jesus in detail shows them from Scripture that He was to die and rise again, they did not understand the marvelous revelation teaching that only the Master Teacher could give. What kept the disciples from seeing Jesus and understanding the Scriptures that He so wonderfully opened up to them? I would like to look at two reasons they did not see Jesus.
They did not see Jesus because of their crisis. In their minds, Jesus was dead and gone. All hope had been taken away from them. Because of their circumstances, it was impossible for them to even imagine that it was Jesus walking beside them. Secondly, they could not see Jesus because of their beliefs based on their theology and experience. Even though Jesus had told them what was going to happen, they could not believe that the Messiah would die such a horrible death and then rise from the dead. It did not conform to their understanding of Messiah.
We too often fail to see Jesus in our circumstances and crisis. We pray and read the Scriptures, but we do not see Jesus in the Scripture or how the Scripture applies to our situation. The Holy Spirit, the great teacher, is walking right beside us trying to give us a God perspective for our situation, but we cannot see how Jesus could be in what we are going through. We are busy blaming ourselves, blaming others, or trying to figure out in our finite minds why we are going through what we are going through. We may even be reasoning among ourselves trying to figure it out. Sometimes our theology and experience stand right in our way. The promises of God and the answers are in the Scripture, but it does not line up with what we believe. So we fail to see Jesus in our circumstances and gain His perspective and solution to what we are facing.
Today, I want to encourage you that Jesus is walking right beside you in whatever challenge you are facing. He has a word for you if you will set aside your thoughts and emotions and listen to the quiet voice of the Spirit speaking to you.
Andy Clark
“That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.” (The Message)
Jesus had been crucified and the lives of his disciples were shattered. Even though Jesus had told them what was going to happen, it did not compute with their theology of the Messiah who was coming to deliver Israel. To them all hope was gone. But along with all the confusing events of the crucifixion of Christ, just that morning some women who had gone to the tomb came back and reported that the tomb was empty and they had seen Jesus. Luke 24:11 says “But they (the disciples) did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” Peter and John went down to the tomb and found it was empty “and wondered what had happened.” So the two disciples on the way to Emmaus “were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened” when Jesus comes alongside and begins explaining from Scripture all that had happened. But in the King James it says “their eyes were holden,” so they didn’t recognize Him.
What an amazing thing that they did not recognize the face or the voice of the one that they had walked with for three and a half years! Even after Jesus in detail shows them from Scripture that He was to die and rise again, they did not understand the marvelous revelation teaching that only the Master Teacher could give. What kept the disciples from seeing Jesus and understanding the Scriptures that He so wonderfully opened up to them? I would like to look at two reasons they did not see Jesus.
They did not see Jesus because of their crisis. In their minds, Jesus was dead and gone. All hope had been taken away from them. Because of their circumstances, it was impossible for them to even imagine that it was Jesus walking beside them. Secondly, they could not see Jesus because of their beliefs based on their theology and experience. Even though Jesus had told them what was going to happen, they could not believe that the Messiah would die such a horrible death and then rise from the dead. It did not conform to their understanding of Messiah.
We too often fail to see Jesus in our circumstances and crisis. We pray and read the Scriptures, but we do not see Jesus in the Scripture or how the Scripture applies to our situation. The Holy Spirit, the great teacher, is walking right beside us trying to give us a God perspective for our situation, but we cannot see how Jesus could be in what we are going through. We are busy blaming ourselves, blaming others, or trying to figure out in our finite minds why we are going through what we are going through. We may even be reasoning among ourselves trying to figure it out. Sometimes our theology and experience stand right in our way. The promises of God and the answers are in the Scripture, but it does not line up with what we believe. So we fail to see Jesus in our circumstances and gain His perspective and solution to what we are facing.
Today, I want to encourage you that Jesus is walking right beside you in whatever challenge you are facing. He has a word for you if you will set aside your thoughts and emotions and listen to the quiet voice of the Spirit speaking to you.
Andy Clark
Monday, November 1, 2010
New Wine
I Kings 17:2-10
“Then the word of the LORD came to him (Elijah), saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
“Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath.”
In the above story, Israel is in the midst of seven years of drought that is so severe that people are dying of famine. Elijah himself is not only caught in the drought, but King Ahab and Jezebel are after his life for pronouncing the drought. But God has already prepared a place of security and provision for Elijah. Notice the past tense. “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. --- I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Also notice the world “there.” This was the place of provision. Both the place and means of provision were not normal but unique to God.
The God of the universe wants to do something unique in our lives. Something beyond our capacity to perceive or understand. In Luke 5:4-5, Jesus commands Peter to cast out his nets. “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” When he did the nets, became so full that Peter had to call for help to bring them in. Peter was an experienced fisherman, but obedience to the word of Jesus produced what Peter could not do himself.
At times our training and experience actually work against us. God wants to do something outside the box of our understanding, ability, and provision. God is calling us to a simple act of faith and obedience to His word. In John 2 we see the miracle of the wine at the marriage feast at Cana of Galilee. In verse five, the mother of Jesus tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." What a simple piece of advice that is often so hard for us to do.
It is time to act on what God has spoken to us, no matter how illogical it may seem. It may be something as simple as throwing your net out on the other side. It is out of simple obedience that we move from the toil of our labors into the refreshing new wine that He has prepared for us.
Andy Clark
Associate Director
World Horizons US Office
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
“Then the word of the LORD came to him (Elijah), saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
“Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." So he arose and went to Zarephath.”
In the above story, Israel is in the midst of seven years of drought that is so severe that people are dying of famine. Elijah himself is not only caught in the drought, but King Ahab and Jezebel are after his life for pronouncing the drought. But God has already prepared a place of security and provision for Elijah. Notice the past tense. “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. --- I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Also notice the world “there.” This was the place of provision. Both the place and means of provision were not normal but unique to God.
The God of the universe wants to do something unique in our lives. Something beyond our capacity to perceive or understand. In Luke 5:4-5, Jesus commands Peter to cast out his nets. “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” When he did the nets, became so full that Peter had to call for help to bring them in. Peter was an experienced fisherman, but obedience to the word of Jesus produced what Peter could not do himself.
At times our training and experience actually work against us. God wants to do something outside the box of our understanding, ability, and provision. God is calling us to a simple act of faith and obedience to His word. In John 2 we see the miracle of the wine at the marriage feast at Cana of Galilee. In verse five, the mother of Jesus tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." What a simple piece of advice that is often so hard for us to do.
It is time to act on what God has spoken to us, no matter how illogical it may seem. It may be something as simple as throwing your net out on the other side. It is out of simple obedience that we move from the toil of our labors into the refreshing new wine that He has prepared for us.
Andy Clark
Associate Director
World Horizons US Office
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Monday, October 25, 2010
Thniking Outside the Box
Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
We spend most of our lives living within the box or limitations of our lives. If you were to draw a box, you might put as the walls of the box, finances, ability, talents, time, responsibilities, circumstances, etc. These are often the limitations we see on our lives that seem to hinder us from reaching what we pray for and desire.
God is outside the box. God has no limitations. He has created everything we see and things we don’t even see. He created them out of nothing. The problem is that we want to bring God into the limitations of our box. We expect God to do things in a certain way within the limitations of human thinking, understanding, and ability. We often want to maintain control and do things our way.
The only way to get out of our box into a limitless God is to yield totally to Him. When you get on a plane, you lose all control. If you are afraid to give up control, you will never fly. God wants to do things far above and beyond what we could ask or think. God cannot be confined by our box. The only way to be used of God is through faith and obedience to move out beyond our limitations into His limitlessness.
Hebrew 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Let us take our limitations off of God and expect Him to do something new in our lives.
EXPECT TO BE REWARDED AS YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD. “God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). What are you expecting from God? When blind Bartemaus came to Jesus, Jesus asked, “What do you want?” It is important to clearly annunciate what they expect from God. “Diligently seek Him. Be focused and diligent. Be persistent. Ask, seek and knock.
EXPECT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE. “With God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). Sometimes we need to break down what we expect from God into pieces. Financial, marriage, family. What exactly is the first thing you want God to do? Restoration is often a process, a plan, step by step. God’s work in us is a progressive work.
EXPECT GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (I Cor.1:20-22) “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
What has God promised you?
Let us come to God believing that He is who He says He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Andy Clark
We spend most of our lives living within the box or limitations of our lives. If you were to draw a box, you might put as the walls of the box, finances, ability, talents, time, responsibilities, circumstances, etc. These are often the limitations we see on our lives that seem to hinder us from reaching what we pray for and desire.
God is outside the box. God has no limitations. He has created everything we see and things we don’t even see. He created them out of nothing. The problem is that we want to bring God into the limitations of our box. We expect God to do things in a certain way within the limitations of human thinking, understanding, and ability. We often want to maintain control and do things our way.
The only way to get out of our box into a limitless God is to yield totally to Him. When you get on a plane, you lose all control. If you are afraid to give up control, you will never fly. God wants to do things far above and beyond what we could ask or think. God cannot be confined by our box. The only way to be used of God is through faith and obedience to move out beyond our limitations into His limitlessness.
Hebrew 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Let us take our limitations off of God and expect Him to do something new in our lives.
EXPECT TO BE REWARDED AS YOU DILIGENTLY SEEK THE LORD. “God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). What are you expecting from God? When blind Bartemaus came to Jesus, Jesus asked, “What do you want?” It is important to clearly annunciate what they expect from God. “Diligently seek Him. Be focused and diligent. Be persistent. Ask, seek and knock.
EXPECT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE. “With God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). Sometimes we need to break down what we expect from God into pieces. Financial, marriage, family. What exactly is the first thing you want God to do? Restoration is often a process, a plan, step by step. God’s work in us is a progressive work.
EXPECT GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (I Cor.1:20-22) “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
What has God promised you?
Let us come to God believing that He is who He says He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Andy Clark
Monday, October 18, 2010
Two weeks ago we looked at “World Changing Love.” In John 13:34, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." God is demanding that we love others like He loves us. He wants to empower us by His Spirit to love as He loves. Today, we want to look at five ways Jesus demonstrated Agape love.
Quality Time
“And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.” (John 6:3) In the midst of a hectic ministry schedule ministering to thousands, Jesus took time out to be with His disciples. Love is not convenient.
Words of Affirmation
“Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47) These were life changing words for Nathaniel. Love constantly discovers and affirms what is good in others.
Physical Touch
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray.” (Matthew 19:13) A friend of mine who ministers in prisons, ministered to some inmates on death row. One man was there for brutally killing several children. He was an angry and bitter man. God spoke to my friend to go over and hug this man. When he did the man broke down and wept because he had never been hugged. Love is touchable. Love breaks down barriers.
Acts of Service
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) After Jesus’ resurrection He appears to the disciples on the shore of Galilee as they return from fishing. John 21:9 says, “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread… Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Here is the resurrected Lord, in His glorified body, serving his disciples some grilled fish. Love always serves others.
Acts of Giving
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3:16-18) Love keeps on giving. It never fails.
Lord, help us to love those around us as you have loved us.
Andy Clark
Quality Time
“And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.” (John 6:3) In the midst of a hectic ministry schedule ministering to thousands, Jesus took time out to be with His disciples. Love is not convenient.
Words of Affirmation
“Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47) These were life changing words for Nathaniel. Love constantly discovers and affirms what is good in others.
Physical Touch
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray.” (Matthew 19:13) A friend of mine who ministers in prisons, ministered to some inmates on death row. One man was there for brutally killing several children. He was an angry and bitter man. God spoke to my friend to go over and hug this man. When he did the man broke down and wept because he had never been hugged. Love is touchable. Love breaks down barriers.
Acts of Service
Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) After Jesus’ resurrection He appears to the disciples on the shore of Galilee as they return from fishing. John 21:9 says, “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread… Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Here is the resurrected Lord, in His glorified body, serving his disciples some grilled fish. Love always serves others.
Acts of Giving
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3:16-18) Love keeps on giving. It never fails.
Lord, help us to love those around us as you have loved us.
Andy Clark
Monday, October 11, 2010
Reconciliation
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
God is in the business of reconciliation. In the Old Testament the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the altar for atonement to reconcile the nation of Israel to God. We often think of reconciling as in reconciling a bank account or financial records, in that we make it balance or come out right. Jesus, through His blood on the cross, has balanced our account with God. By God’s love and grace we have been made right with God through Jesus Christ. It is nothing of ourselves, but it is of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Paul goes on to say, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Because God has reconciled us to himself through Christ, we are now in Christ, a new creation.
It is imperative that we see ourselves as a new creation. We often look at our failings and do not see ourselves as God sees us. Our ability to walk in newness of life, to be overcomers, and exemplify the life of Christ to the world resides in our ability to see ourselves as God sees us. For the way you perceive yourself is the way you will act and respond to life.
It is out of this position of new creatures in Christ Jesus that we are given the most important ministry in the world, and that is the ministry of reconciliation, which is reconciling the world to God through Christ Jesus. If we do not see ourselves as new creatures, then we are bound to defend ourselves, we are easily offended, and become defensive or protective of ourselves. Our focus is then on ourselves, rather than our ministry of reconciling people to God. It is only out of our confidence of who we are in Christ that we can lay down ourselves for the world as Christ gave Himself for the world.
Our primary ministry on earth is the ministry of reconciling the world to God. When we begin to walk in the ministry of reconciliation, a miracle happens because God gives us a “word of reconciliation.” When you begin to look at people with the intent of reconciling them with God, God by His Spirit will begin to give you keys to reach into that person’s life that will set them free, that is the “word of reconciliation.” Lord, help us today to reconcile those around us to you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
God is in the business of reconciliation. In the Old Testament the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the altar for atonement to reconcile the nation of Israel to God. We often think of reconciling as in reconciling a bank account or financial records, in that we make it balance or come out right. Jesus, through His blood on the cross, has balanced our account with God. By God’s love and grace we have been made right with God through Jesus Christ. It is nothing of ourselves, but it is of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Paul goes on to say, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Because God has reconciled us to himself through Christ, we are now in Christ, a new creation.
It is imperative that we see ourselves as a new creation. We often look at our failings and do not see ourselves as God sees us. Our ability to walk in newness of life, to be overcomers, and exemplify the life of Christ to the world resides in our ability to see ourselves as God sees us. For the way you perceive yourself is the way you will act and respond to life.
It is out of this position of new creatures in Christ Jesus that we are given the most important ministry in the world, and that is the ministry of reconciliation, which is reconciling the world to God through Christ Jesus. If we do not see ourselves as new creatures, then we are bound to defend ourselves, we are easily offended, and become defensive or protective of ourselves. Our focus is then on ourselves, rather than our ministry of reconciling people to God. It is only out of our confidence of who we are in Christ that we can lay down ourselves for the world as Christ gave Himself for the world.
Our primary ministry on earth is the ministry of reconciling the world to God. When we begin to walk in the ministry of reconciliation, a miracle happens because God gives us a “word of reconciliation.” When you begin to look at people with the intent of reconciling them with God, God by His Spirit will begin to give you keys to reach into that person’s life that will set them free, that is the “word of reconciliation.” Lord, help us today to reconcile those around us to you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
World Changing Love
I'm back from Kenya. Had an awesome trip. Four days of leadership training. So exhilarating to teach people who are so hungry for God and His Word. Got to help baptize 80 people on Sunday. Awesome experience! Thank you for your prayers. God bless you and keep you in His love.
In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says that the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus says the completion of the whole law resides in loving God and loving others as we love ourselves.
But in John 13:34, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” How is this new commandment greater that the greatest commandment? You see the greatest commandment required us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is limited and flawed because it is based on our ability to love ourselves. The new commandment takes love to a whole new level, and that is to love others as Christ loves us. This is a perfect love from God, and His very essence is love. He can do nothing else but love. This is truly Agape love and is impossible for us to attain in ourselves.
Agape deliberately chooses to, without reservation, taking no thought of myself or your merit, constantly and deeply love you without fail. Agape is love without a hook, as it demands nothing in return. I Corinthians 13:7 says that agape bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things—it never fails. This level of love is impossible in ourselves. It is a fruit of the Spirit in that its source is the Spirit of God. As such, it is not swayed by people or circumstances.
Agape was evidenced in the early church. Acts 2:44-47 says, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Again in Acts 4:32-35, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”
This total abandonment of self was evidence of the pure, childlike life of love in the early church that would turn the world upside down for Christ. Jesus said, “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 This is a picture of the infant church as the Lord was setting the DNA for what He wanted— as He was calling His people together to live in true Biblical relationship. Though we may not live the communal lifestyle of the early church, agape love, the love of Christ, still demands abandonment of ourselves in our pursuit of God and the world for which He gave His Son for.
Andy Clarkwww.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com
In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says that the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus says the completion of the whole law resides in loving God and loving others as we love ourselves.
But in John 13:34, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” How is this new commandment greater that the greatest commandment? You see the greatest commandment required us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is limited and flawed because it is based on our ability to love ourselves. The new commandment takes love to a whole new level, and that is to love others as Christ loves us. This is a perfect love from God, and His very essence is love. He can do nothing else but love. This is truly Agape love and is impossible for us to attain in ourselves.
Agape deliberately chooses to, without reservation, taking no thought of myself or your merit, constantly and deeply love you without fail. Agape is love without a hook, as it demands nothing in return. I Corinthians 13:7 says that agape bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things—it never fails. This level of love is impossible in ourselves. It is a fruit of the Spirit in that its source is the Spirit of God. As such, it is not swayed by people or circumstances.
Agape was evidenced in the early church. Acts 2:44-47 says, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Again in Acts 4:32-35, “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”
This total abandonment of self was evidence of the pure, childlike life of love in the early church that would turn the world upside down for Christ. Jesus said, “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 This is a picture of the infant church as the Lord was setting the DNA for what He wanted— as He was calling His people together to live in true Biblical relationship. Though we may not live the communal lifestyle of the early church, agape love, the love of Christ, still demands abandonment of ourselves in our pursuit of God and the world for which He gave His Son for.
Andy Clarkwww.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Cry Out
This past week I saw a news bulletin on the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been in a civil war since 1998, costing the lives of over five million people. Today one of the youngest presidents in Africa, Joseph Kabila, is trying to restore peace to the devastated country torn by the strife over its vast natural resources.
The segment I saw covered an amazing event that recently happened in the Congo. The normally quiet president’s wife, Marie Kabila, came out and called the nation to three days of prayer and fasting. She herself came out to the national stadium in Kinshasa, crammed with thousands of people, humbled herself, and cried out to God in repentance and for God’s intervention in her nation. I sat in my living room and wept as I saw thousands upon thousands of Africans throughout the land crying out to God.
In Exodus 2:7, God speaks to Moses concerning the children of Israel, "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Even though the cry going up in the Congo may be more visible, I believe there is a cry going up from oppressed people groups throughout the world today. This cry is rising up from Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and animistic countries. It is rising up from people groups under oppressive governments, where their voices are silenced for the world to hear but not silenced before the creator of the universe who sees and hears all things.
Paul says in Romans 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” I believe it is time for the church to join with the myriad of lost souls to cry out for God to bring deliverance. It is not the voice of politicians or media that is going to being deliverance. It is the cry and groans of those who have the firstfruits of Spirit who are going to bring His deliverance.
Lift up your voice today and cry out for an oppressed people group whom you know, or with whom you live or work.
Andy Clark
The segment I saw covered an amazing event that recently happened in the Congo. The normally quiet president’s wife, Marie Kabila, came out and called the nation to three days of prayer and fasting. She herself came out to the national stadium in Kinshasa, crammed with thousands of people, humbled herself, and cried out to God in repentance and for God’s intervention in her nation. I sat in my living room and wept as I saw thousands upon thousands of Africans throughout the land crying out to God.
In Exodus 2:7, God speaks to Moses concerning the children of Israel, "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Even though the cry going up in the Congo may be more visible, I believe there is a cry going up from oppressed people groups throughout the world today. This cry is rising up from Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and animistic countries. It is rising up from people groups under oppressive governments, where their voices are silenced for the world to hear but not silenced before the creator of the universe who sees and hears all things.
Paul says in Romans 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” I believe it is time for the church to join with the myriad of lost souls to cry out for God to bring deliverance. It is not the voice of politicians or media that is going to being deliverance. It is the cry and groans of those who have the firstfruits of Spirit who are going to bring His deliverance.
Lift up your voice today and cry out for an oppressed people group whom you know, or with whom you live or work.
Andy Clark
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Take Your Place
Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”
The table of the Lord is a place of abundance, a place of peace, and a place of communion. David draws this picture from the ancient Near East custom, where covenants were often concluded with a meal expressive of the bond of friendship. The head of the honored guest at the banquet was customarily anointed with oil. The cup running over was a sign of abundance. What an awesome picture of the relationship God wants to have with us!
Jesus reinforced this at the Last Supper with His disciples. In Luke 22:15 Jesus says, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you.” (NKJ) In the Message Bible it says, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you.” Then just as the honored guest would have his head anointed with oil in David’s day, Jesus in the custom of his day honors his disciples by getting down and washing their feet.
Sometimes we fail to understand how much Jesus desires to fellowship and commune with us. We become so busy running here and there, trying to meet our needs and the needs of our family, when He already has a table of provision set for us. We are desperately trying to prove ourselves and to demonstrate our value or worth, when He desires to honor us. We struggle with worry and fear in an uncertain world and struggle with the attacks of the enemy, when He has already set a table for us in the presence of our enemies. We struggle in our own might to serve Him, when he wants to anoint our head with the oil of His Spirit to empower us to do what we cannot do in ourselves.
Stop struggling and running and take your place at the Lord’s table. “In His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11) The God of the universe “fervently desires” your presence. He has prepared a table for you and for me. He is honored to have us as a guest at his table. Even more than that, He wants to honor us. We are the apple of His eye, His joy and His desire. He wants to give us honor even before our enemies, for we are His treasured possession and he has redeemed us from every tribe, tongue, and nation by the blood of His Son. He wants to fill your cup until it runs over.
The one thing our Lord seeks above all else from his servants, ministers, and shepherds is communion with Him. His table is vast and is never lacking. This table is a place of spiritual intimacy and is spread daily with all that we need. David said in Psalms 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”
May you be blessed, encouraged, strengthened, and satisfied in the presence of the Lord today.
Andy Clark
The table of the Lord is a place of abundance, a place of peace, and a place of communion. David draws this picture from the ancient Near East custom, where covenants were often concluded with a meal expressive of the bond of friendship. The head of the honored guest at the banquet was customarily anointed with oil. The cup running over was a sign of abundance. What an awesome picture of the relationship God wants to have with us!
Jesus reinforced this at the Last Supper with His disciples. In Luke 22:15 Jesus says, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you.” (NKJ) In the Message Bible it says, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you.” Then just as the honored guest would have his head anointed with oil in David’s day, Jesus in the custom of his day honors his disciples by getting down and washing their feet.
Sometimes we fail to understand how much Jesus desires to fellowship and commune with us. We become so busy running here and there, trying to meet our needs and the needs of our family, when He already has a table of provision set for us. We are desperately trying to prove ourselves and to demonstrate our value or worth, when He desires to honor us. We struggle with worry and fear in an uncertain world and struggle with the attacks of the enemy, when He has already set a table for us in the presence of our enemies. We struggle in our own might to serve Him, when he wants to anoint our head with the oil of His Spirit to empower us to do what we cannot do in ourselves.
Stop struggling and running and take your place at the Lord’s table. “In His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalms 16:11) The God of the universe “fervently desires” your presence. He has prepared a table for you and for me. He is honored to have us as a guest at his table. Even more than that, He wants to honor us. We are the apple of His eye, His joy and His desire. He wants to give us honor even before our enemies, for we are His treasured possession and he has redeemed us from every tribe, tongue, and nation by the blood of His Son. He wants to fill your cup until it runs over.
The one thing our Lord seeks above all else from his servants, ministers, and shepherds is communion with Him. His table is vast and is never lacking. This table is a place of spiritual intimacy and is spread daily with all that we need. David said in Psalms 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”
May you be blessed, encouraged, strengthened, and satisfied in the presence of the Lord today.
Andy Clark
Monday, August 30, 2010
Understanding
The devotional below was birthed out of a very strong urging by the Spirit that it is time to really press in and pray and fast for the Middle East and North Africa as there is a breaking that God is wanting to do in the spiritual realm that He is calling us to participate in.
Understanding
In Daniel chapter nine, Daniel receives a revelation from God, and in chapter ten he sets himself to fast for twenty-one days to gain understanding of the revelation that God had given him. An angel, whom we assume to be the messenger Gabriel, appears to Daniel with a message, which we will pick up in verse twelve that gives us some insight into the spiritual realm.
Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.
From the first day Daniel prayed and set his heart to understand the Lord heard him and sent a reply, but the whole twenty-one days Daniel was fasting, there was war in the heavenlies with the prince of the kingdom of Persia to bring Daniel the message from God. This conflict took place in the midst of the kings of Persia. The kings of Persia refer to the principalities and powers that rule over the Middle East. The prince of Persia is a strong demon that resides within these principalities and powers that Michael had to do war with. The conflict in the heavenlies was aided by Daniel’s persistent prayer and fasting for the twenty-one days.
The conflicts we are seeing in the Middle East and North Africa with the kings of Persia are not new but are intensifying in these last days. There is a clash of two kingdoms that is reverberating into the natural realm, which is influencing the increasing anti-Christian posture in the region. This is the center of conflict that not only affects the Middle East but will engulf the world. It therefore behooves us like Daniel to set our hearts to understand and to humble ourselves before God. We must come into understanding how to pray and respond so that we are in agreement with what is happening in the spiritual realm.
Ephesians 1:20-21 says that Christ is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 2:6 goes on to say God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The reason we have been placed in this position of authority is because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) No matter where you live, or the principalities or powers that are arrayed against you, God has empowered you to come into agreement with Him, dispatching His heavenly hosts to prevail against the enemy and to usher in His kingdom.
We can no longer afford to be complacent or carry on life and ministry as usual. It is time for the church, like Daniel, to rise up in the authority God has given us in Christ Jesus and to intensify our prayers for revelation and advancement of the kingdom.
Andy Clark
Understanding
In Daniel chapter nine, Daniel receives a revelation from God, and in chapter ten he sets himself to fast for twenty-one days to gain understanding of the revelation that God had given him. An angel, whom we assume to be the messenger Gabriel, appears to Daniel with a message, which we will pick up in verse twelve that gives us some insight into the spiritual realm.
Then he said to me, Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.
From the first day Daniel prayed and set his heart to understand the Lord heard him and sent a reply, but the whole twenty-one days Daniel was fasting, there was war in the heavenlies with the prince of the kingdom of Persia to bring Daniel the message from God. This conflict took place in the midst of the kings of Persia. The kings of Persia refer to the principalities and powers that rule over the Middle East. The prince of Persia is a strong demon that resides within these principalities and powers that Michael had to do war with. The conflict in the heavenlies was aided by Daniel’s persistent prayer and fasting for the twenty-one days.
The conflicts we are seeing in the Middle East and North Africa with the kings of Persia are not new but are intensifying in these last days. There is a clash of two kingdoms that is reverberating into the natural realm, which is influencing the increasing anti-Christian posture in the region. This is the center of conflict that not only affects the Middle East but will engulf the world. It therefore behooves us like Daniel to set our hearts to understand and to humble ourselves before God. We must come into understanding how to pray and respond so that we are in agreement with what is happening in the spiritual realm.
Ephesians 1:20-21 says that Christ is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 2:6 goes on to say God raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The reason we have been placed in this position of authority is because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) No matter where you live, or the principalities or powers that are arrayed against you, God has empowered you to come into agreement with Him, dispatching His heavenly hosts to prevail against the enemy and to usher in His kingdom.
We can no longer afford to be complacent or carry on life and ministry as usual. It is time for the church, like Daniel, to rise up in the authority God has given us in Christ Jesus and to intensify our prayers for revelation and advancement of the kingdom.
Andy Clark
Monday, August 23, 2010
Preserved for a Purpose
David prayed, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." (Psalm 16:1). The Hebrew word that David uses for preserve in this verse is packed with meaning. It says, in essence, “Put a hedge around me, a wall of protective thorns. Guard me and keep me. Observe my every move, all my comings and goings.”
David fully believed that God preserved the righteous. This was born out of personal experience as God preserved him from the lion and the bear, preserved him from Goliath and later from King Saul. David ,as a man of war who fought for the promises of God made to him and to Israel, depended on God’s preserving power. David declares in Psalms 121:
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills —From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps IsraelShall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth, and even forevermore.
We serve the God who made heaven and earth. He is God of all power, and His eyes are always on us day or night to preserve us from evil in this present time and even forever. He does that because of His great love for us and to accomplish His purposes in us. Moses stated in Deut 6:23-25, “Then He (God) brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.” God raised up Moses to deliver Israel out of bondage and to bring them into the land of promise. God preserved Israel through their wanderings in the wilderness and preserved them as they went to war to lay claim to God’s promises for them.
God brings us out of one place and preserves us to bring us into what He has purposed for us. We may have to war to enter into and lay claim to what God has for us, but God has promised to preserve us and enable us through the process. Maybe God has given you some promises, but as you have moved forward in faith to lay claim to them, all hell seems to be breaking loose. Know today, the “Lord is your keeper…. The Lord will preserve your soul” as you trust in Him.
Andy Clark
David fully believed that God preserved the righteous. This was born out of personal experience as God preserved him from the lion and the bear, preserved him from Goliath and later from King Saul. David ,as a man of war who fought for the promises of God made to him and to Israel, depended on God’s preserving power. David declares in Psalms 121:
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills —From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps IsraelShall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth, and even forevermore.
We serve the God who made heaven and earth. He is God of all power, and His eyes are always on us day or night to preserve us from evil in this present time and even forever. He does that because of His great love for us and to accomplish His purposes in us. Moses stated in Deut 6:23-25, “Then He (God) brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.” God raised up Moses to deliver Israel out of bondage and to bring them into the land of promise. God preserved Israel through their wanderings in the wilderness and preserved them as they went to war to lay claim to God’s promises for them.
God brings us out of one place and preserves us to bring us into what He has purposed for us. We may have to war to enter into and lay claim to what God has for us, but God has promised to preserve us and enable us through the process. Maybe God has given you some promises, but as you have moved forward in faith to lay claim to them, all hell seems to be breaking loose. Know today, the “Lord is your keeper…. The Lord will preserve your soul” as you trust in Him.
Andy Clark
Monday, August 16, 2010
Why?
I want to take a brief look at an experience in the life of the prophet Elijah and what the Lord is speaking to us by His Spirit today.
Elijah lived in one of the darkest times in the history of Israel. Ahab and Jezebel, who were in power at this time, were two of the wicked rulers in Israel’s history. They not only promoted idol worship but totally dismantled every aspect of the worship of God, persecuting and killing God’s prophets and those who worshiped God. It was in the midst of this darkest hour that God raised up Elijah and Elisha, two of the greatest miracle-working prophets in Israel’s history, to lead this epic life-and-death struggle with Baalism.
We take up this story in 1 Kings 19, where Elijah at the pinnacle of his ministry calls down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice, bringing all Israel to their knees, proclaiming that “The Lord --- He is God! the Lord---He is God!” Elijah then kills the four hundred prophets of Baal, prophesies the end of a seven year drought and outruns Ahab’s Chariot to Jezreel. Awesome! What a display of God’s power! What a revival! But the enemy does not give up control easily, and Jezebel decrees the death of Elijah. He runs for his life to “Horeb, the mountain of God,” which was probably Mt. Sinai, the place of God’s covenant with Israel.
There in the cave of the mountain, discouraged that the great revival had brought no real change in Israel, God confronts Elijah. “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah replies, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (I Kings 19:14) Have you ever been in that spot? You have been zealous in your relationship and service of God. You may have begun to see some breakthrough and then run into a wall, or everything seems to fall apart. Our first response is usually, “Why?”
But God’s response to Elijah is very revealing about God’s attitude with regard to what we perceive as failure. God does not address the “why” question or Elijah’s discouragement. In I Kings 19:15-16 He simply gives Elijah a command, to go anoint Hazael to be king over Aram, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to be his successor. Then as a bit of encouragement, He tells Elijah that He has “reserved seven thousand in Israel --- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.” In essence, God is telling Elijah that Israel is not your concern. I know what I am doing in Israel, I have my people, and I have a plan. Your job is simply to do what I ask you to do and leave the rest to me.
We live in a dark time in the world today. This spring over 130 missionaries were deported from Morocco, and in the past month eight missionaries were killed in Afghanistan. Areas where the kingdom of God is advancing, the enemy has been pushing back. The future for many is very uncertain. The enemy seems to be gaining the upper hand. In the midst of what we see happening in our world and often in our lives, we often ask the question, “Why?” The answer to that question usually does not belong to us. God does not see failure as we see it. God is in control and is fulfilling His plan no matter what is going on around us. Like Elijah, God usually does not give us His plan, but gives us simple steps He wants us to take and then leave the rest up to Him.
May you hear God’s still quiet voice today, and have the courage to trust Him, and simply do what He asks you to do.
Andy Clark
Elijah lived in one of the darkest times in the history of Israel. Ahab and Jezebel, who were in power at this time, were two of the wicked rulers in Israel’s history. They not only promoted idol worship but totally dismantled every aspect of the worship of God, persecuting and killing God’s prophets and those who worshiped God. It was in the midst of this darkest hour that God raised up Elijah and Elisha, two of the greatest miracle-working prophets in Israel’s history, to lead this epic life-and-death struggle with Baalism.
We take up this story in 1 Kings 19, where Elijah at the pinnacle of his ministry calls down fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice, bringing all Israel to their knees, proclaiming that “The Lord --- He is God! the Lord---He is God!” Elijah then kills the four hundred prophets of Baal, prophesies the end of a seven year drought and outruns Ahab’s Chariot to Jezreel. Awesome! What a display of God’s power! What a revival! But the enemy does not give up control easily, and Jezebel decrees the death of Elijah. He runs for his life to “Horeb, the mountain of God,” which was probably Mt. Sinai, the place of God’s covenant with Israel.
There in the cave of the mountain, discouraged that the great revival had brought no real change in Israel, God confronts Elijah. “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah replies, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (I Kings 19:14) Have you ever been in that spot? You have been zealous in your relationship and service of God. You may have begun to see some breakthrough and then run into a wall, or everything seems to fall apart. Our first response is usually, “Why?”
But God’s response to Elijah is very revealing about God’s attitude with regard to what we perceive as failure. God does not address the “why” question or Elijah’s discouragement. In I Kings 19:15-16 He simply gives Elijah a command, to go anoint Hazael to be king over Aram, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to be his successor. Then as a bit of encouragement, He tells Elijah that He has “reserved seven thousand in Israel --- all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.” In essence, God is telling Elijah that Israel is not your concern. I know what I am doing in Israel, I have my people, and I have a plan. Your job is simply to do what I ask you to do and leave the rest to me.
We live in a dark time in the world today. This spring over 130 missionaries were deported from Morocco, and in the past month eight missionaries were killed in Afghanistan. Areas where the kingdom of God is advancing, the enemy has been pushing back. The future for many is very uncertain. The enemy seems to be gaining the upper hand. In the midst of what we see happening in our world and often in our lives, we often ask the question, “Why?” The answer to that question usually does not belong to us. God does not see failure as we see it. God is in control and is fulfilling His plan no matter what is going on around us. Like Elijah, God usually does not give us His plan, but gives us simple steps He wants us to take and then leave the rest up to Him.
May you hear God’s still quiet voice today, and have the courage to trust Him, and simply do what He asks you to do.
Andy Clark
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Overcoming Crisis
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29
In this passage three nations come together as a “vast army” to make war against King Jehoshaphat and Judah. Jehoshaphat’s and God’s response to this crisis offer insight into how we can respond to crisis in our lives.
The first thing Jehoshaphat did was he “resolved to inquire of the Lord.” The New King James says “he feared” and “he set himself to seek the Lord.” Satan likes to use shock and awe. He causes unexpected things to suddenly happen in our lives that bring dismay, fear and discouragement. But like Jehoshaphat, despite the fear that may try to arise, we need to quiet our hearts and purposefully resolve to seek the Lord until we get an answer. Not just a quick prayer and then run off to try to resolve the problem, but to truly persist in prayer until we have an answer.
Secondly, Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” This attack was not just against him but the nation. We are part of the body of Christ. When one part of the body is under attack, we are all under attack. Satan loves to isolate us with our crisis. Don’t just try to deal with the problem on your own. Reach out to those around you in the body and get them involved. When you involve others in the battle, you all share in the victory as a testimony to God and the world.
In Jehoshaphat’s prayer in verses 5-12, he declares three things. He begins by reminding God of His promises, then states the problem, and concludes by stating his full dependency upon God. “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." People often ask me why there are so many miracles in Africa. One of the reasons is because so often they have no other resources but God. When God becomes your source, you will begin to see God intervene on your behalf.
After they had finished fasting and praying, the prophetic word came forth from God as to what they were to do. The first thing God said was, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.” God said, I can handle this, no problem! Your problem may look insurmountable to you but it is no problem to God. Secondly, God said, “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Position yourself, posture yourself for victory. Your posture and attitude in the midst of a crisis has a huge influence on others and on God’s response.
Judah’s response to the prophetic word was “all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, fell down in worship before the Lord,” and the Levites “praised the Lord with a very loud voice (or shout).” They are having a shouting celebration of victory even before the battle has started because of faith in the prophetic word. Then Jehoshpahat stands up and declares, “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” Then “the Lord set ambushes” and completely destroyed the enemy without Judah even lifting a sword.
Just like with Jehoshaphat and Judah, God wants to give us victory over the challenges we face in life, if we position ourselves as Judah did, so that God can respond and bring us deliverance. How big is your God? May the God you serve be bigger than the problem that you face.
Andy Clark
In this passage three nations come together as a “vast army” to make war against King Jehoshaphat and Judah. Jehoshaphat’s and God’s response to this crisis offer insight into how we can respond to crisis in our lives.
The first thing Jehoshaphat did was he “resolved to inquire of the Lord.” The New King James says “he feared” and “he set himself to seek the Lord.” Satan likes to use shock and awe. He causes unexpected things to suddenly happen in our lives that bring dismay, fear and discouragement. But like Jehoshaphat, despite the fear that may try to arise, we need to quiet our hearts and purposefully resolve to seek the Lord until we get an answer. Not just a quick prayer and then run off to try to resolve the problem, but to truly persist in prayer until we have an answer.
Secondly, Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast for all Judah.” This attack was not just against him but the nation. We are part of the body of Christ. When one part of the body is under attack, we are all under attack. Satan loves to isolate us with our crisis. Don’t just try to deal with the problem on your own. Reach out to those around you in the body and get them involved. When you involve others in the battle, you all share in the victory as a testimony to God and the world.
In Jehoshaphat’s prayer in verses 5-12, he declares three things. He begins by reminding God of His promises, then states the problem, and concludes by stating his full dependency upon God. “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." People often ask me why there are so many miracles in Africa. One of the reasons is because so often they have no other resources but God. When God becomes your source, you will begin to see God intervene on your behalf.
After they had finished fasting and praying, the prophetic word came forth from God as to what they were to do. The first thing God said was, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.” God said, I can handle this, no problem! Your problem may look insurmountable to you but it is no problem to God. Secondly, God said, “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Position yourself, posture yourself for victory. Your posture and attitude in the midst of a crisis has a huge influence on others and on God’s response.
Judah’s response to the prophetic word was “all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, fell down in worship before the Lord,” and the Levites “praised the Lord with a very loud voice (or shout).” They are having a shouting celebration of victory even before the battle has started because of faith in the prophetic word. Then Jehoshpahat stands up and declares, “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” Then “the Lord set ambushes” and completely destroyed the enemy without Judah even lifting a sword.
Just like with Jehoshaphat and Judah, God wants to give us victory over the challenges we face in life, if we position ourselves as Judah did, so that God can respond and bring us deliverance. How big is your God? May the God you serve be bigger than the problem that you face.
Andy Clark
Monday, August 2, 2010
How Big is Your Jesus?
John 14:12-17
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
This is an amazing promise. “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it.” It is hard to wrap our mind around this promise. But it is so important that Jesus repeats it twice for emphasis. Two verses later Jesus makes a second promise. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth.” The promise of the Helper is given to us to enable us to do greater works than Jesus did. Jesus had said earlier that He had to return to the Father so that He could send the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of truth who enables us to ask in accordance with God’s will, so that anything we ask in His name, He will do for us.
Sandwiched between these two incredible promises, Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commandments.” There is the matter of obedience connected to these two promises. In John 15:7, Jesus says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Jesus himself in His ministry repeatedly emphasized that He only spoke what the Father told Him to speak and did what the Father told Him to do. It was out of relationship and obedience to the Father that Jesus did what He did. If Jesus, the Son of God was totally dependent upon the Father through obedience and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, how much more are we dependent upon Him, if we are going to do what He did and even greater works than He did.
I love this testimony Peter gives about Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:35. “God anointed Jesus of Nazaretwith the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Jesus did not start an organization, church or ministry. He had no earthly position or possessions. His only aspiration in life was to obey and glorify the Father.
How big is your Jesus? If we are to ask for anything in His name, our vision of Jesus must be enlarged to the point that He is bigger than anything in our lives and in this world. He has to become bigger than our circumstances, our programs and our plans. John the Baptist upon encountering Jesus said, He must increase and I must decrease. Just as Jesus’ life totally revolved around the Father, so must our life totally revolve around Jesus. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being. He becomes our very existence and the air that we breathe. His Spirit becomes the dominant person in our lives.
As you spend time with Him and in His Word, may Jesus become bigger to you than anyone or anything in your life.
Andy Clark
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
This is an amazing promise. “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it.” It is hard to wrap our mind around this promise. But it is so important that Jesus repeats it twice for emphasis. Two verses later Jesus makes a second promise. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth.” The promise of the Helper is given to us to enable us to do greater works than Jesus did. Jesus had said earlier that He had to return to the Father so that He could send the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of truth who enables us to ask in accordance with God’s will, so that anything we ask in His name, He will do for us.
Sandwiched between these two incredible promises, Jesus says “If you love me, keep my commandments.” There is the matter of obedience connected to these two promises. In John 15:7, Jesus says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Jesus himself in His ministry repeatedly emphasized that He only spoke what the Father told Him to speak and did what the Father told Him to do. It was out of relationship and obedience to the Father that Jesus did what He did. If Jesus, the Son of God was totally dependent upon the Father through obedience and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, how much more are we dependent upon Him, if we are going to do what He did and even greater works than He did.
I love this testimony Peter gives about Jesus’ ministry in Acts 10:35. “God anointed Jesus of Nazaretwith the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Jesus did not start an organization, church or ministry. He had no earthly position or possessions. His only aspiration in life was to obey and glorify the Father.
How big is your Jesus? If we are to ask for anything in His name, our vision of Jesus must be enlarged to the point that He is bigger than anything in our lives and in this world. He has to become bigger than our circumstances, our programs and our plans. John the Baptist upon encountering Jesus said, He must increase and I must decrease. Just as Jesus’ life totally revolved around the Father, so must our life totally revolve around Jesus. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being. He becomes our very existence and the air that we breathe. His Spirit becomes the dominant person in our lives.
As you spend time with Him and in His Word, may Jesus become bigger to you than anyone or anything in your life.
Andy Clark
Monday, July 26, 2010
Your Inheritance
Num 18:20
“Then the Lord said to Aaron: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.”
When Israel entered the land of promise and divided up the land among the tribes, clans, and families of Israel, God commanded them not to give the priests and Levites any land. God said He would be their portion of land and their inheritance. Land during this time was very important to people. It was their means of livelihood, their place of security, their savings program, retirement, and the inheritance for their children for generations to come. In fact, they were not allowed to sell their land. It was the family’s security for generations.
But while everyone else was getting land and security for their family, God did not allow the priests to own land because He was to be their land, their livelihood, their place of security, their savings and retirement plan, and their inheritance for generations to come. Today, we live in perilous times when people are losing their jobs, homes, and pension plans. Our world economy is rocking and reeling, and no one is really sure what the future holds for us. But as the people of this world desperately try to hold on to what they have, God declares over you and me that “I am your portion and your inheritance.”
I Peter 2:9 says “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God has chosen you and me to be His royal priesthood, holy nation, and special people in the world today. We are distinct from the rest of the world because our security is not in our jobs, our land, our homes, our savings, our retirement plan, or inheritance for our children. God Himself is our portion and our inheritance. The God of the universe who rules over all things, who has all power in His hands is our security. The God who clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air is our provider. The God who does not change and is not affected by political and economic climate is our portion.
God has called us to be a distinct people not only to be our inheritance and portion, but that in the midst of this economic and political chaos “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It is in the midst of the darkness, confusion, hopelessness and chaos that we can shine the brightest. But we can only shine if God is truly our portion and our inheritance. As a royal priesthood we represent God to the world, and we intercede for the world before God.
Whatever challenges, uncertainties, or fears you may be facing, make God your portion and your inheritance today. In doing so, may “your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Andy Clark
“Then the Lord said to Aaron: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.”
When Israel entered the land of promise and divided up the land among the tribes, clans, and families of Israel, God commanded them not to give the priests and Levites any land. God said He would be their portion of land and their inheritance. Land during this time was very important to people. It was their means of livelihood, their place of security, their savings program, retirement, and the inheritance for their children for generations to come. In fact, they were not allowed to sell their land. It was the family’s security for generations.
But while everyone else was getting land and security for their family, God did not allow the priests to own land because He was to be their land, their livelihood, their place of security, their savings and retirement plan, and their inheritance for generations to come. Today, we live in perilous times when people are losing their jobs, homes, and pension plans. Our world economy is rocking and reeling, and no one is really sure what the future holds for us. But as the people of this world desperately try to hold on to what they have, God declares over you and me that “I am your portion and your inheritance.”
I Peter 2:9 says “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God has chosen you and me to be His royal priesthood, holy nation, and special people in the world today. We are distinct from the rest of the world because our security is not in our jobs, our land, our homes, our savings, our retirement plan, or inheritance for our children. God Himself is our portion and our inheritance. The God of the universe who rules over all things, who has all power in His hands is our security. The God who clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air is our provider. The God who does not change and is not affected by political and economic climate is our portion.
God has called us to be a distinct people not only to be our inheritance and portion, but that in the midst of this economic and political chaos “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It is in the midst of the darkness, confusion, hopelessness and chaos that we can shine the brightest. But we can only shine if God is truly our portion and our inheritance. As a royal priesthood we represent God to the world, and we intercede for the world before God.
Whatever challenges, uncertainties, or fears you may be facing, make God your portion and your inheritance today. In doing so, may “your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Andy Clark
Monday, July 19, 2010
Give Me This Mountain
Numbers 14:24“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”
In Numbers 14, God brought Israel to the edge of the land of promise to take them into the inheritance He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Israel because of fear and doubt, Isreal failed to enter into and take possession of God’s promise. Caleb “was of a different spirit.” What kind of a spirit did Caleb have that caused God to single him out with a commendation and promise? He had a spirit of faith. While the rest of the children of Israel saw all the problems and challenges of the promise, Caleb and Joshua saw what God saw. He saw a land of great potential and possibilities and believed God’s promise to give it to them. (Joshua 14:7)
God also declared Caleb as His “servant” who followed Him “wholeheartedly.” Caleb was not out doing his own thing or pursuing what he wanted. There is a liberty and reward with being a wholehearted servant of God. Paul in Romans chapter one identified himself as a bond servant of Christ. The picture there in Roman times was of a slave who was given his freedom but chooses to remain a slave for life. He would put his ear to the doorpost of the master’s house, the master would pierce his ear with a punch, and he became a slave for life. It is a total abandonment of one’s self, one’s freedoms and one’s will to the will of the master. It is in wholehearted servanthood to Christ that we come into the fullness of His enablement and the fulfillment of His promises.
There are some other benefits to wholehearted servanthood. Forty-five years later as Israel under Joshua has begun to take possession of the land of promise, Caleb reminds Joshua of God’s promise. “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:11-12)
Out of wholehearted servanthood comes a strength and authority. It is from this place of strength and authority that Caleb declares, “give me this mountain.” Possession of the mountain was not automatically his because God had promised it. It had giants and great fortified cities that had to be conquered. But as a wholehearted servant of God, Caleb knew that He came to conquer by the authority of his Master.
God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4) They are promises that have great potential and great challenges. These promises that can only be fulfilled through servant people who have a different spirit and follow God wholeheartedly or with utter abandonment. May we wholly abandon ourselves to God and His purposes that His glory may be seen in us.
Andy Clark
In Numbers 14, God brought Israel to the edge of the land of promise to take them into the inheritance He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Israel because of fear and doubt, Isreal failed to enter into and take possession of God’s promise. Caleb “was of a different spirit.” What kind of a spirit did Caleb have that caused God to single him out with a commendation and promise? He had a spirit of faith. While the rest of the children of Israel saw all the problems and challenges of the promise, Caleb and Joshua saw what God saw. He saw a land of great potential and possibilities and believed God’s promise to give it to them. (Joshua 14:7)
God also declared Caleb as His “servant” who followed Him “wholeheartedly.” Caleb was not out doing his own thing or pursuing what he wanted. There is a liberty and reward with being a wholehearted servant of God. Paul in Romans chapter one identified himself as a bond servant of Christ. The picture there in Roman times was of a slave who was given his freedom but chooses to remain a slave for life. He would put his ear to the doorpost of the master’s house, the master would pierce his ear with a punch, and he became a slave for life. It is a total abandonment of one’s self, one’s freedoms and one’s will to the will of the master. It is in wholehearted servanthood to Christ that we come into the fullness of His enablement and the fulfillment of His promises.
There are some other benefits to wholehearted servanthood. Forty-five years later as Israel under Joshua has begun to take possession of the land of promise, Caleb reminds Joshua of God’s promise. “As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said." (Joshua 14:11-12)
Out of wholehearted servanthood comes a strength and authority. It is from this place of strength and authority that Caleb declares, “give me this mountain.” Possession of the mountain was not automatically his because God had promised it. It had giants and great fortified cities that had to be conquered. But as a wholehearted servant of God, Caleb knew that He came to conquer by the authority of his Master.
God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4) They are promises that have great potential and great challenges. These promises that can only be fulfilled through servant people who have a different spirit and follow God wholeheartedly or with utter abandonment. May we wholly abandon ourselves to God and His purposes that His glory may be seen in us.
Andy Clark
Monday, July 12, 2010
Living with Purpose
These days in which we are living, I believe God is calling us to live life with a greater sense of purpose. So often we get caught up in the routine of life, whether it is in ministry, our job, marriage, or family. God is calling us to be more intentional in serving Him, loving our wife and family, serving our church, at work, or in our community.
To enter the promises of God we need to live intentionally. We need to intentionally hear God’s voice in the small daily decisions and activities of our life. We need to purposefully take ownership or act on the prompting of God’s Spirit. We need to purposefully meditate on God’s Word and allow it to shape our character, values, decisions, and lifestyle. We need to live on the edge, where the supernatural happens in our marriage, family, church and career. Supernatural -- such that God invades these areas and does things beyond our capabilities and we begin to see that supernatural wisdom and favor of God in our daily lives.
I like the way Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
“Run in such a way.” There is an art to running correctly to enhance speed and endurance. There is an art to swinging a golf club. Every aspect of the swing must be intentional to be able to hit the ball right where you want it. You can not excel without first developing your skill in whatever you do and doing it God’s way. He is prepared to coach us by His Spirit.
“Strict training.” This is the discipline to achieve the goal or purpose. The New Kings James uses the word “temperate,” which has the sense of balance in what you do. We tend often to succumb to the tyranny of the urgent and fail to do that which is most important.
“Running aimlessly and beating the air.” In the midst of the endless distractions in life we have to keep focused on the purposes of God in our lives, whether immediate or long term. Satan loves to get us caught up in daily, small challenges and activities that take our eyes and our efforts off of God’s purposes.
Let us endeavor not to run aimlessly or beat the air, but to run with God’s purposes, both daily and long term, so that we may enter into His promises for us.
Andy Clark
To enter the promises of God we need to live intentionally. We need to intentionally hear God’s voice in the small daily decisions and activities of our life. We need to purposefully take ownership or act on the prompting of God’s Spirit. We need to purposefully meditate on God’s Word and allow it to shape our character, values, decisions, and lifestyle. We need to live on the edge, where the supernatural happens in our marriage, family, church and career. Supernatural -- such that God invades these areas and does things beyond our capabilities and we begin to see that supernatural wisdom and favor of God in our daily lives.
I like the way Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
“Run in such a way.” There is an art to running correctly to enhance speed and endurance. There is an art to swinging a golf club. Every aspect of the swing must be intentional to be able to hit the ball right where you want it. You can not excel without first developing your skill in whatever you do and doing it God’s way. He is prepared to coach us by His Spirit.
“Strict training.” This is the discipline to achieve the goal or purpose. The New Kings James uses the word “temperate,” which has the sense of balance in what you do. We tend often to succumb to the tyranny of the urgent and fail to do that which is most important.
“Running aimlessly and beating the air.” In the midst of the endless distractions in life we have to keep focused on the purposes of God in our lives, whether immediate or long term. Satan loves to get us caught up in daily, small challenges and activities that take our eyes and our efforts off of God’s purposes.
Let us endeavor not to run aimlessly or beat the air, but to run with God’s purposes, both daily and long term, so that we may enter into His promises for us.
Andy Clark
Monday, July 5, 2010
Embracing God
In Genesis 32:22-28 we read the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Jacob is returning from his years with Laban to the land of promise. But as he approaches, he hears that his brother Esau is coming with an armed band of 400 men. Jacob sends some gifts of peace ahead of him to Esau and then splits his family and possession into two groups in hopes than one group will escape Esau. Finally, he does that which is most important, he pulls away from everything to spend time with God.
The Man whom Jacob encounters in verse 24 is believed to be a Theofony, an appearance of Christ in the OT. In verse 28 it says, “you have struggled with God …. and have prevailed.” The struggle Jacob had with God was not a wrestling match, but more accurately an embrace. Basically, Jacob wrapped his arms around God and would not let him go. Even after God touched his hip socket, his place of strength, Jacob would not let go until God blessed him with a new identity. Instead of Jacob the “deceiver,” he became Israel “Prince with God” or “He Strives with God.” Jacob would not settle for anything less than his full inheritance.
Why could God not get free from Jacob? How can a mortal man wrestle with God and prevail? THE KEY! God cannot break the embrace of faith. Jacob’s promise of blessing was established by God in Genesis 25:23 and declared by Jacob’s father, Isaac, in Genesis 27:27-29. Esau, who represents the flesh, was coming to take Jacob’s blessing. Jacob did not fight or wrestle with Esau, the flesh, natural man, circumstances, (we do not wrestle with flesh and blood) but Jacob embraced God, the true source of the blessing, and did not let go of God until the promise was confirmed and established.
2 Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Like Jacob, we have been given exceeding great and precious promises. These promises allow us to escape the hold the world has on us so that we can be partakers of the divine nature. We can only enter into this divine nature and promises by embracing God and not letting go until his promises have been fulfilled in us.
“And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 22:28) Whatever challenges you are facing today, turn aside to embrace God in love and faith. As you do, He will change your nature, deliver you from your affliction, and fulfill His promises to you.
Andy Clark
Monday, June 21, 2010
Conquering the Darkness
Only one thing conquers and dispels darkness, and that is light. Isaiah declared, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Likewise, John stated, “The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).
Light represents understanding. When we say, “I see the light,” we’re saying, “Now I understand.” The Lord is about to open our eyes to receive new revelation of the greatness of God and what He is doing in the world today. We can not focus on what governments, the media and the world say, for they are in darkness and do not comprehend the light. We are people of the light. We should see things as God sees things and come into His understanding. We should not be influenced by the world, but we should be influencing the world.
1 John 1:5-7 says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ---If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In the midst of a darkening world God wants to reveal Himself in a new way to us. He calls us not to focus on the darkness of this world, but on the glorious revelation of Himself. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” God desires to dispel the darkness out of our lives. He wants to remove the darkness of fear, anxiety, doubt, discouragement and apathy, and replace it with the light of faith, hope and love.
It was during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel that Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) It was when the Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, that the servant’s eyes were opened and he saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 16:7) Paul prayed for us that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
It is only as the light of the revelation of Christ permeates our very being, expelling the darkness in us, that we can begin to bring light to the world. For it is the light of Christ in us that conquers the darkness. It was only after the revelation of the greatness of God that Isaiah said “here am I, send me!” Isaiah was saying, “Lord send me into the darkness of Israel to shine forth the revelation knowledge of yourself.” Later, Isaiah would pen these prophetic words, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Light always conquers darkness! May you receive a greater revelation of the glory of the Lord in you, and may it begin to affect those around you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Light represents understanding. When we say, “I see the light,” we’re saying, “Now I understand.” The Lord is about to open our eyes to receive new revelation of the greatness of God and what He is doing in the world today. We can not focus on what governments, the media and the world say, for they are in darkness and do not comprehend the light. We are people of the light. We should see things as God sees things and come into His understanding. We should not be influenced by the world, but we should be influencing the world.
1 John 1:5-7 says, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ---If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In the midst of a darkening world God wants to reveal Himself in a new way to us. He calls us not to focus on the darkness of this world, but on the glorious revelation of Himself. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” God desires to dispel the darkness out of our lives. He wants to remove the darkness of fear, anxiety, doubt, discouragement and apathy, and replace it with the light of faith, hope and love.
It was during the stormy period marking the expansion of the Assyrian empire and the decline of Israel that Isaiah “saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1) It was when the Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, that the servant’s eyes were opened and he saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.” (2 Kings 16:7) Paul prayed for us that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)
It is only as the light of the revelation of Christ permeates our very being, expelling the darkness in us, that we can begin to bring light to the world. For it is the light of Christ in us that conquers the darkness. It was only after the revelation of the greatness of God that Isaiah said “here am I, send me!” Isaiah was saying, “Lord send me into the darkness of Israel to shine forth the revelation knowledge of yourself.” Later, Isaiah would pen these prophetic words, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Light always conquers darkness! May you receive a greater revelation of the glory of the Lord in you, and may it begin to affect those around you.
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Monday, June 14, 2010
Four Keys
We are going to look at four keys to receiving the promises of God from Joshua 1:1-9.
The first key to entering God’s promise is to hear from God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:” (Joshua 1:1) When David and his men arrived at their home, Ziklag, and found it had been burned by fire, their wives and children taken captive, and possessions stolen, the men talked about stoning David. And the Bible says “David inquired of the Lord.” (I Samuel 30:8) To whom do you inquire for guidance and information? The Bible says Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. (Exodus 3:3) God by His Spirit is calling us to turn aside from our daily activities and to seek His face and hear His voice. When He turned aside, Moses’ life was radically changed and God used him to deliver a nation in a demonstration of power. Just that word from God raises faith in our hearts to believe God for the impossible.
The second key to entering God’s promise is to take ownership of the promise.
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “Moses my servant is dead.” God is saying, “Joshua, this is not about Moses but about you.” For forty years Joshua had been walking under Moses. God spoke to Moses, and Joshua did what Moses told him to do. But now God wanted to renew his covenant with Joshua. Joshua could not enter the land of promise based upon what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua needed to hear the promise for himself. He by faith had to lay claim or take possession of the promise. You may hear a great sermon, receive a prophetic word, receive godly counsel but until it becomes alive in you, it is just a word from someone else.
The third key to entering God’s promise is that you have to know and live by the Book.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8-9) We can hear the voice of God, by faith lay claim to what he has promised, but fail to succeed because we haven’t done it by the Book. So often we use worldly methods to try to achieve godly results. God’s ways are so different than our ways. His kingdom is not of this world. He calls us to give, lay down our lives, love our enemies, be the servant of all, and die to ourselves. He must increase and we must decrease.
The fourth key to entering God’s promises is to realize that only God can fulfill His promises.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Before Joshua lay the land of promise, filled with giants, massive armies and walled cities. The people whom God had called him to lead and possess the land were bedouins living in tents with families and herds of sheep and goats. The task was overwhelming and by man’s standards impossible. God’s promises are always impossible to fulfill with our resources. God is the only one who can fulfill His promises. He calls us simply to launch out into the deep and to believe and obey.
We serve an awesome God with awesome promises. May you discover Him anew today.
Andy Clark
The first key to entering God’s promise is to hear from God.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying:” (Joshua 1:1) When David and his men arrived at their home, Ziklag, and found it had been burned by fire, their wives and children taken captive, and possessions stolen, the men talked about stoning David. And the Bible says “David inquired of the Lord.” (I Samuel 30:8) To whom do you inquire for guidance and information? The Bible says Moses turned aside to see the burning bush. (Exodus 3:3) God by His Spirit is calling us to turn aside from our daily activities and to seek His face and hear His voice. When He turned aside, Moses’ life was radically changed and God used him to deliver a nation in a demonstration of power. Just that word from God raises faith in our hearts to believe God for the impossible.
The second key to entering God’s promise is to take ownership of the promise.
"Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “Moses my servant is dead.” God is saying, “Joshua, this is not about Moses but about you.” For forty years Joshua had been walking under Moses. God spoke to Moses, and Joshua did what Moses told him to do. But now God wanted to renew his covenant with Joshua. Joshua could not enter the land of promise based upon what God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joshua needed to hear the promise for himself. He by faith had to lay claim or take possession of the promise. You may hear a great sermon, receive a prophetic word, receive godly counsel but until it becomes alive in you, it is just a word from someone else.
The third key to entering God’s promise is that you have to know and live by the Book.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8-9) We can hear the voice of God, by faith lay claim to what he has promised, but fail to succeed because we haven’t done it by the Book. So often we use worldly methods to try to achieve godly results. God’s ways are so different than our ways. His kingdom is not of this world. He calls us to give, lay down our lives, love our enemies, be the servant of all, and die to ourselves. He must increase and we must decrease.
The fourth key to entering God’s promises is to realize that only God can fulfill His promises.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Before Joshua lay the land of promise, filled with giants, massive armies and walled cities. The people whom God had called him to lead and possess the land were bedouins living in tents with families and herds of sheep and goats. The task was overwhelming and by man’s standards impossible. God’s promises are always impossible to fulfill with our resources. God is the only one who can fulfill His promises. He calls us simply to launch out into the deep and to believe and obey.
We serve an awesome God with awesome promises. May you discover Him anew today.
Andy Clark
Monday, June 7, 2010
Greater Works
John 14:12-14
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
I read this wonderful promise we are all familiar with in my daily Bible reading. Usually when we read this promise we focus on the faith aspect, “he who believes in Me.” Faith has been a huge teaching in the church in recent history and tends to catch our attention when reading the promise of God. While faith is a key element in receiving from God, there are two other important elements in this Scripture portion.
The second element to doing greater works that Jesus gives is “because I go to My Father.” He goes on to say in verses 15-17 that He is going to send the “Helper, the Spirit of Truth.” These two names that Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit are key to being able to “do greater works,” and to “ask anything in My name.” Our ability to do greater works, that is greater than we can do ourselves in our own power, talents or ability, depends on the Helper. Without Him we can do nothing of eternal consequence. Faith without the Helper has no value.
Jesus also calls Him the “Spirit of Truth,” for He will lead us into all truth. Jesus said of His own ministry that He could only say what the Father said and could only do what the Father showed him to do. (John 5:9) It is only out of revelation knowledge or Rhema word that we can truly ask in faith and see God work on our behalf. I am finding more and more in my ministry that God is simply asking me to be obedient to the prompting of the Spirit. In our busy world filled with information, programs and activities, we need to quiet our spirits to hear the Spirit, who wants to reveal to us the will of God, so that we can do the great works that He has for us.
The third element of doing great works is that “the Father may be glorified.” We need to develop a lifestyle in which we honor God in everything that we do. Jesus, whole focus in life and ministry was to glorify the Father. Honoring God is not something we do - it is a lifestyle that permeates every part of our being and waking moment. It is our all-consuming passion to glorify the Father. It is not about us, our organization, our church, our program or our plans. It is not about ourselves, our family or our friends. It is in Him we live and move and have our being. Greater works will follow when He is our everything.
As hard as it may be to wrap our mind around, Jesus wants to do greater works in us than He did. He wants to give us anything we ask in His name that the Father may be glorified. In the midst of the growing darkness that envelopes our world today, God wants to be glorified. But to do so, we have to get beyond ourselves, our ideas, our programs into the limitlessness of God through the same Spirit that enabled Christ to operate beyond his human limitations.
May you hear His voice today and respond in faith to the prompting of His Spirit and see His glory in your life and ministry.
Andy Clark
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
I read this wonderful promise we are all familiar with in my daily Bible reading. Usually when we read this promise we focus on the faith aspect, “he who believes in Me.” Faith has been a huge teaching in the church in recent history and tends to catch our attention when reading the promise of God. While faith is a key element in receiving from God, there are two other important elements in this Scripture portion.
The second element to doing greater works that Jesus gives is “because I go to My Father.” He goes on to say in verses 15-17 that He is going to send the “Helper, the Spirit of Truth.” These two names that Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit are key to being able to “do greater works,” and to “ask anything in My name.” Our ability to do greater works, that is greater than we can do ourselves in our own power, talents or ability, depends on the Helper. Without Him we can do nothing of eternal consequence. Faith without the Helper has no value.
Jesus also calls Him the “Spirit of Truth,” for He will lead us into all truth. Jesus said of His own ministry that He could only say what the Father said and could only do what the Father showed him to do. (John 5:9) It is only out of revelation knowledge or Rhema word that we can truly ask in faith and see God work on our behalf. I am finding more and more in my ministry that God is simply asking me to be obedient to the prompting of the Spirit. In our busy world filled with information, programs and activities, we need to quiet our spirits to hear the Spirit, who wants to reveal to us the will of God, so that we can do the great works that He has for us.
The third element of doing great works is that “the Father may be glorified.” We need to develop a lifestyle in which we honor God in everything that we do. Jesus, whole focus in life and ministry was to glorify the Father. Honoring God is not something we do - it is a lifestyle that permeates every part of our being and waking moment. It is our all-consuming passion to glorify the Father. It is not about us, our organization, our church, our program or our plans. It is not about ourselves, our family or our friends. It is in Him we live and move and have our being. Greater works will follow when He is our everything.
As hard as it may be to wrap our mind around, Jesus wants to do greater works in us than He did. He wants to give us anything we ask in His name that the Father may be glorified. In the midst of the growing darkness that envelopes our world today, God wants to be glorified. But to do so, we have to get beyond ourselves, our ideas, our programs into the limitlessness of God through the same Spirit that enabled Christ to operate beyond his human limitations.
May you hear His voice today and respond in faith to the prompting of His Spirit and see His glory in your life and ministry.
Andy Clark
Monday, May 17, 2010
Do Not Fear
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Joshua stood on the edge of the Land of Promise facing the giants, fortified cities, and great armies that stood between him the promises of God. Here was a huge opportunity but great challenges. Really, an impossible situation, and I’m sure he had fear. If he didn’t have fear, then why did God show up and command him to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified.” The job God had given him was much too great for him and the people of Israel. Jesus constantly had to exhort his disciples not to be afraid. Why were they always fearful? Were they weak? I don’t think so. These were seasoned men in life who had faced lots of things. No, they faced fear because Jesus put them in impossible situations that were outside their control because He wanted to teach them to trust in him.
I spoke with a young man tonight at church who had always been able to have good jobs and make good money. Recently, he was out of work for about a year, and despite all his education, skills and effort, he could not find a job and lost his house and both his cars. The same God that showed up with Joshua, the same Jesus that spoke to the disciples in the tempest on Galilee, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” This young man learned trust through the things that He suffered. God put him in an impossible situation to learn to trust Him.
In 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 Paul made a declaration, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” In the midst of some of God’s greatest opportunities there are the greatest challenges and sometime opposition. Paul faced great opposition in Ephesus where one of the greatest revivals in early church history took place, so that “all those in Asia, heard the word of the Lord” and “the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.” It prevailed over the worship of Diana, idolatry and witchcraft that bound a city and a people group.
We face grave and challenging times that are going to try many of us. We may face what seems like insurmountable situations. The giants of opposition may seem too great and the storms of life may be swirling around us. Just as with Joshua and the disciples, God wants to show up and say, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” The place of greatest challenge is the place of greatest opportunity, where God can show His power and fulfill His promises.
May you see the greatness of God in your situation today and know that He is with you. He does not take you where He cannot deliver you, and may He use you for His glory.
Andy Clark
www.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com, www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Joshua stood on the edge of the Land of Promise facing the giants, fortified cities, and great armies that stood between him the promises of God. Here was a huge opportunity but great challenges. Really, an impossible situation, and I’m sure he had fear. If he didn’t have fear, then why did God show up and command him to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified.” The job God had given him was much too great for him and the people of Israel. Jesus constantly had to exhort his disciples not to be afraid. Why were they always fearful? Were they weak? I don’t think so. These were seasoned men in life who had faced lots of things. No, they faced fear because Jesus put them in impossible situations that were outside their control because He wanted to teach them to trust in him.
I spoke with a young man tonight at church who had always been able to have good jobs and make good money. Recently, he was out of work for about a year, and despite all his education, skills and effort, he could not find a job and lost his house and both his cars. The same God that showed up with Joshua, the same Jesus that spoke to the disciples in the tempest on Galilee, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” This young man learned trust through the things that He suffered. God put him in an impossible situation to learn to trust Him.
In 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 Paul made a declaration, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” In the midst of some of God’s greatest opportunities there are the greatest challenges and sometime opposition. Paul faced great opposition in Ephesus where one of the greatest revivals in early church history took place, so that “all those in Asia, heard the word of the Lord” and “the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.” It prevailed over the worship of Diana, idolatry and witchcraft that bound a city and a people group.
We face grave and challenging times that are going to try many of us. We may face what seems like insurmountable situations. The giants of opposition may seem too great and the storms of life may be swirling around us. Just as with Joshua and the disciples, God wants to show up and say, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” The place of greatest challenge is the place of greatest opportunity, where God can show His power and fulfill His promises.
May you see the greatness of God in your situation today and know that He is with you. He does not take you where He cannot deliver you, and may He use you for His glory.
Andy Clark
www.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com, www.worldhorizonsusa.org
Monday, May 10, 2010
Provision for the Promise
After I had written my devotional on “Receiving the Promise” and before I sent it out I received a note sent out by Rachel Tainsh, WH International Prayer Coordinator, with some Scriptures God had given her to use in prayer for the Global Council. These Scriptures dovetailed with and confirmed what the Lord had given me.
The first one was Deuteronomy 11:10-14 “For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; 11 but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
I shared last week that the challenges of entering into the promises seem oftentimes overwhelming and impossible. God intentionally makes His promises too great for us because He wants to fulfill the promises as we trust and obey Him. To receive the promise we must maintain faith that He who is faithful will fulfill the promise. It is only out of that position of faith that we can be led by the Sprit to walk out in obedience today what God wants us to do in order to receive the promise. In the above portion from Deuteronomy God gives us a glimpse of His provision for the promise.
In verse ten, God said that the land of promise is not going to be like Egypt where “you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden.” In Egypt they were limited as to how much they could grow because it had to be watered by hand. It took a lot of work with minimal results. But God said that in the land of promise He will provide “water from the rain of heaven.” This takes the limitations off of us. We are no longer bound by our ability to water what we have planted. In fact, we can plant as much land as we can possess. God says in verse fourteen, “I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” The early rains were for planting, and the latter rain was for harvest. I believe we are entering the time of the latter rain of harvest. Our job is to plant as much seed as we can, for God has promised to provide the rain that will bring in the harvest.
I believe our response to this awesome promise of provision is in the second scripture Rachel gave, which is Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We cannot continue to do things as we have in the past. God by His Spirit wants to move us past the limitations of our past into His limitless provision. We must reach forward and press into the promises that God has given us in faith that God will provide. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Andy Clark
www.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com
The first one was Deuteronomy 11:10-14 “For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; 11 but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
I shared last week that the challenges of entering into the promises seem oftentimes overwhelming and impossible. God intentionally makes His promises too great for us because He wants to fulfill the promises as we trust and obey Him. To receive the promise we must maintain faith that He who is faithful will fulfill the promise. It is only out of that position of faith that we can be led by the Sprit to walk out in obedience today what God wants us to do in order to receive the promise. In the above portion from Deuteronomy God gives us a glimpse of His provision for the promise.
In verse ten, God said that the land of promise is not going to be like Egypt where “you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden.” In Egypt they were limited as to how much they could grow because it had to be watered by hand. It took a lot of work with minimal results. But God said that in the land of promise He will provide “water from the rain of heaven.” This takes the limitations off of us. We are no longer bound by our ability to water what we have planted. In fact, we can plant as much land as we can possess. God says in verse fourteen, “I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” The early rains were for planting, and the latter rain was for harvest. I believe we are entering the time of the latter rain of harvest. Our job is to plant as much seed as we can, for God has promised to provide the rain that will bring in the harvest.
I believe our response to this awesome promise of provision is in the second scripture Rachel gave, which is Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We cannot continue to do things as we have in the past. God by His Spirit wants to move us past the limitations of our past into His limitless provision. We must reach forward and press into the promises that God has given us in faith that God will provide. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Andy Clark
www.andyclarksdevotionals.blogspot.com
Monday, May 3, 2010
Receiving the Promise
In Genesis 26:3-5 God reaffirms to Isaac his covenant with Abraham, “Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
Over six hundred years later Israel stands on the bank of the Jordan River preparing to receive the promise God had given Abraham. For forty years they had walked under God’s provision in the wilderness, but now was the time to move from provision into promise. They faced great challenges of fortified cities, giants and great armies with chariots. Forty years earlier their fathers had stood on the banks of this very Jordan. But because of a bad report of ten spies, they retreated from the promise back into the comfort of provision.
Oftentimes in our lives we fail to move from provision into God’s promises for us. As I mentioned last week, we often let the promises that God gave us die in us because of time and circumstances. The challenges of entering into the promises seem often times overwhelming and impossible. God intentionally makes His promises too great for us because He wants to fulfill the promises as we trust and obey him. Notice God’s word to Isaac, “I will be with you, I will give you all these lands, I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham, and I will make your descendants multiply.” To receive the promise, we must maintain faith that He who is faithful will fulfill the promise. Because it is only out of that position of faith that we can be led by the Spirit to walk out in obedience today what God wants us to do in order to receive the promise.
God told Isaac, “I will give your descendents all these lands --- because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge.” Abraham was not some great preacher or evangelist. He was a herdsman who most of his life led a nomadic life like many in his day. But when God asked him to do something, He immediately did it whether it was leaving his home and country, or being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. In the midst of all Abraham’s wandering, he never forgot his charge, what God had charged him to do, his destiny. In all the places he traveled, all the challenges he faced and things he did, he never lost sight of the faithfulness of God and the promises God had given him.
As Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan facing the giants of Israel’s past, the Lord appeared to him and said to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. --- Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you. --- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:3,6,9
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Heb. 10:35-36
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” I Corinthians 1:20
Andy Clark
www.andysdevotionals.blogspot.com
Over six hundred years later Israel stands on the bank of the Jordan River preparing to receive the promise God had given Abraham. For forty years they had walked under God’s provision in the wilderness, but now was the time to move from provision into promise. They faced great challenges of fortified cities, giants and great armies with chariots. Forty years earlier their fathers had stood on the banks of this very Jordan. But because of a bad report of ten spies, they retreated from the promise back into the comfort of provision.
Oftentimes in our lives we fail to move from provision into God’s promises for us. As I mentioned last week, we often let the promises that God gave us die in us because of time and circumstances. The challenges of entering into the promises seem often times overwhelming and impossible. God intentionally makes His promises too great for us because He wants to fulfill the promises as we trust and obey him. Notice God’s word to Isaac, “I will be with you, I will give you all these lands, I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham, and I will make your descendants multiply.” To receive the promise, we must maintain faith that He who is faithful will fulfill the promise. Because it is only out of that position of faith that we can be led by the Spirit to walk out in obedience today what God wants us to do in order to receive the promise.
God told Isaac, “I will give your descendents all these lands --- because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge.” Abraham was not some great preacher or evangelist. He was a herdsman who most of his life led a nomadic life like many in his day. But when God asked him to do something, He immediately did it whether it was leaving his home and country, or being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. In the midst of all Abraham’s wandering, he never forgot his charge, what God had charged him to do, his destiny. In all the places he traveled, all the challenges he faced and things he did, he never lost sight of the faithfulness of God and the promises God had given him.
As Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan facing the giants of Israel’s past, the Lord appeared to him and said to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. --- Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you. --- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:3,6,9
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Heb. 10:35-36
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” I Corinthians 1:20
Andy Clark
www.andysdevotionals.blogspot.com
Monday, April 26, 2010
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26
This was a trying time for Mary and Martha. Their brother Lazarus had been sick, and they had sent a message to Jesus to come quickly. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were good friends of Jesus, almost like family. Jesus often stayed in their home that was not far from Jerusalem. But for some reason beyond their comprehension, Jesus had delayed, and now Lazarus had been dead for four days. When Jesus finally arrives, Martha is the first one to meet him. Notice her comment in verse 21. "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” She is declaring her faith that Jesus could have healed her brother. But now that he is dead and buried, all hope is passed.
Sometimes we are like Mary and Martha. We have received promises from God, had visions or dreams that we have prayed and believed for, and they just haven’t come to pass. Maybe we have an unsaved loved one or a child who has strayed away from God for whom we have prayed for years, and there seems no more hope. Maybe we have launched out in ministry and expected great things for God, and it hasn’t happened. Maybe we have prayed for a job or some desperately needed financial provision, and nothing has come forth. We don’t understand why it hasn’t happened. We really believed God. Over time the call, the vision, the prayer and desire dies’ and we bury it and go on with life. Like Martha, we say, “God if you would have come through then it would have been awesome, but it is a little late now.”
Our challenge is that we live in time, bound by circumstances and situations that are beyond our control. But God is not bound by either time or circumstances. Revelations 13:8 says that Christ was crucified from the creation of the earth. In God’s mind, even before He created Adam and Eve, Christ had been crucified for man’s redemption. It was a done deal. Neither time nor circumstances could alter it. In Eph 1:18-20 Paul prays, “that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know ….what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.” That resurrection power is available to you to fulfill His promises to you.
The Bible says, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age and Sarah herself was barren was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11:11 Notice the time factor, Abraham was past age, and circumstance, Sarah was barren. What we think is past may be the present to God. What we deem as dead is not dead to God.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 says “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” The same one who established you, anointed you and sealed you by His Spirit will do it through you. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Hebrews 10-35-36
May God by His Spirit rekindle the great expectations that you once had.
Andy Clark
(To be continued next week. “Receiving the Promise”)
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26
This was a trying time for Mary and Martha. Their brother Lazarus had been sick, and they had sent a message to Jesus to come quickly. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were good friends of Jesus, almost like family. Jesus often stayed in their home that was not far from Jerusalem. But for some reason beyond their comprehension, Jesus had delayed, and now Lazarus had been dead for four days. When Jesus finally arrives, Martha is the first one to meet him. Notice her comment in verse 21. "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” She is declaring her faith that Jesus could have healed her brother. But now that he is dead and buried, all hope is passed.
Sometimes we are like Mary and Martha. We have received promises from God, had visions or dreams that we have prayed and believed for, and they just haven’t come to pass. Maybe we have an unsaved loved one or a child who has strayed away from God for whom we have prayed for years, and there seems no more hope. Maybe we have launched out in ministry and expected great things for God, and it hasn’t happened. Maybe we have prayed for a job or some desperately needed financial provision, and nothing has come forth. We don’t understand why it hasn’t happened. We really believed God. Over time the call, the vision, the prayer and desire dies’ and we bury it and go on with life. Like Martha, we say, “God if you would have come through then it would have been awesome, but it is a little late now.”
Our challenge is that we live in time, bound by circumstances and situations that are beyond our control. But God is not bound by either time or circumstances. Revelations 13:8 says that Christ was crucified from the creation of the earth. In God’s mind, even before He created Adam and Eve, Christ had been crucified for man’s redemption. It was a done deal. Neither time nor circumstances could alter it. In Eph 1:18-20 Paul prays, “that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know ….what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.” That resurrection power is available to you to fulfill His promises to you.
The Bible says, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age and Sarah herself was barren was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11:11 Notice the time factor, Abraham was past age, and circumstance, Sarah was barren. What we think is past may be the present to God. What we deem as dead is not dead to God.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 says “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” The same one who established you, anointed you and sealed you by His Spirit will do it through you. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:” Hebrews 10-35-36
May God by His Spirit rekindle the great expectations that you once had.
Andy Clark
(To be continued next week. “Receiving the Promise”)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wholehearted Obedience
As I was reading my daily Bible reading from the New Living Translation, I came upon a portion of Scripture from Deuteronomy chapter 30 that the Spirit quickened to me. In the proceeding chapters God had laid out the blessings and curses that would come on Israel depending on their wholehearted obedience to His covenant with them.
In Deuteronomy 30 God promised them in verse four that if they wholeheartedly obeyed Him that HE WOULD FIND THEM no matter where they were. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Wholehearted obedience gets God’s attention! God is not looking for perfect people but people whose heart is wholly after Him and will respond to the prompting of His Holy Spirit. He is looking for people, who will lay everything down for Him, His will, and His kingdom. No matter where you are or what you are going through, when you put your full focus on Him and are willing to do anything He asks you, He will find you.
The second thing I saw in verse six that God will do for those who wholeheartedly obey Him is that “the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. In Ezekiel 11:19 God says that He will take away our stony heart and give us a heart of flesh. The circumcised heart enables you to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Life can make our heart stony. We are exposed to so much in the media and are often so hurt by people and circumstances that we lose our heart of compassion. Wholehearted obedience enables you to love.
The third result of wholehearted obedience is in verse nine. “The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do.” James says, “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.” James 1:25 How does the law bring liberty? Wholehearted obedience to God’s word and the Spirit sets us free from having to figure things out and manipulate things to our advantage. When I lived in Haiti, we were surrounded by constant, desperate need. Whom do we help and how much? I knew missionaries who became hard hearted because of the constant need and others who left the field because of the overwhelming need. God told me not to try to figure out whom to help but to simply respond to the nudge of the Spirit. Wholehearted obedience will release you into Godly success.
The last thing I saw as a result of wholehearted obedience was in the last part of verse nine. “The Lord will delight in being good to you.” You don’t have to beg God for things. God loves to give His children good gifts. He wants to surprise you in creative, unexpected ways. God is madly in love with you. Quit trying to figure things out and manipulate things your way. Abandon yourself to serving God and others despite the circumstances and peoples’ response, and see what God will do for you. Wholehearted obedience will cause God to be D-E-L-I-G-H-T-E-D in you.
Yours in Christ,
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
In Deuteronomy 30 God promised them in verse four that if they wholeheartedly obeyed Him that HE WOULD FIND THEM no matter where they were. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Wholehearted obedience gets God’s attention! God is not looking for perfect people but people whose heart is wholly after Him and will respond to the prompting of His Holy Spirit. He is looking for people, who will lay everything down for Him, His will, and His kingdom. No matter where you are or what you are going through, when you put your full focus on Him and are willing to do anything He asks you, He will find you.
The second thing I saw in verse six that God will do for those who wholeheartedly obey Him is that “the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. In Ezekiel 11:19 God says that He will take away our stony heart and give us a heart of flesh. The circumcised heart enables you to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Life can make our heart stony. We are exposed to so much in the media and are often so hurt by people and circumstances that we lose our heart of compassion. Wholehearted obedience enables you to love.
The third result of wholehearted obedience is in verse nine. “The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do.” James says, “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.” James 1:25 How does the law bring liberty? Wholehearted obedience to God’s word and the Spirit sets us free from having to figure things out and manipulate things to our advantage. When I lived in Haiti, we were surrounded by constant, desperate need. Whom do we help and how much? I knew missionaries who became hard hearted because of the constant need and others who left the field because of the overwhelming need. God told me not to try to figure out whom to help but to simply respond to the nudge of the Spirit. Wholehearted obedience will release you into Godly success.
The last thing I saw as a result of wholehearted obedience was in the last part of verse nine. “The Lord will delight in being good to you.” You don’t have to beg God for things. God loves to give His children good gifts. He wants to surprise you in creative, unexpected ways. God is madly in love with you. Quit trying to figure things out and manipulate things your way. Abandon yourself to serving God and others despite the circumstances and peoples’ response, and see what God will do for you. Wholehearted obedience will cause God to be D-E-L-I-G-H-T-E-D in you.
Yours in Christ,
Andy Clark
www.worldhorizonsusa.org
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