Peace in the Storm

Isaiah 53:4-5

“Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.”

This is a wonderful portion of Scripture because it details for us so beautifully what Christ accomplished for us through His sacrifice on the cross. We acquire all these benefits by faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” That word saved is all inclusive, spirit, soul and body. We oftentimes receive so readily by faith the salvation Christ purchased for us from our transgressions and our iniquities, but we struggle to receive by the same faith that He has also borne our griefs, carried our sorrows, and provided our healing. In the same way we take our sins to God and leave them at the cross, He wants us also to bring our griefs, sorrows, and sicknesses and leave them there, allowing God by His Spirit to bring His healing into our soul and body.

“The chastisement for our peace was upon Him.” Jesus took all this on Himself so that we could walk and live in peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) He gives us His peace. He doesn’t give it temporarily at certain times, but He leaves His peace with us. It is not as the world gives because it is not dependent on people of circumstances. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) Christ provided peace for us, but our connection to that peace is through our relationship with the Holy Spirit. “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!!!” That is a choice you make by bringing your, mind, will, and emotions into agreement with the Word and the Spirit.

In Mark 4:37-40, we see how Jesus wants to come into our storm and bring peace. “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

No matter what storm you or someone you know is going through, the Prince of Peace is there and He has purchased not only your peace, but because of His sacrifice for us, He has the ability to calm whatever storm you are facing. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) “In Me you may have peace.” It is abiding in Christ that we have peace, and it is out of that posture of peace in Him that we overcome the world. Shalom.

Andy Clark

Roaring Lions

1 Peter 5:8-11

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

We live in a day when Satan is roaring more loudly than ever before. The sound of his roar through the media, political and social upheaval, economical and natural catastrophes fills the earth in order to penalize people with fear and to cause panic. And just like a prey in the wild, it is those who panic that the lion will devour.

But the Bible says that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) To be able to operate in power and to maintain a sound mind when the devil roars in our lives and in our world requires us to walk in love. I John 4:18 says,” There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” When we read the context of this verse, we see how love is perfected in us, so that we have no fear. I John 4:16-17 says,“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”

We have to know, I mean a deep-down knowing, and believe without a shadow of a doubt that God loves us unconditionally. This knowledge and faith in God’s love causes us to abide, make our dwelling place, in agape love. Agape love has no hooks or agenda. Agape love trusts so explicitly that it lays down all of its rights and privileges just like Christ did for us. Agape love causes us to abandon ourselves totally to God. The deeper we abide in agape love, the deeper we abide in God, and God abides in us because God is love. John goes on to say that when we abandon ourselves in God’s love, it gives us boldness in the day of judgment because we are then in the world just like Jesus is in the world.

When we have this stance of love, the lion’s roar, no matter how loud or ferocious, has no hold on us. In fact, out of this position of love, we can maintain a sound mind while the world panics; we have the power to overcome while the world cowers in fear, and the boldness to speak out and to do what God has equipped us to do in this hour of judgment. Be sober or self-controlled, and vigilant, resisting the enemy in faith. In the midst of the loud roaring of the lion in this world, take time to hear the still quiet voice of the one who loves intensely and has purchased victory for us by His blood.

Andy Clark

Conquering Challanges

Challenge – “A demanding task, that calls for special effort or dedication.” (Webster) We all face challenges in our lives, whether big or small that require a special effort or dedication to resolve.

In Judges chapter 6 we see a man who faced and overcame huge challenges. In the opening scene we see a farmer named Gideon hiding in a winepress from the Midianites trying to thresh out some wheat for his family. He comes from the weakest clan in Manasseh, and he is the least in his family. He doesn’t understand why they are facing these challenges. They are God’s people, and he has heard the great stories of what God has done in the past. But where is God now?

Oftentimes we find ourselves in Gideon’s shoes. We are Christians, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, more than conquerors. We know the promises of God and have heard testimonies of what God has done in the past or in the lives of others. We are living for God, trying to make a living for our family, and do the ministry that God has called us to. Yet, we find ourselves in the winepress, surrounded by the limitations of circumstances, finances, job, family and our own personal limitations. Maybe there are some enemies of our soul that we just can seem to break loose from, or we see some opportunities that we can’t seem to attain.

The great news is that God loves to show up when least expected in the middle of our winepress. Gideon’s encounter with God begins by God declaring over him that he is a mighty man of valor. The God of the universe has spoken. The God who said, “let there be light,” and light exploded into the formless, empty darkness that covered the face of the earth. The God who by the word of His mouth spoke everything into existence spoke into the limitations of Gideon’s life and circumstances and declared who he was created to be. The same creative God has spoken and is speaking over your life and circumstances.

As we read on in Judges 6:14, the Lord turned to Gideon and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.” Notice, God does not say to go in My power. God says to go in your power. When God declared over Gideon that he was a mighty man of valor, God empowered Gideon to overcome the challenges and do what God had called him to do.

The key to conquering challenges lies not only in who we are in Christ, but how we respond to God’s declaration over us. Gideon’s test was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build an altar to the Lord. Gideon’s obedience to this test opened the door for him to come into the fullness of what God has spoken over his life. We all face things that God asks us to do. Sometimes they are big, but often they are a simple nudge of the Holy Spirit in our every day lives. God calls us to lay down our lives and to press into the impossible that only God can do as we submit to Him.

Remember, a challenge, whether positive or negative, is “a demanding task, the calls for special effort or dedication.” As you dedicate yourself to God and the task He has given you to do, He will empower you by His Word and His Spirit to conquer the challenges in your life.

Andy Clark

Kingdom Perspective

As we see the deteriation of political, economic, social and moral structures in our world, God is calling us to refocus our attention and trust from the kingdom systems of this world to His kingdom. In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus defines His kingdom for us.

“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say,’ See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Oftentimes we measure ministry by what we can observe using earthly social and religious measurements. As we measure by these man-made standards, we fail to truly grasp what God is doing. We cannot observe the kingdom through the lense of human observation but only through the eye of God’s Spirit. So, what we see happening in the political and economic world and even in the church world is not what is happening in God’s kingdom.

The kingdom is in you, as it is in the hearts of millions of believers worldwide. It cannot be seen, measured or comprehended. It is greater than any one of us could even imagine. God is not shaken by what is happening in this world, because His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus told Pilate in John 18:36 "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight.” When Jesus spoke these words, He was standing almost naked, beaten beyond recognition, those closest to Him had abandoned him and the crowds were screaming for His death. Yet, He was speaking with confidence to the earthly authority, who thought He controlled Jesus’ fate. Why? Because Jesus understood who He was and the power and authority of His kingdom. He saw things Pilate could never comprehend because they were of two totally opposite kingdoms. Like Jesus, we need to begin to see His kingdom from His perspective and not according to man made religious structure.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) Lord, may we not be moved by what we see and the circumstances of our day. Give us your eyes to see what you see and to be moved by what moves you.

Yours in Christ,

Andy Clark

Effective Prayer

James 5:16-18

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

James, through the story of Elijah, gives us some keys to effective prayer. First, effective prayer is birthed in righteousness. Righteousness is not sinlesness but rather a position of right standing with God. James states that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.” Elijah was a sinner, struggled with personal issues, and had doubts and fears. Elijah’s prayer was not answered because he was a prophet or because of his great ministry. Elijah’s prayer was answered because of his relationship with God, a relationship that every born again Christian has because we stand in the righteousness of Christ. But Christ’s righteousness only opens the door for relationship with God. We, by the Word and the Spirit, must develop that relationship so that we can hear His voice and walk in His ways.

Secondly, effective prayer initiates from God not man. After three years of drought, in 1 Kings 18:1, God tells Elijah, He is going to send rain. Elijah had no power to call down rain. Rain came at the word of the Lord. Jesus sits at the right hand of God making intercession and calls us to come into agreement with him to pray in His kingdom and will into the earth. As I shared in last week’s devotional, “A Perfect Heart” is a heart that worships and communes with God. God revealed His will to Abraham because Abraham was His friend. Romans 8:26 says, “We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us.”

After hearing the voice of God, Elijah declares what God has spoken to him. “Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." (1 Kings 18:41) What are you hearing and speaking today? Is it the voice of friends, circumstances, the media, or the world? In the day that we live, we need a people who can hear the voice and God and speak what He is speaking, despite what we see around us. In the midst of three years of drought with not cloud in the sky, Elijah heard by the Spirit an abundance of rain. Effective prayer is hearing and declaring the will of God.

“So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.” (1 Kings 18:42) It is interesting to note Ahab’s and Elijah’s responses to the prophetic word. Elijah does the work of praying in what He has heard. Seven times he gets down on his knees and prays until “A cloud as small as a man’s hand rises from the sea.” James says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Effective prayer is fervent, persistent prayer until we see the word and will of God come to fruition

“Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.” (1 Kings 18:45) In a world that is decaying and in the midst of spiritual drought, may God help us to become more effective in our prayers and usher in the rain of His Spirit.

Andy Clark

A Perfect heart

I believe God is calling His people to have a heart after Him. Having a perfect heart has been part of the life of faith from the time God first spoke to Abraham: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1)

To understand the Biblical concept of perfection, we first must understand that perfection does not mean a sinless, flawless existence. No, perfection in the Lord’s eyes means something entirely different. It means completeness, maturity. It means to finish what has been started, to make a complete performance.

The perfect heart cries out with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

The perfect heart wants the Holy Spirit to come and search out the innermost man, to shine into all hidden parts, to investigate, expose and dig out all that is unlike Christ. The Lord’s heart-searchings are not vindictive, but redemptive. His purpose is not to catch us in sin or condemn us, but rather to prepare us to come into his holy presence as clean, pure vessels

The perfect heart yearns for more than security or a covering for sin. It seeks to be in God’s presence always, to dwell in communion. Communion means talking with the Lord, sharing sweet fellowship with him, seeking his face and knowing his presence. . “Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord.” (Psalm 24:3-5).

We can so often become busy serving Christ as Martha did, and we fail to sit in communion with him like Lazarus, or to sit at his feet in worship like Mary. John 12:2-3 “Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

All three things - service, communion and worship are essential in our lives. But like Martha, we can become tired, frustrated and sometimes even bitter in serving because we have lost the joy of a perfect heart that comes out of worship and communion.

May the joy of fellowship with Jesus sustain you, invigorate you, and inspire you as you walk out the call and ministry on your life.

Yours in Christ,

Andy Clark

God is in Control

God is in Control

As I was contemplating the changes that are constantly occurring in our world, and the challenges it brings at times to our ministry, I was reminded by the verse below that we can be at peace because ultimately God is in control.

“Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.” (I Chronicles 29:11-12 TLB)

I am also reading through the prophets now in my personal devotions. I love looking at history through the eyes of the prophets, which is a God-perspective on history. We see how God raises up and pulls down rulers and nations. God has not changed! He has a plan and He has never failed. Failure is not in His nature. The heart of the king, (president, prime minister) is in the hand of the Lord, like rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Ps.21:1) In the chaos of the political and economic conditions in the world today, we need to affirm God’s Word that “He is the Ruler of all mankind, and His hand controls power and might.”

On a personal level I never cease to be amazed at how God orchestrates our personal lives and ministry and works things out for our good. You may be facing changes and challenges in your life and ministry. Some may appear to be positive, while others may seem to be negative. Our response in both cases depends on our trust that God is still “Ruler of all mankind.” Instead of becoming negative, discouraged or frustrated over these changes, I encourage you to try to remember where God has brought you from, Declare His sovereignty over your life and ministry and ask: “what are you doing God and how do you want me to participate in what you are doing?”

When Israel was in seven years of famine, God spoke to Elijah to go to the brook Kerith and “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” (I Kings 17:4) Commanded is past tense. The provision was already put in place by God. Elijah simply had to find out what God was doing and participate in His plan.

Lord, “we adore you as being in control of everything.” May God grant you the vision to see His plan and the wisdom on how to participate in what He is doing.

Your brother in God’s service,

Andy Clark