Jesus grew up in Mary and Joseph’s household, increasing in wisdom and stature at least as it pertained to His humanity.

Luke 2:51-52

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

I believe He must have lived and walked by faith in those growing years, otherwise how could He have ‘pleased’ God as the baptism account highlights.

Luke 3:21-22

21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Never before had anyone, whether they are a prophet, priest or even a king, heard these special words from God.

“You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Vs 22).

First, God focused on Jesus’ sonship. Jesus was His ‘beloved Son’ a – covenant term of endearment. Then He went on to say that He was ‘well pleased’ with Jesus! Notice this was before Jesus had even begun His ministry. He had not performed any miracles – His first was to come later at the Cana wedding where He turned the water into wine. He had not called any disciples, nor had He faced any of the temptations in the wilderness. He was in the starting blocks of His public ministry, yet God was already well pleased. How so?

Jesus had pleased God because of His faith. The book of Hebrews teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6

6 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.

This applied to Jesus too. He obviously lived by faith all these years as He was being prepared to launch into public ministry.

It was not Jesus determination, talent, obedience to His parents or even His regular synagogue and temple attendance as He grew up that pleased God, good as all these were. No, it was His simple faith or trust in God’s goodness towards Him that pleased His heavenly Father, and which precipitated the favorable public endorsement He received at His baptism in the Jordan.

Likewise, in our own walk with God, we ought to be encouraged that He is pleased with our faith when it is rooted in what Jesus has done for us at the cross, and not in our own efforts. It was at the cross that Jesus paid the price for the total forgiveness of our sin. No amount of obedience to the Ten Commandments, hard work, witnessing, church attendance and service can ever measure up to what Jesus has purchased for us at the cross. We enjoy all that Jesus accomplished by simply receiving His gift by faith.

When we seek Him, we will be greatly rewarded for our faith. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Nothing has changed since those early days.

As children of God born again of His Spirit let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and His completed work, and not ‘fall from grace’ by relying on our own efforts to try to please God in some sort of Christianized works or behavior modification program. We live and grow in Him by faith and faith alone.

He knows we will fall short of His glory every time, so has provided a way out of this dilemma of sin through His Son. Jesus came as our perfect sacrificial substitute who fulfilled all the Law requirements on our behalf. This is grace: the unmerited favor of God.

Let us gratefully receive the abundance of this grace and the gift of righteousness so that we can reign in the realm of life.

Romans 5:16-17

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Very importantly, the works we ‘do’ therefore are the natural fruit that spring from our abiding relationship with Him. They do not make our faith alive (this would negate Jesus’ role), they merely express His life within (James 2:20).

Recently, we have made a major geographical move from California to Washington State with plans to pioneer a new church called Seattle Life Church on the Eastside. See www.seattlelifechurch.org

All the start up stuff needed when you move into a new area can get overwhelming if you don’t keep your eyes on the foundational reason you made the move in the first place: Jesus is still building His Church, His way, and for His purposes. Really, all else misses the mark and is a waste of time energy and money.

This scripture has challenged me as a vital checklist: is anything (and everything) I do finding its source in Christ, relying on His life and focussed on Him? Here it is:

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things…” Romans 11:36 (Emphasis added).

Yes that’s all things: no separation between the secular and sacred here – nothing excluded. Whatever we do must start with Him, be played out with His ways and land up bringing Him glory.

Thankfully, we can ask Him for wisdom in whatever we do, starting each day knowing that the abundance of His grace will empower, cover us and put a stamp of His favor on anything we do. His grace and mercy is a great catch-net which gives us the confidence to step out and be the witness He has called us to be.

He’s our benevolent Father and wants us to do well, and bring Him glory in our sphere of influence.

So ‘no worries, mate’ – or as the Bible says: “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

He’s got you covered!

(For more resources to help you fulfill your calling and destiny in Christ, see: www.edhorak.com )

The first thing to recognize is that He is full of goodness to give! Unfortunately, many have a warped understanding of God: that He is looking down on us, waiting for us to slip up so that He can punish us in some way. This cannot be further from the truth.

The record shows that the punishment for man’s sin has already fallen on Jesus at the cross. Jesus has already suffered in our place and paid the price for our salvation.

The way is now open for all mankind to receive God’s abundant forgiveness and blessing…this is the good news that we spread.

‘With Fervent Desire’

Jesus made this remarkable statement when He celebrated the last supper on earth with His disciples:

Luke 22:14-15

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ..

He had celebrated at least two other Passover meals with them before, but His focus and fervent desire had all along been on this one. He knew He was about to suffer for them and us, and knew that His substitutionary sacrifice would open the way into the Father’s presence in a brand new way never experienced before.

He was fulfilling prophecy before their eyes, and was totally committed to establishing a permanent relationship with His disciples. His death would lead to their life for eternity and His desire was rooted in all consuming love. He ‘burned’ to consummate His life’s work with the greatest act of love ever, and so He sat with them and shared these moments of intimacy before His betrayal.

The disciples had only to receive what He was to about to do. At this point none of them comprehended the magnitude of God’s love about to be poured out on them, yet He pursued them nevertheless. This is the heart of God: He pursues, we eventually respond.

God’s goodness must be received, for He will not force His will on anyone. The following scriptures highlight God’s goodness towards us.

 Psalm 86:15

15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,

Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

 John 1:12

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Romans 2:3-4

 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 5:16-17

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1 John 4:9

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Each scripture describes some benefit that we enjoy because of God’s love for us.

God’s nature and will are perfectly made manifest to us in the person and work of Jesus. Jesus said that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father (John 14:9).  At the Last Supper When He blessed the bread, broke it and then gave it to His disciples, He was in essence giving Himself to them. His heart’s intent was to bless them through this covenant meal.

This was not the time for discipline or even self examination. He had just washed their feet in an act of supreme self sacrifice. They were cleansed by what He had done for them, and not by what they had done or even were later to do for Him. Grace (God’s unmerited favor and enablement) was abounding towards them, and all they had to do was to sit and receive it.

A Celebration Of Blessing

 Celebrate

‘To move in a circle, reel to and fro, dance’

The Lord’s Supper has always been and ought still to be a celebration of His goodness and mercy, where the focus is on His grace and not on self introspection. When Paul wrote his first letter of correction to the Corinthians it was in response to gross error and selfishness in that church at that time. To rightly divide the Word today his words of correction, as they apply to the Lord’s Supper, ought not to be the standard for the church today every time it is celebrated.

God has created us for close fellowship with Him, and thankfully His blood alone has paid the price for this. No amount of human effort, repentance or even self examination brings us closer than we already are through His blood.

Ephesians 1:7-8

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

The redemption and forgiveness we enjoy is according to the ‘riches of His grace’ and not according to the depth of our repentance, our sorrow or even our religious efforts to in some way prove to God we are worthy to receive His blessing. An ‘unnatural and religious’ fear of God may seem appropriate to some, but is rooted in self effort and not in the completed work or grace of Christ.

Neither is our intimacy with God guaranteed simply because we are familiar with a particular way of celebrating The Lord’s Supper. In fact familiarity and ritual can sometimes stand in the way of intimacy. Expectant faith is always the essential ingredient of a vital relationship with God through Jesus (Hebrews 11:6).

God’s intended blessing through the Lord’s Supper is freely given and must be freely received with thanksgiving. His kingdom rule is marked by righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) where joy is that deep sense of well being that is the fruit of an abiding trust in what the Lord has already done for us. Kingdom joy is represented by the wine of the Lord’s Supper. 

God is a joyful happy God who enjoys celebrating! (Sadly many have a picture of God as still angry with mankind despite the fact that it was poured out and exhausted on Christ at the cross!)

He has often put a celebratory stamp on His dealings with us. For example, the Day of Pentecost in the New Testament speaks of an outbreak of joyful abandon as the Holy Spirit was poured out on receptive and yielded disciples. This was no somber religious moment; rather a time where so much blessing flowed into and through their hearts that the onlookers thought the disciples were ‘drunk’ (Acts 2: 12-21)!  It was in fact totally different to the first Pentecost at Mt Sinai, fifty days after the first Passover in the Wilderness when the Israelites received the Law. That fateful day three thousand died, whereas Pentecost in the New Testament saw three thousand come to the Lord in joyful salvation! Whereas the letter kills, the Spirit now gives life! This ought to be the focus of our celebration.

The ‘new wine’ of God’s freedom in Christ still perplexes many. Even Jesus’ first miracle where He turned water into wine at a wedding feast shows that God is in fact pro joyful celebrations. He is not sour but sweet. Who are we to turn The Lord’s Supper into a time where we focus on our shortcomings instead of His majesty and perfection? When we focus on our imperfections we take the focus off the very one who is able to change us from glory to glory.

Moreover, the ‘cup’ of communion is described as the ‘cup of blessing’ (1 Corinthians 10:16). It is not a cup of cursing, but a cup that signifies an overflowing, ‘more than enough’ blessing. Let us therefore purpose to open our hearts to God’s intended blessing through The Lord’s Supper, something that can be enjoyed both at home and ‘in church’.

Exodus 12:3-4

‘On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.

 John 1:29

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

 1 Corinthians 5:7

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

1 Peter 1:18-20

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

When God does something He does it well. This is magnificently illustrated in the glorious fulfillment in Christ of the Passover Lamb. Moses had given clear instructions about the sacrificial lamb to be slain at that historical first Passover meal. The Passover Feast was powerfully instituted at the time of the Israelites miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage after four hundred and thirty years.

Animal sacrifice may not be your ‘cup of tea’ and in fact it was never God’s either (Isaiah 1:11)! Yet, because of His consuming love for us, He sent His only Son to be the fulfillment of Passover sacrificial lamb offered up for our sakes.

Consider the following comparisons between the lamb of sacrifice in Moses time from Exodus 12:1-51 and the dramatic fulfillment of this covenant meal in Jesus Christ the ‘lamb of God’.

Vs 3 – It was to be a lamb, and Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).

Vs 5 – The lamb was to be a male of the first year, mature and in its prime. Christ was mature at age thirty (Numbers 4:3) and was offered up as the supreme sacrifice in His prime (Luke 3:23).

Vs 5 – The lamb was to be without blemish which speaks of Jesus’ purity – a lamb without spot (1 Peter 1:19).

Vs 3, 6 – The lamb was set apart for four days. Jesus entered Jerusalem four days before The Passover Feast (Matthew 21:1-10).

Vs 6-9 – The lamb was to be slain at twilight. Jesus died at three in the afternoon or twilight according to Jewish time (Matthew 27:46).

Vs 21 – The elders picked out the lambs for themselves. Jesus was put up for trial by the elders of the day (John 18:3).

Vs 46 – No bones of the lamb were to be broken. Jesus did not have His bones broken when he was crucified (John 19:33-36).

There is no doubt that Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God slain for us at the cross for our salvation or wholeness: spirit, soul and body.

God’s choice of a lamb as the animal for sacrifice speaks of Christ’s meekness and innocence. This was something that the farmers and animal herders of the day would understand. Jesus laid down His life for us on purpose. He was dependent on and fully submitted to His Heavenly Father’s leadership and chose to drink of the cup of suffering without trying to defend His position.

 Isaiah 53:7

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

He was victimized so that we might become victors. God has eternally confounded the wisdom of man with His seeming ‘foolishness’ in dying as the lamb on the cross. Through this apparent helpless situation and defeat, great victory has come for all who will humble themselves to receive Him (John 1:12). Through death, Jesus conquered him who had the power of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The Spotless Lamb

For the Passover sacrifice to satisfy God’s demands it had to be perfect. That is why Jesus was intensively inspected in His ministry.

First, he was inspected (tempted) by satan at the start of His three and half year ministry. Then time and gain the religious people of His day tried to find fault with Him and His mission. Then third, Jesus was subjected to six or seven distinct inspections depending on whether you count Pilate’s dealings with Jesus as one or two events.

Consider the following inspections that Jesus ‘passed’ in His last hours before the crucifixion.

1. King Herod admitted that Jesus was without blame (Luke 23:13-15).

2. Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest (Caiaphas) obviously found no fault with Jesus as he passed Him on to son-in-law (John 18:12-14, 24).

3. Caiaphas, the high priest, then inspected Jesus and no fault was found in the spotless lamb (John 18).

4. Pilate, a gentile, examined Jesus also and on two occasions declared that he could find “no fault” in Jesus (John 18:28-38 and John 19:4).

5. The centurion assigned to Jesus’ crucifixion scrutinized Jesus and concluded that He was truly the “Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

6. Even the thief on the cross had the sense in the end to conclude that Jesus had done nothing wrong (Luke 23:40-42).

Every single inspection resulted in a confession of Jesus’ innocence as the spotless Lamb of God. God made Jesus who knew no sin to be made sin for us in a great spiritual exchange.

We were guilty and deserving of judgment, whereas Jesus was perfectly righteous, yet it was God’s plan to satisfy the claims of justice in the eternal courts of heaven by sending Him to the cross on our behalf. We (the guilty) are now saved by Jesus (the innocent) in the greatest act of love which we celebrate at The Lord’s Supper.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

On the cross, Jesus supreme act of sacrifice on our behalf accomplished both the removal of our sins and the impartation of His righteousness to us. It was dramatic two way transfer.

With this one act Jesus also fulfilled all the five offerings required under the Levitical law, which historically were ‘shadows’ pointing to His perfect offering made ‘once and for all’ (Hebrews 9:12). Here we focus on two only sacrifices: the ‘sin’ and ‘burnt’ offering (Leviticus 1-4).

First, the sinner was to bring his ‘sin offering’ to the priest to be inspected for any blemish. The sinner was to lay his hands on the animal (a bull if the whole nation sinned, a male kid / lamb if a ruler sinned, and a female kid / lamb or two turtle doves if a commoner sinned) and the animal was sacrificed.

 Identification And Access

This act of identification meant that the sin of the offerer was transferred to the lamb and the innocence (or righteousness) of the lamb was transferred to the offerer. At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the focus was to be on the fact that sin had now been atoned for, and that all that remained was the imputed or transferred righteousness. The ‘price for sin’ had been paid and God’s justice satisfied.

The other main offering called the ‘burnt offering’ (Leviticus 1:9) also involved a sacrifice of an unblemished animal that resulted in the transfer of God’s favor by means of the sacrifice on the altar. Here the emphasis was on the righteousness being transferred towards the person in question. This offering was like a ‘sweet aroma’ to the Lord, and signified acceptance into the His presence. The sin offering, you might say, took away the negative, while the burnt offering brought the plus to the recipient.

Today we not only have forgiveness of sin, but also righteousness or right standing with God at His right hand in Christ. We have access to the Lord’s presence through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice alone, and not through our efforts or ‘self righteousness’.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

You and I have a responsibility to stay free. Jesus sets you free with His power, so that you can walk free and stay free. It is your responsibility to take hold of what you have been given, and resist becoming entangled again in bondage. In this chapter learn how to stay on track and maintain the liberty you have in Christ. The Bible teaches that you have to resist the devil. God will not do it for you. Yes, He will help you stand your ground. But you have to resist the devil for yourself.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7-8

Why will the devil flee as in terror from you? You have the risen Christ living in you, and He is greater than the devil! When you speak His Word, the devil sees and hears Jesus coming through you, and this frightens him! The Holy Spirit in you is greater than the devil. Be sure not to talk up the devil’s power. The only power he has is the power he convinces you he has.

The Highway of Holiness

God’s pathway or the ‘Highway of Holiness’ is not set aside for some special holy men, but for all New Testament believers. We are called as a holy nation, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), and God’s protection and provision is found on this Highway.

A highway shall be there, and a road,

And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness .

The unclean shall not pass over it,

But it shall be for others.

Whoever walks the road, although a fool,

Shall not go astray.

No lion shall be there,

Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;

It shall not be found there.

But the redeemed shall walk there, Isaiah 35:8-9

Though you and I may act foolishly at times, and even consider ourselves to be simple, because God is in our lives, we can walk tall and safely on His ancient pathway.

How to Stay on Track

You may start well with all good intentions, and that is good. However, we live in a world that will distract us from the straight and narrow path if we let it. Ponder the following pointers in order to stay on track.

Forever remember God’s benefits.    

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness

and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5

God wants you enjoy the daily load of benefits he has for you. Forgiveness, healing, redemption, mercy, good things are all yours in what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Exalt His grace above all the negativity in your life. He has taken you from minus to plus. Walk in the plus zone!

Fellowship regularly with your God.

You and I were created for healthy open fellowship with God. Sin entered in and spoilt that closeness when Adam sinned. But, thank God, Jesus came to reestablish close fellowship. The bible teaches that you can get as close to God as you want.

When you sin as a Christian, close fellowship is broken, but not your relationship with God. The accuser (the devil)will exploit this situation and try to heap guilt and shame on you, if you let him.

Be prepared to admit to God that, at times you have missed the mark and sinned. At the same time, reassert your faith in His righteousness in you as His gift. When you do, you walk in the light, are forgiven and even ‘cleansed’ from any tainting that came through the sin. This speaks of your conscience.

I believe God gives you a lot of room to grow. Not that He is slack and to be taken as the “Big Easy” who lets anything go. He knows and identifies with your infirmities, (Jesus faced temptation too), and so gives you ‘room’ to make mistakes as you grow. Of course He does not want you to take advantage of His grace and use it as a ‘license to sin’. On the contrary he wants His grace to be seen as a license to grow out of sinful habits. Otherwise you will be so tight and when you do slip up, as you are sure to do, you won’t spiral into despair and unnecessary guilt because you have done it again!

Think of the Corinthian Church, riddled with partisan strife, immorality, lawsuits, holding disorderly church and communion services, yet Paul describes them as still in the ‘church’ and ‘called to be saints’ (1 Corinthians 1:1-5).

He was ‘cultivating’ their faith by bringing to them sound doctrine, rebuke, correction and instruction all rolled into one letter. He called them brothers as they were still accepted in the beloved, and part of the body of Christ. Their position and calling was secure, even though their practice and conduct was shaky.

This speaks to me that God is well aware that you still fall short on the journey, and the grace, mercy and forgiveness that got you saved in the first place, will keep you saved.

Forget looking behind you.    

“Do not remember the former things,

Nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19

You have parted company with the devil, and now walk with God. Be forward looking. He has a future and a hope for you, not a past! Paul had to forget his religious past where he done much harm as an accomplice to murder, (Acts 8:1), and press on. He now based his life on God’s forgiveness and mercy, and refused to wallow in regret and self-pity. He was now moved by conviction, not convenience, circumstance or comfort! You don’t have to pay penance for past sins, only persevere in God’s new purposes.

Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit            

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:14-15

You don’t want to get ahead of God. Let Him lead you by His Spirit. Avoid pressing ahead in presumption without fully pursuing His perspective on things. It is what you learn after you think you have a handle on something that really counts. Let something settle before moving out. He will never lead you back into bondage. However, the enemy will take advantage of your zeal and subtlety position you for a fall if you are not safely behind the Lord’s leading.

Flow together in with others of ‘like faith’.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

One of the key reasons why the early church was so vibrant was because they understood the value of sticking together under God’s local covering apostolic fellowship. Today, people are often so casual about the church they engage with. The life that flows into you through your fellowship ought to be healthy. When you need to turn to someone to help you carry a load, you had better be amongst your own company of like-minded believers.

Finish the race.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Paul had to fight and keep the faith in order to finish his race. The enemy tried to distract, discourage and deceive him along the way. He learnt that the circumstances he faced that seemed to overwhelm him were never bigger than God’s grace.

Realize that the good work God has begun in you He will see to completion, and whatever He does is forever. All else is subject to change. The devil is liar, and God is always truthful. He will keep you on track as you listen to His voice and wait upon Him to strengthen you on the journey.

There is a price to pay to finish the race. God will take from you only that which holds you back. In turn, He will always give you what you need to prosper on your journey. He is faithful and has never let anyone down yet.

As you grow in the Lord, remember that things take time to play out. There are seasons, and the word has to be sown in good soil and watered before reaping season follows.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:7-9

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing to the finish. Wait on the Lord, minister to Him in praise and worship and let His strength become yours so that you can finish the race and enjoy His abundant life and the way!

Psalm 2:1-3

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces And cast away their cords from us.”

Psalm 149 speaks of the authority and honor that saints have in the field of praise and worship. This has everything to do with spiritual warfare! Their joyful song of praise executes ‘vengeance’ on the nations and ‘binds’ their kings with chains. Their nobles are also restrained with fetters of iron. This speaks of the powerful and significant consequence of a lifestyle of praise and worship!

Psalm 149:5-9

Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment– This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

In the same way that satanic music and song looses demonic influence in people, Godly music and song binds the work of the enemy! Praise and worship, alongside prayer and the preaching of God’s Word (the ‘two-edged sword) is central in spiritual warfare. When believers are weak in their praise, the enemy is more at liberty to move in their lives. But when the high praises of God resound with great rejoicing, the enemy is bound!

I believe this is one of the keys of the kingdom that Jesus spoke of to Peter when God had shown him Jesus’ true identity. When we get a revelation of Jesus true identity and nature, our praises will also bind the enemy. Make it your practice to fill your dwelling with praise music and song. Sing praises to God as you go about your daily doings at home and even at work where you can. You invoke God’s presence as you do, and run off the enemy too.

Matthew 16:16-19

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Keys speak of authority, and when you praise God you exercise authority over evil.

The challenge must be met whilst facing or staring down the opposition. Whatever it is that is standing in the way of fulfilling your calling, it has to be faced and defeated. No use coming to the end without finishing what was started. So fight.

Here are some questions you must answer for yourself to make any progress in the face of everything that may stand in your way.

• What is it that you are absolutely committed to stand by against all odds?

• What must still be clarified in your thinking?

• What next step must you take to avoid staying stuck?

• Who is it that you must connect with to move forward?

• What promise are you standing on to see you through?

• Why will it worth it all at the end?

Get past these and you are well on the way to fulfillment in the face of…

Blessings,

Ed

Introduction 

When I was in high school I always wanted to know how the particular math problem I was grappling with fitted into the ‘big picture’. I never had the reasons behind the operations explained to me, at least that I remember, and consequently my understanding was limited. Do you feel that way with the things that happen to you as a Christian? Where do all the dealings of God fit in? Where is all this leading?           

In this article we examine some of the ways of God with man with a view to learning how to cooperate with the Lord in what He is trying to do in our lives in a particular season. If we do not recognize what He is trying to do at any particular time, we may be found resisting His purposes in ignorance and miss out on His ultimate blessings and purpose. God is the God of purpose, working all that he does according to a strategy and timetable. The secret is to learn what He is doing at any particular time, and not tire ourselves trying to get Him to fit into and bless what we are doing!

The call, the fall and the recall!

Mankind was called to rule and reign on the earth as God’s under regent, having dominion over the creation. (Gen 1:26) However when Adam yielded to temptation, mankind fell and so the great recall to dominion status was set in motion by God to restore us back to our rightful and intended position in Him. This process has lasted at least 6000 years and will see its final outworking when Christ returns and the final ‘wrap up’ to this episode of human history occurs. What God is doing on the micro-scale in our individual lives fits into His grand macro-scheme of restoring mankind back to rulership on this planet under His loving guidance and governorship. (Acts 3:21) In case you are not convinced about the call to rule and reign check out the word in Matt 16:19 / Psalm 8:6-8 / Psalm 115:16 and Rom 5:17. They all point to the fact that God has ordained for us to rule and reign.

The question becomes then, over what or whom, when and how?Unfortunately we see all around us the perversion of this mandate and so are largely confused if our minds are not yet renewed to the will of God as revealed in His word. When God’s purposes are not understood, abuse is inevitable. People are being dominating or trying to dominate one another all the time, instead of serving one another. The dominion we are to have is over sin, selfish appetites and the devil, but never over one another.            

Christ came amongst other things to teach us to serve rather than manipulate and dominate. It is in serving that we learn the key to ruling and reigning. All things belong to God to whom we have to give an account. There is going to be an end to all things where God will judge everything we have done according His measurements and not ours. Once again life is not trying to get God to fit into our scheme of things but rather discovering where we fit into His scheme of things. His invitation to become like Him in service ought to be taken seriously as it has consequences both now and forever. If we serve ourselves then the benefit is short-lived. If we serve God, the rewards are eternal.Remember God builds from small to large. If we show ourselves faithful to serve in small things, then we can go to the next level. As a wise master teacher, God will not graduate us to the next level before we master the level we are on. He is not into statistics, but committed to producing Christlikeness in His subjects. All that happens to us fits into the framework of producing conformity to the image of Christ. Of course we have to qualify by our love for Him. We cannot expect difficult circumstances to work out when we are not cooperating with God according to His plans and purposes. 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.   Romans 8:28-29 

4 key elements            

In the process of restoring us back to rulership God uses a training and preparation time that involves four key elements: ·         Relationship through intimacy·         Character building through testing·         Gifting and empowerment·         Production and reproduction. At any one point in time God may be focusing on one or more of these aspects. Our responses to the dealings of God will either help or hinder the fulfillment of our destiny. God expects us to respond in faith to His friendly disposition towards us. We must also remain committed to His essential goodness if we are to avoid questioning Him when we come under pressure.           

God begins with relationship. He invites us into a deeper and deeper relationship with Him. First of all we have to accept Christ as savior and Lord. Then through continuing fellowship with Him we grow in our experiential knowledge of Him. This takes place in regular study of the word, prayer and worship, whilst joining together with other Christians in common kingdom endeavor.           

God is ever speaking to us to ‘come up hither’ to where He is. When in His presence we partake of His nature, are transformed as we gaze on Him and empowered to go back ‘out’ and serve our fellow man in need. It is in the going that character needs to be built into us. Being properly related to God through Christ is no guarantee that we will manifest His nature at all times especially when under pressure. It is in times of testing that we have our faith refined and proved genuine. It takes both the pressure of the convicting word and circumstance to stamp His image on our hearts.           

A word of wisdom. We need to discern whether we or the devil have generated a particular adverse circumstantial storm. In both these cases we are called upon to do something about it. Either repent or take authority over the enemy in the name of Jesus. If we don’t we can languish under a heavy burden. However, if we are in place of proving that is in God’s overall training program, we have to discern what it’s all about and learn the lesson and pass the test. If we fight it, we could be blowing bubbles into a proverbial thunderstorm! 

Working in us to work through us            

Before God can work through us He has to work in us. That is why he develops relationship through both nurturing and feeding as well as allowing us to get into situations where this relationship will be tested. In circumstances like these we may feel that God is far, but if we are to learn to stand in faith and be faithful to His purposes, we have to learn not to trust in feelings and what we can see in the natural realm. The God -kind of faith does not rely on circumstance to chart its course. No, it relies only on the word of God. The word working in our lives will bring about the necessary change that will open our capacity for God to deposit more of His ability to function according to His purposes.

Character enables us to ‘contain’ God’s gifting for proper use. His gifts are like weapons that can either damage the enemy or us. Character will ensure that the power of God is always properly directed at the enemy. God’s nature and gifting is imparted to us through relationship. (2 Pet 1:2-4 / 2 Cor 3:18). His gifts are given without repentance. He doesn’t take them away from us the moment we slip up. However the fact that we get to keep the gifts is no guarantee that we won’t misuse them. Take being filled with the Spirit for example. A person trusts God and is filled with the Spirit and begins to enjoy the newfound power in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the course of time he may yield to some form of pride in the use of his gifts and hurt others in the process. Does God take the gift away? No. However pride lands the individual in trouble with his fellow members and God is presented with an opportunity to build Christlikeness into his character. If the individual responds to God’s correction positively, he will partake more of God’s nature and power. This process will further equip the individual to reproduce after his own kind. This time his fruit will be that much sweeter having learnt the painful lesson on the way.           

Zeal can often be misplaced. The zeal we have to use our gifts and talents to change others, ought first to be directed on ourselves. When we are changed then we can reach out and touch others and give them such as we have. In this way we impart life and not legalistic formula. Knowledge gained from our own experience has a greater capacity for changing others than mere intellectual assent. When God wants to impact our public ministry, He works in our private lives, giveing us the opportunity to put it into practice at home what we need to minister in public.           

Our function is to develop and maintain a consistent ministry to the Lord, one another and to the lost. This has to be nurtured against opposition, as this is a fallen world we live in. We have to gain dominion over our own flesh first before we can seriously expect others to gain it over theirs. The principle: ‘you reproduce after your own kind’ is God’s idea. He is endeavoring to develop a Christlike character in our lives first, so that our witness consistently brings glory to Him. 

Christ and Israel as examples             

At the tender age of twelve God had already established an enduring relationship with His son as a caring and providing Father. He then developed character in Him as Jesus in His humanity learnt to submit to the imperfect authority of Mary and Joseph. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit later followed as God released Jesus into fruitful ministry but not before he was tested in the wilderness. He then set about establishing a relationship with his own disciples, later developing character in them, empowering them for service and then releasing to go into all the world to reproduce after their own kind. Of course there were some bumpy moments in that process with the disciples misunderstandings, doubts, betrayals and confusion. Jesus patience, love and commitment ensured that God’s purposes were ultimately fulfilled. All things did work out for Jesus! This can happen for us too, if we submit to His dealings and yield to the training that is needed to bring us to a place of great fruitfulness.           

God’s invitation remains firm: be like me! But there’s much water that has to flow under the bridge before we can walk in the authority we are called to. ‘Between the call and the commission comes the college of life.’           

The history of Israel as they were led out of Egypt provides us with another example of this pattern. God first reestablished a covenant relationship with His people teaching them to see Him as a caring provider as they marched towards the Promised Land. The manna, water from the rock, cloud by day, fire by night, all proved His love for them. The problem arose when they came under pressure to possess the land. They failed to meet the character test as they refused to move forward on the word only. Instead they yielded to doubt and questioned God’s intentions saying that He had brought them this far only to kill them! Far from it. God remained committed to training up His covenant people to share in destiny. They were called to rule and reign over their own fleshly appetites, doubts, fears and inadequacies and were supposed to go straight into the land of promise killing giants all the way. Instead the first generation only knew His miraculous works of provision and protection, but not His ways of increase and fruitfulness! Fortunately, the second generation under Joshua did receive God’s power to take the land. Under Joshua’s leadership they fulfilled their destiny and became fruitful in their occupation of the promised land.            

Conclusion            

Understanding God’s ways equips us to cooperate with Him in the seasons he has established for growth. Spiritual growth need not be haphazard or accidental. God has a plan. Know it, recognize His dealings and flow with Him.

Dear Friends,

God is passionate about you, and wants to answer your every prayer. Problem is some of the prayers we pray are ‘off base’ and He cannot answer them. You see, all prayer must be in terms of what God has promised to answer. He has made a covenant that he is bound to honor, and if we step outside that covenant, it is as if we tie God’s hands.

Check out the following excerpt from my latest book entitled: “Where Heaven and Earth Meet”. This practical resource will set you on track with God so that you can have confidence that your prayers are being heard and answered.

Yours for the kingdom,

 Ed Horak

God’s Delight

As for the saints who are on the earth,‘They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.’  Psalm 16:3 

I will bless the LORD at all times;His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18 

God is totally consumed with us. We are all His delight, and His thoughts towards us have no limit. They are like the never ending sands on the seashore.

The big question is what is our response? Do we delight in Him as much as He delights in us? It is amazing that whereas we fall short of perfection, God stills finds all His delight in us. It stands to reason that if God is completely and utterly perfect and worthy of our total devotion, then why should we be distracted by anything else less worthy?

This speaks of lifestyle. When our lives are oriented to Him in prayer and worship, other things cannot get our attention and distract us from the greatest pursuit of life.

My prayer is that “Where Heaven and Earth Meet” will encourage you to fulfill the call on your life to put God and His will in the center of all your passion.

He gave His only begotten son to bring us to Himself and make our hearts His eternal home. He is looking for continued intimacy and is awaiting our response on a daily basis.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8 

Establishing a Lifestyle of Devotion

A lifestyle is that which is customary or characteristic. Does your devotion to God characterize your life or is it merely part of who you are and what you do? Are you satisfied with mere ‘devotions’, or are you ready for a journey where you cultivate a ‘lifestyle of devotion?’      

Our devotion to God ought not to be restricted to a particular place and time, say Sunday morning Church. Our relationship with God should find expression in any place at any time.     

Intimacy can be cultivated. Use “Where Heaven and Earth Meet” to establish a regular ‘practice’ of prayer, worship and intercession. Make entering into God’s presence a holy habit that spills over into your everyday living. When you do, you will begin to walk under an ‘open heaven’ wherever you go, and enjoy the benefits of continual fellowship with your loving Creator.      

Broaden your practice of prayer from the ‘formal’ moments when you pray, to the ‘informal’ continual unceasing awareness of God in Your life. As you practice abiding in Jesus, you will experience more and more of His abiding presence, comfort and wisdom in your daily walk. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 

The Power Twins: Word and the Spirit

I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:15-16 

God has given us the power twins of praying (and worshipping) ‘with the understanding’ – the Word, and ‘with the spirit’ – the Holy Spirit’s supernatural utterance in tongues. It is up to us to develop both these areas of prayer. Faith will arise as you yield to praying in both these ways. A good workman will know how and when to apply what is appropriate at any time. 

Praying with the Word

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 

When you use the prayers in the various focus areas of this “Where Heaven and Earth Meet”, you will be praying according to the Word. God’s word is the language of prayer, the medium of exchange in the relationship between God and His children. It is true that God’s people perish not for a lack of prayers but for a lack of knowledge of His will.  Most Christians pray, but even though they may be entirely sincere, their prayers are ‘off target’ at times because they are not based on the Word. The solution of course, is to get the Word solidly built into your heart so that it will come out in prayer, not matter the circumstance. When prayer is scriptural, God is put in remembrance of His covenant promises that He has made. It is these promises that He is committed to watching over to make them come to pass in your life as you stand in faith.            

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom… Colossians 3:16 

Praying with the Spirit

If you are unfamiliar with the present day supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit, and how it relates to prayer, at this point open your heart to what God wants to impart to you.  Check out the chapter on the Holy Spirit in Section C: Resources on page 68 to see from scripture God’s plan for empowering you with the Holy Spirit in a new way.

For those already familiar with the Holy Spirit’s supernatural utterance ministry in your life, be reminded that God expects us to cooperate and co-labor with the Holy Spirit in prayer. He wants not only to lead us in the areas that we are to pray for at any time, but also to give us the supernatural utterance in tongues to pray in areas and in a manner that goes way beyond our own resources. He wants to help us pray supernaturally.

Where Heaven and Earth Meet

The role we have to play. 

Your kingdom come.Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

 Where Heaven and Earth Meet

Heaven and earth meet when man’s petition intersects God’s provision.

Prayer is not some dutiful religious exercise to keep us busy, but a vital expression of a dynamic relationship with our Almighty Covenant Father in Heaven. He requires that we connect with Him in order to establish His kingdom and will on earth.

God’s desire is that prayer be a delightful, fulfilling and fruitful experience where we co-labor with Him to extend His kingdom on Earth. He has chosen us to go in His name under His divine direction and in His power to proclaim and demonstrate His goodness to a world that desperately needs heaven’s touch. Prayer is the foundation for a fruitful life and ministry. 

God has given both His Word and Spirit to help us connect with Him in fruitful prayer. We have to do the praying, and He does the helping! To be heard in Heaven we must pray on target. To be on target our prayer must be in accordance with His revealed will. 

Prayer is not reserved for the super spiritual either. Elijah was a man with like passions. He was just like us, yet his prayers had dramatic impact because of his faith. He was able to connect heaven and earth with his prayers. Like Elijah, we should always pray with expectancy that God will honor what He has promised!

Prayer has a Protocol and Pattern

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Matthew 6:5-9 

To enjoy prayer’s delight, we must align with the discipline of the Word. Jesus taught us that our prayer must be:

Spontaneous and sincere: ‘not like the hypocrites.’ This speaks of the motives of a pure heart.

• Specific: ‘do not use vain repetitions.’  This underscores the importance of believing when you pray. There is no need to nag or beg God for what He has promised.

• Scriptural: ‘in this manner.’  Here the manner of approach is highlighted. God is orderly in all that He does, and He expects us to be the same.

Prayer has a broad three-fold focus

The first focus in prayer is where we adore the Lord in our ‘devotions’ through prayers of worship, and also through music and singing of praise to God.

Second, God expects us to pray for our own personal needs to be met in ‘petitions’ according to the promises He has made in His Word.

Third, we are to offer prayer for the needs of others in ‘intercession’ and ‘supplication’.

All three prayer focuses are valid and necessary expressions of prayer, and the “Where Heaven and Earth Meet” seeks to provide you with the tools to build these into a balanced and Spirit led prayer lifestyle.