The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:6, “Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.”  There are two astonishing things here.  One is that the purpose of our salvation is for God to lavish the riches of His grace on us.  The other is that it will take Him forever to do it.  We have been made alive in Christ Jesus so that He could make us the beneficiaries of everlasting grace.  What a mighty thought!  Immediately, I call to mind the verse in II Corinthians 9:8 where Paul says, “He is able to make all grace abound to you.” 

Think about the great numbers of Christians going through tough times right now.  Many are dealing with job cutbacks, mortgage issues, downturns in investment portfolios, sales that are off 25 plus percent over last year, unexpected medical issues and bills, and, etc.  In the midst of these experiences and more, I am hearing about God’s peace and comfort abounding.  God is holding His people together when all around them, people are going under in a variety of ways.  

Where is the strength and favor coming from?  Grace–God showing favor and overflowing resources for His own.  God is giving His grace–an inexhaustible fountain of replenishing life, power and joy.  It is what God gives us to get us through. 

His grace appears to everyone (Titus 2:11).  His grace saves us (Ephesians 2:8).  His grace is enough for us (II Cor. 12:9).  We shouldn’t even try to live apart from the grace He’s made available to us (II Cor. 6:1).  The refusal to intentionally draw upon God’s grace in tough times can result in a defiling bitterness (Hebrews 12:15). His grace is eternal (Eph. 2:6-7).

There’s no doubt about it–God’s grace is sustaining, nourishing, intercepting, get-you-through-the-thing-you’re-going-through grace.  And, it’s available to everyone through Jesus Christ. 

We flat out should not try to get through life and deal with life’s problems without the grace of God.  Why? It is by grace that we are saved, enabled to grow, and are sustained.  It is the source and storehouse of all that we need, not only to get through life’s challenges, but to prosper in an ever-increasing fruitful and faithful walk with Christ Jesus. 

Prayer Du Jour: Lord, with Moses we cry out, “I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!” (Exodus 33:18) May Your initial response be, here is My glory: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious,” (Exodus 33:19) and may we be counted among them!  -Amen.

Stan Parker 

In Philippians 1:25 Paul writes, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy.”  Paul says, my goal is your progress and joy.  The word he uses for progress carries the idea of blazing a trail in uncharted territory.  God is always wanting us to move forward into fresh spiritual territory because He is concerned about what He can do in us that will enable and empower us to reflect His Son.  Regardless of whether we’ve known Jesus Christ for months or years, there’s still progress to be made in our walk in Him.  Think about how exciting that is!  Christ Jesus wants to engage us and support us in enlarging our territory of spiritual growth.  His call is a call to a never-ceasing adventure. 

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that it can get hard doing this day-after-month-after-year!  But as we stay in there and determine to keep doing what He longs to bless, our joy quotient stays high and our impact on others is winsome. 

What does it take to break new ground or to rekindle a fire in living for Jesus Christ?

(1) Rediscover Your Passion For Him.  There is no substitute for passion.  It is fuel for the will.  A fire in your heart will lift everything in your life.  Sociologist Tony Campolo has observed, “We are caught up at a particular stage in our national ethos in which we’re becoming emotionally dead as people.  We don’t sing, we don’t dance, we don’t even commit sin with much enthusiasm.”  If passion is not a quality in our walk with christ, we’re in trouble as a Christian.  We won’t break new ground spiritually unless a fire for God’s heart and Truth is burning in us.  If you’ve lost your fire, get around some people of passion, some people with a fire in their pursuit of Christ.  Perhaps the real place to begin is by simply taking your spiritual temperature.  Does your fire (heart, life, actions) for God show? 

(2) Become Unreasonable.  Refuse to accept things as they are; push yourself and work diligently for the way things ought to be in your walk with the Lord.  Far too many Christians have begun to rationalize the failure in themselves, their leaders, and their Christian peers.  Create high expectations for yourself as a Christian, and become the example for your family and church peers. 

(3) Take Godly Pride In The Profession Of Your Faith.  It is a great time for Christians to stand up for their faith and claim their role as contributors to Kingdom growth.  As long as we are content with mediocrity, our ability to be shakers and movers for Truth will never manifest.  Without Truth a lost world will not trust a loving God.  We are the bearers of His Truth.  Paul writes again, “How can they hear without someone telling them…? (Romans 10:14). 

Let us accept the challenge to divine daring, to consecrated recklessness for Christ, to devout adventure in the face of our postmodern contemporaries.  After all, we are called to be committed to excellence as disciples of Jesus Christ.  So, let us examine ourselves anew.  Let us start with fresh determination to speak and live relevant, authentic, and congruous Christian lives.  

Prayer Du Jour:  Lord, awake us to the need of this time.  Re-focus us on your sufficiency for all peoples.  Enable us to progress in our walk with you and to do so with a contagious joy. -Amen.

Stan Parker

The Apostle Paul asked the folks at Galatia, “What has happened to all your joy?” (Galatians 4:15).  He encouraged the folks at Thessalonica to “be joyful always” (1 Thes. 5:16).  He admonished the folks at Rome to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction” (Romans 12:12).  Most of us have known people who have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go.  They seem to understand that a joy that’s shared is a joy made at least double! 

As hard as it may be to accept, joy is a personal choice.  I’ll be the first to admit that I am not happy with the fact that the reason I don’t have joy sometimes is because I’m not choosing it.  The good news is that our joy meter can be made high in and through the person of Jesus Christ Himself. 

To choose joy everyday, we must hold fast to Jesus Christ.  Keep depending on and trusting Him.  Here’s a great question to think about:  “Do you still lean on Jesus as completely as you did when you first came to Him?”  “Are your steps with the Lord steps of dependence and faith?”  If there is uncertainty ahead or obstacles you need to conquer right now, joy is available in the challenges as we come to the Lord Jesus Christ and say, “I can’t do this on my own.  You can do this through me.  Please give me Your joy.”

When I stop trying so hard in my own strength and move back into that dependent, Christ-centered approach to life, my joy meter starts moving on up.  It’ll make you feel like dancing!  Well, shouting either loudly or softly, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence!” (Psalm 16:11).

Prayer Du Jour:  Gracious Lord.  Help us to so walk in Your presence that our hearts burst with joy.  May our joy shine such that those in sadness may find their sorrow lifted, if only for a moment.  Amen.

Stan Parker

Worry does to the human spirit what pouring sugar into a gas tank can do and what a virus to your computer will do.  What Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 is true.  “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Too many times I wake up in the middle of the night anxious about this or that.  Too many times during a week I get overly worried about this or that.  Been there?  We too often allow baggage from yesterday and worries about tomorrow weigh heavily on our mind. 

In the verse above, Jesus is telling us in effect that we can’t carry the weight of the past, that’s what forgiveness is for.  We can’t carry all the uncertainties of tomorrow, that’s what faith is for; we must focus on today.  In other words, Jesus is saying, “Let’s deal with what you can handle.”  Everything gets sideways when we’re all caught up in anxiety.  We were not fashioned for fear or worry.  Read Matthew 6:25-27, 33 to get the real deal, or see the process we were made for.

We were made to live today–“Sufficient for today is its own trouble”–to focus on the things we can affect, to work on the things we can improve, to deal with the things that are right in front of us.

When it comes to worry, God made us with limited capacity.  We are not to try to carry yesterday or an imagined tomorrow.  The Lord wants us to trust Him for today.

I love the words of the hymn When We Walk With The Lord.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!  Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

Prayer Du Jour:  Lord, help us with our tendency to worry, worry, worry. Help us to understand that prayer and worry are incompatible.  Remind us often to “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [our] requests be made known to [You]” (Phil. 4:6) -Amen.

 Stan Parker

I am convinced that most of the challenges that I deal with in life are related to people problems.  Sometimes I cause them.  Other times “they” cause them.   Often it is the combination of the two.  Jesus knew about people problems.  1 Peter 2:23 says, “When He was reviled, He did not revile in turn; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued to entrust Himself to Him who judges justly.” 

What one key thing can we learn from how Jesus faced people problems?

Let’s first think about how we naturally respond.  We usually become discouraged and a little bit angry.  Then we start down an all too familiar path.  We say to ourselves, I can’t take this anymore or I don’t have to take this anymore and we pull back from relationships.  We say things like no one will ever say/do things like that to me again.  I’ll just be distant from everyone.  I’ll just stay to myself and be lonely, but I won’t be hurt.  Well, Jesus certainly knew about that.  Most of us do too.

The solution?  Trust.  When something unexpected and difficult comes into our lives, get before the Lord Jesus Christ and pray, “Lord, I do not know why You have allowed this, but You are a good and faithful Lord and I trust You.  I believe that nothing comes into my life but for Your good purposes.  Lord, I want to find the good in this, and I want to bring glory to You in this situation.”   As quickly as you can get to that place of humble submission and say, “Lord, I trust You.”

Listen closely.  The gracious Lord who has helped us in the past three to ten trials we’ve gone through, will not abandon us on the fourth or eleventh!  He will never do that.  Our victory is in trusting God.  Read the above scripture again and notice the inference that Jesus often put conflict into the Father’s hands.  He was confident that the Heavenly Father knew what He was doing and that He [Jesus] could trust His [Father's] wisdom and involvement.  Doing so, Jesus could move on.  He was able to continue in victorious living.  Not once did He offer a rebuttal.  Instead, He absorbed the criticism and went on working His purpose.  He refused to become distracted.

Prayer Du Jour:  Lord Christ, help us to keep entrusting ourselves to You because You know all about ‘it’  [people problems] anyway! -Amen.

Dr. Stan Parker

I like that expression (read the title to this blog again).  When he said it a smile seemed to pour from his face and spill on everyone nearby.  It spilled onto me. 

Paul said in Galatians 5:16 and 22: “…walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.” 

Every good thing God wants to do in our lives today comes through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Everything:  the fruit of the Spirit, the understanding of God’s Word, love for worship, strength in a trial, grace to forgive, compassion for the lost, comfort in heartache, boldness in witnessing, power in ministry–all of these and more are ours when the Holy Spirit is in control.  However, when we resist the Holy Spirit, grieving and quenching Him, we can forfeit His filling and all of the good things that God wants to give us and do in and through us.  Moment by moment we should pray for the Spirit’s filling so we live and move in His power and strength and live lives reflecting the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here’s How To Do That:

ONE: Recognize the need for The Holy Spirit in your life.  Let God grow a desire in your heart for more and more of Himself.

TWO: Keep a current account with God.  You have to get serious about removing all hindrances to God in your life.  Get by yourself and ask God to reveal these hindrances to His fulness.  Pray, “Search me O God and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts! See if there is any grievous thing in me! Lead me in the way everlasting! “  Then ask Him to cleanse and forgive you.

THREE: Yield yourself completely to His purposes. 

Prayer Du Jour:  Lord, free our soul to sing!  ’Come Holy Spirit we need Thee.  Come sweet Spirit we pray.  Come in Your strength and power.  Come in Your own gentle way. -Amen.

Dr. Stan Parker 

It’s easy to imagine that pastors are spiritual superheroes soaring high above all normal earthly struggles.  But they are vulnerable people who, as Paul wrote, carry around the treasure of God’s ministry “in jars of clay” (2 Cor. 4:7).  Without the prayers of others a pastor is left to face spiritual conflict with human strength alone.  In 1 Thess. 5:25, Paul pleaded, “Brothers, pray for us.”  That is most likely the plea of of all church leaders. 

Think about what can happen when people pray for their pastor:

ONE: They Can Preach More Effectively.  I can attest to the fact that there is a vital connection between earnest prayer and potent preaching.  The Holy Spirit empowers the proclamation of God’s Word in an atmosphere of prayer.  Paul’s view on this can be found in Ephesians 6:19 where he says, “Pray… that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”    

TWO: They Can Hear From God More Clearly.  Jesus has said that He, the good Shepherd, “goes on ahead of [his sheep], and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice“  ( John 10:4).  There are many days when distractions will clog the spiritual ears of a pastor and they will have trouble hearing from the Shepherd.  Having people in the church committed to praying for you helps you to keep staying tuned in to His voice.   The Lord is faithful to release thoughts, Scriptures, and inner impressions to church leadership.  The prayers of the people in the church can ensure that these promptings are readily picked up and clearly understood as the leadership of the Shepherd’s voice. 

THREE: They Can Lead More Courageously.  We must pray for church leadership so they can confidently say, “When my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though an army beseige me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident” (Ps. 27:2-3).  Every pastor needs to be covered in prayer to face and address critical issues in a congregation with David-like courage.  I suggest you pray this Scripture over the church leadership and the ministries of the congregation where you attend: “God did not give us [the pastor, youth minister, elders, deacons, etc] a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

FOUR: They Can Stand More Firmly.  Satan’s strategy is to “strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Zech. 13:7).  He is constantly trying to seduce church leadership to abuse authority, misuse money and other resources, or be unfaithful to a spouse.  Why?  Because the ripple effect could be devasting to a church.  That’s what Satan wants to have happen.  A pastor cannot and should not face spiritual skirmishes alone.  You can pray that God will rescue the leadership in your church from the works of evil.  You can pray right now for divine protection and strength in the hour of their testing/s.  Just think, they could be going through a testing time right now as you read this blog post.  Why not pause and lift up your church leadership in prayer.

Always remember that the greatest gift you can give to your church leadership is your prayers. 

Prayer Du Jour:  Lord, may the prayers of Your people and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, enable pastors, staff ministers, and all church leadership to have victory in the battles they face. -Amen.

 Stan Parker 

When I was a young boy we would sing this song in Sunday School:

Stop!  And let me tell you what the Lord has done for me!  Stop!  And let me tell you what the Lord has done for me! He forgave my sins and He saved my soul!  He cleansed my heart and He made me whole, so… Stop!  And let me tell you what the Lord has done for me! 

I remember singing that song with such enthusiasm!

The Apostle Paul writes about what the Lord has done for us in Colossians 1:12-14.  In this section, Paul celebrates the work of the Lord in the lives of His people.  What work?  What has God done for us?

ONE: He has qualified us (made us sufficient) to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  Note:  By His grace, we have been qualified.  By the unconditional love of God we have received redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

TWO: He has rescued us (delivered and drawn us to Himself) from the dominion (control) of darkness and brought (transferred) us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.  James Stewart was a famed Scottish preacher, theologian, professor of New Testament at Edinburgh University, and chaplain to the Queen when she was in Scotland on holiday.  In his book A Man in Christ, he says this about Paul’s writing (Colossians 1: 12-14): Christ is the redeemed man’s new environment.  [We] have been lifted out of the cramping restrictions of [our] earthly lot into a totally different sphere of Christ.  [We] have been transplanted into a new soil and a new climate, and both soil and climate are Christ. 

THREE: He has given us redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  We should allow nothing to obscure this reality.  “In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins”  (Philippians 1:7).  “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103: 12).  Therefore, let us “Bless the Lord… and forget not all His benefits.  He forgives all our sins” (Psalm 103:1-3).

Prayer Du jour:  O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and king, the triumphs of His grace.  He breaks the pow’r of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.  -Amen!

Dr. Stan Parker

The new stats are in and the results are sad.  According to the Barna Survey of U.S. Adults (July 2008), the following say the Bible is Holy:

84% all U.S. adults

90% of women

78% of men

96% of Blacks

83% of Whites and Hispanics

54% of Asians

90% of those over 40

77% of those under 40

67% of those 18 to 23

38% of self-identified non-Christians

Perhaps the the Big Ten need a branding make-over?  Perhaps most congregations need to be re-minded of the importance of the Bible for their spiritual health?  Do we all need to be made aware that no matter where we are on our spiritual journey, nothing matters more to our continued growth–including church services, serving activities, small groups–than time spent in God’s Word?  I think most leadership within evangelical churches will concur that the single most important (effective) personal activity that is the strongest catalyst for spiritual growth is the Bible…  nothing beats the Bible.

Personal reflection on the meaning of Scripture is the single most important practice that is most predictive of spiritual growth.  Local pastors and church leaders can readily tell when the congregants are into the Word on a consistent daily basis.  Especially so when there is reflective Bible reading.  By reflection I mean one of thoughtful and careful deliberation versus skimming a Biblical passage or someone’s devotional writing.  Thoughtful, personal meditation will significantly catalyze our spiritual growth.  We cannot remain the same.

What are the barriers that keep us from reflection on the Holy Scriptures like we should?  Why do we not include reflection on Scripture in our daily routine?  Why do we consistently crowd out of our calendars this most beneficial practice that has extraordinary power to advance spiritual growth?

NUMBER ONE:  We just forget how beneficial it is.  When we see as God sees, we will do as God says. 

Let us be reminded that “We live in a world where we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” II Cor. 10:3-5.  How can we deal with the pollution that our culture and society has systematically impacted us with?  How can we ensure that ungodliness does not consume our thoughts, steal our focus away from the truth of God’s Word, and control our thinking?  By taking the time and energy to read, analyze, memorize, and personalyze the Scriptures (reflect upon our Bible reading), we consistently wash our minds with His Word, and we see our lives transformed.  The psalmist asks a pointed question to each of us in Psalm 119:9-11.  “How can [we] keep [our] way pure?  By living according to [God's] Word.  I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.  I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”   Daily Bible reflecton will benefit us personally in a couple of significant ways: (1) by modifying our behavior, and (2) by enabling us to react to life’s struggles, tensions, and trials based on the recall of Truth, not lies.

NUMBER TWO: We have lost the joy of getting into God’s Word and allowing it to get into us. 

How can this be?  We live at a time when there is no shortage of Bible study guides, devotionals, and other helpful products.  No creative juices have been spared when it comes to resources to unlock the mystery and power of God’s Word.  Bible reflection should not be like a treadmill of monotonous routine because of all the wonderful tools available to help us explore it.  Still, review the stats above.  Do we not need a fresh inspiration to start a new personal routine of reflection on Scripture?  I think so.  And the results will be enormous.  Kingdom benefits to you, to me, to those in congregations around the world, and to the members of society at large, will be significant.

“Into the Word and onto the world, this be our banner proudly unfurled.  Let all our strength ’gainst the foe be hurled, go in the power of the Spirit.  Into the Word His workmen to be.  Onto the world that Christ men may see; telling the Truth that from sin set free; take the Word to the world today!”  -Unknown Song Title and Writer (sang as a pre-teen in a youth choir in Kansas City, MO at the International Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene, early 1960s).

Stan Parker    

The election of the first African American President of the United States is making history. Barack Obama will turn his attention today from the jubilation of victory to the sobering challenge of leading a nation worried about economic crisis, two unfinished wars and global uncertainty.

There are certain things that the Christian community should be doing with fresh vigor now that the election results are in. We should read and practice Paul’s assignment given to Timothy when he was instructing him in matters of how to set in order the public worship of the assembly in Ephesus. In I Timothy 2:1 Paul begins a priority list of the elements that are to be emphasized. This is a relevant subject as we begin a new era in our nation. First, Paul lists public prayer–the people of God encountering God Himself on behalf of their fellow Christians and people around the world. Prayer, he says, is to receive emphasis when the community of believers gather [and should be an ongoing emphasis by the community of believers]. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.”

Prayer is put first for two simple reasons:

ONE… reason is prayer focuses people’s hearts and eyes on God right at the very beginning. This is what makes a church service different from the gathering of the local Rotary or any other secular group, God is recognized; He is declared to be in our midst. Let us begin this new era of leadership in our nation with prayer for the new President, for the members of Congress, and for State and local government leaders. Let us acknowledge the power, the grace, and the liberty that the presence of God imparts in unique ways to all those who will open their hearts and minds to His leadership. Let us pray that God will renew a right spirit within His church. Pray that His church will know Him and make Him known. Pray that His wisdom will be sought and that our nation may be instrumental in solving many of the problems of life.

TWO… prayer means that we place our own humanity in perspective. When a people will recognize the presence and power of God, then somehow human problems pale. We begin to see them in the right perspective. God and His world, what we are doing with our lives, who we are, how we are intended to function–all these and more begin to take on increased importance in our eyes, hearts and minds. We can see more clearly as a result of focused individual and community prayer.

Paul is telling young Timothy that when the people of God gather, their primary task is to focus upon the greatness, glory and grace of God. There they will see things in their proper perspective; there they will see solutions that were not seen before. There every heart will find the ministry of the presence, peace and power of God.

Prayer Du Jour: Lord, teach us to put the first thing first when we face new situations and when we gather as Your people: to come to You in prayer. -Amen.

Stan Parker