The Son of God, the Spirit of God, and the Father are all vitally connected in prayer. Brief glimpses into this heavenly mystery are revealed in scripture. And as we peel back the veil, we learn something of Jesus and the Holy Spirit praying to the Father. The prayerful correspondence within the God-head powerfully affects...
THE KINGDOM PROTOCOL
Thy kingdom come. Matthew 6:10 The kingdom of God is referenced seventy times in the New Testament. It is a dominant theme of Scripture. Praying for God’s kingdom to come, as Jesus instructed in the model prayer (see Matt. 6:10), recognizes a past kingdom and anticipates a future kingdom—and it accentuates a present kingdom. In the...
THE EXTRAORDINARY FATHER LIVES AND LEAVES A LEGACY
“When your son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son …” (Deuteronomy 6:20-21). The Extraordinary Father is a man who readily understands that a biblical legacy is not only his...
Why Should I Forgive?
I heard of a man who was bitten by a rabid dog. The attending doctor told him that rabies was not only incurable, it was also fatal. The physician recommended that the dying man get his house in order. Both shocked and silent, the patient just sat there. At length, the doomed man requested a...
INSTITUTIONAL CHURCHES vs. LIFE-GIVING FELLOWSHIPS
Institutional churches are organizations, not living organisms. Similar to Roman Catholicism; the emphasis is on buildings, hierarchy, polity, preserving traditions, and control. Typically there are key families, individuals, deacons, elders, or a preacher who functions as the “owner.” The goal is to maintain the institution’s place in the community, not advance God’s kingdom. Vital connection...
Bless Others, and Be Blessed in Return
Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. Ephesians 6:8 Have you heard of the law of the harvest? This law states that you reap what you sow; you reap more than you sow; and you reap later than you sow. Life is about sowing seed today and reaping the...