Thanksgiving requires a cultivated memory.  Forgetfulness is the fuel for ingratitude.  Remembering the ways and works of God in our lives excites profound gratitude and authentic faith.  Genuine gratitude spans beyond the immediate sight of food on the table or even the review of a decent year of life.  A thankful heart is captured by the active goodness of God in the entire course of one’s life – and throughout the history of the generations.

When Adults Forget – Children Suffer

Recently I meditated on Psalm 78, which tells the story of Israel’s history with the express purpose of counteracting spiritual rebellion and ingratitude.  The Psalmist reviews the profound punctuation of God’s patience, mercy, and goodness to a fickle and disobedient people.  The Psalmist writes, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done” (v. 4).  The passion of the Psalm is to stimulate a good memory of God’s works so that many generations to come would be grateful and faithful to God.

As the writer goes on to recount the detailed history of God’s goodness, he describes his purpose in these words: 

"That the generation to come might know them; the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children; That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.“ (Psalm 78:6-8)

Later in the Psalm, the writer describes these ungrateful ancestors by noting that they "forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them" (v. 11) and "they did not remember His power" (v. 42).

Forgetfulness Fosters a Faithless Heart

Clearly, forgetfulness fosters a faithless heart.  Psalm 106 presents a similar account of Israel’s history and the perils of forgetfulness.  Psalm 106:3 notes, "They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel," while v. 21 reiterates, "They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt."

I have often wondered about the ten lepers Jesus healed as described in Luke 17:11-19.  Only one Samaritan returned and fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus to give thanks.  What happened to the other nine?  Were they completely ungrateful for the miracle Jesus accomplished in their bodies?  On the other hand, were they just forgetful in the midst of the excitement of their newly endowed health?  I suppose they were both forgetful and ungrateful.  The two tend to go together.  Jesus said of the one who returned, “Your faith has made you well.” What could be said of the other nine?  We might conclude that in the midst of their miracle – forgetfulness resulted in faithlessness.

Cultivating Thanksgiving Memories

Every Thanksgiving we go around the table and do a fun exercise called “Alphabet Thanks.” We each take a successive letter of the alphabet and name something that starts with that letter, expressing thanks for that person or blessing.  Sometimes the expressions are very thoughtful, often a bit silly – depending on the letter.  This Thanksgiving, I would like to work harder on a more meaningful exercise of real remembrance of God’s goodness.

Here are some conversation starters for this year’s Thanksgiving gatherings as we reflect beyond the turkey, parades, and football games:

• What stories have you heard about God’s goodness to your parents and grandparents?
• Early in your life, how did you see God’s goodness and faithfulness to you?
• In the last ten years, what highlights do you recall as you think about God’s faithfulness to you?
• In the past year, what has God done to demonstrate His care and provision?
• When you think about other family members or friends, what stories come to mind about God’s goodness?

Keep Remembering

Psalm 103:2 tells us, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  All His benefits.  That exercise will cultivate a lot of gratitude.  This Thanksgiving, ask the Lord for a healthy, holy sense of memory.  Let that commitment spark rich gratitude for all that the Lord has done.

Imagine visiting your local zoo.  As you approach the camel pen you see a big sign: “Don’t eat the camels!”  You’d likely laugh out loud.  Who would ever try to eat a camel?  Yet, Jesus posts just such a sign on the Christian pathway to spiritual maturity.  It seems an odd warning – but let’s take a look at its indispensable message.

Imagine the absurdity of someone trying to swallow a camel in one big gulp.  Clearly, not smart.  Certainly impossible.  Probably deadly.  Yet often attempted by stalwart religious people, according to Jesus, who described the ultimate theologians of His day as those who “who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24)

His comment was probably a brief humorous illustration in the context of the most scathing sermon of His earthly ministry.  If you are feeling like you have some thick skin today, you can read the entire message in Matthew 23:13-36.  The common sermon title is “Eight Woes to the Religious Leaders.”  Our Lord preached it among a large crowd in the temple as He pronounced His judgment on the Jewish religious elite.  Some say it is in contrast to the eight blessings found in the Sermon on the Mount.  Preacher Jesus didn’t make any friends that day with his “woeful” sermon.

The sermon targets those who take great care to strain the small bugs out of their drinking water then turn around to gulp down a camel without even realizing the contradiction and hypocrisy of the experience.  We might call it a very bad case of spiritual myopia, packed with contradiction and leading to destruction.

Modern-Day Camel Swallowers

We’ve all seen camel swallowers in the church.  Maybe it’s an attendee who did not like a particular song in the service, then goes around slandering the music pastor and creating massive disharmony.  I’ve known people who want to go “deep” into the Scriptures and are critical of any teacher whose delivery doesn’t adequately meet their preferences.  Yet, in their own lives they tolerate sinful habits and consistently exhibit a caustic and unrestrained tongue.  I’ve heard stories of church leaders who create significant disunity within the leadership team over an issue of personal preference.  The examples could go on for miles.  The “Hall of Shame for Christian Camel-Eaters” is packed with ignoble examples.

Avoiding the Camel Choke

So how do we avoid choking our personal, family, and congregational vitality through camel swallowing?  As a pastor, I am responsible to encourage people to watch their dietary habits when it comes to gnats and camels.  As one who has a burden for the body of Christ in our nation, I hope we can have a diet revolution and learn to stay away from the camels.  As a follower of Christ, I pray for the personal wisdom to know and discern my own ways in order to please Christ and honor His character.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Learn to discern. There is a difference between a legalistic approach (creating false standards of spirituality, and then judging others by your preferential standard) and a truly biblical approach of personal discussion (vs. open criticism) with a loving attitude.  The only way to do this is to know the Scriptures enough to discern between myopia and maturity.

2. Check your motives.  Is your heart motivated by grace, coupled with a passion to edify others and build up the body?  Or is your approach simply a desire to control others (or even the direction of the church) through complaining and criticism?

3. Look in the mirror first.  It’s been said that the critic who begins with himself will have little time to take on outside contracts.  Are you careful to first evaluate your own heart, life, and words before launching your campaign against another brother or sister?

4. Invite accountability.  We can often get so caught up in the subjectivity of our thoughts and feelings that we can’t even see the camels we are feeding on.  Ask a truly godly, discerning, and courageous brother or sister to give you honest feedback about your behavior and words.  Then, be ready to humbly listen and accept responsibility for whatever they tell you.

5. Keep a clear conscience.  If you find out you’ve been gulping camels and have hurt other believers or a group of believers, demonstrate the sincerity of your self-evaluation and repentance by confessing it to the Lord and humbly seeking forgiveness from those you’ve hurt.

6. Remember eternity.  All camel-eaters will ultimately be exposed.  Eternity is a long time to live with the regret of a silly camel diet.

Let’s keep Jesus‘ warning about hypocrisy and myopia always in mind.  It helps underscore our own desire for spiritual authenticity.  It’s a great idea for parents raising their children in a spiritually confused world.  It is an essential principle for our dealings with one another.  It is crucial for church leaders. 

When asked, “How do you eat a camel?” I hope our answer will always be, “We don’t. It is no longer on the menu.” 

Some months ago I had the joy of preaching at an installation service for a dear friend of mine.  He is a young, up-and-coming pastor with great potential.  I spoke from 2 Timothy 4:5.  The message still captures my heart as follower of Christ and leader of His people.

This verse is Paul’s final admonition to Timothy, and the final advice of his life. (The remainder of this chapter involves a personal commentary of Paul’s faith and various reflections about a wide array of people.)  Shortly after he wrote this last section of his letter to Timothy, he was martyred and his earthly ministry was terminated.

We are all aware of the potency of a person’s “famous last words.”  We should be particularly attuned to the final words of unambiguous challenge from Paul to his “son in the faith” – and to each of us.

Paul wrote, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.“  Four ultimate concerns mark this passage and need to move our hearts.

Be Watchful

First, Paul says, “Be watchful in all things.” Other translations read, “Keep your head in all situations,” “Be sober in all things,” and “Keep control of yourself in all circumstances.”  It is the idea of keeping a clear mind in order to properly control your behavior.  Satan targets our minds with lies, doubts, condemnation, and temptation.  The world targets our minds with distorted values, lusts, and false gods.  Our flesh battles against a clear mind when we succumb to discouragement, fear, self-reliance, and pride.  The list goes on.  Paul learned, and so must we, that our primary concern is ourselves, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Endure

The second challenge says, “Endure afflictions.”  The Message says, “Accept the hard times along with the good,” while the New Living charges, “Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.”  Those who live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution.  At the end of Galatians, Paul’s ultimate mark of credibility resounded in these words: “Let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ."

The Bible places great value on “those who endure to the end” as a mark of real salvation.  We do not find “three easy steps” to avoiding affliction.  Instead, we are called to walk in His steps as we bear up under the pressure of suffering, with the result of becoming more like Christ, deeper in our character, and more fruitful in our lives of service.

Stay on Mission

Third, Paul calls Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.”  We say it so often: the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  Cultivating a constant burden for the lost and striving toward consistent witness keeps the heart in touch with the heart and mission of Jesus, who came to “seek and to save those who are lost.”  It is easy to get so absorbed in keeping the aquarium that we lose our passion to fish for men.

Finish!

Finally, Paul says, “Fulfill your ministry.”  We are told to perform our whole duty – to complete the ministry God has given us.  Someday when we get to Heaven we will be asked, “Did you fulfill the unique ministry I gave to YOU?”  We will not be responsible for living life in the pattern of some other person, or imitating another individual.  Rather, we will want to stand before the Savior and say, “I completed the special and unique ministry You entrusted just to me.”  What joy that will be!

So today, my friend, it comes down to these vital questions: Are you thinking clearly and biblically right now?  Are you keeping your eyes on Christ as you endure the disappointments and attacks of life?  Are you cultivating a burden and consistent witness to the lost?  Are you dialed in to what God has called YOU to do and seeking to stay focused on your specific race?  If so, Paul’s famous last words will bear fruit in your life for the good of others and the glory of Jesus.  When it is all said and done, this is what really matters.

While in college I memorized a poem by Walter D. Wintle that said:

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win but you think you can't,

It's almost certain you won't.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

While this poem may just sound like a dose of “Positive Mental Attitude,” we know Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that “as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  I find that those who live a victorious Christian life have certain patterns of thought that make the difference.

The Inward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Discipline Toward Praise

In a recent e-devotion, I taught on the idea of biblical self-talk (see http://strategicrenewal.com/_blog/Weekly_E-Devotional/post/Start_Talking_to_Yourself/).  With this concept in mind, I am reminded that an overcomer disciplines his internal conversation toward praise.  Discipline involves regulating your thinking and conduct by principle – not emotion, impulse, or circumstances.

We’ve observed the mental discipline David employed when he wrote, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (Psalm 42:5, 11 & 43:5).  Again in Psalm 103:1 & 2 he disciplined his thinking with these words: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

An overcoming life embraces the discipline of Philippians 4:8: “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things."

The Upward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Delight in Love

An overcomer also looks upward to the risen Christ and experiences a delight in His unfailing love.  He constantly rejoices in the source of an overcoming life – the victorious love of the Lord Jesus.

In Romans 8:35-39, Paul expressed this in such a powerful way:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Consistent victory in the Christian life is an expression of the security that comes in knowing that we are loved.  When children know they are loved, they live with a confident freedom to do what is right, focus on others, and follow their dreams.  The principle applies to spouses, friends, and employees.

1 John 4:18-19 assures us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us."

I always cherish those powerful moments in Prayer Summits when the Spirit leads us to the biblical theme of God’s love for us.  Often we take time to praise Christ for His love in words like, “I praise You, Lord Jesus, that you love me even when…” or “I praise You that You love me even if…” It is so empowering to know that we cannot do anything to cause Him to love us less or coerce Him to love us more.  He has set His love upon us because it is His character to do so.  That is security.  That is the delight of an overcoming heart.

The Outward Thoughts of an Overcomer: A Dedication to Faithful Impact

A victorious follower also looks outward at a needy world and rests in the truth of the indwelling, overcoming Christ.  His dedication to faithful impact is rooted in knowing that Christ is faithful to live in and through his abiding heart.

First Corinthians 15:57 & 58 inspires us, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  Second Corinthians 2:14 offers similar encouragement: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."

As an overcomer we must live in the firm faith that He will live through us to express His life and light in a broken and dark world.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)

Living in Unashamed Victory

So, as we look inward we discipline our thoughts toward praise.  As we look upward we delight in His overcoming love.  As we look outward we are dedicated to faithful impact, knowing Christ will live through us.

As a result we can walk in fellowship with Christ and one another, manifesting His victory and declaring an authentic message.  Enjoy this great reminder as we resolve to live a victorious and unashamed faith:

"The Fellowship of the Unashamed"

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear, for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). – (by Dr. Bob Moorehead)

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

Recently, I had the joy of preaching a message from Daniel 9:1-19, where we find a powerful, passionate prayer offered by Daniel on behalf of the people of Israel.  The 70 years of captivity were about to end and the Jews would have the opportunity to return to Jerusalem.  Daniel worshiped, confessed the sins of his people, and anguished over their spiritual condition.  He was more concerned with what would happen in their hearts than he was about the superficial issues of simply changing locations with their newfound freedom to return home.

Clearly, Daniel’s prayer is a model for all of us.  It is an example of the great need for spiritual anguish in our prayers.  As we look around our nation, and particularly at the spiritual condition of the body of Christ, there is much to be grateful for – but there is also much that should stir a sense of spiritual anguish, marked by fervent confession, pleas for God’s mercy, and longings for a restoration of His power and presence.

The Secrets of a Heart of Anguishing Prayer

Let us look briefly at this prayer of anguish and then allow our own hearts to sense the need for a similar pursuit in our prayers.

1.      Anguishing prayer is birthed from the truth of God’s word

We find that his reading of God’s word ignited Daniel’s prayer.  Daniel 9:2-3 tells us that he had been reading the prophet Jeremiah (probably the portions we identify as Jeremiah 25:11-12 & 29:10). As a result, he was aware that the 70 years was almost over.  His response was, “I set my face toward the Lord God…"

Even into his 80’s at this time, Daniel’s reading and deep understanding of God’s word led to deep and passionate prayer.  In fact, further study reveals that much of his prayer comes right out of the Scriptures.  There are allusions to Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Exodus, Psalms and, of course,  Jeremiah.  Throughout the prayer, Daniel referenced God’s “commandments” (verse 4), His “commandments and ordinances” (verse 5), the “prophets” (verse 6), God’s “teachings” (verse 10), God’s “Law” (verse 11), the “Law of Moses” (verses 11, 13), and God’s “truth” (verse 13).

John Piper tells how George Mueller said that for years he tried to pray without starting in the Bible in the morning.  Inevitably, his mind wandered.  Then he started with the Bible, and turned the Book into prayer as he read, and for 40 years he was able to stay focused and powerful in prayer.  Piper then notes, “I have seen that those whose prayers are most saturated with Scripture are generally most fervent and most effective in prayer.  And where the mind isn't brimming with the Bible, the heart is not generally brimming with prayer."

2.      Anguishing prayer is concerned with the honor of God’s name

Daniel’s petition is God-centered.  At least 19 times, he makes reference to God, while man is referenced approximately 11 times (mostly in the context of confession of sin).  In his prayer, Daniel speaks of God as the “great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy…“(9:4).  He tells of how God’s mighty hand exhibited His great name (9:15).  In verses 17-19  Daniel prays, “…for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine…the city which is called by Your name…because of Your great mercies…for Your own sake, my God…for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." Notice the God-oriented nature of the prayer – and Daniel’s passion for the glory of God’s name.  It was this desire that led to deep confession (vv. 4-15) and a prayer of great faith (16-19).

Too many times our anguish is simply over our own inconveniences and trials.  Thankfully, the Lord hears and cares.  However, our ultimate concern should be that of Daniel’s.  The fame and honor of God’s name is the deepest desire of a true Christ-follower.

3.      Anguishing prayer is sustained by a longing for God’s presence

I love Daniel’s resolve in the phrase, “…then I set my face toward the Lord God…“(v. 3).  As the English Standard Version says, “…seeking Him in prayer.”  This was a face-to-face pursuit, where Daniel resolves with sackcloth, ashes, and fasting to pursue the ultimate reality of a revival of God’s presence among His people.  That is why he prayed, “For the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate” (v. 17).  In verse 20, he noted that his prayer was ultimately “for the holy mountain of my God.”  This is a key to real anguish.  It is not satisfied with superficial progress of the religious program but desires nothing less than a full manifestation of God’s presence.

In Exodus 33:15-18 Moses exemplifies this same passion.  Even though God’s angel was going to lead them into the Promised Land, God said His intimate presence would not go with them.  Moses resolved, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."  Then he cried out, "Please, show me Your glory."

This is the same vision for our lives that Paul articulated when he wrote, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Real anguish is dissatisfied with anything less.

4.      Anguishing prayer is answered in accordance with God’s plan

Daniel 9:20-23 tells us of God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer of anguish.  The angel Gabriel was sent speedily from God’s presence to give Daniel “skill to understand” God’s plan (v.22) and to assure Daniel that he was loved by God (v. 23).  What ensues is the revelation of the “70 weeks” that would take place in the future as God restored Israel through the coming of the Messiah.  Ultimately, we must also know that His Spirit will minister to us out of our anguish to teach us that His plan and timing are always best and to assure us of His never-failing love.

Will We Anguish?

It is strange how we can have a passion for our nation in other categories, but often fail to agonize over the spiritual condition of our land.  We get excited about national sports, national news, national politics, and the national economy.  Yet our great need is a sense of anguish over our spiritual condition as a nation.  The greatest need in our nation is not better sports leagues, more political ideas, or even economic recovery.  The great need is spiritual revival.  So, how are we really anguishing about this?

I will never forget when this sense of anguish became so strong on my own heart that I felt compelled to leave the security of the pastorate in a very large local church and become a missionary by faith for the sake of spiritual renewal in our nation.  The elders at Grace Church graciously said, “You could stay here and our church could grow to 10,000 or more – or, you can go and ignite renewal in 10,000 pastors and congregations.  Which would have greater impact?”  Their support reflected a God-given sense of God’s anguish over our nation.  This anguish is something we all must feel at some level.  Then we must act by praying, serving, going, and giving.

Recently, I had the privilege of leading a prayer time at the national headquarters for Life Action Ministries in Buchannan, Michigan.  During one of our prayer sessions, we watched a video by David Wilkerson.  (As a side note, you can view it for yourself at http://tiny.cc/zIm1L.  I would URGE you to watch it and share it with others.)  Read an excerpt from that video, and let it touch your heart:

“Whatever happened to anguish in the house of God?  Whatever happened to anguish in the ministry?  It’s a word you don’t hear in this pampered age.  Anguish means, ‘extreme pain and distress – the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful.  Acute, deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about you, in you, or around you.’  Anguish – the sorrow and agony of God’s heart.  We’ve held on to our religious rhetoric and our revival talk.  But we’ve become so passive.  All true passion is birthed out of anguish.  All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish. You search the Scripture and you find that when God determined to recover a ruined situation, He would share His own anguish for what God saw happening to His people.  He would find a praying man and he would take that man and literally baptize him in anguish."

Praying for Anguishing Prayer

Even though I am now giving my life for the cause of spiritual awakening, I feel a longing for an increasing anguish over this calling and the spiritual needs of the American church.  My prayer is that you will share God’s heart at a deeper level for this same reality.

Let us pray for an anguish that is birthed from the truth of God’s word, concerned with the honor of God’s name, sustained by longing for God’s presence, and answered in accordance with God’s plan.  This is God’s invitation to live lives that really matter.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF FIRST TWITTER

First Twitter, written in 2009 by Pastor Daniel Henderson, is not inspired Scripture, although the author borrows heavily from the Bible.  Penned from seat 4B at 25,000 feet during a recent Delta Airlines flight, the epistle is short and eclectic, reflecting many familiar biblical themes.  The purpose of the book is to evoke fresh, heartfelt evaluation of the growing social networking tool known as Twitter.

The author acknowledges that Twitter is a very positive and powerful means for sharing updates and prayer requests.  He claims no particular expertise on the subject but expresses a concern for pure motives and Christ-honoring messages among the current barrage of “tweets.”  Since its creation, the epistle has not seen widespread circulation. The author simply wrote it with the intent of creating a tool to evaluate his own heart and helping others do the same.

SPECIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE EPISTLE

As you read this short epistle it is important that the application remain personal and not serve as a means by which to judge the tweets of others.  As one verse in the epistle says, “Therefore judge no tweets before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God."

INTERPRETIVE GUIDELINES

Theologians and critics (including only Henderson so far) who have evaluated this somewhat controversial epistle offer the following questions as a guideline for interpreting and applying the message of the Epistle of First Twitter:

·        What messages are my tweets conveying?

·        Why do I want to convey them?

·        What impact will they have?

·        What praise or reward am I seeking?

Finally, for those unfamiliar with the terms used in this epistle, we offer the following:

·        Twitter = A social networking tool to keep family, friends, and coworkers up-to-date on what an individual is doing by using an instant messenger service, the Web, as well as mobile texting, plus other venues.  Messages are limited to 140 characters, which is just enough for a quick update.

·        Tweet = a short message sent on Twitter.

·        RT = a “re-tweet,” when someone reposts a tweet sent by another person, passing it on to their followers as well.

·        Twitpic = a photograph of a person or event that is attached to a tweet and sent to followers.

THE BOOK OF FIRST TWITTER

Tweetverbs for Today

Do not send boastful tweets about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.  Let another man praise you, and not your own tweets; a stranger, and not your own mobile device.  (Adapted from Proverbs 27:1-2)

Every tweet of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. (Adapted from Proverbs 21:2)

Twitter on the Mount

Take heed that you do not tweet your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not tweet to all of your followers as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to tweet their prayers to all of their followers that they may be seen by men.  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, send a private text message to your friend as you pray to your Father who is in the secret  place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  (Adapted from Matthew 6:1-6)

The Pastor and the Backslider

Two men picked up their mobile devices to tweet, one a pastor and the other a backslidden Baptist.  The pastor composed a message and wrote thus with himself: “Praise God that I am not like other men — boring, inarticulate, and not well-traveled or even as this backslider.  I post twitpics twice a day; I give blessings to all those who follow me.”  And the backslider, hardly able to type, would not so much as post a pic, but trembled as he held his Blackberry, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a boring person.”  I tell you, this man went down to his office justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Adapted from Luke 18:10-14)

Rewards

But he is a Christian who is one inwardly; with messages that remain of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the Twitter world; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Adapted from Romans 2:29)

For we are God's fellow social networkers; you are God's followers (and ours), you are God's network.  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise social networker I have birthed the idea, and another comments on it.  But let each one take heed how he comments.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone responds to my tweets, it may be gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – each one's tweets will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's content, of what sort it is.  If anyone's tweets endure, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's tweets are burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (Adapted from 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

Do Not Judge

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any social network.  In fact, I do not even judge myself.  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge no tweets before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.  (Adapted from 1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

Comparing and Commending

Do we begin again to commend ourselves on Twitter? Or do we need, as some others, RT’s of commendation to you or RT’s of commendation from you?  You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered to by us, created not by tweets but by the Spirit of the living God, not on screens of mobile devices but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

For we dare not count our Twitter followers or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But "he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.  (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 10:12 & 18)

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson.  All rights reserved.

In part one of “Christians Gone Crazy” (last week’s devotion, found below) we considered the apparent frequency with which Christian people are caught doing crazy things that are anything but Christian.  Perhaps the rapid release of juicy stories via cable television, the Internet, and Twitter just give greater visibility to this behavior.  In any case, we evaluated the reasons for this behavior, seeking to do so with grace and honesty.

In this devotion, we want to consider the impact of these major missteps by fellow Christians as well as our response to these sad situations of moral malfunction.

What is the Impact of This Crazy Behavior?

It is good to prepare our minds with a survey of the consequences of ill-advised behaviors.  Just as Proverbs describes the tragic outcome of bad moral choices, so should we regularly consider the negative impact of our displays of disobedience.  This certainly encourages us to avoid the path of scandalous sin but also encourages praying for those who taste the bitter fruit of their spiritual failures.

Shame to Christ – The great tragedy of theses crazy escapades is the discredit they bring to the Savior’s holy name.  Christ’s reputation is tarnished and disgrace has marred the work He died to establish.  Some will use the bad behavior of believers to discount the claims of Christ.  As Nietzsche stated, “I would believe in your redeemer if you lived as if you were redeemed."

Delight for Satan – The enemy always rejoices when he can trip up or throw down a Christ-follower, knowing he has ultimately broken the heart of Jesus.  No one sets out to make Satan smile, but this is the true effect.

Shattered Relationships – Sin is described as the violation of a relationship – first with God, then with countless others who expressed confidence in the straying individual.  To wander into the weeds of wanton behavior always involves the choice to hurt and violate the trust of people who love us.

Painful Earthly Consequences – Of course, depending on the area of sin, there are various consequences.  Adultery can destroy a marriage and family.  White-collar crime lands a man in jail.  Drunk driving can result in fatal accidents.  Genuine sorrow may evoke forgiveness from the family of the victim but it will not bring a life back.

Lost Eternal Reward– Ultimately, any earthly consequences are but a vapor compared to the loss of eternal joy and reward in the everlasting presence of the Lamb.  Rewards in eternity are granted to the faithful who serve with pure motives and persevering faithfulness.

What Should We Do About This Craziness?

Humble our Hearts– If you have stumbled in some fashion that has brought open shame to the Lord, your family, His work, and your own reputation – genuine humility is the first step to recovery.  Humility is the precursor to real repentance and change.

James 4:7-10 provides clear guidance for the wandered trying to find his way back home via that path of humility in the presence of the Almighty:

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Humility is also in order toward our fellow man with whom we have been entangled or toward whom we have created the offences.  The straying soul would do well to adopt the attitude promoted in Proverbs: “Go and humble yourself; plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler” (Proverbs 6:3-5).

Learn our Lessons – The immediate season after a spiritual failure is one of the great moments for learning the lessons that result in genuine life change.  Ask God to help you apply the salve of divine wisdom to the self-inflicted wounds of sin.  Embrace the sorrow that leads to real, lasting repentance, not just the regret of being caught.  Failure is a powerful teacher if we are willing to learn, recalibrate our senses, and resolve to avoid any return to the mire.

Watch our Steps – If you have been preserved by God’s grace and your own common sense from scandalous sin, by all means, guard your thoughts, decisions, and deeds by resolute determination to honor Christ and His Word – every day.

Surround our Actions – Spiritual survivors do not go it alone. They have learned the value of accountability in every area of life.  They embrace the wisdom of avoiding any appearance of evil and surrounding themselves with checks and balances in the areas of money, morality, and ministry activity.

Trust, but Verify – Realize that saints who just might do something stupidly scandalous surround you – and you could become part of the fallout.  Yes, trust your fellow believers – but verify their behaviors through accountability, direct questions, and systems that will not tempt them to blow it in a weak moment.  It is better to be criticized for careful scrutiny than to be stuck untangling the spaghetti of shameful stumbles and permanently damaged relationships.

Thank God for the Faithful

In spite of the reality of this craziness – the fact remains that every day millions of Christians remain faithful to Christ and His claims on their lives.  For every crash-and-burn story there are multiplied thousands of godly saints whose stories of love, grace, and positive spiritual impact will never make the news.

We want to be among these faithful saints.  The secret is that we abide in Christ, drawing our life from His sufficiency in and through us.  He will bear the fruit of godly living through us, in spite of the trends and temptations of the day (John 15:5-10).  Praise God that we do not have to succumb to crazy decisions and shameful behavior.  We can live a life of abiding love for Him and selfless love toward others, which is always a choice for purity and perseverance.  We can stand in the promise that He “always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

In closing, I think of how Paul wrote to Timothy about the crazy and perilous days that would come as time unfolds.  The culture would be marked by people described as “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  In spite of all this senselessness, Paul reminded Timothy of the sufficiency of the Word of God in his life and offered him the final exhortation he would ever pen to his young understudy: “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you” (2 Timothy 4:5).

He knew Timothy could live a sane and sanctified life by the power of Christ, regardless of the times.  So can you.

Every day, it seems, we read or hear another account of “Christian” people being caught doing things that are anything but Christian.  People of “faith” are found guilty of fraud, fondling children, and faking the truth in a variety of ways.  With tears, they admit to their scandals, sex-capades, and stealing, but give praise to God for the presence of Jesus in their lives.  In the meantime, Christ weeps, His work suffers, the world laughs, and fellows Christians wonder what in the world is going on.

Examples Galore

In the process of writing my book Defying Gravity (How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Leadership) I interviewed dozens of Christian leaders (not all pastors) about some of the challenges they have faced.  I will never forget the input I received from Karen Covell, a television producer and author.  She serves as the Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network, seeking to mobilize prayer for “the most influential mission field in the world” as she connects with intercessors around the world.  Karen and her husband, Jim (also a producer and my best friend from junior high school) have led a weekly prayer meeting in their home for their Hollywood colleagues for almost 25 years.

Not long ago, Karen discovered that a trusted friend and co-laborer for over 20 years, who handled HPN’s finances, was “borrowing money” from HPN.  By the time Karen discovered this it was almost too late to salvage the ministry.  Suddenly she was in the situation of needing to decide how to handle her colleague, what to do to save the ministry, or whether she should just shut it all down and start over.  She found herself struggling with the thought of rebuilding – knowing the commitment, time, effort, and fundraising that it would take.  As I wrote about her brokenhearted journey of trying to salvage the ministry, I wondered, “How could someone do that to such a wonderful person and ministry?” (When the book comes out in January, you can read the amazing story of how Karen navigated this crisis and came through with honor and grace.)

Of course, this is one of hundreds (maybe thousands) of stories that emerge every week across America involving “the faithful” and their woeful wrongdoings.  I am not talking about a temper flare-up, speeding ticket, or failing to tithe.  I am talking about major, public scandals that damage the faith of others because of the level of blatant duplicity involved.   Whether it is a high-profile evangelist, a “Christian” politician, or a friend in our small group Bible study – it is all so very baffling.  Let us try to make sense of it.

Humble Disclaimer

First, let’s admit the need for humility and grace as we consider this issue.  Every one of us has entertained a thought or contemplated an action that could have resulted in great harm to our testimony and pain to those we love.  As Galatians 6:1 says, we need to consider ourselves “lest we also be tempted.”  God’s grace instructs us all that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).  Truly we can all say that, apart from His grace, “There go I."

Why Do “Christian” People Do Such Crazy Things?

While hardly a theological treatise or counseling session, I want to share a few thoughts about how other believers can misfire so badly.

False Profession – Sometimes people behave in blatantly non-Christian ways because they are non-Christians.  Just as godly repentance does not register in their present behavior, neither did it register when they “made a decision” to become a Christian. Read Matthew 7.  Enough said.

Unsanctified Brokenness – Many people come to Christ but never really bring the brokenness of their past or present life under the power of the cross.  For example, the baggage of uncrucified bitterness can lead to damaging decisions.  The pain grows deep and eventually results in irrational, reactionary behavior that takes this unthinking believer from the frying pan of pain into the fire of widespread disgrace.

Another example might be the deep-seated dysfunction of an unsettled identity.  Some Christians were raised with strong messages that their value was in how they appeared to others, what they possessed, or what things they achieved.  Rather than living out an identity that is solid and settled at the cross, they are still trying to prove an identity that some powerful figure told them they must prove.  To find themselves, they risk losing their integrity and intimacy with Christ and others.

Skewed View of Holiness – Our present culture tempts us in many ways to redefine God’s holiness.  When we impose the acceptable behaviors of the day over the biblical picture of God’s absolute holiness, we set ourselves up to justify unholy behavior.  I have heard it said, “In the beginning God created man in His image.  Ever since, we’ve been trying to return the favor."

Compartmentalized Behavior – Integrity is about a life where all the pieces fit together in authentic harmony and honesty.  When compromise begins in some area of life, a person can begin to compartmentalize and believe that his behavior or thought patterns in one area are not necessarily related to other areas of life.  Financial compromise gets isolated from family.  Sexual misbehavior is tolerated as long as the individual serves at church.  It is an approach that spells eventual disaster.

Seared Conscience – Some arrive at such a point of coddling a lying lifestyle that they actually yield their thoughts to the power of evil and no longer respond to the God-given voice of conscience.  They develop a lifestyle of getting away with sin, with little remorse and minimal concern for the consequences.

Impact and Response?

So what is the practical impact of this crazy behavior?  How should we respond to it all? In next week’s e-devo, we will tackle those questions.

In the meantime, we must make the decision every day to find our strength for holy living and authentic witness in Christ alone.  As He taught us, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).

Ephesians 5:8-10 reminds us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” May we each resolve to walk the talk and manifest His light.  Let us pray that the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth will be evident in our lives as we actively discover all that is acceptable to the Lord and avoid the pitfalls of this all-too-common crazy behavior.

Sometimes I talk to myself.  The subject matter is seldom deep or complex.  I remind myself of a task.  I ask myself why I did some stupid deed.  I rehearse the plans for the day.  Occasionally, I answer myself – and hope no one is watching or listening.

It seems I first read about this thing called “self-talk” in some self-improvement management book.  The author put a lot of stock in it and encouraged the readers to engage in this exercise regularly for focus and motivation.  Because of the source, I was a bit suspicious of the whole approach and did not take it very seriously.  It seemed the focus was self-centered and the results were humanistic, so I dismissed it.  Nevertheless, I have kept talking to myself.

Biblical Self-Talk

Not long ago, I discovered that my first introduction to self-talk did not come from a management book, but from the Bible.  It has been there the whole time; I just didn’t recognize it.  In a recent early morning prayer meeting I discovered the Psalmist saying, “O my soul” and realized that right in the pages of inspired Scripture, the biblical author was talking to himself.  Looking further, I discovered numerous occasions where the writers were penning words to their own soul.

Perhaps the big difference between the “self-talk” promoted by management gurus and the biblical examples is the issue of motivation.  Clearly, the motives for self-talk in the Scriptures are the glory of God and the spiritual health of the soul.  This is worth examining and implementing.

David Talks to Himself

In Psalms 42 and 43 (usually seen as a unit), David talks to himself three times with the same basic words.  These words were likely written when he was in exile after being banished by the betrayal of his son Absalom.  He is far from home and close to despair.  He says to himself:

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.” (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5)

David is asking himself the reason for the discouragement and trouble he feels within his soul.  He tells himself to put his hope in God with the result that his soul will give praise to God because He can always be counted on to help.  The rest of Psalms 42 and 43 include David’s longings for deliverance, his cries for help, and his reassurance in the promise and character of God.

In Psalm 103 David again speaks to his own soul with these words:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”  (Psalm 103:1-2)

Here, David commands his soul to focus on God’s holy name with every fiber of his being.  He tells himself to remember the benefits of God.  In keeping with this self-talk he then rehearses some of the reasons for this needful focus when he writes about God’s deeds:

“Who forgives all your iniquities,  Who heals all your diseases,  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. “ (Psalm 103:3-5)

The rest of the Psalm is a rehearsal of the greatness and personal care of the Lord, in contrast with the frailty of men.  David ends that Psalm with another reminder to himself: “Bless the LORD, O my soul!”  (Psalm 103:22)

In a similar fashion, David begins and concludes Psalm 104 with these same words to himself: “Bless the LORD, O my soul!”  (Psalm 104:1 & 35)  The heart of this Psalm is a detailed description of the Lord’s care over all of His works.  David resolves to worship the Lord and be glad in Him as a result.

Other Self-Talkers

In Psalm 116, the unidentified author reflects on God’s deliverance of Israel from captivity and the personal blessing of God in rescuing his soul; In the midst of the Psalm, he says to himself, “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:7).  Because of the Lord’s great and loving deeds, the writer tells himself to stay in a place of confident rest in God because of all He has done.

Another anonymous Psalmist speaks to his own soul in Psalm 146:1 with these words: “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Again, this self-conversation represents a firm resolve to trust in God, not man, with a focus on God’s mighty and loving deeds.

On a less positive, but very real note, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, speaks to himself in sorting out his deep sorrow over God’s judgment of Judah because of their sin.  He writes, “O my soul, my soul!  I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war” (Jeremiah 4:19).  This is part of Jeremiah’s way of sorting through the deep emotions of sorrow over a very tragic situation.  Yet through it all, Jeremiah turns to the Lord for comfort in his deep affliction.

Our Self-Talk

So, as we talk to ourselves in the course of daily life, what does this all mean?  I see three brief ideas in summary of these biblical examples:

Honest assessment – Biblical self-talk involves honest, godly assessment of our present situation and our deep feelings in the midst of it.  Rather than subjective, self-centered conclusions like, “I am a loser”, “There is no hope” or “Why should I try?” – the Bible seems to encourage an objective understanding of our real feelings, with a resolve to change our outlook, for God’s glory and our good.  Biblical self-talk involves assessment, leading to an attitude adjustment, not deeper anguish.

Hopeful focus – It seems clear that the focus of the downcast or doubting heart turns to the works and character of God.  The biblical approach involves a self-controlled conversation within the soul that reflects a determination to praise the Lord in spite of the emotions or circumstances of the moment.

Heartfelt resolve – These examples of biblical self-talk reflect a resolve to stay on task with choices of gratitude, worship, trust, and prayer.  David wrote, “Let all that is within me bless His holy name” (Psalm 103:1).  The commentator Matthew Henry writes, “David is here communing with his own heart, and he is no fool that thus talks to himself and excites his own soul to that which is good. Observe how he stirs up himself to the duty of praise.”  Likewise, we need to talk to ourselves, regardless of how we feel or what we perceive, and stir our soul to the regular and ongoing duty of praise.

Keep Talking

With this in mind, I realize I need to keep talking to myself after all.  So do you.  Let us make our self-talk biblical, clear, Christ-honoring, and resolute.  It will be good for our souls, beneficial to our spiritual growth, profitable for our service to others, and honoring to our Christ.  Today, I hope our resolve will be like that of Deborah in Judges 5:21 where she said to herself, “O my soul, march on in strength!"

Last week we observed that many pastors in the church today are reluctant to give consistent, bold, and enduring public leadership to prayer in their churches.   We concluded that just as a pastor cannot lead the church in the ministry of the word simply from a desk, neither can you lead a church in prayer simply from a “closet.”  The kind of leadership that creates a culture of prayer in a church requires pastoral modeling and participation in a community context.

Of course, private prayer is essential.  The Scripture calls spiritual leaders to seek the Lord individually and regularly intercede for others.  Yet, too many good pastors seem content with leaving their prayer impact at the closet door.  Why is this?

Why Church Leaders Remain in Their Prayer Closets

In my book Fresh Encounters, I wrote extensively about these issues based on my own struggle in prayer and conversations with many pastoral colleagues.  As I see it, our reluctance to lead our churches in prayer is rooted in the eight following factors:

Rugged individualism – Perhaps the defining characteristic of Western Civilization is rugged individualism.  Professor and Pastor Gene Getz notes that our “lens” of individualism causes us to re-interpret the prayer commands in the New Testament, making them individual in application when they were really given in a community context in the early churches, and applied accordingly.  Today, we can easily conclude that it is sufficient simply to pray in an individual setting.

Closet Confusion – We have misunderstood the meaning of the place of prayer in Matthew 6 where Jesus is giving group instructions to His disciples about their prayer lives.  Even though the model prayer is composed entirely of plural pronouns (“Our Father…give us…“), we have turned their upper room into a solitary cubicle based on our own cultural overlay and unfortunate misunderstanding of the word “closet” (used only in the 1611 KJV).  Again, I have two chapters about this in Fresh Encounters.

Limited vision – Most pastors have never really experienced a positive example of a dynamic, praying church.  What many of us did experience was counterproductive in the form of request-based gatherings that include endless lists of physical needs, some discussion, and even a little gossip – but little real prayer.  I often note the Brazilian proverb that says, “The heart cannot taste what the eyes have not seen.”  Without the living vision and experience of transforming prayer, it is hard to understand the clear path to bold, enduring leadership.

Inadequate training – Bible colleges and seminaries marginalize prayer when training pastors.  Seldom is there even one entire class devoted to the subject of prayer.  Many seminary leaders omit prayer because it is not “academic” enough.  They subvert the biblical requirements for pastoral leadership in the name of scholarship.  Virtually every pastor I know admits that college and seminary offered very little training in how to develop a prayer culture or lead a church in prayer as a pastor.  We just assume they will “get it.”  Most often, they do not.

Cultural pushback – Our quick fix, results-oriented culture expects a pastor to be a program-producing CEO who speaks, manages, and runs to the next meeting with Wall-Street pizzazz.  These expectations can leave a pastor with little margin and waning motivation for real impact in prayer.

Personal defeat – Some pastors are defeated in their own prayer life and do not feel adequate to lead in prayer.  Yet, if they start leading, everyone prays more – including the pastor.  Prayer grows and deepens.  The ministry wins.

Spiritual distraction – The devil does not have to destroy a pastor; he simply needs to distract a pastor.  The devil is not too troubled by talent, education, charisma, and administrative ability.  A praying pastor who has taken up the powerful weapons of spiritual warfare to fight the good fight – by praying always, personally and in community, threatens the enemy.

Fear of intimacy – Because so many of us have grown up with such relational dysfunction, we carry a low-grade fear of real, wholesome intimacy.  This is evident in marriages, in friendships, and in the church.  We see it among pastors as well.  Because prayer is an exercise of spiritual intimacy, praying in community is often avoided.

The Blessing of Coming Out of the Closet

One of the great joys of my life is the experience of watching churches grow into a life-giving congregation that exhibits a real culture of prayer.  Not only have I known the grace and joy of seeing this happen in the congregations I have served – but also every year I am with pastors around the nation who are providing essential public prayer leadership for their people.  The blessings abound when this occurs:

1. Christ-honoring Ministry – The Lord is delighted when a church truly becomes a “house of prayer” (Mark 11:17) and when they implement Paul’s command that the church pray “first of all” (1 Timothy 2:1).  Christ is exalted when the kingdom advancements in a ministry are directly attributed to the Spirit of God in connection with the prayer activity of the church.  This correlation points to the power of God rather than the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 2:5).

2. Spiritual Health – Congregational health emerges when a Spirit-energized movement of prayer grows in a congregation.  Believers who experience the power of worship-based prayer enjoy a genuine unity of heart and mind.  Trust is strengthened as hearts connect in worship and believing prayer.

3. Missional Impact – Just as the early church could not help but speak of what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20), praying churches are empowered and equipped to share the gospel, reach out to the needy, plant churches, and expand their global outreach.  The Holy Spirit is a witness-bearing Spirit and real prayer brings Christians more fully under practical surrender to the Spirit’s control.

4. Manifest Presence – Praying churches experience the reality of 2 Corinthians 3:18 as they collectively behold the glory of the Lord and are transformed from “glory to glory” into Christ’s image by the power of the Spirit.  It is common for church guests to be gripped by a sense of the presence of God.  Every pastor longs for his church to be identified by the reality of the manifest presence of Christ.  Praying churches tend to enjoy an authentic experience of this reality.

Following the Spirit’s Direction into New Experiences of His Blessings

In truth, many other benefits and blessings accompany a growing, pastor-led prayer culture.  Let us make it our collective prayer that these positive realities will become the norm in our nation.

Today, if you are a pastor reading this devotional, I pray that you will ultimately sense the Spirit’s clear direction for your life and ministry as He guides you into a growing realm of influence in prayer in your church.  He is always faithful to direct and to provide the time and energy for the things that are close to the heart of Christ.

If you are a church member, continue to pray for a greater movement of God’s Spirit in awakening the church and her leaders to their need to seek God’s face.  Keep a godly and supportive heart as you find opportunities to engage in prayer with others in your church.  If the Lord wants this kind of movement to occur (and we believe that He does), He will continue to prompt hearts and orchestrate opportunities.  Trust Him – but move ahead with passion and perseverance.