Soul Winning Brings Glory to God

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

--2 Corinthians 4: 15

Please take a moment and remember how you felt towards Jesus Christ when he first came into your heart.

Do you remember the love, the gratitude, and the relief you felt?  Do you remember the feeling of being different?  On the inside?  Do you remember being amazed that God loved you THAT much?

There you were -- born again.  The angels celebrated.

Does your adoption as a child of God bring glory to God?  Yes!

You are a part of the body of Christ.  You are part of His glorious inheritance (Eph. 1:18).

So, would you leading others to the Lord bring Him glory?  Yes!

Take the leap of faith by sharing your faith.  Tell someone about how "the grace" reached you, and then close the deal by leading them in a prayer asking Jesus to come into their heart.

Prayer:

Daddy, I ask that you would touch everyone who reads this with great boldness to share Jesus, that the spirit of the world that blinds the lost would be bound, and You would be glorified in bringing many to glory.  I receive all of this in Jesus' name -- Amen!

Centurion Faith

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.  “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

What made the Centurion’s faith so great? 

The level of trust he showed toward Jesus.  All Jesus had to do was say the word.

The subtleties here are important…

The Centurion had choices in seeking help for his servant, but he chose to go to Jesus.

We have lots of choices in what we do, but we should go to Jesus first.  We should pray and listen to what the Lord wants us to do.

You may be able to do a lot about the circumstances around you, but if you act without trusting Jesus you’ve left faith and are walking in the flesh.

The Centurion knew he was powerless and went to Jesus.  What power do you have apart from Jesus Christ?  None.

I pray that our Heavenly Father give you insight and wisdom concerning this teaching, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.   

Faith part 4

 “…the righteous shall live by his faith.” – Habakkuk 2:4

Faith is more slippery than we realize. 

We all tend to live life from the outside in rather than the inside out because it's just "natural".  But, we’re the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  We’re supposed to live by faith in HIM. 

Here’s a quick test. 

Which of the following statements is a statement expressing faith?

a)   The blood of Jesus Christ has removed that cancer.

b)   I hope the blood of Jesus Christ will remove that cancer.

c)    If it’s God’s will the blood of Jesus Christ will remove that cancer.

The answer is “a”. 

I’ve used the phrase “the blood of Jesus Christ” on purpose.  And, I’ve used that phrase because it’s a ridiculous thought that somehow “the blood of Jesus Christ” miraculously takes away ALL the sin of the world but can’t cure cancer.  Chemo therapy can cure cancer, but the blood of Jesus Christ can’t?!?!?  I’ve smelled manure with a more pleasant aroma than that sack of…

Here’s the short list of walking in faith:

1)    Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ for everything.

2)    Faith is in the “now”.

3)    Faith speaks the answer.

4)    Faith prays, believes, and receives before seeing with the eyes.

5)    Faith comes by the Word of God.

6)    Faith is a rest.

7)    Faith never lets go.

I pray the Lord give you wisdom and strength to act on His word, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Faith Part 3

Romans 4:13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless…

Abraham became “heir of the world” the moment he believed God.  He and Sarah had one physical child, and that one physical child put in motion the fulfillment of the promise. 

Abraham has yet to receive the total fulfillment of the promise.  The fulfillment of that promise is still underway as new believers come to Christ. 

Abraham’s faith has had eternal consequences beyond even his physical life. Some of you will catch the implications of that last statement.

Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace…

Who makes the promises come?  Jesus Christ

I would want to ask the question “what makes the promises come?”, but faith in Jesus Christ isn’t about a “what”.  Trust is only as good as the person you’re trusting, and the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely worthy of our trust. 

and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."

How does one guy of one specific ethnic group become the father of many “nations”?  By our faith in Jesus Christ.  Genetically, Abraham could only have a child of his same ethnicity, but spiritual children are different and those "laws" don't apply to us.

He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

God says we’re Abraham’s kids and that’s good enough for me.

RO 4:18 Against all hope…

You know that hope is expectation, right?  Well, what did everyone around Abraham expect from him?  They expected him to die.  And, because he had no heir, they expected that when he died that they would have a big payday coming! 

The world, the flesh, and the devil expect that the promises God has given you will just dry up and die.  Does your hope line up with God’s promises or the world’s expectations?   It’s your choice.

Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

What do you expect?  Abraham expected God to back up HIS promise.  The world expected death, but Abraham trusted God and expected life. 

The world’s expectations do not matter at all if we have faith in God and expect that HE delivers on His promises.

¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

Abraham was no fool.  He knew that men his age and women Sarah’s age didn’t have kids, but he was FULLY persuaded that God was powerful to deliver the promise.  So…

HERE IS THE KEY! 

Abraham believed God above the physical.  Abraham didn’t care what the physical situation was his belief system was in proper order:

Spirit

  Soul

    Body       

He made his mind line up with God, and he expected God to deliver the natural results. 

You and I have been promised a resurrection, but we don’t yet have the physical manifestation of that promise.  We Christians believe in our hearts that we are going to be resurrected, because God has promised us.

This same faith in Jesus Christ, for the specific individual promise of resurrection, is how faith works in all circumstances for all promises.

So...

1. True faith outlasts a lifetime
2. Faith in Jesus Christ makes the promises come to us.
3. If our hope is in God the world’s expectations don’t matter
4. God is powerful to deliver His promises
5. Spirit first – above both body and soul

I pray that you get a hold of this message in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen.

Faith, Part 2

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.                                                                          - Hebrews 11:1

If it’s not “now” it’s not faith. 

Trusting in the Lord Christ Jesus is a full-time, 24/7, 365, every second of every day of our lives occupation, and we need to live ALL of our lives by faith.

The story goes that during WW2, C. S. Lewis was talking to a small group of young RAF Airmen who were showing him the equipment used in the new technology of radar.  During the conversation, every one of the Airmen told Lewis that they were Christians, but when he asked them if God understood how radar worked their unanimous answer was no! 

Those RAF Airmen had so segregated their faith from the other areas of their lives that they didn’t recognize that they held two contradictory beliefs at the same time.  As Christians they believed in an All Knowing God, and as RAF Airmen they knew something that God didn’t. That’s dangerous thinking.

It’s dangerous thinking, because those gents had left having faith in God in EVERY area of their lives.  They were operating in their own thinking and abilities.  They’re actions and attitudes were Worldly.  And, I know they would have been better Airmen had they included God in their radar facility.

I too have to guard myself against ignoring God in areas of my life where I think of myself as “competent.”  Whenever I think “I know that” I’ve closed myself off from trusting God for His wisdom.  Whenever I act like “I’ve got it” I’ve chosen my strength instead of His power.  I’ve got to choose faith in Jesus Christ in the now of every area of my life – even in the areas that I think I do well.

This is my prayer, and I invite you to join me too . . .

Daddy, I come to you in Jesus’ name, and I ask that you would make me aware of the areas in my life where I turn down the volume on your still small voice and live like I don’t need you.  I thank you for your wisdom, and I choose faith in you in every situation in life.  I receive now in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ– Amen!

Faith; Part 1

”"Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

--Genesis 15:5-6

Has it ever occurred to you how weird it is that Moses writes down all these stories about Abraham?  I mean, here’s Moses, the law giver, writing all this stuff about Abraham, the father of faith.  God gives Moses the law.  Moses gives the Israelites the law.  God expects the Israelites and Moses to follow the law, but, oh by the way, here’s all these stories about your flesh and blood ancestor and his – FAITH?  Why does God have Moses do that?

The answer to that question is in our passage.  God gives the Israelites the story of Abraham so that they can see that faith in the Lord works.  God promised Abraham; "So shall your offspring be", and there the multitude of Israelites stood.  They were the partial fulfillment of that promise.  God is faithful.

Why did Abraham believe the promise?  Because of who had spoken to him – God!  It’s not a stretch to say that Abraham wouldn’t have believed it if anyone else had said it.  God is the only one who could have called Abraham righteous.  Why did the Lord do that?  Abraham had faith in God. 

What does God expect from the Israelites when he gives them the law?  He expects them to obey and trust just because He said so.  If you look in your Bible, you’ll see that it’s the law of the LORD and not the LAW that is lord.  God was speaking to the Israelites and that should have been enough for them.

What does that have to do with us today?  Well, how do we know Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins?  We have his word on it.  How do we know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead?  We have his word on it.  That word may come to us in the form of the Bible, a testimony of Jesus, a preacher’s sermon, or the way a believer lives, but just as the Spirit of God spoke to Abraham all those hundreds of years ago he speaks today.  The Spirit of Jesus spoke to us told us that what we heard was real, powerful, and effective for you and for me today.  We believed it just because he said so, and the Lord gave us righteousness.  So, then . . .

Faith is trusting Jesus Christ. 

Now, you may say, “I know that.”  Well then, let me ask you this – is that sentence you “know” in the past tense or in the present tense for you? 

To be continued . . .

Happy New Year!!!

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." “

–         Matthew 14:25-33

A recent conversation . . .

          Sister: “Did you hear about . . . in the news?”

          Me: “It’s just wind and waves.”

The Virgin Mary lived in Nazareth.  Nazareth was NOT a nice place to live.  Nazareth was a backwater of the Roman Empire – a place forgotten.  Mary was young, poor, and engaged to an older man.  Her future didn’t look particularly bright, but then the angel came and changed all of that forever.  Let’s take another look at that list of what Gabriel said about Mary’s baby, Jesus.  The baby will be:

·         Great

·         Son of the Most High God

·         King

·         Given David’s Throne

·         Reign forever

What would you have expected from life after an angel lists out all that?!?!  I can’t speak for Mary, but I know what I would have expected.  I would have expected life to get a whole lot easier, but it didn’t get easier for Mary.

Trouble

Mary is so pregnant that she’s about to pop when she has to travel to Bethlehem because of a census.  Now, that’s a little more than inconvenient. She gets to Bethlehem, and goes into labor, but there’s no room in the inn.  She gives birth to the King of Kings in a cold, dark, damp cave surrounded by barnyard animals.  That’s not exactly fit for the King.  She’s tired from traveling and from labor when all these smelly shepherds show up babbling about angels.  Are shepherds “great”?  Not so much.  If anyone could have had a bad attitude and have been justified it was Mary.  But, Mary chose something different.

Treasure

Now, you may ask, “What does this have to do with the verses from Matthew chapter 14?  Christmas is over!”  Well, Mary chose to look at the miracle of Jesus instead of the wind and the waves of trouble around her.  She chose to treasure all of these things in her heart. 

Walking on Water

You and I have the treasure of the Spirit of Jesus living in our hearts.  We are more than conquerors in Jesus!  His plan is for good in our lives.  His plan is hope for now and for the future, but just like Peter I mess up.  I sin by looking at my circumstances instead of having faith that Jesus Christ – the Man/God who defeated death itself – isn’t enough to overcome the storms in my life.  Sometimes I react with disappointment when God’s plan for me doesn’t look like I think it should.  I don’t always feel glorious.  I don’t always see the glory of God in others.

Hope

But, I take hope in Peter’s story.  He did at least walk on the water.  Jesus did pull him out of the drink when he was sinking.  Jesus did still the storm.  Jesus will do the same for me.  I repent and I am restored.

And, I take hope in Mary’s story.  Though it didn’t look like what anyone would have reasonably expected, everything the angel said to Mary took place.  She received everything she was promised!  Jesus will do the same for me.  I repent and I am refreshed.

Now, I want to encourage you.  No matter what 2011 brings Jesus’ plan for you is good and glorious!  If you have sinned – repent.  He is faithful and just to forgive and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Even with the wind and waves around you . . .

Keep looking at Jesus.  Keep trusting in Jesus.  Keep seeking Jesus.  Keep pressing upward in Jesus!  When you screw it up – repent and get back in the game.  All of God’s promises are yes and amen for you because you are in Christ Jesus!  Let me pray for you.

Prayer

Daddy, I come to you in Jesus’ name, and I lift up to you everyone who will ever read this post – grant them true repentance.  Strengthen their faith.  Help them to fix their eyes on you in the midst of the storms.  Give them insight to see what is eternal and what is temporary, and give them wisdom to act on that insight.  I receive all of this in Jesus’ name – amen.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

"LK 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. ⁷ But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

^{LK 1:8} Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

^{LK 1:11} Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. ¹⁶ Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

^{LK 1:18} Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

^{LK 1:19} The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

^{LK 1:21} Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

^{LK 1:23} When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

^{LK 1:26} In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

^{LK 1:29} Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

^{LK 1:34} "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

^{LK 1:35} The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God."

^{LK 1:38} "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her."

– Luke1:5-38

“Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? . . .”

– Luke 1:18

“’How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?’”

– Luke 1:34

A recent sermon . . .

          Me: “What’s the difference between the two answers?”

          [dramatic pause]

          Me: “One doubts and one believes!”

A Guy, A Girl, an Angel

God sends one angel to talk to two people and gets two answers that seem to be very similar.  Zechariah doesn’t understand how Elizabeth is going to get pregnant because they’re old.  Mary doesn’t understand how she’s going to get pregnant because she’s a virgin.  Both questions seem to be a matter of logistics – how are you going to deliver that package?  But, Zechariah is the only one who gets in trouble.  Why?

Circumstances

The answer to the question why has to do with the circumstances of both Zechariah and Mary.  What was Zechariah doing when Gabriel appears to him?  He was burning incense in the temple.  It’s important to understand that burning incense in the temple was thought to carry the prayers of the people to God.  So, Zechariah throws the incense (his prayer) onto the fire and “poof” there’s Gabriel.  What does Gabriel say?  He says, “your prayer has been heard . . .” Note that Gabriel said “prayer” singular and not prayers plural.  Gabriel then tells him that he’s going to have a son.  So, what did Zechariah just ask God for in prayer?  A son.

Yes, already!

Think about it – one second it’s “amen” and the next second it’s angelic visitation!  The Lord’s answer to his prayer is a quick and resounding yes, but Zechariah isn’t jumping for joy.  He should be jumping for joy, but he’s not.  He doesn’t believe Gabriel, and Zechariah has trouble.  I really can’t imagine not talking for 9 months.  It must have been torturous.

BIG FAITH MARY!!!

Now let’s turn our attention to Mary.  What’s she doing when Gabriel shows up to talk to her?  The Bible doesn’t say.  It’s easy enough to speculate that she’s just going about her everyday life.  We know she’s planning her wedding.  She’s happy.  Then Gabriel comes along and tells her she’s going to have a baby.  Mary has one question, but she certainly has room for more questions if she wanted to ask them.  Let’s list out what Gabriel actually says about Mary’s baby.  The baby will be:

·         Great

·         Son of the Most High God

·         King

·         Given David’s Throne

·         Reign forever

Mary doesn’t question ANY of this huge stuff – she just believes!  What she wants to know is the logistics of having a baby without ever having had sex!  That’s a reasonable question.  Gabriel answers her question, and Mary believes his answer.  Mary is blessed.

The difference between Zechariah and Mary is simple.  Zechariah doubted.  Mary believed.  And, I can see a bit of myself in both of them.

I find hope for me in Zechariah, because though he doubted he still received his miracle.  I find hope for me in Mary, because she believed and received such great promises.  So, I find hope for me in both their stories, because no matter if I momentarily look at the circumstances around me and have my doubts, or if I surrender perfectly to the Lord’s word for me I know that the Lord is faithful to accomplish his word.  That’s real grace.  That’s grace I can use because . . .

There are times when I have to remind myself that the Church IS glorious – not that it will be glorious some day, but that it is at this very moment glorious.  The Spirit of Jesus and the Word of God say that the Church is glorious.  I just have to continue to believe him for a greater expression of his glory on the outside of you.  And, I know it will happen, because just as Mary said yes to the Lord’s offer, you have said yes to the Lord’s offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  The Spirit of Jesus makes his home in you, and that makes you GLORIOUS!

Let’s pray:

Daddy, I come to you in Jesus’ name, and I ask that you give every believer everywhere a revelation of your presence and your glory living on the inside of them and living in every other believer.  I ask that in some quiet unexpected moment you would surprise them by expressing your glory to them.  I believe I receive, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Satan Wants to Kill Your Husband

If you are joining me from The Imperfect Wives, welcome!  I'm glad you've come to visit.  I pray that this post blesses you and encourages you to increase your efforts in prayer for your husband.

My Sisters in Christ, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil want to kill your husband. 

Q: “What do you mean they want to kill my husband?”

A: “The World, The Flesh, and The Devil want your husband to stop breathing

      immediately and permanently.”

No ifs, ands, or buts – The World, The Flesh, and The Devil want your husband: “6 foot under”, “dead as a door nail”, “pushing up daisies”, “bought the farm”, “kicked the bucket”, “dirt nap”, DEAD. 

Don’t believe me?  Believe Jesus,

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” – Jesus.

This is what your husband faces every single day of his adult working life . . .

He goes to work and he’s beat down.  There is a constant low hum of anxiety and stress that at times erupts into the boss questioning his intelligence, his effort, his value, and his very existence.  At some point, The World, The Flesh, and The Devil whisper in his ear, “Everyone would be better off if I were dead.”

If he’s his own boss, he faces customers that are trying to squeeze him for every penny of the business’ life blood.  The very customers that he needs to provide for his family treat him like he’s a thief because he’s working to make a profit.  And, if any and every reasonable or unreasonable expectation isn’t met he’ll be hearing from their lawyer.  At some point, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil whisper in his ear, “Lots of people are making big money doing this, what’s wrong with me?”

You see, Sisters, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil sell men on the idea that only sex, wealth, and power count for anything, and the “snow job” starts when they are little boys.  We are shown the shiny sports car and we want it.  We see the sports star on TV and all the fame, fortune, and adoration (women) that come with being a “superstar” and we want it.  We see the corporate “tycoon” portrayed in the media as powerful and decisive and we want it.  These things are set up by the World and the Devil to entice the Flesh to feed all three in a spiral of death.

Your husband has God-given dreams of greatness in his heart that he is afraid to let out, because the world wants to blow that flickering light out.  Your husband knows that as long as he keeps those visions closed inside his heart the flame will keep burning, and the possibility that some day his “ship will come in” still exists. 

The World, The Flesh, and The Devil don’t want to kill everyone all at once.  Where’s the fun in that?  They want to bring as much pain and suffering as they can before death. 

The death of God’s vision for your husband’s life is the first thing they are after because it is spirit and of the HOLY SPIRIT.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that God’s vision for every husband is to be a Pastor, Missionary, or some other kind of Minister, but what I am saying is that God does have a ministry for your husband no matter what the work looks like. [Col. 3:23]  Your husband is called to shine the light of Jesus everywhere and in everything he does.

The World, The Flesh, and The Devil know that those dreams exist and if they could reach in and snuff it out by force they would.  But, they have no right to your husband’s heart, so they put as much pressure as they can on him to do it for them.  They whisper to him: “You can’t do that.”; “Where are you going to get the money?”; “How are you going to pay the bills?”; “You’re not smart enough”; “You don’t have the time for that.”; “It’s pride to think of doing great things for God”; “Everyone will just laugh at you”.

The fight is desperate.

Q: What did the master do to the servant who buried the one talent?

A: “. . . throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where

    there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” – Matthew 25:30

              [Read Matthew 25:14-46 for yourself]

The World, The Flesh, and The Devil are trying to get your husband to give up on those dreams so that a small part of him dies – they want to kill the mustard seed of faith in Jesus Christ inside of him.  If they succeed, Death enters in and begins its slow dark crawl across his spirit, soul, and body.

To top it all off – there is a 99% chance that you are the only person on the planet praying for him.

Sisters in Christ . . .  

if you aren’t praying for your husband no one else is

My Dear Sisters . . .

if you aren’t positive with your husband no one else will be

Brides of my brothers . . .

If you don’t strap on the armor of God and fight in the spirit until your voice is raw, your eyes are weary, and your knees are callused in prayer for the one and only, highly flawed, and weak, little boy of a man that the Almighty and Sovereign GOD himself has chosen for you, then you will never see him rise up like the mythical Phoenix engulfed in the true flame of the Spirit as God’s vision roars out of him to engulf everything and everyone he touches.

Ladies, it’s God, it’s you, and your man – period. 

The people in your church love you two, and they will help you, but no one else in creation is joined to your husband like you and God are joined to him.  Jesus lives in him and Jesus lives in you.  You two are “one flesh”.  The three of you have a unique bond that only you and your husband can chose to break.

Don’t worry; God + you = VICTORY!

Rebecca prays for me.  She is more perfect than I am, but she is still imperfect.  But, my wife prays for me.  She pours God’s strength into me when I can’t find any.  She is my prophet when I succumb to the doubts and fears of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.  She reaches into the Spirit and gives me living water that refreshes my soul, and I rise again to fight another day.  I have known victory and will be further victorious, because the Lord has blessed me.  I have a praying wife.  

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

Rob