Enemy Takedown... The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty Two - February 23, 2010

“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”    
Matthew 6:13

Jesus taught us much about prayer in word and in action.  “The Disciple’s Prayer,” is a part of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.  It’s the model prayer, and it gives us an outline of the subjects we should pray over.

At the close of the prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray for the Father’s direction for our day.  It includes a healthy understanding of our enemy and his ability to deceive us away from the Father’s will for our lives.  Satan loves to bring the child of God into the place of temptation and ultimately, after we have surrendered to temptation, to the place of bondage.  Not cool!

We should pray every day for God to lead us in the paths of righteousness.  Pray He will give us daily deliverance from the enemy’s power and deceit.  The enemy never ceases his relentless attacks.  Therefore, prayer should be a vital part of our daily life.

Of course, we have opportunity for complete victory over all of the enemy’s attacks.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we know the King of the Kingdom.  It’s His kingdom to which we belong, and after prayer, we are refocused on kingdom priorities. 

Prayer Focus: Pray God will give the people of Impact a spirit of prayer.  Pray He will clearly direct us and protect us from the evil one. 

Take time to focus on God’s greatness and thank Him for the vision He has given our church.  Pray during this spiritual journey, He will reveal to you how you can use your time, talents, and treasures to further this vision for His glory.

Delayed Dreams... The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty One - February 22, 2010

“‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him…Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’”
Genesis 37:19-20

Joseph found out what every dreamer finds out – not everyone is happy about your dream.  Joseph found out people can envy your dream, conspire against it, speak against it, and even attack your God-given dream.  Joseph’s brothers put him in a pit and then sold him as a slave to go to Egypt.  Don’t you imagine that at that time, Joseph wondered just what in the world God was doing and if his dream would actually become a reality?

Remember, every God-given dream must die a human death.  That is, every dream from God will come to a place where it is impossible to accomplish the dream in human ability alone.  God is sovereign and His timing is perfect.  Remember Habakkuk 2:3b, “It (our plan to build) will certainly come and will not delay.”  Therefore, when we run out of resources and get to a place where we realize the dream cannot happen unless God steps in, then God alone will get the glory when the dream is accomplished.  And, as scary as that type of position is… it’s the best place to be.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will continue to move forward with changing more lives.  Pray God will give us the endurance and stamina needed to face any temporary setbacks.  Pray all involved will experience joy on this spiritual journey of faith.  Ask God to strengthen you also as you continue to pursue your lifelong goals, despite the delays.

Joyful in Jail... The X Factor Devotional - Day Twenty Four - February 11, 2010

“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
Philippians 1:14

Prisons today are five-star resorts compared to those in which Paul suffered.  He enjoyed no heated cell with private toilet and sink.  There was no mattress for sleeping, no TV room for relaxing, no well-stocked library for reading and study.  There was only the dark encasement of rough stones, filled with putrid odors and the pungent reminders of human depravity.  Perhaps worst of all were the chains, their rusty coarseness scraping his skin raw, constantly tugging at him.

As if imprisonment weren’t painful enough, Paul had to endure something worse:  the stinging criticism of those who called themselves his Christian brothers.  They dared to attack God’s apostle even while he was held captive.

Stop and imagine yourself in Paul’s situation.  Feel the weight of the chains on your raw skin.  Taste the nauseating daily food.  Listen to those dreadful sounds of suffering that filled his ears day and night.  Look into the menacing eyes of the Roman prison guards.

You are there.  You are suffering.  You are chained.  You are Paul the apostle.  Now, what’s your attitude?  What fills your heart through the weary hours?  Here’s what Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi:
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (Philippians 1:12-14).

What an attitude!  Rather than being furious and inflamed with self-pity, Paul is encouraged by the positive impact of his negative condition.  In spite of the severity of the circumstances, Paul is joyful.

Prayer Focus:  What a lesson Paul teaches us!  We have troubles and trials, sure; but what is our attitude, and what is our commitment?  Paul was joyful and he kept on advancing the gospel.  What is God teaching you today about joyfulness and the priority of advancing the gospel – reaching out?  Most certainly this spiritual journey will end in God moving on all of our hearts to provide a 3 year financial commitment of some kind to further the kingdom.  Are you seeing the joy of giving even in difficult times?  Paul did!  Pray for God’s wisdom and grace, in this regard.