LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Friday, February 18, 2022

If you recall, we started a conversation yesterday about knowing the purpose of the church. It all started at a 2003 Promise Keepers Conference that refocused my passion on God’s commission for us to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in all the world. I shared one example of how God confirmed that message within the first week after the conference. Here are two more:

One of our worship leaders at the time was going through a very difficult period of life because of his daughter’s health struggles.  He wrote a story from his daughter’s perspective.

“Dad talked to a cook and a cashier today down in the cafe and he shared that he worked for a Christian radio station. The cook (Joe) then said “What religion are you”? Daddy said, “Joe, you’d better make sure you have those hamburgers off the grill because we are going to talk. We are not of a religion…We have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ:” Daddy said. “It’s not about being Catholic, or Baptist or Pentecostal, it’s about Jesus dying on the Cross for my sins, raising Himself from the dead three days later and living today and wanting to live in my life. It’s not about a religion, it’s Who do you say Jesus is?” Joe…after hearing all of this, said, “Oh, cool, that’s an interesting way of looking at things.”

This Christian man had capitalized on an opportunity to share his faith in Jesus.

The final thing that happened was while I was at a birthday party for my youngest grandchild. One of my son’s new neighbors was invited to the party. As I talked to her, she asked where I was a pastor. Obviously my kids had already talked to them about what I did. Then I asked her if they went to church. She said no. Then the Holy Spirit gave me the next question to ask, and I said, “So is that by choice or because you just haven’t found one yet.” I appreciated the honesty of her answer when she said it was by choice. She explained that she and her husband have chosen to simply try to live moral lives and that was enough. She said she didn’t like all the denominational stuff. I agreed with her about that, and told her that we don’t talk religion at our church, but that it’s all about a relationship with Jesus Christ. We were interrupted by children at that point, but it was a start.

My friends, the message I clearly understood at the PK event nineteen years ago is still the passion of my heart. We must begin to take possession of our land and engage the enemy in spiritual battle. We must stay focused on why we exist as a church – to connect people to God. We must be personally committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and families. Do we need a church buildings? Yes! But they are only tools to accomplish the ultimate purpose of God, to spread the news that Jesus saves.  Let’s recommit ourselves today to engaging our culture with courage and conviction, and watch God conquer the land.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for audio blog)

Thursday, February 17, 2022

On August 16^th, 2003, I was sitting with a group of men from my church at a Promise Keepers Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was at a time when our church was beginning a process of evaluating space and facility needs. Our current facility was not adequate to meet the needs of many people in our congregation because it wasn’t handicapped accessible, we were seriously limited in classroom space, and we had no room to grow on the current location. As I sat in that conference I remember my mind swimming with all the possible ideas of how God would solve these problems. Would we buy another building and renovate it into a church? Would we buy land and build a new ministry center? Where would a small group of people get the money to do either of those things? How was God going to do this?

Meanwhile, Pastor Erwin McManus was being introduced as the next speaker.  Pastor McManus began by reading Deuteronomy 2:24.  “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.”  I thought it was a little strange for a challenge to pastors he was about to deliver. But as he explained the historical context of that verse, it became clear to me what I needed to learn. God had commanded Israel to conquer the lands He was giving them. They soon rejected that plan and refused to take possession of the Promised Land. They became weak. They lost their vision. They were negotiating with their enemies. They were not engaged in God’s battle, but were satisfied to simply wander through life trying to survive their wilderness experiences. I made the connection quickly that this is what is happening to churches today.

God spoke clearly to me that day. I knew that I never wanted to fall prey to the secularized ABC success system – Attendance, Building, and Cash. As I listened and prayed, it became obvious that God was calling me and the church to see its commission from God – engage the enemy in spiritual battle to take possession of lives for Jesus Christ. I resolved before God that day that everything I would do in my ministry would be about obedience to God’s commission.

I heard God say several important things to me that day. “Churches that are not afraid to engage their culture will capture their culture for Christ.”  I believe we as pastors, church leaders, and church attenders have sold out to an institutionalized version of the church. We consider it a profession, or a mere job, or nothing more than community service, when in reality it is the call of Almighty God to accomplish an eternal and glorious purpose. We have become nurturers not warriors. We no longer serve with courage to win the world but in fear of what the world will think. We have lost the confidence that the gates of Hell itself cannot prevail against the church of Jesus Christ. I saw clearly that day that attendance, buildings, and cash flow were all distractions from the real purpose for our church’s existence – to engage the people of our community with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and watch God take possession of their lives.

Following that conference, three things happened to confirm the message. Let me share the first one today. At that time our church was holding two services each Sunday because of space limitations. Following the second service, I watched as a man sat in the sanctuary with a high school student who was in church for the first time. He was a troubled young man who seemed to have no hope. He was introduced to Jesus, and God took possession of His life. The man who shared the truth with him had never met him before, but because he was committed to Christ’s commission the Holy Spirit led him to speak to the young man. I talked to that young man in church the next week, and he was thrilled with his new relationship with His Savior, and is already growing in his love for God.

We must stay focused on why we exist as a church – to connect people to God. We must be personally committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and families.  Let’s recommit ourselves today to engaging our culture with courage and conviction, and watch God conquer the land.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Yesterday we introduced the subject of knowing God’s will when we pray. There’s no way to cover that topic fully in one short devotional.  But there is a starting point that lays a foundation upon which we can build. If we will grasp this truth, then we may never again struggle to know God’s will. We may struggle with what His will is, but we will know it.

Here’s the truth – God’s will is not about making decisions, but about making disciples who are living in complete conformity to the image of His Son. Every detail of life is under the primary will of God to bring each of us to fullness in Christ.

John Boykin, in an article entitled The Gospel of Coincidence published in Christianity Today, says,” It’s easier to piddle around wondering whether it’s God’s will that you rent this apartment or that one, than it is to face up to God’s ultimate will for you: that you become conformed to the image of His Son.” 

You see, we have confused decision-making with God’s will. Every time we pray about a decision we need to make we place ourselves on the throne of our life. When we have to ask God whether or not we should do something, we are demonstrating that we are not yet surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s control of our lives. If we were, we would stop having our own ideas about stuff and all ideas would be the result of living in Jesus Christ from whom comes the will of God. When we confuse decision-making with the will of God, it indicates that we are living for self and not letting Jesus live in our place. If we would just stop living for self, and let the life of Jesus Christ be lived in and through us, we would always be living God’s will.  

It may take a little while to wrap your mind around that concept, but just because it’s hard, don’t stop trying. When Jesus struggled with the will of God when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was not because He was seeking to know it, but because He was already living it. His struggle was with surrender to it, not seeking to know it. When we are in communion with our Lord Jesus Christ through the indwelling fullness of the Holy Spirit, we will always know the will of God for each step of our journey through this life. That’s the promise of Proverbs 3:5-6.  The New Living Translation puts it this way – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”

So the next time you have a decision to make, and you’re tempted to ask God to show you His will, go back and evaluate the origins of the idea. If the idea is an expression of the life of Christ in you, then you already know your answer. If the idea is an expression of your own self and flesh, then drop it altogether and surrender that part of your life to the control of the Holy Spirit. Let every choice of your will be to die to self and invite Jesus to live His life through you. If at any point of your life Jesus is not seen and honored, then it can’t be God’s will.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Upon his arrival at his new post, a western journalist looked down from his apartment window to see the wailing wall in Jerusalem. For days he would see the same elderly man arrive at precise times in the morning and the afternoon. He decided he needed to meet this man. After introducing himself, he asked, “What is it that you keep coming here to pray for?” The man began his story. “I have come to this spot twice a day every day for 25 years now. In the morning I come and pray for world peace and the brotherhood of man. I go home, have tea, do some work, and then return in the afternoon to pray for the eradication of illness and disease from the earth.” The journalist was amazed at his persistence and asked, “How does it make you feel to come here every day for 25 years and pray for those things?” He simply responded, “Like I’m talking to a wall.”

How often do we feel the same way about some of our prayers? We seem to have been praying forever for certain things – the salvation of a relative, the healing of a disease, the provision for a need, or direction for our lives. It can get discouraging sometimes, can’t it? Is God really listening?

To answer that question, let’s look at what the Apostle John says in the fifth chapter of his first epistle.

1 John 5:13-15  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Belief is the basis of all prayer. Kenneth Woodward, in an article on prayer in the March 31, 1997 issue of NEWSWEEK, wrote, “If you believe, no proof is necessary. If you don’t believe, no proof is sufficient.” Do we truly believe that God answers prayer? Consider this – the very first prayer he answers is the prayer for salvation, to which He responds with eternal life. If you believe and know that you have eternal life, then you will also believe that God hears and answers other prayers as well.

So what about all of those other prayers? Why have they not been answered? Well, for one thing, some of them may not have been heard. Whoa! Hold on there pastor. You just got done stating that if I believe then I can know that God hears all of my other prayers as well. No, I didn’t say that. I did say that He hears other prayers, but I didn’t say He hears all prayers, and neither does the Bible. John makes it clear that the only prayers God hears when we approach Him are the ones that are asked according to His will. Many of our prayers are for our own good and according to our own will, and God does not hear them. He cannot answer what He does not hear.

An old television commercial illustrates this point. A man is sitting in a manager’s office being interviewed for a job. There is a stain on his shirt. As he begins to talk about his desire for the job, the manager is distracted by the stain, as if the stain is speaking a foreign, garbled language. It is all the manager can hear. He hears nothing that the applicant is saying. I think it’s hilarious. It’s also true of our prayers. We come before God with the stain of sin called self plastered all over our prayers, and God is not listening to us.

But look at what happens when we come before Him with pure hearts and surrendered wills – He hears us. Here’s where belief is vital. John says that if we know that He hears us, we can be assured of an answer. Once we know that God hears us – because we believe that He hears any communication that involves His will, His purpose, and His glory being accomplished – we can also know that He will do what we have asked. It makes perfect sense. Let’s assume for a moment that I know in advance that someone wants to give me a million dollars. Would I approach that person with fear and doubt, or would I approach them with confidence and ask for the gift? Of course I’d leave right now and go to see that person. That is the confidence that we can have in approaching God when we ask according to His will.

So how do we know His will? We’ll take that up tomorrow. For today, check your belief system. Do you believe that it is God’s will to save sinners who repent? Do you know you have repented of your sin and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Did He grant you eternal life? Then approach God about anything else that is His will, and He will hear you and do it.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Monday, February 14, 2022

 Happy Valentine’s Day. For the majority of us, this is the day we go above and beyond the norm to express our hearts to the one true love of our life. For some of you this is a very hard day because the one true love of your life is already in the presence of the One True Love of their life, Jesus Christ. I hurt for those who have no one with whom to share this day. But I rejoice in the promise of God that His love is sufficient to sustain you, because He is the One True Lover of your life.

For those who have a valentine with whom to share love this year, read the Apostle Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Let me challenge you with some questions to ask yourself about each of these qualities of love. How you answer them could provide you with the greatest valentine gift you have ever given. 

1. Love is patient. Are you patient with your valentine, not demanding change according to your schedule, but letting God grow them and change them at His rate and according to His purpose? 
2. Love is kind and does not envy. Are you being kind to your valentine, even when they have done nothing to deserve it or even when they have hurt you? Are you doing acts of kindness out of the love you have in your heart for them rather out of a desire to solicit a response from them? 
3. Love does not boast and is not proud. Are you building up your valentine by focusing your attention on who they are or are you drawing attention to yourself? 
4. Love is not rude. Are you polite to your valentine, treating them with respect and honor, both in public and in the home? 
5. Love is not self-seeking. Are your choices and decisions made for the unconditional benefit of your valentine or do you hope to receive a personal benefit for what you have done? 
6. Love is not easily angered. Do you get easily frustrated with your valentine over little things that really don’t matter much in the big picture of your love? 
7. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Do you know how to truly forgive your valentine by never using that sin or mistake against them in the future? 
8. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Does your love remain constant and even grow when your valentine tells you the truth about something they have done wrong, or do you enjoy the times you can put them in their place because of what they have done? 
9. Love always protects. Do you protect your valentine by giving encouraging and uplifting reports of your valentine to others so they form positive opinions of who they are, or do you vent your frustrations to others and thereby diminish their status in the eyes of others? 
10. Love always trusts. Do you restore trust in your valentine after there has been a failure or disappointment, and do you believe the best about them no matter what has happened? 
11. Love always hopes. Do you see the full potential of your valentine and believe that it is achievable, and do you encourage your valentine to fulfill that potential? 
12. Love always perseveres. Are you committed to your valentine no matter what happens because your love is a decision of your will and it cannot be destroyed, or is your love based on your emotions and personal happiness and will change as needed? 

It doesn’t matter what kind of gift you give today if these qualities of love don’t define your relationship with your valentine. Your gift will be meaningless if not backed up with sincere love. But if true love as described in today’s Scripture passage is present, then it will never matter to your valentine what kind of gift you buy, because you will have already given them the greatest gift of all.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for audio blog)

Friday, February 11, 2022

Ah, spring is coming…soon I hope. It’s not been a bad winter, but I’m ready for outdoor fun. Soon we will be busy with yard work, garage cleaning, and house repairs. Maybe by May 3^rd the ice will be off the lakes in time for the fishing opener. The birds are chirping earlier each morning, even though the beauty of their songs is drowned out by the cackling of the crows. Soon we will see those first shoots of crocuses, daffodils and tulips coming through the ground as new life explodes around us, bringing beauty back to what was cold and dreary. I know…too soon for spring fever, right?

One thing I don’t look forward to in spring is all the work that needs to be done before enjoying the fun. It’s easy to miss the beauty of spring when we tend to focus on all that needs to be fixed. There will be trees that need to be trimmed or cut down. Yet seeing only the work causes me to miss the beauty of the new trees that are growing and will bring new shade and shelter for the yard. When I see all of the shrubs that need to be trimmed and all of the leaves that have to be cleaned from the flower gardens, I miss the beginning growth of the raspberry bushes that will soon produce the most delicious fruit for my ice cream. It’s easy to miss the beauty of things when our focus seems to drift towards what’s wrong.

We need to have a perspective adjustment. Here’s a story to illustrate. Four old men were out golfing for the first time in the spring. After several holes, the first man complained, “These hills are getting steeper every year. I’m tired already.”  In response, another said, “They’ve also made these holes longer.” The third man piped in, “The sand traps are bigger than they used to be.” The fourth man could take no more, and chastised the other men for their complaining: “Just be thankful we’re still on the right side of the grass.”

Some days it doesn’t seem like all that bad of an idea to be on the bottom side of the grass – at least I wouldn’t have to mow it anymore. But that’s not how God intends for us to see life. Every winter is a preparation for a productive spring. Every storm is an opportunity for a rainbow. Every sunset leads to a time of rest in expectation of a guaranteed sunrise. Every dark night brings a greater appreciation for the light. God has designed all of life so that we will see the glory of the product rather than the gauntlet of the process.  It’s time to focus on the joy of the finish line rather than the junk on the freeway that we’re travelling.

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.“

That’s why prayer is so important – it keeps our focus on the finish line. It changes our perspective from the present troubles to the future glory of God’s perfect presence. It brings His presence into our present, When we pray, we surrender to God’s authority. Our faith is strengthened as we learn to trust His perfect outcomes. Our resilience is increased as we patiently wait for His timing to accomplish His will. Our fears are diminished as we learn to trust His powerful right hand to sustain us and provide for us. Our spiritual eyes are opened to see the beauty of things that God is doing; things that indicate life is about to explode around us and bring beauty to what we thought were cold and dreary circumstances. Prayer – that intimate time of fellowship with God – brings us hope and peace.

So whatever winter you’re still in right now, get ready. Spring is coming! It’s never not come. Sometimes it’s delayed longer than normal, but it will get here, and soon we will be basking in the warmth of the Son of God as life explodes in beauty around us.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Thursday, February 10, 2022

In the cafeteria of a Christian school, the children were lined up for lunch. At the beginning of the line was a large pile of apples. A note was hung in front of the apples: “Take only one. God is watching.” Near the end of the line was a pile of chocolate chip cookies. One of the students jotted a quick note and placed it on the pile: “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.“

Cute story, but we need to consider the real truth: God is watching everything. 

Job 34:21-22  “His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide.“

Our heads seem to know that, but our hearts overwhelm that truth with personal desires. We are deceived into believing that as long as people don’t know what we did, then neither does God. We have succumbed to the satanic seduction of satisfying self. At best, which is really no better than the worst, we have made ourselves accountable to people rather than to God. In reality we have made ourselves out to be God by being accountable only to self.

But God is watching. For the unsaved, that truth is a negative. God will punish all sin with final and eternal death. But for the saved, it’s a positive. God will discipline His children in life. For those who are in Christ Jesus, the ultimate price of death was already paid by Jesus. As His children, we are now subject to His discipline. We should consider that a blessing. His love for us demands that He work for our good. Sin is not for our good. When we sin, His love will correct us. If no correction is taking place, what evidence do we have that we are His children? Read what the author of Hebrews says in chapter 12.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.”

Every hardship, every unforeseen circumstance, every tragedy, every health issue, every financial problem, every relationship struggle, every emotional crisis, and every personal temptation should be viewed as God’s intervention in our lives for the purpose of strengthening our faith and increasing our spiritual maturity. He is treating us as dearly loved children. His love for us is perfect, and His love is being perfected through His discipline which produces obedience. “We know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But he who keeps his word, in him is the love of God perfected: this is how we know we that we are in him.” (1 John 2:3-5)

We need to adjust our attitudes. If we desire to keep our sin, we fear the eyes of God. But if we desire to live for Jesus, we also desire God’s observation of our every step. We cherish the moments of correction. We treasure the gift of love we experience when He uses His rod and staff to keep us in line. We excitedly move from the grace of forgiveness to the grace of fellowship, for there we experience the fullness of the Father.

“Lord, look upon our every step today. May every word of our mouths and every thought of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, and when they are not, show us clearly the lesson we should learn as you discipline us. We want to be like Jesus.“

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

I love parties. This weekend I will be attending a party to celebrate several birthdays and accomplishments in our family. Of course, parties require food. Not just any food, but succulent and sweet temptations like cake and ice cream.  Everyone will be energized by the surge of sugar – everyone, that is, except me (and my wife). Don’t get me wrong, I love cake and ice cream, but my body hates sugar. I can’t have much if any of it anymore. Parties are hard because I’m constantly trying to justify having some because I want to gratify my personal desires without considering the big picture.

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray prior to His arrest and crucifixion, He took His disciples with Him. He specifically asked three of them to accompany Him deeper into the garden to support Him while He wrestled with the will of God.  He asked them to pray for Him while He took His burden to His heavenly Father. When He returned from praying, the disciples were asleep. What Jesus says to them is very important for us to hear. 

Matthew 26:41  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Every day we are bombarded with temptations to satisfy the desires of the flesh. Jesus gives us three things with which we can fight off each of those attacks of the Enemy.

The first is the ability to discern the difference between right and wrong. Jesus tells His disciples to watch, which implies an ability to see. Jesus has given us the capacity to recognize temptation and to see its end result in our lives. We must walk each step of each day with our eyes wide open to what is going on around us. Satan is attempting to lure us into the lie that the world can satisfy our deepest desires. Watch for it – you will see it.

The second thing Jesus gives us to overcome temptation is prayer. Unfortunately for many of us, prayer is our escape mechanism and not our defense system. Corrie Ten Boom said it this way, “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” We need to pray prior to being tempted, as Jesus taught us when He said, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We would avoid a lot of anguish over decisions and a lot of regret over actions if we would pray in advance and be prepared to always choose God’s will in every instance.

Cathy Fussell wrote an article about defensive prayer in the publication entitled Today’s Christian Woman. “Recently, my son, Andrew, reminded me of the need for daily prayer. He had accidentally spilled his drink and I went into a tirade. Andrew ended my harsh words when he quietly asked, ‘Mom, did you forget to ask Jesus to help you be nice today?’” 

The third thing Jesus gives us to withstand temptation is His Spirit. What an incredible promise – the spirit is willing. Most of us, however, tend to focus on the weak flesh portion of our existence. We’ve resigned ourselves to the lie that we just can’t help ourselves – it’s who I am and I can’t change it. Jesus says otherwise, and we need to listen to the voice of truth. His Holy Spirit in us is greater than the Enemy who is tempting us. What it really boils down to is what we really want. Sin is a choice. It is not an accident. It is not a psychological dysfunction. It is a choice. It is what we wanted at the time. It is the result of putting our own desires ahead of God’s will. It is the result of not praying and surrendering to the power of the risen Christ who lives in us.

So open your eyes and become sensitive to the subtle ways Satan tempts you every day. Pray that you will submit to the will of God in all things. And trust the Holy Spirit to provide you with the power to resist every sin. Today you can begin to walk in victory.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click here for Audio Blog)

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

The church I pastor is incredible. I am so blessed to serve the Lord at a servant-hearted, spiritually-minded, caring, giving, and praying group of people. It is an honor to be their pastor.

The praying part is especially strong. Not only do we pray about everything, but we pray for everyone, no matter what their need. It is a church of true intercession. Every Sunday morning there are people who pray before the worship service so that God’s Word is proclaimed in all its truth and people’s lives are transformed by its power. During each worship service we take a SELAH break – you know about SELAH from the Psalms, right? – and we pray for each other’s needs. Sometimes people even move about the sanctuary so they can be a part of praying for those with needs. 

The Scriptures give us plenty of examples of people who pray for one another. In today’s Bible reading from the pen of the Apostle John, he states that he has been praying for his friend Gaius.

3 John 1:2-4   “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 

John prays for three things. At first glance you may only notice two, but the third is really the most important, and we must discover it if we are to be true intercessors.

First he prays that Gaius would be in good health. A considerable proportion of the prayer requests we receive each Sunday and throughout the week have to do with health issues. But the health of a person is not their single most important need. In fact, good health is nothing more than the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Second, John prays that all would go well with Gaius. This can be applied to so many areas of our lives – from business to relationships to finances and on goes the list. Some have interpreted John’s prayer as a promise, and believe that with enough faith we can guarantee prosperity. That’s a huge stretch from John’s own condition at the end of his life when he was a political exile on a remote island, banished there for his faith. His faith brought him suffering, not success. Yet suffering for Christ is the benchmark of identification with Christ.

John puts both of these requests for his friend into their proper perspective with his third request – he prayed that Gaius’ soul would be getting along well. Here is the highpoint of intercessory prayer. John’s greatest joy was to receive news that one of his spiritual children was growing in his faith, being faithful to the truth, and living his life in obedience to that truth.

Today’s lesson is this – when we pray for others, our highest prayer for them must be for their spiritual health and prosperity, not their physical. It is good and acceptable to pray for their physical needs, but don’t stop there. Make sure you always pray primarily for their spiritual development and growth through whatever physical circumstance they are experiencing. All of God’s answers to our physical needs are temporary and will die with us. All of God’s answers to our prayers for spiritual health and prosperity bring fuller life, and that life will never die. When we pray, let’s pray for what really matters.

Pastor John

LifeLink Devotions (Click for Audio Blog)

Monday, February 7, 2022

Matthew 6:9-10  “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’”

A five-year-old boy was headed to McDonald’s for a Saturday lunch with his dad when they saw a car

accident up ahead. It was their family custom to pray for the people involved in accidents when they saw them, so the father asked his son to pray. From the back seat he heard these intense words – “Dear God, please don’t let those cars be blocking the entrance to McDonald’s.”

Lately I’ve become much more sensitive to selfish prayers. You know the type – prayers that tell God our

desired outcomes rather than ask God for His. Then, just to be safe and to seem spiritual, we add “In Jesus Name” to the end. We should have the courage to tell God up front that we are praying according to our own desires and not His.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them two foundational truths upon which all prayers should be built. First, God is to be revered as ruler of all things, and second, that His will is to be done on earth in the same capacity that it is done in heaven. There’s where the problem lies – in  the second part of His instruction. You see, we would all probably agree that in heaven God reigns supreme and that He is revered. His will is done immediately and implicitly. What heavenly being, after seeing how God cast Satan and his followers out of His presence when they rebelled against His authority, would dare do anything but obey the commands of God?

Yet we have our problem  letting God reign supreme in our lives on earth. Even in our most sincere

prayer times, when we fully surrender the outcomes of our circumstances and needs to the Father in heaven, we tend to act contrary to our prayers when we return to the reality of life. We begin to speculate on how God will work. We arrogantly presume to know which outcome He will choose. We manipulate circumstances and people to accomplish our desired outcomes. We begin to suffer from worry, anxiety, and fear. We have taken back the control that we had surrendered in prayer. We have prayed in vain for God’s solutions. What we should have prayed for is faith: faith to revere God as supreme ruler, and faith to trust God’s outcomes as good.

Until we have prayed for the faith necessary to trust God as Sovereign Ruler of our lives, our prayers for His will to be done will quickly dissipate into our desires. But when we have fully surrendered to God the Father and in faith believe that He is working all things out for good according to His purpose, we will experience peace. Every interruption, every inconvenience, every incident, and every incapacity will be viewed as God’s direction for our next step rather than an obstacle to our next desire. Every prayer we pray should begin with an affirmation of our faith in God’s sovereignty and our submission to His outcomes.

So watch how you pray. Then, watch how you live after you pray. Are they both compatible with faith that God is ruler of all, and with your humble surrender to His will?

Pastor John