3 more days!! I cannot wait to gather together on Good Friday at all Heritage locations at 7:00 pm to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. Even now, as I look back on our journey through this time of prayer & fasting, I see the fingerprints of God all over it. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again. I pray you have been challenged and encouraged through your times of prayer and study.
As a ministry team, we look forward to hearing what God did in your life during this time of sacrifice, and we also look forward to seeing you at the Good Friday Celebration.
Everyone is welcome.
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John 18 sets the stage for several significant events including one of my favorite sections of this particular book…the Reinstatement of Peter in Chapter 21. In just one chapter, Peter moves from aggressive defender to cowardly betrayer. It is also in this chapter that Peter begins a process of learning in three’s. He betrays Jesus 3 times here. In a few chapters, He will affirm his love for Jesus 3 times, and he will learn of God’s plan to take the Gospel to the Gentiles through yet another set of 3. [Acts 10]
It seems like Peter needed to hear things 3 times before he learned what God wanted him to know. I wonder if his name Peter, aka Cephas, which means “rock”, had any connection to his learning style. If so, we probably all need to be named after rocks, too. Just kidding. 😉
But how many times does God have to say, show or teach you something for you to listen?
I, for one, feel like I am on something more like a “3 dozen plan.” In verse 37, Jesus says, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Do you listen to God the first time?
Take time tonight to pray and ask God to help you listen to Him the first time.
Lord Jesus – In 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, You say that Your eyes and ears will be attentive to what we say when we humble ourselves, turn from wickedness and pray. I continue to ask You to do that, BUT I ALSO ASK…that You would allow our eyes and ears to be attentive to YOU. May we hear You clearly in the remaining days of our prayer & fasting. Help us listen to You the first time, and may Your will be done in and through us. Amen.
April 15, 2014
During the course of the 21-days, prayers have become more focused and more intense. The connection now feels more like ‘on the same couch’ instead of ‘overseas’, hope that’s not too vague but best way i could describe. During one intense session, God had me reviewing my unfinished work and the embedded question was, “How are you going to finish it?” That’ll put a fire in your bones! New plan…go Big, go Bold, or go Home. No more standing in the shadow, time to step out into the LIGHT and MOVE! #noshadows
April 15, 2014
i so identify with that!!! if only it took God 3 times to get me to hear- and put into practice- when He is trying to teach me something:-} ….that is why i am pray/fast/study during this to get BETTER at seeking His advice first or run to Him in prayer when some “attack” comes against me. too many times i go with past habits…time for that to change. also holding up a half dozen people in my life for salvation.
April 15, 2014
Shawn, I love reading your comments! Your question about ‘how many times does God … ‘ reminded me of questions I ask myself ALL the time. I wrote about it a while back. Thought I’d share it;
God’s View
If your Son had to die-so others could live- how would you feel about them?
If they scoffed at their sin-and went on their way-how would you feel about sin?
How many times must we break God’s heart before we can really see?
How many times must He call our name before we can really hear?
And how many times must He pull at our hearts before we are able to feel?
How many times has He walked next to us before we know He’s there?
How many times must He fix our mess before we even care?
And how many times do His tears have to fall before we claim Him as king?
How many visions has He place in our hearts before we see them as His?
How many times have we fallen on our face before we see our sin?
How many times do we tremble in fear before we are able to trust?
How many times do we fall so far short before we pursue to the end?
How many times do we look to this world before we are focused on Him?
If your Son had to die, so that sinners could live, how would you feel about sin?
If sinners could see from God’s point of view, how would they feel about Him?
Luke 19:41 “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘if you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace- but now it is hidden from your eyes.'”
John 14:9 “Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.'”