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Call of the Wilderness

March 5, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

In this short excerpt from a journal entry by the late priest Henri Nouwen, the author describes the need to make a significant change to his life during a very difficult period in his ministry. Nouwen senses the need to have a wilderness experience, free from the daily routines and busyness of modern life: You are living through an unusual time. You see that you are called to go toward solitude, prayer, hiddenness, and great simplicity. You see that, for the time being, you have to be limited in your movements, sparing with phone calls, and careful in letter writing….The thought that you may have to live away from friends, busy work, newspapers, and exciting books no longer scares you….It is clear that something in you is dying and something is being born. You must remain attentive, calm, and obedient to your best intuitions. (Taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, HarperOne, 1999)

I will never forget when the Spirit revealed to me that to seek God through prayer and fasting was to meet God in the wilderness. It was profound because up to this point in my life I had done everything to avoid spiritual wildernesses and valleys. What shocked me was how often I had sought to be with God through prayer and fasting. I realized through the revelation that I had really chosen the wilderness, or valley life. What kept me from realizing what I was signing up for was the desire to be with the One Who had called my name, and loved me to life. The Lord spoke to me through that revelation saying that He desired for me to get to the place in which I was so close to Him that I wasn’t conscious of the mountains or the valleys. All that mattered was being with Him.

Isn’ it funny how we put limitations and boundaries on a God who is every where? We all do it. We all have our limitations and stipulations of what we will and will not do for God. We limit ourselves based on our personality. Self-centeredly we will remark that we are extroverts, or introverts by nature, focus on our limitations, all the while excluding God from the entire conversation. I’ve even seen believers set limitations on obedience based on their supposed spiritual gifting. Often they will remark that they don’t possess the gift of evangelism, and cannot witness. Or they will proudly state that they are prophets, and can’t be expected to love God’s sheep like a pastor. It’s not my gift. We even erect walls to limit ourselves in our rituals. I’m referring to the rituals of quiet time, prayer, church attendance, worship, fellowship with the saints, ministry, missions, His Word and witnessing.

The writer of Hebrews addresses this issue in Hebrews 13:9-10 Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.

You could surmise that rituals place limits on God’s Grace. Whereas Grace is good for the heart, establishing, ennobling and strengthening it. Grace puts no limitations, boundaries or walls around the approaches to God. Grace simplifies and frees those approaches to go far beyond the limitations of our physical strength, mental prowess, or emotional stability. Grace, in fact, is the foundation to the altar that self-centered, ritualistic, legalistic “priests” have no right to partake of. Grace, the empowerment to do what only God can do. Grace, that calls us beyond all expectations, limitations, boundaries, and self-centered soulishness, leads us to what is humanly impossible. Rituals involve a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. Whereas to eat at the altar of Grace will involve going beyond the limitations, prescriptions, understandings, and boundaries. To find Jesus outside the camp will require getting outside of your rituals. It will require taking your “altar” outside – into an everyday work environment. Out into the marketplace, and everyday life. If you were going to approach the Grace available at the Altar of Worship, Praise, or Thanksgiving – you would go beyond the limits of your ritual. You would become extravagant, and rigorous at the same time. In fact the question could be asked, What limitations keep you from catching fire in your worship? What limitations keep you from getting into God’s Holy Fire? Jesus walked straight into God’s Holy Fire – for the joy set before Him, enduring the cross, scorning its shame – so that he could secure our salvation and sit down beside His Father in Heaven’s Kingdom.

Positioned For Presence

March 4, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Two paddleboats left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges made, and a race ensued. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South. One boat began falling behind because of insufficient fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped behind, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. Lightening their load, and renewing the fuel needed to keep the ovens burning, they won the race. But at what price?

Positioning your self to enter into the Presence of God’s Holy Fire will cost you everything – even your life. Dt. 4:11-12; 33;36 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick gloom. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the voice of the words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.…Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you heard, and live?…Out of heaven He made you hear His voice, that He might correct, discipline, and admonish you; and on earth He made you see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.

Repeatedly Moses positioned himself to be consumed by God’s Holy, Fiery Presence: Ex. 34:2 Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. Although Moses was never physically consumed by God’s Fire, his sinful nature was. Numbers 12:3 states that Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.” And we know from Scripture that as Moses’ sinful nature was consumed his physical countenance began to glow with the Glory of God. Moses positioning himself to meet the Lord was more than an attitude. It also involved his willingness to go the extra mile to meet with the Lord. His efforts in hiking far outside the camp, ascending and descending the mountain on numerous occasions, demonstrate his faith and humility. When we read the Scriptures regarding receiving answers to prayer, healings, or miracles – often times their manifestation was the direct result of their willingness to go the extra mile to position themselves to receive. Personally I can recount numerous times of seeking the Lord for an answer to prayer that eventually led to my going the extra mile to meet with God to hear His response. Often I’ve prayed, and worshipped way beyond the limits I had set upon my worship; far beyond Sunday only Christianity. There is an unusual, and mysterious passage of Scripture that most have turned into a formula for answered prayer that I believe points way beyond our 2 dimensional understanding. It’s found in Mt. 17:21 And He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting. Preceding this verse Jesus states something that sounds preposterous. He states that we could speak to a mountain to be uprooted and cast into the sea. Seeking to draw near to God is more of a mountain than many want to face. The truth and question that this text is asking, even requiring a response to is this: How bad do you want an answer? Are you willing to pray persistently? Are you willing to go to extra lengths in order to see it manifest it’s reality? The praying and fasting Jesus emphasized in this passage wasn’t a “one and done” formula for answered prayers. Not at all. It was a lifestyle of praying, fasting, and tossing into God’s Fire the cargo of our lives in order to win the “race.” Are you positioning yourself to receive the manifestation of Jesus’ Fire; seeking to see Him; to meet Him on His Mountain?

Tents, and Tables of Ascent

March 3, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

We are told that when John Huss was arrested and informed that he would be burned to death for his faith, he purposely practiced holding his hand over fire to prepare for his final test. He burned himself in preparation. He wanted to be faithful to the end.

The question I would like to explore today is, What preparations can we make to meet Jesus outside the camp? What visionary steps has the Lord given us to catch fire with His Glory and Presence? Faith, hope and trust are the obvious places to begin our search for the Lord. But what’s the next step to encounter His manifested Presence? Sunday many took the first step in drawing near to the Lord in facing their fear, removing their shoes, and humbling themselves at the church altar. Like Moses removed his shoes – you removed what you were resting, and trusting in, exchanging your filthy rags of self – righteousness for His righteousness. The next step involves fundamental disciplines, Jews, Christians, and other faiths have used for years to connect with God. The only difference being that our disciplines have been transformed by the manifestation of the Spirit of God Who causes them to come to life. For example, in Scripture, when it refers to someone seeking God there were two fundamental disciplines implied: Worship and prayer. Faith, humility, truth, and obedience were the fuel for their practice. But our main focus presently is, What can you prepare in order to meet Jesus outside the camp, and catch fire in His manifested Presence?

Moses provides us with a clue: Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take [his own] tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people].…Exodus 34:1-3 The Lord said to Moses, Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke. Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain; neither let flocks or herds feed before that mountain.

The steps, and disciplines, Moses practiced were: (1) Establishing a place to meet with God; (2) Removing all distractions; (3) Utilizing faith to call it a place to meet with God; (4) Cutting, or carving out time to meet with God; (5) Offering your heart of stone for cutting and carving by the Spirit of Truth; (6) Readying yourself to meet with God; (7) Rising up in the morning; (8) Presenting yourself to the Lord; (9) and Coming alone.

Hebrews 13:10 states: We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat. Another way of saying this is by saying that, We have a table from which they have no right to eat. Now the question begging to be asked is, How can we pitch a tent for His Presence, and cut a table from our spiritual disciplines, that will cause us to come into His Presence, and catch fire with His Glory? How can we find this outside of the ordinary, common, distracting life we experience inside the camp? How can our seeking God, through the disciplines, extend beyond the average, ordinary, common pursuits inside the camp?

Vision

March 2, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Sunday many of you responded to the call to seek God to catch fire through His Spirit. As a testimony to your desire to take off your old way of walking in order to turn to see God, and catch fire from the Burning Man – Jesus, you placed your shoes on the altar, praying a prayer of dedication. Yet, responding to the call is only the first step. What’s next? You have heard the Scripture, Where there is no vision the people perish. (Prov. 29:18)

To receive the vision from the Lord for the next step in your walk you will need to constantly keep in mind 6 principles of seeking: (1) The role of faith, hope, trust and perseverance; (2) Modes and means of manifestation; (3) Power and potential of positioning; (4) Addressing the boundaries and limitations of rituals through the power of Grace; (5) Understanding the call to seek God through prayer and fasting is a call to meet with Him in the wilderness; (6) and Passing the test of the illusion of being passed by, and rejection.

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 states: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

To begin this new walk all of the principles of seeking have to be bound tight by faith, hope, trust, and perseverance. Romans 10:17 states that: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. In order to see the vision you must first seek God to hear how to walk. The Greek word used for “word” in Romans 10:17 is the word “rhema.” Rhema simply means “out of the Mouth of God.” It’s His revealed and inspired words. Faith, hope, and trust will lead you to seek the words of the Lord for the vision. Perseverance will lead you to continue on in your search. Through these meditations we have been asking, How can I meet Jesus outside the camp? Through faith, hope, and trust you begin to seek Him to answer the practical ways He wants you to accomplish this.

For example in Exodus 33:7 Moses pitched his own tent – for people to seek God. Then in Exodus 34:1-3 Moses proceeded to cut two more stone tablets, readied himself, ascended the mountain, climbed alone, and presented himself before the Lord. Moses took 6 practical steps to what he sensed and heard from the Lord. What’s interesting about both passages is that it doesn’t say why Moses pitched his tent. We can infer he simply had a sense to do this, and obviously a desire to pitch his tent – far outside the camp. Secondly it states that the Lord spoke to Moses but it doesn’t say how, or where? Did Moses seek God alone in His tent and receive this word, or did Moses come to the base of Mount Sinai to ask? It doesn’t say. What it does say is that the Lord spoke to Moses, and Moses proceeded in taking the steps he believed were from the Lord.

Thus the next step from the church’s altar is not only to continue asking, Lord, how can I meet you outside the camp, but to also begin asking, What practical steps can I take to meet you there?

I Seek God!

March 1, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Chuck Colson in his book, Kingdoms In Conflict, wrote: Have you not heard of the madman who lit a lamp in the bright morning and went to the marketplace crying ceaselessly, “I seek God! I seek God!” There were many among those standing there who didn’t believe in God so he made them laugh. “Is God lost?” one of them said. “Has he gone astray like a child?” said another. “Or is he hiding? Has he gone on board ship and emigrated?” So they laughed and shouted to one another. The man sprang into their midst and looked daggers at them. “Where is God?” he cried. “I will tell you. We have killed him–you and I We are all his killers! But how have we done this? How could we swallow up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the horizon? What will we do as the earth is set loose from its sun?” (Friedrich Nietzsche, 1889). Nietzsche’s point was not that God does not exist, but that God has become irrelevant. Men and women may assert that God exists or that He does not, but it makes little difference either way. God is dead not because He doesn’t exist, but because we live, play, procreate, govern, and die as though He doesn’t.

But this was not the case with Moses. Although, Israel had survived the judgment of God, for “playing” before the idol of a golden calf, Moses wasted no time in setting up his own tent. Exodus 33:6-7 And the Israelites left off all their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Now Moses used to take [his own] tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people]. And everyone who sought the Lord went out to [that temporary] tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

2 Things you can observe from this passage is that Israel got rid of their ornaments. In the Hebrew this literally means their “trappings.” Trappings are defined as the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or thing. Typically, most who seek and search after God begin and end at this place. Focusing on the negative, they seek to entice God to love them through their sacrifice and quickly wither away in their pursuit. Through their sacrifices they seek to earn the approval of God. Often with this focus we become the object of our pursuit and center of our worship. But Moses knew not to be satisfied with their outward expressions of regret, and repentance. Instead, he raised up an altar where those who were hungry to know God could seek Him to find and experience Him. The Hebrew word for seek or search in verse 7 means: to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:—ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for). It’s a peculiar word in that it implies its primary power appears to be that of touching, and feeling. We serve a God who desires us to reach out for Him to find Him. The amazing and awesome thing is that he doesn’t stop there but provides the ways and the means for us to experience the realization of our planned destination. As Nietzsche asked, Where is God? Many of us can say we are taking off the trappings that stand in the way in order to reach through the darkness to touch and be touched by God. Are you taking the time to touch Him or do you live, play, procreate, govern, and die as though He doesn’t?

During this time of praying and fasting are you seeking to touch God and be touched by Him?

What Are You Dying For?

February 27, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Once John Maxwell’s leadership word for the day was Warrior. He said that a warrior is best defined as the character, William Wallace from ‘Braveheart’. Wallace had a cause that he was so committed to that he was willing to die for it. In essence that is a warrior. His life’s cause earned him the title of Braveheart. Franklin Roosevelt once stated: Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. We see this courage on display as Jesus lived His life on earth. We see it demonstrated in what He was willing to live and die for.

In the first temptation of Christ it is revealed what He was willing to live for. In the second temptation what He would die for: Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on a turret (pinnacle, gable) of the temple sanctuary. And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God.

1 John 4:18 states: There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

Jesus had heard the Father thunder, This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!” Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. God His Father had drawn near and Love led Jesus on though the fasting, the wilderness, the hunger and thirsting. Love led Jesus through His earthly life and ministry, and Love led Him to the Garden of blood soaked, sweat and tearful prayers. Love led Jesus through the darkness of man’s questionings, beatings, and trumped up charges. Love led Jesus through the scourge of the soldiers whip, the splintered, crucifixion tree, and the nails that pierced His hands and feet; thorns that pierced His brow. And as death closed His eyes, with its cruel grip, Love warmed His heart on Resurrection morn. This is the Love that found us and the same Love that calls to us. This ascent, His Ascent, is for those warriors who shake off the self-centered, proud-filled, fears for something else and Someone Else – more important than fear. Love calls us Home and Love calls us higher. Are you hearing the call of Love? The call to Love?

C.S. Lewis wrote in his book The Last Battle: I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now….Come further up, come farther in!”

Two Altars

February 26, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Before the days of natural gas grills the majority of us simply stacked charcoal briquettes in the form of a blackened Mayan pyramid. This was followed by liberally dousing the “steps” of the pyramid with copious amounts of lighter fluid. Opening a box of Penley Strike Anywhere Matches, or Ohio Blue Tip Matches, we retrieved a match, taking care to safely close the box. Turning the box sideways, we narrowed our focus on the striking surface strip, in order to drag the tip of the match quickly across its surface. Performed correctly the match would quickly explode into a flame. Seasoned grillers learned quickly that following the burst of flame they would toss the match onto the briquettes with one single flick of the wrist….and ran like the blazes. Many novice priests to the charcoal altar typically lingered longer than they should have resulting in a burnt offering of hair and flesh on the steps of the Briquette Mayan Altar. The “burnt offering” was typically received by the grill god resulting in various meats being eaten and jubilantly received by all.

Hebrews 13:9-10 refers to 2 different types of altar in which sacrifices were typically offered: Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.

One of those altars was reserved strictly for the Jewish Priesthood who dutifully offered the prescribed animal to its flames. This altar was one alien to most Gentile followers of Jesus ruled solely by rituals, fear and commands to be followed to the minutest detail. The altar of verse 10, however, was one of Grace that established, ennobled, and strengthened the heart of the worshipper. Both altars burned with fire. But only one altar caused your heart to catch fire. The former, simply left the heart of priest and worshipper weary from meaningless observance of ritual.

The question I want you to pray through today is, Which altar have you been sacrificing at? The Altar of ritual, commands, and lifeless observance or the Altar of Grace which causes its worshippers to catch fire with love, and a life for Jesus? Has your heart ever burned brightly for Jesus?

Humility of Hunger

February 25, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

By the year 2030 30% of the inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa will have the highest rate of undernourishment in the world. In the documentary, The Most Dangerous Ways To School, Massai children, ages 4-11, are recorded as having walked from 10-20 kilometers (6-12 miles), one way – each day, in order to attend school. Many walk these distances with no food in their bellies, facing the constant threat of attacks from Elephants, Leopards, Lions, and alligators which inhabit the only source of drinking water for miles.

Jesus hungered following His forty days without food. When tempted to make bread from stones, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Cross referencing this passage of Scripture you receive greater insight into the purpose of fasting: ²And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Fasting reminds us to humble ourselves along with the worlds population that goes to bed hungry many a night. Fasting reminds us what we really should be living for – the Words that proceed out of the Mouth of God; Heaven’s Manna. Fasting reminds us what’s really in our hearts.

Yesterday I asked, How can we go outside the camp to meet Jesus? We meet Jesus outside the camp when we humble ourselves through prayer, and fasting, going without food in order that we might position ourselves to live only for the words that proceed from the mouth of God.

Going Outside the Camp

February 24, 2021/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

When Jesus was filled with the Spirit following His Baptism He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to pray and fast in preparation for the launching of the Kingdom of God. You could say that he went outside the camp. Question is, What does this phrase mean and how does it apply to our time of seeking to draw near to Jesus with a whole-heart?

Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take [his own] tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people]. And everyone who sought the Lord went out to [that temporary] tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

Moses took his own tent and pitched it far off from the camp. When you look at this symbolically you will quickly notice it was Moses’ tent, and no one else’s. The Apostle Paul referred to our earthly house, our bodies, as earthly tents (2 Cor. 5:1, 4). Symbolically speaking, you can apply the Exodus passage to your own spiritual life by asking the question, How can I take my own tent; my own spiritual house outside the camp to meet with God?

But that leads to another question: What is the Camp? What’s in the Camp that Moses was seeking to get far away from? Does this refer to just the day to day activities that took place inside the encampment of the children of Israel? Was Moses departure from the Camp focused only on physically removing himself from the circumstances of day to day life in the camp or was he seeking something more?

Hebrews 13:13 encourages all believers to get outside the camp when it states: Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him.

Here’s what I want you to pray towards during this time of fasting: How can I meet Jesus outside the camp? Ask the Lord to reveal to you how He wants you to meet Him outside the camp. Then watch, and listen for how He will answer you.

Sounding the Depths

June 18, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Ephesians. 3:18-19 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; ¹⁹[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

This was part of a prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Ephesus. In the book Mere Christianity, its author C.S. Lewis remarked: A good many people nowadays say, “I believe in a God, but not in a personal God.” He adds that those who believe that God goes beyond personality are really saying that God is impersonal; something less than personal. We expect this kind of talk from unbelievers but not from followers of Jesus. Unfortunately our practice of spirituality reveals that we really view God as less than personal. More like a rug or a mat that we place on the floor and clean our feet or walk over – ignoring it altogether. We don’t expect much from the rug or mat.

Interestingly enough, physical truth often mirrors spiritual truth. For example, we think very little of a two dimensional world. But add extra dimensions to it and it becomes more than lines on a page. It becomes an object that we can interact with. Inside or outside of that object you can move three ways. Lewis adds: “you can move…to the left or right, backwards or forwards, up or down. Every direction is either one of these three or a compromise between them. They are called the three Dimensions. Now notice this. If you are using only one dimension, you could draw only a straight line. If you are using two, you could draw a figure: say, a square. And a square is made up of four straight lines. Now a step further. If you have three dimensions, you can then build what we call a solid body: say, a cube – a thing like a dice or a lump of sugar. And a cube is made up of six squares.

Now all of these lines converge to make something that is tangible and real. Even as you advance to deeper levels you never leave behind the simpler ones. You combine them to advance to something far grander than you or I imagined. Unfortunately, Western Christianity has resigned God to be a line or two. Nothing more than a mat or a rug.

Pauls’ prayer for the Ephesians, and I believe for us, is that we would know personally the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ experientially. That our mere knowledge, without experience, would be surpassed by experiences that build upon the simple lines that have been given to us in order to advance in our intimate, experiential, progressing relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

The majority of pew warmers in the West are still treating Jesus like a mat or rug. But you need to understand – there’s no accidents with Jesus. He has caused the infinite, eternal lines of Eternity to merge with yours. The question is, will you go wider, farther, higher up, and deeper in? Or will you simply keep walking over the mat? How could you ever miss a God so big?

Needing Nothing

June 16, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Revelation 3:17 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing…

When we are hungry we recognize we are so by our stomachs alerting us to the fact our body needs fuel. This usually comes in the form of pains, tiredness, low blood sugar, and inappropriate noises coming from our stomach. If time permits we give attention to that need by looking for something to eat. The same thing is true of all our other needs: sleep, rest, water, adequate body temperature (hot or cold), adequate clothing, and shelter. When these needs are recognized we address them – if we can – through providing the resources that are necessary to fulfill that need.

Now the question we need to be asking ourselves is, Why aren’t we aware of our spiritual needs? What would be the symptoms that you had a spiritual need?

The Laodiceans were so blind and deaf spiritually that they couldn’t recognize their spiritual needs. They believed they had no need. This could have been caused by one of two things:

a) They were so wealthy in material things that it blinded them to their spiritual needs;

(b) They thought that they had arrived at the pinnacle of spiritual maturity and that there was no longer a necessity to grow.

Which raises a series of other questions, What spiritual needs do people have? How do you meet those spiritual needs? What are the basic tools or resources that we turn to in meeting those needs? Are we addressing those needs?

For example, your body can be hungry and instead of feeding it from the 5 basic food groups you actually starve it to death by feeding it chocolate candy bars. Even though you are eating you are not nourishing and sustaining it.

Many 21st Century Christians are suffering from the same spiritual malnourishment as the Laodiceans. Not aware that there is a problem we starve spiritually never addressing the problem.

Are you growing spiritually? If so how would you know? What are the basic spiritual needs that an individual has? How would you address those spiritual needs?

Stick in the Mud

June 15, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

John 5:19 Now it was on the Sabbath day that Jesus mixed the mud and opened the man’s eyes.

You have heard the idiomatic saying, “don’t be a stick in the mud,” which refers to someone who is considered boring, due to unpopular or outdated beliefs. Oswald Chambers writes: “One of the greatest hindrances in coming to Jesus is the excuse of our own temperament, (personality). We make our temperament and our natural desires barriers to coming to Jesus. Yet the first ting we realize when we do come to Jesus is that He pays no attention what soever to our natural desires. We have to idea that we can dedicate our gifts to God. However, you cannot dedicate what is not yours. There is actually only one thing you can dedicate to God, and that is your right to yourself.”

Recently we were praying at church and my wife observed that when the water is shallow it is easily muddied. Thus we began praying that God would raise the depth of the River of the Spirit in our Church, and in our people. In shallow water it is hard to float, and hard to enjoy. Attempts at getting beneath the surface are impossible being that you are already at the surface. Even if you could get beneath the surface, the water would be so muddy you couldn’t see a thing.

Jesus commanded us to “Come follow Me!” (Luke 18:22) He did not give us the choice to remain stuck fast in the mud of shallowness. Besides those who remain stuck fast, unwilling to change their beliefs, cannot see that their natural desires actually prevent them from seeing where Jesus is going. Remaining stuck in the mud, of spiritual shallowness, only gives you the illusion that you are following Jesus. But anyone who has waded from the shore of natural temperament and plunged beneath the surface will see that Jesus mixes up the mud of self-centeredness to free us from the crooked sticks that we are. In the depths of the Waters of His Spirit we are free to dive deep beyond the shallowness of surface living and see where, and Who Jesus is. Lastly, it’s nearly impossible for a stick to dive deep beneath the waters – for it will always have a tendency to float. But combine the weight of the Spirit upon it and the stick transforms into a vessel for the wonder and Glory of its Creator.

Wanderlust

June 11, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Have you ever been hiking through the woods and couldn’t wait to get to the next clearing? Have you ever seen a mountain you just had to climb? Then you may have been experiencing what some would call “wanderlust.” Wanderlust is defined as a strong desire to wander or travel the world and can be expressed through an intense urge for self-development by experiencing the unknown, confronting unforeseen challenges, getting to know unfamiliar cultures, and ways of life or behaviors.

Hebrews 11:8-10 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.⁹[Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.¹⁰For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

What would have happened if Abram had of disobeyed God and remained where he was, and as he was? We would be missing the greatest event ever to intersect human history – Jesus!

This morning Oswald Chambers stated: Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. (My Utmost For His Highest)

Imagine going to the base of Mount Everest and ignoring it, or traveling to the Grand Canyon, and taking a nap. Imagine someone traveling all the way to the beaches of the Great Barrier Reef only to remain on its shores building sand castles. Imagine being brought to the feet of Jesus only to say “I’m satisfied with my own experience and I want nothing more of You?” But, unfortunately that’s what many choose to do remaining tethered to the dock of their salvation experience, refusing to wade out into the depths of the River and Ocean of God’s Holy Spirit.

That day you surrendered to Jesus should have been the scariest event in your life. (Have you ever really, surrendered?) In that moment you made a commitment to let go of the keel of your life’s ship, and let Him take you out into the depths of the unknown. You did it then – who snuck up behind you and tethered you back to the dock? It’s time to unfurl the sails of your life, loose the ropes of familiarity and comfort, and let the wind of God’s Spirit blow you to worlds unknown.

Deeper

June 9, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Ezekiel 47:6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

How deep are you spiritually? Our depth or lack thereof is simply the result of “spiritual reality.” Oswald Chamber states: “If you realize you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality – do not put blinders of reason on again.” Many in the church are not convinced of their spiritual poverty when it comes to the depths of the things of the Spirit. They simply wait around to be raptured into it – not realizing they have a part to play in the depths they are willing to go. They are no deeper because they’ve chosen to stay at the bank and watch others experience the depths. As the prophet Ezekiel was asked, “Son of man, have you seen this?” The prophet was shown the depths of the River – but he still had to choose the depths that he would go.

Ezekiel 47:1-5 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. ²He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.³And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. ⁵Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. ⁶He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.

The prophet had a choice. He had been shown the depths of the River – but after that he would have to make a choice regarding the depths he would go. Many have been shown the depths but are still clinging to the shore. No pastor, teacher, not even Jesus can make you wade out into the depths – you have got to take that uncertain, uncomfortable first step. Spiritual depth still requires a physical response. The question is, How long is too long to wait by the shore?

Launch Out Into the Deep

June 8, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Yesterday’s message challenged us to launch out into the deep of the unknown but how many will let loose of the dock and leave the harbor of comfort, and security? This morning I thought it was appropriate that the devotional by Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest” would have the following: Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment. When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. …It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.

My experience has revealed that most refuse to let go of the shelter of the dock to launch out into the deep things of the Spirit. Some will fool themselves into believing that they have already arrived, while others will continue waiting for the next high tide. Excuses will be made for their disobedience. Rationalizations will propose that when the conditions are right, and favorable – they will launch out. Don’t you believe it. You and I are not the kind of person to ever leave the safety and comfort of the dock, while the devil is quite happy to watch you waste away tied to your pride and fear. Don’t be mistaken, this invitation is Divine and the time is now. Will you launch out into the deep at the Master’s command, or will you continue sleeping safely in the harbor?

Non – Essential

June 2, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Essential is defined as absolutely necessary; indispensable; pertaining to or constituting the essence of a thing; noting or containing an essence of a plant, drug, etc. being such by its very nature or in the highest sense;

Many of us winced when our governor deemed alcohol and abortions essential, but not church. Yet we must face the painful truth and ask ourselves, Why has culture deemed it so? Where is the Power of the Spirit to set captives free and change continents of darkness into bastions of Light? Where is the power of the New Testament Church whose testimony included the following: Have you forgotten that the kingdom of God will never belong to the wicked? Don’t be under any illusion—neither the impure, the idolater or the adulterer; neither the effeminate, the pervert or the thief; neither the swindler, the drunkard, the foul-mouthed or the rapacious shall have any share in the kingdom of God. And such men, remember, were some of you! But you have cleansed yourselves from all that, you have been made whole in spirit, you have been justified before God in the name of the Lord Jesus and in his very Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:9-11, J.B. Phillips Translation)

Did you catch the bold faced statement? And such men, remember, were some of you! How is it that the NT Church had the power to deliver men, women, youth, children from hopeless slavery to these things but the modern church is powerless? May I suggest that part of the reason that we have become non-essential is that we have ceased aiming at Heaven. Our preoccupation has been too much with this earth, and we are reaping the results of our dereliction of love and duty.

C.S. Lewis states in Mere Christianity: “The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Aiming to Please

June 1, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

C.S. Lewis echoes the Apostle Paul when he stated that if we have really been born-again of the Spirit, our aim, or life’s focus, will not be on this earth – but on the things of Jesus’ Kingdom. Colossians 3:1-2 If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

What are you aiming for in this life? What do your activities, and energies spent reveal? What do your fears reveal – about this life and the life to come? What do your fears reveal about who or what you really place your trust?

3 Times A Year

May 26, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed (Dt. 16:16 AMPC)

Tomorrow night we are going to celebrate Pentecost which is a holiday, or holy day celebrated by Jews and Christians every year. The Church holiday bases their date of Sunday, May 31 on the Gregorian calendar, whereas the Jewish date of Friday-Saturday, May 29-30 is based on God’s calendar. I say God’s calendar because if we believe the Word of the Lord to be true – from “Kiver to Kiver” (Cover to Cover) – then we also believe that God gave these feasts and festivals to His people for a purpose. Now when I say, His people, I am referring both to Jew, and those who have been ingrafted into the Fig Tree that Israel is through the righteousness of Abraham. We have become the circumcised of the heart and God’s Law has been written upon our hearts. The question is, How does all of this apply to the modern day saint in the 21st century?

Recently I was convicted by the revelation that in two out of the three feasts something significant happened. (I could make an argument for all three but I will spare you the details. Suffice it to say that an argument could be made that Jesus was actually born during the Feast of Tabernacles based on several prophecies regarding Jesus being Immanuel – “the God Who Tabernacles or Dwells with His people“) We know that Jesus was crucified during Passover, and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost. It is my opinion that Jesus will return during the Feast of Tabernacles. Again this would take a great deal of time to explain but I’ll leave you with a little tidbit of information to consider: Why did the Jews lay down palm branches when Jesus was entering Jerusalem? (Palm branches were specifically used during the Feast of Tabernacles). My answer would be, that the Jews associated the Palm Branches with Tabernacles, or Sukkot, and with the coming of the Messiah. My conviction expanded into the realization that if God told His people that they had to gather on these three significant holidays, and on two of the three holidays Jesus appeared, then it would behoove us believers to also gather on the three holidays for Inspection (Passover, and Ridding ourselves of the yeast, or leaven of sin); for Dedication and Consecration (Pentecost was an offering of the very best of their first fruits from harvest); and lastly, for Preparation (Tabernacles was preceded by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in which the people sought to draw near to God, repent of sin, and prepare for God drawing near to them). Thus, by the Grace of God, and His Spirit our church will celebrate these three readying ourselves for Christ’s Return.

If we are practicing all three then we too will be prepared when the Trumpet Blasts sound from the Heavens and the saints are gathered to meet Him in the air. May the Spirit of Revelation set us free from the powerful delusion that has come upon the mainstream church that does not love the Truth, or know (ginosko) Him. Lord willing I will see you tomorrow night for our Pentecost meal.

Thank You’s, and Returning To Church

May 18, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Good morning Bethany Church family! I just wanted to send out a thank you to everyone who has brought or bought meals for our family following the birth of our grandson. We have eaten really well. (I’ve gained back the weight from the fast) As you can tell from the picture above he is growing up rapidly, causing his Papa (Grandad) to be envious of his ability to grow a full beard even though he is only 3 weeks old. (LOL).

Thank you, thank you for your love and support of our family during this time. It has meant a great deal to Stephen, Amber, Jackie and myself. We have the greatest church family!

Also I wanted to thank John David and everyone who came out to remodel our sanctuary stage and paint the lobby. If you get a chance, say a word of thanks to: JD and Charlotte Price, Vic Medlin, Mary Quinn, Matt, Kristan, Evan and Nate Wagenmaker, Jody Stowe, Ron Drogan, Art Meza, Rob Owens, Nate Manning, and Kent Lee.

By the time we return to worship this Sunday, May 24 we should have a new looking stage. Also on that note: the Governor of NC has lifted the restriction on churches gathering to worship. With that in mind please follow these guidelines:

If you have had a fever, or have a fever – for what ever reason – STAY HOME and watch the service online!

If you are in the at risk age group for the virus use discretion and practice caution in returning to church. I know it’s not the same as coming to church, but for now you watch the service online.

If you feel more comfortable in returning to church wearing a mask: wear a mask.

Those who want to gather for worship while taking the proper precautions are encouraged to do so. Chairs in the sanctuary will be placed approximately 6 feet apart, while couples, and families will obviously be encouraged to sit together.

Following the service Sunday morning we will be having Memorial Day Cookout. Bring drinks, dessert, and chips for you and your family – and enough for a guest. Our church will be providing the meat (Thank the Lord for meat!)

Lord willing we will see you all at church this Sunday morning, May 24.

Love Life Day of Prayer & Fasting

May 6, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

This week is our Love Life week of prayer and fasting. Today we specifically pray and fast for the Lord of Hosts (Angelic Armies) to bring an end to the abortion industries abuse of women’s bodies, shedding of innocent blood, and the marketing of body parts from aborted fetuses.

If you haven’t done so – sign the commitment card found on your last Bethany Update, or follow this link: https://forms.gle/ZhDoMJe8rF3eMhXb6.

Download the Love Life App on your smart phone or computer to zoom in for the virtual prayer walk this Saturday at the Hebron Street abortion center at 700 E. Hebron Street, Charlotte.

Read 1 Kings 18 and pray the Scriptures prophetically, or symbolically.

1. 1Kings 18:1 – Lord send the Reign of Your Holy Spirit.

2. 1 Kings 18:13 – Lord end Jezebel’s reign over Charlotte, NC, America and the world.

3. 1 Kings 18:13 – Lord resurrect the Prophets and the prophetic voice in our city, state nation, and the world. Raise up an Elijah Company of prophetic saints in the Body of Jesus in our church and around the world. Remove the deaf and dumb spirit from the Body of Jesus so that they can pray, prophesy, and share their faith.

4. 1 Kings 18:18 – That true, heart-felt repentance would come to the Body of Christ in Charlotte, NC, America and the Nations – for breaking the commands of the Lord and bowing down to the altars of death, prosperity, materialism, secularism, atheism, and worldliness.

5. 1 Kings 18:20-24 – That God would bring about a showdown between the Elijah Company and the messengers of Satan.

6. 1 Kings 18:21 – That the Body of Christ would repent of wavering between two opinions: between Jesus and murder; between Jesus and the lies of death and destruction; between Jesus and satan; between Jesus and the idols of the land; between Jesus and pornography and sexual immorality. That the Body of Christ would repent of their duplicitous actions, immorality, idolatry, and sitting on the fence. Pray for them Grace to choose who is going to be their Lord and Master. That pastors would become prophetic voices to their people and no longer waver between two opinions.

7. 1 Kings 18:30 – That the Body of Jesus would repair the Altar of the Lord through prayer and obedience in their lives, and families.

8. 1 Kings 18:32 – That the Body of Jesus would begin building an altar of worship and prayer to Jesus and Jesus alone; tearing down the altars they’ve erected to the idols of media, entertainment, song, and dance.

9. 1 Kings 18:33 – That the Body of Jesus would offer up a sacrifice of themselves in time, daily worship and prayer. That the Body of Jesus would become an altar of sacrificial prayer.

10. 1 Kings 18:33-35 – That the Body of Jesus would flood that altar with the Water of the Word of God, and the Spirit – reminding God of His promises; beseeching Him to bare His Holy ad Righteous arm in behalf of the innocent children, and those held captive by Jezebel. That Jesus would come like a Man of War and break the chains of these captives, loosing His vengeance and justice on behalf of the women, babies, and the polluted land.

11. 1 Kings 18:36-38 -That the Holy One of Consuming Fire would send down fire from Heaven in response to the prayers of His people making us a sacrifice. That we would ascend through our prayers, and worship to the Presence of the Lord. That the Lord would baptize us and His Church in the Holy Spirit, Fire, and Power thrusting us forth to our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the world.

12. 1 Kings 18:39 -That the world would bow their knee to Jesus through this outpouring, and that a spiritual awakening would come to the Church and the lost, declaring that Jesus is God, and Lord!

13. 1 Kings 18:40 – That the Lord would either bring salvation to all the politicians, business owners, and employees of the abortion industry or that He would seize them and bring about His justice for the unborn, and the innocent blood that has been shed.

Fig Leaves and Face Masks

May 5, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

1 Peter 4:17 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe orobey the good news (the Gospel) of God?

Through the stay at home orders of our state governors, and social distancing we have discovered how vulnerable we really are. In the midst of this revelation fear comes to the surface shining light on the fact that exposure seems to be at the core of the human condition. From Adam and Eve hiding behind fig leaves, or hiding behind a mask, our fears expose where our trust lies.

The recipients of Peter’s letter were no different as they faced an unseen enemy that caused great suffering, and death to all they loved. Suffering and death could be avoided through conformity to the fear, but delayed the inevitable suffering of eternal separation, and alienation from God and all that is good. Facing the fear, and the suffering could only be endured through the gathering called church. Church could be as small as 2-3, or as large as 5000 ( Book of Acts). Here at the Church, or the House of God, the members of the Family of God learned obedience and prayer. Obedience and prayer accompanied one another as sincere worshippers sought to identify with the sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus obeyed – they obeyed. He prayed – they prayed. Thus judgment began in the House of God as they discovered obedience. Obedience led to prayer, prayer to confession, and confession to repentance. Their sinful nature, and ours, was and is brought into the Light of Jesus’ sacrificial life. The avoidance of surrender to obedience and prayer only exalted what God had judged at Calvary’s Cross and ultimately will be condemned at the Great White Throne Judgment. The Final Verdict will be witnessed by all those who resisted, ignored and consciously rejected the call of God’s Spirit to identify with His Son. The question is, Are we identifying now with Jesus – or are we hiding behind a mask, avoiding the Final Verdict? Only identification, obedience, and prayer will reveal whether we chose His Blood or a mask.

Your Opinion of God

May 2, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Romans 5:5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (AMPC)

What’s your opinion of God? What’s your opinion of Jesus, His Word and His promises? Do your words of praise match your opinions of Jesus and His promises?

For the past several months I’ve been pursuing returning to my First Love. This morning I discovered a key to it’s restoration: Romans 4:18 [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become…

Abraham became who God destined him to become through the Love of God being poured out in his heart. We become who we are destined through His Love. How did Abraham become? Romans 4:20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,…

This love was shed abroad in his heart as he did not allow unbelief, or distrust in the promises of God. In fact it says that his faith was empowered as he gave praise and glory to God. But how was Abraham to give God praise without Bethel Music, Youtube songs, special effects, and smoke machines? The key is found in the Greek meaning of the word, “praise.” The definition of this word in the Greek surprised me. It did not mean what I thought. Praise here is defined as, giving your opinion, or estimate of something or someone whether good or bad. In Romans 4:20 it specifically means, “Giving Glory to God by not distrusting His promises.” That definition convicted me. How many times have I let my fear, and distrust over ride God’s Word and promises? My fear, and distrust actually reveals that I don’t have that high opinion of God or of His promises. That is my praise. I either trust, or esteem the truths of God’s Word or the lies of the evil one.

What have your opinions been saying about your praise?

Where Are You?

April 27, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Isa. 56:7 These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

Just a quick note to let you all know that God’s House of Prayer is open. Many of us are meeting to pray from 6:30-9:30 every night in the sanctuary. At the same time we are practicing social distancing, concluding the evening with a good dousing of the chairs in lysol.

Last night during prayer the Lord prompted me to ask, Where are you? It took me some time to see but as I continued looking I saw Jesus standing at the bow of an old masted ship, or clipper with sails. He was being sprayed by the waves crashing around the ship but was unmoved, looking ahead. As the waves rolled and crashed about the ship I kept seeing Jesus shift from wearing a robe to wearing a pirates outfit. I thought that maybe my unconscious mind was superimposing this onto the vision until I thought of Luke 11:21–23When the strong man, fully armed, [from his courtyard] guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed [his property is at peace and is secure].²²But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil).²³He who is not with Me [siding and believing with Me] is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me [engage in My interest], scatters. (AMPC)

I realized that Jesus is setting out to plunder the strongman in His Church – His Bride. He is setting course through these storms to rob him of his armor, and to divide up his plunder.

The other Scripture I thought of was Mark 4:38-40 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?³⁹And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).⁴⁰He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? (AMPC)

Jesus isn’t asleep during this storm but is setting out to lead His Church, and His Leader-Ship through this storm. He is not slumbering or sleeping but is plunging head first into the enemies plans. It is time to have faith and listen. Fear implies no faith, or trust. Look to Him and join Him in the “bow.” Where is Jesus? He is in the “bow” – in prayer. You will find Jesus in prayer – if you will pray and seek Him. Could it also be implied that “He who is not with Me [siding and believing with Me] is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me [engage in My interest], scatters?”

Gather with 2-3 to pray with Jesus each night preparing for His great awakening, or join us at church, but don’t be standing against Jesus in these storms.

Altar of Fire

April 23, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

1 Kings 18:24, 36-39 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the One Who answers by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered, It is well spoken.

At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You, the Lord, are God, and have turned their hearts back [to You].³⁸Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and also licked up the water that was in the trench.³⁹When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God! (1 Kings 18:24, 36-39 AMPC)

It’s no coincidence that the Lord distinguished the prayers of Elijah from those of the idol worshippers of Baal with fire. Scripture records that our God is a Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:29); that He came down on Mount Sinai in fire (Exodus 19:18); and that the Glory of the Lord appears to be a Devouring Fire (Exodus 24:17). Just as the Lord distinguished Elijah’s prayers from the idol worshippers of his day, so the Lord distinguished the prayers of the 120 followers of Jesus who found themselves waiting in prayer. Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,²When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.³And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.⁴And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].(AMPC)

As the 120 climbed the steps to the upper room the eyes of their heart were fixed on the Promise – the Promise of the Holy Spirit and Power. John the Baptist, and Jesus spoke of this Baptism of Fire. Thus Jesus’ disciples climbed the mountain of God through their prayers as Moses ascended Mount Sinai centuries before. As bowed at the Throne of God they made that room of disappointment, and sorrow an altar of loud cries, and tears. It didn’t take long until God answered with Fire. From the Altar of God’s Holy of Holies lives were transformed into living altars of His Presence. Through their ascent the reign of Jesus’ Kingdom was ushered in by the outpouring of the Spirit. It is no coincidence that when Elijah confronted the idolatry of his day he went on the promise of rain: After many days, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. (1 Kings 18:1)

In our spiritual drought of plague, fear, locusts, fire and famine may the people of God be found making themselves an altar of prayer crying out for Jesus’ Reign to come with a fresh outpouring of the Water of Life – His Holy Spirit. May we cry out with Michael W. Smith, and all the other singers, musicians and levites, “Let It Rain! Open the Floodgates of Heaven!”

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

April 22, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

John 14:9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? (AMPC)

You’ve heard the phrase, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades!” Horseshoes is a popular game where points are scored by tossing a horseshoe close to a stake 40 feet away. Grenades, when they detonate, send shrapnel into any object close-by. The clichéd phrase is often spoken by a bystander after listening to someone complain that he was not quite close enough to do something or win something. Philip was close to Jesus – but yet in his heart, so far. Imagine being that close to the Creator of the Universe – and still a stranger. Yet, this happens everyday. God draws near to us, whispering through all creation, circumstances, other believers, Scriptures, sermons and church worship services – and we snooze right through it. Many who claim to be born-again are so close to Jesus yet so far. They are like those who have gone looking for their car keys, or sun glasses only to discover they are right where they began their search (or on top of their head). Jesus is calling during this season but many are missing His call. They are so close yet still so far. Asleep in the light we fail to awaken from our slumber of comfort, and complacency continuing life as usual. We are under the spell of the satanic lullaby found in our Laodicean Church age. With our mouths we say one thing but our actions affirm that we think we are fine – just the way we are. We mouth the creed of the Laodicean Church, “We have no need.” Yet over the centuries God’s call has reached the hearts of those who became aware that something was missing. One of those awakened from the lullaby was a man by the name of John G. Lake. Lou Engle describes his awakening in the following excerpt:

John G. Lake operated in one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring gifts of healing that the world has ever seen. In a single ten-year span, Lake saw over 250,000 confirmed physical healings. In 1918, Spokane, WA, was declared the healthiest city in the U.S. because of Lake’s Healing Rooms. His congregation fondly called him “Dr. Lake” because he saw more people get healed than the local physicians.

Lake was saved at the age of 16, learned about sanctification around the age of 20, and then entered into a ministry of healing after experiencing the power of healing in his own family through the ministry of John Alexander Dowie in Chicago. Lake continued to operate in the gift of healing for the next 10 years and saw hundreds healed.

At the end of those 10 years, Lake was more hungry for God than ever. Although he walked in the miraculous, he claimed that he had not yet experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He would often walk the streets and spontaneously cry out loud to God, surprising all those around him. Lake said, “It was the yearning passion of my soul, asking for God in a greater measure than I then knew. But my friends would say: ‘Mr. Lake, you have a beautiful baptism in the Holy Ghost.’ Yes, it was nice as far as it went, but it was not answering the cry of my heart. I was growing up into a larger understanding of God and my own soul’s need. My soul was demanding a greater entrance into God, His love, presence and power.”

Driven into the wilderness by his hunger for more of God, Lake fasted and prayed for 9 months, waiting on God. Several months into his fast, the Spirit spoke to Lake and said, “Be patient until autumn.” Lake was encouraged and kept going. He prayed, “God, if you will baptize me in the Holy Spirit, and give me the power of God, nothing shall be permitted to stand before me and a hundred-fold obedience.”

At the end of nine months, Lake was weary. He later recounted, “I prayed for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for nine months, and if a man ever prayed honestly, and sincerely in the faith, I did. Finally one day I was ready to throw up my hands, and quit. I said, ‘Lord, it may be for others, but it is not for me. You just cannot give it to me.’ I did not blame God.”

Shortly after this, a man named Pierce invited Lake to join him and a group of other believers at his house who had been praying for the past year for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. None of them had yet received the Baptism. Lake accepted the invitation. Five minutes into prayer, Lake was overcome as “the light of God began to shine around me, I found myself in a center of an arc of light ten feet in diameter, the whitest light in all the universe. So white! Oh how it spoke of purity. The remembrance of that whiteness, that wonderful whiteness, has been the ideal that has stood before my soul, of the purity of the nature of God ever since.”

After this experience, Lake was invited to pray for a woman suffering from rheumatism and bound to a wheelchair. As he prayed with her, suddenly “the Spirit said, ‘I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears. You are now Baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ Then currents of power began to rush through my being from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. The shocks of power increased in rapidity, and voltage. As these currents of power would pass through me, they seemed to come upon my head, rush through my body, and through my feet into the floor… Even at this late date, the awe of that hour rests upon my soul. My experience has truly been as Jesus said that He shall be within you ‘a well of water, springing up into everlasting life.’ That never-ceasing fountain has flowed through my spirit, soul, and body day, and night, bringing salvation, and healing, and the Baptism of the Spirit in the power of God to multitudes.”

Lake sold all he had and entered into full-time ministry. God spoke to him that he would soon go to Africa.“One morning when I came down to breakfast, I found my appetite had disappeared. I could not eat. I went about my work as usual. At dinner I had no desire to eat, and no more in the evening. This went on till the third day. But toward the evening of the third day, an overwhelming desire to pray took possession of me. I wanted only to be alone to pray. Prayer flowed from my soul like a stream. I could not cease praying. As soon as it was possible to get to a place of seclusion, I would kneel to pour out my heart to God for hours. Whatever I was doing, that stream of prayer continued flowing from my soul… On the night of the sixth day of this fast, that the Lord had laid on me, while in the act of washing my hands, the Spirit said, ‘How long have you been praying to cast out demons?’ and I replied, ‘Lord, a long time.’ And the Spirit said, ‘From henceforth, thou shalt cast out demons.’ I arose and praised God.”

Within a week, a violently insane man was brought to Lake. Lake commanded the demon to come out of him in the name of Jesus and the man was instantly delivered. Two days later that same man was released from the institution where he had been confined.

Within the next year, Lake and his family were called by God to South Africa. Over their next five years of ministry in South Africa, Lake saw over one million people give their lives to Jesus, 625 new churches planted, and 1,250 preachers raised up. By the time Lake returned to America, the work in South Africa continued through the hands of those Lake had trained. Lake’s five short years of ministry in South Africa were so impactful that Lake was given the title, “Apostle to Africa”. Gordon Lindsay stated that Lake was “engaged in a ministry which in some respects rivaled that of the Early Church.”

Lake always knew there was something more, but it was the keys of fasting and prayer that opened the door to satisfying his hunger for more of God. By giving up physical satisfaction and hungering in his flesh, he satisfied the hunger of his soul and the world was blessed by it.

House of Prayer

April 22, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Isa. 56:7 These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

Just a quick note to let you all know that God’s House of Prayer is open. Many of us are meeting to pray from 6:30-9:30 every night in the sanctuary. At the same time we are practicing social distancing, concluding the evening with a good dousing of the chairs in lysol.

Last night during prayer the Lord prompted me to ask, Where are you? It took me some time to see but as I continued looking I saw Jesus standing at the bow of an old masted ship, or clipper with sails. He was being sprayed by the waves crashing around the ship but was unmoved, looking ahead. As the waves rolled and crashed about the ship I kept seeing Jesus shift from wearing a robe to wearing a pirates outfit. I thought that maybe my unconscious mind was superimposing this onto the vision until I thought of Luke 11:21–23When the strong man, fully armed, [from his courtyard] guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed [his property is at peace and is secure].²²But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil).²³He who is not with Me [siding and believing with Me] is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me [engage in My interest], scatters. (AMPC)

I realized that Jesus is setting out to plunder the strongman in His Church – His Bride. He is setting course through these storms to rob him of his armor, and to divide up his plunder.

The other Scripture I thought of was Mark 4:38-40 But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing?³⁹And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness).⁴⁰He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? (AMPC)

Jesus isn’t asleep during this storm but is setting out to lead His Church, and His Leader-Ship through this storm. He is not slumbering or sleeping but is plunging head first into the enemies plans. It is time to have faith and listen. Fear implies no faith, or trust. Look to Him and join Him in the “bow.” Where is Jesus? He is in the “bow” – in prayer. You will find Jesus in prayer – if you will pray and seek Him. Could it also be implied that “He who is not with Me [siding and believing with Me] is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me [engage in My interest], scatters.?”

Gather with 2-3 to pray with Jesus each night preparing for His great awakening, or join us at church, but don’t be standing against Jesus in these storms.

Dark Side of the Moon

April 21, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

John 3:1-5 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”³Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, which was the highest religious body among the Jews. As a Pharisee, he was so no spiritual lite-weight. He could read and understand every scroll of the Old Testament without chapter, verses or punctuation. He had memorized prayers for every occasion – from rising in the morning, to reclining in bed for sleep. He tithed regularly, and gave offerings up to half of his income or more. His attendance in synagogue, and Temple duties was without exception. Today many would choose him to be a pastor, elder, or missionary on the foreign field. His credentials were impeccable. His way of life above the average – taking care to keep all matters pertaining to the Law. He was the cream of the crop of Israel. He believed in God, His Messiah, and the supernatural. Not only would he qualify as a pastor in most churches today – he would be seen as a Christian. But there’s the problem. Jesus said he couldn’t see the Kingdom nor could he enter it. What could be missing in someone who possessed all the characteristics of a pastor or Christian? It was simply this: he wasn’t born of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (NKJV) Those who are not born again of the Spirit can’t receive the things that come from the Holy Spirit. This means you can’t understand the Word of God, Jesus, truth, Last Days, the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. Worship will be a mystery, and puzzle when it’s directed to Jesus, and not centered in emotion or sentiment. Sermons, and teachings will be a boring chore to be endured. Fellowship with other believers will be like sitting in on a conversation with astronauts who have stepped on the moon as they share what Jesus has been doing in their lives. Knowing Jesus personally, and experientially will be as alien to them as, ET trying to phone home, or taking a stroll on the dark side of the moon.

Yet church attenders every where keep trying to break into this alien world not understanding the covenant conditions of Jesus. Sadly, those who are born – again of the Spirit never get passed being made clean. They remain at the foot of Jesus’ cross, never progress into being holy.

Holy is a word that mystifies and alludes us as we seek to grasp its meaning through rules and regulations. But being made clean, and holy are topics just as far away as Nicodemus was from being born-again. For you see without holiness no one will ever see God. We will never progress beyond having been made clean. We will simply remain in the outer court of knowing Jesus.

Essentially when someone or something has been made holy it means they have been set apart. But that definition only scratches the surface. You see to be holy is to be uniquely different from all that is common, ordinary, routine, and average. To be holy requires practicing truth. We define practicing truth as integrity. When a person practices integrity, they experience integration, and become whole. Holiness is wholeness. We can never experience fully what it means to be human until His Holy Spirit makes us whole. Sin dehumanizes us and takes us away from what God declared to be good. The Baptism in the Spirit begins the process of restoring us back to the Garden walk that man enjoyed with His Creator. Why do we seek for the Baptism in the Spirit, or to be Filled again and again in the Spirit? So that we can experience the power of restoration and renewal; so that we can become His whole creation. Are you seeking the Baptism, or Infilling as we approach Pentecost?

One Thing Is Needful

April 20, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

Luke 10:39-42 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at [k]Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And [l]Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (NKJV)

If you are student of missions, or were involved in a church which emphasized missions, you may have heard of a missionary by the nick name of “Praying Hyde.” John Hyde was born in 1865, in Carthage, Illinois. His father was a Presbyterian minister who proclaimed the Gospel often exhorting his members to respond to Jesus’ prayer that the Father would thrust forth more laborers into the harvest. Rev. Smith Harris Hyde prayed this prayer not only from the pulpit but in his home, around their family altar. One of the biggest answers to those prayers came from one of his two sons.

The prayers of John’s father made a powerful impression upon his life leading him to attend college, and proceed to seminary, graduating in 1892. It was during this time that he began some major heart searching, turning himself to God in prayer. During this time of seeking it became clear that God wanted him on the mission field. In October 1892, he set sail for India. On his way to India he received a letter from a close friend saying, “I will not cease praying for you until you be filled with the Holy Ghost.” Frank JJ Di Pietro stated: “This made John extremely angry. After all, he was a seminary graduate and on his way to pursue his destiny. John threw the letter in the trash and angrily walked out of the room. As he was walking along the deck of the steamer, he could not get the thought that he must be filled with the Holy Ghost out of his mind. After much soul searching, John decided that his dear friend was right. Going to Scripture (Acts 1:8), he then knelt by his cabin bed in prayer and surrendered to God’s will and was wonderfully filled with the power and fire from on high.”

John’s ministry of prayer and evangelistic work would last over the next 20 years. He was so given to prayer that the natives did not refer to him as praying Hyde, but as the “Man who never sleeps,” and the “Apostle of Prayer.” His prayer life was radically changed as a result of the Baptism. Often he would spend 30 days and nights in contact prayer, and many times was on his knees in deep intercession for 36 hours at a time. His fellows missionaries thought he was fanatical and crazy, yet he could not understand why prayer was such an isolated experience in the Church. True prayer is Spirit-born. True prayer is praying in the “Holy Ghost.” In his mind those who are filled with the Spirit are filled with prayer. As Leonard Ravenhill said: “There is something very questionable and unbiblical about those who claim to have had a baptism of the Spirit and yet know nothing of extended periods of prayer.”

John Hyde was soon joined by a few fellow intercessors. They saw that there was one method to obtaining spiritual awakening in India, and that was intense prayer. “They set themselves deliberately, definitely, and desperately to use this means until they secured the result. They prayed non-stop for days and nights. Their prayers were answered through a series of outpourings of the Spirit in the northwest part of India, especially in 1904 at Sialkot….Upon seeing the results of a deeper prayer life, John gave himself even more to prayer.” During this deepening of his prayer life men would often walk by John’s room overhearing him weeping breaking out in tears over the sins of the world and especially God’s children. John would often pray for 40 hours non-stop and then go to a series of meetings without rest. Such a spirit of intercession was on John that when he walked past others, they too would begin to groan in agony for the lost. John’s cry began to be, “Give me souls, Oh God, or I die!” – Di Pietro

IN 1908, John prayed what was seen as an impossible task: that during the coming year he would save, one person a day in India. At the end of that year it happened. That year he had prayed over 400 people into the Kingdom of Heaven. The following year it doubled to 2 souls a day. The year following that he moved his goal to that of winning four souls a day. John said, “If on any day four people were not converted, that night there would be such a weight on my heart, I could not eat or sleep until I prayed through to victory.” What many do not know of Praying Hyde is that following his prayers of lying prostrate on the floor, he would often come off the floor clapping his hands, dancing, and shouting filled with holy laughter.

See only one thing is needful and that is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Are you a Martha or a Mary? Can you see that even though the disciples saw Jesus raised from the dead, had visited His empty tomb, and experienced a visitation of angels and Jesus Himself – that it was not enough? Their lifestyle remained the same. It wasn’t until the Baptism that their lives began to change. You may say, “Well I’ve been baptized in the Spirit.” Maybe that is so – but are you praying like John Hyde? Better yet, Are you praying like Jesus? We casually claim the name of Christ (Christian) failing to examine our deficiencies in His Light. If something is missing do not be like the Laodiceans who claimed to have no need. Return to your knees until what is missing is met with the reality of Heaven’s Answer. Its in the wrestling that we are changed.

Watch and Pray

April 17, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

“Organized missionary work and world evangelism as we know it today really did not exist in the western world until God lit a fire in the hearts of the Moravians through the ‘watch of the Lord.’ It was no accident that God restored the fire on the altar first, and then ignited a passion for lost souls in the world through prayer.” – Pastor James Goll

“In an era when missionary outreach was almost non-existent, the Moravians covered the world, going places where most refused to go. They suffered disease, poverty, and death, all to have the honor of being called “Ambassadors for Christ.” Half a century later, William Carey, the father of modern foreign missions, asked his Baptist brethren these historic words: “See what the Moravians have done? Cannot we follow their example.. and preach the Gospel to the heathen?”

The well known German historian of “Protestant Misisons,” Dr. Warneck, testifies: “This small group of people in twenty years, called into being more missions than the whole Church has done in two centuries.” This missionary work, that would soon fill the Kingdom of God, was birthed by intense intercessory prayer. Perched atop a prayer tower, these nearly forgotten prayer warriors took turns praying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from 1727 – 1827 – 100 years nonstop! – Frank J Di Pietro

Unfortunately it wasn’t always this way. In the early 1700’s a group of Christians called the Moravians were fleeing from intense persecution in Bohemia, Poland and Moravia. In 1722 a lone Christian refugee named Christian David showed up at an estate owned by Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf requesting permission to settle a group of these refugees on Zinzendorfs’ property. It wasn’t long until Christian returned with 300 of these refugees building a community of believers there on the estate. They called the community, “Herrnhut” or the “Lord’s Watch.” Author Di Pietro continues: Zinzendorf immediately “sensed a spiritual kinship” with these humble people. It wasn’t long before Herrnhut began growing and accepted refugees from other doctrinal persuasions. Now there were not onlyMoravians, but also Lutherans, Calvinists, Catholics, Separatists, Reformed, and Anabaptists. They were all seeking the fellowship of others who were looking for a heavenly city. The vision of Count Zinzendorf was that of the restoration of the apostolic community. He worked to establish a community of prayer, encouragement, and accountability. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. As you imagine, with such a wide diversity, doctrinal disputes arose, along with bickering over which style of liturgy or worship was appropriate. It even went so far as calling the Count the “Beast” mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Yet Zinzendorf refused to defend himself going from house to house, counseling each family from the Scriptures, teaching, and exhorting them.

“Before long the small community was becoming one as more and more homes were opening day and night for prayer, fellowship, and teaching. Small groups began holding all night prayer vigils, and it seemed almost weekly that the spiritual unity and the bonds of love were becoming perceptively stronger.” – Di Pietro

On May 12 Zinzendorf led the community in covenanting together to pray and labor for revival. Services held at this time usually ended in weeping, deep repentance, and lying prostrate on the floor. “By August 5th, anticipation was building to the point where many did not want to sleep for fear that they would miss something God was doing. One meeting started at noon and ended at midnight. The entire community walked as one in God, full of repentance and consecration. On Wednesday, August 13, Count Zinzendorf visited every house in Herrnhut in preparation for the Lord’s Supper. Everyone had come to a conviction of their sinfulness, need and helplessness. During the service, they made many painful prayers for themselves, for fellow Christians still under persecution, and for their continued unity. At that time, Count Zinzendorf made a penitential confession in the name of the entire congregation. The congregation knelt and sang, then began praying for one another. – Di Pietro

Suddenly with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, the power of the Holy Spirit swept across the congregation in waves. The noise of the wind was loud enough that many in the church looked toward the windows expecting to see a gale raging outside. The manifestation of the Spirit was not relegated within the four walls of the church, but fell throughout the community. Men, women, and children were touched as a passion for God and His purpose swept through their hearts. – Di Pietro

Zinzendorf records: “It was such a sense of nearness of Christ bestowed in a single moment upon all members of the community at once; it was so unanimous that two members, at work twenty miles away, unaware that the meeting was being held, became at the same moment smitten with the same blessing and anointing.”

One Moravian remembers: “We had quit judging each other because we had become convinced, each one, of his lack of worth in the sight of God. On that day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we saw the Hand of God and His wonders. We were all under the Cloud of the Father baptized with His Spirit. As the Holy Ghost came upon us, great signs and wonders took place in our midst. From that time, scarcely a day passed but what we beheld His Almighty workings among us. A great hunger after the Word of God took possession of us, so that we had to have three services every day. Everyone desired above everything else that the Holy Spirit might have full control. Self-love and self-will as well as all disobedience disappeared and an overwhelming flood of grace swept us all out into the great ocean of Divine Love.”

Jesus reminds us in Lukes Gospel of the importance of watching and praying: Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.(Luke 21:36 AMPC) The question is, Are we willing to turn our faces away from the anesthesia of entertainment and turn to Face God in prayer?

To God Be The Glory!

April 16, 2020/in Blog /by Robert Shaw

To God be the glory! Great things He has done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son;
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O Come to the Father, through Jesus the Son:
And Give Him the glory! Great things He has done!

This beloved hymn sung by many of us over the years was written by a little lady by the name of Fanny Crosby. Fanny’s legacy lives on through many of her songs – 8,000 according to her own recollection. What many do not know about Fanny is that she lost her eyesight when she was six weeks old due to the negligence of a country famers prescription of hot mustard poultices to remedy a cold which had infected her eyes. This caused her to lose her sight completely. Years later a preacher sadly remarked, “I think it is a great pity that the master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you. “ Fanny quickly replied, Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind? “Why? asked the surprised minister. “Because when I get to Heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” (The Fire That Once Burned, Frank JJ Di Pietro)

While Fanny’s mother was busy making a living for the family (her father had died before she was a year old), her grandmother was busy influencing her life. At her feet Fanny would learn to pray for hours, and develop a thorough knowledge of Scripture. Before long she could repeat from memory the first four books of the Old Testament, Ruth, most of Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and the Four Gospels.

What many do not know is that although Jesus, was her closest and dearest Friend, and everything in her life revolved around Jesus, she always felt that something was lacking in her walk. Frank JJ Di Pietro, in his book The Fire That Once Was describes what happened next: It was a complete conversion, a sanctification, with her Lord that she lacked, and in 1851, at the age of 31, the Holy Spirit suddenly poured into her life. This “glorious happening” occurred at a revival service held at John Street Methodist Church in New York. Recalling the incident years later, she said: Some of us went every evening, but although I sought peace, I could not find the joy I craved, until one evening I arose and went forward alone. After the prayer the congregation began to sing that grand old consecration hymn, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed? And when they reached the third line of the fifth stanza, “here Lord, I give myself away” I surrendered myself to the Savior, and my very soul was flooded with celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting, Hallelujah!”‘

Isaiah the prophet, calls from the past, exhorting his listeners to pay whatever price to access this Living Water of the Spirit: Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].²Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].³Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.⁴Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples.⁵Behold, you [Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.⁶Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.⁷Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon. (Isaiah 55:1-7 AMPC)

Listen to his words: Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy….Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.⁷Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord,…

Rarely would we ever consider that a wicked or unrighteous man would be someone who would not wait, listen, seek, inquire for, and require this “Water.” But that is its implication. Will you join with the other believers around the world who have heard the call, and walk through this door in time, to pursue and seek for this Baptism and Infilling of the Spirit that is so lacking in the Body of Christ? Will you call upon Him while He is near? Are you willing to say with Fanny and so many countless others, “here Lord, I give myself away?”