Having Hope

I did not run away
and I will not,
because He has come to rescue.

Take courage, He said.
Hold onto your hope
as your triumph unfolds.

Focus

"The ultimate vengeance on the enemy is that whatever he tries against us only succeeds in making us bigger, better and stronger. When under attack, we focus on what the Father is giving us permission to become."

Graham Cooke, Coming into Alignment 

Grace. Peace. Trust.

"To rest in God's power when your own weaknesses seem to be screaming at you - that's grace! To be confident in who God is for you when you feel overwhelmed by odds against you - that's peace! To stand alone against massive intimidation - that's trust!"

From Graham Cooke, QUALITIES OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

Repentance

Repentance is turning from everything you used to seek life from, and turning to Jesus as the source of your life. - Robert Heidler

And then, He reminded me again.
He is my First Love.
He is all that I need & need to focus on.

It's not easy.
It's not easy at all.
All the breaking of the heart,
the wounds, the hurts, the pains,
but on the other side of my healing is a glorious being.
He is the Reason, the Hope, the Source,
for the power to press through and overcome.

Poverty = Piety?!

To convince Christians to believe the lie that piety equals poverty, the spirit of poverty would have to convince us that Jesus, our role model, was poor. Amazingly, this demon has had tremendous success in doing that. We usually think of His being born in a manger or at one point saying that He had no place to lay His head as evidence. Larry Hutch sums up this false mind-set: "We have religiously and traditionally taught that Jesus was poor, so Christians should be poor."

Hutch goes on to point out that Mary and Joseph first went to the inn to get a room. That means they must have had money to pay for the room.

Regarding the wise men and the gifts they brought to Jesus, Hutch writes, "God was not the only priceless gift they offered Christ. Frankincense and myrrh are also precious substances. Furthermore, according to Matthew 2:1, there could have been many wise men. These gifts could have ensured that Jesus and His family lived in comfort." Why shouldn't we see that as a supernatural transference of wealth?

Consider the fact that Joseph later took his family on an unexpected two-year trip to Egypt. That certainly required substantial costs for which he had not previously budgeted. And when Jesus was ministering later on, He had a treasury that financed His ministry team.

No, the idea that Jesus was poor is a myth. He was prosperous and yet He was pious! This is not good news to the spirit of poverty.

The rest of the Bible affirms the same thing, as Chuck Pierce and Robert Heidler point out:

The Bible teaches in no uncertain terms that poverty is a curse, and the Father does not want His children walking under a curse.
         There is a lot of crazy thinking in the Church about this! Let me make this clear. Poverty does not make us holy. Most of the holy men in the Bible were not poor. Abraham was rich. Apart from one brief period of adversity, Job lived his life in incredible abundance. David was a king who enjoyed tremendous wealth. Paul had tremendous success as a church planter. He started many churches and saw many of them grow to thousands of members. All along he boasted that he had all the supplies he needed. 

C. Peter Wagner, The Church in the Workplace

Forgiveness

Introducing TobyMac. :)

And the greatest forgiveness comes from the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross for us.

Yes, forgiveness doesn't come by easily. But knowing your identity in Christ will enable you to do so. Freely He came and gave it all. We who were made in the likeness of His, likewise, have the power and ability to do the same.

:)

Double Fourteens and Deliverance

by Ron and Teddy Sawka

Arise 5 Weekly Update: April 14, 2014 / Nissan 14, 5774

Double Fourteens and Deliverance

As I began to write this, I noticed today's date has two “14s” in it (April 14, 2014). The number 14 is linked with deliverance. In Exodus 12, we read that they celebrated the first Passover on the fourteenth day of the month. They were to kill the lamb, sprinkle its blood on the mantel and doorposts, and roast and eat it that evening. The judgment of the Lord would then pass over them. He would strike the firstborn of Egypt, but not in a house that was covered by the blood of the lamb. This resulted in being set free from slavery. Not only were they liberated, but the Lord also began to lead them out. They crossed over into a new life. Since then, Passover has always been associated with deliverance. Note that in Acts 12, Peter was set free from prison during Passover.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Getting Rid of Wrong Things

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:7–8).

Passover took place on the fourteenth day of Nissan. The week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread followed. For that week, the people were to make sure they rid their homes of all leaven, which represents sin or our sin nature. One of the ways of celebrating Passover week is to expectantly ask the Lord to search and remove the weaknesses, bad habits, and sins that trouble you.

In verse 8 above, leaven is tied to malice and wickedness. Ask the Lord to show you any areas of malice (any feeling of bitterness or ill will) or wickedness (twisted or rebellious places). That leaven must be removed. Not even a trace of it should be in us. Exodus 13:7 states that leaven shouldn't even be within the borders.

Lord, we ask You to help us be aware of, and to remove, any of the old leaven. The more we get rid of wrong things, the more we can walk in sincerity and truth and can walk closer with You!

Thanks for praying.

Ron and Teddy Sawka

Blessings at Passover

Below are several blessings we can expect during Passover:

• Deliverance. Remember where we came from. Say, “Lord, Thank You for this year; thank You for how you delivered me in the past, and for the many ways You will deliver me this year.” Every Passover, expect new a level of deliverance. Peter was set free from prison in Acts 12. Is anything (e.g., a bad habit) holding you back? Believe for deliverance.
• Passover is a time of crossing over (e.g., the Red Sea, the Jordan River in Joshua 4–5). Realize that you are crossing into something new. Here in Japan, we are definitely crossing into a brand new season.
• Reproach is being rolled away (Josh. 5:9). Any old sense of failure that is still a part of our identities that is allowed to remain will hinder us. Jesus wants to roll that off of us.
• New provision (Exod. 12:34–36; Josh. 5:10–12). Each Passover is a time when the Lord wants to bless us with new provision. Look for it; expect it!
• New intimacy with the Lord, and new strategy.

This is why I'm not worried

 Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Oh yeah! :D

Alignment with the Holy Spirit

taken from Experiencing the Spirit by Robert Heidler

I believe it's safe to say that

No matter how much you know about the Bible,
No matter how much you discipline yourself,
No matter how hard you try to serve and please God,

if you are not properly related to the Spirit of God, the Christian life will not work for you. That's because the Christian life is not a ritual or a set of teachings but a relationship - a relationship with God through His Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was given to make the Christian life experiential - to make Jesus real, not only in your understanding but also in your life.

Taken from http://globalspheres.org/

One of the most misunderstood concepts in the Word of God is Firstfruits.  This was God's way of saying to us, "If  you will give your best, I will make sure you enter into the best that I have for you!"  Each month at Glory of Zion International we enter into a Firstfruits Celebration.  We always release the blessings associated with the month and offer the Lord the best we have to give. 
Global Spheres is built upon a Firstfruits understanding.  Peter has written an awesome article to help you understand the concept of Firstfruits, "Making Firstfruits Practical".  You will enjoy reading that article below.

Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce

MAKING FIRSTFRUITS PRACTICAL C. Peter Wagner

The Global Spheres Prospectus states that the two requirements for maintaining membership in GSI are "gathering" and "giving."  The "giving" part is not a legalistic tithe or set amount of dues, but rather voluntary firstfruits giving.  For many GSI members, the concept of firstfruits giving is a new thought, and they have asked for explanation.  Consequently, I have decided to do this paper to help in both orientation and application.

Introduction

By necessity, I am writing this essay primarily to Christian believers who are generous givers.  I know ahead of time that I may not have a huge audience because sociological surveys show that a surprising majority of those who consider themselves practicing Christians do not so much as tithe their income to God.  In fact, giving among U.S. church members across the board has been under 3% of their income for decades.  This is sad because believers who do not at least tithe their income, despite all the other good qualities they might display, cannot expect God to move them into their full destiny because they are choosing to rob Him.  I am aware that there are those who might argue that this concept falls outside of the covenant of grace because the warning about "robbing God" comes from Malachi who was under the Old Testament law.  I am not convinced.  Suffice it to say that such people, with very few exceptions, are hoping to make their stinginess sound reasonable and religiously acceptable.  This essay is not for them.

            Rather, I am addressing those of us (Yes, I include myself here!)  who consider the tithe as a bare minimum and who, year in and year out, give considerably more than the first 10% of their income to the kingdom of God.  Most of us in that category have habitually referred to our giving as "tithes and offerings," considering the first 10% as tithe and the rest as offerings.  Up to recently, however, very few of us were more than marginally aware that a further biblical principle of giving was firstfruits.  I had heard and read comments on firstfruits from several leaders over the years, but none of them seemed to move me to action.  In face, some of them even seemed to contradict one another.

            However, in recent years two leaders have brought firstfruits front and center in my thinking and action.  One was Chuck Pierce who, in his Glory of Zion Outreach Center in Denton, Texas, began a monthly firstfruits celebration under the Hebrew concept of Rosh Chodesh.  The other was Robert Henderson of Wellsprings Church in Colorado Springs, who has specialized in teaching and practicing firstfruits for many years.  His book on the subject, Caused Blessing, has my nomination as the current key textbook in the field.

To Whom Do We Give?

As Henderson shows in his book, the Bible contains more specific information on firstfruits than most of us had thought.  The principle is so clear that I believe that regularly giving firstfruits should be considered as necessary a part of worshipping God with our material possessions as are tithes and offerings.  If we are serious about our faith and about our desire to please the Father, we'll give all three habitually.

            Most of us who tithe have recognized that our tithe is supposed to go to the storehouse.  Yes, there are some legitimate differences of opinion as to what the "storehouse" in each one of our lives might be, but most of us have interpreted it as our local church, and this is what I practice.  I am not aware of any specific guidelines as to where our offerings, namely gifts over the 10% tithe, are to go.  I think this is at the discretion of the giver.

Firstfruits

This brings us to firstfruits.  The first mention of firstfruits in the Bible is Leviticus 23:10, "When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest."  The priest, then, is the one who receives firstfruits.  A much more detailed explanation of this is given in Numbers 18 where the giving of tithes and the giving of firstfruits are contrasted with each other.

            For example, here is what it says about tithes:  "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting" (Numbers 18:21).  While it may not be an airtight case, I believe it is reasonable to conclude that our functional equivalent to Levites today would be the pastors of our local churches.

            How about firstfruits?   All of Numbers 18 is a quote-unquote word of the Lord to Aaron, the high priest.  God is telling Aaron how he and his offspring will be remunerated for the priestly work to which He has assigned them.  Among other things, this is what God says:  "All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the Lord, I have given them to you.  Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours" (Numbers 18:12-13).  Again, this may not be an airtight case, but today's equivalent to yesterday's high priest is most likely the apostle.  A strong hint of this comes in Hebrews 3:1, "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus."  This seems to equate apostles, a New Testament office, with high priests, an Old Testament office.

            What principle can we derive from this?  Our firstfruits should be directed to those with whom we are spiritually aligned, ideally to the apostles whom God has assigned to oversee our lives and ministries and to whom we are accountable.  Granted, not all segments of the church recognize the office of apostle, but all do have structures in which those who are over us can readily be indentified.  It is to those persons that I believe our firstfruits should be directed.

            On a personal note, my wife, Doris, and I practice firstfruits giving.  We are apostolically aligned with Chuck Pierce in Global Spheres, so we give firstfruits to GSI on a regular basis.  We are also members of Glory of Zion, and they have our ordination papers, so we give firstfruits at certain Rosh Chodesh celebrations.

When Do We Give?

The original design of firstfruits is that they were given at the beginning of the harvest of whatever crop happened to be ripening, as well as the firstborn of livestock.  The tithe, on the other hand, was given after the harvest.  However in an urbanized society these agrarian guidelines need interpretation and adaptation.  One principle would be that firstfruits should be given regularly, at least on an annual basis for each crop that ripens.  That would turn out to be several times a year, and the Glory of Zion Rosh Chodesh celebration at the beginning of each month would be one good way to systematize it.  How is this done?   The congregation gathers in a festive mood on Saturday night for joyous worship, prophetic ministry, spontaneous intercession, warm fellowship, and a time of cheerful giving.  Are the members of the church grumpy, saying "All this church talks about is money!"?  Just the opposite!  The members rejoice in God's provision so that they can continue living their exciting lifestyle of giving, giving, and giving!

How Do We Give?

One thing about firstfruits, it cannot be legalistic like the tithe.  The tithe is easy to determine, just calculate 10% of your income.  Suppose, in Old Testament days, a farmer had one acre of barley.  It all gets ripe at the same time, and he wants to give firstfruits to the Lord.  But since the Bible doesn't give us a formula for calculating it, the farmer has to use his or her own judgment.  Leviticus does mention "a sheaf."  This would be adequate, but not particularly generous because it would hardly provide one meal for the priest and his family.  My guess would be that some of the more openhanded would harvest their barley, throw it on the threshing floor, and what the ox would tread out the first morning or the first day would be firstfruits for the priests.  However, that's just a guess.

            I mention that because this list I am giving you is just a guess as well.  You have to use your own judgment.  The more generous the better, because you will reap what you sow.  It's better to err by giving too much than too little.  But God doesn't expect us to give the whole acre of barley.  He wants us and our families to prosper in our personal lives as well.

            So here are some suggestions.  They are not intended to be legalistic, but rather they are simply to help you develop a mindset of firstfruits giving.

• When you get a raise, give the full amount of the raise as firstfruits.  Suppose you have been getting a pay check of $1,000 per week, and you get a raise to $1,100.  The extra $100 in your first pay check is firstfruits.  This does not substitute for your tithe on your normal amount of income—it is over and above the tithe.
• If you make a new investment, give the first month's or quarter's returns on the investment as firstfruits.  If you lose, reinvest your returns to repay your loss, then after you are even, give the first returns in the black as firstfruits.
• If you get a new job, give your first day's or week's or month's wages as firstfruits.  The principle is to give something, but you decide the amount.  In any case it should be significant, and definitely more than if you just tithed what you receive in your first paycheck.
• If you publish a book either give a good portion of your advance or if you don't get an advance, give your first royalty check as firstfruits.  If you self-publish, give your earnings on the first box of books that you sell as firstfruits.  You might even give the gross sales instead of the net profit on that first box of books..
• Suppose you're into real estate and you buy a house, fix it up, sell it, and make $80,000.  In your business plan, this $80,000 is not personal income, but investment capital to buy more homes.  Because it's not personal income, you don't tithe it, but how about firstfruits?  It's up to you, but my thought would be to give a chunk, like $5000 or $10,000 as firstfruits and reinvest the rest.
• Some people, and I fit into this category, regularly give much more than the basic 10% of their personal income as their "tithe."  I put "tithe" in quotation marks because tithe literally means 10%, but you might be giving 20% or 30% or more.  Rick Warren for example, has said that his income stream is so large that he can "tithe" 90% off the top and live on just 10%.  If you are tithing more than 10%, your firstfruits giving to those with whom you are aligned spiritually can come from these funds in whatever amount you determine, as well as giving additional firstfruits from some of the other things on this list if God prospers you in that way.
• Maybe you are just scraping by, living on a fixed income like Social Security.  You're not buying real estate or making investments or writing books.  Even so, the first thing to do is to tithe your 10%.  Then the principle becomes giving some firstfruits, not the amount.  Suppose that from time to time you give a $10.00 or a $20.00 bill to a person with whom you are aligned spiritually and say "I want you to have this.  It is my firstfruits."  God will honor that just as much as the $10,000 the real estate agent gives.  But in all cases be sure that you give something on a fairly regular basis.
• I have been teaching that we should all strive for at least five streams of income.  If you reach this goal, be sure to keep firstfruits in mind for each of the five streams (or more, if that is the case) separately.
• What if you are doing contract labor?  You might give the first payment on each contract as firstfruits, then tithe the rest that you make.
• If you get an unexpected gift through the mail or a bonus, it may be good to give firstfruits from that rather than a tithe.

Should You Give in Order to Get?

A prominent theme throughout the Bible is that God blesses those who are generous and vice versa.  Take, for example, Proverbs 11:24-25:  "There is one who scatters yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.  The generous soul will be made rich."  Surprisingly, statements like this tend to disturb some believers.  They feel that it might be somewhat disreputable to entertain any notion that by giving to God, He might give back to you.  They are worried that our motive might not be primarily to serve God and to worship Him through giving, but that it could cross the line into greed and selfishness.  They are concerned that certain ungodly leaders could use this for manipulating donors.

            Undoubtedly, these are helpful warnings against carnality and excess.  But they should not lead to the conclusion that God prefers that His people be poor or just scraping along rather than rich.  There is a pernicious Spirit of Poverty out there who is an evil agent of Satan assigned to persuade believers that poverty is directly related to piety, and, tragically, it has been rampant in our churches at least since the Middle Ages.  This Spirit of Poverty needs to be sharply rebuked and we should determine to move in the opposite spirit which is the Spirit of Prosperity.  Look closely at how giving firstfruits is designed by God to lead to prosperity:  "Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine" (Prov. 3:9-10).  It is hard to take this scripture at face value and miss the obviously intended cause and effect relationship.  Accuse me of being greedy if you wish, but scriptures like this make me want to be a firstfruits giver more than ever!

            Let's conclude by looking at one of the most quoted Bible verses in churches of every stream when it comes time to receive the weekly offering: "Give and it will be given to you: in the same measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38).   This sounds very much like a promise, and from none other than Jesus.  In my Bible it is in red letters.  In applying this, it is good to keep in mind that the giving referred to here is giving your own money.  Consequently it does not include your tithe, which is not actually your money, but God's.  This word about receiving more than you give is directed toward offerings and firstfruits, over and above the tithe.  Consequently, if you are not tithing, you cannot qualify for the promise of Luke 6:38.  But if you do qualify, God invites you to give with a pure heart, why?   In order to receive what He returns to you.  If you do have a pure heart, what will you do with the abundance?  Of course, you will give more in order to advance God's kingdom here on earth.

            God designed generous firstfruits giving for His kingdom's purposes.  And as you move into the process, He will be able to bless you and your family as well!

-end-

Disconnect Emotions and Look to the Other Side!

Prophecy given on: January 04, 2014 in Corinth, TX by Chuck Pierce, Deborah DeGar, Brian Kooiman, DeeDee Roberts, Diane Roussel, Tobias Lyons

The Lord says you’ve been looking for a needle in a haystack. And I say to you I Am causing you to get past the straw and build on a new foundation. I say quit spending your time looking for that which you can’t find. I say because you keep looking for what you can’t find you’re missing the supply to build with what you need to build. I say to you this is a season to build on a different foundation, a firm foundation and from that place I will put iron in your legs to stand saith the Lord.

For the Lord says I Am bringing forth new alignments and they will be the alignments that you did not know of. And they will be alignments that will even be strain for you saith the Lord but they will be the alignments that I have set in your pathway. For they will be the new order saith the Lord for there was an order that you walked in, in a past season that you chose the pathway that you would walk in and you even chose your alignments saith the Lord.

But this is a season that I Am choosing for you and I say to you even now begin to listen to My Voice, begin to hear what it is that I Am saying. For I will cause that to be an army that will be aligned and arrayed in this season as you have never been arrayed before. For I Am cloaking you afresh and anew and I’m placing a fresh new mantle upon you and I Am even causing your garments to be changed saith the Lord.

So do not continue to look for the old, do not continue to look for the familiar, do not continue to look for that which I have caused in a past season this is a new day saith the Lord and I will do it even in a new way. The Lord says the new way is My Way says the Spirit of the Living God.
For I would even say look again at relationships those that you have decided as one way look again because I Am changing each person even in your network. Some you will connect in a new way that you never thought you would, others you may move on past and it be for another season. Look and discern carefully what the Lord has for you in this season and how to connect. Wait, wait for a time and look as the path begins to form and the relations begin to form. Don’t connect too quickly because you’ll see through past eyes. Let Me change your vision let Me change your eyes as you begin to look into each person, each soul because I Am doing a work and have done a work in this last season that you know not of. There is a deep work that I have begun and it’s been in this last season and now if you look with fresh eyes you will look and see what I have done. So wait before you begin to connect in this season, wait and let Me show you what I have done and discern through their spirit what is done there.

For so it was in the last season that the enemy shattered the vessel that you are and you have felt like your pierces were scattered on the ground a thousand pieces and could not be put back together. But it is My Word, it is My Glory, it is My Grace that is the glue that gathered up your pieces and put them back together for so it is that there is no gap in who you are in your tomorrow for that gap is Me. So go forth in the Glory that I have established for you, for you will be victorious.

Cast your net on the other side, you’ll be surprised what you will find, cast your net on the other side, you’ll be surprised what you will find, the treasure was not in the place you sought and sought before, cast your net on the other side, you’ll be surprise what you will find.

The Lord says now is a season you have a choice, you can either decide to disconnect your emotions and move forward or you can find yourself in lack. He says if you move forward in this season with the emotions that you had from last year then those nets that you throw out are going to come out empty. He said you either disconnect or you find yourself cycling back again and again and again.

On Worry

“Worry is refusing the given. Today’s care, not tomorrow’s, is the responsibility given to us, apportioned in the wisdom of God. Often we neglect the thing assigned for the moment because we are preoccupied with something that is not our business just now. How easy it is to give only half our attention to someone who needs us – friend, husband, or little child – because the other half is focused on a future worry.” - Elisabeth Elliot

Mind of A Saint

by Graham Cooke
 
Your language has to be in alignment with Heaven. The first thing we teach in Prophecy School 101 is you can't prophesy over people if you are slandering or gossiping. If you want to get brilliant prophetic words over people, stop gossiping, stop slandering, stop speaking against people, quit all that negativity, and if you can, stop whining! A fountain can't bring forth both sweet water and bitter.

You Won't Relent

by Jesus Culture

Gripped in Jesus

We are real people, who face real life issues that are not always easy. It isn’t that we lack faith; rather, it is the length of the journey while waiting expectantly for the response of heaven. This time of year can make difficult things seem particularly heightened. Tender places in our hearts seem even more tender. Every part of our lives, every difficult place is an opportunity for triumph. In every situation, we are attracted to God’s fullness… not fear, intimidation, negativity or hopelessness. We are gripped by all that Jesus is for us.

 

- Jane Hansen Hoyt

Character matters.

Talent can take you to heights where only character can sustain you. - A. R. Bernard

Commitment

In Passion and Purity, Elisabeth Elliot states, "Unless a man is prepared to ask a woman to be his wife, what right has he to claim her exclusive attention? Unless she has been asked to marry him, why would a sensible woman promise any man her exclusive attention?"

But God!

Some of the things would be harder for us Christians because we were called to be set apart from the rest - we have a totally different standard to meet and to strive for. It was a tough week for me but God! God in His timing is bringing me deliverance and then to a whole new level of faith and understanding in Him. It was tough but in Him nothing is impossible, in Him all things are made anew, in Him I am made able. I will shine forth His glory!

×××××××

During worship on Sunday Nov 17, 2013, Barbara Wentroble joined Chuck Pierce in prophesying:

"If you will invite Me down this week then I will enter your atmosphere and change that which you've been trying to change. I have power and strength to overcome, and if you will invite Me in, you will overcome this week and deliverance will come to you! 

"For I AM a God who is shaking everything that can be shaken. This is a season you shall shake; you shall see Me shake everything that would hold back My coming Glory. I shall shake the gainsayers; I shall shake the mockers, and I shall shake those that would oppose and stand against this that I have prepared for this season. Watch Me begin to shake that which seemed unshakeable, in days past. 

"For this is a turn-around season. I'm getting ready to turn around some things that would not turn. I'm getting ready to turn the vault on the door that would not open. Watch Me turn the bolt and open the door, and watch Me shake the unshakeable. Watch Me release that which I have said in days past - that the Glory of this latter house would be greater than the Glory of the former. As I shake and as I open, I Am releasing a new dimension of My Glory!"

Worship

"Your chief ministry is always to God. At the very least give God a tithe of your day in worship. Not worship and prayer and reading scriptures or meditating - JUST worship. Get used to always turning and yielding in your heart to the Lord. Understand that if your discipline is not earthed in delight, you won’t have the desire to see it through."
 

From Graham Cooke, The Indwelling Presence

On Sabbath

Mark Driscoll: 7 Things That Will Ruin Your Sabbath  

The Sabbath is a gift from God, which means Satan and our own sin will stand in the way of our enjoyment. No matter what the Sabbath looks like for you, you’re likely to experience a few of these obstacles along the way:

1. A Poor Work Ethic
If you don’t do your work during the week, you will end up doing your work on your day off. If you are disorganized, lazy, late, or prone to procrastinate, your day off will get devoured by a bunch of tasks that should be done already.

2. Religious Rules
Let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your Sabbath. Religious people want to remove the Holy Spirit and replace him with their rules, but their rules never work. We are not to be filled with rules; we’re to be filled with the Spirit who helps us to obey the word of God. Everyone’s day off is going to look a little different. If you find something that works for you, you can make rules for yourself, but you can’t impose your rules on anybody else—because you didn’t write the Bible.

3. Observing A Sabbath Day Without A Sabbath Heart
Sometimes you get to your day off, but you’re still anxious, stressed, sleepless, and unable to sit down and enjoy it. Your heart isn’t able to Sabbath. Perhaps your identity is in your work, so when you’re not working you lose all sense of value. Or perhaps you need to find away to take your thoughts captive. I always carry a notebook, and if something comes to mind on my Sabbath day, I write it down so that it’s out of my head and I can get to it later.

4. A Pharaoh
Our pharaoh today tends to fit in our pocket. One of the great Sabbath-killers is the smartphone: ever-present, dominating our whole life, interrupting at all hours, and demanding our constant attention with e-mails, social media, articles, calls, texts, and more. Technology will kill your Sabbath if you don’t establish some boundaries. If your phone does not Sabbath, your soul cannot Sabbath.

5. Not Planning Your Sabbath—In Pencil
Have you ever made it to your day off only to find you have no plan and no idea how you want to use it? The day disappears before you even begin to enjoy it. Or maybe you’re more likely to over-plan and turn your Sabbath into another day filled with tasks. Plan your Sabbath, but plan it in pencil. Allow a little flexibility and spontaneity, and make adjustments as you go.

6. Resting From Your Work Instead of Resting for Your Work
Work is not sinful. Before sin ever entered the world, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 1:15). It wasn’t until after the Fall that work became toilsome. In some way, a fruitful Sabbath must prepare you and energize you for the work God has called you to do during the other six days of the week.

7. Stimulants Instead of Sabbath
We sabotage our rest when we use stimulants instead of Sabbath. Rather than taking a break, we consume coffee, carbs, candy, energy drinks, and soft drinks all day. Then we go home stressed, we watch TV, we surf the Internet, and some will drink into the evening. The result is a population full of caffeinated, drunk, grumpy, phone-answering, Sabbath-violating wrecks. We call it “America.”

On this point, it’s worthwhile to consider God’s pattern at creation, which includes the refrain, “And there was evening and there was morning” to mark each day (Gen. 1). According to the Bible, a new day starts at sundown. Your day doesn’t begin when the alarm goes off; it starts with a healthy dinner and a good night’s sleep to replenish you for the daytime ahead.

The average person needs 8–9 hours of sleep and gets much less than that. Those who cannot get time to sleep because they have too much work are forgetting that part of the work God has assigned to them is sleep.

Remember the Sabbath
Look at your whole life. Seek to arrange your days in such a way that allows you to get things done, and make sure that one of those things is resting in God, enjoying time with him, using the life he has given you, and being with the people he has surrounded you with. That is the heart of the Sabbath.
Are you prone to kill yourself by working too hard? Or do you avoid work as much as possible? In which direction is the Holy Spirit calling you to repent? A Sabbath cannot save you—only Jesus can do that—but there is great wisdom in working hard for six days and then enjoying a true day off as he did while on the earth. 

This article was originally posted on The Resurgence website.

Pastor Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, and is one of the world’s most downloaded and quoted pastors. He was named one of the 25 most influential pastors of the past 25 years by Preaching magazine in 2010. His audience, fans and critics alike, spans the theological and cultural left and right.