Intimacy through Pray without Ceasing! (Lunchtime for 12/30/09)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to pray without ceasing. But, what does it mean to pray without ceasing?  Does it mean that we should constantly babble to God and never shut-up?  Or, does it mean that we should become monks and take vows of silence?  Neither!  Prayer cannot be confined to mere words or silence, but rather a reflection of our heart seeking out God in a relationship.  Certainly, listening and sharing our hearts with God are the primary tools of prayer, but prayer itself is more an act of the heart.  Constant prayer, or prayer without ceasing is both an act of humility that recognizes God’s sovereignty and one of intimacy where we give our most intimate selves over to God.  In this aspect, it is fair to say that our prayer life will reflect our intimacy level with God.  If our prayer life is shallow and superficial so will our relationship with God.  For example, young children will primarily go to their parents to meet their own needs and comfort, yet as they mature the children begin to see their parents as individuals with beauty, wisdom and flaws. With God, however, there are no flaws but only infinite beauty, wisdom, and holiness.  As we draw closer to God in a more intimate relationship when begin to approach God more as God and not as our genie god. We then begin to let allow God not only access, but freedom to lead us and guide us according to His will.  It is in these moments that we shall receive anything that we ask for.  For it is according to His will.  So, whether you are on your knees in silence, or in a group prayer, or walking on the beach, be in constant prayer with God, which is an act of constant communion with God through a surrendered life.  God bless,
Pastor Joe

Stepping up to the plate (Lunch for the Lost—12/16/09)

Step up to the plate! This euphemism is meant to encourage people to get off the bench, so to speak, and get in the game. God has said in many ways it is time to step up to the plate. Jesus says in Matthew 9 that harvest is huge but the workers are few—step up to the plate! In Ezekiel chapter 22 God is saddened that no one was willing to step up to the plate on behalf of the lost in Jerusalem. He states in Ezekiel 22:30, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” In John 14 Jesus encourages us to step up to the plate by depending upon Him. He tells us to ask in His name and it will be done according to His will. God’s heart is that none shall perish and you and I are part of His plan. But be aware. Too often & for too many reasons we allow excuses and distractions to keep us off of our knees and out of the game. Remember our job is not to save anyone. That job is already taken by our Lord & Savior, Jesus. Yet, it is our job is to pray and share the love of Jesus with the lost. It is to this task that Christ is calling us to step up to the plate and get in the game. And be encouraged, God considers a homerun to be obedience through faith. So let us begin by getting on our knees and praying for the lost in our lives.

God bless, Pastor Joe

The "key"!

I often wonder if there's a "key" to reaching the lost. There is - but it's rusty through lack of use. The Bible does actually call it "the key," and its purpose is to bring us to Christ - to unlock the Door of the Savior (John 10:9). Yet much of the Church still doesn't even know that it exists. But Jesus used it. So did Paul (Rom 3:19, 20), Timothy (1 Tim 1:8-11), and James (Jas 2:10). Even Stephen used it when he preached (Acts 7:53).

Jesus said that the lawyers had "taken away" the key, and even refused to use it to let people enter into the kingdom of God. The Pharisees didn't take it away. Instead, they bent it out of shape so that it wouldn't do its work (Mk 7:8). Satan has tried to prejudice the modern Church against the key.

The key that Jesus spoke of is found in Luke 11:52. It is the Law of God (the Ten Commandments). The Law is the God-given "key" to unlock the Door of salvation. Charles Spurgeon said, "I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach the Law. The Law is the needle, and you cannot draw the silken thread of the gospel through a man's heart unless you first send the needle of the Law to make way for it." Sadly, many hear the word "Law" and think of "legalism." While there are those who use the Law unlawfully (legalism), it shouldn't negate the fact that we can use the Law lawfully - to reach the lost. That's why God gave it - "for sinners" (1 Tim 1:8-10).

If you study how Jesus evangelized in Mark 10:17-21 you will notice how different His approach was from that of modern evangelism. A young man ran to Him (he was earnest), knelt down (in apparent humility), called Jesus "good," then asked how he could obtain eternal life. However, Jesus didn't preach the Cross, speak of God's love, repentance, or lead this potential convert in a sinner's prayer. Instead He corrected his understanding of the word "good." Then He took him through the Ten Commandments (the Law) to show this man what sin was.

If we want to be effective in reaching the lost, we must imitate the way of the Master. Let's pray this week on how we can utilize the law rather than denying its power as a relevant tool for evangelism.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Rony

Loving others when they cannot love themselves (Lunchtime for 11/18/09)

Often in life we are in need of others to help us out when we are unable to help ourselves.  This is love in action.  In Mark 2:1-12 we read an account of four guys who forcefully interrupt Jesus in the middle of one of His sermons to place before His feet a paralytic man in need of physical healing.  Obviously, since the man was paralyzed he was unable to physically force his own way into the presence of Jesus.  Thus, the need of his friends.  It was the faith and love of the man’s four friends who lowered him before Jesus that began this miracle of healing.  Today, if we look around we will realize that we are surrounded by spiritual paralytics, meaning those who are spiritually crippled and are unable to go before God themselves due to a variety of reasons.  They are in need of God’s miracle and our love.  This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our faith and love by spiritually placing those who are presently unable to do so for themselves before the feet of Christ through prayer.  God honors and loves this type of faith in action through prayer.  At the end of the account in Mark 2:12 we read that the crowd was amazed at the power of Jesus.  His power is still amazing.  Let us go before Jesus today in faith, placing before Him those who are in need of a spiritual healing and are unable to do so for themselves. 

God bless,

Pastor Joe 

Persistence Pays off! (Lunchtime post for 11/11/09)

Continually praying for the same thing with no apparent results can be very discouraging.  Even the most faithful prayer warriors can feel like giving up.  Yet, God encourages all of us to pray until the prayer is answered.  This does not mean pray until you get the answer you want, but until the prayer is answered.  There is an old acronym P.U.S.H that stands for Pray Until Something Happens.  This is what Christ is speaking of in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18.  Jesus states He wants to encourage us to always pray and not give up.  God’s timing is not our timing, just as His thoughts are not our thoughts.  Often God allows His children to wait and rest in Him for His perfect timing before He answers their prayers.  As you are praying for the lost in your lives do not give up and get discouraged when you do not see immediate results.  Many prayers have been answered years later, and that was God perfect timing.  Christ calls us to be persistent in our prayers.  So lets keep fighting the good fight, not with weapons of this world but with weapons that demolish strong holds and set people free—Prayer!  PUSH on brothers and sisters.  God bless.

Pastor Joe

Fight to be clear? (Lunchtime for 11/4/09)

Have you ever realized how intently focused Jesus was on His and His Father’s purpose?  The Pharisees sought to discourage and harm Jesus in hopes to keep Him from His purpose.  Satin sought to tempt Jesus to avoid His purpose and mission.  And Jesus' own family, albeit unintentionally, even sought to encourage Jesus to neglect His mission.  The crowds wanted to force Jesus to be king for their own purpose. Yet, to all this His reply was, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come (Mark 1:38).  Jesus’ response to all distractions in word and in action was the Son of man came to seek and save that which is lost,” (Luke 19:10).  Jesus fought the distractions and temptations of this world in order to stay focused on what truly counts.  We read in Luke 4:42-44 Jesus prepared and planed His day to accomplish His purpose.  Today is another day that God has given us to draw closer to Him and be used for His kingdom.  Don’t forget that Christ gave us a new life with a new purpose. Be encouraged and plan and prepare to answer that purpose given to you in Christ: ambassador of the living God almighty! Fight to be clear on why God has you where you are at.  Do not allow things that do not have God's eternal purpose in mind distract you from what counts.

God bless, Pastor Joe

I just don’t feel like it! (Lunchtime for 10/28/09)

Some people legitimately appear to have an emotional burden and heart for the lost.  That is great, but I don’t!  I wish I did, but I don’t.  Nor have I seen most Christians have a “quote” heart for the lost.  But, I do love God with all of my heart.  And I have been given the gift of a new life and with that new life I have been given a new purpose.  This new purpose is very clear and in no way ambiguous for any Christian.  Nor is this new life and new purpose dependent upon feelings.  Regardless of whether you feel it or not, in Christ you are a new creation and have been given the mission to be Christ ambassadors, His ministers of reconciliation as though God Himself is making His appeal through you (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).  All throughout the scripture, we have been called to go out share the love of Christ with the lost, and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  So, maybe we should stop caring or worrying about whether or not we have a “burden” or if we “feel like” praying and loving the lost and simply do it because God has asked us to.  Is that not enough?  It should be.  For freely we have received so freely we should give (Matthew 10:8).

Colossians 4:2-6

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

In search of God’s treasure! (Lunchtime post for 10/21/09)

Out all of the treasures we seek and find here on earth I think it is fair to say heaven out shines them all.  Yet, Jesus left heaven and sacrificed everything, even to point of shedding His blood and giving His life.  So what is so important to Jesus that He would leave heaven, the best there is and come to earth in humility as a poor carpenter, and give up His life?  The answer is the lost.  Believers, including all of those who do not yet know Jesus are God’s treasure.  God the Father, who loves Jesus His Son, more than we could ever imagine or love ourselves, gave up His Son in order to save all who would believe in Him.  Christ was and is diligent and committed to seeking His treasure.  It is where His heart is.  If our goal is to seek after God and the things of His heart then lets be encouraged and invest in treasure that will not fade away or fall victim to thieves and let us invest our time, talent, and treasure in praying and sharing Christ with lost.  Pray for divine appoints.  Pray for God to soften the hearts and open the minds of those who do not know Christ in an intimate relationship.  And pray that God will give you a hearts desire for that which He treasures!  God bless.

Pastor Joe

Are you Good Enough? (Lunchtime for 10/14/09)

Are you good enough for God to listen to you? Will your prayers make a difference? This seems like an absurd question, but nonetheless, one people subconsciously ask & answer all the time. Our own shortcomings and sin, which fundamentally separates us from God, has an annoying consequence of constantly raising the question: Am I good enough? Our failures and struggle with sin elicit the voice of the accuser (Satan) along with our own guilt telling us that we are not good enough to serve God and should give up. Thus, serving God and praying for the lost can feel like a waste of time when we often feel lost ourselves. But isn’t that the point of having a savior? On our own we are lost. It is only in Christ that we are found. The beauty about praying for the lost and sharing Christ is that we are all called to be on the same journey: sinners saved by grace and in constant dependency and need of Jesus. We must remember that our purpose is to seek out God’s kingdom and His righteousness, not a realization of our own kingdom with our own personal righteousness within that kingdom. This side of heaven we will never be perfect for we still maintain a physical body that is cursed with sin. According to scripture (Romans 7), we have a battle raging within our very self, a battle between our spirit and our flesh. This truth is not an excuse to sin, rather an essential reminder that we will always need a savior. And just as important, it is a reminder that we are “Good enough” not based on our failures or lack of failures but based on our savior—Jesus Christ. We must continue to learn to place our value in Christ and His completed work on the cross and not our own personal qualifications, including our lack of qualifications. It is because Christ was and is “Good Enough” that we are able to approach the throne room of God with confidence.  As Hebrews 4:14-16 declares, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.   Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  With that promise from the God almighty who does not lie, let us Pray!  Pray feverishly and with boldness knowing that our Heavenly Father looks upon you as more than Good Enough thanks to our Lord Jesus.  For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord.  God bless,

Pastor Joe

A Sacrifice of Praise (Lunch time for 10/7/09)

Psalm 141:1-2

O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. 2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Although we all may feel it, we do not generally acknowledge the fact that at many times we do not feel like praying.  I don’t.  Whether it be laziness, business, exhaustion, or a variety of reasons it is difficult to stop and slow ones mind down and listen and humble oneself before God.  But, that is okay.  What I mean is that God is aware of the difficulty to slow down and focus our eyes not on ourselves but on God.  It is for this reason that prayer is called a sacrifice of praise.  We read in Psalm 141:1-2, David petitioned God and referred to his prayer as an evening sacrifice.  Again, in Hebrews 13:15-16 we read, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.”  The word sacrifice means to give something up, just as Christ sacrificed His life for us.  In Romans 12 we are called to be living sacrifices, daily offering our bodies up to the Lord.  We are then told that this daily sacrifice is our true worship to God.  So don't be discouraged when you feel tired or unmotivated to pray.  Understand that feeling is normal.  But it is at that time, when you do not feel like praying, that your prayer becomes a sacrifice of praise.  And it is this sacrifice of praise that God loves and calls us each to give.  So, let us encourage one another, and offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  Today as you take time from yourself and you own needs, offer up a sacrifice of praise to the lost, for those who do not know Jesus.  This is Christ's heart and it is what He sacrificed His life for.  Keep fighting the good fight, and remember we do not fight as the world fights.  But as scripture promises us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.  Let us pray.  God bless

Pastor Joe

All things must start anew! (Lunch time post for 9/30/09)

God declares in Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  God is seeking to do a new work in you and us all.  In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that there is a time for everything.  Such as, "a time to begin and a time to end".  Generally, endings are difficult for most specifically because we do not handle change that well.  Yet, an ending always means a new opportunity to begin.  Jesus tells us that one does not put new wine into old wine skins.  Simply because the new wine would stretch and break the old wine skin and ruin both.  This parable Jesus uses is speaking to the fact that Christ wants to do a new work in our hearts.  God is not looking to continue with the old but wants to begin anew.  If you look in the book of Revelation, we read that God is not going to restore heaven and earth but make a new heaven and earth.  He has not restored us as fallen human beings but made us a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This truth applies to revival in our lives and community as well.  God is longing to do a great and miraculous work in our lives.  God is looking to begin a new work that our generation may praise and point to the power of God almighty.  But we must seek out this new work, new miracle, new revival. Psalm 85:6-7 states, "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?  Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation".  Today as you pray for the lost, pray specifically for a new revival to break for in your heart, in your church, in your community, and in our world. God bless,

Pastor Joe

The Fear Factor--(Lunch time post for 9/23/09)

Many times I have felt inadequate and scared to share the truth about Jesus.  I have felt scared that people will look at me funny or ostracize me.   Admittedly, I have allowed this fear to rob me of many opportunities to share the best news ever!  News that our Lord and Savior died to give us.  Yet, we can find comfort and encouragement in the fact that Godly servants of Christ have also struggled with fear but were not overcome.  For instance, have you ever noticed that even the Apostle Paul struggled with fear of sharing the best news ever!  We read in Ephesians 6:19-20 the Apostle Paul petitioning the church for prayer that he may declare the word fearlessly as he should.  We also read in Colossians 4:2-4 Paul asks for prayer to share the gospel clearly.  If fear or clarity were not an issue he would not have asked for prayer for it.  But, the encouragement for us today is that we do not have to allow our fears to dictate our behavior.  We also, as the Apostle Paul did, can go to God and ask Him for strength and clarity in sharing His precious gift to the world.  We can rest in His grace that we are able to share in His strength and wisdom and not in our own!  Today as you pray for the Lost, ask God to give you courage and clarity that you may declare God’s truth as we have been called to do!  And remember we have not been given a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciple (2 Timothy 1:7).   God Bless,


Pastor Joe

Admiring the Rich (Lunch time for 9/16/09)

I just returned from a beautiful wedding this past weekend.  While I was at the wedding I was surprised at how many people came up to me and felt compelled to explain how rich this person was, what this person did, and how they made all of their money.  The surprise for me was not that we are all awed by how much wealth some people accumulate, but on how many Christians admired the wealthy and held them on such high regard based solely on their material possessions.  I clearly received the impression, from "believers", that the more money you have the more successful you are perceived.  This disturbed me, not because I do not have all that wealth, but because we seek to emulate that which we admire.  I wished we would hear more testimonies and admiration about those who have spent their lives building God’s kingdom and not their own.  This would encourage others to seek God's King and His righteousness. Jesus says you cannot serve two masters for where your treasure is there heart will be also (Matthew 6:19; 24).  Remember this as you choose those whom you admire; Christ, who is God, became a servant, a poor servant in order to seek lost: you and me.  As you pray today for the lost, remember to ask God to give you a devoted heart to His kingdom and His purpose.  Material wealth is not bad. But if the quest for wealth is our priority, and our heart and admiration is in the wealth of this world, then we will naturally spend our lives seeking the riches of this world and consequentially forfeit the riches of God’s kingdom.  God bless

Pastor Joe      

Answered Prayer

God has quickly answered my prayer for open doors and for divine appointments. Yesterday, as I flew back from Montreal I sat down next to a man who was very talkative.  Which as you know when you are tired and on a plane is not always the most enjoyable thing.  But, I began speaking with this gentlemen and God opened the door and I had a chance to share the Gospel with him.  I could see lights going off in his head when he was making the connections.  He did not accept Christ right on the plane but I felt God had divinely placed me next to him to share the truth and love of Christ.  What he does with that is up to him.  Please pray for Bill.  God bless and continue to ask God for divine appointments and the salvation of the lost.

Catching God's Wave (Lunchtime post 9/9/09)

As a surfer I have my favorite surf spots to surf.  Unfortunately, my favorite spot only works really well on a north swell.  I can paddle out anytime I want, but if there is not a north swell, I will just be sitting there in the ocean at my favorite spot with no waves.   Walking with God is very similar.  Often, we go to God with our own agenda and on our own set time schedule.  Then when nothing happens we wonder why?  The truth is that God is moving!  And we can participate in His work and miracles.   We just need to know which direction He is moving in!  We need to catch God’s wave, we need to be in God’s spot.  Today as you pray for the lost, lay down your own agenda and ask God to lead you in prayer and in divine appointments for those He is ready to call.  This is not to say you cannot nor should you stop praying for your lost loved ones who may not know Jesus, but begin by seeking out what God is doing.  Perhaps, God has a coworker who is ready to hear your testimony or someone who is going to sit down by you at dinner.  Only God knows!  But that is the point, this adventure we are on is by God’s strength and leading not our own!  What a freedom we have when we stop trying to make things happen and take advantage and participate in what God is doing.   

Proverbs 3:5-7:  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight!

What is Lunch for the Lost?

Jesus says in Luke 19:10 that "the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Christ's very purpose in being born was to reunite humanity (which is lost), to God in an intimate relationship.  God is so passionate about reaching the lost that He reminded His disciples in Luke 15 that God rejoices over one sinner who repents over the 99 righteous who do not need to!

As followers of Christ, we have been given the mandate of God to be His Ambassadors, as though God Himself is making His appeal through you and I (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).  To do this we need to begin with prayer with a humble dependence upon God, understanding that it is God who is able to save and not us.  We are called to love and share the love of Christ with the lost.

So, with this in mind, I thought about different ways that we can be unified in our efforts to love the lost.  I began thinking that everyday, people generally spend on an average of 1 hour buying or preparing and then eating lunch.  But the average Christians spends less than 5 minutes (if that) in a week praying for the lost to begin a relationship with Jesus as Lord.  What would happen if we all decided to take our hour lunch break on Wednesdays and instead of going out to eat, or in addition to going out to eat, we prayed for God to use us for His glory and  to share His truth in order that others may come to know Him in a personal way. I believe if we do this we will see God move powerfully in our midst.

To demonstrate God's answer to our prayers we have created a blog that we can post testimonies of how God has used us in this new adventure.  Also, each Wednesday a new encouraging scriptural reminder of our purpose and reason behind "Lunch for the Lost" will be posted.  We can call it "Lunch time".  If interested in partnering then sign up and commit to praying.  Also, be sure to check the blog weekly and give me updates on how God is answering your prayers so others may be encouraged as well.  We can also post specific prayer request on the blog for the salvation of individuals.

Lets transform lives and change the world, beginning with our selves through Christ's power!

Pastor Joe Houser

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21