IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010

The Right hand of fellowship.  What is it? And is it more than just shaking hands with folks around you in the pew when the Pastor says to say hello to 11 people you haven’t spoken to yet this morning?

A question was asked of me today via Beth Moore in her book, John 90 Days With The Beloved Disciple.
How well is the right hand of fellowship being extended in your church, especially with people of different viewpoints?

Good question, wouldn’t you say? And how would you answer it?  Perhaps like me, you would need a bit more information before you could answer that.

Since it’s not the meet and greets we do on Sunday morning during worship service, what is it?  Beth (Moore) enlightened me today and hopefully, I can adequately pass it along to you.

Let’s begin in Galatians 1 at verse 15.  It’s Paul recounting his saving encounter with JESUS.

Galatians 1: NIV¹⁵But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, ¹⁷nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. source 

You may recall the account in Acts 9 when Saul (Paul) is saved Ananias is not thrilled about paying a visit to Saul, but in obedience he does.  And some days following Paul went to Arabia for about 3 years and then he returned to Damascus and then went on to Jerusalem.

¹⁸Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.   source

AND THEN.  Galatians 2:   ¹Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.  source

Fourteen years.  Fourteen years later, he returns to Jerusalem.

⁹James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.  source

And there it is.  THIS time, this time he is given the right hand of fellowship.  Seventeen years after his saving encounter with JESUS, he is accepted by the Church Leaders.  Seventeen years after salvation the Church Leaders recognized the GRACE OF GOD that had been given to Paul, that he was indeed the real deal and at that time they acknowledged his ministry, granting to him as it were, God’s Speed to go and minister.

So what is the Right Hand of Fellowship?  It is recognizing the GRACE OF GOD in a person, seeing that God has anointed him or her to minister in His Name and doing all you can, all you are led by the Holy Spirit to do, to send that one on their way with love, prayers, and resources to minister the GRACE of GOD within them.

Wow! Talk about waiting for a promotion! Talk about waiting for your ministry to be recognized and supported!

Let me close with a quote from Beth’s book:

. . . Paul, a former religious madman who approved the murder of Stephen and helped fuel a persecution that resulted in James’ death; Barnabas, the son of encouragement, who risked getting hammered by the early church by building a bridge between unlikely brothers.

That’s just it.  We’re all unlikely brothers. In Christ’s church, the pillars were never designed to match. Each one is distinct. What need would cookie-cutter disciples meet? None of us were meant to match. We were meant to fit together. Two identical puzzle pieces don’t “fit”.  Oh, that we would celebrate that difference.

Fourteen years lapsed between the time Paul first tried to fit in with the apostles and when he finally received the right hand of fellowship.  I’d like to suggest the hand didn’t come a moment behind schedule. What use would God have had for Paul if he simply turned out to be another James? Another Peter? Another John? His mission was distinct. And so, Beloved, is yours.  God knows what He’s doing! Trust Him. God is busy making you someone no one else has ever been.

And all that being said, if you remember anything about this lesson, remember this: GOD IS BUSY MAKING YOU SOMEONE NO ONE ELSE HAS EVER BEEN.  STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST! CELEBRATE WHO YOU ARE IN HIM, NOW TODAY, AND KEEP ON CELEBRATING DAY AFTER DAY UNTIL YOU MAKE IT HOME.

ABBA,  I am here in the Name of Your Holy and Righteous Son, JESUS.  Only in His Name and His Righteousness do I come to pray. Only in His Name do we your IDOKs come to pray for each other, asking that the GRACE You have given us be evident, recognizable in us.  I pray that You will take this lesson and apply it individually to the hearts and minds of Your people and that all that You desire will be accomplished in us.

We pray for our IDOK Troops, asking that You protect and keep from harm each one of them. We pray for courage and peace for them.  We pray they will be quick to rely on You and to seek You with all their hearts.  We pray they will be honorable in their conduct neither shaming Your Name or this Country.  And we pray for those who are waiting here at home for them to return, that they too will seek to live honorably and will find You faithful to them in all ways.

And we pray for each one on our lists, wanting only Your best for each one and asking that it be so.  And now I pray for rest and peace for us all.  Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.

I didn’t complain. I explained. There’s a difference. Said Joyce Meyer.

So what’s the difference?  Free Dictionary dot com defines each word this way:

com·plain /kəmˈplān/ Verb 1. Express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event

ex·plain /ikˈsplān/ Verb 1. Make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.

Well, isn’t this cute?  Ex.plain.  Does ex mean something is over?  Like done with?  Behind me?

So if I am verbalizing some dissatisfaction or annoyance that I am NOW OVER would that be explaining rather than complaining?   I’m being silly.  Or am I?

Oh that we would become explaining Christians — making the Gospel of JESUS clear and plain to others, describing in detail, giving facts, giving truth about JESUS to them.   So much so that they would want a Personal Encounter with Him.  This would surely be good!!

And just what is a complaining Christian?

Would that be a Christian who expresses dissatisfaction or annoyance about his or her state of affairs or an event – past, present or future?  So just how can I convey to a dear sister in Christ my need for prayer or someone else’s need for prayer,  if I can’t complain?   That is a good question.  Based upon our definitions above, how would you answer it?

Joyce also said (and I am paraphrasing, of course) That her mission was to find treasure in trials.

If we looked and found TREASURE in our state of affairs or events would our complaining cease?  And when we sat to give an account of an affair or event to a sister or brother would we then be explaining (revealing) the treasure we found hidden in having no hot water for our morning shower?

I suppose you are noticing that this IDOK is not about giving answers but getting them … I hope.

Oh my goodness!  I just read the definition for explaining again!  And I noticed something so astounding that is missing from the definition. It  says revealing facts and ideas.  Not a word about revealing feelings or opinions!   Does that mean complaining is about conveying (negative) feelings and opinions’!  And explaining is about revealing facts and ideas?  Hmmm.

Mark 4: (New American Standard Bible) ³⁴and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Acts 17: (New American Standard Bible) ²And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying,” This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Acts 28: (New American Standard Bible) ²³When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

Philippians 2: (New King James Version)¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Proverbs 21: (New Century Version) ¹⁹ It is better to live alone in the desert than with a quarreling and complaining wife.

Proverbs 27: (New Century Version) ³ Stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a complaining fool is worse than either.

I think I’m done here.

I like this, ABBA.  It explains a lot.  Are You smiling? Somehow I think You are.  I love You, ABBA.  You are the BEST!  Holy Spirit, please don’t let me forget this.  Please ‘yank on my chain’ really hard when complaints even start to form.  Please, please don’t let them out of my mouth!! And for every one of our IDOKs who will saying Amen I am including them now in this request – yank their chains too. Amen and Amen in JESUS NAME.

And for our IDOK Troops we join together praying for their safety and protection from all harm whether spirit, soul or body.  And for our prayer charges we collectively bring every name and need represented by our Praying For These list.  And we are trusting Your sovereignty, we are trusting You to know each name , each precious face and need and Your willingness to help them. We want You to just get all up in their business and make Yourself known to them, especially those who are running hard in the wrong direction.

Thank You again for this lesson.  And again I pray for the Peace of Israel, the revival of Your Church and the salvation of America. And, ABBA, as best I know how I am here, please display Yourself through me to lost world in JESUS NAME.  Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2010

To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.

My ‘knee’ time was good this morning, but my study time has not been that commendable; although I did make a pass through the den with the vacuum and even a drag across the kitchen floor with a bent broom.  May I say I don’t like bent brooms?  But I have nobody to blame but me for its bentness and for the lack of a new one. Now, aren’t y’all thrilled to have that little tidbit of Thompson Manor trivia?

Hmmm. Wonder if I can get a devotional lesson out of that?!! Could I say that my bent in the wrong direction ways and lack of practice of new, improved, better ways is nobody’s fault but my own?  Yes, I believe I can, and most likely I am not the only one. But we’ll leave that lying right there and move on.  :)

Sometime between midnight and 1:00 A.M. Monday morning I read these words written by Lsya Terkeurst in her book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl: Have you ever let yourself dare to believe that Jesus would love to show Himself to you? Not in a physical sense, where we could see Him with our physical eyes.  But rather, wouldn’t it make your soul come alive like never before to see evidence of His presence constantly and consistently all around you?  Interestingly, the more this happens, the more we desire to be obedient and love God the way He desires us to love Him.  It is a beautiful cycle!

A beautiful cycle!  Now that would make a clean sweep of bent broom living, wouldn’t it?

And did she say it starts with daring to let ourselves believe that Jesus would LOVE (my emphasis) to reveal Himself to us?

Reveal.
Free Dictionary dot com says this:

a. To make known (something concealed or secret) b. To bring to view; show. 2. To make known by supernatural or divine means: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven”

Yep! That’s what it says.

Romans 7: ^{(NIV) 19}For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.         ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  . . .  .

2 Corinthians 2: (NASB)¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Matthew 13: (NASB) ¹¹Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.

I Samuel 3:  ²¹And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, because the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Acts 10: (NIV) 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.
Obtained from Biblegateway.com

Which means to me if He did it for Samuel, and He did, He will do it for you and me.

Bent Broom Living  — not for us!

Some bent broom living is easier to rid from practice than others and I thank You for every time I choose rightly, Father.  Thank You for this lesson.  Thank You for the good accomplishments of this day and thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness for the less-than-wise choices made today.   I pray now for rest and peace for all our IDOKs.  I pray when they awaken to this lesson that it will give them some entertainment as well as food for thought.  And I pray that You will administer and minister this lesson to each heart as is needed.

I pray for our IDOK Troops, asking You to again keep them safe.  To again protect them and woo them to faithful service in hostile lands and friendly ones.  And I again pray for family and friends waiting for them to return, asking that they wait in peace and with integrity.

Our list is still lengthy and I continue to be grateful for the privilege of praying for each of them. Thank You for a means to keep their names and requests before us.  Thank You that You hear us and You are always working on our behalf and theirs.  Thank You for tending to each one.

And now as I prepare to put this to rest to wait for posting, I am asking You to convince each one of us that knowing You, loving You, and worshiping You is our greatest and highest calling.   I dare not forget to pray for Israel for peace and protection for them.  And for America that You have mercy.  Holy Spirit, please rain down conviction upon us and give us grace and space to repent. LORD, I pray for an awakening in this Land.  I pray we will repent.  I pray You will call us to repentance and that we will gladly humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways so You can and will heal this Land.  Amen and amen in JESUS’ NAME.

you are interested — a new page at The White Stone.   Quotes.  I envision it to be a place for me to quickly jot down quotes I like.  It will be a place for me to keep them handy not just for my review and potential use, but yours too, and a place for us to interact if you desire. I hope you know your comments are welcome at The White Stone  — on this page and all the others pages.

Hope you are having a Marvelous Monday.

Holy hugs, Kat. . .