Joshua and Mandy Rushing’s New Album!

Joshua and Mandy Rushing’s new album BECKON ME is now available.

You can pick one up at our Friday night EGS (Encounter God Service), or at church on Sunday morning.

Also, you can download it from www.digstation.com.

The Biblical Mandate to Pray for Our Government

I.                  Religion and Politics

 It is important before we begin that we deal with the common question, “Can we, or should we mix, religion and politics?”  Many of us were brought up being taught that these two parts of our lives should not intersect, that they should remain separated in our thoughts and actions.  Discussing either one of these topics at a social gathering or even the dinner table has traditionally been taboo, much less discussing them at the same time. 

Let me be clear about this from the start.  The answer to the question “Can we, or should we, mix religion and politics” is YES; not just yes, but we MUST!  If our religion and spiritual convictions do not lead us and guide us in our actions and behavior, then our religion is dormant, weak, and insignificant in our lives. 

 James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

 James 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

 Paul states in I Timothy that one of the primary things that we should pray for, intercede for, is our government officials.

 I Tim. 2:1-4, “1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

 Paul gives us five reasons for praying for our government, or mixing our spiritual lives and political lives.

1. That Christians may lead quiet and peaceable lives

2. That Christians may live godly, righteous lives, full of holy fear

3. It is right, good, and acceptable in the sight of God

4. That people may saved

5. That people may come to a knowledge of truth

 Intercession for our government and its officials is not just an option, but it is one of the key ingredients if revival is going to sweep this nation.  When we fully shift into governmental intercession we will fully shift the government! 

 II.               Teach Us How To Pray

 When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He taught them first who to pray to – the Father.

 Luke 11:2, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The word “Father” that Jesus used in Luke 11 is the Hebrew word “Abba”.  This word is most often understood as a little child’s word “Daddy”, making it primarily used in the context of personal intimacy with God.  Though this is true, the word “Father” has a much wider use. 

The first mention in the Hebrew Bible of the idea of God as the Father is found in the story of Moses and Pharaoh. 

Ex. 4:22-23, “22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘…Israel is My son, My firstborn.  23…let My son go that he may serve me.’”

So when Jesus is telling these young Jewish men to pray to the Father, He’s telling them to appeal to the One who brought Israel out of the bondage of an oppressive and evil government.  He was encouraging them to, as N.T. Wright puts it, “hold on to the hope of liberty.”

 So the first word in the prayer of Jesus was one that carried with it revolution, not just intimacy! 

III.           Prayers for Our Government

 Here are just a few examples of prayers from the scriptures that are good to pray for our nation, government, and leaders.

 II Chron. 7:14, “… if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Psalm 2:10-12, “10 “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” 

 Psalm 72:1-2, “1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s son.  2 [That] he will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.”

 Joel 2:28, “…I [the Lord] will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

Col. 1:9-11, “9 …that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;”

Julie Meyer is coming to IHOP Siloam Springs

This is just a reminder that worship leader/songwriter/speaker Julie Meyer from IHOP-KC is coming August 28-30.

Here is a little bit about her:

Julie Meyer is a longtime and beloved worship leader and songwriter at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. She is a prophetic singer who carries the glory and the presence of God as an abandoned worshipper. Her passion is His presence as she trumpets the message of the Bridegroom searching for His Bride!

Knowing her King and Bridegroom through the lens of the scripture and prophetic experiences has led her to write many spontaneous choruses and worship songs. Her worship leading and prophetic songs have inspired many to lean into their Beloved. Julie has recorded several CD’s and is the author of the book; ‘Invitation To Encounter: A Journey in Dreams.’

Her 3 sons, Isaac and twins Jesse and Joe, all serve and play on worship teams at the House of Prayer and Julie helps her husband Walt with homegroups and youth gatherings that support the growing community at the Missions Base. Julie and her family reside in Kansas City, MO.

Also, here is a link to her website:

http://www.juliemeyer.com/

I hope you’ll put this on you schedule and invite everyone you know!

thoughts on worship by A.W. Tozer

The following is an excerpt from A.W. Tozer’s book Whatever Happened To Worship:

I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and the delight of worshiping Him.

A worshiper can work with eternal quality in his work.  But a worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay, and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire.

I fear that there are many professing Christians who do not want to hear such statements about “busy schedule,” but it is the truth.  God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us – to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever!

It is then, out of our deep worship, that we do His work…

…I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.

These words from Tozer, though written decades ago, have prophetic timeliness today.

The Command to Pray for the Sick

In this season of our community we are experiencing many sicknesses, diseases, and other various attacks on our bodies and families.  In light of this I wanted to share some thoughts on prayer and healing with you.  These are some of the notes from those thoughts.

I.                  The Great Commission

 Matt. 28:18-20, “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’  Amen.”

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gathered his disciples and gave them one final “sermon,” one final commissioning.  These eleven young men had seen many things during Jesus’ ministry.  They had sat at the feet of the God-man and heard His words for nearly three years, and they were now getting their ultimate marching orders.  Jesus reveals to them what their role and ministry will be after He ascends to the Father. 

His message to these young men was to go make disciples of nations, teaching them all that He had commanded them.  Jesus wanted them to make disciples of the world in the same manner that He had made them disciples (John 20:21).

So the question becomes, “What was it that He command them to do?”

We know that He commanded them to love one another (John 13:34), love God with all their being (Matt. 22:37), and treat others the way they would want to be treated (Matt. 7:12), just to name a few.

However, when these disciples were first sent, He commanded them to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

Luke 9:1-2, “ 1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.  2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Matt. 10:7-8, “7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.”

Jesus said that all future followers of His should be expected to practice the same things that he commanded the original disciples to do.  If we accept the commands to love one another, love God, etc, then we must also accept and embrace His command to heal the sick, and cast out devils.

We can’t selectively pick which commands we will or will not accept. 

When our culture or personal experience come into conflict with the Word of God, then as followers of Jesus, we must align ourselves with God’s Word.  That is true whether we are in conflict with the command to “love one another,” or in conflict with the command to “heal the sick.”  When our personal experience does not match up with the commands of Jesus, then the commands of Jesus should be a launching pad for new experience.

Every command given in the Bible is a promise of enablement.  Besides, the One who gave the command to preach the kingdom and heal the sick also said that He would be with us until the end of the present evil age.  So the command is still in effect and is for everyone who loves Jesus (John 14:21).  In fact, Jesus did nothing in the gospels that He did not command and commission His disciples to do, except to die for the sins of the world.

II.               We Do Because He Did

In Luke chapter 14 Jesus tells us that we are expected to do great exploits for the kingdom.

 Luke 14:12-14, “12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father [send the Holy Spirit].  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Jesus first says that all who believe in Him (Christians) will do the works that He did.  Then He adds that we will actually do “greater works” than that.  That doesn’t seem possible to the natural mind.  Actually, it’s not possible without the next phrase in verse 12: “…because I go to my Father.”

Jesus said that His ascension to the Father was unto the sending of the Holy Spirit.  Thus, in Luke 14 He’s saying, “Because of the ministry of the Holy Spirit that will be in you, you shall have the capacity to do great things in My name.” 

Jesus attributed His power ministry to the Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:17-19, “17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’”

Now this certainly doesn’t mean that everyone will be healed instantly every time we pray for them.  I wish it did.  I don’t pretend to understand fully the soveriegnty of God.  But what I do know is that we are suppose to do our part – pray!

We can’t do God’s part and He won’t do ours.  We must stay faithful and steady, contending for the healing of the sick in our midst.  That’s our part! We may see instant fruit and we may not, but either way, we go with the orders at hand and that is to PRAY!

My Favorite “Mother” Story in Scripture

The Gospel of John gives us a wonderful story of the power of a good mom.

Most of us are familiar with the story.  Jesus and his mother (Mary) are at a wedding.   Some time during the celebration the wine runs out.  Mary, knowing who her Son really is thinks, “Ah, I know someone who can help.”

So she calls on Jesus to do something about it. 

Jesus then says to her, “Mom, it’s not my time!”  The fact that Jesus knew that it wasn’t Him time tells me that there WAS indeed an ordained time for him to begin His “power” ministry.  Perhaps He and His heavenly Father has discussed it billions of years earlier.  Here’s the point:  There was obviously a specific time, ordained from eternity past for Jesus to begin his miracle ministry, and He knew that this was not it.  It was not the time pre-ordained by the Father.

So Mary, His mother turns and says to the servants, “Do whatever He says.”

Here’s my personal interpretation of Mary’s comment: “Jesus, my son, whom I carried in my womb for 9 months, I am your mother! And I’ll tell you when your time is!  You’re not to big for me to bend you over my knee and…”  Well, you get the picture.  Of course it probably didn’t happen exactly like that.

Then Jesus does what she had originally asked.  He did His first miracle!

This is what I love about this story.  Although there was an eternal time meant for Jesus to begin this part of His ministry, and this was not that time, Jesus, in humility and submission, honored His mother with obedience.  AND IT BECAME HIS TIME!

Thank you moms!!!

Keys to Remaining Faithful in Prayer

The following notes are from a teaching that I did a while back in the House of Prayer. 

I.                  The Lord’s House

 

Isaiah 56:6-7, “6 Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants…7 Even them 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 nations.”

                 

This prophecy in Isaiah is given by the Lord Himself.  It is important for us to note that it is He who is orchestrating this.  Enjoyable prayer is His idea.  It is not for just a select group of intercessors but for everyone.  God promises that before the end of this age His people shall be identified as a praying people.  Prayer shall become (and is becoming) the foundational and primary activity of the church. 

 

As we give ourselves to the place of prayer and call others to do the same, it is important that we understand the way God motivates us to sustain prayer.  It is not by making people feel guilty for not praying enough.  Nor does He motivate by “brow-beating,” twisting arms, manipulating, or talking solely about duty and trying harder (although duty and effort are good things).

 

The Lord motivates us by promising JOY!  He says that we can remain faithful and steady in prayer by actually enjoying it.  Pleasure is a much more effective motivator than negativity, pain, or manipulation.  He didn’t say that one would always be happy when praying, but that we might have joy.  Nor should we confuse joy with ease.  Staying faithful in the place of prayer is not always easy, yet we can still experience joy in the process.

 

Joy and Hapiness

Joy is not the same as happiness.  Happiness comes from the same word that we get the word “happen.”  Therefore, happiness is based on “happenings;” it’s based on circumstances.  If something good happens, we get happy.  If something bad happens, or if something good does not happen, then we don’t get happy.  So, happiness is conditional. 

 

Joy, however, is different.  It is not based on circumstances.  Joy can be experienced even in the midst of negative circumstances (Jas. 1:2).  Joy is a deep posturing of the heart that is rooted in Divine love and the indwelling Spirit of God (John 15:9-11, Gal 5:22).  The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus still had joy even as he endured the cross (Heb. 12:2).

 

So just because we experience joy in prayer doesn’t mean that it will always be easy.  We should not be fooled into believing that the Isaiah 56 prophecy means we should always have easy prayer – but instead, joyful (or enjoyable) prayer.

 

If the Lord promises joy in the place of prayer, the question becomes, “HOW?”  How can we experience joy in prayer?  How does the Lord accomplish this – making us joyful in the house of prayer?

 

II.               Experiencing Joy by Enjoying God

 

Psalm 149:1-3, “1 Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of the saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.  3 Let them praise His name with the dance, let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.”

 

David understood that a corporate prayer gathering must be rooted in joy, singing, dancing, etc., if the people were going to sustain intercession (verses 5-9).  The way to remain faithful in prayer, according to David, is to enjoy the One to whom we pray.

 

If we do not enjoy God, we will not enjoy praying to Him, and therefore will not continue to run to Him in the place of prayer. 

 

How do we, then, enjoy God?

 

III.           Discovering God’s Enjoyment of Us

 

Isaiah 62:2-6, “2 …you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.  3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.  4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land Beulah [married]; For the Lord delights in you…5 …and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.  6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night.  You who make mention of the lord, do not keep silent.”

 

Psalm 149:4-9, “4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble [meek] with salvation.  5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.  6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 to execute on them the written judgment – this honor have all His saints…”

 

In these two passages we see that, in the context of intercession, discovering and embracing God’s enjoyment of us is the starting point. Both Isaiah and David understood that before effective and persistent intercession could be realized, the people had to be rooted in the Divine affections, emotions, and joy of the Lord. 

 

Discovering and experiencing God’s enjoyment of us even in our weakness causes our hearts to overflow with affection, worship, and enjoyment back to Him.  It takes God to love God.  Similarly, it takes God to enjoy God.

 

                              John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

 

IV    Beholding and Becoming Principle

 

So how do we discover God’s enjoyment?  According to the apostle Paul we should go no further than Christ Himself.  This seems like the obvious place to start, but the subject of God is one of the least taught subjects in the body of Christ.  Other subjects such as morality, ethics, relationships, and ministry skills often eclipse the study of God.  However, Paul says that if we want to experience and live in the love and joy of the Lord, we must behold the glory of the Lord.

 

Whatever we behold in God’s heart towards us becomes awakened in our heart back to God. To behold God’s heart refers to studying it, or meditating on it, until we understand it more and thus encounter God.

 

II. Cor. 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

 

Summary

The Lord’s design and intention for us in the place of prayer is to have joy in the process.  The only way that we’ll enjoy prayer is to enjoy the One to whom we pray.  The way to enjoy God is to discover and experience His passionate enjoyment of us in our weakness.  We do this by beholding Him and meditating on who He has revealed Himself to by the Spirit through His Word.

 

Joshua’s Test Run

My hope is that I will post, at the very least, one blog  a week…sometimes more.  I view this as yet another way for us all to connect on a personal level and continue to build community and relationship. 

Blogs don’t replace “face time”, but rather work in partnership with it.  The electronic world can sometimes be a hindrance to true community because most interpersonal communication is not verbal.  However, that doesn’t mean that we should just ignore it.  Let’s use it as an addition, an enhancement.  Think of blogs like pepper on a steak, or butter on toast.  It’s not the main thing, but it sure helps make the main thing better.

Joshua’s Blog

I am not Joshua, but stay tuned for some amazing insight.  That’s right book mark it right here.