Are You Exhausted Spiritually?

February 9th, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

The everlasting God…neither faints nor is weary. —Isaiah 40:28


Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted.
Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him.Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections.
Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. “All my springs are in you” (Psalm 87:7).
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February 9 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, how does this devotional synch up with one of my favorite scriptures? “But those who hope in the Lord   will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Should we expect to become depleted when we serve? I thought we only became depleted when we operated out of our own power and strength? And when we are connected to You; when You are the source of our strength, we never grow weary, because Your strength and power are never depleted.

And God says…”This devotional is about others depending and drawing on your strength and power as they come to learn to depend on God. Your students, children, grandchildren and followers will look to you as the Holy Spirit leads them to Me. This can be exhausting. So allow yourself to be exhausted in my service and I will replenish you as you are connected to Me. Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else you need will be provided. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight.”

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Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering? (2)

February 6th, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

I am already being poured out as a drink offering… —2 Timothy 4:6


Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.

“Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents— burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose— the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does. You “bind the sacrifice…to the horns of the altar” and see to it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?

Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.

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Are You Ready To Be Poured Out As an Offering? (1)

February 5th, 2015 by Dave No comments »

If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. —Philippians 2:17

Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well done.’ ”

It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.

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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, Being in the background, doing menial or un-noticed work only works for me when I’m connected with you. When I lose that clear connection, I tend to resent doing menial things. So I guess the key is to stay connected and be ready for anything you send. The large and the small, the strategic and the menial.

Connected with me is the best way to live. It’s the way I live … and the way I lived when I walked the shores of Galilee. I’m always connected with Father and Holy Spirit .. and as many of you as accept that invitation to our connection. As you stay connected with me, you can say with Paul. I can do all things, thru Christ, who strengthens me. Phil 4:13. When you lose connection, you lose the strength to withstand all pressures. That is when men have fallen back on their own strength and built structures to maintain their power. It’s an ugly thing. My people connected to me with my power (Me) flowing thru them … That is a beautiful thing. My essence is Love. Love manifests many ways but here are some clues:

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Cor 13)

If those things are not flowing in your circumstances … check your connection. When something seems to be missing in your life … it’s me. Look how fast the Father was there for the prodigal son who realized that something was missing. We are here for you, just like that.

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The Compelling Majesty of His Power

February 4th, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

The love of Christ compels us… —2 Corinthians 5:14


Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us….” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life. When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “…you shall be witnesses to Me….” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do— that is basic and understood— but “witnesses to Me….” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane— he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for— to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.
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February 4 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional made me think about the difference between obligations and rules and being motivated out of love. And then I began to think about the love I find in You from our connection and relationship. The rules? I too will break them. Lines in the sand, I too will cross them. But the love I find in You as a result of our connection and relationship, well that is a different thing altogether. But how can I make sure Lord that I am operating out of love and not obligations, guilt or responsibility?

And God says…”If you will seek Me first, in the morning, in the idea, opportunity, life and or challenge, I will make your paths straight. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will lead, guide and direct you. I never wanted rigid rules and responsibilities for my children. They serve to demonstrate your inabilities and my mercy and grace. But when you put our relationship first, when you seek Jesus first, you are connected to Me and our relationship based on love goes on and on and on. Anything apart from love misses the mark. Love your God with all your heart mind and soul, and love your brother as yourself. You can do this through Jesus Christ who died and gave His life for you.”

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Becoming the “Filth of the World”

February 3rd, 2015 by Dave No comments »

We have been made as the filth of the world… —1 Corinthians 4:13

These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration— being “separated to the gospel of God…” (Romans 1:1).

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you…” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel….” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ‘the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me…” (Galatians 1:16).

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord. So I’m not to think it strange, the fiery trials that may come my way as in 1 Peter 4:12. How then am I to think of them? I can think I am privileged to “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…” (Colossians 1:24). But to be honest, that thinking seems to be too far a stretch for me in the midst of a trial. How about an attitude of “Curiosity?”

Curiosity is a good first step. I can work with that and it won’t shut down your ability to hear my voice and move to those next levels of thinking. Staying curious requires that you have not already come to a conclusion or judgement about an issue. Curiosity is a good starting place for hearing my voice or feeling my nudges. Then it is up to you to be obedient. That’s when the faith kicks in. You dont even need faith until you hear me tell you something which isn’t “logical” … like step out of the boat, or something out of your comfort zone, like, “go pray for that person.” So live curious and connected and ready to obey. It’s the way I lived. It’s the best way to live.

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The Compelling Force of the Call

February 2nd, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16


Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it— “If anyone…” (Luke 14:26).Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “…separated to the gospel…” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.
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February 2 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord thank you for this day and for the devotional and time praying with David. And although we could not see the relevance (to us directly) of the lesson about being called to preach, we did see the parallel of being connected to You and hearing Your voice and directions for the way you would have us live out our connection.

And God says…….”Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need….including your direction, motivation, and opportunities for sharing the gospel will be provided. While you have not been called to preach, you have been called to live out the gospel and use words when necessary. As the song says, “let them see Me in you.” Acknowledge Me in all our ways…including how and when you are to reach out to others, with and without words, and I will guide, direct and make your paths straight.”

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How Could Someone Be So Ignorant!

January 29th, 2015 by Dave No comments »

Who are You, Lord? —Acts 26:15
“The Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand…” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our Lord speaks. He always comes using His authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances.

God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do” — and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We show our ignorance of Him in the very way we decide to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, and hurt Him by our defense of Him. We push His claims in the spirit of the devil; our words sound all right, but the spirit is that of an enemy. “He…rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of’ ” (Luke 9:55). The spirit of our Lord in His followers is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt Him in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8).

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Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons … or doing God’s thing with man’s power, That is the result of not being connected and hearing your voice. Two ways that I wind up doing a good thing for the wrong reasons revolve around the operative words, “should” and “ought.” Those words (for me at least) are shrouded in guilt. The guilt drains the joy out of the good thing that I go ahead and do so I’m left with an empty feeling. I wonder if it erases the spiritual blessing that only you would see also.

Whatever is Not of Faith is Sin (Rom 14:23)

Paul could have amplified that and said that the faith needs to be in me and what I make clear to you. You can have faith in your country or your leaders, even religious leaders and still miss the mark. Like the Pharisees.

It seems so simple. Just get connected, hear your voice and your heart and live out of that. How did I miss it for all those years? But also so easy to get disconnected, listen to my own thoughts or pick up some shoulds and oughts, and find myself sick and tired and missing the delight.

“I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8).

 

Thanks for promising to never leave me or forsake me. You’ve never let me run amuck for too long. And I’m always welcome back… like the prodigal son. Lord help me to get and stay connected faster and stay disconnected less and less.

If there’s a guilt feeling attached to it, or driving it, skip it, no matter how good or godly the issue seems to be. That’s not my way of relating with my kids.

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How Could Someone So Persecute Jesus!

January 28th, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —Acts 26:14


Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.______________________________________________________

January 28 2015

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, I find this devotional a bit confusing. Once again Chambers uses guilt as leverage to make us look inside ourselves. I can only speak for myself, but if I look closely enough I can find cracks in my Christian armor, I suspect everyone can. And while I want to be connected with You and live out the sanctification of being connected, I  want to do so out of the love that comes from your unlimited grace and mercy, not out of some sense of guilt of what I might be doing to Jesus. Am I wrong? Should I be more responsive to the guilt that Chambers, others and oftentimes the church uses to try and keep us on the straight and narrow?

And God says…”As I said a week ago, the church and many believers, pastors and others in authority believe that this kind of leverage; guilt, responsibility and obligation, is appropriate for helping non-believers believe and believers to become sanctified. However, the Gospel is not about getting people to respond out of guilt, it is about making them aware of Jesus so that they  decide to be connected.  And I would not have you trade one set of chains for another.  For unbelievers there are ten words to salvation, with the help of the Holy Spirit:  Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.  There are eleven words for believers: There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.”

“Many teachers in the church and religious community and “disconnected believers” will try to use guilt, responsibility and obligation to help non-believers believe and believers to come to sanctification. However, anything done apart from love is sin. When you use guilt, responsibly and obligation you are telling Me that you do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your role is to live out the Gospel, and when your human side gets in the way, my grace and mercy will fill the gaps; both for you and others that might observe the humanity in you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you need…. even sanctification.”

 

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Look Again and Think

January 27th, 2015 by Dave No comments »

Do not worry about your life… —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life….” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing— our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, It certainly is true, “things” will come in like a flood to fill my schedule, fill my head, and fill my heart unless I (we) do something to prevent it. The first paragraph suggests I allow your Spirit to raise up a banner against it. That sounds good, because me flexing my will power to keep my mind from wandering hasn’t been very successful. So what’s a banner against wandering minds and lustful thoughts? It’s got to be more than just pouring on more will power to not wander and not lust.

Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For those who truly want to be mine all the time and come to me with their request… I will answer and my Spirit will be there with help in the time of need. There are some techniques that you can use but success in focus and staying worry free cannot be boiled down to a list of tips and techniques. But one that you will find valuable as I did when I walked as you do is to know that your mind cannot be void. All vacancies will fill with something. Especially if you have a habit, any habit, that takes you away, when a vacancy appears in your thinking … that other thing will fill the vacancy and your focus will wander away to that thing, rather than being with me and the best thing I would choose for you.
So one key is to recognize those decision points that happen before you choose a direction and choose to fill the void with what I have for you. If it’s not clear, fill it with something you choose, rather than what you default to. Then keep listening and I will lead you.

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Look Again and Consecrate

January 26th, 2015 by JDVaughn No comments »

If God so clothes the grass of the field…, will He not much more clothe you…? —Matthew 6:30


A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field…” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.“Look at the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.“Consider the lilies of the field…” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

 

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January 26 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, when I read these scriptures in context, I also read the admonition that I cannot serve two masters; I cannot serve God and Mammon. And when you caution me about being anxious, it occurs to me that anxiety is simply being of two minds. I suspect that is exactly what anxiety is: trying to serve two masters; being divided within oneself. You remind us to forget all about what we might need, to forget our worries and cares of the world, and to trust You. You clothe the lilies of the field, you feed the birds in the sky and the scriptures say that I am much more valuable to You. I read and understand the words Lord, however living them out can be difficult, especially when the diagnosis is not good, or the pink slip is in the in basket, or a loved one rejects you or has passed. Actually living it out is not easy Lord.

And God says…”Nothing is easy until it is. You have spent a great portion of your life following the directions of the world. Things like work hard, get ahead, compete, and measure your value and success by your earnings and possessions. Plan, organize, and control life have been mottos for your life for a long time. And now you are trying to give this up and trust God. The change of heart and mind needs time and sometimes difficult circumstances to adjust to these new patterns. You can build new habits and thought patterns so that you are connected and trusting more and more every day. Live in faith. Forget that you unconsciously know how to do your work and live hour by hour. Seek Me in everything you do. Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you require. Make this daily, hour by hour, minute by minute trust a conscious way of living and building new habits, and you will be transformed and find you are living the abundant life.”

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