Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 34

Not Unaware

In order that Satan might not outwit us.

For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:11

This is an important little verse, and one, quite frankly, to which we need to pay closer attention.

Paul challenged the believers in Corinth to not be outwitted by Satan. He called them to be alert and focused and “not unaware” of his schemes.

That’s an urgent message for many of us today, as we often forget the fact that we have a foe is indeed trying to outwit and harm us.

What are his schemes?

He tempts. Satan is behind all those well-timed invitations for you to step off into darkness and sin.

He lies. There is no truth in Satan. He only knows lies. And he lies to us all the time.

He kills. Satan loves death. It’s his best weapon. And his love for physical death is only topped by his desire to kill our spirits in Hell.

He steals. He tries to take our life and peace.

He destroys. He is opposed to the work of God in you. He wants to destroy you, your family and the life that God has for you.

He oppresses. Satan tries to wear us down by applying vague and relentless pressure on us.

But we know these things, and we’re not going to fall prey to Satan’s stupid tricks.

Jesus’ blood and Jesus’ name give us immediate victory over the devil. You don’t have to put up with his abuse. Be smarter than he is. Be full of God’s Word and filled with Jesus’ Spirit.

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

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Coming by Night

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;

this man came to Jesus by night. John 3:1-2a

Nicodemus gets a bad rap for waiting till nightfall to meet with Jesus.

Was he ashamed, embarrassed or skeptical? Probably yes, yes and yes. As a high profile religious leader, Nicodemus had everything to lose by being seen with Jesus, who was rapidly becoming public enemy number one to the Pharisees.

And while it may have been naïve on Nic’s part to think that word of his meeting with Jesus wouldn’t leak anyway, the point is that he still took a major personal risk by reaching out Jesus.

And for that, I give him grace. The fact is that he did reach out to Jesus, and ultimately became his disciple.

Think about it: What if Jesus had refused to meet with Nic? What if he had required Nic to come to him in the broad daylight like the rest of those who were seeking him? Chances are Nic would have never come at all.

But Jesus met Nic where he was, right smack in the middle of his shame, embarrassment and skepticism. And I’m sure Nic is eternally grateful for it.

We have to continue to give people grace who are hesitant to reach out to Jesus through the conventional means. And while many irreligious people will join you when asked to visit a church or small group, just as many will not. We’ve got to continue to find creative ways to help our friends meet Jesus, at least initially, on their terms and turf.

Think about the non-believers you know who did not attend church last weekend. How can you help them explore Jesus “by night?” What blogs or books or podcasts or articles can you share with them that they can investigate on their schedule?

Have you given them a Bible and told them where to read when that spiritual nudge comes from God? More than a few skeptics have come to Jesus by simply waking up at 2 AM and reading God’s Word.

Have you shared with them how to do that?

And why not invite them to a party or a hunting trip or happy hour where they can meet some other Christians in a non-threatening setting?

Bottom line: Jesus was willing to meet Nicodemus where he was without judging or shaming him. We need to do the same.

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He is Peace

This One will be our peace. Micah 5:5

Peace is part of the Gospel promise.

The angels announced peace at Jesus birth.

Jesus talked about leaving his peace with us.

Paul claimed that Jesus came to bring peace between all people.

James promised that peacemakers would reap peace in their lives.

Peter prayed that we would have an abundance of peace.

And seven hundred years earlier, Micah predicted that a man would come who would bring peace. Isaiah, Micah’s contemporary, called him the Prince of Peace.

In short, there is no Gospel message without peace. And the reverse is true too—there is no real peace without the Gospel.

What is peace? What is this magnificent thing that the prophets promised us and that Jesus claimed to leave us?

Well, we know what it’s not. It’s not the absence of conflict. In fact, the Bible promised us that the more we walk with him the more conflict we will have.

We know it’s not artificial peace. How many times have you been exhausted by having to tiptoe around someone with a short fuse in the name of “keeping the peace?” That’s not real peace.

So what is peace? In both Testaments of the Bible peace is irrevocably linked to God’s presence. Wherever God’s manifest presence is there is peace, even in the midst of great difficulty or suffering.

God promised Moses—My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest, (Exodus 33:14). Rest and peace are very similar concepts in Scripture.

Jesus promised his disciples–Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful, (John 14:27). And his peace, of course, was his promised Holy Spirit.

Do you need peace today? He’s right there with you right now. Peace isn’t a concept, a commodity or a thing. Peace is a person, and his name is Jesus.

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Five Daily Personal Pinpoint Prayers, Part 2

Here’s this week’s entry from Pray Big for Your Life.

Pray for pardon: Lord, please forgive me today. On Super Bowl Sunday in 1995, seventeen-year-old Brandon Blendon climbed into his pickup and went for a drive after the game. He had an open can of beer propped between his legs and two more in his front seat. At an intersection, Brandon rear-ended a car that had stopped for a red light. The impact crushed and killed a four-year-old little girl who was secured in her safety seat in the back of the car.

A judge sentenced Brandon to twenty years in prison and ordered him to pay $520 dollars in restitution to the little girl’s parents. Brandon has to mail a weekly check to the family for $1 for ten years, with a note in the memo line reading, “For causing the death of your daughter Whitney!” While Whitney’s mom has forgiven Brandon and even visits him in prison, Brandon will never be able to escape the reality of what he did. He has an ugly, weekly reminder of what his sin cost, not just him, but several other innocents.[i]

Too many Christians live with terrible guilt over mistakes made years, even decades before. They live in the shadow of what they’ve done, not who they are in Christ, and in essence write checks to God in some unhealthy effort to remind themselves of what they’ve done and how bad they are. That’s not what God wants. He sent Christ to the cross to free us from our pasts, not chain us to them. Seeking God’s forgiveness in your daily prayers helps you keep your slate clean before God. It makes your yoke easy and keeps your burden light, which is exactly what Jesus offered (see Matthew 11:28-30).

Forgiveness is a powerful thing. It has the ability to transform a person’s life and shatter years of guilt and shame. It is one of the most freeing, life-giving gifts a person can receive, or give. That’s why Jesus commanded us to both seek forgiveness from God and extend it to others in his prayer. Forgiveness was important enough to Jesus to include it in his daily plan for pinpoint praying for our lives.

When you seek forgiveness from God, you’re acknowledging that there are still things—thoughts, habits, actions, inactions and attitudes—that are inconsistent with the call to be holy that God has placed on your life. Your prayer for forgiveness keeps your relationship with God fresh and vibrant. It also frees you.

When you forgive others in prayer, you’re also acknowledging the equal footing that we all have as desperate sinners before God. Failing to forgive others is sin for us, as it sets us up as a god over someone else. Jesus’s command to forgive here is based on simple, Kingdom logic: If God, who is holy and infinite, chooses to forgive us, then we who are unholy and finite must forgive as well. To not forgive makes us less forgiving than God.

In your daily prayers, be sure to pray for forgiveness from God and to forgive others before him. It will keep your relational world healthy and will keep you in a humble posture before God.  Pray Colossians 3:13 for yourself: Father, please help me to bear with other people’s faults and to quickly forgive whatever grievances I may have against anyone. Help me to forgive as you forgave me.

Pray for protection: Lord, please keep me from Satan and sin today. I find it very intriguing that Jesus ended his prayer with an appeal for spiritual protection and deliverance. No person better understood the real nature of the battle between good and evil in our world than Jesus. But the good and evil that he knew of weren’t impersonal forces that blindly oppose each other and haphazardly influence people. Jesus didn’t believe in yin and yang, and he wasn’t talking about karma. Jesus believed in the devil. He’d fought him firsthand, so he spoke of his power from experience. Jesus felt that the threat of Satan to the lives of believers was significant enough to merit daily pinpoint praying against it.

When you pray for freedom from temptation and deliverance from evil (literally—the evil one), you’re asking God to help you spiritually discern the opportunities for failure that you face every day. Good spiritual discernment will help you to not only recognize temptation for what it is, but to also recognize Satan’s ultimate goal in the temptation. Jesus taught that Satan wants to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10); we need to keep that in mind when flirting with temptations that look so benign on the surface.

This pinpoint prayer for protection asks God to allow only the temptations and tests into your life that will grow you and glorify him. Were Satan permitted to throw all of his dark powers against you, there would be no chance of your standing up against him. But by praying for spiritual protection, you ask God to put a cap on the degree to which Satan can harass and attack you. God actually uses his archenemy’s evil schemes to grow and develop you. He only allows that degree of temptation that you can successfully withstand and grow through (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).

You can’t go through your life free from temptation and satanic attack, but you can go through it victoriously. You don’t have to be a spiritual punching bag for the devil. Pray for protection. Pray Romans 16:19-20 for your life: Lord Jesus, make me wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. I pray that you, the God of peace, would soon crush Satan under my feet.

Suit Up!

How would your life look differently if you prayed these simple pinpoint prayers for yourself every day? When Jesus gave us these potent prayers, he wasn’t just looking for sermon filler. Jesus believed and taught that if we would pray these requests for our lives, we would find ourselves living in the middle of God’s will and honoring his Kingdom. So here’s a question: Can you afford not to pray these prayers?

In Ephesians 6, Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to put on the whole spiritual armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17). Paul didn’t hesitate to pray for God’s daily covering for his life, and neither should we. Become a personal intercessor. Start seeking God’s perspective, priorities, provision, pardon and protection for your daily life. And be sure to keep a prayer journal. You won’t believe how much different your life will look in just a few months!

 

Discussion Questions

Before reading this chapter, had you ever heard of the concept of pinpoint praying or of praying the Scriptures? If so, what are some of the verses you pray most often to God?
What are two key ingredients in pinpoint prayers?
Why do you think prayers that are both biblical and specific are so powerful?
Have you ever looked at the Lord’s prayer as a guide for prayer and not just as the actual words you might say in a prayer? If so, how have you used the Lord’s prayer as a guide for your prayers in the past?
Lord’s prayer serves as a basis for pinpoint prayers in five areas of our lives. They are perspective, priority, provision, pardon and protection. Which one did you relate to the most? Which do you most need to pray for your life?
After reading this chapter, how will you pray differently for yourself?

 

[i] “Prisoner’s Pittance Is Meant As Reminder of a Great Loss,” by Rick Bragg, The New York Times, December 26, 1996.

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The Truth About People

But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew what people were really like.

No one needed to tell him about human nature. John 2:24-25

On the surface, this sounds like a very harsh statement, does it not? I mean, this feels so out of character for Jesus.

Jesus was a man of the people. He was the hero of the weak and lowly. He built his ministry on loving sinful individuals.

Then John comes along and drops this bomb on us. He who was a friend of sinners was in essence a friend of no one. Is that what John is saying here? Talk about a buzz-kill.

What did John mean? He meant exactly what he said. Jesus knew better than to place his confidence in people. He knew their hearts:

He knew that the same crowd that would welcome him on Palm Sunday would cheer his death on Good Friday
He knew that the disciples who followed him for three years would scatter in a matter of hours after he was arrested
He knew that one of them would fight for him and deny him in the same evening
He knew that one would even turn him over to those seeking to kill him
He knew that even after his resurrection, only 120 of them would still be with him
And, Jesus knew that many throughout history would choose to reject him, even though he died to save them

Armed with that knowledge, Jesus wisely chose not to trust in men. He put his trust and hopes in God alone.

So should we.

A wise and godly mentor of mine once told me, “Men will let you down.” He was right. They will indeed. I know that because I have let down many in my life and ministry. I’m sure I’ve let down some of you.

Anyone inflicted with sin will fail. Count on it. And there’s not a human on earth not inflicted with sin. To be overly confident in man’s abilities and trustworthiness is to set both them and you up to fail.

So, place your bets on God alone. He is the only One in the world who won’t fail you.

Let me be specific:

Your hope for a happy marriage is not your spouse, but God
Your hope for a successful business is not your skills or opportunities, but God
Your hope for a healthy self-esteem is not your performance, but God
Your hope for a healthy family is not your parenting skill or your children, but God
Your hope for a great nation is not its leadership, but God

Jesus placed his trust in no man. He loved them and died for them, but he bet the farm on God.

Let’s reorient the source of our hopes today. Keep other people . . . and God in their proper places.

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Zeal

His disciples remembered that it was written,

“ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”  John 2:17

This is a quote from Jesus’ Bible, the Old Testament. Specifically, it’s from Psalm 69:9.

Long after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and after the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers, they connected this verse to Jesus.

They saw it lived out in his passion for the house of God. There’s no doubt that the Temple cleansing was at the forefront of their memories, but also the way Jesus lived. He was zealous for the house of God.

Remember, Jesus grew up reading the Old Testament. He’d read Psalm 69 hundreds of times. He knew and had prayed Psalm 69:9 on many occasions.

And guess what: He became what he prayed. As he prayed that he would be zealous for his Father’s house, he became zealous for his Father’s house.

It’s amazing how that works, isn’t it?

Why don’t you pray Psalm 69:9 for your life? Pray that you would be zealous for the house of God.

What is zeal? It’s passion, it’s focus, it’s holy fury and single-mindedness. And while we live in a culture that discourages spiritual zeal, the Bible doesn’t.

It described Jesus, it should describe us too.

Pray that you will be passionate about the work and service of God’s house. Pray that you will gladly sacrifice for the work of God’s Kingdom. Pray that you will rise early and stay up late to be involved in the holy work of praise and intercession.

And pray that you will never be ashamed of the name of Jesus.

Lord, make us zealous for your house.

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Will’s Letter to ACF – April 30

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Serving People with Autism and Their Families

Until recently, I’ve known little about special needs children and adults and their families who struggle along with them. Through ACF that’s changed as I’ve had the privilege of meeting many children and adults with special needs and have gotten to know their families.

They have difficult assignments.

Families of people with special needs face any number of social challenges, not the least of which are being highly unchurched and having high divorce rates. How can then attend church when most churches are not equipped to serve their special needs family member? How can their marriage survive when they face social isolation and the unrelenting stress of caring for their loved one.

As I’ve gotten to know these amazing people and heard their heart-wrenching stories, God has shown me that special needs children and adults, and their families are some of “the least of these” in our society that Jesus wants us to serve in his name.

Recently I met a delightful family from the UK that moved to Austin and then started attending our church. They’re in Austin to create what will likely be one of the leading autism centers in the world.

Jonathan and Polly Tommey are married and have three beautiful children–Toby, a sophomore in high school, Bella, a sophomore at the University of Texas, and Billy, and handsome, 225 lbs., seventeen-year-old with autism. I see Billy every weekend with his family at our church, and he’s shattering every misconception I had about special needs people and specifically, people with autism.

Billy is funny, happy, creative, playful, smart, compliant and spiritual. And Billy, just like all the rest of us, is someone for whom Jesus died. He is fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image and quite capable of having a relationship with Jesus.

(L-R) Polly, Toby, Bella, Billy and Jonathan Tommey.

I mentioned the Tommey’s work. Check out  theautismtrust.org  and theautismtrust.com to see what all they’re up to.

Billy’s diagnosis obviously rocked their world. But Jonathan and Polly turned their pain into action and are now serving families around the world who have themselves been impacted by autism.

If you or someone you know has been effected by autism, I want you to reach out to the Tommeys. They want to know you, hear your story and offer you hope and encouragement. The autism center they are building is Austin will be unlike anything in the world. They’d love to tell you more about it.

And as a Christian and a pastor, I want you to know that you are not alone. God has not forgotten you. You and your family are not damaged goods. God loves you and loves your autistic child, sibling or friend. And believe it or not, God still has an amazing plan for you and your family.

Recently, the Tommey’s held a nationwide Summit on autism here in Austin. The Summit was broadcast around the world via the internet and offered a full day of medical, psychological, nutritional and social information for those in attendance. And they even offered spiritual care. Polly Tommey asked me to pray before the event, and I was blown away by how warmly I was received by those in attendance.

I sensed a real fatigued by those I met there. Theirs is a difficult and wearying journey, and it’s one they shouldn’t have to walk alone. They actually applauded after my prayer. IT WAS LIKE THEY’D NEVER BEEN PRAYED OVER BY A PASTOR BEFORE. It broke my heart.

My prayer at the Autism Summit. I’m with some sweet kids with autism and their siblings.

If you’re effected by autism, please reach out to the Tommey’s. You can email them at info@theautismtrust.com. 

To my fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus, I hope you will not avoid people with special needs and their families. Just because their plight doesn’t effect you directly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t serve them, pray for them and support them. You’ll be richer for it.

And to my fellow pastors, take a look around. There with families with special needs children and adults in every neighborhood. They’re one of the most unchurched and underserved people groups in our country. Many churches already have thriving special needs ministries. And with just a little bit of learning and training, you and your church could absolutely change the lives of these wonderful families And, you’ll probably change your church in the process.

 

Related links–

Give Autism a Chance!

Podcast from the Give Autism a Chance! Summit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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House Cleaning 2

And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” John 2:15-16

House cleaning is what Jesus does. It’s his business.

Jesus came to earth to cleanse the house he built, the world, of the filth of sin. And he’s doing it. Read Revelation and know that the day will come when we will live in a new world that is free from the troubles and pain of sin.

House cleaning is what Jesus does. It’s his business.

Jesus came to the Temple, his Father’s house of worship, to cleanse it. The corrupt bartering, buying and selling that were happening in its courts had cheapened purpose and beauty. Jesus came to declare holy war on anything that happened in his house that wasn’t consistent with his purpose.

And he’s doing it. Read Ephesians and know that Jesus is going to present his Bride, the Church—his Father’s house of worship—pure, holy and without blemish to his Father.

House cleaning is what Jesus does. It’s his business.

He sent his Spirit to earth to fill every person who believes in him. He baptizes, fills, gifts and seals us with his Holy Spirit. He declares us holy and sets us apart for his work and for his glory.

And he’s doing it. Read Philippians 1:5-6 and know that Jesus will not stop working on you until you are pure, holy and complete before him in heaven.

Question: are you welcoming the cleansing of Jesus in your life? Are you a willing participant in his cleansing work?  Can he work on you with the gentle hands of a master potter or does he need to use a more direct approach like he did in the Temple when he came shouting and turning over tables?

I think I’ll go with the gentle approach. What about you?

Holy Father, find us pliable and teachable today. Make us clean and holy before you.

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Do You Hear That?

 

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

 Recently, I went camping on a small ranch outside of Austin. I spent the night on a hilltop watching the day fade away and the light of the stars come into view.

First there was just one light in the sky, then three, then twenty, then more than I could count. It was quite a show. The only sound around me was that of the wind and the crickets’ singing in unison.

But that wasn’t all I heard. Not by a long shot.

This verse tells you what else I was hearing. And I bet you’ve heard it too.

The heavens are always speaking. They’re always trying to tell us something. The Psalm 19 says they speak a language that is heard all over the world.

They’re telling is their story. They’re telling us how they got here. They’re telling us not to get all wrapped up in how beautiful and mysterious and vast they are. Because even in all their vastness, they have a Source that’s even greater.

One of the great sins mentioned in the Bible is worshipping creation instead of the creator. Talk about missing the point. You have to try to not hear them. You have to drown out their message with your own message of randomness or accidents or the intellect of humans over the intellect of God.

In Romans 1, Paul called it suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.

But the stars will not be drowned out. Every night they’re back. Every night their song goes on. And every night we have a chance to not just hear them, but to sing along.

Get outside. Let the breeze kiss your face. Stay out long after the sun sets and watch the amazing celestial show.

And then listen.

 

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