pray – Page 8 – Cross Culture Church

Meditation: April 8, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. (34) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:33-34

The blinding and paralyzing effect of sin restricts ones view and motion towards the right prerogative. It is blindness that causes those who engage in destructive activities to see no harm in them. It is there but without foresight, the immediate benefits outweigh the ultimate consequences. Jesus was placed between two common criminals as one among them. To see Him there, none would question why One with such a significant mission as to save humanity from the vice-grip of sin would be placed there. He did not reflect the opinions of the present authorities therefore they felt justified in removing the blasphemer who defied their beliefs. Sin also has a paralyzing effect upon its victims. Since they could see no further, they could move no further than to condemn and mock Him. How many times has this scene been played in the lives of those whose since of reasoning does not allow them to embrace God’s agenda? But Jesus loved even those who vented their hostilities against Him. He prayed to the Father, “Forgive them.” His appeal was because of their ignorance and blindness, “they do not know what they do.”How will what we are doing effect our future? Do we care or just do not know what we are doing? He prayed for us on the cross that our eyes be opened in order to see and know the Father through Him. Then we would be willing to do what please Him.

21 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 21, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

The progression that takes place in the life of a Christ-follower begins with the call. He calls us to Himself. Then we can be conformed to the image of His Son. It is only when we answer the initial call will we qualify to experience what is produced in us as the result of being drawn close to Him. His eternal glory is the finished product of His grace. God looks at the end from the beginning. But the path requires suffering even though it is only for a little while in contrast to the glory that shall be revealed in us. We are matured to see things from His perspective, thus established in the faith not wavering because of various trials. Each challenge provides strength for future challenges as we develop a greater resistance to the evil one. Finally we are settled as not to be moved by whatever may come our way. A steadfast faith remains constant and undisturbed in a fixed position in relation to God. Pray that the God of all grace release an abundance of His grace towards us for the journey which lay ahead.

16 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 16, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open; the earth is shaken exceedingly.” Isaiah 24:17

The earth is violently disturbed as the result of the violent offenses measured against its Creator. It awaits the rule of the sons of God whose aim is to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. Until then, it is held captive, not willingly but anticipating a liberty that will only come as the rule of the righteous. Some will grow bitter towards God because of the calamities that many inhabitants on the earth are now suffering. They will think of God as being cruel and unfair. But His judgments will ultimately bring an end to sins that often appear to be benign, but are the root cause of wars and all earthly calamities. The mark established by God is not the aim of many leaders who now lead many astray, thus sin runs its full course. He created the earth to be a habitation of rest and peace, but sin has left its mark and produced death. Pray that righteous rulers will arise in order for the people to rejoice because the Prince of Peace is ruling over them.

12 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 12, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.” Ps 143:10

We often look to God with questions of bewilderment and doubt wondering why God does not give more attention to what we want and consider as important. Sometimes it seems as if the heavens are as brass when we pray our prayers and put forth our best effort to do our thing. He awaits our desire to be rightly taught before we engage in endless pursuits for worthless gain. The things that matter most await those who are willing to be instructed rightly. “Lord teach me to know Your will first that I may do the things I have been instructed to do.” We were born to cooperate with God in what He is doing. Every other effort will ultimately end in frustration and ruin. He alone is God and His will is to be known by and through all of His creation. “You are God. That is enough for every creature to know. But more importantly, You are my God. That says it all!

28 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: February 28, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24

The condition of the heart qualifies one for answered prayers according to the will of God. He brings us into compliance with His will in order for us to see with Him what He sees thus desire the same things that He desires. Only then is it possible for us to enter into the very prayer life of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit controls our passions and desires, the Father who always hears the voice of His Son will also hear Him speak through us. This should be our passion to reach that place of faith where there is nothing in us other than the will to fully please the Father. Then we can ask what we will and it will be granted to us.

18 Feb 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: February 18, 2014

Posted by wwalker Categories: Meditations

“Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32

When Jesus was facing the most agonizing moment in His life, He needed to be alone with the Father. He was away from the multitudes with pressing needs thus seeking Him out for assistance. Now He was with that small select group of disciples with whom He felt the liberty to be transparent. Yet His instruction to them was to sit as guards rather than participate with Him in that moment when He needed to talk to His Father. There are times when we need to pour out our hearts and express those deep feelings with God that only He is to hear. It is because only He is able to understand what we are not always able to fully articulate in words. On other occasions He would teach them to pray and corporately approach God as “our Father.” Now He wanted to speak to His as “My Father” because no other could understand the deep longings of His heart other than the One who knew Him best and love Him the most. We too need some alone time with God. Out of those times we are able to cultivate an intimate and personal relationship with Him.

01 Jan 0Comments 0Likes

January 2014 Article: “2014, The Year Of The Harvest”

Posted by wwalker Categories: Articles

Matthew 13:30 – “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, ‘First, gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

This year, there will be a distinct definition between where God is and where He is not, and who is He is and who He is not. One of the most popular songs of 2013 was Blurred Lines. The video, featuring Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke, highlighted raunchy gyrations and simulated sexual scenarios to the playful lyrics that suggested the exploitation of women. Yet the rhythm is so catchy that most did not even take the time to listen to the words because of the mesmerizing beat and melody. The question that many fail to ask is does dancing to suggestive music affect behavior? Most certainly…Even though the video may have been censored, its popularity soared and many young women wanted to twerk and tried to emulate that behavior in everyday life. As for Cyrus and Thicke, they both attribute the activity in the video as having a little fun and being themselves.

Some may highlight this as an isolated act, but to be honest, the rebellion against God and His standard of righteousness is displayed in the world and among those who shamefully profess His name. It is the beat, or the feeling derived by many, that fuel their decisions rather than the truth. The lines have become blurrier, therefore making it easier for them to be crossed and disregarded. When something is perverted, it indicates the fact that something good has been camouflaged. Evangelism, or the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, appears to be impossible in America because the voice of compromise has become popularized and publicized. Those who speak prophetically to this generation are ridiculed as archaic and outside of the contextual time frame of the 21st century.

Has Blurred Lines become the anthem of this generation? Has this become a time where people no longer care about absolutes when it comes to right and wrong? Is it left to the decision of the individual? Jesus said, “Let the wheat and the tares grow together…” In other words, there will come a day when each will bear the fruit of its nature. As the song continues to appeal to the debased nature saying, “You know you want it,” the passions and desires will gravitate toward those things that openly defy God and destroy the soul. But who cares about the future state of their souls? Most are in the dark as to the existence of both soul and spirit, so the rhythm appeals to feelings as they perish. They are twerking to the beat of self-destruction while the message is muffled by familiar sounds.

Who are the reapers of our day? They are the ones who gather in those who desire the unfamiliar. There is a strange voice that requires effort from those who are mesmerized by the world to hear. They must reject the natural flow of things and dance to the beat of a different drummer. There remains a conscience beyond their fallen state that underscores God’s original intent for their lives. Even though modern activities do not measure the same as the conviction by the voice of reason, they know its message is true.

Worship today cannot be reduced to twerking with the devil and each other for the pleasure of self-gratification. What pleases God will please each person that has given himself or herself wholly over to Him. Harvest time is coming, and when He comes, He will separate the wheat from the tares and the sheep from the goats. Let us pray for harvest time.

14 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: August 14, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36

The fore-warnings of Jesus was to be alert and remain alert in times when temptations may catch you unaware. They come in many disguises and it is usually the self-confident that end up falling prey to the wiles of the devil. The observation must go beyond appearance, but the very nature of thing must also be called to your attention. It should not merely be the intent to gain whatever benefit may be immediately gained, but paying attention as to where the engagement is headed.” There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death.” Watch how others have been allured and fell into the same trap that is being set for you. Look at the outcome of their lives. Would you be the exception or become a person with many regrets? Pray to God for wisdom. Do not trust your own judgments, but seek God for what He knows about all things pertaining to you. Then you will be saved from the wrath to come against all ungodliness. You can stand before the Son of Man who understands your temptations, but provide for you a way of escape.

03 Aug 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: August 3, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

A book, a letter, or a sermon is result of the deep meditation of the presenter. It is usually expressive of much of what has been read, prayed, and is birthed out of the relationship that person has with God and with others. Therefore, words may mean different things to different people. That is why I take pleasure in reading both the preface and the bibliography contained within books. I like to know what the person was thinking when he said what he was saying.

Jesus spoke with the deepest of thought. Everything He said was expressive of the heart and mind of His Father. He was asked on one occasion a question. “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22.35-40) Such a simple yet profound answer to a question would have baffled the most astute professor of religion. Yet His answer went far beyond the level of their understanding. All that Jesus was gave definition of the love that He addressed. Then to understand how love was to be applied to both God and to neighbor would send them back to their classrooms in pursuit of the elementary discussions of both categories.

In order to understand the statements of Jesus we need the mind of Christ. As His mind is developed within us, His Words will be accurately interpreted. It is the unrenewed mind that misconstrue and misapply messages processed through it. As we commit to God’s Word pray that His mind would be given to handle what comes your way.

14 Jul 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: July 14, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” 1 Thess 3:2

We are encouraged through others who have been well taught and learned the lesson of diligence and persistence in the faith. Timothy had learned much from Paul’s tutorship. His boldness came as result of the encouragement from a seasoned saint who had forsaken all for the cause of Christ. As he imitated his leader he gained a testimony which would do more for a new convert than what might be learned from the Apostle. Much more would be expected from Paul therefore it would more difficult to relate to his experiences. But when young Timothy would stand before a neophyte beginning the long journey from the start, it would be much easier to relate to. We need the testimony of young men and women if we are to reach this generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they would speak convincingly to their peers, it could turn their generation around. We are praying that God would raise up more youthful and inspiring Timothy’s. We will send them out if they are willing and ready to go.