“Prayer changes me and I change things.”

Oswald Chambers was a man who walked with the Lord. In a series of lectures and devotionals he delivered almost 90 years ago he set forth a series of Christian truths that will challenge any reader. Some of those thoughts have been collected and put in a devotional book that has become the best-selling devotional book of all time. It title, My Utmost for His Highest. [The translation of that in his own words, my best for His glory.

Every day when I read Chamber’s words the Holy Spirit quickens my heart with His truth. I have been thinking and talking a fair amount about prayer lately. You may be thinking it is because I want to see some things change. While that is true there is a deeper motivation behind my thinking. Chamber’s gets at it in what he had to say in the entry dated August 28, “The Purpose of Prayer”.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying,
“Prayer changes me and I change things.” God has established things so
that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at
things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one
of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.

By the way that is exactly what sanctification is, a miracle on your inner nature. And it is that process that I want to encourage to enter into with all your heart. I am asking everyone in the Worship Ministries to read this little devotional one day at a time that we may develop a like-mindedness over this next season as we determine to live our best for God’s glory.

I implore you to include this text into your daily devotions. I am praying God will have His way in us as we live these truths.

I have some copies of this in the choir room if you need one. They are only $4 each.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Living the Call Together

And we’re off…

With the start-up of choir last week, the fall seems to have begun in earnest for our Worship Ministries. The WVU students having arrived back in town to begin classes and public school starting later this week will continue to increase our awareness of that reality. As we enter a new season, I have one question for you, “How will you live the call?”

We are going to be affirming our desire to “live the call together” in many ways over the next few weeks as we head into Missions Conference 2005. There will be signs around the church indicating that help is wanted, with an encouragement to “apply within”. What areas of ministry will you be applying yourself to? I hope this is a season when you will be singing in the choir or playing in the orchestra, but more importantly, I hope you are applying yourself internally “to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” (Philippians 3:14)

We all have a part to play in completing the grand task that Jesus has given us, His Church, to do. We should all be praying and giving and going and sending. There are expressions of each of those that we can all do. May the ministry of worship we share be a tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit as He stirs first our hearts to be involved, and then the hearts of all who hear it.

I you have yielded your heart to Jesus as your Savior, then let Him continue the sanctifying work He has begun. Bow to Him everyday and ask Him how He wants to use you to advance His kingdom. There may be a heart yet today that is ready to yield to him if you will but speak the words the Lord has for you to say. You have heard the call, now live it.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Hit Your Knees and Move On

WOW! What do mean today is Wednesday? Where did Tuesday go? Every have a day like that. Sorry about not getting to this yesterdaybut I was swamped.

On Sunday Pastor Drew challenged us to live a guilt-free life. In my conversation with him befreohand, he mentioned that his title at one point was “Hit Your Knees and Move On”. I like that idea. But as a worship pastor that probably does not surprise you. Oh the joy of hiding in His holiness.

But as I mentioned Sunday, maybe you are hiding from Him. There is no need no need to. That guilt you are dealing with over some situation can be left at the foot of the cross. Jesus has already paid it ALL. Give it to Him. Do it right now. Right where you are kneel down and confess that sin and the guilt you have carried and let Jesus take it.

That kind of confession needs to be a part of our regular time with God. Often I pray, “Holy Spirit, reveal to me any areas of unconfessed sin.” Then I confess those to God, and thank Him for His forgiveness. It this a part of your time with God? Do you regularly spend time with God? It is essential to the life of the Christian to humble ourselves before our God on a regular basis.

The psalmist says “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Do not harden your heart. Humble yourself before your God.

When was the last time you were on your knees before Him? We will likely have that opportunity Sunday, so why not prepare yourself this week.

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Join Me In Prayer

Prayer. It was the focus of VBS a couple of weeks ago. It has been much on my mind as we prepare to enter a new season of ministry together. I have been doing it, and I want to ask you to do the same.

In his message Sunday morning Pastor Hawkins took us to John 17. In this passage, Jesus is praying. He prays first for Himself, then His disciples, and finally for all believers. That expanding circle is a good model for us.

You must know that I pray for myself. I often echo Pastor Tony’s quote of that old hymn text in his message a couple of weeks ago, “It’s me, it’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” I need prayer, and I certainly would entreat your prayers for me and my family.

I also pray for you. This is the second level of prayer as found in John 17. You must know that I view you as disciples entrusted to my care, and that I hold you in my heart. I do that in a corporate sense, but also individually as the Lord impresses needs on my heart. For all of you that have submitted requests to me, please know that I am praying and agreeing with you about the matters you have mentioned. I have seen some answers and am trusting God for more.

Finally, I am praying for the whole church, and then even beyond our local body. I pray for our role in completing Christ’s commission to be fulfilled. I pray that we would be able to partner even with local churches to demonstrate the unity of the body. But these days, that unity for our body is one of my primary prayers. I echo Jesus as I pray, “Make us one.” (John 17:21) I am praying for unity, that we would have a singleness of heart as we glorify the Lord together.

What are you praying for? When you pray for our Worship Ministries, what do you ask the Lord for? When you pray for our church, what is your heart cry? I am asking that God would make us one.

Will you join me?

IN CHRIST,

Pastor Scott

Committed to the Call

Are you Committed…to the Call?

I am certain we will be encouraged tonight as we listen to the Continentals Singers affirm that they are committed to God’s call on their lives. I am certain our spirits will be lifted up as we see a bunch of young people who have given up their summer to serve the Lord. I am confident we will be blessed with the realization that there exist those who will stand in a public place and declare their allegiance to Christ. I know we will enjoy the opportunity to attend a concert where Christ is exalted and His kingdom advanced.

But exactly where will all that leave us? Nowhere, if we do not simultaneously affirm that we are committed to the call.

Whether you can attend tonight’s concert ministry or not I want to ask you to pray about your commitment to the call of the Lord Jesus upon your life. I am not referring to a call to ministry that someone who serves vocationally has heard, but the call to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ wherever you find yourself, at work, at school, or at play.

This morning in staff meeting we had a stimulating discussion. Pastor Miller asked us what concerns us as we go about our pastoral ministry. He wanted us to articulate in which areas where we are concerned for the church. Several shared very valid concerns, but ultimately in my mind they centered on a commitment to the call. As a church, as individuals, how committed are we to the call, to finishing the work that Jesus gave us to do that we might hasten His return.

Far too often I fear we are not as committed as we should be. Do not mistake my words. We are committed, but to what. Too many things vie for our commitment and attention, our resources and our energies. So many that I think it is often very difficult for us to hear the call, to hear the voice of the One who said of His sheep, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 The problem is not even hearing the call, but following.

What are you not doing that you are confident God would have you do, or that you are certain Jesus has told you to do?

Let us respond in obedience to the call…committed.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott