The Lord's House Community Church

The Holy Harvest Part 2: After the Reaping

Scripture: John 9:4

With these words in John 9:4, Jesus acknowledged He was mandated by God (I must work) to complete an assignment on earth. He cautioned that the window of opportunity would end (night is coming when no man can work). His disciples had asked if familial sin was why a certain man was born blind. The Lord said the man was born blind so that the works of God could be revealed. Jesus then began setting the stage for him to walk the path which led to restoration of his sight.

We too are created for works which reveal God’s will. These works are time sensitive; they must be completed in the order ordained by God.  They are cyclical – a comforting rotation of being filled and emptied repeatedly to be used by Him. Farming is a common analogy in the Bible which illustrates the concept of seedtime and harvest. Like summer and winter, day and night, reaping must follow a planting and growing season (Genesis 8:22).

The Day 16 devotional, The Holy Harvest, reminded us of the significance of allowing God to renew our strength as we continue in well doing.  Among the risks associated with extreme weariness include spiritual dimness, making it difficult to see God’s plan. In that devotional was a story of a weary farmer who labored all season and was blessed with a bountiful yield. However, the morning of the harvest he was too tired to gather.

When we left him, the man was snuggled in his bed, sound asleep after a mere quick glance at his fields bursting with fruits and vegetables. What a waste of resources and energy it would be if the farmer slept through the blessing of reaping what he had sown. Did he miss the opportunity to harvest his goods?

No. The farmer fully awakened a few minutes later when the Holy Spirit reminded him of today’s scripture. He was convicted in his spirit; the Lord had given him well beyond what he expected. He quickly assembled other laborers to help him in the field.  As the crew gathered an endless supply of fresh goods, he meditated on 2 Corinthians 9:6:

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  

When the fields were cleared his heart was grateful, he thanked the Lord for the bounty. At the same time he wondered what should he do with the massive abundance he had collected. 

Has God poured a cornucopia of blessing upon you during this time of fasting and prayer? Are you enjoying it in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38)?  When this season ends and reaping is done, what will you do with your crop?

Without a doubt, thanksgiving and praise will immediately follow. Set aside time after the fast to take inventory of your unique harvest. Did you reap new relationships, answers to prayer, opportunities to reveal God to someone? The Bible provides clear instructions on what to do with the Lord’s blessings.  Among the first is to freely and sacrificially share what you have been given. This work is a key component of the harvesting cycle. It blesses you and the recipient. At the same time, it makes room to prepare for the next growing season.

You will reap in due season if you faint not! In the natural realm, crops picked too soon produce fruit that is not fully developed to its full potential. Procrastinating can lead to crops rotting on the vine, wasted and useless. The same applies to your spiritual harvest; stay alert to the revelation of God’s work as you reap. His grace will abound toward you and provide an abundance for every good work He has called you to complete (2 Corinthians 9:11).

It’s Time to Pray:  Thank you, Lord God, for blessing our lives with divine order and direction. We receive Your supply with thanksgiving, and give You all honor and praise always. In Jesus name…Amen!

The Center of My Joy

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:10b 

 Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Thought for Today: Some people think of joy as an emotion that is activated by their feelings. Others equate joy with happiness. What does joy mean to you and what role does the second fruit of the spirit play in your daily walk with God?

Numerous scriptures in the Bible describe joy as a virtue that God gives to His people. The joy that God provides is gladness, contentment, rejoicing and peace that is anchored in your faith in God alone. This joy cannot be found in people, work, money, possessions or even in church attendance. It is found only in your personal covenant relationship in God.

Following a period of despair in my life, I experienced the restoration of joy and I  testify to you that “joy comes in the morning.” There were times I had to sing the song,

“ Jesus, You’re the center of my joy,

all that’s good and perfect comes from You.

You’re the heart of my contentment,

hope for all I do.

Jesus, You’re the center of my joy”

(by Richard Smallwood)

Yes, the Lord did it! He restored my joy! The word tells us “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b). There is a strength that grows in your soul when you choose to receive the joy of the Lord. God’s great joy defeats, sadness, sorry, despair, despondence and even depression. So even in the midst of the storms and stresses of life, you can anchor your faith in God and experience the joy of the Lord. He will fill you with His joy in you and that joy will give you the strength to move forward.

It’s Time to Pray: Dear Lord, You alone are the source of all joy. Make your joy complete in me today. I declare that Jesus is the center of my joy and the source of my strength… Amen

The Power of the Word!

 Scripture:  Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 Thought for Today:  Great surgeons focus on identifying the “root cause” of disease in the body.  Surgery performed to save a person’s life requires the use of invasive tools that cut deep into flesh, tissue, bone and cells. Surgeons are trained to identify and remove disease from the body of their patient to enable the patient to heal.  They accomplish this by using very sensitive diagnostic imaging equipment and precise surgical tools that can remove the most microscopic pieces of diseased tissue and cells.

 As powerful as surgery is to remove disease and promote healing, The Word of God is even more powerful to diagnose sin in your life. Sin is the disease that produces spiritual sickness and death in us. Jesus Christ is the Living Word, who gave His life and shed His blood to cleanse us of our sins, so that we may live. When you read and meditate on God’s Holy Word, it gets inside of you and changes you from the inside out to enable you to live for Jesus Christ. Through His Holy Word, God reveals His plan of love, salvation, and redemption for mankind directly to you. In Hebrews 4:12, the Hebrew writer provides a vivid description of the power of the Word of God. It is living (active, always at work in you), powerful (filled with God’s power), with sharpness, precision, and accuracy to pierce your total being (Amplified Bible: the completeness of a person and the deepest parts of our nature). God’s Word diagnoses and shows the inward condition of our thoughts and intentions. When you deposit His Holy Word, it  will produce permanent righteous change in your life. That’s the power of God’s Word!

The Word of God is life-saving and life-giving! You cannot live a victorious life without it. Read it, study it, meditate on it, apply it! Hide (deposit) the Word in your heart. God wants to unleash the power of His Word in your life. Are you open to it?

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, Reveal to me the power of Your Word. Enable Your Word to diagnose ‘root cause’ sin in my life so that I may confess and repent of my sin and enable the blood of Jesus to cleanse me. Give me a love for Your Word so that I will read and meditate on it daily. Holy Spirit, please teach me how to study and apply the Word of God in a way that produces growth and Christlikeness in me…in Jesus name Amen!

The Holy Harvest

Scripture:  Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We are less than a week away from the end of the first prayer and fasting season of 2021. Like never before, we’re seeing broken souls healed and new miracles revealed! Our God is speaking to us and through us increasingly each day as we commit this time to press in tighter for a closer walk with Him. The angels in heaven rejoice with us and God is pleased that His people are seeking His face. It’s a spiritually rejuvenating season filled with purpose and promise. Hallelujah!  

Equally true is the fact that the devil is on the sidelines waiting to attack, just as he did Jesus during His sacred time of prayer and fasting (Matthew 4:1-11). As followers of Jesus, we expect the same attempts to steal, kill and destroy our lives. Because our weapons are not earthly, but mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10:4), we have the victory just as Jesus does. Still, there’s a reason the bible cautions against access weariness, even in well-doing such as fasting and prayer.

As humans, we have internal and external frailties that pull on our mortal resources. For instance, despite this time of fasting and prayer we still must attend to family and business matters, illness and other issues. Some of us have people in the home who are not fasting, creating the need to prepare extra meals. Families today have children in home school and many parents are working from home too, creating a complicated dynamic during the day to say the least. Our bodies will get tired. But the scripture cautions against becoming so weary that we faint (lose consciousness). When someone faints they become weak, unclear, or dim. As it relates to our spiritual journey, if we remain in such a frail state we run risks such as:

-Missing a special word from God during this time

-Giving the devil an opening to lie that you’ve failed or displeased God

-The inability to reap your harvest with complete clarity (if at all)

Imagine a hardworking farmer during an exceptionally challenging growing season. From the weather, finances and illnesses – everything seemed to go wrong. Yet he still carefully cultivated his fields day in and day out until eventually he saw signs he would have an extraordinary bounty at harvest. Finally the morning of the first harvest comes! He excitedly looks out of the window over his vibrant fields…then turns over in bed and goes back to sleep, too tired to reap the fruit of his long hard labor.

It’s an unlikely scenario but can be used to illustrate the importance of asking God for the strength to keep us strong as we finish out this very special time. He’s waiting to do it!  Among the rewards we reap if we faint not include:

-The Lord (whom we love) is well pleased

-You are a witness of God to others

-Your trusting relationship with Him grows deeper

God started you on this journey for reasons personally set aside for you. Rely on Him when you get tired as you keep going forward. He will strengthen, comfort and provide for you. And if you faint not, you can be confident He will complete the good work He started (Philippians 1:6)!

It’s Time to Pray:  Thank you Lord God for Your favor while we press in to hear more from You. Keep us in a position of humility so that we may with gratitude reap whatever you have for us. In Jesus name…Amen!

Just When You Need Him Most

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 12: 9 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Thought for Today: Life comes at us from many directions and dimensions. As the saying goes “if it’s not one thing, it’s another.” As believers, we experience sickness, pain, suffering, grief, discouragement, conflict, negative emotions and now COVID-19. These are the issues of life. As we mature, the challenges and struggles of life can become overwhelming. When we feel overwhelmed, we often withdraw and focus more on the misery of our sufferings than allowing God’s grace to fill and sustain us.

Paul teaches us to know the sufficiency of God’s grace in 2 Corinthians 12 when he reported that he was attacked with an affliction (a thorn in his flesh) mentally/spiritually by a messenger from Satan. After pleading with the Lord for three days to remove the suffering from him, the Lord said to him , “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Just when Paul needed it most, God showed the power and sufficiency of His grace to strengthen and sustain him. God’s grace kept Paul from giving up. God’s grace at work in Paul was more than enough to enable him to face his suffering and to abound to every good work.

It is important to understand that you are NOT SUFFICIENT to face the challenges of your life without God’s help. Your weaknesses and limitations provide the opportunity for God to supply His grace the help in your time of need. Know that God is more than enough to meet any need and to solve any problem that you have.  Trust Him. He knows, cares and understands your circumstance. Allow His power to rest upon you. When you need Him most, He is with you and His grace will carry you through!

 It’s Time to Pray: God of grace, no matter what I experience help me to receive your grace and your strength in my areas of weakness. Oh God, I trust You to pour out your grace upon me when I need You most because You are my sufficiency…

Daily Discipline

Scripture: Luke 9:23

 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 

Thought for Today: Are you willing to discipline yourself to follow Jesus?

 People who accomplish great things in life often attribute their success to daily disciplines that they have practiced daily for many years. They describe their daily life by describing disciplines such as: spending time in prayer, setting daily goals, being organized, helping others, treating others with respect and kindness, being on time, spending time reading, preparing for assignments and learning something new every day. These are all great and noble disciplines that we should aspire to gain and practice to become better people and accomplish more in life. However, I believe that our greatest goal each day is to follow Jesus more closely and really know Him. Why? Because He is the one who gave His life and shed His blood to save me from my sins.  Therefore, I owe my life to Him. Nothing that I achieve or accomplish in this life means anything if I do not know and serve Him. He is my Savior, my Lord and my Redeemer!

 Jesus challenged His disciples in Luke 9:23 by giving them (and us) three disciplines that are required to follow Him (as true students of the master)

It’s Time to Pray: Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power so that daily discipline becomes a part of my character. I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back, no turning back…

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15 

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 Thought for Today:  Are the words “I forgive you” in your heart? Are those words followed by “will you forgive me?” Forgiveness is at the heart of God’s love for you. He demonstrated His unfailing love when Christ gave His life and shed His blood to forgive your sins and mine. When you confess your sin, Christ is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin permanently. He never remembers that sin again. Having received this great forgiveness from Christ, why do we have such a difficult time forgiving the people in our life?

 Do you find yourself holding on to something someone said that offended you? Are you angry with a family member or friend who did something that hurt you? Are you harboring unforgiveness against a co-worker or manager because of the way they mistreated you? Think about these and other examples of unforgiveness that you are harboring in your heart.

 The devil wants you to believe the lie that by refusing to forgive the people in your life who have hurt you, you punish them. Just the opposite is true. You are the one who is hurt emotionally and spiritually. In the verses following The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that God, The Father will not forgive you of your sins if you do not forgive other people who have sinned against you. Can you imagine The Father turning a deaf ear to your prayers and holding your sins against you because of your stubborn refusal to forgive the other person?  Jesus cried out on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. As He hung on the cross dying, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who put Him to death did not understand the full extent of their sins against Him. Those who offend you often do not know the extent of their actions and how they have affected you. By refusing to forgive, you carry an unnecessary weight and burden in your heart and mind because of your refusal to release the other person from the debt you believe they owe you. To forgive a person is a choice you must make. When you choose to forgive, it opens you, it frees you, it lifts you, it matures you and gives you peace. Through forgiveness, you mature to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Learn to confess your trespasses and pray for others and allow them to do the same with you. Forgive as Christ has forgiven you.

 It’s Time to Pray: Forgiving Father, please forgive me of my many sins, faults and weaknesses. I need your forgiveness. Teach me how to love and forgive others as you have forgiven me. Once I have forgiven them, give me the desire to release them from the offense and move forward. Deposit your Word in my heart so that forgiveness is part of way I live for you…

Beyond Healing to Wholeness: The Higher Calling!

Scripture: Luke 17:16-19

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

The story of the ten lepers is packed full of sound biblical wisdom. In this familiar account, a group of diseased men cried loudly from a distance, begging Jesus to show them mercy. And no wonder – leprosy in bible times was an incurable, excruciatingly painful skin condition. Anyone with leprosy was left horribly disfigured and ostracized from among the rest of the people. Jesus did grant their petition, instructing them to show themselves to the priest. When they did so, they were cleansed (or healed).

Can you imagine the incredible relief they felt being pain free of the raw sores and blisters? Surely, they constantly looked at their arms in amazement, showing the new smoothness of their skin to anyone who (at last) came near them. But did they receive all that Jesus had to offer? Could more blessings been given them had they come back to thank the Great Healer?  After the miracle, Jesus told the Samaritan his faith has made him well (KJV reads “…your faith has made you whole”). Wasn’t he already healed? Yes he was healed of leprosy but was there more beyond the healing in store for him? According to Jesus, the man’s faith raised him to a place past healing to completely well, or whole. What a life-altering event!

What about us? We all have countless testimonies in which God delivered us from horrible trouble in our lives. Patiently and lovingly, He pours spiritual, mental, physical healing – fresh mercies each day. He does not hold it against us when we have to return to Him, sometimes for the same issues. Therefore we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31) in this world. With a grateful heart we thank Him each day; sometimes our gratitude brings us to tears. We don’t neglect to worship, praise, and share His glory. But does He have even more for us? Is He waiting for us to take additional steps that will open more doors to His plan for our lives?

It’s Time to Pray: Thank you Lord God for a constant supply of amazing revelation from your Eternal Word. We pray that we focus during this time of prayer and fasting and listen for an instruction that will bring us closer to Your perfect Will…In Jesus name, Amen!

Scripture:  John 1:47-48

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Character counts! Your character is critically important in every aspect of your life and witness as a Christian. When applying for a job, applying for admission to a college, applying for a security clearance and other endeavors you must have people who will attest to your good character at-a-glance. When you accept Jesus as your Savior and believe on His name, He begins a process of changing your character and nature to be like His. He literally infuses you with His nature so that people begin to take notice of His character in you. This inner process is called regeneration or spiritual transformation. He wants your character be like His. He wants the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to be evidence in your life.

 John 1 describes Jesus calling Philip as His disciple and in Philip’s excitement at meeting the Savior he calls his friend Nathanael to introduce him to Jesus. The Savior immediately noticed Nathanael approaching Him and speaks about his excellent character saying: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Shocked and amazed at the recognition from the Savior, Nathanael responded to Jesus by asking Him: “How do You know me?” Jesus responded: “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

At a distance, Jesus took notice of Nathanael because of the purity of his character and nature. At-a-glance, Jesus discerned that there was no deceit in his heart. Jesus had given Nathanael an eternal character reference!

 Does Jesus recognize you Christ-like character at-a-glance? Are you living a life of Christ-like character? Does your character reflect Christ even when you face adversity? Are you guarding your heart against evil?

Make a decision to confess, repent of your sins, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your character to be more like Christ’s.

It’s Time to Pray: Lord Jesus, I desire you to transform my character to your nature so that you will attest to my character at-a-glance… In Jesus name, Amen!

Teach Us Lord!

Scripture: Psalm 90 (A Prayer of Moses, the man of God) NKJV

Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses that encourages our hearts on how to pray. He is asking the Lord to…Teach me! Educate me! Enlighten me! Edify me! We too, should be asking the same of God in the midst of the pandemic, the negative impact of politics, protests, and our own personal challenges. We should cry out: Lord, don’t let me waste valuable time. We desire to properly interpret “the signs of the times” so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 Moses’ Prayer in Psalm 90 enlightens us on how to communicate with God in prayer when confronted with internal and external situations that He has prepared us to handle.  Prayer is direct communication with God and it is one of the lifelines for believers in Jesus Christ.  Like the Lord’s Prayer, (Matthew 6:8-13), this prayer can be used as a model on how to pray by acknowledging the preeminence, presence, and power of God.

 Preeminence of God – Psalm 90:1-4

¹Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. ²Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.  ³You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.” ⁴For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.  

 The Presence of God – Psalm 90:5-8

⁵“You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: ⁶In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers.” 

 In verses 5 and 6, Moses meditates upon human frailty. He compares life to grass that withers. By contrast God Himself is “from everlasting to everlasting” (v. 2 ).  He is God! While we live day by day, God lives in eternity, where a thousand years is as one day.

 ⁷For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. ⁸You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

 Instead of playing “hide and seek” with God, which is part of human nature, WE MUST KEEP an open dialogue with God concerning our shortcomings. We must face our sins! (those secret sins or weights of life that causes us to fall short of the glory of God). Unconfessed sin hinders our prayers from being heard by God and keeps us from the fullness of life and joy that He desires for us. He knows our sins and in Jesus Christ has already provided your forgiveness.

 The Power of God

Moses inquires of the Lord in verse 12 to teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. In conclusion, he asserts that in order for us to overcome our shortcomings, the Lord’s power, compassion, grace and mercy is needed. (verses 13-15). As a result of our gaining and applying God’s wisdom in our hearts, His miracles and favor will be available to us. Verses 16 and 17 continue: “Let us see your miracles again; let our children see glorious things, the kind you used to do, and let the Lord our God favor us and give us success. May he give permanence to all we do.” (Living Bible)

 It’s Time to Pray:  Please read Psalm 90 and personalize the prayer by substituting your name and by recognizing the preeminence, presence and power of  God to transform your life to be pleasing to Him.