by David Scott Robertson
"As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:16-17).
* * *
I absolutely love the 52nd week of each year.
Closure of the year is at hand. Like an accountant "closes out the books" for a company annually, so I like to "close out the year" the last week of each December.
This week I intend to…
…clean out my desk.
…clean up my car.
…clean out my closet.
…clean up my to-do list.
…clean out my gym bag.
…clean up my diet.
…clean out my dresser.
…clean up my act.
…clean out my hard drive.
…clear up loose ends.
I want to enter the New Year as organized and prepared as possible.
The brief season between the Christmas and New Year's holidays are a time to gather my thoughts, evaluate what did and didn't work in the previous year, and chart a new course for the next twelve months.
Traditionally, during the span of these few days, it has been my custom to contemplate and document goals for the upcoming year.
In the past, I have narrowed my goal setting down to roughly seven vital relationships. My relationship with…
…God
…my wife
…my daughter
…my extended family (including church amily)
…my ministry
…my finances
…myself
Each year I have made incremental progress in these respective areas that has been quite rewarding. This year, however, I am taking a completely new approach.
I strongly sense this new direction is of God. My goals for the New Year can be written on a single sticky note. Envision the scripture reference from Psalms - Psalm 55:16-17 - followed by three empty squares, or blocks, underneath them. That's it. That's what I hope to accomplish in the New Year.
The empty squares represent three blocks of time and the scriptural passage I've listed contains the key to understanding what these blocks mean.
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17).
The three blocks of time that I will concentrating on in the coming year are three meetings with God every day. I will follow the Psalmist's practice of prayer in the verse above.
The first meeting will be each evening. I will meet with God to plan tomorrow tonight. I will get a jump on the next day today by spending quality time with Jesus each evening. Further, I will ask God to speak to me through my dreams to bring expanded revelation for the day to come.
My next meeting will be my "first fruits offering" of the morning. The first item on my day's agenda will not be exercise, headline news, email, or even breakfast. It will be a time spent in worship and in the Word.
My next scheduled quiet time with the Lord will occur around noon of each day. I will try and make a mid-day connection with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to apply any necessary course corrections. Like a boxer listens to his coach between rounds, I want each of these meetings to prepare me to make the most powerful contribution possible to God's plan and program for my life in the current 24-hour cycle.
Please note that these three blocks of time are by no means the only times I will be seeking the Lord for the Bible admonishes us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and "…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17).
But these three blocks of time are dedicated times with my Heavenly Father; they are consecrated times with the Lord Jesus; and they are closed-door meeting times with the Holy Spirit in an attempt to tap into a power that I have previously been too busy to make happen.
I'm deciding right now not to allow myself to get enslaved to a legalistic view of these special times with the Lord. I'm not going to use a stopwatch. I will use these precious times to worship, take communion, read my Bible, study devotional resources, listen to sermons, watch strategic DVD's, pray, write thoughts like this one and so on.
I've got a hunch that all the other categories of my goals will fall into place once I begin living life in the right order and putting first things first. If I can discipline myself to show up to spend time with God in the evening, morning, and around noon each day, I think my life is going to take a turn for the better.
Time will tell. And eternity will too.
DSR
12/27/05
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
Lift Up Holy Hands
by David Scott Robertson
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).
* * *
I love to raise my hands in worship to the Lord - in my private devotions and in public church services. Why? Isn't that out of order? Should the ushers show me to the door? Am I disrupting the service or causing confusion? Nope! Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The truth is there are at least 5 reasons why we should lift up our hands in worship to the Lord:
1. I RAISE MY HANDS BECAUSE IT'S SCRIPTURAL.
"Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place" (Psalm 28:2).
"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:4).
"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:2).
2. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP BECAUSE I KNOW THE ANSWER.
When I was in school, when the teacher asked a question in class and I knew the answer, I raised my hand to be called upon. Nowadays, in worship services, I know that Jesus is the Answer to every problem I face! I raise my hand symbolically to acknowledge that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
3. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP AS A SIGN OF SURRENDER.
"Stop or I'll shoot!" the police officer instructs the fugitive. "Now, raise your hands where I can see them." The officer wants to see with his eyes that there is no weapon in the man's hands.
Raising of the hands has always been a sign of surrender in such instances. In one simple gesture a great deal is communicated nonverbally: "I am at your mercy! I give up! I submit! I yield! I will not fight or struggle any longer against you! See, I am placing myself in a position to not contend with you!"
That is a good posture for us to approach God. Humbling ourselves and admitting our weakness may be humiliating, but that's the point, isn't it?
4. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP AS A SIGN OF VICTORY.
The boxer knocks out his opponent, his hands go up. The hockey player scores, up goes his hands! The tennis player drives match point down the line. He pumps his fist into the air. We can see a hundred players and thousands of fans go through this ritual every Sunday afternoon on TV. Raising one or both hands into the air has always represented victory in circles of competition.
In the spiritual war we are engaged in, we have the victory through the blood of Jesus! We have been made to be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. No enemy can prosper against us!
Uplifted hands, before or during or after the battle is always appropriate. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe it is always better to celebrate the victory with raised hands before the battle (that requires faith) than after the battle as a show of aggression on my part to a defeated foe. That's how confident I am in the Lord.
5. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP INVITING MY FATHER TO PICK ME UP.
When my daughter was an infant and before she learned how to express her desires verbally, when she wanted me to pick her up she would raise both her hands to me. Instantly I knew what she wanted and responded immediately. Who do you think put that cause and effect response in the heart of child and parent? Why our Heavenly Father, who in case you didn't already know this, is the best Father, Daddy, Papa, of all time!
Lift up your hands to your Father and He will be glad to scoop you up into His loving arms anytime your faith collides with His loving kindness and tender mercy. Ever felt like you just needed a good hug when life gets you down? Is your heart breaking and you need some comfort? Or on the other side of the spectrum of emotions, are you glad to the bone and need to transfer that joy to someone else? A "pick me up" from God can accomplish all of this in short order and the sure fire way for a child to get picked up by its father is to lift up both of those hands and look up!
When we as parents get busy or distracted and sometimes our youngsters who can talk add "pick me up, Daddy" to the equation. I don't know how your family operated, but when that happened in my house, it didn't take long at all for me to satisfy my child's need to be picked up, hugged, and loved on for a little while. God knows the value of power of touch.
To sum it up, the act of raising your hands before the Lord can mean many things but know this, each act has meaning. God knows your heart, your motive, and what you want and need at the time. He will receive your "spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1-2) as a prophetic act if you will obey the biblical admonishment to "lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).
DSR
12/19/05
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).
* * *
I love to raise my hands in worship to the Lord - in my private devotions and in public church services. Why? Isn't that out of order? Should the ushers show me to the door? Am I disrupting the service or causing confusion? Nope! Nothing could be farther from the truth.
The truth is there are at least 5 reasons why we should lift up our hands in worship to the Lord:
1. I RAISE MY HANDS BECAUSE IT'S SCRIPTURAL.
"Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place" (Psalm 28:2).
"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:4).
"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:2).
2. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP BECAUSE I KNOW THE ANSWER.
When I was in school, when the teacher asked a question in class and I knew the answer, I raised my hand to be called upon. Nowadays, in worship services, I know that Jesus is the Answer to every problem I face! I raise my hand symbolically to acknowledge that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
3. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP AS A SIGN OF SURRENDER.
"Stop or I'll shoot!" the police officer instructs the fugitive. "Now, raise your hands where I can see them." The officer wants to see with his eyes that there is no weapon in the man's hands.
Raising of the hands has always been a sign of surrender in such instances. In one simple gesture a great deal is communicated nonverbally: "I am at your mercy! I give up! I submit! I yield! I will not fight or struggle any longer against you! See, I am placing myself in a position to not contend with you!"
That is a good posture for us to approach God. Humbling ourselves and admitting our weakness may be humiliating, but that's the point, isn't it?
4. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP AS A SIGN OF VICTORY.
The boxer knocks out his opponent, his hands go up. The hockey player scores, up goes his hands! The tennis player drives match point down the line. He pumps his fist into the air. We can see a hundred players and thousands of fans go through this ritual every Sunday afternoon on TV. Raising one or both hands into the air has always represented victory in circles of competition.
In the spiritual war we are engaged in, we have the victory through the blood of Jesus! We have been made to be more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. No enemy can prosper against us!
Uplifted hands, before or during or after the battle is always appropriate. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe it is always better to celebrate the victory with raised hands before the battle (that requires faith) than after the battle as a show of aggression on my part to a defeated foe. That's how confident I am in the Lord.
5. I RAISE MY HANDS IN WORSHIP INVITING MY FATHER TO PICK ME UP.
When my daughter was an infant and before she learned how to express her desires verbally, when she wanted me to pick her up she would raise both her hands to me. Instantly I knew what she wanted and responded immediately. Who do you think put that cause and effect response in the heart of child and parent? Why our Heavenly Father, who in case you didn't already know this, is the best Father, Daddy, Papa, of all time!
Lift up your hands to your Father and He will be glad to scoop you up into His loving arms anytime your faith collides with His loving kindness and tender mercy. Ever felt like you just needed a good hug when life gets you down? Is your heart breaking and you need some comfort? Or on the other side of the spectrum of emotions, are you glad to the bone and need to transfer that joy to someone else? A "pick me up" from God can accomplish all of this in short order and the sure fire way for a child to get picked up by its father is to lift up both of those hands and look up!
When we as parents get busy or distracted and sometimes our youngsters who can talk add "pick me up, Daddy" to the equation. I don't know how your family operated, but when that happened in my house, it didn't take long at all for me to satisfy my child's need to be picked up, hugged, and loved on for a little while. God knows the value of power of touch.
To sum it up, the act of raising your hands before the Lord can mean many things but know this, each act has meaning. God knows your heart, your motive, and what you want and need at the time. He will receive your "spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1-2) as a prophetic act if you will obey the biblical admonishment to "lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" (1 Timothy 2:8).
DSR
12/19/05
Monday, December 5, 2005
I Know the Answer
by David Scott Robertson
“Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name – and his son’s name? Tell me if you know” (Proverbs 30:4).
* * *
In this verse, Agur son of Jakeh, poses five questions to the reader.
QUESTION #1. WHO BUT GOD GOES UP TO HEAVEN AND COMES BACK DOWN? I know the answer!
A. Enoch – He had the testimony that he pleased God simply by walking in His ways and consequently God took him alive to heaven (Genesis 5:24).
B. Elijah – A chariot of fire and horses of fire carried Elijah alive to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
NOTE: Since it is appointed unto man once to die and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), it is possible that this pair may be the “two witnesses” spoken about in Revelation 11:3.
C. The Apostle John – God opened a door in heaven and invited John to “come up here and I will show you what must take place after this” and suddenly John was transported alive to the throne of God (Revelation 4:1-2).
D. Paul – He was caught up alive and taken to the third heaven on the “Holy Ghost Express” and heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
E. All living born again believers – In the end times, genuine Christians who are alive and remain at the time of the Rapture of the Church will be caught up with the righteous dead to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and come back down with Christ as an army riding white horses at the Second Coming of Christ to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
(This is not an exhaustive response but I do know at least part of the answer!)
QUESTION #2: WHO HOLDS THE WIND IN HIS FISTS? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #3: WHO WRAPS UP THE OCEANS IN HIS CLOAK? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #4: WHO CREATED THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #5: WHAT IS HIS NAME – AND HIS SON’S NAME? TELL ME IF YOU KNOW. I know the answer!
PART ONE OF THE QUESTION: His name is…
A. El-Shaddai – God Almighty
B. Yahweh – the covenant name of God
C. Jehovah-Jireh – “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14)
D. Jehovah-Rophe – “The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:22-26)
E. Jehovah-Nissi – “The Lord Our Banner” (Exodus 17:15)
F. Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – “The Lord Who Sanctifies” (Leviticus 20:8)
G. Jehovah-Shalom – “The Lord Our Peace” (Judges 6:24)
H. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
I. Jehova-Rohi – “The Lord Our Shepherd” (Psalm 23)
J. Jehovah-Shammah – “The Lord is There” (Ezekiel 48:35)
K. Jehovah-Sabaoth – “The Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 1:24)
L. El-Elyon –“Most High” (Deuteronomy 26:19)
M. El-Roi – “God of Seeing” (Genesis 16:13)
N. El-Olam – “Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33)
O. El-Gibhor – “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6)
P. Father – (2 Samuel 7:14-15)
Q. Judge – (Psalm 7:8)
R. Kadosh – “Holy One” (Psalm 71:22)
S. Kanna – “Jealous” (Exodus 20:5)
T. Palet – “Deliverer” (Psalm 18:2)
U. Magen – “Shield” (Psalm 3:3)
V. Eyaluth – “Strength” (Psalm 22:19)
W. Tsaddiq – “Righteous One” (Psalm 7:9)
X. Stone – (Genesis 49:34)
Z. Zur – “God Our Rock” (Deuteronomy 30:18)
NOTE: These are not all the names of God but a few in which God has chosen to reveal His qualities and attributes to His creation.
PART TWO OF THE QUESTION: His Son’s name is Jesus.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
I know the answer to these five great questions because God has provided us with the Answer Book – the Bible. Read God’s Word and you will be wise. Quote God’s Word and you will never be wrong. Hide God’s Word in your heart to prevent you from sinning against Him. Live God’s Word and prosper abundantly on earth and eternally in heaven.
DSR
12/5/05
“Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name – and his son’s name? Tell me if you know” (Proverbs 30:4).
* * *
In this verse, Agur son of Jakeh, poses five questions to the reader.
QUESTION #1. WHO BUT GOD GOES UP TO HEAVEN AND COMES BACK DOWN? I know the answer!
A. Enoch – He had the testimony that he pleased God simply by walking in His ways and consequently God took him alive to heaven (Genesis 5:24).
B. Elijah – A chariot of fire and horses of fire carried Elijah alive to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11).
NOTE: Since it is appointed unto man once to die and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), it is possible that this pair may be the “two witnesses” spoken about in Revelation 11:3.
C. The Apostle John – God opened a door in heaven and invited John to “come up here and I will show you what must take place after this” and suddenly John was transported alive to the throne of God (Revelation 4:1-2).
D. Paul – He was caught up alive and taken to the third heaven on the “Holy Ghost Express” and heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).
E. All living born again believers – In the end times, genuine Christians who are alive and remain at the time of the Rapture of the Church will be caught up with the righteous dead to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and come back down with Christ as an army riding white horses at the Second Coming of Christ to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
(This is not an exhaustive response but I do know at least part of the answer!)
QUESTION #2: WHO HOLDS THE WIND IN HIS FISTS? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #3: WHO WRAPS UP THE OCEANS IN HIS CLOAK? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #4: WHO CREATED THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD? I know the answer!
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
QUESTION #5: WHAT IS HIS NAME – AND HIS SON’S NAME? TELL ME IF YOU KNOW. I know the answer!
PART ONE OF THE QUESTION: His name is…
A. El-Shaddai – God Almighty
B. Yahweh – the covenant name of God
C. Jehovah-Jireh – “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14)
D. Jehovah-Rophe – “The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:22-26)
E. Jehovah-Nissi – “The Lord Our Banner” (Exodus 17:15)
F. Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – “The Lord Who Sanctifies” (Leviticus 20:8)
G. Jehovah-Shalom – “The Lord Our Peace” (Judges 6:24)
H. Jehovah-Tsidkenu – “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
I. Jehova-Rohi – “The Lord Our Shepherd” (Psalm 23)
J. Jehovah-Shammah – “The Lord is There” (Ezekiel 48:35)
K. Jehovah-Sabaoth – “The Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 1:24)
L. El-Elyon –“Most High” (Deuteronomy 26:19)
M. El-Roi – “God of Seeing” (Genesis 16:13)
N. El-Olam – “Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33)
O. El-Gibhor – “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6)
P. Father – (2 Samuel 7:14-15)
Q. Judge – (Psalm 7:8)
R. Kadosh – “Holy One” (Psalm 71:22)
S. Kanna – “Jealous” (Exodus 20:5)
T. Palet – “Deliverer” (Psalm 18:2)
U. Magen – “Shield” (Psalm 3:3)
V. Eyaluth – “Strength” (Psalm 22:19)
W. Tsaddiq – “Righteous One” (Psalm 7:9)
X. Stone – (Genesis 49:34)
Z. Zur – “God Our Rock” (Deuteronomy 30:18)
NOTE: These are not all the names of God but a few in which God has chosen to reveal His qualities and attributes to His creation.
PART TWO OF THE QUESTION: His Son’s name is Jesus.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
I know the answer to these five great questions because God has provided us with the Answer Book – the Bible. Read God’s Word and you will be wise. Quote God’s Word and you will never be wrong. Hide God’s Word in your heart to prevent you from sinning against Him. Live God’s Word and prosper abundantly on earth and eternally in heaven.
DSR
12/5/05
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