dennis j adams

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Some days are just a mess of trouble and trials all mixed up to make you really challenge your faith. Then there are those days that it seems like God, Himself, fixed you breakfast and washed your car! Money in the bank, food in the cupboard and gas in car. Even your clothes fit just right, you know, not tight around the waist. Your feeling good, looking good, man, everything is just good!

Now in the stark reality of walking with the Lord you fight a “good” fight of faith! You wrestle against powers and principalities, wicked hosts in high places and your own flesh. I like to put it this way, what life brought on a certain day is not what you ordered in prayer! You cannot change it but you can have faith through it! You can have a good attitude and keep the right motives through trials and uncomfortable situations.

So lets break this down to a more tangible level of understanding. First of all, I live in this scripture reference more than I like to admit.  A little confession is good for the soul!

Have the knowledge that God will truly respond to His children who love Him with all their heart, souls, mind, and strength! Knowing this is more than half the battle, it is the whole, not the part, of the victory that will come after the battle is over. I like to choose my battles but sometimes they choose me. It may be my personality or my really liking to debate or be confrontational. One or the other I find myself often in a battle or two, maybe even three! But, I know, that in the end it will all work out for the good. I will learn something, gain more wisdom, and be prepared better the next time.  One thing for sure is that I will pray more and become deeply focused on His presence during a trail. The question, “Why is this happening?”, does not come up very often after many years of walking with the Lord and prayer. The question does come forth now though, “What are you trying to teach me? Can’t you just let me know through easier means?” The end result is always good because He has everything to do with the nurturing of my soul and heart. He is a great Father and I am so pleased to be adopted into His family (Romans 8:15).

The other remarkable reference to this scripture is having that defined moment in your life when you know that you are called to Him and His plan for your life. I have entertained many conversations where both men and women, were somewhat insecure about their call or even over confident about it! You know that you are called. It is as you know, that you are hungry or thirsty. There is no doubt in your calling. You run toward your calling not away from it! Like the deer that pants after the water brook so one that is called runs to God the Father. Ready to embrace Him and His promises (Psalm 42:1). You are assured of your call without any doubt or concern that you are not! His gifts and calling are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) God knows what He is doing and who He calls as His own.

The last but certainly not the least or secondary to any part of this scripture is that it is according to the purpose God has for your life. By you fulfilling your purpose and destiny you bring glory to God and His plan for your life. Jesus even stated that He was to do the will of the Father and not His own. (John 8:28; Matthew 26:42) When this becomes who you are and not second hand, but first hand, then you will fight this fight of faith with great hope and confidence. All things will work out just fine! He will make sure of it! Trials will come and they will be horrendous at times even to the point of Elijah’s statement in 1 Kings 19:4! Just remember that it is God who works out all the details. Our position is to trust Him and pray. Always put feet to yours prayers, in other words just don’t pray and stay but pray and obey!

…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18 ESV)

Dennis

All scripture used in this blog is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Today, I was thinking about commitment and what it really means. The dictionary places terms such as, dedication, a pledge, obligation and undertaking. That really does not some it up for me though. The word “commitment” speaks loudly about my walk with God and His call on my life. Taking God seriously on what He wants of me and the place that He puts me in to serve. As I read the Bible I read testimony after testimony of the men and women who were “sold out” to what God had asked of them. 

Reading through the Book of Hebrews you come to chapter 11 and you read the lines of how commitment should be lived out before God even today! Commitment places you at a starting point and leads you to the finish. Always keeping in view the importance of what the application is all about. Maintaining the right perspective and having the proper motives. 

Pondering all the different stories in the Bible the thread of being a finisher earmarks the entitlement of a committed person. The story of Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite, really impresses me about commitment. Shammah was one of Davids mighty men. He fought a battle and never gave up when everyone else did. 

Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:11-12 ESV)

What I take from this is that he was a man of his word and did not waver on his belief to stand against the enemy that was determined to destroy David, the king. I mean he protected a lentil field! I have meant people that would not stay committed to the church or their family which to me is more important. He knew who he was and what his duty was. Even in the moment when the odds were against him he never gave up!

Watching new church plants and also planting a church I have noticed that people commit for a time and then they have some lame excuse to leave and go somewhere else. When it gets tough or uncomfortable (in planting a church it gets uncomfortable at times). Even in times of change you must stay committed to what your duty is. It has always amazed me how committed people can be when the church is grown and is having some measure success. The real commitment comes from the start and continues to the end. There are plenty of committed people out there who do stay in the “boat” during the storms and battles and that is really wonderful and to be applauded. When you walk with the Lord and He brings vision or a dream to your heart, stick to it! Do not run off from your dream or your vision. Keep going into what God has promised, He will never fail you. During the rough road or the rocky ride just hold on, simply hold on! He is holding on to you! You are in His hand and not one person can pull you out! Set your heart on the goal and dream your dream with excitement and hope.

Living with commitment is not the easy way most of the time but it is the way to the finish line. I am really glad that Jesus kept going toward Jerusalem and never wavered from his commitment to reconcile us back to the Father. Even when the nails were piercing His hands and feet He stayed with it! He asks of each of us to stay with it! Keep trusting Him and complete what He has asked you to do! He is performing the work in you consistently until that great day!

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ( Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Dennis

When I look in the mirror each day I am glad that God is in control.  I am really stoked that He saved me and called me to do the work that I do in Santa Cruz. I have had a wonderful journey with the Lord. He has enabled me to do great tasks for Him. The greatest of these is bringing the Gospel of Christ to the people here in Santa Cruz, CA. 

Today in my devotion I was moved, again, by the story of Noah. The incredible trust He had in God and the impossible task he was given by God. Wow, he could have just sat there thought, ‘God will handle this, it is impossible for me to do!’ The really cool thing about it is that he did not just sit there he began to move in faith and prepare an ark which would be a sign of the impossible becoming possible.  During his obedience, I am sure people criticized him and ridiculed him for taking action on what God had instructed. So many times God asks for the impossible to be done by men. God chooses who He chooses and places His Will, heavy, on the heart of men. 

Come on now, think about it! Build an ark in the middle of an arid land which will hold two of every creature, male and female, on the earth and all of Noah’s family. Not only that but trusting that God, Himself, would bring the rain to flood the world, not just the land! I wonder how many times Noah just sat for minute and wondered, ‘in my own commonsense this cannot happen, but in the faith I have in God along with the trust the upholds my every action, I know that He will do this. There must be that moment of decisive thought to where you cross from man’s logic to God’s logic. Seeing beyond the horizon and into the promise of God and His Word. The challenge to get those among you to trust in the promise God has given you! The action of hope  and the speech of faith can convince the most critical of people when you continue to live out the promise God has given you.

We live in a time where instant gratification is applauded and demanded. If it cannot happen at the click of the fingers or the nod of the chin then it just cannot happen. That is not how God works. He works through choice, obedience, faith, and hope. His length of time to bring a promise to pass may be momentary or generational. The uniqueness of the promises and commands of God is that they will come to pass and He will be glorified. The moment that it began to rain I have often thought about the scoffers and ridiculers of that period when all they could do was make fun of Noah! Noah never gave up and he never stopped till the task was complete. This is a real testimony to all of us that have been given a task by God. Not a task that maybe someone gave you or that you, in your own way, gave yourself. The impossible is just that, impossible, but God makes it possible. He reaches into nothing and brings out something!

God will choose who He will and promise what He will promise. What all of us must do, that are chosen by Him, is to obey and move forward in faith (faith is an action, not just a word). Having hope in all that we have heard Him say, even when it does not look possible. Hope when that rain does not come immediately but is over the horizon, yet to be seen.

I am so glad that God makes the choice in my life and that each day I choose to obey and move in faith toward His Will with hope in my every breath.

Dennis

Each day starts with a sunrise and ends with a sunset. What happens throughout that day is planned by the Lord. I am not saying that God is at fault for anything, He gives us each day an opportunity to serve and trust Him. The brings a new start for everyone. We make choices and sometimes they are good choices other times not so good. Jesus approached this by telling us:

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ”Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34 ESV)

The first and foremost action that should be done at the beginning of your day is prayer.  This is not a “kick start”  to your day but a necessity for the day. Seeking God can never be viewed as a burden or troublesome! It is an honor to seek the Lord and His kingdom values. Jesus, made this communication possible by His death and resurrection. 

The second point is to realize that God is not selfish in His response to you when you pray.  He will give you what you ask! That is not a radical statement by someone who is just filling space on you computer screen or iPhone. It is really true. He is able to do all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us and through us. (Ephesians 3:20) Jesus, Himself, stated that whatever we ask in His Name, the Father will do it. (John 14:14; John 15:16; John 16:23) His kingdom principles are always at work in you. Where ever two or  three are gathered He is among them. (Matthew 18:20) These promises are dynamic in strategy and full of hope. His Word is alive and powerful and at work for you!

Thirdly, being anxious is really unproductive especially when it comes to prayer. Patience is what you need when you pray. Patiently spending time with God at His feet! Anxiety can confuse your motives and the answer that the Lord brings to you! That is why we must “not” be anxious in anything but in everything with prayer and supplication make are requests known unto God. (Philippians 4: 6) Looking ahead to the next day or even into the days ahead should be viewed through the eyes of faith. Spending time with God increases your faith and hope in His great love. 

The Lord realizes that each day has good and bad in the mix. It best to not look to far ahead but to concentrate on each day as it comes. There is enough in the mix for one day and the Lord wants us to stop and pray. Be prepared for the day as you enter into it! Ask the Lord to order your steps and to speak to your heart at every opportunity. Prayer will also cause you to have a listening ear. The “spiritual” ear will always be an affective part of your decision making.

Troubles come each day but so does the opportunity and the pleasure to pray. To bring your praise, adoration, worship and requests before the Lord. Building a intimate relationship with Him! This relationship is a “key” to your success in live.  The success formula is found in 1 Thessalonians

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV) 

Be successful and start your day off right! Start it with prayer…

Dennis

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 ESV)

I. Your Need Recognized

1. The personal relation with God.
2. The source of provisional supply.
3. The place of storage.

II. Your Supply Promised

1. The need individualized.
2. The fullness of supply.
3. The purity of the supply.

III. The Lordship of the Supply

1. Jesus the provider
2. Jesus the shepherd
3. Jesus the keeper (fulfillment)

Dennis

All scripture used inthis blog is from the
Holy Bible English Standard Version, copyright 2001, Crossway Bibles a division of Good News Publications.

Today I went to Carmel by the Sea and hung out by the ocean. From there I went Pacific Grove and visited antique shops. I saw furniture and ceramics which included Tiffany lamps. The prices were so high! I wondered does anyone know we are in a recession? People were doing business as usual. My summation of all this is simple. Wealth is not a proplem but it does “numb” people to the needs of others. That is not meant to be statement that could criticized as being a falacy. What the point is many people I saw today were showing a character of “self-centered” humanistic selfishness. One coffee shop even raised their prices so two lattes were $11.00. Ouch! Everyone is part of this economic down fall. I am really glad I witnessed this today! I hope that we can all support each other during this time.

Dennis

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

A. Living in Guilt

B. Living With Guilt

C. Living amongst Guilt

1. The promise of a guilt free mind and heart
2. To everyone who believes
3. To those who walk in Him

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14 ESV)

1. The reason we are guilt free
2. The victory that impacts us
3. Grace applied to our souls

For you did not receive  the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ”Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)

1. The freedom of a Spiritual life
2. Fear is removed by perfect love
3. The relationship is complete through His Name

Dennis

That sounds such like a “cheezie” title! I agree with that thought. However, when you listen spiritually to the way some Christians are acting today you wonder about their faith in the Lord. It seems to me that all this “I” and “me” talk discounts and even “cuts out” the real relationship that God desires to have with mankind.  Everyday I interact with people who are really in need. I also do not live in a tunnel where all I can see is my ministry. Along with ministering to the poor I have awesome opportunity to interact with “long” time believers. What I am so amazed about is how “spoiled” and childish most of them act like. I realize that I have gone from some to most in one paragraph but what I am blogging is real! The message is almost intolerable in the principle application of being guarded and sustained by God. 

This hour we live in is one of the most prophetic and ministry rich times ever in history. Where are the David’s, David’s might men, Jeremiah’s and Elijah’s? Come on, this is not the conventional standard remark  to cry out “Feed me, I just want to be in church so I can be fed”. God wants His laborers to be out gaining, reaping, making disciples in this definite portion of time allotted of harvest. It is as though the ringing of the church bell sounds the alarm of “maintenance” to most believers. Like getting a snail-mail or email telling you it is time for your car to come in for a service repair. Yes, going to church is necessary and we need to plant more dynamic churches in America. These are not “fix it” shops but worship centers. The churches that are  being planted should be training believers and new believers to go out into the harvest and share Christ and His compassionate love. 

When a baby is born it cries to nurse but when the baby becomes a child it wants to go out and engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation. Well, the Church needs to go out and play in the world but with the seriousness of understanding just what is hanging in the balance. 

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)

How wonderful it would be if people would learn the lesson of salvation and become mature in their relationship with the Lord. Growing and being nurtured into a fully matured Christian who can share the Gospel of Christ being built up through prayer and the Word.

And  he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up  the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV

Are we living, spiritually, up to that standard in the Church today? I hear babies crying who should be mature adults in their walk with God. Desiring only to be fed the milk and not wanting to have the “meat” of the truth of the Word!

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (Hebrews 5:12 ESV) 

I firmly believe that when you are truly serving the Lord with the heart and mind of Christ your feeding comes from serving in ministry to your community. Everyone should attend a “good” local church and be in corporate worship. Everyone should have a pastor who can and will teach them but this maintenance thing that pervades the Church today is not at all practical or nurturing. In one sense, there is a term that is used in the business world” “Quicksand”. That terms means that excuses used not to serve in ministry application is nothing but quicksand and every excuse is sinking the church or person. Another term used in the business world is “Time-bandit”. This term is used to express what terminates the positive time which should be spent on ministry and servanthood.  The last term that actually was first used in business but has withered its way into every excuse making statement is “It is what it is”.  NOT! What it is is that we must stop sinking and stop allowing time-bandits to destroy the knowledge and take away the time needed for ministry. The “It is what it is” statement is a performance statement from the depths of childish, mutated, intolerable hearts that refuse to appear on the stage of His purpose. What it is is this:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (Collosians 4:5 ESV)

Get out of the maintenance program! Yes He is the sustainer of your life! Get it in your spirit-man, you are sustained! He is the fulfillment of your heart and soul. 

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and  the lifter of my head. (PSALM 3:3 ESV) 

Cast your burden on the LORD,  and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

Again, going to church is what is right but your motives may be wrong! Church is not a place to become spiritually “fat”, like most American believers have done, but a place to learn and worship. Do not be  a reservoir but be a river.

Dennis

Have  you ever just listened for the voice of Lord? Oh, yes, many of you may say, “Certainly, that is an odd question!”  Let me ask it again. Have you ever just listened for the voice of the Lord? So many times in my walk with Him, I tried to listen but I always had more to say than needed to be said! The reason for that is I love to pray and talk to the Lord. Then when it came time to listen I had already did not hear! I learn from the Lord consistently, always desiring to hear Him and obey. How about you? I really enjoy reading the Word. One of the scriptures that always blesses me is found in Proverbs.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. (Proverbs 8:34 ESV)

So I have walked a life prayer. Always in the attitude of prayer, realizing what it cost for me to communicate with the Father.  The cost was His Son Jesus, to suffer and die at Calvary for any of us to be able to pray. The Lord loves to hear us pray and praise, which in a true sense, is the same.  What an opportunity we have each day to not only pray but to listen. The Lord has something to say to each of us just so we can have a great future.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. (Proverbs 19:20 ESV)

So much can be learned from a daily walk and experience but just  “stopping” and waiting for the Lord to speak into our hearts. This is, of course, “priceless”! When Isaiah was blinded or enamored by King Uzziah he could not be at his absolute best! The same goes for all of us when we are overwhelmed by circumstances or captivated by an additional personality. It took the death of a personality to get Isaiah to have ears to hear and eyes to see. It took the death of Jesus for us to have ears to hear and eyes to see.

I embrace the story of Isaiah, since his experience with the Lord was so encouraging and eventful for Israel.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;keep on seeing, but do not perceive. (Isaiah 6:8-9 ESV)

He heard the voice and responded with great passion. His calling was heard and is ministry was firmly established when all there was before him was God. So many need to hear this and know that a ministry can be heightened when everything else is removed but God. I heard a man share once about prayer. He said when I pray I just sit and listen! I could not believe it at first, but it was one of the greatest lessons I have ever experienced. That was over 25 years ago. So today I sit here blogging to you out there in the blog-o-sphere…Listen to the voice of the Lord when you pray, minister, or just live your life. Listening to God is the most enjoyable part of my journey with Him.

Best

Dennis

All scripture used in this blog are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Philippians 1:6
“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB95)

Confidence is defined as:  Full of assurance; Full of conviction

Four step outline:

1.    Confidence
2.    Counsel
3.    Continuance
4.    Completion

I.    Confidence

A.    Paul stated that he was fully convinced.

“And that is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” (2 Timothy 1:12, NLT)
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. ” (2 Timothy 1:12, NASB95)

1.    He was not ashamed
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ” (Romans 1:16, NASB95)
2.    He trusted in the Lord with all his heart
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8, NASB95)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ” (Proverbs 3:5, NASB95)
3.    God is able
““For nothing will be impossible with God.” ” (Luke 1:37, NASB95)
“Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” ” (Mark 10:27, NASB95)
4.    Until the Day of the Lord
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10, NASB95)
II.    Counsel
A.    The counsel of the Lord in your spirit.
“With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. ” (Psalm 73:24, NASB95)

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. ” (Proverbs 19:20, NASB95)
B.    The conviction of the Holy Spirit
““But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. ” (John 14:26, NASB95)
C.    The still small voice
“After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. ” (1 Kings 19:12, NASB95)
D.    Maturing and discipleship that comes with relationship

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NASB95)
III.    Continuance
A.    The Lord never sleeps nor slumbers
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 121, NASB95)
B.    He continues to show loving-kindness
“O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. ” (Psalm 36:10, NASB95)
IV.    Completion
A.    To be complete in Him
“and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; ” (Colossians 2:10, NASB95)
B.    To mature into the fullness of Christ
“until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ” (Ephesians 4:13, NASB95)
C.    To love the Lord completely
““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ” (Deuteronomy 6:5, NASB95)
D.    The soul and body be preserved complete
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, NASB95)

E.    The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us

“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” ” (Hebrews 13:5, NASB95)

“For the Lord will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.” (Psalm 94:14, NASB95)

“‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ” (Isaiah 41:10, NASB95)