No Prayer, No Relationship. When we stop praying, God stops working. Everyone Has Troubles, But Not Everyone Has Jesus.

No Prayer, No Relationship. When we stop praying, God stops working. Everyone has troubles, but not everyone has Jesus. Jesus is what makes the difference. Pray without ceasing. Learning how to spend time with God is where everything comes together. Time in prayer is not time wasted. It's time invested! The Word of God is the best medicine for a sick spirit. Our God dwells in us by His Holy Spirit, and we must never submit to any other. Even on a good day, don’t think the enemy has forgotten about you. We must stay close to God in prayer and meditation.  When you pray, I mean sincerely pray, God acts!  We give our burdens to God and He gives us His Peace.

The minute we start getting confused, that's when we need to back off. God is not the author of confusion. Learn to laugh at yourself and find humor in life's little mishaps. God can dust anyone off and remove any worldly issues and replace them with everlasting life, love and blessings. Sometimes, we just need to press the pause button and be still so we can hear God's voice. God is going before us, making our crooked places straight! And His Grace is our companion on the way. Ever notice how things don't get better until you throw your hands up and give it to God? He is just that good! There are some things we can't afford to get wrong...Eternity is one of them.

No Prayer, No Relationship.

Blessings

J.P. Olson

http://www.thewordwithjpolson.com

What A Mount Mess That The House Of God Has Become. When Did Pollution Enter Our Praise And Repentance Exit Our Prayers?

Where do we start? That’s usually the first question that comes to mind. And if we would dare look at the Mount Mess that the House of God has become, we would have to ask ourselves that very same question. I mean, how did we allow so much of the world to get into our worship? What happened to our pure motives and intentions? What happened to living right, clean, godly and holy? What happened to sacred garments and sacred music?

When Did Pollution Enter Our Praise And Repentance Exit Our Prayers? When did it become acceptable to dress any kind of way, talk any kind of way, act any kind of way and live any kind of way? When did it become okay to curse, steal and lie in the House of God? When did we start justifying fornication and adultery as “strongholds and struggles”? When did pride, arrogance, conceit, comparisons and competition become the order of the day? When did slander, mockery, rumors, gossip, belittling, and backbiting get approved in the House?

When did taking money out of the House become more important than sowing tithe and offering in it?

When did God become a visitor in His own House, while pomp and circumstance moved permanently in? When did the House of God become so filthy? And who will be the ones to clean it up?

Since we learn by repetition, let’s take a look at our text shall we? John 2:13-17, “When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants; “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!” That’s when His disciples remembered the Scripture, “Zeal for Your house consumes me.” (MSG)

Notice what Jesus first act is. It's not a miracle, it's not a healing, and it's not a sermon. It's an attack against what's being done in God's House!

Now, you and I are living in a world that morally resembles an un-cleaned garage – it’s a spiritual mess! But it's not the world that's supposed to have a clean standard, it's the church! So, when do we start cleaning, and where are we going to start cleaning?

Well, being that Jesus’ reaction was so extreme, might I suggest we Start By Cleaning Up Our Father’s House First? After all, that's where Jesus started! And according to the Word of God, that’s where it will always start!

Listen to 1 Peter 4:17, "For the time has come for judgment to BEGIN at THE HOUSE OF GOD…" (NKJV)

Now, I know there are a great deal we as believers can do to help to improve this world and make it a better place. But we can’t clean the outside of the cup and leave the inside dirty; nor can we clean up the world while the House of God is filthy! Our God has Set the Standard, and the Standard is Order!

1 Corinthians 14:33, “For…God is NOT a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and ORDER. AS [IS THE PRACTICE] IN ALL THE CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS (GOD’S PEOPLE)” (AMPC)

Haven’t we been holding on to this “form” long enough? Looking regal on the outside while rotting on the inside. Trying to build up the world while the House of God is demolished by our own hands. Propping up the world, while the Standards of the House of God fall down.

See, we've become amazingly casual about sin. Oh, we're against it, but we flirt with it and we see how close we can get to it. We read about it, we watch it being portrayed, we laugh about it, and we allow creeping compromise to erode what was once a much higher standard in our lives just a short time ago. But Jesus however, takes a whip to what should not be tolerated in His Father’s House, and guess what? Just as the physical building we go to, to attend church; WE are also the Temple of God! We are also His House! So while we’re cleaning up the building, let us not forget to also clean our temple too!

THE WHOLE WORKS. SO LET PEOPLE SEE GOD IN AND THROUGH YOUR BODY.” (MSG)

Sounds like we’ve got a lot of cleaning to do! The House of God (the building) and the Temple of God (us) both need some serious cleaning up and out!

The performance needs to be whipped out of the House of God and the perverseness needs to be whipped out of the Temple of God! Bad attitudes; poor communication; vengefulness; spitefulness; anger; deceit; bitterness; resentment and the like all need to be whipped out of the House of God! Bad decisions; ungodliness; addictions; habits; unhealthy thoughts; disrespectful speech; dishonoring conduct; wrongful emotions; unforgiveness; illicit sexual behavior all need to be whipped out of the Temple of God…Us!

The House of God needs to look like the House of God, and not one that Rents out Rooms to the World to live in! 

Jesus didn’t tell them to just stop what they were doing, but listen: “…He told the dove merchants “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!” They Were Put Out the House! And men, you need to be just as diligent about your Father’s House. Don’t let anyone come in the House of God and think they can do anything they please. Let them know as soon as they cross over the threshold, you can come as you are, but you can’t stay that way! Lift the standards in the House that compromise will not be tolerated; disrespect will not be tolerated; dressing any kind of way will not be tolerated; talking and acting and living any kind of way will not be tolerated.

Remember, He’s coming back for ONE Body, ONE House, ONE Church, and anything or anyone Unclean and Unholy Will Not Be in the Number!

It's time we get clean and stay clean!  His Standard is Order; Therefore, Our Standard is Order! And Cleaning House Begins With His House! We Need to Clean From the INSIDE…Out!

Will you take on the responsibility for raising the standards in the House of God, and making sure that no one comes in to lower them? Will you be the one to set the example of proper leadership in the House (even if you don’t receive a title)? Will you be the one to call sin, sin? Will you be the one to address those who are out of order in the House? Will you be bold enough to confront, correct, and chastise? Will you be the Body of Christ that lends its Members to the Housework of Cleaning Up the House of God?

Let today be the day that we Clean House and Watch What Happens When Order Becomes the Order Of The Day Again!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.thewordwithjpolson.com

Nothing Can Overcome You This Week Because Jesus Is In Control.

I am so glad that God does not have partiality or favorites among His children. What God has promised to one He must also honor with another. When we are brought to the end of our resources; we must first remember that God is faithful. If He did for David, He must do it for me. If He did for Moses, I am just as entitled to receive. If He did it for Jeremiah then I can well expect Him to do it in my life to! Prayer begins in trouble and it continues because we're always in trouble at some level: Finances, Family, Health, the list goes on & on. It requires no special preparation, no precise vocabulary and no appropriate posture. It springs from us in the face of necessity and, in time, becomes our habitual response to every issue, good and bad, we face in life. God's help is only a prayer away. (Phil. 4:6) A powerful and yet- a simple prayer to pray is: "I trust you God."  That simple little prayer can give you so much comfort.  When you are afraid, trust God; when you are not afraid; Trust God. When things go wrong, remember Jesus is the bridge and the way back. I don't care how hopeless you feel, God says you're coming out. Trust Him to do what you can’t do, the impossible. Know that nothing will overcome you this week.

This week you can say: Nothing can overcome me this week because Jesus is in control. When we know that Jesus isn't a small part of our life but He is our life we can say with confidence and assurance; nothing will overcome us. Invite Him into your circumstance because when He enters the scene miracles happen. No chain is stronger than the name of Jesus. Not one tear goes unnoticed by Him, not one sigh unheard by Him, not one cry escapes His ears. I hear you, I love you, I know what you need and I Am here this day, this week, this month, this year and forever more to bring you one step closer to My heart. I Am in Control; I Am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I Am your Provider, your Comforter, your Healer, your Protector, and your Counselor. I AM that I AM.

Blessings

J.P. Olson

No Church Will Be A Perfect Fit, But We Can All Work At Fitting Together More Perfectly.

Every church has something that's not quite right.  Too short.  Too long. Too big. Too small. These words describe most of the clothes I try on. Finding the perfect fit seems impossible.  Finding a church that is a "perfect fit” poses similar problems. Our gifts aren't recognized: so we leave the church.  Our talents aren't appreciated: so we church hop.  Our sense of humor is misunderstood: so we don't go to church.  Our feelings are easily hurt: so we get offended.  Certain attitudes, beliefs, people, or a program makes us uncomfortable.  We feel as if we don't fit.  We struggle to find our place.  We know, however, that God wants us to fit together with one another, for there to be no divisions in His church. This means that we, the building blocks are to be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10). No Church Will Be A Perfect Fit, But We Can All Work At Fitting Together More Perfectly.  Christ's love creates unity in the midst of diversity.

Christ, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  Ephesians 2:21

When there is no love in the Church according to 1 Cor 13, there never will be a unity and there never fits a thing. Gifts never fit without love. When the flesh has the upper hand special among the leaders, then never something fits. A Church with love fits. Where love is, there is understanding and wisdom to put the Church together. Love can't be replaced by anything.

The Lord gives gifts to be used in the Church for the benefit of the whole Church. However, when members of the body can’t supply their effort by the grace given gifts, because their effort fits not in the ideas of the leadership, then that particular member has nothing to seek there. Gifts are given to bear fruit and when that isn’t possible the member has to seek a place to bear fruit. Love and gifts are bearing fruit and without it there is only dead and unfruitfulness.

Eph 4:15-16: but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Refuse To Be Content With Just The Knowledge Of God, But Insist On Experiencing The Presence Of God.

“Three things that God has never seen. A person that has not sinned. A sinner He does not love, A sinner He cannot save. Jesus loves you. We have to Start with Jesus, Stay with Jesus and End with Jesus. Only through Jesus Christ is salvation full and free. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Everyone doesn't face the same problems in life but we can all have the same solution. His name is Jesus Christ. When we need, God Knows, When we ask, God Listens,When we believe God Works. God's love never fails, Never Gives Up and and Never Runs Out. Never say Never when it comes to what God can do. God doesn't reject prayers, He answers prayers. We may be delayed, but we are not denied. GOD moves in His time, not by our mortal clock.

When we stray from His presence, He longs for us to come back. If a problem brings you to prayer then it has served it's purpose. He is faithful when I am not, He is constant when I am not, He is everything when I am nothing, Yet He says that I am His. Sin is what we do when our heart is not satisfied with God. We sin because we are looking to something else to give us what only Jesus can. Anything is a blessing that makes us pray. The more we have to rely on God, the more we will choose to rely on God. Lord help us to abandon anything within us that resist relying on You. Remove anything from my heart that will keep me from listening to You. I want to Stand in Your Presence, I want to Kneel in Your Presence; I want to Experience Your Presence.

Refuse to be content with just the knowledge of God, but insist on experiencing the presence of God.

Blessings

J.P. Olson

Are We Sending Out Mixed Messages? Are We Misrepresenting Christ? We Are Christ's Brand; We Represent And Reflect Christ…Everyday…Everywhere…Before Everyone!

You know as Christians we can often send out mixed messages of Who we represent. We are His walking billboards. “That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord…” First, ‘walk’ is present tense, letting us know that this is to be done on a continual basis! Day in and day out we are to walk out this lifestyle of Christ-like Discipleship. This requires quite a bit of daily discipline.  Secondly, our lives and conduct are to be lived out in such a manner that it is worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ! The word “worthy” is defined as “deserving or good enough; deserving effort or attention or respect.” Can we honestly say that’s descriptive of our lives and conduct on a daily basis? Are we giving Him what He deserves? Is what we’re giving Him good enough? Is what we’re giving Him reflective of effort, attention and respect? Every day? In public and private? In church, at home, at work, at school, at the laundry, at the mall?

The Bible goes on to read, “…fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things…” The word ‘fully’ is defined as ‘completely, entirely’.  Do we live our daily lives and conduct in such a way that Christ is fully pleased with it and us? And not just our Sunday-Go-To-Meeting ‘Form of Godliness’, but when we’re in traffic and get cut off, is He still pleased with our words, actions and thoughts? Is He pleased with us completely…entirely…and in ALL things? Are we pleasing to Him in how we handle conflict, crisis, disagreements, anger, bad news, disappointments, let downs, betrayal? Are we still pleasing to Him when someone else gets the pat on the back; the word of encouragement; the support? Are we pleasing to Him when we’re overlooked; under-estimated; passed over; ignored or rejected? When we’re pleasing to Him in ALL things, that means the success and the failure; the promotion and the demotion; the marriage and the divorce; financial increase and financial decrease; when the doctor’s report is favorable and when it’s unfavorable; when someone else gets the house while we’re still trying to pay for the studio; when they drive the car out the dealership while we’re scrapping to get coins to go on a Metro card; when we can keep the utilities on and when they’re cut off? Are we pleasing to Him in our daily lives, no matter the mood, feeling or experience? Or are we well over-due for an attitude adjustment that’s more in line with His characteristics?

Truth is, the world has so much to offer, and so much of it is appealing and attracting, but do we present Christ in such a manner that they want Him too? Do we live in such a manner and walk and live in such a way that people want the Savior we serve? As His waiters and waitresses do we serve Him up well? Do we make Him appealing and attracting? Does the very scent of salvation flow through their nostrils, or does our attitude give off a disgusting stench instead? Can they smell the very scent of Christ on us? Are we attracting or detracting? Is our Christian Conduct, Character, Lives and Lifestyles Drawing People Nearer to Christ or Drawing Them Further Away? Let’s be honest, some people will not receive Christ, not because of Him but because of His Christians.

“I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” (Mohandas Gandhi)

Is this descriptive of us? Have we so warped our walk with God that people aren’t following Him, not because of Him, but because of us? Believe it or not, but how we live, how we act, how we speak, how we dress, how we behave, matters. We Represent and Reflect Christ…Everyday…Everywhere…Before Everyone!

In essence, we are Christ’s Brand! A “brand” is defined as, ‘a type of product manufactured by a company under a particular name; an identifying mark.’ We function under the name of Christ and our conduct and lifestyles are the identifying mark of Who He is. We are Christ’s Brand! We are in His Image and Likeness; We are Called by His Name; We are Christians; We are Believers; We are Sons and Daughters of the Most High God; We are Ambassadors and Personal Representatives of Christ…Therefore, How Do You Think We Should Live? How Should We Act? How Should We Behave? How Should We Speak? How Should We Dress?

1 Corinthians 6:16-20, “…Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please; SQUANDERING WHAT GOD PAID SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” (AMPC)

Our conduct, lives and lifestyles should produce manifested evidence of being strengthened with all power! Now, does that mean we don’t experience weak moments? Absolutely not, we’re still frail and faulty flesh. However, we should never walk around day-to-day with a defeated disposition, anxious attitude, and miserable mindset! We are strengthened in the might of His Glory, therefore, let’s sound, act, live and look like it! Furthermore, we can go to the gym all we want, however, the exercise we need to make sure is a part of our daily regime is to exercise 'endurance and patience, perseverance and forbearance'! Like it or not, we are not exempt from the trials of life because we belong to Christ! John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (AMPC) And in light of that text, we’re not to be easily intimidated by trials, tribulations, struggles, suffering, stress, situations or circumstances! For James 1:2-4 declares, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (MSG)

God loved us so much to sacrifice His Son, and His Son loved us so much that He was a Willing Sacrificial Offering, for no man took His life, He laid it down on His own, Just for Us! So We Should Walk and Conduct, Our Lives and Lifestyles in a Manner that is Worthy of the Price He Paid for us! He Paid With His Life; We Honor His Life With Our Lifestyle! The Father delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of Light and Love. Now is the time that we reflect and represent that in our daily lives.

We can never earn what Jesus sacrificed for us. But we can live each day of our life in light of it. This means we live to please only the One who gave His life for us. Galatians 1:10, “Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).” (AMPC) We are to live in such a manner that we Please Him in All Things Everyday! We are not here to please people, no matter who they are, or think they are. We are here to please Him! Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).” (AMPC) It’s All About Him, Not Us, Not Them…Just to Please Him!

No cross should be too heavy for you to bear for Him. No demand He makes could possibly be too much. No sacrifice you make for Him can be too great. Not after what He sacrificed for you. Not after what He paid because of what it cost. Your life wasn't paid for at a discount price, no half off, no buy one get one free, no deals, no coupons. But Full Price Life and Death Was the Debt He Didn’t Owe…But Paid In Full! Therefore, Jesus deserves better from us than a discount discipleship! You don't have to visit a grave to remember what you owe Him - He's not there anyway. But each new day, in your heart, visit that cross where the Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you. And then, with a heart full of love and gratitude, live that day to please Him.

Blessings

J.P. Olson

Turning Your Problems Into Prayers Are Your Responsibility, Answering Those Problems With Solutions Is God's!

Turning Your Problems Into Prayers Are Your Responsibility, Answering Those Problems With Solutions Is God's!  When The DEEP CONTENTS OF YOUR SOUL BECOME THE SUBSTANCE OF YOUR PRAYER!

Maybe you’re in one of those “GOT TO BE GOD” times right now – that’s the place where it’s got to be God, OR IT’S NOT GOING TO BE AT ALL! If so, then you’re ready for the Secrets of Miracle-Making Prayer! They’re actually found in 1 Samuel 1, beginning with verse 10.

You see, Hannah is childless…yet she desperately wants a child of her own. Her prayer, which results ultimately in the birth of Samuel, one of Israel’s greatest leaders, contains the secrets to Super-Sized Prayer! The Bible says, “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and Prayed To The Lord. And she made a vow saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if You will look upon your servant’s misery…and give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…And She Kept On Praying To The Lord.“ Let’s stop right here for some of those Secrets of Super-Sized Praying:

First, TURN YOUR PROBLEMS INTO A PRAYER. If truth be told, you can turn a problem into many things: worry, resentment, self-pity, negativity, OR LIKE HANNAH, HEARTFELT PRAYER! That’s the mountain-moving choice! That’s what Hannah did with her problems! Turning Your Problems Into Prayers Are Your Responsibility, Answering Those Problems With Solutions Is God's!

The second secret Hannah shows us is PURSUING YOUR ALL-POWERFUL LORD. She calls God “LORD ALMIGHTY” – that’s mightier than the mightiest possibility! WHEN YOU COME TO HIM, COME TO HIM WITH ASSURANCE IN HIS MIGHT! “We thank You, God, we thank You—Your Name is our favorite word; YOUR MIGHTY WORKS are all we talk about.” REGARDLESS TO THE MOUNTAIN-SIZE MESS YOU’RE FACING, YOUR MIGHTY GOD CAN MAKE IT A MOLEHILL…BUT YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE HE’S MIGHTY ENOUGH TO DO IT!

There’s a third secret in this prayer, too – PRE-SURRENDERED RESULTS. As much as Hannah wants a son, she prays, “Lord, if You give him to me, I WON’T HANG ONTO HIM. HE’S YOURS.” AND SHE KEPT THAT PROMISE! LISTEN: GOD WILL TRUST YOU WITH WHAT YOU ASK OF HIM, WHEN YOU GIVE IT BACK TO HIM…IN ADVANCE! Otherwise, when you get it, you may make an idol of it or let it come between you and your Lord Almighty!IN A NUTSHELL: IT HAS TO BE PRE-SURRENDERED…THAT’S THE PRE-CONDITION!

Notice, too, another secret Hannah shows us – PERSISTENCE IN THE THRONE ROOM. The Bible says she, “KEPT ON PRAYING“! Faith grows, your spiritual muscles grow, as you Wait on the Lord and keep coming to Him Trusting Him for your answer! And Contrary to Popular Belief, Many of us don’t want to wait at all, But Especially Not in the Throne Room! Why? Because in the Throne Room Your Flesh Doesn’t Get To Perform! It’s Not On Display! The Throne Room is the place where it’s All About God Alone! It’s the place where the Spirit and Truth of Worship Are Poured Out at the Master’s Feet. No crowds, just Isolation with You and God. It’s the place where you come Naked and Not Ashamed and Expose All of Your Vulnerabilities, Insufficiencies, Inadequacies and Lack. It’s the place of Holiness not Haughtiness. A place where Your Strengths are not welcomed Only Your Weaknesses. It’s the place where you bow down and prostrate, laying down the load that you’ve been carrying, the place where you cry your hardest and biggest tears, the place where you don’t even care that you’re being misunderstood by others. It’s the place where everything about you is crucified!

BUT the blessing is, IF YOU STAY IN THE THRONE ROOM LONG ENOUGH, IT’S ALSO THE PLACE WHERE THE KING IS GUARANTEED TO SHOW UP!

SO, DON’T RUSH IT, REMAIN PERSISTENT IN THE THRONE ROOM! HANNAH DID, AND SHE GOT WHAT SHE CAME FOR!

One final secret of super-sized prayer – Hannah said of her prayer, “I was pouring out my soul TO THE LORD” (1 Samuel 1:15). God loves it when we come to Him, however, not with our usual script, pretense, eloquence, façade, mask, cover-up, and religious selves, but with it all hanging out with our real, true emotions desperately dangling before Him! For it is at times like that when the DEEP CONTENTS OF YOUR SOUL BECOME THE SUBSTANCE OF YOUR PRAYER!

Blessings

J.P. Olson