Κύριος Notes

 Adoration

He Knows My Name

I  have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
   My life was in his hands

 

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

Scripture Reflections:Luke 10 

¹⁶"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

 ¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

 ¹⁸He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Lord Jesus it is exciting to be used by you.  If I am on the Master's mission then all of the resources of heaven are available for the job.  Nothing can stop those who are doing your will...not physical impediments nor spiritual impediments. Nothing can hold back the work, when I step out in faith and obey your direction.

There was a shift that even Satan had to adjust to in activity that God's people were involved in.  If you set your people on a task not even the gates of hell can prevail against them.  

There are times Lord Jesus when I am not aware of the impact of the simple acts of faith on the spiritual battle that surrounds us.  I am sure that some the impact of the work of the seventy-two was evident to them...demons submitted to them...people were healed. The major impacts of their work was seen by you Lord. 

Does this scripture mean that I should go out and find snakes and scorpions to walk on?  Should the miraculous be at my command so I can walk across the swimming pool?  

No.  The point is that when I am doing your will...I will have everything that I need to accomplish what You have called me to do.  I can not look at the physical, spiritual, emotional or financial challenges and throw up my hands in defeat. 

My Master does not call me to a task that will not be accomplished. 

²⁰However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Lord Jesus in the end it is not about tasks it is much more personal than that.  Thank you for the simple fact of salvation and the reality of sins forgiven.  What happens when I follow your will does not buy my salvation, it does not change my need for you.  

Lord Jesus in this day...help me to be aware of the impacts of obedience to your call.  Nothing can stop me as I am submitted to your will and obey your call.  I am never alone...never not protected...never facing something that you did not anticipate and provide for ahead of time.

Κύριος Notes

 Adoration

He Knows My Name

I  have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time be-gan
   My life was in his hands

 

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
    and He hears me when I call

 

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

Scripture Reflections:Luke 10

³Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 

 

For years I have felt like I was a guppy swimming with sharks. The protection that I have to keep the wolf from the door is money, but here you told your followers not to take any money with them.  There is a clear dependance on your mercy and your grace to provide for the needs for the disciples.  Almost as if to say...Be the guppy in the middle of it all I will meet the needs of every guppy out there that is doing my will.

Lord Jesus how could I miss that this is a command.  It is not go if you get the chance... You did not say "while you are going...could you stop by pick up some milk and doing my will in the process."  Your will is the point...it is the command...

 

 ⁵"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' ⁶If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. ⁷Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

A history of hospitality was a part of the culture. The principle that is operating is a workman is worth his support...there should be compensation for work done.  Ministry has value.  I am not to be picky about the expression of that compensation...and to accept the hospitality of the house.

 

 ⁸"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. ⁹Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'

 

The point of the ministry that the seventy were sent out to do was the healing that was done, not on the basis of an insurance card, but on your grace.  One of the evidences of the fact that there was the power of God at work was the fact that there were miracles that were taking place.  Lord Jesus do that kind of work in LSCC.  Let there be validation of the message.  It takes stepping out and taking the risk for that to happen.

 

¹⁰But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'

 

There is a cost to not giving a welcome to kingdom workers.  There is an immediate cost...the loss of in people's lives that would have been impacted for health.  The loss of the light that could have been seen.  The loss of the hope that could have been experienced.  

¹²I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

 ¹³"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.

There is an ultimate price that is paid for the rejection of light.In the middle of your call on my life, you know my name Lord Jesus.  You know the name of the town and the street that I am living on.  You know who I will be interacting with in the coming day.  Lord Jesus work through me and show me the harvest and where to work in the field that I accept by faith is white to harvest. 

You know every lamb that is in the wolf pack tonight Lord...you know each wolf by name.  Lord Jesus protect your lambs.

Lord Jesus tarry longer over Saratoga.  Lord Jesus move in power in this city.  May the strong holds of Satan fall and the kingdom of darkness suffer great defeat because God's people are in the harvest field doing your work...a field in which they have not sown, but are reaping a great harvest. 

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

I could sing of Your love forever,

I could sing of Your love forever,

I could sing of Your love forever,

I could sing of Your love forever

Scripture Reflection:Luke 10

 ¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ²He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 

There is work to be done.  The fields are white unto harvest.  Lord Jesus, what about the fields around me?  Are they white for harvest? How do we reach them on the corner of Washington and Pine? 

Lord your disciples did not do anything that would prepare the fields...nor were they  the ones that sowed the seed.  They were there to see the increase.  They were there to work the harvest.  Field hands for Jesus.  This sounds like myopic but point me in the right direction of the field...some me the people that are receptive to the gospel.

Lord teach me about the harvest.  Teach me about where the people are...teach me about how in this culture in the first half of the 21st century since your birth to reach the lost.

What are some of the needs?  

This is really a fatherless generation.  Whole families that do not know what it means to have consistent and present leadership in homes and in families.  Broken relationships that need restoration and healing that can only come from your hand.  Lives that need healing physically and emotionally.  Addictions that need healing and help.  Hungry people that need to be feed.

Lord Jesus teach me harvesting technique...teach me to see the harvest that surrounds me. Help me to see beyond the streets and stop signs and to see the people as you see them. Show me today.

Κύριος Notes

 Adoration

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for everyone,
And there’s a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,
Who once went sorr’wing here!
But now they taste unmingled love,
And joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear
Till death shall set me free;
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.

Upon the crystal pavement down
At Jesus’ pierced feet,
Joyful I’ll cast my golden crown
And His dear Name repeat.

 

 Scripture Reflection: Luke 9: Finding my voice

Lord Jesus following your call on my life is what it is all about...following where ever you lead.  I have been thinking about and praying about the role you have called me to. By circumstances that seemed unremarkable at the time, I find myself back preaching again.

A thought that has been running around my soul on and off has been the issue of finding my voice...the distinctive personal witness to your grace...filtered through my experience. 

How does that happen and what is that process?

I think that this passage has something to do with that process.

 

 ⁵⁷As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

 ⁵⁸Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

This passage is really the story of three different reactions to You Lord.  The first is someone who comes to you offering to be a follower.  It looks as if this first person thought that there would be meals and lodging included.  In a way they are...but not something that is on our terms.  

There are no reservation that we can place for a Price-line reservation for a room with a view...there is just the internal need to follow the Master where ever and whenever he leads.

 ⁵⁹He said to another man, "Follow me."

      But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

 ⁶⁰Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

This second person is someone that you approach with a call to follow.  The reaction is interesting.  On the face of it is seems valid request."Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But nowhere does it say that this persons father is even sick...so what he was really saying was to take a rain check until his then living father was buried.

There is no rain check on following...it takes place now...present tense with all the courage and determination that I can muster.

 ⁶¹ Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

 ⁶²Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

This third response to another person seeking to be a disciple reminds me of the story of Lot's wife...turning to salt as she look back on her burning home.  I remember preaching a sermon series titled "Keeping My Hand To the Plow." 

Not sure if it was helpful to anyone else but it was helpful to me.  It formed deep within me the realization that I was called to this place...that I needed to live up to that call, even when it was painful...that no one else could do what you have called me to do.  So finding my voice really is a simple as listening to your gentle call and following...of coming to the place where your call will be lived out or I will die trying to live it out. 

Lord Jesus speak through this voice...speak through me and use me in your kingdoms advance...use this voice to bring glory to yourself.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Over the mountains and the sea 
Your river runs with the love for me 
and I will open up my heart 
and let the healer set me free. 
I’m happy to be in the truth 
and I will daily lift my hands 
for I will always sing of when Your love came down. 

 Scripture Reflection: Luke 9

"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."

 ⁵⁰"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

"Not one of us"...what does that bring to mind, Lord?...It brings to mind the fact that I tend to think of things within the context that I find myself and that the important things of what you are doing must be happening with me.  Reality is something different.   

You are working on multiple levels all at the same time.  I see so little of what you are working on in the big picture.  "Us" is very important to me...and to You, but you are working in others just like you are working in me and in my group that I am a part of.  Lord Jesus give me eyes to see your hand at work in and an appreciation for your work where ever you are at work blessing

 ⁵¹As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 

^{I wonder what it felt like as you headed for Jerusalem, knowing that this was the last journey that you were going to make. It took iron will and determination to face toward the place where you knew that you would die.  Thank you Lord for that determination that lead you to that city...to that hill...to that cross.  You went there for me.}

^{52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy the?" 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56and they went to another village.}

So what do we do when people don't agree with us?  Lord it is clear that the disciples did not like the fact that they were not received.  But they also could not get the reason for your trip to Jerusalem.  Maybe the Samaritan's got it...maybe they knew that this would be your last trip.  Maybe they just could not go there.

Sometimes Lord, when I am at odds with people remind me that they may know more...understand more than I do at the moment of your will and you work.  It is easy to see that from this quiet vantage point in the night with the Your Holy Spirit working with me as I pray through your word.  Help me to see that in the mix that surrounds me...in the chaos of the day help me hear you clear soft voice.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Your ways are higher than our ways

And the plans that You have laid are good and true

If You call us to the fire

You will not withdraw Your hand

We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

Scripture Reflection: Luke 9
46An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Timing is everything. The same people who cast out demons in your name were right here arguing about relative position and the need to be the highest in the pecking order. Context here is something that just blows me away...just after seeing you in all your glory....just having been a part of the healing ministry...just having heard about the call to following...

Lord this must have been emotionally draining...these men who you invested so much time in and they just were struggling to make sense of what you were calling them to...they were acting just plain childish.

47Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."

The measuring stick used in the kingdom is a different one than I am used to...it is something that we just don't understand if we use logic or reasoning...it is really counter-intuitive.

Here the focus that you draw me to Lord is who am I welcoming. Really good point... am I welcoming the people who are just the ones who are helpful to my goals. Or am I welcoming no matter what. Anyone you bring into my life should receive the same welcome. It shouldn't matter.

Getting ahead in kingdom work happens as we submit to the next good thing you put in front of me...the next person to welcome...the next person who needs the touch of the master through my hands and my work.

When the disciple heard this I am sure they were scratching their heads...how did he know what we were talking about? It must have been one of those moments when they just got a glimpse of their personal dream burning...of the call of your plans.

And the plans that You have laid are good and true

If You call us to the fire You will not withdraw Your hand

We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

Lord Jesus help me get it right...help me to welcome the next good thing that you bring into my life to do...no matter the context...help me to do the task and to love the person who you bring with all the grace that you give me.

Κύριος Note

Adoration

If You Say Go
If you say go we will go
If you say wait we will wait
If you say step out on the water and they say it can't be done
We'll fix our eyes on you and we will come

Your ways (Your ways, Your ways) are higher than our ways
And the plans that You have laid are good and true
If You call us to the fire You will not withdraw Your hand
We'll gaze into the flames and look for You

Scripture Reflection: Luke 9

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

^{Lord Jesus, It is in the middle of the situations in which you are working with power that there is the occasions and the need for my paying closer attention. The crowd marveled at what you had done...and in the middle of it there was a teaching for the disciples that they could not hear.}

^{Help me to listen to you Lord even in the middle of distractions, help me to hear your voice and understand. I am sure that the disciple's could hear the words that you were saying. They could see your lips moving...knew there was communication going it but they just could not get it.}

⁴⁴"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." ⁴⁵But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

The piece of this Lord that just hits me full force was the disciples did not understand and they really didn't want to...and they did not ask what it all meant. They wanted to ...or needed to avoid the reality of your words.

Is there a way Lord to learn to read your lips in the middle of those situations that overwhelm, or distract me? Can I learn to hear you with my heart and to catch even those pieces that don't fit into my plans for the future?

Can I come to the place where if you say go...I can hear it the first time and not have to wait?

Lord Jesus, teach me to read your lips. In this day Lord Jesus help me to hear and to obey without out hesitation.