Effective Prayers-Defined

Today, I would like to give you a little bit of explanation. I think it is due.

The past writings have focused on an issue that is, for many of us, difficult to grasp. There are many names that we use for it, but there is only one that God uses.

I have talked, a lot, about "the chasm". I have spent some time looking at the first effective prayer. But, there is (it seems to me) a fluid dynamic at play here that we have not really discussed.

Look, if you would, at a Scripture. James 5:15-18

God gives us here, not only a very useful definition, but a principle example that we should use, and understand.

God tells us in this part of the Love Story that He has sent you and I that there is a formula we must become. It looks like this: a + b = c.

Can you plug in the variables?

We have said that the first secret of effective prayer is that the prayer must be to God. In this passage, God tells us His response directly.

What is it that causes, or empowers our prayers to the point that they become effective? What was it that Jabez had that turned God away from His busy schedule, and listen?

Here, God does not say that effective prayer is, by itself, a prayer to Him. Yet most of us seem to believe that is the case, and we certainly act like it.

"Hey, I did my part. I prayed. Now God has to answer it, right?"

Not according to this passage, He doesn't. Not according to Jabez, He doesn't. And, surprisingly, not according to God He doesn't.

Even on the Genesis 1:1 side of the Big Dig, it was not merely uttering His Name that caused God to bust the speed limit. If you remember, it was the heart. The passion of the prayer. In that moment, you were transformed, you see. You did not merely pray. You prayed for all you were worth! It was "fervent" prayer. You should probably look this word up in your Dictionary. You can find one here. Fervent prayer is not uttering words. It is to put every feeling, thought, and hope into a suitcase and send it riding through the vast reaches of time and space across an infinite void. The word is not empty. It is loaded to the hilt with all that we are. And in that moment, we stand at the edge and realize that is our destiny. Our hope is gone, because the reality of the situation has become so very clear to us that we cannot misunderstand it.

And, when we cry out, fervently to God from our heart, then He will hear our prayer. But that does not, alone, require His response. When we cry out, in fervent prayer, "God!", I see Him turning around in Heaven and saying "Did someone call Me?"

We must get His attention. We need Him to know that it is not one of the many, standing over there. How do we part ourselves away from the masses of dancers? What is it that separates us into a moment of unique identity that tells God that he not only heard, but that He heard us?

Our first effective prayer is:"You are the God of Creation!"

It is a declaration of our relationship with Him. It is like we are declaring across the chasm "You are driving the boat!" We understand that they are His Rules, and that it is His game. And, we are telling him that we want to play His game, His way. There's a word for that, and it is the container of our relationship with God.

Righteousness.

It is a measure of how well we are playing the game. It is a measure of how fully we understand the rules of the game. And, when the measure is sufficient, the God of Creation then, and only then, responds. God is not a bully. But, it's His gig. It is NOT God's job to respect us, and respond on demand like some trained seal, working for favors.

When you go to someone's home to visit, and you are asked to remove your shoes at the door, what do you do?

When you go to renew your driver's license, why do you stand in line?

When you go to the bathroom, why do you always reach for the toilet paper?

First, you honor the maker of the rules, and the rules they make. It's only polite, and respectful.

When you cry out "You are the God of Creation", you do the same thing. And you start a relationship if God believes you. But, when you are in that moment, over there on that side of the pit, I wonder if you will cry out from your heart only once. Or, will you cry out until you have no breath left?

It's hard to holler when you are crying. Have you ever noticed that? It is using one breath to accomplish more purpose than the breath can do. That is fervent.

In the passage I asked you to look at, we talked about a formula. Now lets see if we can plug in the variables.

a = fervent prayers

b = righteous man

c= effective prayer

The fervent prayers of a righteous man are effective prayers, and cause God to respond. God is a conditional thinker. When we do our part, He does the God thing. We cannot, on our own, create righteousness. I mean to say that we cannot create our own righteousness. Righteousness is a measure of the reflection of God in us. As the moon has no light of its own, neither do we have one iota of non-reflected righteousness. Our "luminosity" is always indirect. when we cry out, from over there, we are reflecting the absolute maximum righteousness available to us. And that, my friend, is what causes God to respond. Only then will God hear our prayer from Heaven. And, only when we reflect His Righteousness will our prayers be effective. Our prayers must be fervent, because God's Glory cannot be contained in our mere words. The fullness of our righteousness is our total ability to reflect the relationship we have with Him. It is no easy task. But, it is no difficult task either. It just, sometimes, takes a while to do the job!

And, the passage that we see tells us that when we do our part, God does His part.

The fervent prayers of a righteous man (or woman-here the word is for mankind, not merely the gender) are effective, and cause God to respond. They require God to respond. Please understand that God is not held hostage to our Prayers. He simply plays by the rules He created. "If" you do this, then "I" do this. And, our job is to do "this" until God responds. They are only effective when God responds. We will discuss how God responds much, later.

The fervent prayers of a righteous man are effective, and the results are huge (availeth much)!

How huge?

In the passage we learn, again, of Elijah and a prayer he prayed to God. How's that for huge? A righteous man prayed fervently for the rain to stop, and it did-for three and one half years! And, only when this same man, with the same faithful righteousness prayed again for the rains to come did things get wet. Was that all about Elijah? Hardly. God does what He does for His Glory.

We sometimes get all hung up on that whole concept. Trust me, we will deal with it fully just down the road a bit. But let me tell you that God is about His Glory all the time. Not because He wants it, or needs it from us. But, rather because He wants us to live in the fullness of it, as a reflection of Himself in us. He desires to share with us His Glory. Shakaina. Have you ever heard of it? The unspeakable, indefinable, unimaginable Glory of the God of Creation is the idea of this word. (Because this is a personal journal, and not a published thesis for evaluation, I am not so worried about spelling. Bear with me, please.)

Shakaina Glory is also shared between God and His kids. He reflects the fullness of His Glory to those who are righteous. It's a benefit of playing the game by His rules. God needs nothing, He's God. He's not so lonely that He just can't do without us. There are millions upon millions of angels in Heaven singing of His Glory every moment of eternity. So why does God need you or me?

Every creation is a reflection, in one way or another, of its creator. And, of all the things which God created, only one has the gift of choice. We have been set higher than all other living things on the Earth, just slightly lower than those very same angels I mentioned. We can choose, over there, to lose our filthy rags, and be clothed in the fullness of God's Glory. The closer to Him we are, the more righteous we are, the more of His Glory we reflect. This is, in a word, pleasing to Him. Why?

Because it is a testimony to the World of our relationship. Our righteousness floods light into a dark place. If you have ever been inside the center of a cave, you must surely know how much light can be produced by one single match. Imagine that same match becoming a candle. Not only light, but light for a long time. Now, imagine that candle being transformed into a 2,000 mega-watt halogen klieg light that is connected to a 35,000 watt electric generator, plugged into a nuclear power facility! And that's just where righteousness begins.

In the case of Elijah, the fervent prayers of one righteous man stopped rain for over three years. Not only that, but a single prayer at that. How's that for effective prayer? And to prove the matter, it was not until that very same man prayed again for the rains to come that they came. Do you realize what that means? One prayer stopped the natural laws of climatology. Well, let's say redirected them. We will talk about that later.

But it does bring into focus one of the biggest conflicts in faith. Well, did Elijah's prayer physically, actually stop the rains? Or is that just some illustrative story to prove a point? What does God say about it? What does Jabez say about it? What do you say about it?

The Middle-Eastern Climatological Historical Survey said it actually happened. What they do not say is why it happened. They weren't there. They have no "first-hand" data to prove a point they don't care about. But, they have plenty of evidence that such an occurance did in fact take place, in the specific area where Elijah was standing when he prayed.

One thing that has constantly amazed me is that no single shred of scientific evidence has yet to be created that contradicts Scripture. The Bible does not contradict itself, or God. The Bible does not contradict a single thread of whatever scientific data, from whatever source you choose. Science confirms Scripture, when it is real science. (If you really want to follow this stream of thought further, I would highly recommend a book by a guy named Josh McDowell. He has a book titled "Evidence That Demands A Verdict!" You can look it up here.

The fervent prayers of a righteous man are effective prayers, and the results are so huge that they can only come from one source: God Himself. In our Elijah example, it seems to me that you have a couple of choices. You must read the story in it's context over in the Old Testament, but you will see that there was very definitely reasons for Elijah to pray this prayer.

Was it about Elijah? Was it about his power? Was it about his "stuff"? Was he trying to pray in for himself a new car? Was he all about impressing his fellow worshippers in Church? Hardly. Was it about his righteousness, and his reflecting the fullness of the Glory of God?

What does God say about it? What does Jabez say about it? What do you say about it?

We know what James said about it, that's for sure. James had plenty of reason to know about it. He was a follower, and a Disciple of Jesus christ. He was so convinced of it, that he was killed for talking about it, but kept right on speechifyin' about it to his very last breath. What did Christ think of James?
I would let you search on that one yourself. But be sure to look up the terms "Sons of Thunder!" (That's a nickname Jesus used)

If you are playing by the rules, over here on the Genesis 1:3 side of the pit, amazing things happen. Amazing to who? You? They shouldn't be. But they sure can seem amazing to those of us kids who aren't as righteous as you. That's how we fill each other's righteousness container up. We share the reflection of God, each in our own way. (Not, as Lucifer sadly determined, in our own light!) It is not about us. It is always about Him.

To believe that we are somehow worthy of God's reflected Glory just simply amazes me. You know, to me, that is just like the Rooster who believes that the sun rises, simply because he crows! There is no righteousness in such thinking, or living. There is no reflection of the Most High God in believing that you are, somehow, "entitled" to anything. And, if you need just one more reminder, I'll ask ya: What did YOU do to get across the hole? Did you spread your arms and flap your way across? Did you put on your really awesome lookin' $ 800 hiking boots and trek your way from one side to the other? Did you drive your totally incredible Hummer through the muck, and the mire?

I don't think so...nope, I don't. If you do, I'd say you'd better do a quick GPS check on your position, friend. There's a lot of "over there" over there.

We must pray. To God. Fervently. Righteously. That is effective prayer.

Are you praying? Are you praying to God? Are you praying to God without ceasing? Are you praying to God without ceasing in the fullness of His Righteousness?

What would God say about that?

What would Jabez say about that?

What do you say about that?


Be Blessed, Indeed!



Unohu

Week One-God's Timing

I have been kicking around the idea of this course for almost a year. An online, interactive course that was facilitated (led), discussion (fed), on the book "The Prayer of Jabez" (read) and wholly given to God (Dad).

In His own, amazing timing, God brought His kids together in the place He chose, for His purposes. A year ago, I didn't even know that this group existed, and was more or less happily "droppin' gears" across the length and breadth of America's highways in my big truck.

Lent began yesterday. For forty days (not counting the traditional "feast" days of Sunday), the entire Church "season" is about reflection, abstinance, repentance, and forgiveness. It ends on Palm Sunday, which is the beginning of Easter Week. Easter Sunday begins a forty day cycle, which ends on the Day of Pentecost.

There can be no Easter without Lent, just as there can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday, and the vigil of Saturday.

In "The Zero Week" lesson, I said there is nothing after Genesis 1:1. to get us across the chasm but God-everything else comes after that.

I really like the linear nature of this thinking, and I like to think of it as entirely God-like. I found today a site that discusses Seven Prayers by Paul McManus. It is here. He gives an entire course of study on seven simple prayers.

These are seven very effective prayers, if you use them correctly.

Notice the first one. "I love You, God!"

The significance of this prayer is, I hope, very clear to you. From across the reaches of the electrons, someone else believes that this must be the first prayer.

We will spend Lent together in this course. We will spend Easter Week together.

If, at the conclusion of this amazing journey, we were able to experience these events of Lent, and Easter in an entirely new way, with an entirely never-before experienced understanding, would that be a Blessing? Indeed!

There is a cute story making it's way across the electrons this week that is roughly going by the name of "Getting Into Heaven".

In the story, a Third grade teacher is asking his students questions about Heaven in their Sunday School class.

"If I sell all my stuff, and give all the money I make to the poor--then will I get into Heaven?"

"NO!" His class replied in unison. This made the teacher very proud.

"Well, if I clean up my room, and do all my chores, and mind my Mommy and Daddy--then will I get into Heaven?"

"NO!" Again the teacher was very proud of his class. They were understanding!

"Well, if I move to a far away land, and teach strangers about God, and Jesus--then will I get into Heaven?" There was a slight pause of silence in the classroom.

"NO!" The class resounded. The teacher was beside himself with joy.

"Well then, how do I get to Heaven?" The teacher asked his class.

From the back of the room, little Tommy piped up and said:

"You've gotta be DEAD!"




(It's okay, you can laugh now. That's the joke.)


But, isn't it also completely true?

Remember the chasm?


The "I" in us can only make it across the chasm when we are dead.
We must be dead to ourselves, and to the world, with only one verse in our heart, mind, and soul. And there is only one way across the Chasm, remember?

And, it's not about us.

The focus verses this week take us one step further along the journey. In the zero week activity, our verses taught us that we are commanded to pray, to God alone. It is He who comes and carries us across the chasm.

When we cry out to Him, and He alone, from the center of our soul, He will come to us, and transport us in His Love from the Genesis 1:1 side, safely across the chasm of Genesis 1:2, until we land safely into the beginning of Genesis 1:3. Only from that side of the Chasm can we ever have any hope of every verse that follows. God becomes Dad, and had written to those of us who are safely on the Genesis 1:3 side of the pit a very personal love letter.

He shows us around the place He built for us, and introduces us personally to some of the friends He has made who are playing around in the garden with Him. Only on the Genesis 1:3 side of the hole do we find those folks that our focus verses refer to. And, unless we unceremoniously fling all that we are into the chasm, God just does not appear.

The "I" in us must be dead. That's the whole point. And that's why it's never about us. It is only about God. God alone answers prayer.

"Well", you say, what about Jesus? Does Jesus answer prayer?
Nope. That's not His job.

Jesus has one job to do in Heaven. His job is the intercession to God for those who are identified with Him by the blood of Salvation, given at Calvary. He is, forever, praying to the Father. That's what He did when He was here. He either talked to Dad, or talked about Dad. Everything Jesus did for the thirty-three years of his Earthly Ministry was about Dad--His Dad.

And the very first thing Jesus did was to stand by the edge. For forty days, he looked back toward the "big house", and thought about the decision He had made. And He threw all his glory, his position, and his rightful place--into the chasm. The promise that His Dad had given him was that it wouldn't stay there. And, only when every last possible ounce of Glory was out of him, God brought him from Genesis 1:3 to Genesis 1:1.

He spent forty days remembering, learning from our standpoint, and seeking to be worthy. Not because he was unworthy, but because He BECAME unworthy. He came to show us the way across the pit. He came to love us across. And, He taught us that we have to die before we can make it.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit is with us as teacher, guide, and comforter. But, His communication is to, and from God. He then helps us, doesn't he?

He takes the innermost longings of our heart, and utters them in a language we do not understand, and places them before the Mercy Seat of God. He also brings to us the thoughts of God as regards our journey back home to Him. When?

When, and only when, we are across the chasm. Unless, and until that happens, the Holy Spirit cannot enter the throne room of God wearing our filthy wrags. The Holy Spirit is Holy, even as God is Holy.
He won't go trackin' our ugliness around the throneroom of Heaven. Those are golden floors! From the Throne of God flows a river. Nobody's going to let it get polluted just because you haven't quit dancin' yet. Only when we die, and God Himself agrees that we have died to ourselves, will the Holy Spirit be empowered in, through, and for our lives. We must be dead.

It's important to note that we are told in these verses that, when we are across the chasm, we have the full fellowship of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God to look forward to. That should make us desire to do whatever it requires. That's a pretty good payoff, don't you think? That's some pretty big stuff.

When will we get it?

Jabez needed it NOW!

Whether, as some have speculated, he was on the verge of a military campaign regarding the Caananites, or whether this prayer was first uttered as he was beginning his adult life, we do not know for certain. But, we do know that when he said it, he meant it. And, in a truly Genesis 1:1 moment, he dared to utter the only prayer that mattered. It was then, and is now, the only effective first prayer.

"And he cried out..."(1 Chronicles 4:10)NKJV

The overwhelming sense that I draw from these four words is explained in my story about the chasm. The moment that you reach that point of utter hopelessness, when you are all danced out-when the air is so thick you can barely breathe it--and then, with the very last breath you will ever breathe in this life, that is the moment you will cry out.

And if you have ever done it, there is no doubt in your mind that what I am saying to you is true. If you are reading these words, and you have no personal knowledge of this moment I am describing, then I would truly suggest to you that you are on the wrong side of the chasm. That is not for me to know. That IS for you to know.

I can testify to you, with all that is within me, there is such a moment. And, there is that same moment, no matter how you get there, or what you bring with you, for you, too.

If you can relate to my friend, sitting by the abyss, and have felt the rushing, mighty wind of God clamoring out of Heaven in His Chariot of fire, just to reach you, then you are probably safely across the chasm. The truths of our focus verses will not only make sense to you, but you will find them worthy of your study.

When you are safely across the chasm, it then, and only then, becomes possible to fully enjoy the handiwork of God. Once you have entered into a covenant relationship with him, He alone opens up the storehouse of Heaven to bestow His gracious, and un-ending mercies down upon you.

We really need to understand the basics here. First, you are alone. Many, many live their entire lives alone, and die truly alone. I am not talking about family, and friends, and lives, and stuff. I am convinced that, if you are on the Genesis 1:1 side of the chasm, you are as alone as alone can be. To dance your life completely away is the saddest statement of a life that can ever be given. And, every moment you are dancing, you are saying "No!" to God. Every single instance which leaves you without God, you are! I know that people live their entire lives dancing away their forever, but I must admit to you that I simply do not understand it. It is a simple formula, with a simple decision.

But, when you follow the commandment of God, the instructions of the ages, and the example of one simple man named Jabez, the possibilities are endless. When you get "the grand" tour, by the Creator Himself, verse by verse through the love story which He has specifically written just for you, you cannot help but get a real sense of the love He has for you.

All of Heaven's treasures are submitted for the approval of the King of Creation. He smiles, full of His love, and puts His stamp of approval on the requistion. Then, the Son of the Most High God steps up, and marks it "Paid In Full". Finally, the Holy Spirit packs up the incredible gifts of Heaven, and delivers them, in person. Blessing upon immeasurable blessing comes to you in the most incredible parade ever assembled. Spiritual Blessings that keep you safely beside the Father. Physical Blessings of health, vim, vigor, and vitality rain down upon you at the pleasure of the Father. Emotional Blessings to keep your mind and heart on those things of the Father abide within you. Financial Blessings to keep Ole Clubfoot at bay, leaving you no reason for fear, or doubt--these amazing blessings are all around you.

Spiritual Blessings. Personal Blessings. Emotional Blessings. Physical Blessings. Financial Blessings.

Or, nothing.

What God measures, in each of His Children, is the heart. To the child of God, the expectation of Blessing just never exists. To the child of God, it is always about Him. Your heart is a never-ending song given only to the Praise and Adoration of the Father. Your relationship with Him is a never-ending song.

That does not mean that the life of us, as Dad's kids, is easier, or softer. In fact, it is most often quite the opposite. As badly as God needs us, we need Him even moreso. We live, as all of his kids have lived, in a hostile world. This is the world of Satan. And, believe me when I say to you that "Ole Ugly" is always on the hunt. Every time you are Blessed, He is slapped. Every time you choose to glorify the God of Creation, he is shamed. Every time you are successful, he fails.

Life is not about "stuff". It is about relationship. And, from our focus verses for this lesson, we find some really remarkable truths.

God is on a relentless pursuit. He has devoted every ounce of what can be known about Him to that pursuit. And He will move Heaven, and Earth, to achieve His Purpose. There is no thing that God has that He will not give for this purpose. We are the object of that pursuit. It is His sole desire to be in right relationship with His kids. There is nothing, save our refusal, that will keep Him from coming to where we are, or bringing us to where He is. To be in relationship with God is the most amazing adventure imaginable. Every ounce of our energy, every beat of our heart, and every electron of our intellect should be fueling our heart toward Him.

God commands us to pray-to Him. To talk to Him, and sharing the every moment of our existence here with Him. He shows no shortage of availability-we do. God shows no shortage of resource-we do. God shows no slighting of Blessing. We do.

God even encourages us to pray to Him through our direct access, at any moment, to Him. The Mercy Seat is always available to us. God tells us that we can utilize our salvation in Christ Jesus as access to Him. The verses we are studying this week tell us that both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are on the job 24/7/365, interceding on our behalf to the Father. We even learn in the Scriptures this week that when we are full of the Holy Spirit till we are overflowing, we can (and certainly should) access Him, and all the favor of Heaven for our daily struggles here.

So, what's all this going on really about?

What you are is of no consequence to God, save that you are His. Who you are does not impress Him; whose you are does. What you have does not give you a superior position, as far as God is concerned. Everything you have that is worth counting not only comes from Him, but it belongs to Him as well. There is no good thing you have which does not flow directly into your world from the Blessings of God. You don't barter with God for what you want, you simply ask. But, you don't ask for "stuff", because God is offended when we use our unique position only for ourselves. You don't ask for finances, because those are within God's providence in the first place. Do you see the difference? It's imperative that you get this, because you could really get into trouble if you misunderstand.

God is not an ATM. He is the Creator of the Universe. When you are using God as an ATM, or a mail order catalogue, you offend Him. He promises us that every single need we have in this world is provided to us, by Him. The challenge is to see who is faster. Is it you, in your fervent heartsong? Or is it Dad, and His unfailing love? And, here, with the Scripture verses for this week, we see that we are even empowered, through a righteous heart, mind, and Spirit, to accelerate our petitions to Him. Jesus Christ submits our petitions to the Throne, as does the Holy Spirit. All prayer flows to God. All Blessings flow to His kids, from their Dad.

God will, from time to time, test us. He will use these tests to correct us when we jump off the path He has set for us. He does not hesitate to reprove us when the choices we make direct us away from Him. He will give us discipline when we forget that it is all about Him, and our personal relationship with Him alone that is of any substance in the forever of Eternity. And God will sometimes use a difficult situation to prepare us for even greater Blessings. Faith is a muscle, it needs use to stay fit. Sometimes, we notice the flab. Sometimes God does, and there are even times when Satan sees us getting soft in the faith. But, in our faith, we not only share the wonderful relationship, we grow it. Regardless of the circumstance which causes it, our faith is the living tesiment of our relationship.

I have learned a few things in this life. For instance, I have learned that there are (so far) six things God does not know. I will share them with you as we go along, and I encourage you to stay tuned.

I hope that you, as you have read this, have come to know perhaps a little better, or even for the very first time, the reality lived out by one simple man. Jabez had many different Gods, Idols, and beliefs available to him where he was. But, from all of them, to whom did he cry out?

He knew that there was only one. I believe that, regardless of what caused it, he somehow found himself looking at the edge from the Genesis chasm. We are never told which side of the chasm Jabez stood as he was, most assuredly, staring into the pit. But, we do know what he did about it. We find it in the very first phrase of his little prayer.

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel..." 1 Chronicles 4:10(a) NKJV.

This IS effective prayer. The Scripture tells us that this is the only effective prayer. If we do not first call upon Him, there is no reason to believe that any good thing will come from our petitions. To tell Him that we love Him is to call upon Him, and Him alone. May you find yourself not only able, but willing to do the same.




May you be blessed, Indeed!

Unohu

Prayer For Zero Week

My Jabez Journey

Hey, Dad?

I just spent some really scarey time today. I had to go, You know, over "there".

You know, Daddy, when I used ta dance around over there it never felt like it did today. It was all barren, and dry, with a really big, hot wind.

The air was so thick you could hardly breathe. I felt like Ole Spongebutt had a steel belt, right around my heart. And the longer I was over there, the sadder I got.

There's just way too many folks over there, Daddy! I know that I had to go. I wanted to do like my Big Bro did, and show somebody the good stuff. I was listenin' to that song You wrote for me today...Oh, You know, that one that has those words in it that says:

"With two pieces of rough wood, three nails, and one willing heart, God built a bridge..."

I'm really sorry, Daddy that I was EVER over there. I'm so glad to be over here, with You. Don't ever leave me, Dad. And, don't ever, ever let me leave You again. Thanks for showing me something today that I had to see. And, thanks for bringin' me Home.

I love You Daddy. I haven't figured out just how to tell You how much yet, but I'm gonna work on it, I promise. Ya know, I just think it's so awesome that me and You can talk like this. That's maybe the best part of this whole deal down here. It gets pretty ugly sometimes, and there's just whole bunches of times when I couldn't make it if You weren't playin' with me.

I'm not sure how it's gonna turn out Daddy. But, I hope I do good for You today. Just, for today. That's enough for me to deal with. You gotta buhmember, I'm just a little kid!! But, it sure is great to know in my heart that me and You are a Majority, no matter what.

Thanks, Dad. I love You.

Your kid,

Bud

Zero Week: The Journey Begins

Discussion Board Entry #1
Reply to this post with questions or comments to either myself, or to the Board.

Zero Week Activity Schedule:

Lesson Out: January 30th, 2005
Discussion on the Boards: Ongoing
Assignments due to Bud: Saturday, February 5th, 2005
Zero Week Chat: None scheduled by facilitator

Focus Verses: Isaiah 55:6-7; Phillipians 4:6-7

What one thing has the information from the course this beginning week shown you, or led you to experience for the first time, or just the first time in a while? Please share with the board.

As I begin the instruction of this course, I am led by the need to make some really important statements, even before the class begins.
There has been, in the not so distant past, quite a controversy broiling over the entire Jabez experience. I, having known the work and life of the author of the series for a very long time, have a natural bias. I have witnessed the dedication of this man to the purpose of Christ. That one dis-gruntled former associate who felt he was superior to the work, and the worker, set out to grub some sour grapes, and quite a few dollars for himself--that he chose to do this is lamentable--he chose poorly. But the true heart of a man is the reward he sees in this life, and the next. You would think that after what happened to Lucifer, this guy would have gotten a clue!

This course is an online, inter-active experience. I have chosen the title of "Effective Prayer" for a very particular reason. I do not wish, and will not permit, any facet of the "controversy" to take a postion in it. The nuggets of wisdom delivered here are, I believe, of the greatest benefit to those who will seriously apply themselves to the task. This is not an easy course, nor should it be.

But it is not a course about tough courses, either. The entire concept of having an effective prayer life is one of the most significant consequence. I said that I do not think that God is interested in answering your life questions. I firmly believe that to be true.

We talk about questions, and answers, and prayer. I made a bold statement to the course participants as to what I think God is, or is not interested in. I do not know the heart, or mind, of God. But I did want to shock perhaps a bit.
Most people, from my experience, have a very definite "opinion" about prayer, and their life in prayer. It has strange ways of showing itself. A few real life examples:

1. "I feel comfortable in my prayer life--it works for me."

Yeah, sure. It worked through the divorce, the adultery, the homelessness, the embezzlement, the abortion, and it sustained you through that crisis where your child fled from your home. It is your companion to, and from the bar. I really have no doubt that you ARE comfortable in this prayer life.

2. I've heard a Dad, in Counselling, desiring to know what to do about his gay son.

"I've prayed, and I've prayed about it, but he is still living a life of sin--an abomination to the Lord. I can't get him to change his "lifestyle". I just don't know what to do, but this boy is destroying my family!"

"So," I say, "what are you praying for? What do you want God to do?"

The Dad looked at me as if I had just landed.

"Well, I pray that God would deliver him from this evil sin, to deliver him from this abomination. I pray that this healing would come to my boy, and he would stop tearing my family apart over the whole, nasty, vulger, evil thing. But it's not working! I don't know what to do!"

Honestly delivered, intensely felt. And so far from God that it purely defies description.

3. I've stood by the bedside of a tortured body, containing a terrified soul.

"Why? Why would God do this to me? I've been praying for healing for months. Now it's too late. Why didn't God hear my prayer? Why didn't God answer my prayer?"

4. "I just don't know what to do! I am at my wit's end. The bills keep piling up, and the money just isn't coming in. I'm working two full time jobs, but I just can't make ends meet. I can't afford to go to School! God has completely let me down! I prayed, and I prayed, and I prayed. I'm about to lose my apartment, there is no food in the refrigerator. I can't afford gas for my car. God let me down, again, as usual!"

And, perhaps the biggest one of all:

5. "There is no way that I would pray to a God who would let my child die of cancer. There is no God that would allow this to happen that I'm interested in praying to!"

Yes, they are real. Every one of them were statements uttered to me, in my face. There are many others that I could share with you, and I will as the course progresses. Stay tuned.



"Oh", you say, "I NEVER Blame God for anything!" Really? You want to bet?

How many of your present circumstances are you thinking that God won't fix?

Do you really think that God will just fly down, sit on your couch, look around for a minute, and then jump up and say "Oh here, let me get that for you!"



There is a huge chasm in the Bible. If you never cross it, you are lost. Period. It arrives very early in the Scriptures. And if you cannot find your way to get across the abyss, none of what will follow in this ten week experience will make any sense to you. If you are having problems now, I suggest you take a walk with me to the edge, and take a look.



Grab a Bible.

Open it to the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. (It's the first book in the Bible. I told you it happened early!)

Look at verse 1. (See, it really IS early!)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen.1:1) NKJV

Stop!

We are at the edge. Be careful, I'd hate for you to fall. Let's take just a baby step back, shall we? I don't like being as tall as I am, and that's a long drop!

Pull up a stone, and let's talk a moment.

The distance to the next verse takes forever to walk across. In fact, you just couldn't do it.
Are you thinking I have lost my little mind?

Perhaps, let's see.

No, don't look at the second verse. It doesn't matter. Just close your Bible for a minute, and sit with me and consider verse 1 for a minute, okay?

Works will not get you across the never-ending canyon. You can't "Do" anything that will force some secret panel to open, releasing a moving sidewalk. No helicopters are coming. You can't create one. If you work every moment from this one, to your last one, you will not create a way across the chasm. And, I must tell you that my two pals gravity, and HIS pesky sidekick inertia really don't care whether or not you believe in them, either. They still do what they do, just like they were created to do, every single time. If you step off the edge there, you are going to fall. You just won't stop falling.

Oh, and by the way, there's no secret word to utter, either. There's no secret password, or handshake to get across.

You see, it has to be a really big, deep, wide chasm. Why, do you think, that is?

Just think about it a minute, ok?

You really want a clue don't you! I can tell.

Ok, but just one. Don't tell anybody I told you this, ok? Promise? YOU SWARE??




To who? Who is it that you swear to? Your promise, I mean?
The name of this course is "Effective Prayer". That's the clue.

Now tell me the truth. Were you about to tell me that you swear to God? Really?
That's a lie.

How do I know? Easy. Take a minute, and look down at your feet. Where are they?
Right here, right? I mean, right here where you and I are. On THIS side of the chasm.

"The earth was without form, and void." (Gen.1:2)NKJV The chasm, defined.

You see, my friend, the chasm has to be large enough to hold the entire earth. All of it's people that were, are now, or ever will be will wind up there. All of our industry, our parks and streams, and our skyscrapers. Our roads have to fit in there, too. Everything that has been, or ever will be invented, or created by man has to fit in the chasm.

Of course, that includes our hopes, and our dreams, too. Our thoughts and our fears, our pain and our joy has to go into the chasm. Everything on Earth. Even our prayers have to go into the chasm too. Well, most of them, anyway. Some of them don't.

Our sin has to go in there too. Every one of them. Every unkind deed gets tossed into the mix inside the Chasm, too. There is nothing that we count as worthy that won't wind up there. Not our jobs, or our "stuff". Nothing. Well, almost nothing.

Okay, before I beat a dead horse beyond recognition, let me ask you a question.

Do you think that we can ever hope to get across the chasm, to the other side? Is there anything, based upon what I've said so far, that holds out any, even one hope for us to get across this never-ending pit?

In the Zero Week lesson, I told you that we must do something very specific. What was it? Well, let's look back at the lesson material. Oh, believe me, we've got time.

One of the comments that I've already received from one of the course participants is the noticed absence of mentions of Jesus Christ. A member of the class was somewhat surprised, and a little angry. Good! Great! Huzzah! More on that in a minute.

Very early on in the lesson material I said, and I quote me:

"Effective Prayer is dealing with God on God’s terms."

God is, before there was a was. And, here we sit, right at the edge of the chasm. In this moment, we are the accumulated compilation of all we have ever been. You, and I. We sit here, side by side, looking as hard as we can, and we cannot see the other side of the Chasm.

Who cares? Why does it matter? What's the big deal?

Well, it's really simple. Everything which follows verse one is on the other side of the chasm. And God, being God, says that if you and I don't play by HIS rules, we don't get to play at all. "My Game, My Rules!" And if we want to go any further on this journey, we have to get across the chasm. It would really suck to be stuck over here for the rest of forever, dontcha think?

How's that for hopelessness?

Yet, that's where we are. And until we figure out the clues, this is where we are gonna be stuck. God says so. It's His game. Read verse 1 again.

Perhaps we are ready to think about getting off of this starting spot, this "Zero" Position, and start the Journey. Take as much time as you want to. God's got forever. Do you?

Again, back to the lesson. I made a statement that one member has already taken me to task for making. I said, we should pray only to God. I then said that God alone answers all prayer. I stand by my statements. Right here. On this side of the chasm.

With you. Not with God, with you.

God isn't here.

Oh, about that praying stuff. There's lots of prayers in the chasm too. They never made it across. Why? Because they were not effective. They didn't have the trajectory, the speed, or the proper direction. Into the chasm they fell.

Maybe, right about now, you can make out some movement in the air. You feel that breeze?
Yeah, it feels good. You know, like when you open your eyes, and feel good after you pray?
Friend, that breeze you are feeling is an ill wind.

It is carrying every single prayer that is headed into the Chasm. Look up, and see if you can make out any that you might recognize. Are there any you can make out? Are any of them yours?

There is only one way across the chasm, but there IS a way. Turn around here with me for a moment, and let's look at verse 1 again. "In the beginning, God..."

Is it just usual, normal, human intuition that causes you to want to cross the chasm? Are you just plain ole nosey? Does not knowing something just make you crazy?

Or is it something else? Maybe you are hurting. Maybe you are lost, and don't know how to find your way home. Maybe you are dying. Maybe, just maybe, you are just plumb wore out.
God doesn't care. He really doesn't.

Whoa! Now That's a statement! Pretty bold, dontcha think?
Nah, it's easy. I can guarantee it.

How? Cause we are standing on this side of the chasm, friend. God has absolutely nothing to do with anything on this side of the Chasm. We, standing here on this side of the great abyss, represent to God every single thing that God completely despises. Whatever you can name that God hates, it's over here. And, if you can't figure out the way across, that's where you are gonna spend a really long time. Yes, God really IS that viscious, mean, heartless, evil, ugly, vengeful, and completely torqued. Towards you? Me? Yep, you bet.
How can that be?

We're over here, and we are NOT over there, that's how. It is really entirely that simple. There is nothing that follows that. And, until you deal with that, there is not gonna be any change in your life.

So, what is the way across the chasm?
Jesus can't get you across it. Satan is over here where we are. He obviously isn't going to help. He's really kind of hoping you don't figure it out.

Look, I told you in the lesson we had to go back to the beginning. Here we are. At the very beginning. Finally, here we are.

God declares that He, alone, is the Creator of Heaven. God declares that He, alone, is the Creator of Earth. As long as you dance around that, you are dancin' on the wrong side of the dancefloor. And God doesn't care. You really need to get it. He doesn't care. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about God!

"I don't believe the Bible is the inerrant, literal, Word of God! It's just an adventure story! It's just words, created by man, for man's purposes. I don't have to believe in God, and I sure don't have to believe that this 'Buy-Bull' is His Word."

Go ahead, dance! Actually, you are pretty good at it.

"I believe parts of the Bible. But there's stuff in there you can't prove. And, until it is proven to my satisfaction, I'm just not going to take it as Gospel!" Really? Interesting Choice.

"There's whole different bunches of ways to believe. As long as it's right for me, it's true. I don't believe in absolute truth!"

Gosh, you've got just gangs of energy. Keep dancin'. God doesn't care. But when you finally get all danced out, do me just one little favor, would ya?






Look down. Look at where your feet are.



And, when you get so weary from dancin', and whistlin' in the wind, let me know.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth." (Genesis 1:1)

You've just memorized all the Bible you will ever know. And, at this rate, you are going to spend the rest of forever remembering it. God just doesn't care.

Why not?

Good question. Have a seat, and let's talk about it.



Until you have, within your soul, the absolute conviction of the truth of Genesis 1:1, God doesn't care. Jesus doesn't matter. Paul holds no meaning for you. John's revelation is nothing more than the very first Science Fiction Novel. Calvary didn't happen. No garden, no boat, no angels, no promises. No hope.

But, if you ever get to that moment in the center of all that you are, or ever hope to be, that you must get across the chasm or die, don't let me know. I can't get you across the distance. Jesus can't either. In fact, he won't even lift a finger to help you. There is no one in the entire universe, except you, and God. So, I guess you have a pretty simple choice. You can talk to yourself, and whistle in the wind. Or, you can talk to God. There is no one else.

And, if you decide to talk to God, don't worry. You don't have to yell loud enough to carry your voice across the vast expanse of the chasm. Just whisper. He knows His own name. He doesn't love to hear His name spoken. He doesn't care.

But, Boy, Howdy! Does God love it when you whisper His name. You see, God can tell by HOW you call his name. That is the moment when God knows it's all about Him. He's God.

And, when you whisper His name, He comes at a full gallop, until He is suddenly all the way across the chasm. Hey, He's God. He can do it. And, He will, every time. When He hears you crying out to him over here, where you are, He comes arunnin' as fast as anything, just to get to you. And He will talk with YOU! And, then, just watch what happens.

When you just vomit all the stuff that is the entire compilation of what you are into the chasm until there's nothing left, then and only then can you get across the chasm.

You see, nothing that belongs in the chasm is allowed over there, on the other side, on the Genesis 1:3 side of the hole with no bottom. That's God Country over there, and He keeps it clean. Spotless, in fact. And, when you are so very tired of all the stuff over here, and you fully know in your Heart that Genesis 1:1 is undeniably true, God Himself will carry you across the chasm.

And, the most amazing thing will begin to happen. As you fly across the chasm of Genesis 1:2, God sets you gently down on the other side, right at the beginning of a love story He wrote just for you, in this very moment. It starts with God telling you what to expect. He's gonna show you around all the stuff that He made, just for you. You get to hear about it right where you land, in Genesis 1:3, and for every single verse after that.

Don't worry, friend. He gives you all the time that you need to empty your pockets, and even throw your pants and shoes into that nasty, ugly place. (Hey, He's God! He created you, and He loves what He created. That's the whole garden scene, remember? "They were naked, and yet were not ashamed.") (Genesis 2:25) NKJV (That means you can look up the verse yourself, and see what it says, and talk to God about what it really means.)

And, when you are fully ready, you, and God, will walk squarely into Genesis 1:3. And God, so happy to be with you, will begin showin' you around the place. He will show you what He created just for you. He will walk with you, and sit with you, and just BE with you.

And, everything back there--you know, in the big dig? Is there anything you really would bring? Really?
Funny thing about Dad. He never stops you from going back to the edge. Most people (well, just those with belly buttons, actually) do visit the hole from time to time. Just to remember what was, for some stupid reason.

I wouldn't waste so much as one breath, one heartbeat--not one moment there. God doesn't go there. He doesn't care. He cares about what came across. And He becomes "Dad". He smiles a lot, laughs loud, and hugs like you just simply cannot conceive. He delights in the hearts of His children. His kids are his very best work.

Ummm, that's you.

And, that is effective prayer. It is, for every one of God's kids, our very FIRST effective prayer. It reaches across the chasm, beyond the stars and thunders into the very throneroom of the King of Creation.

It makes a noise louder than a fart in Church. (Sorry.)

Everybody there hears it, but there is only One who can recognize it as the sweet voice of a child. And what Dad can hear the small, still, sweet voice of their child crying "Daddy? I need You!" and not come running as fast as he can, crying tears of the broken heart?

How much moreso, then, will God come to you? Where you are? And give you the desires of your heart?



Jabez knew it. Do you?



That is the purpose of this course. It's about you, it's all about you and God. And if you can, after all this, still dance "over there", you are choosing poorly.

Mohammed hasn't been seen in these parts since he died. Buddha is a bust. There's not gonna be any stampedin' cattle, Holy or otherwise. The universe won't fill you with happy thoughts and waft you carefully across the chasm. The Koran will not magically spit out a magic carpet. Diana ain't in the building. You can't beg, barter, or trade anything you have to get across. God, and God alone is the only way across the Chasm.

Only when you fully understand, and agree in the very center of your soul, and your forever, that it's all about Him, will you get across that endless realm that is even huge enough to contain all your "I think"s, and "I believe"s, and every thing that is not "THOU art the God of Creation!"

Sorry, but that really is the very simple truth of it. Anything that does not look like just that, just has to come from "over there". And, "over there", on the Genesis 1:1 side of the chasm, ya know? There is no such thing as effective prayer. Except one. That's why we are talking, my friend. If you want to get to the other side of the chasm, you first have to realize that you are NOT ON the other side of the chasm. And, sometimes, that takes some real hard work.

You see, that is the first secret of effective prayer.

You might want to make a list you can keep for this course. There are several we will look at and others I will mention as we journey on, toward effective prayer.

Secret Number 1: Effective Prayer comes from the center of your heart, and goes directly to the heart of God. It is your cry to God. That IS prayer. And, God comes running to you. and THAT is EFFECTIVE prayer. The focus verses for "Zero Week" tell us that we are to pray, to God. God commands it, and He hears it.

"And Jabez called upon (cried out to) the God of Israel..." (1 Chronicles: 4:10a)NKJV

Spend as much time as you need "over there". I got gardens to play in with my Dad. But, when you are REALLY ready, I hope you will come play with us. We just really do love it when new kids come to play.


May You Be Blessed, Indeed!

Bud Fields
New Albany, Indiana

My Jabez Journey

My Jabez Journey

Hey, Dad?

I just wanted to be in Your lap for a minute, is that okay? Thanks.
There is so much going on in my little room down here, Daddy. There are so many things on my inside that I wanna talk with You about that it's hard to get them all lined up.

That thing with the computer really made me a not-so-nice person today. At one point I was almost done, and looking forward to quiet time today.
Then, outa nowhere: POW! Crash, virus, trashed files, and a whole bunch of work. I was really cranky, Dad. I didn't see, again, that in one silly mistake that somebody else made, it was You the whole time, just needing to be with me. This whole course thing is a really big part of my heart these days, Dad. You know I only want You to be the course. I don't want to be any part of it, other than just one of Your Kids learning what You teach us. I guess I musta got it wrong the first time, 'cause Man, Daddy, do You got some kinda big eraser! And, all of a sudden, I was re-writing the whole big ole thing all over again.

And ran right into You. I remember that thing I asked You about this morning, about whether or not this was what You wanted me to be doing. And, before I could even put it here, You put me to work being about Your business, instead of mine. It is a lesson I won't forget for a while, Dad. And then, even while I'm figuring out how to get to the addresses of the kids You want to see Your stuff, You send me two whole love notes! Man, that is just so really great, Daddy.

Dr. Spurgeon's Devotions are so nifty. I really have to read slow, and take my time with his words. But, that's what is so cool about them. You just can't hurry through those old timey words if you want to understand what Dr. Spurgeon is saying. And, the slower you read his words, the more you learn.

Sir?

Really?

Oh...

So, if I read Your Words slower...You mean, like You lived between the words or something? You what, Dad?

You leave a footprint between every word? Really?

Wow! Okay, I will. Maybe that will help me understand that stuff You write in the Directions, too. It sure is great the way You let The Holy Spirit live inside me, Dad. He really does a good job of interpreting what I read into what You want me to know. He's really good at talking to You for me, too.

But, anyway, thanks for being with me today, Daddy. I wouldn't have been able to do all that stuff without You helping me. I hope You like the way it turned out.

Sir?

What do you mean that You will when it does?

Oh, I see. It's just a beginning. It's not all turned out yet. Hehe, just like me, huh?

Well, I know I'll be just perfect, Dad, as long as You are holding my hand. Just don't let go, k?

I'm really nervous about today Dad. Please take today for me, Daddy. I know I've got to live it, but I don't want to mess it up. Help me know which foot to place where, and don't let Ole Crablegs trip me up like last time. But, if somehow he does, You promise to catch me?

I could use a little dab of Your Peace, today, Dad. My heart is all jumbled up about that stuff we talked about earlier. Help me to really let it all go, to give it to you, so I can go runnin' to my friends and let 'em know how You did so good.

Watch over all my kid friends in the course, too Daddy. Hold us all together, even while we are studyin' by ourselves this week. I know You chose every word to send 'em. Let them have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to feel what You would want for them as they work so hard to be better talkers to You.

Watch over Chris, and Kathy, and Toni, and Brandon, and Michael, and Cindy, and Necia and Robert, and Diane, and Jeanie, and Tracye too. Cover us all with Your Grace, Dad. Let today be a day just gang- full of You, no matter where we go, or what we do. Keep Ole Stoopid leashed up for today Dad. And stay right here, close by, okay?

I hope what I did in my stuff today Dad made You proud. If I didn't please fix it up. I'm not all that good with some stuff yet, and I will get better. But, give me a heart to do what I can, and please, please, please do what I couldn't today.

I love You so much, Daddy.
Thanks for Loving me so much more.

Your Kid,

Bud