Blogs & Devotionals

Aren’t You Excited?

I don’t know about you, but I am excited to see our church grow to a place of 80%+ connectedness. Yet, even more so, I am really looking forward to experiencing a church that is highly connected. Have you thought about that? What would a church look like that is full of more truly connected people? To me, that looks like believers who are growing and maturing. If people are growing and maturing, then there should be more forgiveness given, less offenses taken, more healings taking place, more restoration happening, and Jesus being lifted up to a higher level. I long to see these kinds of things increase more and more!

My personal story starts in my second year of Bible school, which was also, incidentally, my first year of marriage. My wife was gently trying to get me to make friends and spend time with other people from our church. Maybe it was just the hot Oklahoma heat, but I remember saying very sincerely to my wife,“I don’t need anyone else around; I’m happy with just you and me.” Although I was very sincere when I said this, I was sincerely wrong. I later realized just how selfish this was. God began to gently and personally show me over time, His heart for being in relationship with people.

What is Highly Connected?

Let’s read what Jesus said about connection in John 15.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me. “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. – John 15:1-7

In these verses, not to mention many others in the bible that substantiate this, you can see that to be joined—or connected—in Christ looks a lot like being in relationship with others, and I would even say many others; not just one or two.

The question I eventually had to ask myself was, “How can I consider myself growing (or even a Christ-follower) if I’m not connected to others?”

These verses really convicted me and caused me to make changes in my thinking and in my heart. Meaningful connection with people does not happen automatically. It does, however, come when we decide to step outside of our comfort zone to meet someone where they’re at. Thankfully, as I gave God my “yes” and cooperation, He was gracious to me and let me see and experience all the truly wonderful benefits of being joined with other people.

Connectivity is Key

Our desire for Mount Hope Church is a church that is healthy, growing, and full of love. Have you ever thought about what the opposite of that would look like? Could it be sickly, stagnant, and full of disgust—or even hatred? Sounds pretty miserable and lonely to me! I know you would agree that none of the ideas in the second list describe anything that any of us would ever want to experience in our personal life or in our church family. So to be healthy, growing, and full of love, we must be connected with others.

We were all created to experience the tangible love and presence of God and to experience the tangible love and presence of other people. His plan for us includes healthy, whole relationships. I believe the absolute best way to experience these realities in our life—and in the lives of our family—is for each one of us to be connected with others in Life Groups. Are you willing to make some new connections? Are you willing to pursue a friendship or relationship with someone in order to impart value and esteem into their life and to add to their development and health? Are you ready to jump in and actively help Mount Hope grow into a highly connected church family? I am, and I’m thankful that God can even use Mr. “I Don’t Need Anyone” to help people find the family they never knew they had!

A prayer walk is an interactive way you can take spiritual authority and do the critical task of interceding for your campus, neighborhood or work place. It’s an on-site prayer meeting that has a way of stirring up ideas, insights, and faith in those who are gathered, in a way that sitting in a room may not.

STEP 1: Set a Time and Place for All Walkers to Meet

Have everyone who wants to pray for the campus gather at a specific time and place on campus. Consider holding the walk at a time when people are active on campus. You might want to reserve a room on campus where you will start and end together. If so, choose a quiet space that will have minimal interruptions, and where you can sit together. Split the group into pairs or threes to cover various parts of campus; assign locations if you’d like. Collect one person’s cell phone number from each small group. Agree on a time to return and debrief the prayer walk together. Plan on an hour for the walk, and perhaps another hour for debriefing.

STEP 2: Communicate that time and place no less then 1 week in advance.

Could be a formal invitation, a social media post or simple a text or conversation. No matter the method, make sure you prayerfully build your team and clearly communicate to them the when and where. Example “Hey Brian, I felt lead to as a few people to walk around MSU and pray. We are going to meet at the Starbuck in east Lansing at 6pm and walk for an hour. Consider this text your official invitation! It’s time for revival at MSU”

STEP 3: Prayerfully make a prayer points list.

Leading up to the meeting time ask God to give you seeing eyes to see what you should be praying for. I like to make a list with 2 categories. A. Prayer focuses and B. Goliaths that must be killed. Remembering to keep the focus the focus. We don’t stair at the giants, we stair at Jesus and he battles the giants. Practically that means fight to be full of faith and keep things positive.

Example of MSU Prayer Points List.

Prayer focuses.

• Christians on campus would be strong and bold.
• Mount Hope Church would have favor in planting a church among the students and surrounding area.
• Jesus would be the talk of the campus
• Student would experience supernatural miracles that point to Jesus

Goliaths that must be killed.

• fear
• sexual perversion
• striving
• pride

STEP 4: Ask God to show up.

Appoint 1 or 2 people to stay at the meeting place and pray over the whole prayer walk. Have them invite God to speak to each individual in the group through images, Bible verses, songs, situations seen, etc. Pray that each participant would be open and responsive to God during the walk, expect and prepare for God to answer this prayer! Practically this allows you to start on time but not worry about those that might show up later at the meeting spot.

STEP 5: Start walking, praying, and paying attention.

Go in groups of 2 (4 at the most). As each group starts walking to different places within the targeted area, participants can be praying that God would speak to them. Instruct your team to pay attention to:

• What’s being advertised on bulletin boards.
• What values do they promote?
• What others are doing, wearing, and saying as you pass by.
• What’s the spiritual climate?
• Activities and situations in progress while your walking?

Make prayer stops as needed, if your group feels the Holy Spirit prompting you to spend time in prayer for a specific person, building, department, etc.

Protip: You may want to have someone be in charge of taking notes on what you’re each observing. As the leader if you go the extra mile a provide a small journal for them to write your team will love you ever more! Does not have to be fancy a simple note book will go a long way.

STEP 6: Regroup and debrief.

Debriefing the prayer walk is extremely important! When everyone has returned, have one person from each small group sum up what their group prayed for and what they felt God reveal to them. It is helpful to note that one person may receive a picture or a word and not know what it means, but God may give an insight to someone else in the room.

During this time anything that you as the leader suspect is not from God can be set aside. (such as any direction that contradicts Scripture or is not from a posture of kingdom love). These are great “mentor moments”. It’s great leaders who lovingly guide those they influence towards holiness and honor. After every group shares, highlight any patterns, themes, and broad concepts that came up across the multiple prayer groups.

Extra Mile:

Assemble a revised list of specific prayer requests based on the common themes from each group; have someone type them up and email, text or give them to participants so they can continue praying in the days and weeks ahead.

**Words Written by Veteran Missionary in a sensitive location.**

I see Him in the woven textiles. I see Him around the table of steaming bowls of noodle soup. I see Him in their reverence for nature. I see Him in the bananas offered to me when I visit my friend. I see him in hands pressed together raised in expressions of honor. I see Him in the faces of those who still wait to hear of who He is.

How do I see God so clearly in a place that is 98% unreached by the gospel?

Because His creation doesn’t have to be aware of His fingerprints on their lives and culture for them to be there. All nations, all tribes, all tongues- those saturated with the gospel and those wasting away without it- we are created in the image of God. His character and nature are revealed in us and through us, simply because we belong to Him.”

God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.’ God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature.” Genesis 1:26-27 MSG

As you prepare to serve in a culture other than your own, it is important to remember that culture is simply an outward expression of an inward belief. Cultures in and of themselves are not sinful. Certain expressions of culture might be, but we have to guard ourselves from thinking or feeling that our own home culture is more “Christian” or “holy” than another. Because all people are the “Imago Dei”- image of God- when we look closely we can see specific and beautiful attributes of God, even in the lives of those who are far from Him.

My Buddhist friends have taught me much about hospitality, respect for nature, honor of elders, and devotion to worship. Because I have been able to look past their expressions of culture that lead to religious bondage and sin, I have had the honor of bearing witness to the deeply woven character of God in their lives that I pray one day will be revealed to them through a revelation of the gospel.

“For the life of every human living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.” Job 12:10

When I am able to see these attributes in cultures outside of my own, my understanding of the very nature and character of God is expanded, and I’m left in awe that my American idea of God is so much smaller than the reality of who He is. This mighty, powerful, omnipresent Master Artist who displays His glory and image in all creation longs to reveal Himself to you in a new culture. Will you have eyes to see it?

Great Questions to Ask.

What pre-conceived ideas do you have about the culture you are going to that you might need to let go of?

Have you ever felt that your own culture is superior to others?

If so confess that to God and let Him speak to you. Ask God to open your eyes to see Him in a new way in the culture that you are going to, and to prepare your heart to see His image more clearly through those you will serve.

I have had a longing—not just a desire or whim—but an unusual longing to hold a baby over these last few weeks of quarantine. I love babies, sure, but this has been an out-of-the-ordinary and recurring thought.

No, I am not pregnant in the natural, but we are pregnant in the supernatural! This time has reminded me of “nesting.”

What does it mean when a woman is nesting?

This urge to clean and organize is known as nesting. Nesting during pregnancy is the overwhelming desire to get your home ready for your new baby. The nesting instinct is strongest in the later weeks coming upon delivery. It is a traditional tale that once nesting urges begin, labor is about to come on.

What stage of pregnancy do you start nesting?

Nesting usually kicks in at around week 28 of your pregnancy—when you are in the home stretch. This is known as the third trimester, and it’s when your body starts preparing for the arrival of your baby.

When I was pregnant, I was intentional about the preparations for baby’s arrival. There was great thought and prayer in the planning. What do babies need? How do we feed them, clothe them, love them? How is each one unique; would they have needs specific to them?

There is a stirring, a sense of excitement, as well as a sobering reality of the responsibility that would lie ahead—it’s both exhilarating and scary at the same time!

I believe the Lord is stirring hearts of His Church to use this time for nesting. One of the prophetic words for this year was to expect lots of spiritual babies. We need to plan for them! We are to be readying our hearts, homes, and our Church home to bring these new babies into the family. How are we going to feed them, clothe them, love them? What will their unique needs be, and how are we preparing to meet them?

I want to be ready to nurture these spiritual babies. If I am longing to hold them, how much more does the Father long for them to come home?! God, give all of us this nesting instinct… prepare us now to open our hearts and homes to Your children. As they are adopted into Your family, thank You for entrusting us with their care.

We are expecting!

By Pastor Kevin

A while ago, Renee and I were in Florida watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. At that moment, a thought filled my heart: There is another world, another realm, under that water. I’ve experienced it enough to know there are sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, a variety of fish life—from large to small, safe to dangerous, beautiful to scary. We began to talk about another world, another realm—a realm of the supernatural that is around us, just waiting to be tapped into and experienced!

Some have seen enough to know the supernatural realm is there, but like the depths of the sea they never go in deep enough to discover and enjoy it. Others even deny that the supernatural realm is for us. And the power of the Holy Spirit was for “them,” a different time, but it’s not for us today.

I have good news for you today—the supernatural realm of the Kingdom is for you! The Spirit-filled life is for you! It is critical in these last days that we, as the Body of Christ, are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Time is short. There will be a final outpouring of God’s Spirit—an outpouring of power. We will need to gather a massive harvest of souls into the Kingdom.

It’s not our “programs” that will transform people’s lives, transform this city and nation… it’s a PERSON! It’s going to be an encounter with the Living God, the God that still heals the sick, that still speaks to His people, and still does miracles.

Join me on a journey as we study God’s Word and find out what He has to say about the Spirit-Filled Life!

Wisdom

Knowing What To Do

We are all called to “get wisdom” (Proverbs 4:5), but the gift of wisdom is when the Holy Spirit gives His people insight to the best choice from God’s perspective. When given multiple options, routes, or choices, wisdom reveals the best decision and application. Joseph displayed the gift of wisdom with how to manage the drought and famine coming to Egypt (Genesis 41).

Knowledge

Knowing Things Supernaturally

God knows about everything. Any time we receive a word from the Holy Spirit that we couldn’t have known on our own, that’s the gift of knowledge. It may be supernaturally knowing someone’s name, family situation, or healing need. Both Paul and Ananias displayed this gift in Acts 9.

Faith

Bold Faith in Action

Each individual has been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3), but there are moments when the Holy Spirit will give an extra surge of faith and confidence in God’s power, presence, and promises. In Matthew 14, Peter displayed this gift when he walked on water.

Healing

Wholeness to the Body

Jesus walked in the gifts of healing on numerous accounts, and invites His disciples to “heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse the lepers” in Matthew 10:8. Peter and John display this gift to the crippled man at the gate Beautiful, and Paul operated in the gifts of healing so much that even his handkerchiefs would heal those who touched them.

Miracles

Heaven on Earth

Dr. David Yonggi Cho defined the gift of miracles as “a remarkable or surprising event that happens by the direct intervention of God, not following the general known laws of nature.” This can manifest in many ways; a floating axe head (2 Kings 6), multiplication of food (1 Kings 17, Matthew 14), parting waters (2 Kings 2, Exodus 14), and walking on water (Matthew 14).

Prophecy

Saying What God Says

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Prophecy is hearing what God says or seeing what God sees and then declaring it for the instruction, edification, and benefit of others. Jesus Christ prophesied His own death and resurrection years before it happened in John 2. Agabus also prophesied to the Apostle Paul that in the future he would be arrested and bound in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-12), but it was for the purpose of preaching the Gospel in Jerusalem and in Rome (Acts 23:11).

Discernment

Knowing the Spirit

Both angels and demons work in supernatural ways, and the gift of discernment sheds light on the motive and spirit someone may be operating from. This isn’t discernment of people but of the spirit behind the person. Jesus showed this when He rebuked Peter (Matthew 16), and Paul showed this when he cast out a spirit from the woman with the spirit of divination (Acts 16).

Tongues

Heaven’s Language

This gift enables the Holy Spirit to speak on your behalf (Romans 8) and for the spiritual edification of oneself (1 Corinthians 14). Paul writes, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.” This gift is great for when you want to pray but are unsure of what to pray. Many call it the “prayer language.”

Interpretation

Decoding Heaven’s Languages

Interpretation of tongues goes hand in hand with the public gift of tongues. This is when the Holy Spirit opens your ears to interpret what someone says when they are praying in tongues. Since the gift of tongues is directed toward God and not man (Romans 14:2), the interpretation is in the same nature and is exalting and praising God (Acts 2:11; 1 Corinthians 14:16).