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I will hear from Heaven

10/30/2016

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NATIONAL RENEWAL
Terry R. Baughman

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

“I will hear from heaven.” God is our Father in heaven … yet He hears our prayers on earth. Because God is omnipresent the fact that He is “in heaven” does not create a vast distance from Him. On the contrary, He is very near. Near enough, in fact, to hear the faintest whisper of a prayer uttered in faith or cried out in desperation. 

In response to the request of the Disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray,” Jesus gave this example, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven” (Luke 11:2). Prayer effects changes in earth to concur with God’s will in heaven. We acknowledge God’s power and authority in Glory while inviting His attendance to our situation in earth. When we become aligned with God’s eternal purposes, things begin to change around us.

God hears prayers! Prayers are always powerful and when they are heartfelt humble prayers of contrition we are assured of a most confident response. A supernatural response to prayers of repentance can always be expected. The impossible becomes possible, every need becomes an opportunity for His intervention. 

In the text God instructed Solomon that whenever they experienced times of plagues and judgment that the people should be encouraged to pray in humility, seeking the intervention of God. God promised that when that happened, He would respond. He would hear them from heaven!

May we learn from the lesson to Israel. Undoubtedly, we are seeing the effects of sin and the abandonment of godliness in our society. Things will continue to grow worse and lawlessness will prevail in our country … unless there is a call to repentance, a crying out to God for His mercy. If people will turn their hearts to God; if there can be a genuine turnaround in the population to seek after righteousness, then there is the hope of redemption, the promise of restoration. Then, God will hear from heaven and respond on earth!

This is a time that we as a people need to call on God for our nation. Let  us repent of of the evil that is rampant around us. Don’t be afraid to call upon the Lord in your time of despair. Turn to Him when you are overwhelmed. Know that there is a God in heaven who hears you. He will respond when we humble ourselves in prayer. 

The psalmist David cried out to the Lord in his distress, “Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1–2). Again when David was assured that God heard his prayer he sang, “The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:9). 

God has promised, “I will hear from heaven.”

Scripture:
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 10/30/16

10/29/2016

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If my People will Pray

10/23/2016

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NATIONAL RENEWAL
Terry R. Baughman
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

There is something in the human psyche that tends to favor independence and self-reliance when it comes to working through a problem. When all efforts are in vain some will seek outside assistance while others will doggedly persist in their endeavor to figure things out on their own. That illustrates the ancient history of the nation of Israel. They were drawn away from God by pagan practices and idol worship, but they continued in their sins trying to pretend they were still living under the covenant with the Lord God. 

In the process of time Israel was permitted to have a king and natural leadership according to their desire
to “be like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:19-20). Eventually it was King Solomon that was allowed to build the Temple to be the center of worship for the nation. Following the dedication of the Temple Solomon had a dream in which the Lord revealed that plagues and judgment would befall the people of Israel, but He gave this promise, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, … I will forgive their sin” (text above). 


God, knowing all things, was aware that Israel would fail to follow the covenant and would persist in sins. Yet, He faithfully promised forgiveness and renewal to this backsliding nation. 

We draw hope from the same promise for our nation. As we approach the general election and vile attacks of political opponents pervade every form of media, we are made aware of how far we have drifted from the God-fearing foundation of our nation’s fathers. There is no fear of God and it appears we are speeding on a downward slope toward a day of reckoning.

We sing, “God bless America,” but He cannot bless a nation who fails to seek Him and blatantly embraces sins that separate us from Him. It is true that “God shed His grace on thee,” but His blessing will not continue when we scorn His commandments and exclude God from the public consciousness. We say, “In God we trust,” then banish Him from our schools and forbid His name to be mentioned in public ceremonies. We remove the cross from memorials and purge Christian symbols and references from our educational curriculum. Acknowledgment of God is reserved for the really big tragedies, the national catastrophes, when we sanctimoniously include a sympathetic phrase, “Our prayers and our thoughts are with the victims.”  
It is time for a renewal of prayer and an acknowledgment that we have left God out of our most desperate hour.

There are conditions for renewal and restoration. There must be a change of mind and heart for there ever to be a national blessing. Let us cling to the promise of Scripture as we, “Humble [our]selves and pray and seek [His] face and turn from [our] wicked ways.” Even now we may hear from heaven and receive an intervention of the Holy One bringing righteousness and peace back to our nation. 


Scripture:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 10/23/16

10/22/2016

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Renewal of Restoration

10/15/2016

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SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Terry R. Baughman
​

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10).

Renewal is spiritual, mental, and practical. While we often focus on the spiritual element in the context of renewal or revival, a more holistic view should be embraced. Renewal is all encompassing and affects all of our lives. We can experience renewal in our minds as our outlook and attitudes are transformed. This spiritual makeover is demonstrated in practical ways as the change becomes evident in everyday behaviors and relationships. 

The New Birth and our life in Christ is much more than an occasional feeling of emotional happiness; more than a unique supernatural epiphany that occurred at  one time in our past. It is dynamic and living. After all, Jesus proclaimed, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Spirit-life was never intended to become stale and meaningless, but rather vibrant and alive. If that is missing it is time for a renewal of restoration. 

At times we may drift from our spiritual passion allowing carnal influences to distract us from our purpose. Ask the Holy Spirit to spark a craving for renewal, the desire for restoration. David’s prayer in Psalm 51 was a prayer of repentance, but also a recognition that he needed the Lord to bring about that renewal in his spirit. He prayed, “Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:11–12). 

The renewal of restoration is a renewal of joy and a sense of purpose in our existence. David prayed, “Renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). That phrase from the NKJV and NIV is also translated, “loyal spirit,” in the NLT while the KJV and ESV rendered it, “a right spirit.” While there is a range of meanings suggested by these translations the steadfast spirit suggests a settled, calm assurance in one’s relationship with God. There is nothing like the confidence to say, “It is well with my soul.” 

From many stories in Scripture we understand that life is not always steady. Job is not the only one who suffered upheaval and distress. There are ups and downs, times of ecstasy and times of intensity, seasons of calm and series of storms. Paul understood that fluctuation of life’s ebb and flow as he experienced, “Both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12), yet he wrote “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). It is a daily process. God is with us. His grace continual is at work in our lives. “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 The Message). 

    During a time of spiritual renewal make room for restoration. Allow the soul to be settled and the spirit to be renewed to the joy of your first love experience. 


Scripture:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 10/16/16

10/14/2016

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Renewal of the Mind

10/9/2016

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SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Terry R. Baughman
“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:23–24 NLT).

Spiritual renewal is born in the Spirit. A New Birth experience is more than a singular occasion in time but a radical change that will affect a person for all of life and eternity. When we are renewed in the Spirit there is not only a reshaping of our spiritual being, but also a renewal in our natural thinking. An alteration in our worldview is accomplished. In Paul's letter to the Romans he instructed them to become a personal living sacrifice and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. (See Romans 12:1–2.) The two are connected. When we present ourselves to God completely we abandon our own desires and dreams and begin to live in a way that becomes a pleasing sacrifice to God. 

Paul also declared our bodies to be a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” We are owned by God and filled with His holy presence. He reminded us that we were purchased by God and that all should, “Glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). The New Living Translation says, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT). This is not a passive possession by God, an involuntary submission, but we are actively giving ourselves to Him and must surrender our thoughts and our actions to Him daily. Since the Word of God commands it, apparently it is within our power and ability to participate in the process. 

So how does one renew the mind? 

In the New Living Translation (above) the “renewing of your mind” was expressed as the renewing of “your thoughts and attitudes.” We can control these things, though often some will claim they cannot. There is a willful discipline in directing our thoughts and restraining our attitudes to embrace and include those which are God honoring. We are to take control of our minds, “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Again, Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). To become more like Jesus we must allow His thoughts to become our own. As we do we will take on His attributes, His holiness, and become more like Him. In the renewing of the mind we can, “Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).

A spiritual renewal must include a change in our thinking and our attitudes. Naturally, we are influenced by the culture and the society at large. We often make allowances for things that are approved by those around us. However, when we begin to take on the new mind of the Spirit we begin to recognize those things that are not like Christ. Attitudes that are contrary to the teaching of Scripture and a worldview that approves of sin can no longer be justified. Repentance of sin and renewal in the Spirit will bring about a new spiritual reality. Allow His Holy Spirit to invade our minds and fill us to overflowing. Think God inspired thoughts and allow your mind to be renewed.
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Scripture:
“whatever is true, …noble, …right, …pure, …lovely, …admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

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LifeChurch Bulletin 10/9/16

10/9/2016

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Renewal of the Spirit

10/2/2016

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SPIRITUAL RENEWAL
Terry R. Baughman
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

The modern idea of revival was born in the days of the Awakening early in the eighteenth century in America. The early revivalists gathered in public places to cry out against moral decline and spiritual depravity. It was a call to repentance and a plea to make a commitment to follow Christ. In time this concept developed to include a series of church services where there was passionate prayer, heartfelt singing, and evangelistic preaching, calling sinners to salvation and Christians to renewal. 

Biblically, revival was more of an Old Testament concept where Israel was called to return to the covenant God had made with them as a nation. It often included the challenge of a prophet for the people to change their ways, repent of sins, and come back to the worship of Yahweh alone and a new devotion to their unique religious practices. In all cases is was more than the performance of religious duties, but a spiritual fervor, a renewal of passion to pursue relationship with their God. 

While there is no New Testament model of a revival campaign there are many examples of calls for spiritual renewal and the proclamation of the Gospel message to those who were blinded by religious traditions or bound by the effects of sinful practice. The Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was first poured out on believers, was a prime example of spiritual birth and the call to change, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Thousands responded to this first invitation to follow Jesus. Throughout the Book of Acts the revival continued; believers, “went everywhere preaching the word!” (Acts 8:4).

In a culture of moral decline and increasing lawlessness let there again be people of faith who will arise to challenge believers to renewal and call the lost to repentance. Let there be an awakening in this generation! There must be a change in the atmosphere. There must be a renewed commitment to discipleship, following Jesus. 

There must be a renewed focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is central to the Christian message. This is our only message. Paul said, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The Gospel must be the core content of any spiritual renewal. The text above is also translated, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5 NIV).
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Spiritual renewal is more than calculated commitment or somber repentance for our sinful condition. Revival comes with rejoicing. There was joy in the father’s house upon the return of the prodigal son. There are “times of refreshing” in the presence of God as we experience a return to godly living and spiritual renewal. Peter again preached, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Let there be a renewed desire for all things spiritual and a renewed commitment to follow the principles and practice of God’s Word. It is time for spiritual renewal. Let that be our prayer and our passion.

Scripture:
“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6).


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LifeChurch Bulletin 10/2/16

10/1/2016

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    Author

    Terry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ.  See his complete bio at trbaughman.com 

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