He Wants to Connect
Brown Eyed Girl, Domino, Moondance, Crazy Love, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, In The Garden, Gloria, ‘Til We Get The Healing Done and over 550 more songs through which Van Morrison has touched millions. I have always enjoyed his music and his lyrics:
“…No guru, no method, no teacher, just you and I and nature and the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in the garden…”
“…Till you live in the glory of the One, Till you live in the land of the sun, Till you feel like your life has just begun, Till we get the healing done, Till we get the healing done…”
He has penned some powerful heartfelt lyrics and created some incredibly heart moving music. I had always wanted to see him in concert and now here I was – 8 rows back on the floor directly in front of him.
There is something very moving about live music, but what I really enjoy is somehow, in some slight way, getting to know the artist. I particularly enjoy it when the artist interacts with the audience – they talk, they tell stories, they share a bit about themselves.
We connect somehow.
Well, the music was big and bold, the energy was electric, the solos were outstanding; he played many of his classic hits, but he never said one word to the audience. He never talked. He never connected. I never got invited into his life.
He took the stage amidst a song, sang and played for an hour and a half and left the stage amidst the final song. No “hello”. No “goodbye”. No “good to be here”. No stories.
I wanted to connect, but he didn’t. Even though the concert was great, I left feeling a little empty. We had no connection.
It made me think that this is how we sometimes feel about God and church meetings. We want to connect with God. The music can be great, the ‘performance’ fabulous, but there is no connection.
Does God actually want to connect with us? Does He want to share Himself with us? Or, is He content to simply put on a great performance and stay aloof? Is God someone who wants to stay far off and not really engage in our lives, or does He want to be intimately engaged in every part of our lives?
Does God actually want to do life with us? Or perhaps more accurately, does He want us to do life with Him? Does He want to be known by us?
I am confident that God wants to be engaged with and connected to us. He wants to be intimately engaged in our lives – He wants to connect. He was the one who initiated the relationship. You didn’t choose Him. He chose you. He came after you. He pursued you. He loved you first. None of us can come to the Father of our own accord – He draws us.
He woos us.
In fact, the whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth and dying on the cross was to create connection between man and God. Jesus made a way so that we can draw near to God and actually know Him, to be in relationship with Him, to connect with His heart and purpose for us and for others through us.
Through the redemptive work of Jesus God invites us to connect with Him. But it’s more than an invitation, it’s a longing to connect with us. He wants us to know Him and call Him Father.
In Jeremiah 29:13 and 14 (The Message) God expresses His longing for us to pursue Him:
“’When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.’ God’s Decree.”
Wow – the God of the Universe chose you so that you could be in a deep meaningful relationship with Him. Jesus made a way for us to draw near to God. Yes, He wants to connect with you.
God is serious about connecting with you. How serious are you serious about connecting with Him?
Jeremiah 3:19
“I myself said,” ‘How gladly would I treat you like sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’ I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me.”
Matthew 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
How Sanctified Are You?
My son and I recently went to see a movie together. I really didn’t do much research into the movie. It was rated 14A, not restricted, had an interesting premise, and Ryan Reynolds was one of the main actors.
I have to confess that previous to this movie I liked Ryan Reynolds as an actor, primarily because I think he looks like our oldest son David, and that he comes from Vancouver. This particular movie was called the Hitman’s Bodyguard.
I’m not going to describe the movie or its story line other than to say I was really disappointed. My disappointment was primarily grounded in the language. I have to say that the language was appalling. It seemed that every sentence contained some form of “mother ‘f’er”, with frequent filthy talk of some kind, and repeated use of Jesus’ name in derogatory terms.
Now, I typically don’t have trouble with rough language in real life. Hey, I know that’s simply how many people talk and that’s just the way they are. I work with some people like that. However, choosing to expose myself to copious amounts of what I consider crude and vile language in my entertainment choices is not something I want to make a habit of doing.
I left the theater feeling slimed. I felt like I needed a shower. I actually asked the Lord to forgive me and cleanse my heart.
Now I realize this may sound super-spiritual and ‘religious’. I understand that. However, I have recently felt challenged by the Lord in regard to the concept of “sanctification”.
So what does “sanctification” mean? Well, simply stated it means, “to make holy, or to sanctify”. To sanctify means to “set apart for particular use in a special purpose or work and to make holy or sacred.”
Sanctification is a very significant concept in theological debate. I’m not going to solve that debate in this simple blog. I would simply like to comment on the role we play in sanctification.
Scripture is clear that we are sanctified by the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. I believe we are and are becoming sanctified. By the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual new birth we are sanctified.
And, I also believe we now play a role in our sanctification. We can choose to submit and surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we can also choose to meditate on/ingest the Word of God – which is living and active – to transform our mind and heart.
We have a personal responsibility to surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit, and to become students of the Word of God. This is the role we play in our sanctification. Our minds and hearts need to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
This is the journey we embark upon to grow in maturity. We learn to believe, think and then act differently. We all know this doesn’t happen overnight. This only happens over years of journeying with Jesus in obedience to His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
This, therefore, is our act of worship.
So how does all this apply to the movie I just watched?
Well, what I chose to expose myself to did not contribute to my further sanctification. Sure, it was entertaining, it was fun, but the thoughts and language I ingested gave me mental and spiritual heart burn. It was kind of like eating the worst junk food you can think of in the middle of a healthy cleanse of some kind.
I certainly didn’t feel sanctified after watching the movie.
What’s the lesson?
We play a role in our further sanctification – becoming more like Jesus – by what we choose to expose ourselves to. We are what we eat basically.
So what are you eating? What role are you playing in your sanctification? Are you partnering with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God? Or, are you feeding on that which sets your sanctification process backward?
How are you partnering with the Spirit of God in your process of sanctification?
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
John 17: 17-19
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
Can I Pray For You?
Strangers in Starbucks.
A buddy on my boat.
A good friend in his office.
A client on the phone.
A pastor up a mountain.
A new acquaintance at a church meeting.
What do all these people have in common? Well, I have had the privilege and pleasure of praying for them at various times over the past week.
It’s quite simple really. I find myself talking with people who are facing challenges of all kinds: starting a new business, moving cities, the rigors of everyday life, marriage troubles, job loss, health issues, stresses of all sorts…basically dealing with the stuff of life. When we finish talking I ask a very simple, yet powerful question,
“Can I pray for you?”
I’ve decided as often as possible, and whenever appropriate, I will finish my interaction with someone by praying for them. Most times these people are Jesus followers, but sometimes they’re not. In all the times I’ve done this throughout the years I have only had one person say “no”. So, I simply said that’s ok, and prayed for them at another time when I was alone.
Do you struggle sometimes with how you can make a difference, how you can be a kingdom builder, a marketplace minister? Well, I’ve found this is a simple, yet profound and powerful way to touch people’s lives and facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit: care enough to ask questions and listen to people, then ask if you can pray for them.
Now, I’m not a prayer expert by any means, but I’ve had the privilege of being taught and mentored by men who are powerful prayers. What I do know is this: God responds to prayer. By some incredible grace amidst His divine omnipotence, and omniscience the Lord of All has chosen to “limit” Himself to our prayers.
God has chosen to invite and engage us in His plans and purposes by asking us to ask Him. Wow. I know, it sounds crazy – part of how we partner with the Sovereign Lord in His purposes is to pray. Listen, commune, and ask.
When we pray God moves. When we pray the spirit realm shifts. When we pray the purposes of God are released and things happen. I’m no incredible man of faith and power, but many, many times people have said to me, “Wow, I really appreciated it when you prayed for me – my heart was really touched.” Is that because of my awesomely orated prayerful expression? No, my simple sentiments synergize with the all-powerful God who moves in the heart of the focus of my petition.
This is awesome men. How can we make a powerful and profound impact in people’s lives? Pray for them. Ask them for permission to do so and do it right there out loud – let them hear you. Don’t make a scene, be discreet, but be verbal.
So, what to pray?
Well, here’s what I do: I try to pray scripture. I thank God for how much He loves them, how He will never leave them, how they’re not alone, how the Lord will provide for all their needs – I affirm God’s care and love. Then I ask the Lord to meet them where they are – whatever that may look like: to provide encouragement, strength, hope, faith, resources, freedom, revelation, a job, etc.
I may do spiritual warfare and bring the cross of Christ between them and the strategy of the enemy. I thank the Lord for this person and who He has created, crafted and called them to be. I also always pray that God’s Kingdom would come and His will would be done in them and through them.
I will also listen in my spirit for something specific the Lord may be asking me to pray or share – a scripture, a picture, a lesson, etc. Then I share that too. So, I listen in my spirit for some direction from the Lord and I pray scriptures. Simple really. But the impact is profound because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
So guys, let’s go for it. Let’s commit to engaging with and listening to people – friends, family, strangers, employees, co-workers, etc – and simply then love on them through prayer. The miracle of prayer is what God does in the heart of the person for whom we pray – and that’s very cool to see.
This great adventure starts with a simple question, “Can I pray for you?”
Go for it.
Ephesians 6:18
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
James 5:16
“…the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Mark 11:24
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”