Five Powers of the Zeal of the Lord

The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the zeal of the Lord 5 times.  Each mention has a powerful "take-away" for you.

Take Aways:  The zeal of the Lord...
1.  Is working behind the scenes on your behalf
Isaiah provides a rare glimpse into what God is up to behind the scenes.  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end...The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (9:6-7)."

The zeal of the Lord is working behind the scenes of your life today just as He was 2500 years ago.  You can't see it, but you can trust it.  You may not feel it, but you can know it.  You can't describe it, but you can declare praises to the One who is doing it.


2.  Will deal with your adversaries
King Hezekiah had someone in his life who wanted to bring about pain, destruction, and shame.  His adversary was named Sennacherib King of Assyria. I am confident you can name your adversary(s) as well.

Hezekiah did two actions to align himself with the zeal of the Lord.  First, he summoned together some close godly advisers (including the prophet Isaiah).  Secondly, he prayed, and God not only dealt with his adversary, Sennacherib, but God also spoke hope for the future.  In chapter 37 God uses the word "zeal" in describing His ability to deal with Hezekiah's adversary. "For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (37:32)."

The zeal of the Lord will deal with your adversaries. Align yourself with His zeal. Gather people of God around you.  Keep praying.  The appointed time of God's deliverance is near.


3.  Is known in your songs of praise
In chapter 42 Isaiah declares, "Sing to the Lord a new song...(v10)." What follows is wonderful lyrics of praise to God including "The Lord will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal...(v13)."

Declaring in song the character, power, and zeal of the Lord will touch the depths of your heart in a way that other expressive forms cannot.  Deliverance is usually experienced in song first and reality second. Lyrics embed before victory arrives.  Those lyrics become your comfort and encouragement as you wait.  Such is the power of songs of praise.


4.  Brings you forgiveness from sin and ends your separation from God
The sinful state of humankind is outlined in detail by Isaiah in chapter 59.  At one point the prophet sums it up by saying, "...we look for light, but all is darkness...(v9). 

But, our heavenly Father is so kind and gracious.  "He saw that there was no one...so His own arm worked salvation for Him, and His own righteousness sustained him...[He] wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak (vv16-17)."

God zealously desires to forgive and redeem.  He responds to repentance of sins and is zealous for your life long before you become zealous for Him.  There is no separation or hurt that He cannot repair for those who respond to His love.


5.  Is not afraid of your doubts, frustrations, or questions
Honest prayers are welcomed by our Father.  The people in Isaiah's day declared in prayer, "Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious.  Where are your zeal and might?  Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us (63:15)."

Advent 2019 may be a season of frustration with God rather than delight.  Pour out your conflicted heart to Him.  He has a way of receiving a conflicted heart and gently restoring it into a hopeful heart.  In the meantime, He welcomes your honesty.  He actually knows what is in you before you tell Him and yet never stops loving you.  Who is like our God?

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden
Executive Director of Education

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Your Moment Is Now

The Psalmist says it this way, "We are like a breath; our days are like a fleeting shadow."  In other words, in light of eternity our time on earth is a short blip - a moment that is incredibly brief yet full of opportunity.  So why do some stroll along in life wasting away time as though it is in endless supply?

Many men and women of God in Scripture grasped the weightiness of this fleeting reality and grabbed a hold of their moment.

• Esther, recognizing the King's favor toward her, courageously and skillfully negotiated the saving of her people.
• Daniel, despite finding himself exiled to a pagan culture that was hostile to his God, "refused to defile himself before [his] God."  This resulted in his elevation to a position of prominence.
• Isaiah, "a man of unclean lips," humbly and with great faith responded to God's Calling with those timeless words, "Here am I. Send me!"
• Lydia, a successful business woman, affirmatively responded to Paul's message of Good News.  She and her entire household were baptized and then opened their home as a place to gather for prayer, teaching and hospitality.
• Stephen did not waiver in his faith in the face of lethal consequences.  While being stoned to death, he kept his eyes fixed on heaven where "the Son of Man was standing at the right hand of God" waiting to receive him.

These are merely a few examples.  There are so many more including the potential of yours.

Testimonies of men and women who have modeled how to seize their moment inspire us.  We should tell their stories repeatedly but not at the expense of ignoring our moment.  God did not create us to live vicariously through them.  He created us to learn from them so we might be similarly courageous at our appointed moment.  Our admiration of them is grossly incomplete unless their actions stir noble questions in us like:  What is our moment?  Is there a better time than now?  Do we trust God enough to place all our perceived obstacles into His capable Hands?

What a life-changing and sacredly adventurous opportunity that lies ahead for those who simply say, "Yes!"  There are ministry encounters that God has planned just for you.  So let us embrace this truth:  One of the many experiences that God will use to ensure your arrival at those appointed moments is a sacred season of preparation.

I would like to personally invite you to experience your preparation at Antioch College (formally Antioch College of the Assemblies of God) where we are preparing ministers to be passionate, Spirit-filled, and practical leaders. With the local church as the backdrop for learning, you will prepare for ministry with the convenience and affordability of online education but in the context of community, peer interaction, and spiritual formation at our Partner Sites.

Come begin your new chapter with us.  There is not an endless supply of time. Your moment is now.


Ex nihilo,



R.J. Rhoden
President

*For more information contact Dr. Ron DeBerry at execvp@bcva.edu or Sonji Thee at sthee@potomacag.org.

*For more information about being a Partner Site contact Dr. Rob Rhoden at rrhoden@potomacag.org.

/kem’pel/

/kem’pel/ is the phonetic spelling of a powerful word that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 5:14 to describe what Christ’s love does for us.  “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”  So why is this important?

Behind every action is a motivation.
     -You are motivated to eat so you can have energy.
     -You are motivated to drink water so you can live.
     -You are motivated to study so you can receive a good grade.
     -You are motivated to ... (you fill in the blank).

If anything or anyone other than Christ’s love is the motivational, compelling drive of your life, you will experience false expectations, chronic confusion, and selfish values.

False expectations occur because your desired outcomes are not flowing out of Christ’s love but rather out of your selfish desires.

Chronic confusion occurs because you are relying too heavily on false expectations that are anchored in your flesh not God’s Will.

And selfish values occur because selfishness is the opposite of love.

But when Christ’s love compels you:
     -You will see people differently, and
     -You will see your purpose(s) differently.

We are unable to do the above two things without Christ’s love because His love changes us from being selfish, sinful people to being selfless, righteous people. Can you imagine the powerful Awakening that would happen in our world if God’s people refreshed and renewed their understanding of Christ’s love?

I am praying that will happen in my life and yours.  Will you join me?  I will be preaching for 3 weeks on this theme beginning tonight, February 9th at 6pm.  May God’s love /kem’pel/ us into repentance and mission.

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden

21

We have entered the final hours of Celebration’s 21 Days of Prayer. Here are some take-aways that God has impressed on my heart or been shared with me from others.

Please feel free to reply and add to this list:

• Cultivate a heart of prayer.
• The weapon of prayer must no longer be taken lightly.
• Words:
• Weep
• One
• Unity
• Foundation
• Distractions
• Blinders
• Unhook
• Fidelity
• Health
• Face
• Flame
• God will pour out His Spirit without measure on the church without mixture (sins of this world mixed into the Body of Christ).
• Decisions should not be made under pressure. Allow God to work it out.
• God will provide what we need when we need it.
• Thank you, God, for restoring this ministry.
• God is working daily and changing lives. Take time to appreciate the small and big changes.
• God is challenging me to not only know His Word but to delight in His Word (Proverbs 2).

There was so much more, but I can’t name them all in this blog.  In addition, many of the ones listed above were repeated by multiple people.

Last night, Pastor Tim said, “I am tired of asking God in prayer to do things that I am capable of doing.  Let’s begin asking Him to do the impossible.”

I have woken up this morning with that statement burning in my heart. May God elevate our faith in Him to do the impossible on this day and all the days to come.  

Would you join me in believing God for a spiritual awakening along the Midlothian corridor in South Richmond whose impact is felt far beyond this city on a hill?

Ex nihilo,

R.J. Rhoden

A Prayer

Psalm 86:11

Give (us) an undivided heart that (we) may fear your name

Celebration, like other Believers around our nation and the world, is in the midst of 21 Days of continual prayer for 2019.  During my time of praying this morning, the Lord inspired a specific prayer in me based on a portion of Psalm 86:11. I share it with you now in the hope that it will inspire, convict, be prayed by your lips, and be used however else the Spirit would desire.

Father,
We confess that our hearts are divided:
     -Our lips sing praises in worship and then speak lies only hours later
     -Our feet walk on your path one day and then jump to a worldly path the next day
     -Our eyes look to You and then look away
     -Our hearts are filled with Your goodness and then they go back to wandering
     -Our ears hear you Calling and then we get distracted by the noises of the world
     -Our hands do Your work one day and then destructive work the next day
     -Our minds are focused on Your Word and then the silliest thought can dethrone it

Father,
You see divided hearts and desire to make them undivided.  Who is like you, O Lord? Your goodness, forgiveness, and love bring life and hope forever.

Your mercies are new every morning.
Your gifts are good.
Your patience brings healing to the most divided heart.
Your invitation to fear your name is an act of grace and security.

So...
Give me an undivided heart.
Give Celebration an undivided heart.
Give the Church of Richmond an undivided heart.
Give the Bride of Christ an undivided heart.

That we might fear, lift up, honor, and glorify Your Name.

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden

The Hour Is Near

What is “The Hour?”

It’s a moment of extreme significance.

It’s a “burn the ships” moment.

It’s a moment where the seen and unseen works of God suddenly converge.

It’s a moment that changes everything.

Jesus declared to His disciples in Matthew 26:45, just hours before His death, “...Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 

Prior to this declaration, Jesus prepared for His Hour in four specific ways:  place, people, passion, and prayer.

Place is any location you set apart for God.  It could be a prayer room or under a tree; it could be a sanctuary or a prison cell; it could be a commute or a comfortable recliner.  For Jesus, it was Gethsemane.  Place is important because it is the backdrop of your preparation.

People are your community.  For Jesus, it was His disciples. You were created for community not isolation.  Community is important, but it is not perfect (can I get an Amen?).  People will let you down (can I get a louder Amen?).  Jesus’ disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch (v40). Never let the actions of a few permanently taint how you value community.

Passion is an inner stirring that produces motivation.  Jesus’ soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (v38).”  You will not fully prepare for Your Hour if you are not passionate about the Will of God.  When was the last time you desired God’s Will so much that you were literally overwhelmed with an aching passion?

Prayer is conversation with God.  Prayer should be lots of listening and little talking. If you listen first and talk second, your heartfelt prayers will ultimately align you with the Father’s heart.  If you reverse the order, you run the risk of drifting away from the Father’s heart.  Jesus concluded His time of prayer by saying to the Father, “...may your Will be done (v42).”

So is this a blog about the Hour of your death?  Not at all!  Your Hour, my Hour, a stranger’s Hour, a friend’s Hour, a family member’s Hour, or Celebration’s Hour for 2019 could be any number of possibilities.  The abundant goodness stored in the Father’s heart for His children should make us full of excitement and anticipation for what He has planned.

The Hour is near.

It is exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ask or imagine.

It is on time.

It is worth the wait.

It is for His glory.

It’s time to get prepared.
(Join us tonight at 7pm for more teaching on this text.)

Ex nihilo,


R.J. Rhoden