Safe Heaven House Of Prayer

"Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher,, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher." Luke 6:39-40 Years ago I attended a class at a drug rehabilitation facility run by the Georgia Baptist Convention. The class was required for anyone who wanted to visit the residents. The one thing I remember from that class was the director's teaching on this passage. The director talked about how often addicts get involved in relationships with other addicts, always intending to help one another's struggles. But, the director continued, these relationships never end well. They result in both addicts returning to the grips of substance abuse, both individuals falling into the ditch. Jesus point with this teaching was that a student can only expect to be like his or teacher. It would stand to reason, the, that I that would seek a teacher who represents the person I strive to resemble. I know

You are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second apostles, third teachers, after that miracles, the gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts  of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 My father currently has forty stents carefully placed inside his heart to maintain adequate blood flow. We can't live without an effective heart, and that fact holds true about other vital organs, like our lungs. Although some injuries may not be fatal, our effectiveness would certainly be diminished with, for instance, the amputation of a limb. Likewise, the body of Christ functions in a fashion similar to the human body. (It should really be no surprise, given the fact that God created both b

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. John 13:13-14 One of a football coach's most gut wrenching tasks is the pre-game speech. All of the preparation has been done. He has spent countless hours teaching his players all that he can. To the best of his ability, he has prepared them for battle. No more practicing plays or running drills. This speech on this chance to communicate the things he wants them to remember as they battle the enemy. Like that football coach, in the passage above Jesus was in His last hours with His team. Jesus was well aware that the moment of His arrest was near, that this very night the apostles would experience chaos, that they were about to clash with enemy. Christ wanted to remind His followers of teachings they could fall back on when He was no longer present with them to give them direction. Knowing that pride is one of man

The scribes and the Pharisees love greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, "Rabbi, Rabbi." But you, do not be called "Rabbi" for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:7-12 A saying in the South goes something like this: "I wish I could buy him for what he is worth and sell him for what he thinks he is worth." The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day thought they were worth a lot. Jesus said they had come to enjoy the attention of "greetings in  the marketplace" and being called "Rabbi." Such special recognition contributed to their thinking more highly of them themselves than was warranted. But

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:16-17 Having played and coached high school football, I can assure you that few things in this world are more exciting than the experience of Friday night lights. The small Christian school where I coached never seemed to have an adequate number of players to be successful. Many students wanted to be on the team and reap the benefits that come along with it, but few loved the game enough to make the heavy sacrifices necessary to wear the jersey. Like most of the students at that school, the young man in this passage had a real desire for something, but a misunderstanding kept him from achieving it. Specifically, this young man wanted to live forever, but he misunderstood the meaning of eternal life. C

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  Matthew 10:24-26 My wife Tonya, a teacher by occupation, asks her students parents this question: "are you trying to prepare your child for the road ahead, or are you trying to prepare the road ahead for your child?" We often see parents running ahead trying to repair the potholes so that their child won't experience any discomfort. The problem with that method of parenting is that the day will inevitably come when the parent (teacher) is not around to smooth things over for the child (disciple). All good teachers will do anything they can to equip those under their tutelage to be prepared for the future. Jesus recognized

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 I ride a mountain bike. And I wear a helmet. We may not have the Rocky Mountains in Houston, but we have plenty of dangerous roots and rocks to ride over. I was racing through the woods one day, and suddenly the bike stopped. I went flying over the handlebars and landed on my head. Fortunately, I wore a good helmet, a tested helmet certified as reliable. I'd paid more for it, and that day I was glad I did. Proverbs 30:5 tells us that "every word of God is pure." That means that every promise He has made has been tested and certified as reliable. So if the Lord tells us that He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him, to those who depend on Him, then we can indeed trust in Him. His words are true, and His promises can be trusted. You are His, and He has promised to protect you always! I will not get

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. Proverbs 2:7-9 Growing up in Florida, we could pretty much always count on an afternoon rain shower to cool off a hot summer day. Usually we played on in spite of it, and when we did, my dad said we lacked the good sense to come in out of the rain. But sometimes that gentle rain would turn into a fierce thunderstorm. When it did, our good sense kicked in, and we scrambled for shelter. Suddenly, taking cover was the right thing to do. God "stores up sound wisdom for" He gives good sense to those who are willing to exercise it. Wisdom is more than intelligence. Wisdom is the exercise of good judgement and the ability to do the right thing every time. As we make wise and godly decisions, the Lord guards our path and preserves our ways. He is li

He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that files by day...A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Psalm 91:4-5,7 As a quarterback,  our son depends on his offensive linemen to protect him. While playing, the other team is charging toward him with one thought in mind: sack the quarterback! His offensive linemen form a wall of protection to keep the defenders out and the quarterback safe. We are grateful for those young men and for the fact that the wall usually holds. Psalms 91 gives us a beautiful picture of God's intimate, sufficient, and never failing protection. He covers us with His feathers when we take refuge under His wings. God's faithfulness is the source of our security; it forms a shield around us, and it functions as a wall of protection behind which w

The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Psalm 84:11-12 I once had the opportunity to preach in Kenya, and toward the end of the trip, I had the experience of a lifetime. Camera in hand, I went on an African safari into the Masai Mara.  What I didn't count on was sleeping on the ground in a tent each night in an area where lions and tigers lived. But our guide built a fire in the middle of the camp, and a Masai warrior kept watch throughout the night. I stayed close to both! And between the light of the fire, the Masai's protection, and the Lord's grace, I slept like a baby. The psalmist also knew the Lord's protection. He said that the Lord is "a sun and shield," and the Lord does indeed light up the darkest night and keep watch over us. When we move, He goes before and protects us. By His grace, He gives us eve

You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Psalms 3:3-4 I watch people riding motorcycles on the open road, hair flying in the wind, and they're seemingly carefree. It looks like fun, but i will not be joining them. One reason is that I live in Houston where there are not many open roads to ride and there are far too many other cars to share the road with. While I might like to experience that feeling of freedom, I need a little more metal surrounding me to feel safe and truly to be protected from danger all around. The Lord is a Shield of protection for us. As our Shield, He is for us and all around us. The Psalmist celebrated this fact that we are surrounded by God's almighty hand of protection. He is our Glory, meaning "victory," and passing Shield of protection, we can live in and move through this dangerous world with confidence and courage. David faced ma

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. Psalm 18:30 Our son has played sports since he was ten, and he is now in his final season of college football. Every team he played for supplied the necessary equipment, but it was not necessarily the best equipment. That's why his mother and I always purchased his helmet and shoulder pads. We wanted him to have state of the art protection that met the highest standards of quality and provided the greatest degree of protection. Of course we parents haven't always done everything right, but we always did whatever we could to protect our children from harm. Just as our son needs protection on the football field, we need protection in life, and the psalmist declared that God is our Shield and Protector. Unlike the efforts of earthly parents, His way for us His children is perfect. He has always done everything right. He never fails. His Word is true, and everything He says w