Category: Relationship

The Blessing of Intercession

R. Mangold

INTERCESSORS ARE A RARE BREED!

It is not our fine clothes, or cars, or bank accounts that are going to win the lost! And it is not Fund-raisers, Polished Communicators, or Building Contractors that will build the Church of the Living God…but INTERCESSORS!

• ABRAHAM…dickered with God over Sodom…

• SAMUEL…thundered from his knees, “Spare my people!” and the Philistines came NOT AGAIN TO ISRAEL DURING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL…1 Samuel 7

Paul “…I could wish myself accursed for Israel’s sake!”

In Luke 11:1-8…right after they asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray…” He tells them of a man who needs bread and goes to his friend at midnight. HE ASKED FOR 3 LOAVES…but because he was URGENT AND TROUBLESOME…HE GAVE HIM AS MUCH AS HE NEEDED!!

JESUS EVER LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR US!!

But you will never know the ministry of intercession until you allow the Lord to put you in their place…to let you by the Spirit understand their despair…

• The anguish of a broken home

• The loss of a child…

• When the one you love says, “I don’t love you anymore”…

WHEN YOU CAN FEEL THEIR PAIN AND HEAR THEIR VOICE IN THE NIGHT…

THEN YOU’LL PRAY!

By Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

I Met God

R. Mangold

I Met God
by Ralph Cushman

I met God in the morning,
when my day was at its best.
And His Presence came like glory,
a sunrise in my breast.

All day long His Presence lingered,
all day long He stayed with me…
And we sailed in perfect calmness,
O’er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered;
Other ships were sore distressed.
But the winds that seemed to drive them,
Brought to us such peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind.
When I too had loosed the moorings,
with the Savior left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
learned from many a troubled way…
You must seek God in the morning,
if you want Him in the day

Submitted by Rev. J.S. Willoughby – To read other posts by Rev. J.S. Willoughby visit his blog at http://jswilloughby.wordpress.com

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Immobilizing Effects of Guilt

R. Mangold

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

For Adam and Eve, hearing God’s voice meant a visit with the Creator. Each encounter with God brought another blessing; a new tree from which to eat, a new flower upon which to gaze, a new creation for which to praise Him. But this time God’s presence brought fear. Guilt and shame reared their ugly heads. Adam and Eve knew death was the punishment for disobedience. Like children, they ran and hid prolonging their impending doom.

Guilt leaves us feeling unworthy of a relationship with our Creator. Guilt, a close cousin to Fear, immobilizes us like a deer in the headlights. But God’s perfect love casts out all fear. He desires to reconcile with humanity. Don’t turn a deaf ear to the overtures of Grace. Don’t spurn the love of your Heavenly Father. Don’t ignore His outstretched hand. Doing so means an outcome we all dread – eternal separation from the very one who died to save us!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

He IS

R. Mangold

In every dark valley…He’s the Lily of my Valley
In every darkest hour before dawn…He’s my Bright and Morning Star
In every dry, arid desert land…He is my Dayspring from on high
When I’m sorrowing…He’s my Comforter
When I need direction…He’s my Guide
When I need understanding…He’s my Counselor
When I’m in turmoil…He’s my Prince of Peace
When I’ve sinned…He’s my Advocate with the Father…Jesus Christ the Righteous!

By Guest Author Rev. James Willoughby is an Evangelist and Bible Teacher, as well as a published author. His teaching ministry, Focal Points carries him into many different venues. Emphasizing…discipleship training, small group development, structures and strategies for leadership, and ministry mentoring for young men and women. His evangelistic ministry has been blessed of God with great anointing, and powerful demonstration of the Spirit in healings and miracles as he ministers the Word of Faith. View all posts by jswilloughby →


“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

God's Heartbeat

R. Mangold

Tonight, as we sat at supper with Jesus, tensions ran high. I had this compelling urge to stay as close to Him as I could. Perhaps to the envy of the other 11, I laid my head on Jesus’ chest. Within our Messiah, God robed in flesh, I felt the beat a human heart! Yet, it beat with much more authority than mine; there was a pure resolve as if He were on a mission to save the whole world. Bold and resolute, His heart beat with compassionate overtures of mercy and love. My heart’s desire is for HIS heartbeat to become mine, HIS passion, my passion, and HIS mission, my mission. John – The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

NOTE: Of course I paraphrased here, but I’m fascinated by the notion that John actually laid his head against Jesus’ chest. What a powerful portrait, to be that close to feel Christ’s heartbeat. Is it any wonder John’s called the “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved?”

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

To Rebel is to Repel

R. Mangold

Yet honor me [Saul] now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and beforeIsrael, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. (I Sam. 15:30)

Once the most humble man in Israel, rebellious Saul was stripped of his kingship. When told of God’s rejection, Saul quickly sidesteps his relationship saying the “Lord THY God.” In stark contrast, David’s vocabulary is replete with relationship in Psalms, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer; my God…” (18:1-2). Remember, when you rebel, you repel your relationship with God!

Serminutes – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold