"Knocking on the Door of Prayer"

Lately I have been knocking on a lot of doors. It's part of my new job and my new season of my life. And while I was at work the other day, approaching a door, I realized something!
     Knocking on a door doesn't happen by accident. It is intentional! You walk right up to the door you want opened, and make yourself heard!
     The situation determines how you knock. If the circumstances of life are noisy and chaotic, you have to knock loudly - to be heard above the noise of life's events. If the stirrings of our emotions are the only sounds that we hear, we need to be intentional about letting our prayers drown out the sounds of our heartbreak.
     On the other hand, if we find ourselves in the silence of tranquility or solitude, we knock gently upon heaven's gates. If we find ourselves sitting in silence, we can know that our gentle knocking will resound through the halls heaven and reach the Heart of God. When we feel like God is silent, and we yearn to hear His voice, we knock as loudly or gently as we need - and know that God hears us.
     Through prayer, we knock upon the golden gates of Glory, tap upon the heart of our Lord, and walk through the door of His Presence. In whatever season of life we find ourselves (chaotic or peaceful), we can knock and know that God will open the door and present Himself to us! Not only are we promised that the door will be opened when we knock, we are promised that the Almighty stands at the door waiting for us to come to Him!

Dusty D.

A Wall-less Church

The Church, as established by Jesus - after Pentecost, was mission-minded movement. It was intended (we were intended) that it would not be of the world, but sent into the world. It was not to sit stagnate. We are not created to hide our acts of worship behind walls. Our Lord commissioned us to go forth, into the world, with the power of the Holy Spirit, and glorify Our Savior by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ!
      the church is a place for the broken to find healing, yes. But it is not to be limited to Sunday morning worship services. Of course, we need to go to be fed, and leave to feed! However, we are called to more than simple acts of praise; we are called to more than hiding behind the walls of our "churches."
     If this persists - if we continue hiding behind the walls of comfort and inactivity - God will send a prophet with a horn. Our "church" walls will come crashing down like the walls of Jericho! Perhaps it will take the sound of heavens armies encircling us. Or maybe it will take marching in circles, before we will see victory! It may be that we need our walls to fall, in order to see God's Kingdom Purposes accomplished!
        let us be a wall-less church. Let us not separate ourselves from the mission field. Let us not isolate ourselves from our sacred calling!

“The Long Descent”

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call” (Eph. 4:1-4) (ESV).

                      I often wonder how many of our doctrines pave the long descent to hell. I do not question the sincerity of the individuals who claim ownership of their highly esteemed teachings; rather, I see the danger in holding so tightly to a pet-doctrine that one loosens their grip of Christ. We, who claim to be Christians (“Christ-like” in love, grace, and mercy), fight with each other over the doctrines we favor. We fight in the name of Scriptures; we “debate” in the name of intelligence; we rebuke our brothers in the name of Lord. We do all of this while the world watches. We do these things to validate our reputation of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. We do all of this over things that do not matter to the Gospel.

            Calvinism vs. Arminianism; Supralapsarianism vs. Infralapsarianism vs. Sublapsarianism; gifts of the Spirit vs. no-gifts of the Spirit; Pre-tribulation vs. Mid-tribulation vs. Post-tribulation; Preterism vs. Futurism; … the list of our arguments is long. It is a list that provides many opportunities for us to disagree. It justifies factions, divisions, and dis-unity in the Church – the Body of Christ. When we should be preaching Christ, we preach one translation of the Bible over another (Phil. 1:18).

            When will we let go?! When will we focus more on the work and person of Jesus Christ, than those things which only lead to dis-unity?! Is not the Blood of Jesus more important than pet-doctrines – than our desire to be right?! It seems we have as many reasons to disagree as there are stairs to hell!

            Perhaps we should be more concerned about preaching the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Perhaps, we should focus on our sacred calling and share the Good News. Perhaps we should remember that we are one Body – one Church. Perhaps we should let our preferences fall by the wayside, instead of promoting division.

Let us remember the Work of Jesus to open the way to Heaven. Hell shutters at the Work of our Lord, yet rejoices at our discord. It is time for us – the Church – to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. Let us be diligent to study for ourselves the deep things of the Word, but may we never set a stumbling block before our brothers and sisters (Rom. 14). In the bond of Peace, let us submit to the Holy Spirit “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4:13).

-          Dusty

Amen is not Good Bye

           When I am walking with my wife, I do not have a designated phrase to begin and end each conversation. In fact, no matter where we are or what we are doing, the conversation is always open. We do not need a prescribed beginning and end to each thought we share, because we are with each other. We are ever walking and talking with each other – enjoying each other’s company and presence. We have a relationship that is based on more than just conversation.

Should not our relationship with the Lord be similar? So often we think the phrases, “In the Name of Jesus” and “amen,” should begin and end our conversations with God. But why is this? Have we limited a relationship with the Savior to the few moments of prayer each day? Sometimes it feels as though we are “hanging up” or saying “good bye” when we attach an “amen” to the end of our prayers. This does not need to be the case. Since we have the very great and precious promises of God, we know that the Almighty “will never leave us or forsake us” (Josh. 1:5; 1 Sam. 12:22; 2 Peter 1:4). The Lord walks with us by His Spirit EVERY moment of the day (John 14:16-17).

Perhaps, then, every waking moment we should be sensitive and aware of the Presence of God. Yes, we will pray “In the Name of Jesus” and agree by faith with a holy “Amen,” but we should not let prayer be the only time we are attentive to God (Eph. 2:18). As a husband walks and talks with his wife, let us walk with God – aware and sensitive to the Presence of our Beloved. Let us always listen for the voice of God, no matter where we are – whether in prayer or not.

-Dusty

"The Cult of Comfort"

          Let us open the eyes of faith that we may awaken to the Kingdom of God! Let us stir from the slumber of apathy, remove the covers of ignorance, and arise from the bed of laziness. It is time to place our feet upon the floor of this age and walk toward the Door. With a sense of calling and purpose, let us grab a hold of the door of life, by the handle of faith. The time has come to throw open the doors, upon the hinges of prayer, and let the light of God’s glory illuminate that which has kept us sleeping.

          The light reveals that the house we have built is no more than the cult of comfort. The rooms were designed with only ourselves in mind. Within our slumbering state, within our house of comfort and straw, we crafted the dreams of self-gain. We have rested comfortably in our house, constructed by the hands of selfishness.

          The whole time we saw the light through the windows. We heard wind of God’s Word against our walls. Only by indifference has it been possible to ignore the breeze of the Spirit. Rather, we slept. All we wanted was comfort.

          It is a new day. It is the time for action – for charity, hospitality, love, and power. The son has risen to reveal what we created. The light has crept through the windows of hope. It is now time to arise! Where the cult of comfort has kept us asleep, it is time to awaken and make a difference. While it is still daylight, it is time live for God. We do not know when the Lord will return, but the night quickly approaches. It is time live for that which we have been made – to glorify God and to let the light shine through the door of life and action.

- Dusty D.

"Unhidden Scars"

{Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:38-39}

            I knew those looks – those curious, suspicious looks. They seemed to remind me of how the scribes and Pharisees gazed into the Scriptures. It is like they were searching for something; they were searching for the truth of my words. I am slowly getting used to the staring. It never stopped.

The very thing people were curious about, I am eager to forget. It is not like I can ever get rid of these scars. Oh, the scars! They remind me of what once was – of who I used to be. They remind me of chains, oppression, and bondage. They remind me of my years in the desert. They are scares from hiding in tombs and caves. The places I used to call home. I can hide most of them; but all the deep, ruddy, monstrous scars around my neck and face are always visible. Perhaps they are left to remind me that I am not perfect. They remind me that there is more. They remind me of how Jesus delivered me – of how He saved me.

After Jesus delivered me from my spiritual affliction, it took a while to gain my family’s trust. At first, they were overwhelmed by my scars – by my past. I told them how Jesus took what was filthy and made it clean. I showed them how, if it was not for Jesus, I would still be living as a dead man – associating with death and living in tombs. I would still be filled with a darkness, a relentless wickedness, a curse of sin. I illustrated how the legion had been cast out. How the presence of evil had been cast away, like an unclean thing into the ocean – like a herd of pigs to drown in the sea.

That is why I knew Jesus was the Christ – the Jewish Messiah. I knew it. I experienced it. Nothing could change my mind! My message wasn’t as articulate or expressive as the Pharisees or Sadducees. I simply wanted to demonstrate how Jesus had the power to cast sin into the sea of forgetfulness, just as He had the power to cast the legion out of me. Jesus recreated me. He made me new. Jesus had the power and the compassion to do this for everyone. Throwing myself at the feet of Jesus was the best thing I had ever done.

I learned two things as I traveled the Decapolis: let the scars speak to the past, and let the light speak to the present. The brighter the light of day, the more obvious the scars became.  People would always look. They would always study the deep, gruesome scars. I let the scars attest to the work of God. As I did so, my onlookers could see past my scars – past my past – and see a new, transformed life.

I did not know the Torah or the words of the Prophets, but I knew Jesus. I knew that He loved me and cared about me. I knew that He changed me. That was enough to validate my message.

-          Dusty

"A Simple Opportunity"

I have not read any books on “how to work miracles” or “ways to walk in the supernatural.” I have not even read the latest pamphlets about how to start your own healing ministry. I have not done any of these things; even though I am sure they are great resources.

        Yet somehow, I have seen God perform, and have participated with God in, countless miracles (2 Peter 1:3-4). These calloused and withering hands have, nonetheless, been used as an instrument to bring miraculous healing. Knowing my own thoughts, failures, and weaknesses, I cannot be anything other than amazed at how God can use someone like me. What’s more, it makes me ponder whether or not there is a pattern to participating with God in the miraculous – like so many books and seminars seem to portray. If there is one, I have yet to discern what it is.

      If I had to identify one quintessential reality to participating with the Lord in His wonders, it would be this: it is God who works the miracle, not us (2Cor. 4:7). Try as we like, there is no way for us to fabricate the wondrous works of the Almighty. We can pray for people, only to have them maintain the affliction until they pass away, and we can pray for people and, in front of our very eyes, watch God heal them. Perhaps, this is what should minister to us – the fact that we can pray.

      If I were to write a book on how to participate with God in healing, there would only be one page between the covers. On that page, it would only have three words: PRAY FOR SOMEONE! I suppose that is where we find our true power – by plugging into the heaven’s Source. It is through the act of praying that we create an opportunity for God to work through us (and in us) (1 Cor. 4:20).

      This is an exciting thought: we can participate with God in His kingdom endeavors! This is a new year; let us venture forth with the Lord. As we go, it will be well for us to let the compassion of our hearts be swayed. We, who know how to pray, know that God’s power can change any situation. We should be encouraged to join with God in that change. Let us look for someone with which to pray. Let us create the opportunity for God to work wonders!

- Dusty Dahlin
(Originally Posted for Epic Bible College's Journalism Department)