Project Renovation

Project Renovation  - Spiritual Disciplines

Our Distinctives - Missional – Relational – Transformational

The promise of being transformed and ignited to holy passion by understanding and beholding God's glorious personality is for all believers.  No matter how weak or strong we feel, regardless of our previous failures, irrespective of our natural temperaments or personalities, each of us can be ablaze with passion for Jesus.  Mike Bickle

Here at the "Project", we believe that authentic and effective ministry begins with a right relationship with God.  We can not be Jesus to our neighbors until we have first been with Jesus.  It is essential for each of us to be passionately seeking after God.  The following disciplines are key essentials in pursuing God.  These disciplines are much like a doorway.  They are the gateway to having an intimate relationship with Him.  It doesn't come easy.  It takes time to know Him.  To become like Jesus we must first be with Jesus. It is time we awake, pursue the living God, and simply invite people to join us in that journey.  The following disciplines are suggestions for an initial place to start.  My prayer is that your soul would find rest and restoration in the following experiences.

Building a Prayer Base

Throughout the disciples time with Jesus they were able to witness many miracles and wonders.  Before there very eyes, the blind received sight, the lame began to walk, the possessed were freed, the leprous became clean, and the raging seas were calmed.  In spite of all that they had seen there is only one discipline the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them.  In Luke 11:1 we see the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray.  It was no coincidence that the disciples understood where Jesus' connection to the Father came from.  Over 40 times throughout the Gospels Jesus withdrew to a solitary place to pray and worship.  A good percentage of these withdraws came immediately prior to or after an event that was extremely important in the kingdom.  This model is one that often we forget.  Jesus' life and ministry was saturated with prayer.  How is your life?  Are you one who seeks God often?  Have you intentionally created a team of people who will pray for you on a daily basis?  The following are some suggestions which may helpful in beginning a prayer base for you and your team.

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Praying Scripture

The Word of Scripture should never stop sounding in your ears and working in you all day long, just like the words of someone you love.  And just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the Word of Scripture and ponder it in your heart, as Mary did.  That is all....  Do not ask "How shall I pass this on?" but "What does it say to me?"  Then ponder this word long in your heart until it has gone right into you and taken possession of you.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together  

When we engage the Scriptures for spiritual transformation, we engage not only our mind but also our heart, emotions, body, curiosity, imagination and our will.  It is in this context of relational intimacy through Scripture we meet the truth's of God.  To often the scriptures have simply become another text book to many of us.  We equate cognitive knowledge with obedience and feel that we have done our discipline for the day.  When in fact knowledge is only the starting point where we engage scripture.  To simply read is not enough.  Our intentions must go deeper.  As we interact with truth from God we must also through the leading of the Holy Spirit come under obedience to those truths.  To merely know, but not obey is a very dangerous place to be.  The discipline of praying scriptures helps us to slow down.  As you begin this discipline take time to create a quite place.  A place without interruptions. One that you can slow down and contemplate scripture.  Ask yourself tough questions, like, "are the spiritual truths I am reading about true of myself as well?".  Take time to reflect, meditate, and deal with God as you interact with scripture.  Confession, praise, thanksgiving, may all be part of your time with Him.  Don't rush, create time and space for God to move.  The following are some suggestions which may help you through your time in the scriptures.

† Sacred Reading "Lectio Devina"
‡ - Lectio (pronounced Lex-ee-o) means reading.
§ - Divina (dih-vee-nah) means holy or sacred.
‡ - Sacredly read the scriptures with no agenda.
§ - Sacredly read the scriptures with no predispositions.
‡ - Do not read as a teacher getting ready for a lesson.
§ - Read and enjoy the Sacred text repeatedly and slowly.
‡ - Contemplate on words and phrases that God draws out to you.
§ - Memorize the text.
‡ - Read for the purpose of becoming obedient to the truths of the text.
§ - Take time to confess sin

Romans 12:1	Dear Heavenly Father, I gladly and willingly present my body to you this day as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto you, which is my reasonable service.
1 Corinthians 6:20	For I am not my own; I have been bought with a price, with the precious blood of Christ as a Lamb without blemish and with out spot.
Psalm 103:1-5	Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is in me, bless His Holy Name!  Bless the Lord, O my Soul, And forget not all His benefits;  Who forgives all my iniquities, Who heals all my diseases, Who redeems my life from destruction, Who crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Ephesians 6:12,13	Lord, I realize that I do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principlalities, against powers, and against hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore I will take up the whole armor of God that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Psalm 139:5	Lord, you have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me, and I thank you.
Matthew 16:8	I build my life, my home, my marriage, and my relationships upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Psalm 23:1	The Lord is my Shepherd;  I shall not want.  For my God shall supply all my needs according to the riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7	I cast my cares upon You, for You care for me.  And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
II Corinthians 10:5	I cast down argumentsand every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity by the obedience to Christ.
Psalm 139:23-24	Search me, oh God, and know my heart;  try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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Fasting

If you seek a closer walk with God, fasting may be a key discipline you will want to implement.  Fasting however is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him.  Our motive is all important.  The purpose of all worship including fasting, is to change the worshiper in ways that have social and interpersonal impact.  We worship by bringing an offering, something that is of worth and value before you and God.  Our fasting should be done with the same motives.  We should ask ourselves the question, "What can I give up, in order to draw closer to God?"  Our motive should not be about what we are going to receive, but rather what can we give in an active form of worship.  The act of fasting does not always have to be done through the abstaining from food.  You can fast from almost anything that in the end will be a sacrifice you can bring before God.  The following fasts are found in scripture and provided to you as a guide.

1. The Disciple's Fast - Fasting for freedom from addiction (see Matt. 17:20,21).  This fast is for the purpose of breaking besetting sins that limit a life of freedom in Christ.
2. The Ezra Fast - Fasting for the purpose of solving dificult issues (see Ezra 8:21-23).  Fasting for specific purposes, opens the gateway for specific problems to be solved.
3. The Samuel Fast - Fasting for the purpose of people coming to Christ (see 1 Sam. 7:1-8).  If we fast and pray for revival, God will pour Himself on His people. 
4. The Elijah Fast - Fasting for the purpose of breaking crippling fears and other mental problems (see 1 Kings 19:2-18).  Through this fast we cry out for our need to overcome negative emotional and personal habits.
5. The Widow's Fast - Fasting to provide for the needy (see I Kings 17:12).  When we sacrifice our own physical needs, God enables us to focus on and provide for the needs of others.
6. The Paul Fast - Fasting for insight and decision making (see Acts9:9-19).  Through fasting we subject our will to God's, clarity of His will in the decision making process comes through these times.
7. The Daniel Fast - Fasting for health and physical healing (see Daniel 1:12-20). Daniel in his Babylonian captivity kept himself from pagan foods for the purpose of being more healthier than others in the king's court.
8. The John the Baptist Fast - That "your righteousness shall go before you" (Isa.58:8).  John took the "Nazarite" vow in preparation for being the forerunner of Jesus.  This vow required him to "fast" from or avoid wine and strong drink.  This was a lifestyle he adopted which desiignated him as one set apart for a special mission.
9. The Esther Fast - That "the glory of the Lord" will protect us from the evil one (see Isa.58:8).  Prior to appearing before the king to petition him to save the Jews, Esther, her attendants and her cousin Mordecai all fasted to appeal to God for His protection.

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Silence & Solitude - Creating Space for God

In silence and quietness the devout soul makes progress and learns the hidden mysteries of the Scriptures.

Thomas a Kempis 

There is something about silence and solitude, something that makes them both desirable and yet threatening.  Could it be, that in a day when noise so prevails in our lives, that many of us have become fearful of simply being with ourselves.  Our busyness acts as an excuse to not deal with the condition of our own heart and soul. When we stop, we come face to face with who we really are.  In silence our veneers fade away and we come face to face with God. Often God speaks to us in silence.  In The Old Testament book of I Kings we see God talking to his servant Elijah in the same manner.

I Kings 19:11-13 - So He said, "Go forth, and stand on the mountain before the Lord."  And behold the Lord was passing by!  And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord;  but the Lord was not in the wind.  And after the wind and an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire;  and after the fire a sound of gentle blowing.  And It came about that when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  And behold a voice came to him and said, "what are you doing here , Elijah?"

Why Silence? I'll be the first to admit that periods of silence are few and far between and that I have a long way to go before I can say that the lessons I've learned from silence have truly transformed my life.  But I can say this without equivocation: Silence has an awesome transformative power.  And I use the word awesome intentionally and deliberately here; our culture may carelessly throw that word around, using it to refer to everything from the latest underground band to Starbucks' latest concoction, but I'm using it right now in its literal sense of inspiring awe. Silence inspires awe when it causes me - me! - to stop obsessing about the unending, soul crushing, Spirit-quenching details of my everyday life. Silence inspires awe when it shows me how little I listen to what people are saying to me, both in their actual words and in the real meaning behind the words they're speaking. Silence inspires awe when it underscores the hundreds of unnecessary words I utter each day. Silence inspires awe when it diverts my attention away from the chatter in my head and toward the wonder that the rest of life - the authentic life - contains. Silence inspires awe when it overcomes the discomfort I feel when I experience silence in the company of other people. Silence inspires awe when it removes my desire to talk for a few peace-filled hours. Silence inspires awe when it quells the very fear it provokes:  the fear of silence itself, the fear that keeps me turning up the noise to ward off all the other fears that consume me. Silence inspires awe when it makes a place where I can hear the voice of God. Marcia Ford, Traditions of the Ancients

Mount Arbel overlooking the Sea of Galilee at sunset.

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Sabbath

To act as if the world cannot get along without our work for one day in seven is a startling display of pride that denies the sufficiency of our generous maker.  Dorothy Bass

In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.  All life requires a rhythm of rest.  There is rhythm in our need for sleep, the seasons, the tides, night and day, and even in the ground we grow our crops from.  We have lost this essential rhythm.  Our culture invariably supposes that action and accomplishment are better than rest, that doing something - anything - is better than doing nothing.  And for want of rest, our lives are in danger. The key question is, "If I don't, who will?"  Do we trust God enough to give over control?  Do we really believe that it is His, and not our's?  Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means "to cease".  This principle is found woven throughout the Old and New Testament scriptures.  From the very Creation in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, God modelled a rhythm between work and rest.  For the first six days He worked, and on the seventh He rested.  Jesus also in the New Testament often modelled a rhythm of rest. One of these key passages is found in Mark 1:32-33, 35-36.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons.  And the whole city was gathered together about the door.... And in the morning , a great while before the day, He arose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him pursued Him.

Jesus did not wait until everyone had been properly cared for, until all who sought Him were healed.  He did not ask permission to go, nor did He leave anyone behind "on call," or even let His disciples know where He was going.  Jesus obeyed a deeper rhythm.  His three ministry seamed all to short.  A prostitute at Simon's banquet had found forgiveness and a new life, but many others still plied their trade.  For every ten withered muscles that had flexed into health, a hundred remained impotent.  The blind, maimed and diseased abounded throughout the land.  Yet on the last night, with many urgent human needs unmet and useful tasks undone, the Lord had peace.  He knew that He had completed the work given to Him.  I guess it really comes down to, do we really trust God enough to simply rest, stop, cease from striving and reflect upon the goodness of our Creator.  In sabbath we find restoration to our soul!