Devotions

One of the great tragedies of the Church in this generation, and one of God’s greatest griefs, is that so many Christians are not truly happy. They put on a good front — singing, clapping, smiling and praising. But lurking just beneath the surface is loneliness and deep misery.

These Christians are hot, then suddenly cold. They cannot cope with fear, and depression runs over them like a steamroller. One week they are high, the next week low. Many times their marriages follow that pattern as well. One day all is well between a husband and wife, and the next day they are miserable. Some days they cannot even talk to one another. They explain, “Well, that’s just the way marriage is supposed to be. You can’t expect to stay happy and loving all the time.”

Believers caught in this up-and-down cycle should heed the words of Paul to Timothy. He encouraged the young man to help others come to their senses and “escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26), or, as the King James Version puts it, “taken captive by him at his will.” This describes many believers perfectly: Because they give him access, Satan moves in and out of their lives at his own will. They exercise no authority to stop the devil at their heart’s door and he flaunts his hold of them. “You have no power of Christ in you to stop me,” Satan says. “You are my captive and will do as I wish.”

This lack of victory in Christ is appalling! Jesus did not die so that you continue to live under the power of Satan after you have given your heart to him. Be careful not get caught in this trap. Instead, set your heart on firmly walking with God and claiming his promises. Determine to seek him with all your might and he will fill your heart with true, lasting joy.

As the old prophet Elijah pondered his last day on earth, he invited his servant, Elisha, to go along with him as he visited the towns of Bethel and Jericho. On this “teaching journey,” they arrived at the bank of the Jordan River where Elijah removed his mantle — a wide, loose-fitting garment or gown — and smote the water with it. Supernaturally, the waters parted and the two men crossed over on dry ground (see 2 Kings 2:8).

On the other side of the river, Elijah turned to his servant and said, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” (2 Kings 2:9). Without hesitation, the younger man replied, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (same verse).

Elijah appeared surprised by Elisha’s response: “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2:10). Elijah was saying, “If you see me as the Lord is taking me away, your desire will be fulfilled, but if you miss the action, you’ll have to go home disappointed.”

As they walked, suddenly a chariot appeared out of heaven and in a flash, Elijah was taken up. Elisha witnessed the whole scene and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” (2:12). Elijah was gone but his mantle dropped to the ground. Elisha picked it up and placed it on his own back. Then he returned to the Jordan and did just as his master had done: he struck the water with the mantle and immediately the waters parted and he walked over on dry ground. Thus began the young prophet’s remarkable ministry.

What does this passage have to say to us today? I believe God wants to do greater things with each succeeding generation. He wants to perform miracles and provide more of his Spirit for his people beyond anything seen in the past. He longs for us to prepare our hearts and see the Lord do a new thing in these last days.

“I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land” (Ezekiel 22:30).

God says he is looking for someone who is willing to “stand in the gap,” that wide, empty place where something is missing. Evangelism, worship, teaching, preaching, good works, Sunday school, and youth ministry are well covered, but your church’s “gap” may be prayer.

The Lord calls his church to stand in the gap, no matter what the outcome might be. If you pray only to get success in your own life, you are just like the Pharisees — and Jesus called them hypocrites or pretenders. You may pretend to stand in the gap for somebody else but really you want something for yourself. If you don’t get what you want from God after fifteen minutes, you quit praying. The prayer meeting and seeking his face are no longer a part of your life — and you doubt that God will answer prayer.

God seeks persistent, faithful, heart-felt prayer. Standing in the gap in the secret place with God for fifteen minutes each day is a good start. You will find those fifteen minutes turn to twenty and then thirty. Don’t worry about how long you pray, just stay consistent.

The Bible clearly tells us he wants us to be filled with his love and power — and this only happens when we go into the secret place with him. If you are doing good works just to be seen by men, that is all you will see and your life will become consumed with questions: “Did they see me? Do they appreciate what I’ve done? Am I accepted? Am I loved?”

When you are standing in the gap and serving him, it will not matter what others say and you won’t be looking for that pat on the back. The Father’s eyes are on you and he is saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”                 

When Satan came down into the Garden of Eden, he came with a hatred for God that manifested every time he tried to bring to ruin that which was closest to the heart of the Lord: mankind. The devil ended up sowing a thought into the human race that would bring man to his own destruction — the idea that we can become as God in ourselves.

After Satan tempted Adam and Eve, God said to him, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every best of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:14-15).

This is the first time in the Bible that we see the redemptive plan of God. Obviously, God was not caught by surprise in the Garden of Eden. He knew that humankind would be created in His image, would subsequently fail, and then would have to be redeemed. So God was essentially telling Satan, “Lest you should exalt yourself, know that I have a plan. You are going to live to conquer and devour those created in my image all the days of your life. I will put an act of opposition between you and the woman — but from the seed of a woman I am going to raise up the One who will actively oppose you and defeat you.”

The One from the seed of the woman was Christ. And as we know the story today, Jesus would be raised from the dead and would tread upon the devil’s imagination that he has the right to captivate those who have been created in the image of God, not just for time but for all eternity.

It is vital to remember that we have power over the devil — and the true source of our power is in prayer. It always has been, and it always will be.   

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001.

As Jesus made his way toward Galilee, he came to Jacob’s Well in Samaria where he stopped to rest from his journey. When his disciples went to buy food, a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water and Jesus made a simple request of her: “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7).

Christ’s words to this woman began a long conversation and during their talk, she was amazed at the things he told her. Finally, she said, “‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (John 4:25-26).

The disciples returned and they were amazed to find the Master so deeply engrossed in conversation with this Samaritan. They set about preparing the meal and when the food was ready, the woman hurried back to town. They said to Jesus, “Rabbi, eat” (4:31), and Jesus responded with this puzzling statement: “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (4:32).

Jesus was telling them that he had been fed with food not of this world and he was completely full. He explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (4:34). Likewise, we are to be about God’s kingdom work of witnessing, testifying and winning souls. Jesus accomplished this work with the Samaritan woman, as the Bible says she believed he was the Messiah. She said to her friends, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (4:29).

Christ’s need for fellowship was being fulfilled as he talked with this woman. Jesus said, “All I asked for was a drink of water but she brought me an honest, seeking heart. This kind of communion is food to me.” 

Jesus wants to have quality time with you daily. Each time you wait on him, he promises to speak to you, so wait in his presence until you hear his voice unfolding his heart to you.