Destination Church Spokane Podcast

When Jesus says, "You should pray like this:" we're about to learn something very important if we pay attention. What follows these instructive words from Jesus is what we know as the Lord's Prayer. What if we really use this as not just something to recite, but a pattern for a life-giving, sustainable prayer life? Could this be a tool to help transform prayer from a laundry list of "I need," and "I'm sorry," to a kingdom-focused, relationship-oriented engagement with our Father and His mission in the earth? Actually, yes, this is exactly what Jesus is teaching His disciples to do. Our needs are still addressed, and repentance still has its vital role, but in a much wider picture of the purpose of God.

Wouldn't it be amazing to have Jesus teach us to pray? In The Sermon On The Mount Jesus takes some time to teach into prayer. For people who feel like their prayers seem like a performance or a pretense; for people who feel distracted when they try to pray; and for people who are learning to relate to God as a Father rather than a CEO, nebulous 'force,' or a mere 'granter of wishes,' Jesus has something to teach us all: 1.) We can step off the stage. 2.) We can step away from distractions. 3.) We can step into relationship with our Father in heaven.

As Destination Church celebrates seven years in the Hillyard neighborhood of Spokane, we look back on some of what God has done and look ahead toward our call to bring in a great harvest in the neighborhoods of our city as well as across the nations of the world. 1 Samuel 22:2 is a key verse: God gathering the desperate and mobilizing them under godly leadership. Jeremiah 40:12 is another great example of God gathering a people out of desperate circumstances and then commissioning them to bring in an abundant harvest. What will God do in our own day as we step forward into the next seven years?

As Jesus comes toward the end of His prayer in John 17, He turns His focus toward... us! What is it that Jesus is praying for us, for His church? Unity: "May they all be one." Why is this so important to Jesus? "So that the world may believe." Can we actually experience what is, for so many, an elusive idea? While our ultimate oneness will be fully realized only in Jesus' coming kingdom, we can experience a measure of that unity even now, and Jesus is the one who enables it.

Performance-oriented religion will leave us feeling weary and burdened, but Jesus has a different path for us! Breakthrough belongs to Him and salvation through Him, so when we feel weary or burdened Jesus wants us to come to Him with all of it. He doesn't just give a motivational speech, merely reprimand us, or simply tolerate us. He, "...will give you rest" ... "rest for your soul..." (Matt 11:28-29) Is there still meaningful work for us to do in this life? Absolutely, and the 'yoke' of Jesus fits us well. His burden for us is light. Does this mean our work and our prayers are somehow 'lightweight?' No way. In Christ, our prayers are powerful, not puny.

What would it be like to have Jesus pray specifically for you? What do you think He would say? In John Chapter 17, Jesus prays personally for His disciples, revealing His heart for those who follow Him. His prayer doesn't begin with a 'laundry list' of demands or requests for God, but rather He talks reflectively with His Father about how things are going with them. As we listen to Jesus pray for His friends, we are also gaining insight into how to pray for those in close relationship with us. Just as Jesus' words carry blessings of unity, joy, protection, truth, and commission, so we can partner with Him in praying the same way.

What would it be like to listen in to Jesus praying? What could we learn? In John Chapter 17, we get the opportunity to do exactly this, and one the discoveries we make is that the God to whom we pray is a God of relationship. This God is deeply generous, and really wants us to be with Him. If we want to know Him in return, to glorify Him in the earth, and to find our greatest fulfillment in His presence, then we can rest assured... we are aligning with the heart of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Scandalous grace! God's compassion and care for not only 'good' people, but really not good people is astounding, and can even offend our sensibilities. Jonah is furious that God would act this way toward 'those people!' The surgery God does on his heart begins with a simple question: "Is it right for you to be angry?" God leads Jonah - and us along with him - into a discovery of His heart for both the people of Ninevah and the people wherever He sends us. Jonah leaves us asking another question: "How will we respond to the scandalous grace of God?" His grace will challenge us, even allowing us to feel discomfort and loss when necessary, and will be with us every step of the journey.

The people of Judah we encounter in the Old Testament book of Joel are struggling after serious disaster. Crops have been decimated by infestations of locusts, while fire and drought have destroyed pasture land. The resulting lack is so significant that even temple offerings of grain and wine have been cut off. The prophet Joel calls all the people, from the greatest to the least, to pray. In response to their prayers, God promises that much-needed rain and the resulting abundant harvest are on the way. Their work in the fields - sowing, tending, gathering, etc. - can now proceed in joyful faith, knowing that an abundant, diverse harvest is sure. Our 'fields' and neighborhoods today are awaiting us too, and God is bringing His rain of righteousness to them at just the right time.

Jonah has already run away from God's purpose once, but that isn't the end of his story or of God's calling on his life. Like Jonah, we may not always like the places and people to which God commissions us to go, but Jesus' Great Commission to go to all peoples and nations - even the 'Ninevahs' of our time - is in full effect. Despite Jonah's reluctance, the people of Nineveh listen to God and repent, humbling themselves before Him, wearing sackcloth as an outward sign of their repentance. Jesus, our Greater Jonah, humbled Himself even to a death on a cross, and because of His sacrifice we can now be clothed in the new garments He provides, garments of praise, of salvation, and of righteousness. He knows just how to 'overthrow' our hearts, to lead us through humble repentance His new life.

Just when things couldn't get any worse, God had a surprise in store for Jonah, and he was swallowed - yes, swallowed - by a huge fish! What probably seemed like the end for Jonah was actually God's plan of rescue, and from the belly of the fish Jonah prayed. During his three days and three nights in the darkness and the juices of a fish's stomach, God was doing a work in his heart, and Jonah's prayer can point us to the Lord too, even - and maybe especially - in times of deepest distress.

The sailors had tried everything to avoid throwing Jonah overboard, but all their collective efforts were not enough to save themselves or the ship. They prayed to Jonah's God and then they listened to Jonah's instruction, throwing him into the raging sea. Jesus, our Greater Jonah, has also been cast into the grave on our behalf, and through faith in Him we'll discover the power and provision of God. Like the sailors in Jonah's story, we'll discover the rescue of the gospel, and this saving faith becomes a shaping faith, transforming our decisions and inspiring grateful sacrifice.

The ship Jonah used in order to run from God's presence ran him straight into a storm, and no matter how hard the sailors tried to row they couldn't break free from it. When we find ourselves in a serious 'headwind' that threatens to sink our ship, it's important to remember that not every storm is because of sin! It's also important to remember that every sin does lead to stormy weather. If we've found ourselves in one of those storms, repentance is always the best course correction we can make. It's the perfect time to heed the voice of God, turning to the One who can wake us up, soften our hearts, and free us from condemnation.

God isn't afraid to ask us to do something we really don't want to do or that doesn't feel at all natural to us. This was certainly the case when He asked Jonah to go to "them," the people of the wicked city of Nineveh. Jonah's response? He's so offended that he runs away, not only from God's call but also from His presence. So, Jonah finds a ship going as far from God's instruction as possible. There will always be a "ship" - a hobby, a business venture, even a new church! - ready to take us away from God's purpose, and it's relatively easy for us to find ways to 'run away' from God if we really want to. But God's loving purpose for "them" and for us is not just going to go away. His grace is too good for that! Today is a good day to evaluate if we've been trying to shut out God's voice by running, by staying busy, or by 'doing church' from a safe distance.

In this final message of the Son of David series, we are discovering Jesus in a way we might not have expected! Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song, a beautiful poem of love and joy. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear this is also a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Bridegroom King. His appearance? - "the most handsome." His speech? - "grace flows from His lips." He has the character of a warrior and is triumphant in the cause of truth, humility, and justice. And maybe most surprising of all - He is full of joy! The Church is described as His Bride, and she, too, is celebrating! At her King's right hand, she is adorned with gold, beautiful and desirable. Our celebrating Messiah sees us like this, and we have an amazing future with our even more amazing King.

The Pharisees knew the Psalms, but Jesus' question about Psalm 110 left them speechless. Why does David call the Messiah "Lord"? How can the Son of David also be his Lord? As we dive further into this psalm we can begin to see this Lord as Divine King, Eternal Priest, and Ultimate Victor. And just who is this Divine Messiah? The New Testament is very clear: Jesus.

When Mary brings the expensive perfume to anoint Jesus she is pouring out a costly, atmosphere-changing, sacrifice of worship. Acts of costly worship like this also expose hearts. Judas is offended, claiming that she is being wasteful and that she could have sold it to give to the poor. But what does Jesus call it? "Beautiful." His rebuke of Judas seems to be one of the final straws leading to Judas' betrayal, and Jesus has something to say about this, too. "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him..." 

"My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?" It's a cry of anguish and isolation, of traumatic emotional pain. Both David and Jesus cried these words out to God, even though each of them still acknowledge who God is the midst of their pain. The pain of David's trauma and of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross is not the end, and the psalm continues. "You answered me!" Still today, God hears our cries and is faithful to His promises, even when the path to which He calls us leads through a 'cross.'

At times, life can seem overwhelming! Though Psalm 16 isn't a Mother's Day psalm, there are lots of applications to motherhood. Every one of us, including moms, can find fresh hope as we rediscover that God is a refuge, even in life's most difficult moments. Psalm 16 is a good reminder that: we are surrounded by holy people in progress, being shaped by His grace; God has an amazing inheritance for us, offering Himself to us fully; and His word guards and guides us, bringing clarity in confusion. Most importantly, when we entrust ourselves to Jesus, we are trusting in a resurrected Messiah who walks with us through every trial and who promises eternal life.

God is truly magnificent, and the majesty of His Creation is meant to leave us in awe as it points us to Him. From the the wonder of stars and galaxies to the voices of tiny children, all Creation testifies to the greatness of God. In the vastness of it all, we may wonder why God would give such dignity to humans, and Psalm 8 poses this same question. And it's in this question that God speaks prophetically about one "son of man" in particular, who the New Testament reveals to be Jesus. In Him, we discover our own dignity as sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.