Answered un-prayed prayers

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

There are those moments, as the above verse reminds us, when we don't know what to pray, or even have the ability put words to our needs, to frame our feelings in sentences and all we are left with are groans. Yes prayer is a "hotline" to heaven, a resource to bring Heaven's power to bear on our needs. But what about when we can't even pray? It is at those moments the Holy Spirit enters into the process and offers our prayers for us. He frames our cries in words that are fit for God's ears. He offers prayers that fully capture our heartache. What blessing!

But let's take this to a higher level, our God is so gracious to hear us and answer our prayers that we have never really prayed. The Holy Spirit has even done the praying for us. God so wants to have intimate fellowship with us, He is so eager to hear our requests and so eager to answer prayer that He can't wait for us to turn our heart toward Him. He is so desirous of us, that He will even complete the process of prayer for us. What blessing!

So, if He is so anxious to hear from you, make sure you do. He is waiting. What blessing!

Jesse

Got Peace?

We all have watched in horror at the devastation in Japan. A massive earthquake, whole cities being washed away by a tsunami and then the unthinkable of nuclear reactors melting down. At moments like this we are at a loss for words and at a loss for peace. Graciously God caused my mind to flash back to some words found in Psalm 46 – allow me to share them with you.

"God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains
be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling."
(Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV)

Did you catch the part about the earth being moved and the oceans roaring? Sounds like this is just what we need. To remember that in spite of it all and whatever happens God is our refuge. We can and must trust Him. Trust begins with prayer and praise. Maybe these events can serve as wake-up call for us to get on our knees before our God and renew our trust and dependence on Him.

The next to last verse of this Psalm tells us that after we have acknowledged His place and power we must do as He commands…

"Be still and know that I am God"
(Psalm 46:10)

He is, He has been and He ever will be God. For that I am thankful and in that I trust.

Jesse

PS: The above is part of my current Bible Teaching series at Mount Calvary, hope you can join us in person or online for this study.

My Time is In His Hands

Tonight at 2:00 a.m. the governement of the United States has decreed that all clocks shall be moved forward by one hour. This is to allow more daylight in the evening hours. For today I asked on One Daily Question if folks were a fan of daylight savings time, and as usually the vote is split.

But my vote is no, I must confess I have never been a fan of daylight savings time. For in reality were are not getting more daylight, time is not changing we are just all agreeing to change our schedules!

Really only God controls time, He started the clock ticking and He will keep it wound. There is a verse that I think of when I think of time:

"My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me." (Psalm 31:15)

This reminds me that the events, length and path of my life are in His control, right there in His all powerful hands. Hands that have never made a mistake, never slipped or grown weary. He is involved in this second and the next second and the minute after that. I want to lift my voice in praise of the God I love and serve, and then relax in His care. Why don't you do the same - isn't it about time you did?

Got your wedding invitation yet?

Are you checking your mail daily for the invitation to arrive. As a public service I want to give you a "Save the Date" warning, April 29, 2011 is the date Prince William will wed Kate Middleton in West Minster Abbey. I am sure you won't want to miss it.

I have always believed in being prepared, so just in case you happen to run into the Queen of England or other royal person at the wedding, here are some of the official rules for meeting royalty

• Women should curtsy and men should nod their heads

• If the Royal person offers a hand, the handshake should be short and not hard

• Allow the Queen or other royal person to leave the room first; backs should never be turned toward the Queen

• During meals, the Queen eats first and when she stops the others at the table stop

• If something drops at dinner do not speak; someone will retrieve it quietly and without fanfare

So why all the fuss? Because there is a place for showing honor to a person of a superior position. Honor is a key ingredient to any relationship. The Bible is clear, both in family and in society in general, in that He expects us to honor others (Eph. 6:2, 1 Pet. 3:7, 2:17). We often seek honor for ourselves when we need to heap it on others. So you may not meet a king or queen this week but there is someone in your life that you need to treat like one; do it to honor the God who has made us all.

So you and I can both show honor in the biblical sense regardless if we get an royal wedding invitation not.

Blessings,
Jesse

Have a spare 65 hours?

It currently has 65 hours of Bible teaching, 112 individual sermons in 20 different sermon series. What you ask? My new podcast. I have been working for the last few weeks of creating a complete archive of all of my online Bible teaching material and you can now access any or all at:

www.podcast.waggonermedia.com

If you are looking for complete series with downloadable study notes and some with online videos you can access the Bible teaching section of my website:

www.WaggonerMedia.com/teaching.html

Also both my evening and morning messages from each Sunday are archived on the podcast by Wednesday of each week. Thank you so much for your love and support. The ministry at Mount Calvary Baptist is such a blessing. The folks there are so supportive and they have a wonderful pastoral staff. We are working on plans for starting a second Sunday morning service on Easter. Keep praying!

Blessings,
Jesse

Who is the Greatest?

Who is the greatest homerun hitter in major league baseball history? That question should be easy, or is it? A quick look at stats will show that Barry Bonds ended his career with 762 homeruns, end of arguement, or is it? Questions of a "lively ball" and the use of steroids make his record in some purist's minds suspect. So maybe it is Hank Aaron, his 755 homeruns stand untainted. However there are some who argue that Babe Ruth should still get the nod, since he played in a day of shorter seasons, during his first four years (1914-1918) with the Red Sox he as a pitcher and not playing every day and the spitball was not banned from baseball until the 1921 season!

It is not my point to settle this argument but to illustrate that arriving at the point of determining the greatest no simple matter. Who is greatest is always debatable when it come to humans and human effort. However when it comes to God there is no doubt that He is the Greatest. He is at the top of every list (if not the list is wrong) in charge of everything and above everything. He is unique, one of a kind, holy!

Here is a thought that will revolutionize your thinking, the one who is greatest cares about you. He is willing to involve Himself in your life. He knows all about you and loves you anyway. He understands what no one else does, He can do what no one else can do. He is crazy about you. Get a handle on that and other opinions really don't matter.

The Greatness of God will be the subject of my Sunday morning messages at Mount Calvary beginning this Sunday. We will be looking at just how great our God is, you will be moved to worship, grow and serve in ways you have not thought of before!

You can also follow this series on 58 WCHS radio Sunday's at 7:30 a.m. or you can listen on line on my podcast page you may also download study outlines here.

Jesse

Heart of Jesus (parts 2 & 3)

I am in the "red zone" with my dissertation and almost all of my time the last two weeks has been taken up with research and writing and addtions to my blog have suffered. Until I can get back to writing on a regular schedule I offer you the follow two audio sermons - this is part 2 & 3 of "The Heart of Jesus Series."

Blessings,
Jesse

In Your Darkest Hour (Luke 7:11-17)

Broken People Wanted (Luke 7:37-50)

The Heart of Jesus

Finish this statement: "You really know who your friends are when __________________."

That statement can be completed several ways but in my mind real friends are those who are there for you when no one else is. The ones who take the initiative to check on you. That ones who will not let you go through whatever life hands you alone. Real friends are those who lend a hand when it is unpopular or inconvenient to do so.

By this definition real friends are rare and the make-believe kind are a dime-a-dozen. Before I sound like I am complaining – I know that I need to work on being a real-friend and I am thankful that I am blessed with some choice “real friends.” All that to say – the Lord Jesus is indeed a real friend. He is the one loves when we are unlovely, forgives when we are guilty, and will never, repeat never, abandon us (see Rom. 8:38-39). With Jesus we have a Savior who is more than someone who offers help to look good; Someone who reaches out due to some external motivation. With Him we have His heart. You can trust His heart, even when it doesn’t look like it, even when it doesn't feel like it, even when it seem illogical, Even when no one else is trusting – you can trust His heart.

This is the study I am currently working on and sharing with the folks at Mount Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday mornings. This is also available on my podcast or you can listen in at 7:30 a.m. on WCHS beginning this Sunday, January 9th. I trust we together can learn to trust the heart of Jesus.

Listen to The Heart of Jesus (part 1)

WCHS Radio

New Ministry for Me

Someone once said if you want to make God laugh show him your five-year plan. Life is not always what we expect but as we follow Him it is always blessed. As many of you know this year has been a time of unexpected changes in my ministry life. I concluded my 2+ years of ministry in the pulpit of Bible Center Church in April. In August, I completed my 12 years of ministry at BCC. I have spent the last months traveling, (including a wonderful time serving missionaries in South America) and accelerating work on my Doctorate Degree.

Now the Lord has revealed what the next step in my ministry is to be. Through a remarkable set of God-controlled events I will begin serving as Interim Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Charleston beginning in January. Pastor David Mitchell has served there wonderfully and faithfully for the past 24 years and is retiring the last Sunday of 2010. Mount Calvary Baptist has served in the Kanawha Valley for more than 100 years. The Church is blessed with a wonderful staff and excellent facilities located just off the Westmoreland Exit of I77 (one exit north of the 77 - 64 split). I will begin filling the pulpit on Sunday January 2nd and after the service on Jan. 9 the congregation will vote on the recommendation of the Deacons to approve this. I am looking forward to getting to know and serve the people who worship at Mount Calvary.

Another development is that Mount Calvary Baptist will also launch a Sunday morning broadcast on AM58 WCHS on January 2nd from 7:30-8:00 a.m. This spot has been served by Pastor Bobby Sizemore as a ministry of Elkview Baptist Church for many years, and I will do my best to continue to serve the listeners with quality Bible teaching in that location and time. Listen in if you get the chance.

While I wait for the Lord to direct to an opportunity for a full-time and permanent ministry I am excited to tackle this next task. I would appreciate your prayers in these next days. Thank you so much for all of the love and encouragement so many of you have shown over the past months.

Blessings,
Pastor Jesse Waggoner

Listen, It's Christmas

I have recently been involved in an online conversation about why God would choose Shepherds to be the first ones to hear about the birth of His Son. The comments generally revolved around the connection to Jesus being the Good Shepherd, the Son of David who was a Shepherd or the fact that they were low and humble. While thinking about this I come to an even more fundamental and I believe, profound conclusion: God wanted to deliver a message. That night He chose the extraordinary means of a multitude of angels filling the sky, but He got the message across; a message of peace and goodwill and a Savior born. He directed them via the angelic announcement to find Jesus wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.

God does not often use such extreme measures to deliver news to us. He usually speaks through His all-time best seller and the only book He has written; the Bible. Our responsibility? To listen! In this case you have access to the source documents, to firsthand accounts of what God had determined for you to know. What a blessing to know that God wants to speak to you.

This Christmas please plan to invest some time digging into God’s Word, privately and with others. He has delivered on His part, are you delivering on yours?

Jesse

Video Version of this teaching

That thing is huge!

Recently I needed to move a large bookcase my father had built for me (see picture below) it is beautiful, and has a built-in 55 gal. aquarium. It is huge and it is heavy. It is way beyond my ability to move. I remember that someone once said that the one thing better than having a truck, is having a friend that has one! So I called a dear friend who showed up with a huge truck complete with hydraulic life and couple of other well-muscled men. I still had to shoulder my corner of the bookcase but the gracious help of these friends got the job done.

Peter describes our Lord as “the God of all grace.” Earlier we looked at the “God” part and the “All” part, so now we want to think about the “Grace” part. Grace can be defined as God’s help in our need. That is why the bookcase story is a great example of this. The gracious act of these made a job that was too big for me possible. His grace can move even impossible things that maybe staring at you. Those things that keep you up and night and steal your joy in the day. He can move it!

So what is that huge – immovable thing in your life? That one thing that is way too big for you to budge? Maybe it is time to trust in the God of all grace. Count on His help to be there for you in your need. Renew your confidence in His showing up when you need strength beyond yourself. He won’t let you down.

Jesse

Veiw Video version of this teaching

More research

Would you take three minutes and help a seminary student out? I have added three quick questions to my ongoing poll which is part of my research for my Doctoral Dissertation. I need as many responses as I can get, I so appreciate your taking the time to answer these three questions. NOTE: You will have to use your browsers "Back" button to get back to the questions page to answer the next question. Thanks so much for your help!

To take the poll go here

Running out of time (The God of All Grace part 2)

"But may the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." (1 Pet. 5:10)

I have a limited amount of time to write this before getting to my next scheduled thing. In fact I always have a limited amount of time. In reality I have a limited amount of everything – time, energy, opportunity, money, etc. and if you want to know the truth, so do you! We are finite every day and in every way.

As we think on the second part of the description of God as being “the God of all grace” I want to dwell on the “all” part. He is not limited in His grace. It never is in short supply, the transportation system to bring grace from the throne to you is never disrupted, it never runs out no matter how much you need. He is a God of unlimited grace. He is infinite every day and in every way.

So the next time you feel like your needs exceed God’s ability, or the reach of His compassionate grace – let this verse stop you and redirect you. He has not used up His allotment of grace on all the other needy people and left you without – He is the God of all grace. Thank Him for that today and live like that today – you had better get started time is short.

Jesse

Video version of this teaching

Here are some recent family pictures - enjoy!

The God of All Grace (1 Pet. 5:10) part 1

"But may the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." (1 Pet. 5:10)

For some reason a phrase from this verse had lodged itself in my mind over the past few days. Did you notice how Peter addresses God? He calls Him "the God of all grace." Stop what you are doing for a few moments and think about that. We have in our lives, caring for us the God of all grace. I will address the last two thirds of that phrase later but think for a moment about the fact that He is the GOD of all grace. If he were gracious and not God, He at best would be a benevolent person but not have the ability for that good will to do anything in our lives. No the "all grace" is empowered by the omnipotent God!

God has never seen a tight spot He could not get us out of. He has never faced a dilemma that did not have a third option. He had never faced a disease He could not heal. He has never encountered an obstacle he could not overcome or a roadblock He could not remove. He is able to deliver grace to you.

Are you in need of some encouragement today? If so, remember this; the God of all grace is on your side and He delights when His children turn to Him in faith and seek His help. So...what are you waiting for?

Jesse

Video Version of this teaching

A (non) Drive Time Video on Gratefulness

As many of you know it has been sometime since I have made any new Drive Time Videos - I will spare you the details for the absence but I am make a new series of videos that while not from the road are from the heart and more importantly from God's Word. As always I appreciate your support and feed back. Just click the play button on the video below or if that is showing click the link to go to a webpage where you can view it.

Blessings,
Jesse


Click here to go to video page

Know your preacher?

I need your help. Usually I try to write items on this blog to inform, entertain or inspire you but this offering is a little different. As most of you know I am working on my Doctoral Dissertation and as part of that project I am doing some original research. My subject is the role of the hearer in the preaching process. What I need is your opinion. Since I spend most of my time behind the pulpit I need to know what the person in the pew is thinking. I will do these polls over a period of time in three question segments. It should only take a minute or two of your time but your input will be a great help to this seminary student.

Just click the link below to get started and let me thank you in advance for your participation, Also, please feel free to pass this on to anyone you may like, I could use all the opinions I can get. All responses are anonymous; so tell me what you think of preaching, listening and preachers like me.

Jesse

Please note that after you click "VOTE" after each set of answers, you will be taken to a results page, use your browser's "Back" button to return to the page to answer the following queston.
TAKE THE POLL

Who is in Charge?

So who really is in control on the field during an NFL game? The picture above that I took last Sunday in Dallas may give you a hint (you can click on the picture for a bigger version – you may have to use your browsers “back” button to back to the blog). In the picture you see players – it’s not them. You don’t see any coaches but it is not them either. How about the referees in their snazzy striped uniforms? Nope. Photogaphers? No. Cheerleaders? No again. It is really the man with the weird looking orange gloves. His title is NFL liaison or sideline coordinator. It is his job to get the word from the TV director in a control truck outside the stadium that the TV commercials are over and the game can restart after a break. The Refs cannot start until the sideline coordinator tells them to, on the field nothing happens until he says so. The orange gloves are so that the refs can easily see his hand signals to start or stop the game.

This got me to thinking about this – the person who is really in charge of something is rarely the person you see in the foreground. Perhaps in this political season a few folks would do well to remember that there is something more in play than just the acquisition of political power. Leaders in the church would do well to remember that no matter the title there is someone more unseen to who we are responsible. On an even more personal level we are each in charge of very little and all of us are persons under authority. So, we should all act like it.

Perhaps this would be a good time to express you submission to the God Who rules over all by offering your words of acknowledgment of His place and power to Him in prayer. As you practice the discipline of submission not only will He be honored and pleased, it will help you refocus to see His hand in your life, and you don’t even have to look for orange gloves!

Jesse

A few more pictures from our trip

The Sign

Matt. 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19

A hand-written sign is not meant to last long – it only for a fleeting temporary event that will soon be gone like the event of which it speaks. The person who actually put the letters to a discarded plank of wood and tacked it to the cross of Jesus had no idea that what he was labeling was far from a passing event. It was penned with as much care as a “yard sale” sign stuck on a utility pole, but it was placed over the head of one who cared enough to be sacrificed on our behalf.

The inscription in full was: This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. The Jews objected and demanded the sign be edited to include “he said, I am king of the Jews. (John 19:21-23), they were OK with it being a claim of a rebel but they did not what it to be a straight-forward declarative statement. Pilate caused it to be written in way to show contempt for the Jewish authorities – this was his view of a king that would come from the Jews a weak and dying would-be ruler. These were not words the Romans believed-- but they were absolutely true! Jesus was and is the rightful heir to the throne of Israel (cf. Luke 1:32-33) but is also King of Kings (I Tim. 6:15). These truths and Pilate's words though written in unbelief attest to Christ’s sovereignty and His divinity.

The hand-written sign was to mark a moment but it testified to a movement. Something far greater was happening, something that would alter the destiny of all who believe in the King of the Jews.

Since He is our King and we are subjects in His kingdom, our response should be obedience -- complete, unquestioning obedience. God desires and deserves our worship but worship means more than offering our words to Him; He desires compliance with His will, in this is He pleased (I Sam. 15:22).

Family Update

In addition to my Bible studies and essays I post weekly on this Blog, I have decided occasionally to update you all on the happenings of the Waggoner family. So, many of you have taken the effort to stay in touch and Julie and I appreciate that so much. First of all let me identify all in the picture above.

L to R: Julie, Eric and Jessica, Katie and Brian, Brandon and Heather and Me,

We both are doing well and are blessed beyond words and are constantly amazed at the goodness of our God. We were so thankful for a late summer get-together with our entire family; we enjoyed a relaxing weekend as well as a visit to the WV State Fair. In September I was blessed with the opportunity to speak at a Missionary Retreat in Ecuador. It was also in September that we said goodbye to the congregation of Bible Center Church. Thankfully we live in a day where even though we may be separated we can still stay in touch. We are so thankful for the 12 years of ministry that the Lord gave us.

We have been traveling a bit of late, I was in Chicago for some ministry meetings back in the summer, Julie I traveled to be with friends in North and South Carolina, We visited family in Richmond VA a couple of weeks ago and last week we went to Morgantown for the WVU – FSU game, and took a couple of days to travel through the eastern mountains of WV. In a couple of weeks we will be traveling to Dallas to see the Cowboys play – this has been a long time dream of ours and we are looking forward to seeing our favorite team play live! We also are working a mid-west trip in mid-November. Below, I have put some links to photo albums from some of the above if you want to take a look.

We have also been going through a renovation of our kitchen and a few other fix-up projects that have kept us busy and I am spending part of each working on my Doctoral Dissertation. I hope to be finished by the end of January.

We have been in contact with a few churches in need of a pastor. I can’t provide details yet but I would appreciate your prayers that the Lord will give clear direction to our next place of service. Whether we end up near or far we will always give thanks for each of you.

PHOTO ALBUMS:

Waggoner Get-Together

From the Road

WVU game

Fall in the Mountains

Jesse Waggoner

Time Warp

"Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come,” (Isa. 44:7)

The language in this verse refers to God declaring in advance what will happen in the future. This is a question that spotlights His prophetic ability, and especially His exclusive ability do so. The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecy; more than 60 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled on the day Jesus was crucified. Time does not permit the ability to explore many of these, but I would refer you to ten chapters further in Isaiah and to read chapter 53 and reflect on how accurately it depicts the death of Jesus. In this verse, He is challenging any skeptic to show even one example that shows that anyone else has this ability, and while the skeptic is silenced the believers should be comforted to know that He is a God who can definitively proclaim the future. In this He has no rivals.

He is unrivaled in time, and He is not just existing in time but expressing His will through time. Note well the time frames in this verse. First of all…

He operates in the past

It is He that “appointed the ancient people.” Here, He is looking back to expose His sovereign control. The people of the past were appointed, literally “placed” by God. One only has to look at the historical sections of the Bible to see everywhere His hand at work. We can likewise see His had operating in our lives and we should mark well the places along our path were He has involved Himself in our lives

He operates in the present

This is seen in this line: “and the things that are coming.” God is operating in the midst of things that were then coming to pass in the present. The trends, events, movements, circumstances and happenings of their day are connected back to the same verb “appointed” as the events of the past. He alone can appoint the events that unfold in present time to be in accordance with His will. But we are not finished. Also…

He operates in the future

Lastly He appoints “the things that are coming and shall come.” This final terminology focuses our attention on the future. Just as surely as He has appointed the past and present, His appointment, His placing, His setting of the future is likewise sure and good as done. God is the only One who can operate in the future as well as the past and present

Our heavenly Father wants us to know that the One who speaks in the past and prophesies concerning the future also traces the arc of our lives through time by means of His controlling, loving, powerful hand. Based on that, how does that help us in these troubling times in which we live? Simply, He is in control at all times!

Jesse Waggoner