by Jim Burgdorf | Feb 8, 2025 | Uncategorized
When I find a song I enjoy, I tend to listen to it endlessly. I was on my 5th or 6th pass thru one the other day — you know the song — the one about needing a revelation… and not having a clue of what to do …great song – great feel – great hook – well constructed – good band & good music!
While it certainly seemed to capture and articulate things I’ve felt before, as I pondered, a revelation came. It dawned on me—here’s a clue, Jim! It’s like a lamp to my feet, a beacon, a light to my path … and it’s always profitable for correction, instruction, reproof… Wow.
One fairly obvious clue: whenever you pray, a. enter your secret place, b. shut the door, and c. commune with Father! If I accomplish that, Mt.6:6 guarantees me this result: Father will always respond and reward! I mean, it’s not like, “Lord, could You give me a better clue?!”
Don’t get too angry with me. There’s an clear reason why I was listening for the fifth successive time. My “revelation search” was in full stride when the light came on – again. ‘Jim… Jim…, just find the secret place and shut the door!’ Amen! Selah. \o/
by Jim Burgdorf | Jan 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
We enter His gates with thanksgiving! (Ps.100:4) ‘Tis the season – but this is not just a seasonal message!
Become the worship leader at your church! Seriously!
Actually, wherever you find yourself – at home, in your car, in your room, or from the back row on Sunday morning – be the “worship leader!”
We’re not suggesting that you be the loudest, the most demonstrative, or the center of attention, but that you determine to be the pacesetter – the one whose deep heart-cry of worship and fervent thanksgiving sets the pace and the atmosphere of pursuing Father and capturing His heart. …The first genuine heart-cry that reaches His ears.
Again, it’s not about the platform or the front row (or anyone else even knowing you are present), it’s just between you and Father! Does the fervency of your thanksgiving fling wide the gates? Does the force of your pursuit truly throw wide the doors into His inner courts?
Wherever YOU set the pace, wherever you fling wide the gates, can become a sanctuary – and YOU are your worship leader!!
You have an audience with the King of kings! Worshiper, determine to be the worship pacesetter in your personal arena, today!
(And remember, Father doesn’t show up to hear the music or the preaching …He’s responding to your invitation!) Selah.
by Jim Burgdorf | Dec 9, 2024 | Uncategorized
Apparently, when God sent the Holy Spirit, it was a really big deal!
Act 1:1 NLT In my first book [The Book of Luke] I told you…about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven… 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.
WHAT?? Wait??
I’ve been pondering the magnitude of this promised gift and these remarkable instructions. Consider this. The disciples had literally just witnessed the most stunning/amazing, miraculous series of events in the history of the human race – culminating with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and His subsequent Ascension. Never had there been a better moment to launch a fervent army of evangelists into the world! Never had the zeal of the message been more alive within their hearts! Never had they been as well equipped with a transforming message! HE IS ALIVE!
Yet, God directly instructed this impassioned group – wait!
Apparently more was needed than simply having a convincing message. They indeed had the powerful message/the payload, but not the rocket-fuel! Even this dynamo (eyewitness accounts of the Resurrection) needed to be plugged into the power source!
I suppose also, it was miraculous that they could actually obey – and contain themselves to wait until the promised outpouring of the Spirit’s power was received – which, of course, birthed the Book of Acts. And this birthing continues today – because the rocket-fuel is still available! Selah. \o/
by Jim Burgdorf | Nov 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Mar.11:15 NLT When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and He stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
What was so wrong in vss.15,16 that triggered the anger of vs.17? Why was commerce so distasteful to Jesus, especially if some directly related to temple rite? Technically, it provided a needed service (sacrificial lambs without blemish were specially raised & not plentiful) — people were actually benefiting. Shouldn’t this be a good thing? I know there was some price gouging going on but this discussion goes much deeper than a concern for exploitive trade practices.
Interestingly, Jesus immediately contrasts this as directly conflicting with the fundamental purpose of God’s house which He identifies as prayer!
Was Jesus denouncing any connection between business and the church? Was He saying don’t depend on the marketplace for your everyday needs — just pray? Or …if you need groceries, bring your list to the Lord? Actually, a list most closely reflects many opinions of the role of prayer in the life of the church and the believer (which is where this gets interesting).
The Mk.11 (Mt.21, Lk.19) references are all quoting Isaiah 56. Yet, while most “prayer” discussions highlight petitions and lists, the Isa. 56 passage has an entirely different perspective. 56:7 has nothing to do with a list of petitions & requests. It’s a discussion of worship – that even outcasts and outsiders are welcomed to have audience with God when their heart is toward worship.
Isa 56:6 NLT “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the LORD, who serve Him and love His name, who worship Him… 7 … and will fill them with joy in My house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
The essence of prayer (and the “House of Prayer”) is not soliciting … lobbying for our list of appeals. It is an offering to God! Jesus’ statement was not to define the church as our “court of appeals” but as a joy-filled house of worship!
…What if you discovered a “No Soliciting” sign on your prayer room door?
What if…? Many would be utterly confused. Am I somehow disqualifying making our petitions known or coming boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy…? NO. Indeed, petition and appeal is an authorized part of our prayer lives but not the core, the heart. It is not the defining feature of prayer or the house of prayer.
The word Prayer (House of Prayer) Proseuche, which Jesus uses, does not mean a petition but the original Greek actually means an earnest face-to-face encounter, worship. Related terms are used in James 5 (…any afflicted, let him pray), Acts 16 (At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises) and Ph.4:6 distinguishes (…in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving…).
Thankfully, there is not a petition-ban on our prayer closets! Remember though, that’s not why they’re there! Remember also, God did not call it His house of spiritual guidance or trainging or preaching… it is His house of worship. Selah.\o/
by Jim Burgdorf | Aug 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Most who follow God, fit into one of two groups. I was recently pondering these two typical perspectives the Word describes — not including the casual observer, spectator & devoted bystander group.
There are those who are contented with an enthusiastic, fervent approach to some spiritual things, but without a depth of knowledge of the Word. There are even more folks who willingly accumulate spiritual knowledge (and often pride themselves in their wisdom) yet without any accompanying fire or real passion for the Lord.
Rom 10:2 AMP speaks of those who “have a zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.” Yet, we also know that zealous, fervent fire is required, as Paul underscores 2 chapters later, “Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” (Rom 12:11 AMP)
Similarly, while we know the vital nature of spiritual knowledge, there are many who are “…ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth,” 2Tim.3:7. The AMP says: “forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.” (Described 2 vss before as a powerless “form of godliness.”) […forever gathering info, but never knowing personally and intimately the Truth.]
Neither is exclusive. Neither is acceptable in and of itself, apart from the vital accompaniment of the other.
This thought process brought me to this Acts 18:25 reference to the ministry of Apollos. “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and burning with spiritual zeal, he spoke and taught diligently and accurately the things concerning Jesus…” Note the balance of instruction and fire – diligence and accuracy. The marriage of knowledge/spiritual training with fervency/passion is vital to the life of every believer (worshiper).
In His Word, God is never redundant. ‘Instructed and burning’, ‘diligently and accurately’ are not just meaningless repetitions for added emphasis – they are exclusive references to the two vital aspects of our spiritual lives. …They that hunger and thirst …shall be filled! [Hunger for the meat of the Word / thirst for the flow of the Spirit.] Sitting at His feet and hearing the Word. These all directly parallel the John 4 “spirit and truth” discussion.
Are you a truth-seeker? To God, that’s not enough. He is seeking worshipers who worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Joh 4:23 NLT But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Jesus turns a discussion about worship from a physical perspective (location – worship at this mountain or Jerusalem) into a personal, spiritual encounter. This is how true worshipers must approach Him.
There is a crucial relationship between recognizing and acknowledging Him as God (growing in His precepts, character and attributes) and passionately encountering Him as Abba. From my perspective, many today have an appetite for “revelation” (truth-seekers) yet minimize (or worse) the ‘spirit connection’, the fire, the “emotional” connection (any impassioned “emotional display”).
This is why true wisdom must be rooted in worship – the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge! Selah! \o/
