ReFocus

The greatest work that we do, the greatest privilege that we have is to stand in the presence of God. Sylvia Gunter has a great understanding of the importance of this privilege. Check out her website. Read Sylvia Gunter’s latest email newsletter:

God is seeking worshipers. He desires His people to be eager to know Him intimately and experience all of who He is. He wants a people who are not content to be just born-again and sitting on their eternal security. He longs for His people not only to love Him but to be in love with Him. When you are in love, you desire to please your beloved more than anything else. You are joyfully, willingly submissive to the one you love. This is commitment. This is surrender. God would rather have you than the things you can do for Him. He is more interested in your being all He wants you to be than in your doing things for Him.

The need of the hour is for believers to be in the inner court as priests. God desires to visit you powerfully to convict, woo, love, proclaim truth, reconcile, make all things new, and glorify Himself. Intimacy with the risen Christ is first priority. Minister to God in praise, worship, and communion in the inner court, just because He is worthy of worship. Let His presence and power flow through you to His glory. Inner-court ministry is the key, if you want desperately to see the works of God done in your life, your family, and your church.

If I were shipwrecked on a deserted island, what books would I want to have with me?

1. My New King James Bible




2. Prayer by O. Hallesby…the best book ever written on prayer.




3. All of Andrew Murray’s books.




4. Prayer Portions by Sylvia Gunter…check it out…this is the most practical how to guide on prayer




5. Bob Sorge’s book, “The Fire of Delayed Answers”




6. Nancy Missler’s book, “Faith in the Night Seasons”

What happens when a famine hits? All your resources dry up. That which you depended on for sustainence is gone. Despair and depression set in. Hope is fading. Your mind goes absolutely crazy trying to figure out why and how and when and what! Your security is gone.

Four lepers knew what I am talking about. In 2 Kings 7, there is a story about four lepers who lived through seven years of famine. Questions must have circled in their brain: What are we going to do? Where are we going to go? How are we going to make it? Does God care? Is God even alive?

A famine is bad enough for normal people. But lepers feed off of the leftovers and scraps of normal people. If the normal people don’t have anything, what do lepers do?

A famine is a great place for God to demonstrate his greatness. Understand that the lepers were in a famine.

2 Kings 7:3-9 (MsgB)
It happened that four lepers were sitting just outside the city gate. They said to one another, “What are we doing sitting here at death’s door? [4] If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram(the Syrians) and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
[5] So after the sun went down they got up and went to the camp of Aram. When they got to the edge of the camp, surprise! Not a man in the camp! [6] God had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” [7] Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys—the whole camp just as it was—running for dear life. [8] These four lepers entered the camp and went into a tent. First they ate and drank. Then they grabbed silver, gold, and clothing, and went off and hid it. They came back, entered another tent, and looted it, again hiding their plunder.
[9] Finally they said to one another, “We shouldn’t be doing this! This is a day of good news and we’re making it into a private party! If we wait around until morning we’ll get caught and punished. Come on! Let’s go tell the news to the king’s palace!”

God did a miracle. It involved timing, power, and preservation. The only thing that the lepers brought to the table was desperation and surrender! In one moment of time, the lepers went from famine to feasting! God in his awesome power not only changed their situation, He also gave them the privilege of feeding the king, his household and the city!

Next time you are in a famine, just remember God can change your situation overnight. This is not the ‘prosperity gospel’. This is just God being God! Just throw your desperation at the feet of God and surrender to His timing and to His mercy.

My wife is an excellent mother and teacher. Sheilah has an absolutely wonderful blog. Check it out at http://trainupthechild.org .

I am so proud of my family and the work that God is doing in their lives.

I recently have engaged in some complaining. I have not liked the way God has acted in my life. I have ‘advised’ Him but to no avail.

I am sorry, God.

In the great scheme of things, you will notice that God follows a pattern. God is such a ‘story teller’. The first act presents the individual as one with great potential who is ripe for a vision. The second act presents the setback or the failure. The setback can be self induced or it can be an act of God’s sovereign permission. Many people get stuck in the second act. This is where the enemy whispers that we are losers. The third act is the comeback, the restoration…the victory!

Which act are you in? God is on schedule with your life. We are all part of a great drama to bring glory to the Master ‘story teller’!

God has taught me a great lesson. When I am fearful, my belief in the sovereignty of God is at its lowest. When I am restful, my belief in the sovereignty of God is at its highest.

I met Pastor Timothy Nguyen today.  He is from Viet Nam.  He was interested in the ReFocus Ministry.  He asked me if I would consider coming to Viet Nam to encourage the pastors.  There is a National Conference in August for Viet Namese pastors.  He asked if  I would come and speak to the  400 pastors of Viet Nam…to encourage and energize them.  What an honor that would be!

Please help us pray concerning this.

Billy

I was asked to lead a Men’s Retreat for Zion Baptist Church in Covington, Georgia. This is the church my brother Frank and his wife attend. The retreat was held in Cordele, Georgia. Hal Slade and his wife have a beautiful facility located on a lake. The Slades offer their place as a refuge for believers who need refreshment. There is no charge for the stay…just bring your own food.

Thanks to the men of Zion for inviting me on the retreat.