Phil Meade – NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Pray Without Ceasing

Phil Meade on March 22, 2024

16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

The word “pray” (and other forms of the word) are found over three hundred times in Scripture. We are reminded again and again to take our cares and worries to the Lord in prayer. Nothing is too small and out of sight of our Creator. We are promised that “… whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matt 21:22). John also reminds us to have confidence, and “if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

It is interesting to note how both of those two verses contain the tiny word “if.” It is a powerful word, and it reminds us that we must have faith when we approach the Lord in prayer. We also must ask “in God’s will” so that he can hear us. I have often heard the statement “God is not our cosmic bellhop” (source unknown). That means we cannot just ring the “bell of prayer” and He will cater to our every whim. We must approach the throne of grace with humility and reverence, asking in Jesus’ name, and God’s will be done.

As those of you who attend NorthStar know, we are in the beginning stages of a building campaign called “Whatever it Takes.” Don’t panic, I am not asking you for money (however if the Spirit is leading you in that direction, feel free to respond). I bring this up only as a reminder of what the power of prayer can do. Prayer has been an integral part throughout the history of NorthStar. Prayer got this church off the ground. Prayer has sustained NorthStar as we approach thirty years in existence. Prayer will see us through this next season.

Just like those three thousand souls that were saved at Pentecost, people will come, the Word will be heard, the Spirit will empower, and lives will be changed for eternity. As your week wraps up, take a moment to pray for God’s will to be revealed in your life. Thank Him for His many blessings, and pray for the Spirit to embolden you to walk strongly in the Lord. As Jesus reminds us, “13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

Phil Meade is a father of three, and grandfather of five. He has a Masters in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NorthStar Church. He recently retired after 33 years as a pilot for Delta Airlines.

Digging Deeper: Empowered by the Spirit

Phil Meade on March 21, 2024

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword”

Matthew 26:52 (ESV)

EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT

We pick up the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after Peter has hacked off an ear of one of the servants in the crowd that has come to arrest Jesus. Peter took action, empowered only with the finite power of a human being. Charles Spurgeon notes, “It would have been far better if Peter’s hands had been clasped in prayer.”

Jesus reacts quite differently. David Guzik explains, “At the moment when it seemed that Jesus had nothing and no advantage, He knew that He still had a Father in heaven, and access to His Father and all His resources through prayer.” We too have access to all the resources of heaven simply by praying.

Peter has a long list of failures and brash moments. He walks on water, but quickly sinks when his faith weakens (Matt. 14:29-30). He argues with the other disciples about which one is greatest (Luke 22:24). He has the nerve to tell Jesus that this whole “suffer and die and rise again” plan may not align with Peter’s plans for Jesus (Matt. 16:22). He refuses Jesus’ attempt to wash his feet (John 13:8). Finally, on Jesus’ last night of his life, he denies his Lord three times, twice to lowly servant girls (Matt. 26:69-75). All of these missteps are because Peter is only empowered by his earthly abilities.

David Guzik summarizes Peter’s action that final night noting, “With his sword, Peter accomplished very little. He only cut off one ear, and really just made a mess that Jesus had to clean up by healing the severed ear (Luke 22:51). When Peter moved in the power of the world, he only cut off ears. But when he was filled with the Spirit, using the Word of God, Peter pierced hearts for God’s glory (Acts 2:37).”

We all have “Peter” moments. We think we can conquer the world, fix every problem, and right any wrong. Without the Spirit of God, we are severely limited in what we can accomplish. With the Spirit of God dwelling in us, Jesus promises that we can move mountains (Matt. 17:20). Peter and the other apostles received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter preaches to the crowd, and three thousand “souls” were added to the church that day (Acts 2). That is just one example of the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells inside us. How do we tap into that power? Pray!

Digging Deeper: The Power of Prayer

Phil Meade on March 20, 2024

49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Matthew 26:49-54 (ESV)

THE POWER OF PRAYER

We pick up the story as Judas and a large crowd (some armed) converge on Jesus. Among the crowd of people are chief priests and elders. They have come to arrest Jesus, and take him away (v. 49-50). One of Jesus’ disciples (you can probably guess who) draws his sword and cuts off the ear of a servant (v. 51). In John’s account of this incident, Peter is named as the swordsman (John 18:10). Jesus then rebukes Peter (v. 52), and heals the servant’s wound (Luke 22:51). Jesus also reminds those around him that if he wished to do so, he could call down over twelve legions of angels to come to his rescue (v. 53). A Roman legion in the first century would normally comprise five to six thousand soldiers, so twelve legions at a minimum would total over sixty thousand angels!

David Guzik comments, “With one sword, Peter was willing to take on a small army of men, yet he couldn’t pray with Jesus for one hour. Prayer is the best work we can do, and often the most difficult.” We as Bible-reading Christians always tend to give Peter a bum rap. Was he impulsive? Yes. Was he a type A? Probably. Did he occasionally leap before he looked? Most definitely. Jesus, who only has hours left to live, is following God’s will while also explaining one last time the reason for his presence on earth. He is showing the world that prayer is stronger than the sword.

Peter acted in a way that most of us wouldn’t hesitate to imitate (maybe not quite to the extreme of attacking someone with a sword). When someone we love is attacked, we try and fight back, to right the wrong. What Jesus is teaching is that the discipline of prayer, fueled by the Holy Spirit, empowers us to take on all challenges. If you are seeking to do God’s will in your life, before you act impulsively, you must pray for guidance on how to handle your particular trial. The Secret of the Kingdom is unlocked by prayer, and not by our own physical force. Peter, as always, was a slow learner.

Digging Deeper: Your Will Be Done

Phil Meade on March 19, 2024

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on…”

Matthew 26:40-45a (ESV)

YOUR WILL BE DONE

Three times in this story Jesus prays to his Father. He asks that the trial he is about to face be taken away. In the same breath, however, notice how he always ends his prayer with “not my will, but your will be done” (v. 39, 42, 44). Jesus gives us a wonderful example of a humble, sacrificial, servant leader. He knows the path he must travel, he knows the cost, but he totally surrenders himself to the will of the Father!

I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to discern what God wills for my life. We all want to feel like we are in control, flying the plane, so to speak. But giving up control of your life actually makes you feel more “in control,” and less subject to the whims of daily life. The Lord Jesus taught us to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matt 6:10).

My mother passed away many years ago after an arduous battle with cancer. At the time, I prayed for miracle healing, even though the logical, worldly side of me knew the odds were not in her favor. As she neared the end, I began to add “your will be done” to my prayers for her. I have tried to include that little phrase in all my prayers to this day. I also try to remember to ask God that if He wills it to take me through a difficult trial, He will also provide me the strength to endure. If you read Luke’s account of this story, you will see that an angel appeared to Jesus to give him the strength to endure what lay ahead (Luke 22:43).

I challenge you to seek God’s will for your life in all that you do. When you pray, ask in full faith for what your heart desires. In the same breath, ask God to bend your heart to His will, and not the other way around. As D. A. Carson notes, “‘Not your will but mine’ changed Paradise to desert and brought man from Eden to Gethsemane. Now ‘Not my will but yours’ brings anguish to the man who prays it but transforms the desert into the kingdom and brings man from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.”

Digging Deeper: Pray When Darkness Surrounds You

Phil Meade on March 18, 2024

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

Matthew 26:36-39 (ESV)

PRAY WHEN DARKNESS SURROUNDS YOU

As this story unfolds, Jesus and his disciples have celebrated the Passover with a meal, taken part in the first Communion, and Peter has emphatically pronounced he will never deny Jesus. It is late at night/early in the morning as the group heads to Gethsemane (a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives on the east side of Jerusalem). Darkness is everywhere. Jesus picks out the three who have been his closest friends during his time on earth (Peter, James, and John, v. 37), and he asks them to watch as he walks on alone to pray (v. 39).

Jesus knows what lies ahead: an unimaginably painful physical death on the cross; and, an equally unimaginable spiritual separation from his Father as a result of the weight of the sins of the world being placed upon him. Paul wrote, “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21a).

Jesus is “very” sorrowful and troubled, “even unto death” (v. 37-38). Some translations describe Jesus as exceedingly sorrowful, overwhelmed with sorrow, and full of sorrow. Matthew here is describing a violent emotion, something resembling shock. The King of Kings proceeds to “fall on his face” (v. 39), and begins to pray to his Father. Luke describes Jesus as “being in agony,” his sweat becoming like “great drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). In Jesus’ darkest hour, with the night closing in all around him, he lays prostrate at the feet of his loving Father.

At various times in the Gospels, Jesus goes off to pray, often in the hours of darkness. He does this to connect with his Heavenly Father, and to recharge his Spirit. We are called to do the same. When you find yourself in your darkest hour, pray! When the world seems to be closing in all around you, pray! When you reach rock bottom, just remember to look down at the rock of foundation you are standing on. Fall on your knees and pray! James, the half-brother of Jesus, says it perfectly, 13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13a).

God, in the name of Jesus, through the power of the Spirit, hears our prayers. Praise God that He listens!

Digging Deeper: God, the World, and the Church

Phil Meade on December 29, 2023

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (ESV)

GOD, THE WORLD, AND THE CHURCH

In John 3:16, we have three main characters involved: God (in the persons of God and Jesus, two members of the Trinity); the World; and, the believers (the church universal, not necessarily a specific denomination). Let’s look at the interrelationship between these three entities.

God, through Jesus, created the World (see Hebrews 1:2). The World rebelled, and was now separated from God. God entered the World, in order to facilitate a reconciliation. Some rejected God, and they will be separated from Him forever.

Those who chose to accept Jesus became the church. The body of Christ consists of those who are redeemed by His blood. The Spirit transforms the heart of the believer, leading to an endearing love for and obedience to their Creator. They now have peace with God, and are guided by His Holy Spirit.

The church is in the world, but not of the world. We are not to live as the world lives, nor to “love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15, ESV). The church is called to take the Word of God to all nations (Matt 28:19, ESV).

This describes a balanced relationship between all three parties. However, take one party out of the equation, and an imbalance will occur. If we have just God and the World, without the church, the proof of God’s love and saving grace is not evident. If we have just God and the church, the body of Christ would be inward-looking, and would lack purpose. Loving our neighbor and sharing the Gospel would be meaningless. Finally, if we have just the church and the World, we would have the modern definition of “spiritual but not religious.” God is now a concept, and transformation and salvation would only be possible through one’s own efforts.

Take time today to thank Jesus that he willingly and lovingly left heaven, was born in a stable, lived a sinless life, died a sinner’s death, and rose again, all so you and I could live with Him for eternity!

This article expounds on the general premise of a commentary on John 3:16 by Wilbert R. Shenk, Professor Emeritus, Fuller Theological Seminary, from the website transformingcommunity.com.

Digging Deeper: The Light and the Darkness

Phil Meade on December 28, 2023

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

John 3:19-21 (ESV)

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:9-12 (ESV)

THE LIGHT AND THE DARKNESS

On day one of creation, God spoke into being the light (day), and the darkness (night) (See Genesis 1). This Christmas season, we celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. Jesus is called the “true light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1:9, ESV).

Yet many flee from the light, fearing what the light may reveal (John 3:20, ESV). Another reason people reject the light is pure selfishness. John MacArthur explains that people do not believe in Christ (the light) because, “They love their sin. They don’t want to come near Christ ’cause He shines a light on their sin, exposes their sin. Sinners love sin. It’s not ignorance. It’s not lacking the basic faculties of reason. It’s not misunderstanding. Sinners prefer moral darkness.”

Should we as believers in Jesus fear the light? We all have things about us that we do not wish to be subjected to the light of day. But we are loved by a God who sent his Son into a dark (and getting darker) world to shine a light into the darkness. This merciful, forgiving God knows all our hidden secrets, yet he chose to send his Son as the perfect sacrificial lamb, to offer an atonement for our sins. We should be drawn to the light, the light of truth, so that our good works can be clearly seen (John 3:21), and we will become children of God (John 1:12).

Digging Deeper: He Loved, He Gave, with a Purpose

Phil Meade on December 26, 2023

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (ESV)

HE LOVED, HE GAVE, WITH A PURPOSE

In John 3:16, God gave us a model for how to live a loving, giving life. God loved, so he gave, with a purpose. He was not coerced into giving. He did not give out of a sense of guilt. He did not give to be noticed (although all that He does is for His glory). He gave because He loved! Even though we are all sinners by nature, he sent his Son into the world to die for my sins and for your sins (see Romans 5:8).

Abraham and Sarah are two examples of God’s loving, purposeful giving. They could not conceive a child, even though God had promised Abraham he would be “the father of a multitude of nations” (Gen 17:4, ESV). Abraham had already tried to circumvent God’s plan (Ishmael), but God told Abraham that Sarah would deliver a son, Isaac. How did the couple react to the news? Joy? Weeping? No, laughter! Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was barren, but Isaac was born, and God established His covenant with Isaac. God loved, and He gave, with a purpose.

Jesus walked the earth for 33 years. He spent his last three years living with his group of 12 disciples. He taught them about his heavenly Father, not only in word, but also in deed. He loved them, even unto death (see John 15:13). He gave all of himself to them, willingly laying down his life (see John 10:11). He commissioned them to spread the good news of his coming and going (see the High Priestly Prayer, John 17). Jesus loved, and he gave, with a purpose.

Jesus is quoted by Paul as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35, ESV). I think that in today’s “I want it all and I want it now” culture, one would be summarily canceled on all social media platforms for espousing that attitude! As you prepare for the upcoming year, open your eyes to the need that surrounds you. Lovingly look for opportunities to give, with a purpose. We are all to some extent gifted with time, talent, and treasure. Use those gifts that God gave you to bless others. God gave us Jesus – Jesus gave us eternal life. Give to others as a way of shining a light in this dark world. Who knows, that light may shine on the path to Jesus for a lost soul!

Digging Deeper: The Priceless Gift

Phil Meade on December 25, 2023

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (ESV)

THE PRICELESS GIFT

Trivia question: What Bible verse was referenced on a sign held up by the “Rainbow Man” at many of the major sporting events during the late 70’s and early 80’s? Hint: He wore a rainbow-colored wig and always managed to get brief on-camera time during the network broadcast. Answer: The verse is John 3:16, and Rainbow Man is Rollen Stewart. Unfortunately, the professed born-again Christian and evangelist is serving a life sentence for multiple kidnappings.

If you ask someone (Christian or non-Christian) to recite one Bible verse, John 3:16 would probably be one of the most often-quoted. This one verse succinctly describes the message of the Gospel. Let’s unpack each section of this powerful verse:

1) “For God so loved the world” – God initiates the love. In John’s first epistle, he writes, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19, ESV). God has loved the world from the beginning. He has been pursuing us from the start.

2) “He gave his only Son” – This is the most precious gift he could give. A chasm was created between God and man as a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve. God, in his infinite wisdom and endless love, created a way to bridge that divide. The price was immeasurable, but the cost was worth the gain. God loves us that much!

3) “Whoever believes in Him” – There is a requirement associated with this gift – One must believe in God’s Son. This is not merely an intellectual understanding of who Jesus is, but it is the act of placing your trust and faith in the one who came to “take away the sins of the world” (see 1 John 3:5).

4) “Should not perish but have eternal life” – The act of sending His Son as the perfect lamb was designed so that all who believe and “call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom 10:13, ESV). Belief in Jesus guarantees that God’s love for us will never end, and we will be with Him for eternity!

As you celebrate Christmas this year, take a moment to reflect on the immense love of God, the priceless gift that He gave, the cost of that gift, and the eternal implications of that gift. The gifts we give to one another during this season, no matter how special the gift, and no matter how much thought and cost went into obtaining the gift, pale in comparison to the gracious, life-saving gift that God has offered us on Christmas morning (see Ephesians 2:8).