DavidCortner.org

The last couple of months have been a time of some of the most intense spiritual warfare I have ever experienced.  It is very hard to describe in written form…you just have to believe me that it has been very real.  When talking about it with a good friend, he encouraged me to recruit a band of prayer warriors from the church to pray with me and to specifically pray against the enemy and his attack. 

I prayerfully worked through how to approach this.  I very simply and briefly shared at the close of our last communion service that I was struggling with some spiritual warfare issues.  I asked that if there were those who would be willing to pray for me and my ministry that they would prayerfully think about it - not respond right then in the emotion of the moment - and then e-mail me and let me know later.  I was overwhelmed with the number of people who responded. 

We all (minus a few who had conflicts) met last Wednesday night so I could share more in detail, in candid transparency about the spiritual battle that was going on, give them some specific requests, and give some brief insight on spiritual warfare praying.  Words are inadequate to express how appreciative I am for the outpouring of support and love that was present in this meeting and more so, for the power of prayer and the Spirit that was evident. 

It reminded me again, that we are in a real battle, but we know who wins!

I have been wrestling with Psalm 62:1  - “My soul finds rest in God alone;” and then vs. 2 - “He alone is my rock”.  Alone?  Is that really true?  In vs. 5 the Psalmist says, “Find rest, O my soul in God alone”.  In vs. 6 he repeats what he said in vs. 2 - “He alone is my rock”.    The word “alone” stands out in this Psalm. 

Does my soul really find rest in God ALONE?  Or do I need to have tangible encouragement and affirmation from others to make it?  Would I be able to make it if I NEVER received any tangible encouragement of any kind from anyone else?  Is He ALONE my rock?  Is he alone my source of strength or do I need others to help come along side and bolster my feelings?  Am I at a place in my spiritual life where I can hear His encouragement?  Can I hear His still small voice from within? 

Oh, I realize the biblical place for fellowship, encouraging one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and the role of the body of Christ, but…like I said…I am wrestling…is He really sufficient?  We all say that He is in our theology and even in our testimonies, but in practical everyday living…is that what we believe and practice?

I recently read a blog (by someone I respect and usually agree with) that felt Mother’s Day was far too commercialized.  He said he felt “Mother’s Day is a bad idea.”  He went on to say, “Mother’s Day is a bad idea because it subverts the reality of faithful mothering and robs faithful mothers of their true glory.  Mothers deserving of honor are handed cards and taken to lunch, when songs of praise should instead be offered to the glory of God.” 

While I agree that Mother’s Day has gotten far too commercialized, isn’t he “throwing the baby out with the bath water?”  I have felt for years that Christmas has gotten far too commercialized, but I am certainly not advocating that “Christmas is a bad idea!”  The reason Mother’s Day and Christmas have gotten so commercialized is because WE have let it become that way!  Rather than determine it is a bad idea, how about “Let’s put MOM back in Mother’s Day”.  Let the church honor mothers!  Let the church let it be known that motherhood is still honorable and that we value mothers and especially praying mothers (as was the case with biblical character like Hannah and more recent examples like Susanna Wesley…and my mom and even my wife!).   Let the church have ministries for moms and let’s truly bring mom back into Mother’s Day…and it’s also NOT wrong to buy her a gift or take her out for dinner - that’s NOT commercializing Mother’s Day!  (even the author admitted he had done that!)

So…Mother’s Day is a GOOD idea…not a bad idea! 

A Message to Mothers - Podcast

As we honor all the moms on Mother’s Day, let’s go back into the Old Testament and take a look at Hannah and her longing to be a mother and then at what happened when God granted her desire.

The Return of Jesus Christ - Podcast

Believers have heard and talked about the return of Jesus Christ for years and years. We have all read books and heard many sermons about this topic. Do you REALLY believe He is coming back? Are you really ready?

The spring drama, The Walls of Jericho is now history.  After two long weekends of 4 performances each weekend, it is done!  Many people are exhausted…and understandably so.  Many nights and Saturdays of rehearsals and then 8 performances plus one extra performance for a taping create a demanding schedule! 

This will go down in my mind as one of the best if not the best!  It was packed with nuggets of biblical truth from beginning to end.  The performances were without a doubt par excellence.  So many people had to come together to make this happen - not just the large cast, but the technical crew and many people who served behind the scenes, who were never known! 

I was privileged at each performance to visit with people who came.   We had so many who came from our community who have no connection with Bethel.  I am especially thrilled at the large number of friends who came from the Jewish community - what special friends they have become and how supportive they were this year in coming and bringing others with them!

A big thank you to all the Bethel family for their intensive labor and prayer support.

Ever feel like you can’t escape discouragement and despair? David did…and it was from within his own family! Psalm 3 gives us a transparent look into David’s despair and how he eventually found encouragement in the midst of his problems.

Properly Dealing with Escalating Difficulties - Podcast

What most people need is not another message rehearsing the narratives of the resurrection of Jesus from one of the gospels. What most need is to find out “what does the resurrection mean to me today?”. This message looks at the practical application of the truths of the resurrection.

Easter - The Practical Reality of our Hope - Podcast

We will look at a part of Philippians 1 as we look at the current “State of the Church” at Bethel and then spend time sharing the results of the survey recently taken by the church consultants here at Bethel.

2009 State of the Church - Podcast

As I journey through the “One Year Bible” again, I recently came upon Deuteronomy 34: 9, “Now Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom…”.  It made me stop and meditate for a few minutes.  Recently it has often been my prayer to have wisdom and a discerning heart and mind.  Now I see that Joshua was “filled with the spirit of wisdom”.  That would be my prayer as well.  But what is it that I am really longing for in this “wisdom”? 

The ability to see things as God sees things.  To think totally objectively…to see the big picture, not just the here and now and the short-term picture.  I am willing to make even hard decisions if I am totally convinced they are the right decisions.    To have the mind of Jehovah El-Roi - the God who sees and knows.  I sometimes feel like what Solomon verbalized when he said he felt like just a child that was supposed to lead a kingdom.  My prayer is Colossians 1:9 that God would “fill me with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding”.