Tag: prayer

Thoughts and Prayers…

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Thoughts and prayers seems like so little. But I can’t go hug the families and friends of victims of the recent shootings. I wasn’t there to be able to try to stop the bad guys. My ability to actually be able to respond personally to these tragedies is limited. So yes, unfortunately, all I have to offer is prayer.

I pray for the survivors, for the families, the communities. I pray for God to provide comfort, strength, and healing. And although it feels like too little, too late, prayer is still more powerful than we know.
I wonder, have we who claim to be Christians forgotten the power of prayer? Have we become lax in our prayer lives. I’m preaching to myself right now, too.

We are told to pray without ceasing, yet the reality is that we turn to prayer only after something bad happens. If we truly desire a change in our communities, in our nation, in our churches, and in our lives, it begins and ends with prayer. To be sure, action will be required of us. But, we must also re-learn the apparently lost art of prayer. We must learn again to, in the words of an old Petra song, get on our knees and fight.

I Miss My Time With You

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10-38-42, NLT)

Martha was distracted. She was distracted with preparing dinner for her guests. If she was around today, she might also be distracted by social media, and TV. In any case, she was not focused on what was most important. Now what she was doing, preparing dinner, and presumably wanting it to be special for everyone, isn’t wrong. But she was missing the fellowship and the joy of visiting with her guests.

How many of us today, are distracted? Do we even realize it? Are we allowing all the duties and distractions of the day to interfere with our spending time, and fellowshipping with God?

Pastor Mark Wilson, in his book Filled Up, Poured Out, writes, “Their prayer saturated lives reveal this important truth: You cannot live well unless you pray well. Godliness is the fruit of deep, frequent and fervent praying. He was commenting on the biographies on the biographies of some more modern heroes of the faith, like Corrie ten Boom, David Brainerd, and others.

And in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which started out as just a tiny church with barely any members, said, “We are not New Testament Christians if we don’t have a prayer life.”

I shared these previous two paragraphs a few years ago. I have to confess, I have not done well at living out what I am about to preach. I have not been who I have appeared to be. I have not been the man who God has called me to be because I have fallen short of the time I spend with Him. In fact, it is partly because of this that I have felt led to bring this message. Like Martha, I have frequently been so distracted by everything around me that I have forgotten what is really important; Fellowship with, and learning from, my Lord.

I took my title from a song by Larnelle Harris:

There he was just waiting, In our old familiar place
an empty spot beside him, where once I used to wait
To be filled with strength and wisdom, for the battles of the day
I would have passed him by again, If I didn’t hear him say

I miss my time with you, Those moments together
I need to be with you each day, and it hurts me when you say
you’re too busy, busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me, When your spirit’s empty
there’s a longing in my heart, wanting more than just a part of you
it’s true, I miss my time with you

As I look at the Church in general, and those of us who call ourselves Christians, I see far too many who are Christians in name only. Too many are unable to discern the truth from the lie because we are not spending time with God, and that includes spending time studying His Word, as well as in prayer.

Spending time with God is how we learn Truth.

We need to become like the Bereans in Acts 17:11. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. (Acts 17:11-12, NLT). They verified what Paul and Silas were telling them was true.

We must study the scriptures diligently. We must be certain that what is being preached is in harmony with God’s Word.
I also see far too many so called pastors and teachers who are spreading false gospels, and twisting God’s word to say whatever supports their particular view, or desire.

I see and hear two primary false gospels today: There is the prosperity gospel, which has twisted God’s word into some sort of God owes you riches, and if you send us money, God will make you rich, scheme. And the so called progressive Christianity which completely twists God’s Word and reinterprets the Bible so that even what God calls sin is suddenly not sin.

In both cases, the falsehoods are often so subtle that if we are not familiar with God’s Word, it almost makes sense. Satan is great at twisting God’s Words. He has been doing it since the Garden.

If we look back at Genesis 3:1, right off the bat he twists God’s command to Adam and Eve, about what trees they are allowed to eat the fruit from. God Had told them that they could eat the fruit from any tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan approaches Eve and asks “Did God really say you can’t eat the fruit of any of the trees?” And he has been doing it ever since.

Here is one way to be able to tell if a statement is true or false. If a statement is only partly true, then the whole statement is false.

To be able to do spiritual battle, we must be so familiar with God’s word that we recognize attempts to twist it.

Spending time with God recharges us.

Elijah had just won a great victory over the prophets of baal, yet in 1 Kings 19 we find the prophet of God depressed, and even fearful. He is told to stand on the mountain before the Lord. A great wind came, but the Lord wasn’t in the wind. This was followed by an earthquake, then by a fire. God was not in those either. But then, Elijah heard a gentle whisper, and he went out and stood at the entrance, and heard a voice saying “What are you doing here, Elijah.” We must regularly spend time with God so that we won’t miss it when He whispers.

Even Jesus had to get away, and spend time in prayer, talking to the Father. In Mark 1:35 we read that even before daybreak one day Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Again in Mark 6:44, we find Jesus going up into the hills by himself to pray. Even the Messiah needed to recharge. How much more so do we need to spend time alone with the Lord?

Spending time with God is how we do Spiritual Battle.

In Daniel 10, Daniel is describing a vision he had. This man Daniel saw in his vision speaks to him and in tells him, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.” (13, NLT)

In Mark 9:14-29 we are told about a man bringing his son to Jeus to be released from a demon. The disciples had already tried to free the boy, but without any success. After Jesus casts out the demon, and he and the disciples are alone, they ask Him, why they weren’t able to successfully cast out the demon. And in verse 29, Jesus tells them that that kind of demon can only be cast out by prayer.

The final verse I want to share is Revelation 3:20. Jesus is giving John a message to the church at Loadicea. They had become stale. They thought they had it all. But in fact they had become like a lukewarm drink, which would cause a person to vomit. After his warnings, Jesus gives this invitation: “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal together as friends.”

This invitation is for everyone. It’s for those who are still seeking, those who are new believers, those who have been with Jesus Christ for years. And everyone in between.

I want to do something different for an invitation. I want to read the second verse and the chorus to the song…

What do I have to offer, how can I truly care
my efforts have no meaning, when your presence isn’t there
but you will provide the power, if I take time to pray
I’ll stay right here beside You, and you will never have to say…

I miss my time with you, Those moments together
I need to be with you each day, and it hurts me when you say
you’re too busy, busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me, When your spirit’s empty
there’s a longing in my heart, wanting more than just a part of you
it’s true, I miss my time with you

I leave you with this challenge: Let’s finish 2020, and begin 2021 in daily fellowship with God. And let’s make 2021 the year that we grow spiritually more than we ever have.

Jesus in the Wilderness

/ CD Hamman

Jesus in the Wilderness: A Time of Preparation & Testing

Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13


Jesus had just been baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and God declared that Jesus is His son, and He is pleased with Him. Then we read that the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted. Jesus has a mission to begin. All missions require preparation.

Bottom Line: Am I prepared & ready?

Talk to any current military member, or veteran. Almost all will tell you that the 8 weeks they spent in basic training were some of the toughest weeks of their lives. In hindsight, they are thankful for the preparation, training in the tools and skills that they will need for their survival. However, they would not volunteer to do it again.

1) The wilderness is a time of preparation.

Almost every task requires preparation. Sending people into the wilderness to prepare them wasn’t exactly a new concept to God. Moses was in the wilderness tending sheep when God called him. God used the wilderness wanderings to prepare the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. And now, God was sending Jesus into the wilderness to prepare Him for His ministry.

Jesus didn’t just sit around, and wander aimlessly about. Jesus’ response to being sent in to the wilderness was to fast. Prayer, and meditating or studying the Scriptures is a large part of fasting. Of course Jesus didn’t have a cell phone handy, with a neat Bible app, and all the research tools that we often rely on. He likely didn’t even have any written copy, or portion, available to him during this time. He had to rely on His knowledge and previous studies to meditate on scripture.

Sometimes God sends us into the wilderness to prepare us for an upcoming ministry. Admittedly, sometimes we send ourselves, but I think our response should be the same. When we find ourselves wandering in the wilderness, we need to learn to fast and pray.

Fasting is a physical act of obedience, and physical obedience brings spiritual release. Think of Moses and the Israelites’ battle with the Amelakites. Moses was told to keep his hands raised. Lets not forget Esther’s response when Mordecai told her that she needed to talk to the king about Haman’s evil plot to destroy the Jews. She began with prayer and fasting. I would also point out that every great revival began with prayer and fasting.

2) Testing often comes during, as well as after, the preparation.

Mark barely spends two verses on this time. But, in 1:12-13, Mark tells us that, “The Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan for forty days.” So we know that Jesus didn’t simply rest, and study. Even as He was preparing for His ministry, He was being tested. Likewise, when we are in the wilderness, preparing, we too can expect that tests, and battles, will arise.

Jesus was tempted in every way just as any other man. Though, we know that He was no ordinary man. He never gave into the temptations. What was His secret? It’s almost so simple that we often miss it. Prayer and fasting, along with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures are what lead to spiritual victories when the testing, and the battles come.

Are you making time to pray? Are you making time to study the Scriptures? When I visited at First Wesleyan in Nashville, Pastor Lorrie said something that stopped me almost in my tracks. “If you’re not praying, you’re not fighting.” And Scripture is our weapon.

Some of the most serious warriors I know are little old ladies, praying for their children, grandchildren, neighbors, their pastors, and others. Men and women fighting on their knees in prayer have resulted in countless spiritual victories. I have no doubt that I am here today because of the prayers of others. I have seen miracles because people were fighting the battles on their knees in prayer.

Also, as I said, Scripture is our weapon. In the three temptations mentioned, how did Jesus respond? He responded to each temptation with Scripture. I want to point out something that I suddenly realized as I was preparing for this sermon. Often we just look at the outside of these temptations: bread, protection, bowing down to satan in exchange for power. But if we look deeper, look at exactly what satan says: “If you really are the Son of God…” Satan was attacking Jesus in His pride. He was trying to get Jesus to respond out of selfish pride. But Jesus knew the Scriptures, and the Father, so well, that he never took the bait.

How well do you personally know the Scriptures? Are you simply letting the preachers spoon feed you? Or are you delving into the Bible throughout the week? Getting to the meat of a passage? The devil knows the Scriptures so well, that he can attempt to twist them. Do you know them well enough to use them to defeat the devil?

If we are to be battle ready, and victorious, we must spend time in prayer and fasting, and in studying the Scriptures.

3) God provides care during and after the battles.

Mark tells us that even while Jesus was out among the wild animals the angels took care of Him. Matthew says that the devil went away, then the angels came and took care of Jesus. Of course this isn’t the only place where we see God providing care after the battle.Even after his victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah became depressed. God provided food and rest for him.

I think this is important to note, even while we are in the wilderness, maybe even feeling sorry for ourselves at times, God still takes care of us. We may not understand while we are in the wilderness, but God still cares for us, and the Holy Spirit is watching over us, encouraging and guiding us.

Bottom Line: Am I prepared and battle ready for my mission and ministry?

Are we Listening?

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

Something strange happened today. When I stopped to get fuel, and take my 30 minute break, I met another driver. Nothing unusual about that, as I meet people all the time. But meeting this driver started as simply a friendly greeting in passing, as I was walking back to my truck, with my somewhat freshly made truckstop cheeseburger.

As I continued toward my truck, I got just a few steps away when I could almost hear a voice telling me to turn around, and go back and offer to pray with that driver. I have to admit, I hesitated. And I even argued. I mean, God just doesn’t speak to me that way. Sure, there have been other times I felt like God might be telling me something, and I’ve shrugged it off. But this was different. I tried telling myself this was crazy. I just could not shake the feeling that I needed to pray with this person. I had this sense that how I choose to respond was extremely important, in ways that I honestly don’t fully comprehend.

So, I said “OK, God. I think I may be going nuts, but, I’ll try this.” I turned around and walked back to this other driver, who was still outside her truck, adding coolant. As I approached, I said simply, “Please don’t think I’m nuts, but God told me to come back and offer to pray with you.” As I prayed with Julianne, I learned that she had simply needed a prayer partner today.

Then we parted ways, and I got back into my truck, started it, and started driving. As I’m pulling out of the truckstop, I have the radio on, and one of those radio preachers comes on. He started with a comment about how people say God doesn’t talk to us like He had in the past. The next thing he says is that maybe God has been talking to us, we just haven’t been listening like people did in the past. After hearing this, I couldn’t help but wonder about times in the past when I thought God might be telling me to do something, but I brushed it aside, because, “God never speaks to me that way.” Maybe God really was speaking those times, but I wasn’t listening. What about you? Are you listening?

My response to President Obama

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

So, our President pointed out this week that Christians have committed atrocities in the name of Christ, just like ISIS and other radical Islamic groups are doing today in the name of Islam. As I read the words that he spoke, and have thought about them I can’t help but feel like he is actually trying to justify the atrocities currently being committed by these terrorists.

Sadly, Mr. President, you were partially correct in saying that Christians committed atrocities during the crusades. Yes, sadly, there were some serious crimes against humanity committed by the crusaders. However, the purpose of the crusades was not to forcibly spread Christianity and murder all who opposed it. The primary purpose of the crusades was to liberate the Holy Land, and others, which had been brutally attacked, and taken over by, guess who… radical Muslims, who declared it to be their God given duty to destroy any who do not believe exactly as they do.

And yes, as I studied the history of Christianity in seminary, I was appalled by the atrocities that Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike, have committed in the name of Christ, even against each other. I have been disgusted at the way our leaders have often behaved. But the sins of the past in no way provide a defense, or excuse for the atrocities currently being committed. And to reference those past actions and failures of others is nothing more than a poor attempt to overlook, excuse, or even worse, to justify the current crimes against humanity being committed by isis and other terrorist groups.

Mr. President, if that is the best you can do, tell us that we shouldn’t get on our high horse because of past behaviors of others who claimed to be Christians, while our nation and the world are under attack from a violent and dangerous enemy, then you are unfit to lead this nation. You should resign, as you have shown that you are unwilling and unable to take any real action to protect or defend the United States, and our Constitution against any enemy. In fact, you are beginning to sound like an apologist for them.

Finally, may we who confess to be followers Christ, fall on our knees and pray for our nation, and for forgiveness, as a nation. We must also pray for our leaders, that they may have the wisdom and the courage to lead us back to honoring God, as well as to stand up against evil.

Heart’s Desire

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

With getting ready to start a new job that will make it impossible, now may be a bit late to admit to this; but for the past 10 months I have sorely missed singing in church and leading worship. All that time chasing after a law enforcement career, and things lost, and now I realize that my heart’s desire is in music and ministry.

Why would God call me? I have no clue. I’m more like the apostle Peter than I am the apostle Paul. I’m often most likely to stand there like Peter did and brashley declare that “I’ll follow you anywhere, Lord,” then turn tail and deny Him when everything hits the fan. On top of those flaws, anyone who knows me well enough knows that I am very much an introvert who has always been afraid of public speaking. I avoided speech class in high school, and only took it in college because I had no choice.

But somehow, no matter how insecure and unsure of myself I feel, when I get on the platform to sing or to preach most of the doubt and insecurity go away. There is always still just enough remaining to make me remember to rely on Him. I have some minor vocal and facial tics that kick into high gear when I get nervous, but when I’m singing and preaching they completely disappear.

I’m praying that spending some time driving will give me some time to reflect as well as to provide a decent income and savings so that I can do something with music and ministry. In fact I can honestly say that I never expect to make money doing ministry. That’s why God has blessed me with many other talents, so that I can work at other jobs and not be a burden to a church or a ministry. In that sense, maybe I am a little like Paul. I can be a “tentmaker” to support myself wherever God leads me in ministry. And all I can truly say about my call is that God called me to preach and sing. Or maybe to sing and preach.

To anyone who reads this I simply ask you to pray for me. Pray that even in the truck, or whatever I’m doing, that I represent Christ well. Pray that doors may periodically still be open for me to sing and preach occasionally, and that I will always be ready.

Finally, I leave you with this question: What is your heart’s desire?

My Challenge

/ CD Hamman / Leave a comment

I admit to cheating for this first post. The following was first posted in January to my status on Facebook. However, my initial goal is to simply get started. Over the next several months I plan to begin using this forum for everything from my required journaling for classes to sermon ideas, to random thoughts, with the ultimate goal being to remind me to keep my focus on Christ.

I have a challenge for the Church, and all those who profess the name of Christ. My challenge is this… Instead of focusing our blame for sin and our nation’s decline on the sins of others, spreading emails and FB posts that blame our government leaders, or other religions, or people who do not accept the truth of God’s Word; How about instead focusing our attention and energy on something radically different… PRAYER. Yes, many of our leaders are screwing things up, and there are groups who have come out strong against Christ and His Word. But I do not believe that focusing our attention on them and arguing with or against them is doing much good. Because I believe that we have forgotten about prayer, and repenting of our own sins.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God clearly commands us to pray: At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NLT)) And Paul’s first letter to Timothy tells us to pray for all, including those in authority: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. (1 Timothy 2:1-6a (NLT))

While I admit I have not gone through line by line of the Bible, I have done a thorough enough search that I believe that I can honestly say that nowhere are we commanded to complain about other people to God. Nor are we told to complain about our government. Complaining will not change things. But prayer… prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in our arsenal against the Satan. Our war is not with men and women, but it is a spiritual war. We cannot win this war by complaining, and finger pointing, or judging. We who proclaim the name of Christ know that the victory has already been won through Christ’s death and resurrection. So let’s re-learn to fight this war like men and women of God, on our knees with holy hands lifted to God.