Dale Cresap's blog

You have my promise that you shall have whatever you ask of me in prayer. Do you consider this to be an amazing and extravagant blank check from someone with unlimited resources? How do you respond to this? Do you ask for as much as you can? My ability to give is unlimited. How great is your ability to receive? Would it be good for you to get everything you wanted, or would it leave you overwhelmed? Don’t let your desire for abundance turn into unfocused fragmentation. David said ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord’ and it was a good thing. Ask me for what you need to fulfill your destiny in me and you will get it with singleness of heart and purpose and vision.

Can you minister to me and not be aware of it? In the story of the sheep and the goats, I commended the sheep for very specific actions. I said that they provided me with food and drink. They gave me clothing and visited me. They were perplexed at this approval, and asked, when did we do these things? I replied that when they did them unto the least of these they did them unto me, and the converse was true for the goats. Note that there is nothing about doctrine, faith, or belief in this story. So it is possible to be kind to me and not know it, but it is better to do it with awareness, to see me in the least of these and minister to them as you would to me. 

I said that a prophet is not without honor, except among his own family and countrymen. This principle may apply to you even if you are not a prophet. This is similar to the proverb that familiarity breeds contempt. I am doing a great work of spiritual transformation in your life, but those who have known you all along may not be prepared to acknowledge this growth. The work I am doing in you enables you to minister life to others, but they may not be able to receive it. It is not beneficial for you to fight this principle I declared. Rather ask how far you need to go to be effective in the ministry I have given you. 

You know that you are saved by faith rather than works. Yet you should not assume that faith and works are contradictory and opposing concepts. Does your faith lead you to take action? It should. Do you find that the actions you take in faith serve to make your faith stronger and more real to you? James made a good argument when he said show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works, for one without the other is dead. The Bible is a book of faith but it is also a book of action. Faith is the initiator, but it does not grow without closing the loop with action. 

Does it appear to you that churches target narrow audiences? Do you see a wide variety of demographics in most churches? People tend to associate with those like them and are more comfortable that way, so even churches with a wide membership base will organize internally around age-specific groups for instance. Have you noticed that such distinctions are erased when a church is in revival? A true move of God has appeal across demographic lines and attracts young and old. It is possible to confuse cause and effect, but if you want revival look for ways to be inclusive so you may be all together in one accord. 

Movies, television and novels provide an entertainment experience through stories. Are you careful about the content of the entertainment you partake of, knowing that stories can have an influence on you for good or evil? The author may have a deliberate intent for this influence or not, but either way the stories will either affirm or deny the principles of life that I taught in my own stories. Do you understand that you have a story of your own? Let the stories that entertain you reinforce righteousness that they may support the narrative of my redemptive work in your own life. 

Do you love yourself? This is the default condition of humanity as described in my word, that no man hates his own flesh, but nurtures and cares for it. Truly self-destructive people stand out as anomalies. I do not condemn you for loving yourself, yet many normal people feel guilty about doing it. My word just teaches you to love your neighbor as yourself, so that the same standard applies to all, including you. I taught that you should do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Do you understand that you need to have grace and compassion for others, and do so? Then you don’t need to feel guilty about having grace and compassion for yourself.

Do you ponder matters such as the age of the earth or current events or politics? What is your level of awareness that a being of infinite intelligence and love watches over you? The former questions may be difficult to answer, having many competing viewpoints. Even if you were able to answer them their significance may not be of any importance in your life. The latter issue affects everything in your life. If you walk in the awareness of this reality it gives you confidence and peace, and the ability to move forward without fear. Set your mind on things above.

Do you take credit for all of your ideas? Have you ever said an idea came to me? This implies an external source. If your thought processes don’t lead to a new idea by direct logical sequence, then where do they come from? My word asks what you have that you did not receive, and implies that the answer is nothing. It is a position of humility to acknowledge that you can’t take credit for your own creativity, but you are called to be poor in spirit. If you acknowledge me with gratitude I am prepared to pour out creativity on you in ever greater measure. Isn’t that better than claiming credit for little? 

Do you divide believers into those who perform ministry and those who do not? My illustration for my church is a body in which everything plays a part. The body benefits from that which every joint supplies. Yet at the same time every part of the body draws its very life and energy from the body as a whole. You should take pleasure from fulfilling the unique calling I have assigned you according to the gifts I have given you. At the same time be aware that those who give also need to receive. Those who minister should walk in the grace and humility to know that they need ministry themselves and the more visible their ministry the more important that they know it.