Dale Cresap's blog

Have you heard the old saying about fighting fire with fire? You notice that most conflicts are fought with roughly the same methods and tactics on both sides. But even so this saying doesn’t make sense. You know that water is more effective at fighting fire. Understanding this principle is important for you because you are engaged in a conflict. You have an adversary, but I tell you that the weapons of your warfare are not carnal. I tell you not to resist evil with evil, and not to respond in the manner in which you are attacked. Respond in the opposite spirit so that you turn the other cheek and overcome evil with good. This doesn’t make sense according to the wisdom of this world, but my presence changes everything and makes it not only possible but certain. 

My disciples asked me to teach them to pray. My response was what you now call the Lord’s Prayer. I was pleased with their question and pleased to respond. Have you ever asked the same question? Have you ever been uncertain as to how to pray yourself? I am pleased that you are willing to pray and as pleased for you to ask me this as I was with my original disciples. For you are also my disciple and I am eager to reveal to you how to pray in every situation. You don’t need to assume that the prayer that was appropriate for last time is the right one now. Begin your time of prayer by asking me for guidance and listening for my response. Then you can pray in confidence knowing you are in perfect harmony with my will. 

In the story of the prodigal son, the son asks for his inheritance while his father is still living so he can squander it far away. How rude and disrespectful! Amazingly the father grants the request. What kind of father would do that? Yet you know the father in this story represents God. How many of God’s followers place a higher value on his wealth and monetary blessings than they do on his presence? Do you see this behavior among your fellow believers? Does it surprise you that they want my money more than they want me? Does it appear that they get what they want? Perhaps this isn’t such an outlandish story after all. 

What do you think worship consists of? Is it something that only occurs in a church building, and then only during services and then only as led by someone with a designated office of worship leader? Worship is the primary distinctive of every Christian. As such it should not be so narrowly defined and practiced. My word tells you to make a joyful noise to me, so the standard of quality that I will accept can be met by anyone. If none are disqualified by a lack of talent then all that remains is to find a way to express worship and practice it regularly and consistently. This is your primary task as a believer. 

Do you understand prayer as a matter of asking and receiving? You have my promise to answer your prayers and give you whatever you ask for. You are also familiar with the parallel concept of knocking and having a door open in response. Have you ever had an answer to a prayer you didn’t pray? This is the equivalent of having a door open that you didn’t knock on. I am not limited to give you only what you ask for. I can intervene in your life in unexpected ways. Are you aware enough to realize when I am acting even when it is something you didn’t request? Be ready to walk through the doors I open for you. 

Some people with extra money will make investments hoping for a return. Do you understand that there are investments that don’t involve money? Every child requires an enormous amount of care before they are able to care for themselves, let alone care for others. In a sense this is an investment that every generation makes in the future. The need for a positive external influence does not end at childhood. Are you willing to spend your time and effort to help others to realize their potential and destiny? You may not see a return on this but someone will. You can lose money in the market but you can’t lose by investing in other people.

Can you remember the most magnificent thing you saw in nature? What was your response? Were you filled with awe and wonder by the majesty of it? This is an appropriate way to respond to the beauty of my creation. How do you respond to an encounter with me? Do you try to figure it out? If the creator is greater than the creature, then a response of awe and wonder is even more appropriate for me than it is for something I have made. A spiritual encounter calls for a spiritual response rather than a rational one. My work in you is one of transformation, and you are changed from one degree of glory to another by my Spirit. 

You know how emphatically my word teaches against rebellion. This is the rejection of legitimate authority and is as the sin of witchcraft. Do you realize that rebellion has an evil counterpart? The will to power is the attempt to establish an illegitimate authority, even to dominate and control. It is interference in the natural liberty I give to every one of my creatures. I offer you eternal life for you to freely choose, yet I do not force it on you against your will. If I being perfect can leave you free to make up your own mind, how much more should you who are mortal avoid interfering with God given liberty. 

I promised that in the last days knowledge would increase. Can you see how this has happened? Search engines make a multitude of facts available to nearly everyone. Multitudes of people have access to more information than the most elite scholars of fairly recent times. Everyone agrees that this is a good thing, but in what ways is the world better off? Has this served to solve the problems of the world? My word promises that if you seek you will find, and teaches you to seek those things which are above, where I sit at the right hand of the Father. It is not enough to have information available; you must ask the right questions. Use your resources to seek my Kingdom. 

Do you understand that everyone has a sense of presence? You notice a certain atmosphere when you enter a room full of people and if you are already there you notice changes when others enter. Have you found that some people have the effect of overwhelming domination, being ‘full of themselves’ and others bring an appealing sense of acceptance and love? You can be aware of this even before anything is spoken. This presence is a part of a person that accompanies their body. Do you understand that I also have a presence with you? I promised to be with you always, but I want you to actively seek and cultivate a sense of my presence.