AND SO WE PRAY

And so we pray...Prayer is an amazing and elusive topic.  It can be misunderstood, misapplied, misused, and just plain...missed.  Too many precious believers either underestimate its power or overcomplicate its practice.  And while there are many layers and levels of prayer in which we can learn to operate and grow, even the most elementary prayers, in Jesus Name, carry amazing authority.  So, why is prayer so squirrely a subject?  Why do so many of God's kids struggle to press into a real and active prayer life?  

The answer is two-fold:  1)  there is a hateful enemy who is painfully aware of prayer's power and is purposefully committed to limiting its expression, and 2) there are many who have believed the enemy's propaganda and are holding (or being held) back or have "over-religionized" the practice of prayer.  Let's look at each of these, in turn, focusing today's nugget on "the enemy's propaganda."

1. THE PROPAGANDA:  Listening to satan (lower case on purpose...he doesn't deserve capitalization) influences us toward doubting that we actually dialogue with God in prayer.
• The enemy would have us believe that God's sovereignty makes prayer somewhat irrelevant.  This is a distortion of sovereignty.  God instituted prayer as an intimate relationship-builder that activates our partnership with God for doing amazing things.
• The enemy wants us to believe that we are too spiritually dirty to expect God to hear our prayers.  This is a distortion of holiness.  The blood of Jesus erases the devil's plans for your life.
• The enemy wants us to believe that it would be arrogant of us to pray strong  commanding prayers.  This is a distortion of true humility, which is expressed through obedience, not self-deprecation.  God has given us the privilege of finishing the work of Jesus.  That means we get to help Him destroy satan's works!  
• The enemy would love for us to consider his power too great for our prayers to be truly effective.  This is a distortion of both his and our authorities. Not only are we always free to remain faithful to God, no matter how bad things may seem around us, but we have also been given the necessary authority to resist his efforts and take care of Kingdom business. 
2. THE PRACTICE:  That will be our next "blogetized" nugget.

I look forward to getting into our practice of prayer next time.  One final encouragement, dear ones:  DON'T BELIEVE THE eNEMY'S PROPAGANDA!  he lives to lie and can only flex his muscles around us if we let him.  Don't give him the chance.  With him is only the appearance of a brilliant, strong angel.  The truth is much further from that:  he has been demoted to the weak darkness of his own heart.  Our prayers are powerful and important and authorized and commanded and effective...and so, we pray!

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

CLEAN HEARTS - Part 2

In CLEAN HEARTS - Part 1, we addressed a common misconception about the heart.  If you haven't read that, I suggest you go back and check it out before moving on with this one.

Once we recognize the inherently good nature of our new heart, we must learn to master the art of letting its supernaturally natural submission to God's will become the prevailing force of our affections and directions.  In simpler terms:  Our new heart is awesome!  It loves God and wants to live a life that pleases Him.  Our job is to develop new soul habits that give the new heart the chance to live the new life.  So, how do we do that?  Well, there are lots of ways to approach this, and lots of New Testament verses that can help us.  Romans 12:1-2 instantly springs to mind.  But, in an effort to show how ancient and do-able this is, I want to use two widely-known Old Testament verses that demonstrate how the Father has desired and provided for this all along.

Having recognized that our hearts are no longer prone to sin by design (again, see CLEAN HEARTS - Part 1), we now realize that we have the new natural ability and privilege of yielding our hearts to TRUSTING and DELIGHTING in God.  The excellence of our mental faculties is put in its rightful place, which is in submission to a heart completely given over to God.  We accept and adopt the truth that our wisdom and passion will be founded in and focused on the Lord.  The Master of the Universe is the Master of our hearts.  My will, by my choosing, by relationship -  is His.  As a return gift, He promises to provide DIRECTION and SATISFACTION.  I trust in Him, instead of my brains, and He directs me.  I delight in Him, instead of what I see around me, and He provides and perfects my passions.  The new heart He has given me affords me the blessings of both strategic planning and supernatural pleasure.  It is that simple.  And it is made accessible to "whosoever will."  Take some time today to sit quietly, thank God for a clean heart and then consciously surrender it to Him.  Trust in Him.  Delight in Him.  And then celebrate the guidance and joy that belong to His children.

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

CLEAN HEARTS - Part 1

The focus of today's nugget is something we often refer to as a "heart check."  The heart check is a pause and ponder moment, taken for the cause of ensuring that the core of who we are is still enjoying the new life we have in Christ Jesus.  It reminds us to be practical, not just theoretical, with our hearts.  This is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.  Here is why:

1. The heart holds our fresh supply of soul-water, keeping us hydrated in a world that often wants to dry us out.  See Proverbs 4:23.
2. The heart overflows into the mouth, which has the ability to create what it speaks.  See Luke 6:45 and Proverbs 18:21.
3. The heart is inextricably linked to everything we value and hold dear.  See Matthew 6:21.
4. And for a host of other, seriously important reasons. Click here for a resource on "heart" verses. 

With our hearts being our own little Pandora's Box of interests and meditations, we can see why the Lord encourages us to prioritize its protection.  But, this doesn't mean that our hearts are inherently bad.  "WAIT!" some may say, "Isn't the heart a "lying sack of sin," according to the Bible?  Just read Jeremiah 17:9!"  Well, that is the crux of today's nugget.  That view is commonly articulated in the Church.  But, not only is there a misunderstanding due to translation; the concept itself is incompatible with the new life we have in Jesus.  In order to rightly view the famous verse in Jeremiah, about the deceitful, wicked nature of the heart, we must understand both the context and the text.

1. CONTEXT: God was contrasting those whose hearts belonged to Him with those whose hearts were estranged from Him. This wasn't a sweeping, negative declaration about the generally depraved hearts of all people.  One may argue, if you feel it absolutely necessary, in favor of the generally depraved human heart, but this is not the verse to use to make that argument.
2. TEXT:  The words chosen here by Jeremiah have much softer Hebrew meanings than our English translations suggest.  Without going too in-depth here: the root for "deceitful" actually means "slippery and tricky uphill terrain, that is difficult to read and navigate."  "Desperately wicked" in the original is "frail, feeble and incapable of self-healing."  In other words, our hearts are challenging to navigate, because they are slippery inclines, with hidden, rocky places, and divots that can trip us up.  They are frail and in desperate need of God's guiding, healing, and sustaining touch.   

As you can see, deception and wicked desperation, as we perceive them in our contemporary view, are not the focus of this verse.  Rather, the words remind us that we need Papa's help and revelation if we are to both: a) steward our own hearts, and, b) understand what's happening in the hearts of those around us.   The real claim of these verses is that hearts are complex and cavernous creatures - in need of divine maintenance, healing, and guidance.  David said it well, "Create in me a clean heart."  God replies with, "I will do you one better!  How about instead of just a little washing, we replace that heart altogether?  If you agree, I will even throw in a new spirit as a bonus!" (see Ezekiel 36:26) Of course, in the new birth, this is accomplished. Oh, what a glorious gift!  Far too many born-again believers think that their hearts are prone to and filled with deceptions and sins.  Not according to God.  He has replaced our frail, slippery, uphill-climbing pumper, with a whole new heart, made for and like His.

Friends, be encouraged today.  Your heart is CRUCIAL TERRITORY, no doubt. And it needs maintenance, healing, and guidance.  But, the Father has provided everything you need to ensure its powerful purity.  He has "created in you a clean heart."  Give yourself a heart check.  Believe that He has blessed you with a tendency toward His goodness, love and joy.  Then flourish in the peace that having a clean heart brings.

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

PRIORITIZING PRESENCE

Honduras Ministry Trip - March 2015

Ministry.  It.  Is.  EVERYWHERE.  It is all the time.  There is no chance that you can walk around for a day and not be exposed to opportunities to bless, help, serve, give.  Of course, noticing them is sometimes a challenge, for those of us who "get in the zone" as we go through our daily routine.  The pace of the clock can sometimes compete with our true heart to minister, but ministry is out there.  Waiting for someone to lock eyes and say, "I see that need - and I raise you one answer in Jesus Christ!"  

This creates a tension, though, doesn't it?  With so many opportunities, it gets overwhelming.  Sometimes we want to shut down completely, with so many needs pulling on our legs.  Yet, if we do that, there stirs a nagging, guilty feeling of having ignored "the least of these" right there in front of us.  Is there a cut-off point?  That moment when we say, "I will take care of this, this and that, but then those will have to take care of themselves." The short answer - "YES."  Now, it's not nearly as cold or arbitrary as that dialogue suggests, but there is a way to choose our specific ministry assignments, invest ourselves fully, and then step back without any feelings of guilt and shame.  It's called PRIORITIZING PRESENCE. You see, it is the presence of God within us, that makes valuable anything that issues forth from us.

The context of Jesus' words above is specific, but the words have manifold meaning.  We will ALWAYS have "the poor" (ministry opportunities).  We can help them "whenever we want to."  Jesus recognizes spontaneous ministry.  He acknowledges that our hearts will be stirred and we will want to meet the needs around us.  It is part of our new nature in Jesus; and we are authorized to bless!  The part that He felt was so important to highlight, though, was the privilege of prioritizing presence.  It is true, that since the cross, we need not worry about whether or not Jesus is technically with us. However, experiencing the benefits of His presence can be more elusive than many of us would care to admit.  Prioritizing the presence.  Taking time to focus on who Jesus is...within us...to us...through us, becomes the key to ensuring that we not only fulfill the ministry assignments He has for us; but that we do so from the place of potency - which is presence.  Living, not from the stretched reserves of the body and soul, but from within the context of His life source.   Sitting at His feet reminds us of what is really important.  It refreshes us.  It empowers us.  

Prioritizing His presence will ensure that we bring more than compassion or obligation to the table of ministry.  It will also ensure that we will not give ourselves into depletion.  I encourage you.  Invest the time today in prioritizing your relationship with Jesus.  Sit in His presence.  Cry at His feet, if you need to.  Say, "no" to some other really important thing.  Just this once.  Just for a while.  Get refreshed.  Remind your soul, just how good it is to simply "have God."  Then...when you are fully charged and aware of Who He is, for you, in you, with you - feel free to bless, help, serve, give.

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

IT'S VICTORY TIME

It's time for the children of God to walk in victory.  That isn't just religious pep talk.  It is TRULY time for God's kids to step above the enemy's rancor and become the portals of Heaven's authority that the Father has provided for us to be.  The death of Jesus released so much more than a cosmic "Get Out of Jail Free" card.  We became partakers of a divine nature - oh, what a mysterious blessing!  Holy Spirit now dwells within to maximize the nature and presence of God by activating His character, gifts, and fruit, as the tools of our supernatural trade and the food through which the world will "taste and see that the Lord is good."  

Now, there are so many ways to approach the subject of victory.  Of course, we know that Christ has already won the victory for us.  Just check out John 16:33, 1 John 5:4, and 1 Corinthians 15:57, for starters.  Yet, in spite of this amazing and overwhelming provision, so many of the Father's kids have difficulty walking in and regularly enjoying that victory.  Today's nugget poses a potential reason for that, as well as a relatively simple solution.  Remember, as you keep reading, I said it would be simple.  That doesn't mean it will be necessarily easy.  That part will depend upon your willingness to surrender to the Lord.  

“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord . You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you."  

Joshua 7:13 NLT

I believe one the greatest, current hindrances to the Body of Christ, with regard to walking in victory, is found in the words of Joshua 7:13.  Without unpacking the back story here, the context of God's instructions are given during the time when Israel is finally occupying the land that was promised so many years ago.  She is finally stepping into - victory.  The community hits a major blockade and God meets with Joshua to reveal the problem and the solution; and the revelation and instruction He gives to Joshua works for us today:

1. GET UP!  It is completely understandable to grow so tired of the battles that we just want to stay in bed, on the couch, on the floor.  Maybe we are praying, maybe escaping, maybe quitting.  Whatever the case, that moment passes and God says, "GET UP! I want to address you in your true position: standing before Me in the identity of My Son's victory."
2. GET CLEAN!  Take an assessment of yourself.  Find anything that you know is counter-Christ, anything opposing the good nature of God within you, and get rid of it.  It's doing more to block your peace than it is to bring you pleasure.  Get rid of it.  Believe me, you won't really miss it when it's gone.
3. GET GIVING!  "Hidden among you," He says, "are things set apart for God."  The Father often tests our hearts, challenging us to make gifts of ourselves and our resources.  When we become supernaturally retentive, we pinch off the flow of His grace through us.  Investigate the spirit.  We must find out what He is wanting us to surrender and then invest it into the soil of opportunity to which He has called us.

Until we are willing to do this, the Lord says, "We will never defeat our enemies."  What a horrible condition.  To be assigned a victory that never manifests.  That is unacceptable to the Blood of Jesus; and should be equally unacceptable to the Body of Christ.  I am praying today that God will help us, as One Glorious Body, to GET UP, GET CLEAN, and GET GIVING - because, it's VICTORY TIME!

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

MILK & HONEY

"A land flowing with milk and honey..."  This iconic phrase is the language of blessing and prosperity.  The words evoke a sense of tranquility and effortlessness.  There is something supernaturally comforting about the idea of living in a place that "flows with milk and honey."  When the Lord initiates the deliverance of Israel, He promises just such an experience.  Later, He reiterates the promise, encouraging the Israelites to remain faithful and expectant.  Centuries later, Jeremiah recounts God's kindness to deliver on His promise.  

One of the chapters that famously records the "milk and honey" reference is Deuteronomy 11.  The chapter is jam-packed with gooey, God goodness, but I want to draw out just a few points.  Let's front load the nugget for this post:  The greatest faith, for the greatest blessings, is available to the people, who have witnessed the greatest move of God, during the greatest trials.  That's a lot of "greatness," I know.  But look at Deuteronomy 11 for yourself.  In it, God is calling His people Israel to trust Him in this last thrust of pressing through the wilderness.  They are tired and weary.  They have been hearing "milk and honey" for a few generations, and many are really starting to wonder.  Maybe a few are thinking, "If I hear 'milk and honey' one more time..."  But here they are, about to cross over and possess the land.  It is really happening.  And God is saying, "Don't shrink back now...you are soooo close!"  I love the way He speaks here.  Many of the Israelites are now old.  Some may feel like, "big deal...the promised land...milk and honey...it's really more for my kids at this point."  But the Father knows their hesitant hearts.  He knows that, for many, their sleepy souls are struggling to stay excited.  He tells them, "Oh, children!  This is not for your kids - at least, not only and not primarily.  I promised this to you, and you are about to receive it!  Remember, your kids didn't see all the miracles.  Your kids didn't see Me wipe out the enemies.  They didn't watch as I cleansed the camp of bitterness and division.  They didn't experience the initiations of intimacy that changed the way we relate to one another.  Hang in there.  Stay full of faith.  Stay on the edge of your seats.  Stay in love with Me and see what "milk and honey" are all about.  I want you to drink deeply of My provision.  I want you to feel the satisfying strength that My milk is to your bones.  I want you to feel the sweet rush of energy, healing, and pleasure that comes from My honey.  Don't shrink back.  I want to truly BLESS you!"

And He is saying this to us now.  Take time to remember and recount the blessings of God.  All the ways He has delivered you.  All the ways He has blessed you.  All the enemies He has defeated for you.  Don't focus on the wounds you have endured.  Look at your scars and see them for what they are - proof that He has healed you.  Remember - and get ready for your own season of "milk and honey." Don't shrink back.  It's coming.  It's coming soon!

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

ELIMINATE POVERTY

Eliminating poverty.  How many times have we heard a politician or a pageant queen share their desire to eliminate poverty?  Don't get me wrong, I believe they are genuine in their desire to do so.  The compassion is there.  But, what of a plan?  Is there a workable plan to eliminate poverty worldwide?  Again, I don't say that to judge, for it is a much larger issue than one human heart can solve.  I, myself, have a pretty strong faith; yet readily admit, with current conditions, I need quite a bit more before I could say with confidence that I see the eradication of worldwide poverty happening.  So, why even blog it?  Well, it's quite simple, really.  Maybe even a bit trite.  The answer to eliminating poverty is hidden within the context of knowing God.

 “There should be no poor among you, for the Lord your God will greatly bless you in the land He is giving you as a special possession. You will receive this blessing if you are careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today." Deuteronomy 15:4-5 (NLT)

Aaaah, there it is - the catch!  yeah, there's always a catch.  But this catch is super gentle and seriously generous.  Eliminating poverty is directly linked to yielding to the loving, instructional flow of God's wisdom.   You see that bold-face type in the last sentence?  That is what the root words for "law" and "commands" actually mean in the original Hebrew language.  They come from the words for "rain" or "river."  A flow of nourishing, refreshing water that moves in one direction, from one place to another, namely, from God as the source, toward man as the receiver.  The blessings of profitability and prosperity are found in knowing God, seeking His wisdom in all areas, and listening to and heeding His loving instruction.  We let His wise, caring counsel rain down on us and pour right through us until we are fully cleansed and nourished.  If you struggle with financial security.  If life, your own choices, or bad teaching, have created "holes in your pockets," let me suggest a simple exercise that just may turn the tide for you:

1. ASK:  Ask God to reveal any area of your life where you may have ignored or rejected His loving instructions, regardless of the topic, but certainly being sensitive to areas of financial management.
2. SHIFT:  If/When it is revealed that there has been such a breach, simply repent.  Ask Him to forgive you and then recommit yourself to following His course.  If you feel there was no breach, ask God to direct you now, with a fresh word of instruction.
3. LOOK:  Look for the first decision you can make that will get you back on track or put His fresh nugget of wisdom into practice.
4. STEP:  Take the step you identified and walk confidently, knowing God has your back.  Always activate based on faith. Anything else is sub-par and will degrade over time.
5. EXPECT:  Trust that He is going to do the part that only He can do.  Start looking for the victories that He promises and then give Him the glory when they come!

If we will do this, poverty will be eliminated in our personal lives.  In very miraculous ways and very simple moments, we will see transformation.  This will motivate us to show others the way.  Before you know it, the impoverished spirit, that has wrapped its ugly arms around our friends, families and communities, draining them of life and resources, will lose grip, detach, emaciate, and die.  Oh, what a day.  When poverty is eliminated.

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

THE WICK OF SUFFERING

Suffering.  What a word.  Such a deep, reaching mix of emotion and contemplation comes with its mention................................Suffering..............................................Suffering.............................It challenges our sense of comfort and victory.  The truth of it seems foreign to many.  So un-American.  And yet, so familiar, too.  I mean, haven't we all?  Suffered?...............Suffering.  As children of the Most High God, we are incomplete without it.  It is part of our training.  Part of our forming.  In it, we experience the heat of transformation.  Through it, we produce the warmth of His character.  Suffering serves as a holy wick, drawing forth the oil of His Presence deposited deep within our souls.  Sucking up the reserves in the bottom of our tanks.  Fueling the fire that purges us of every and anything counter-Christ.  The same anointing that empowers us, also set us up to be enlightened in the flames of suffering.  Encouraged yet?  ;-)  But, then, that's the beauty of it.  When the wick is lit, suffering draws up the oil, and the vessel drains, becoming clean, ready for a fresh fill.  Through suffering, we join Jesus.  We become like Him in suffering, so that we can stake a claim to the power of His resurrection.  How much suffering?  I don't know.  How much silt is in your tank?   How much in mine?  What is the sludge to oil ratio of our vessels?  Only He knows.  The good news is that we don't have to know.  All we have to do is let our lamp burn.  And there's more good news.  While we are burning, and the sludge of our lives is being incinerated through suffering, we still get to be the light of the world!  Oh, yes, my friends.  That privilege isn't just reserved for our shiny moments of joy and success.  God isn't waiting till we are perfect to use us.  He puts His treasure in earthen vessels and is completely pleased to purge us as we go.  It's the ultimate supernatural win-win.  Jesus gets the glory, we get in on being transformed into His image, and the world gets to see how God changes people, loving them from the inside out.  Oh, how rich the beauty of Christ's sufferings!  And oh, how precious is the suffering of His dear ones.  That's you and I.  It's okay.  You're not alone.  And it's beautiful.  Don't run from it.  Don't scorn it.  Just live it.  Just grow.  Just burn.  Quietly, steadily burn.  All the while....suffering.

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta

NEED REST?

It's time for God's kids to enjoy a time of rest.  If you are anything like us, you probably have to fight for family time and relaxation.  Americans have learned how to scribble furiously on the margins of their souls and call it "being productive."  But, truth be told, we are just too durn busy.  There seems some sick satisfaction in being able to tell others about all the irons we have in the fire, as if we are hoping to win the Nobel Exhaustion Prize.  Our bodies suffer for it.  Our marriages suffer for it.  Our kids suffer for it.  Our friends, jobs, schools, neighbors and strangers suffer for it.  And dare I say it - our worship suffers for it, too.  Busyness reassigns much of the energy we would use to sit and talk with the Lord.  He seems to be the only entity not screaming for our attention; and yet, the only One so deserving of it.  So, how can we safeguard our intimate time with the Lord and truly enjoy some much needed rest?  I propose a simple two-pronged approach:

1. REFRESH BELIEF:  Learn to trust God that He can accomplish more through us, in less time, if we are faithful to put the Sabbath back in our lives.  It's too much to copy and paste here, but take some time to read Hebrews 4:1-11.  It's all about rest.  It kicks off with a pretty stout exhortation - "Watch out! You seriously don't want to miss out on the experience of God's rest."  Interestingly enough, it connects the idea of rest with belief.  Basically, the writer asserts that people fail to enter into rest due to a difficulty in trusting God.  If we will refresh our belief that God can be trusted to take care of us, we will find it easier to restore the margins of our soul.  If we trust Him for our sense of identity and value, sour busyness will bend the knee to sweet rest.
2. RESTORE MARGIN:  Once we refresh our trust in Him, we must be intentional to follow through by actually going to Him. He bids us "Come!"  If we are weary and weighed down, we are to come.  He doesn't cause us to rest, forcing us into it like a straight-jacket.  He gives us rest.  We actually trade burdens.  He gives us the one He originally intended for us, which we are shocked to find so easy and light.  We couple ourselves to Him and learn to move at the supernatural speed of Sabbath.  Not only our bodies, but our minds, wills, and emotions - our souls, find rest.  Like a peaceful treasure hunt, we find rest.  That's right.  It doesn't always just, "Peekaboo, I see you!"  We must find it - in Him.  We attach to and partner with Him to restore the margins that have been vandalized by modern life.

It's that simple (though admittedly, maybe not that easy)...we just refresh our belief that He will take care of us and then cooperate with Him to restore the margins.  Here's one of those nuggets: True rest will be found in the fruit of intimacy not the fatigue of industry.  And once this is restored to us, it will change everything.  Our bodies will be blessed.  Our families, friends, neighbors, and, you guessed it - our worship, will all go to new levels.  If you don't believe me, just check out Deuteronomy 12:8-9.  It's all right there.  How we relate to and celebrate our God-life will be transformed as we learn to live at the pace of grace.  I feel better just typing this!  Now, it's getting late, so I think it's time for me to go...and rest. ;-)

Forever panning for gold,

Chris Liotta

Lead Pastor
Rivergate Church
Chris@WeAreRivergate.com



© 2016 Chris Liotta