May 31st, 2018

Walks in Our Midst

“These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands…” Rev. 2:1

Jesus refers to Himself as “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.”   He is viewed here as walking in the midst of the church – indeed, all of the churches!  He holds the stars, or messengers, in His right hand.  The right hand symbolizes authority and power; it is by the right hand that the whole person is claimed for the Lord!  He tells the church that He is near to them, so near that He walks in their midst.  He is in complete control!  What a comfort to know He holds us and walks in our midst. 

It is noteworthy that the word lampstand, or candlestick, is used to describe the local church.  Lampstands symbolize light, as they bring forth light.  Jesus is the bearer of light.  In this letter, He is reminding the church at Ephesus that He can give light and take it away.  Lampstands were part of God’s design of the Tabernacle of Moses, where they were located in the Holy Place.  The Holy Place had no windows or openings, and the light in a dark place was brought forth by the lampstand. 

Beloved, please receive this truth:  the church at Ephesus, and the church today, is called by the Lord Jesus to be a lampstand!  We are to be lightbearers in a lighthouse bringing forth light in a dark world – all to the glory of God!  Let’s pray with renewed understanding the Scripture from Matthew 5:16: “Father, You have called us to be lightbearers in a lighthouse for the community to see.  God, increase Your light in us, that our light may so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.  Amen.”

May 30th, 2018

The Ark of the Covenant

“And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. “ Ex. 25:10

Shittim word, or acacia wood, as is written in some Bible translations, comes from the acacia tree.  The acacia tree grows in arid places; as such it is a hard and durable tree.  According to scholars, acacia wood is fragrant. Other Biblical scholars claim the shittah tree, or acacia tree, is resistant to attacks from insects.  We can understand this specific wood as being one which grows where little else can, just as Jesus came when Israel was in a dry place.  The wood is aromatic; Jesus has a sweet fragrance.  God knew the acacia wood would remain, be durable, and last.  Jesus remains, even through death, He remains as our Mediator.  He is eternal, durable, incorruptible, and His kingdom shall last forever!  What a glorious beginning to this pattern God gave to Moses! 

When we build, we are to build those things that are eternal.  We are called to recognize we are laborers and that the true Builder is the Lord:  “except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it:”  - Psalm 127:1.    God always gives the pattern, the blueprint.  As we receive the design, we construct accordingly. 

May 29th, 2018

Jesus, the Representation of God

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”  Heb. 1:3

Not only did God speak to His people by Jesus, whom He sent, and not only did God appoint Jesus as heir of all things.  Not only did God create the universe through Jesus, and not only did God have Jesus sit at His right hand after providing the purification for sins.  In addition to all these great and wondrous things, we read in this verse that Jesus, the Son of God, is the radiance of God’s own glory and the exact representation of God’s being!

The Greek for “exact representation” comes from the word charasso, which means to engrave or stamp.  One of our English words that come from this Greek word is character.  When the Book of Hebrews was being developed, an engraving on coins was very significant.  As such, this specific language would impact profoundly the hearer.  The hearer would recognize and connect the word charasso and the image engraved on a coin – usually that of rulers.  The author of Hebrews is claiming that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the very image, character, and substance of God.
 

If we want to know God, we need to know Jesus.

  

 

May 28th, 2018

God’s Surprising Blessing

“Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.  But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.  So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, "May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh! '" And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”  Gen. 48:17-20

This set of verses sets in motion a chain of God-ordained events that we witness being carried out in this time!  It all starts back in this chapter, with the Patriarch Jacob (whom God had named Israel), who wanted to bless his favorite son Joseph, as well as Joseph’s two sons who were born in Egypt.   Notice that Jacob tells Joseph that the two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are sons of their grandfather.  Jacob essentially adopted them into the family and they became part of the twelve tribes of Israel.  That is the first truth that jumps out at us.  The second is found in the blessing.

Joseph brings Manasseh the older and Ephraim the younger to their grandfather.  According to Hebrew custom, Joseph positions the boys in front of Jacob, such that Jacob’s right hand would be placed upon Manasseh’s head, and his left hand upon Ephraim’s.  Scripture indicates that Jacob crossed his hands, and put his right hand on Ephraim, his left on Manasseh.   This cross-handed blessing resulted in Jacob bestowing the first-born blessing to Ephraim.  Jacobs says, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."

Jacob is declaring that though Manasseh will become a people and be great, Ephraim will be greater and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.  In the Hebrew that last phrase is “melo ha goyim” and means fullness of Gentile nations.  The name Ephraim means “fruitful” while Manasseh means “making forgetful” or “forgetting sufferings.”  Thus, Ephraim, the fruitful son of Jacob, will have descendants who will become the fullness of Gentile nations.

May 27th, 2018

Our Sin-Bearer

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Cor. 5:21

This afternoon we all experienced the headlong rush of Easter morning. It happened during the Prayer Seminar, at a women’s correctional facility.  Suddenly we were led to begin sharing about the ultimate act of intercession, the act of sacrifice by the One who knew no sin. Yet He took our sin upon Himself and "stood in the gap" between two thieves. There it was finished, the blood was shed, the way had been made possible for us enter into the marvelous light. It was the glory of the resurrected Jesus, whose crucifixion was His glorification.  The women sat “in” His presence, His forgiveness, His active intercession for each one of them.  It was beautiful, tender and sacred.  In those moments prison walls, razor wire, and colorless uniforms are transcended by the love of a Father.

The chapel we were in grew quiet and there a holy hush that hovered over us as we all were in awe of the power of His presence and the beauty of His holiness. Thank You Lord.

May 26th, 2018

Words We Speak

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  Pvbs. 18:21

This proverb clearly tells us that our words carry the power, or works, of life and death.  Our confession works something in the spiritual realm – that speaks life or death.  When we choose to speak life, we are releasing the power of life! 

The proverb continues on to inform us that we eat what we love, which is what we speak.  Complaining Israelites ate what they spoke.  King Saul ate what he spoke.  King David, even though he sinned, ate what he spoke – which was life for a royal nation and chosen people of God.  Rom. 4:17 says: “…God – who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”   That is the power of a life-giving word:  enough to speak light into the world and enough to speak life into the dead!  This is the power of resurrection as we choose to speak life and call health into a person’s life. 

Lord, help us with Your Spirit to speak words of life over ourselves and others this day!

May 25th, 2018

On The Way

"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple...". Acts 3:1.

This verse jumped out at me as I sat in the airport in Baltimore two days ago, waiting to catch my connecting flight to St. Louis. I was on my way to start this prison ministry trip. I was headed somewhere important, with important things to do with God. Sitting at the airport, going through the lists in my head, I noticed a couple I noticed a couple who "just happened" to sit next to me. I would guess maybe ten years older than me, I saw them and went back to my mental checklist. After a few minutes I "just happened" to look up again to see the man sitting with his head down, wiping his brow, and laboring a bit in his breathing. His wife was turned toward him, with her back to me. I stopped my checklist and breathed that great ancient prayer of old: Jesus, help.

Gently, I tapped the woman who turned to face me. When I asked if everything was okay, she said no-her husband wasn't feeling well. She had talked to an agent but no one had come over to assist. They were on their way to St. Louis to see their daughter. Her husband had a history of heart attacks.
 who "just happened" to sit next to me. I would guess maybe ten tears older than me, I saw them and went back to my mental checklist. After a few minutes I "just happened" to look up again to see the man sitting with his head down, wiping his brow, and laboring a bit in his breathing. His wife was turned toward him, with her back to me. I stopped my checklist and breathed that great ancient prayer of old: Jesus, help.

Gently, I tapped the woman who turned to face me. When I asked if everything was okay, she said no-her husband wasn't feeling well. She had talked to an agent but no one had come over to assist. They were on their way to St. Louis to see their daughter. Her husband had a history of heart attacks.  When I offered to go speak to the agent, the woman looked relieved. So I went and got the agent's attention to ask if she could get someone to assist the couple, as the man might be having a heart attack. The agent went right over to him and that was followed by a series of officers and medical personnel who came to question the man.

Meanwhile, our flight was ready to board. I took my place in line, thinking I had done my part. After all, I was on my way to this big ministry trip. Then I saw officers standing near the man, who was now in a wheelchair and an agent sitting next to his wife. It dawned on me that maybe they did not live in Baltimore and so didn't have family around to call. I would love to say it was easy for me to choose to go right over to the couple and find out if they lived in the area, but I didn't. Instead, I was having it out with God. It all came down to one question-was I willing to be interrupted, inconvenienced, and available to this couple, even though there were more than 60 women ready for me to show up the following day? And so I walked over and asked. No, they were not from the area. The medical people were checking the man to determine if he could fly. I offered to stay with them if he could not get on the plane.

The agent advised I board the flight and took my name in case they needed to page me. I got on the flight. The couple did not. I wondered what that was all about and sat quietly praying for the man whose eyes said thank you.

Peter and John were on their way to the temple and were interrupted. They stopped long enough to heal the lame man at the gate called Beautiful. Maybe the Lord wanted me to discover if I could be interrupted at least long enough to care for someone in need.who "just happened" to sit next to me. I would guess maybe ten tears older than me, I saw them and went back to my mental checklist. After a few minutes I "just happened" to look up again to see the man sitting with his head down, wiping his brow, and laboring a bit in his breathing. His wife was turned toward him, with her back to me. I stopped my checklist and breathed that great ancient prayer of old: Jesus, help.
ple who "just happened" to sit next to me. I would guess maybe ten tears older than me, I saw them and went back to my mental checklist. After a few minutes I "just happened" to look up again to see the man sitting with his head down, wiping his brow, and laboring a bit in his breathing. His wife was turned toward him, with her back to me. I stopped my checklist and breathed that great ancient prayer of old: Jesus, help.

Gently, I tapped the woman who turned to face me. When I asked if everything was okay, she said no-her husband wasn't feeling well. She had talked to an agent but no one had come over to assist. They were on their way to St. Louis to see their daughter. Her husband had a history of heart attacks.

When I offered to go speak to the agent, the woman looked relieved. So I went and got the agent's attention to ask if she could get someone to assist the couple, as the man might be having a heart attack. The agent went right over to him and that was followed by a series of officers and medical personnel who came to question the man.

Meanwhile, our flight was ready to board. I took my place in line, thinking I had done my part. After all, I was on my way to this big ministry trip. Then I saw officers standing near the man, who was now in a wheelchair and an agent sitting next to his wife. It dawned on me that maybe they did not live in Baltimore and so didn't have family around to call. I would love to say it was easy for me to choose to go right over to the couple and find out if they lived in the area, but I didn't. Instead, I was having it out with God. It all came down to one question-was I willing to be interrupted, inconvenienced, and available to this couple, even though there were more than 60 women ready for me to show up the following day? And so I walked over and asked. No, they were not from the area. The medical people were checking the man to determine if he could fly. I offered to stay with them if he could not get on the plane.

The agent advised I board the flight and took my name in case they needed to page me. I got on the flight. The couple did not. I wondered what that was all about and sat quietly praying for the man whose eyes said thank you.

Peter and John were on their way to the temple and were interrupted. They stopped long enough to heal the lame man at the gate called Beautiful. Maybe the Lord wanted me to discover if I could be interrupted at least long enough to care for someone in need.

May 24th, 2018

Praying is Plowing

“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”  Isaiah 2:4

Borrowing from the Hebraic tradition of farming, we can consider the plowshare principle as follows:

·         As we pray, we are plowing;

·         As God responds, He is planting; and,

·         As we proceed, the harvest is prepared.

A plowshare is what we call a hoe, used to till the ground in preparation for the farming season.  As the people of Israel worked the land (see Genesis 3:17-19 for God’s promise of men toiling in the land), a plowshare was a necessary tool of the trade.  When we pray to Father, we are plowing to the mark, which is the cross!  Our prayers dig a furrow for the planting of seeds.  It is truly a wondrous image of the work of prayer!  Jesus explained to His disciples what happens to seed planted on hard ground in Matthew 13:18-21:  like scattered seed sown along the hardened path, the word of God is snatched away by the enemy; like seed sown on rocky ground, the word of God is received with great joy initially.  Yet when adversity comes, the joy is quickly gone – because no root could be formed in the rocky soil.  This person soon falls away from faith.   

So it is with the unprayed life: seeds of faith can be both scattered and snatched away; or such seeds cannot grow, as there is no root.  Spiritual roots – this is a critical precept for us to understand.  The word of God must be received for faith to come, for: “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” according to Romans 10:17.   The word of God must then be established in our lives; that is, it must take root.  This is the way in which our faith in God grows.  Our faith grows and the root is deepened every time a prayer is answered.  It is the praying life that is ready to receive seed, holds seed, takes root, and over time harvests fruit. 

May 23rd, 2018

The Kingdom is Breaking Into the World

 “The kingdom of God suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”  Mt. 11:12

 Jesus knew exactly what He was saying.  He knew the Kingdom was His movement – the actions of the church.  He knew it was the place- the land, you might call it – within us, around us, and beyond us.  It was the place where followers of Christ could exercise legal power and legal authority because of their covenant position – the position of the cross.  

 To truly understand Mt. 11:12, we do well to spend a few minutes in Micah 2:12-13.  It reads: “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob.  I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people.  The one who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it.  Their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”  This is about:

1. Sheep kept up in a pen, crowded and noisy – wanting to come out;
2. A shepherd breaking an opening in the pen;
3. All the sheep come forcefully breaking out of the pen; and,
4. They go out by the gate, with the Lord leading them. 

 Jesus may well have been referring to this passage from Micah when He said, the kingdom of God suffers violence – which we can render as: the Kingdom of God is breaking forth, breaking open.  Violent men take it by force, meaning – those who believe are breaking forth with it.  If the Kingdom is a movement – action is occurring and we are like sheep that have been penned up all night long and just want to get out.  A small opening, breach, or perets in Hebrew, is made.  The next thing we know, we are all trying to get out – and the opening gets bigger and bigger with each sheep that breaks out!  Jesus leads the way!  Amen!

May 22nd, 2018

God Save Us

“And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?  Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”  1 Sam. 4:3

In chapter 4 of 1 Samuel, the Israelites take on the Philistines in battle, and lose.  After the loss, the elders blame the defeat on the Lord!  The elders were placing their hope in a box!  They were not placing their faith in the presence of God, as they failed to mention God.  They had lost sight of the significance of the Ark, which contained the presence of God.  Rather, they only saw the ark itself and thought it could be their rescue.

How many times have we taken an action on our own, been defeated, and then blamed God?  How many times have we tried to rely on yesterday’s presence of God when we are facing today’s situations?  How often have we tried to battle back after defeats through works that had little or no focus on the Lord?  It is only when recognize the presence of God, and seek Him, that we are victorious.

May 21st, 2018

I Have Found a Place

 “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”  Jude 21

I have found a place

For my tired and weary feet

I have found a place

Where You and I can meet

I have found a place

Where time itself stands still

I have found a place

To hear Your perfect will.

God, You are my refuge

Lord, You paid the price.

Daddy, You are Holy

You’re my  living sacrifice.

I have found a place

At the altar of Your love

Cradled in Your arms

Feeling all Your love.

I have a found a place

Where righteousness prevails

Your tenderness and mercy

Your love that never fails.

Father let me follow You

Your footsteps let me trace

Lead me Lord and guide me

To meet You at that place.

For I have found that place

Your mercy and Your grace

They restore and renew me

For I have found that place.

Jesus, thank you for that place.

May 20th, 2018

In the Cave

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader.  About four hundred men were with him.”  1 Sam. 22:2

David was on the run.  Fearing for his safety, David escaped to a cave in Adullam.  Adullam comes from the Hebrew root word: dalah – which means to dangle, like dangling at the end of a rope.  Adullam is the place where we run and hide, grow and learn. 

At Adullam, David found himself surrounded by 400 who were:

      Ø  In distress

Ø  In debt

Ø  In discontent

 1 Sam. 22:2 details this passage: what a group of outcasts, misfits, and what today’s world might call “no bodies.”  They flocked to this man David, who did what a true leader does:  he “became a captain over them.”  The no bodies were about to become somebodies!

David had been called, anointed and killed Goliath.  Yet God put him in a cave to sit and wait at Adullam;  as if to say now go sit on the backburner and simmer awhile.  Adullam was the hardest place for David, yet the place where God developed the qualities in him that would be necessary.  It was a place of suffering, of confusion, and of testing, for David. 

David led these 400 men in preparation, patience, and practice.  They learned their lessons well and they did not leave the cave at Adullam until the Lord (through the prophet Gad) instructed David to go the Judah – the place of praise.  When David and his men marched out of Adullam, they were the greatest military force the world had known.  David had learned what he needed while he was in the cave!

May 19, 2018

Our Confidence

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what asked of Him.”  1 John 5:14-15

We declare our trust in You Lord for all matters laid before Your throne of grace today.  Our confidence is in You, Almighty God, for increased visits and contacts between children and parents, according to Your will.  Father, such visits have been found to improve a child’s educational, emotional, and social adjustment to parental incarceration.  We pray for the bond of family to be maintained where it exists, and to be reconciled, where it has been broken, as Your will and Your timing determine.  We lean not on our own understanding, but acknowledge You God, to establish a straight path for the children of our city, paved with healthy communication between parents and children, more frequent visits as Your will and timing decree, and with honesty in all areas of the relationship – for the truth will set the children free.

We pray for Your Kingdom to come to our city, and Your will to be done in city streets, neighborhoods, the highways and byways of our city.   We entrust the community to You, most gracious God. These communities have seen increases in child abuse, neglect, and substitute care for children. 

Father, You see the children You have created for a plan and a purpose – may that plan and purpose for every child’s life come to pass, so that we may declare Your glory.  Lord, as we desire to do Your will, so too we ask that Your law of love and compassion be written on the hearts of parents and children as they face challenges; that that they are able to turn these into accomplishments, overcoming obstacles and barriers. May Your will, plan and strategy be revealed to leaders who rise up and teach the church how to minister to the broken hearted, bring healing to the bruised, and joy to the suffering.   We place our confidence in You for increased visitation for children with parents in prison.  May You direct the steps of volunteers into prison to challenge, equip, and strengthen prisoner-parents who want to become good and effective parents even behind prison walls.

According to Your will may godly mentors be called by You to befriend a child, and demonstrate the love of Jesus, that will help the child heal and reach towards restoration with their parent, and to support the guardian/parent.  All this we bring to You Lord, and pray nevertheless, not our will be done, but Yours.  We pray all these things in faith believing that Your will shall be done, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

May 18, 2018

Such a Time As This

“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Esther was allowed entrance into the king’s palace.  There she underwent beauty preparations.  The church is undergoing spiritual beauty preparations, to be found fit and ready for her Bridegroom.  The beauty preparations included: oil of myrrh for six months, and perfumes and other beauty preparations for an additional six months.  We see a similarity in the gospel account of the women with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume, pouring it over the feet of Jesus and washing his feet with it.  Our beauty preparations are spiritual: so that we might acquire a spiritual beauty pleasing unto God.  Myrrh is symbolic of suffering and death; in this we learn that we have to die to the flesh in order to live to the Spirit, and to gain unity within the body of Christ.  Isa. 61:10 indicates that we are “clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness.”  2 Co. 11:2 finds Paul writing to the church: “We are a chaste virgin to Christ.”  The palace is the place of preparation for the bride.  It is in the palace that we receive expensive and exquisite beauty treatments and bridal preparations of humility and holiness.  Peter calls upon the Scripture in Leviticus when he writes: “Be holy, as thou art holy.” 1Peter 1:16.  The called out ones are to put on myrrh, die to the flesh, and receive a robe of righteousness in preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb.  He will not return for an unprepared bride!  We are called to be set apart.  Ephesians 5:27 says that “…Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”   Our Lord desires us to be set apart and cleansed with His exquisitely powerful combination of the water (Spirit) and the word (truth). 

Esther continually found favor in the sight of God and did what seemed impossible.  Church, we have found favor in the sight of God.  Because of Jesus Christ, we are walking, talking, living, breathing, and favored children!  With God, all things are possible.  Esther got access into places other people couldn’t.  She went places no one else would dare to go.  She risked her life to save her people.  Church – we have access into places!  We have natural access and we have supernatural access!  Bars can break and walls can shake – all because of access.  Esther recognized the favor upon her life.  Do we?  Does the church risk its life, or even its reputation, to save her people?  We are being reminded that favor has been extended to us, and we are exhorted by the Lord to use it!  We are blessed and highly favored!

May 17th, 2018

Relief of Suffering

“As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.  So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.  Mk. 1:29-31

Jesus went to people who were suffering.  He visited the suffering and healed the suffering, as evidenced by going to where Peter’s house.  There was Peter’s mother in law, in bed with a fever.  Note that Jesus went to her, she didn’t go to Him.  She probably couldn’t because of the illness.  So Jesus went to her.   This is the same Jesus who comes to us.

As soon as Jesus took her hand and helped her up, the fever vanished.  Her suffering was relieved by the presence, power, love and compassion of Jesus.  Our Lord had a way of traveling to where the need was in order to meet the need in an exceedingly abundant way.  It was surprising, shocking and controversial, especially among those who were looking for a Messiah that would be far removed from pain, suffering, and woundedness.  Our King of Kings set Himself right into the midst of it.

What follows is wonderful.  The fever left and she began to wait on them.  The tables were turned and this became the woman’s act of glorifying God.  The one who was suffering became the one who was serving and glorifying God.  Friends, this is out story.  We have an encounter with Jesus and we are healed, restored, changed.  We go from bed-ridden to serving and praising and glorifying our Lord and Savior. 

Jesus did not eliminate suffering in our lives; however, for those who believe and call upon His Name, He will come to them in their time of need.  With Christ we are not abandoned, forsaken, or alone.

May 16th, 2018

Defend the Cause of the Fatherless

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”  Ps. 82:3-4

There are 400,760 foster children in the United States and 13% are missing.  That equates to 52,099 children who are missing every year.  So many run away, and are vulnerable to traffickers.  They can end up being trafficked and, if arrested, in a juvenile facility.  For the aged out population, those who end up being trafficked will often be arrested, convicted, and sentenced.  These children and adults go from one form of bondage to another.

There is good news: God cares about each life and He sent Jesus to show us the way to respond to this Biblical call for justice.  Isa. 59:14-16 states, “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets. Honesty cannot enter.  Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.  The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.  He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so His own arm worked salvation (rescue!) for Him.” 

Whether we are called to play a role in this heart cry and hand up to those being trafficked through prayer, through rescue, through aftercare, through perpetrator accountability, through demand reduction, through awareness, or through prevention – make no mistake, the body of Christ is Biblically called to respond.  Isa. 58:6-12 describes the kind of fasting God desires – loosing the chains of injustice, untying the cords of the yoke, set the oppressed free, break every York, share our food with hungry, provide the poor wandered with shelter, clothe the naked, not turn away from our families, spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry, satisfy the needs of the oppressed.  When we do this, our light will break forth like the dawn, healing will come quickly, our light will rise in the darkness, ancient ruins will be re-built, age-old foundations will be raised up.  We will be called the ones who repair broken walls and restore streets with dwellings.  God wants to work through us to loose, heal, restore, love, meet, feed, clothe, and hold.  This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

May 15th, 2018

The Spiritual Weapon of Silence

“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”  But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.  Mt. 27:12-14

The power of silence can be witnessed in the passage Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”   This passage prophetically provides the choices, thoughts, and behaviors of the Suffering Servant Jesus, and this is fulfilled in Matthew 26:63 and 27:12-14. 

Jesus remained silent in the face of accusations, false charges, and false witnesses.    In Mt. 26:59-63, we read that the chief priests, elders and council tried to find false testimony by false witnesses, in order to put Jesus to death.  Two false witnesses came forward and in response to the high priest’s questioning, Jesus kept silent.    In Mt. 27:12-14, when the Pilate was questioning Jesus in response to the false accusations, Jesus said nothing.  In Mt. 27:15-16, when the crowd yelled out for Barrabas to live, and Jesus to die, Jesus said nothing.  He chose to keep quiet and not respond, even when the beatings, whippings, and scourging took place. 

In Lk. 23:9, Jesus refused to ask the many questions of Herod, who was hoping to see a miracle.  And, as He hung on a cross, Jesus asked His Father to forgive those who had persecuted Him.  He did this intentionally to fulfill every prophecy and to take upon Himself all sin, that those who believe in Him could be set free and live.

Can you relate on some level to what Jesus suffered?  Look back over that list again and notice the words:

• Hated
• Rejected
• Betrayed
• Sold
• Forsaken
• Struck
• Spat on
• Mocked
• Beaten

There are times when accusations are plaguing us and the taunting and mocking of others is an issue in our lives.  There can also be times when we are hated, despised, forsaken, or beaten.  At those moments it can be disarming to the enemy to simply say nothing.  When we let Jesus be our defense, we are in the best position!

May 14th, 2018

Let There Be Light

“And God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.”  Gen. 1:3

In Chapter 1 of Genesis we discover two kinds of light.  The first is in verse 3, where God says “let there be light” and there was.  Later in verse, 14, God said “let there be lights.”  The first light was one that was called day and distinguished itself from darkness, or night.  The latter was considered as the lights in the sky which marked seasons, days and years.  In both cases God determined that is was good.

When we look at this passage we find that after creating the heavens and earth, God saw that the earth was formless and empty.  And so He created light.  He created it by speaking it into existence.  We saw a powerful glimpse of what is to become a Biblical pattern:  the combination of the Spirit (part of the Godhead in Gen. 1:1) and the word of God.

This first light was considered by the ancients to be a “glory light” or what some might consider a supernatural light.  It is compelling that light was the first thing God created, called good and established.  Much later in history, we would read about a man named Jesus, who called Himself the “Light of the World.”  He came from God as a glory light, to separate light from darkness.  He was the Word of the God that became flesh and dwelt among men.  He instructed the disciples to let their “light shine.”

Something powerful happens when we take things of the dark and bring them into the light.

May 13th, 2018

Remember Me

“The he said, ‘Jesus, remember when me when You come into Your Kingdom.”  Lk. 23:42

On that hill were three crosses, where a Savior hung between two thieves.  Jesus was “numbered among the transgressors,” as the Song of God was in the midst of criminals.  The guilty were with the innocent – and the innocent was taking their guilt to set them free.  Luke’s gospel 23:42-43 records the second saying of Jesus, as He has a conversation of salvation with a thief.  All who stood on that hill could see the sign over Jesus, which read, King of the Jews.  It was the written word of God – it was true.  Closest to Christ were two criminals.  One ridiculed Jesus.  The other thief turned to Christ and spoke these simple words:  “Jesus, remember me.”  The word of God had reached this thief’s heart – as he was dying – and caused him to speak, remember me.  The thief did not ask to be rescued, healed, or taken off the cross – even to go to heaven. No, instead, he simply asked to be remembered.  He understood he was a sinner, he accepted his consequence.  In an act of total humility, he simply said, “Jesus, remember me.”

The man realized he was a thief who had robbed God.  I began to realize, that thief is me.  I’ve robbed God of so many things, in so many ways.  I too, can cry out, “Jesus, remember me.”  One thief accepted Jesus; the other thief rejected Him.  Yet the Lord’s blood flowed for them both.  From the cross Christ was still saving.  His voice of love responded to the thief’s request – and Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, surely today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  Jesus was saving and redeeming the lost thief.  Even as they both were dying, it was not too late!  While one thief looked away, the other looked toward Jesus, repented in his heart and BELIEVED.  He believed the sign – that Jesus was the King of the Jews – the Messiah.  And Jesus said, TODAY – NOW – the believer would be with Him in heaven.  The promise of the blood was yes and more.  He would remember him and be with him.  They would be together.  Jesus was saying to the man, and is saying to us, believe in Me, and you will never be alone again.  Today.  Now.  We are remembered, received and united with Jesus, if we turn to Jesus and believe.  The gospel of Christ is the power of God to everyone who believes.  Jesus was saving and restoring the lost, even from the cross.  He forgave us and redeemed us into fellowship with Him.

May 12th, 2018

Lamb with Blemish

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.”  Ex. 12:5

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron while the Israelites were still in captivity in Egypt.  Among the instructions given was to find a spotless lamb; a male, and that the whole congregation would kill it at twilight.   The blood the sacrificed lamb was to be sprinkled over the doorposts and the roasted meat of the lamb consumed by the people.  It was called the Lord’s Passover.

The blood of the lamb served as a sign to God to “pass over” those whose homes were covered by the blood.  All other homes in Egypt would come under the judgment of God.  After the judgment, the exodus of an enslaved people would be granted by Pharaoh.  He would have seen enough to be convinced that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the one true God.  The sacrifice of the lamb would provide for the safe release from captivity for Israel.

It is John the Baptist who in John 1:29 called Jesus the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  The Jewish people of the day would surely have noticed the reference to Jesus as a lamb – it would have brought them back to the days of the first exodus.  John refers to the carpenter’s son as not just any lamb, but God’s Lamb – the Lamb who will take away not just the sin of Israel, but the sin of the entire world.  It is a shocking statement – filled with controversy, and truth.

When Jesus shed His blood from the Cross, it was the ultimate sacrifice.  Jesus brought the sacrifice and was the sacrifice.  His blood covered sin and provided a way out of captivity for all who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord.  It was the second exodus.  It remains a shocking statement – filled with controversy and truth.