The Wisest Prayer, Part 2

Song of Songs 1:1-2

Solomon’s Song of Songs: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine.”

I wrote a post on the first part of this verse last week (missed it, or forgot? click here).  I’d like to address the second part of the verse this time: “.. for Your love is more delightful than wine.” 

Remember again that Song of Songs is a song/poem, and as such, it communicates truths using symbols and poetic pictures, i.e. there’s more than meets the eye here J.  Here the Wise man, Solomon is picturing the love of God as being 1) enjoyable (“delightful”), and 2) comparable to wine. 

So, stop for a minute.  Perhaps you’ve heard these words before, but consider them again.  God’s love is enjoyable, or as I would say, FUN!  It’s something to experience and enjoy; something to look forward to, and even seek out. 

YES, REALLY!  C’mon, let’s be real.  For many followers of Christ, the idea of God’s love, and loving God is a very austere, mechanical, transaction-type of thing.  It goes like this: “Yes, I know God loves me, that’s why Jesus died for my sins”.  The underlying attitude is that God showed us His love in that sacrifice, so we should just “believe it and receive” it.  While there’s Truth there, it denies the most powerful reality: Because of His great love expressed in Christ, He has opened up a living experience of His love in EVERY moment of life, and ongoing, ever-increasing encounter with His vibrant love for You RIGHT NOW in your heart and in your soul — not just an fact in your mind.

Solomon draws a parallel with wine concerning this Love.  Wine is the drink of merriment, the drink of a celebration, and (as with other alcoholic beverages) that which people like to “lose themselves” with.  What kind of celebration is being offered to us in the Love of Christ?  Don’t we all long to lose ourselves in something, to feel free?  Wine here really symbolizes all the pleasures of the world – all the things we look to for our fun, enjoyment, and satisfaction.  

Isaiah 55: 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,      
come to the waters;      
and you who have no money,      
come, buy and eat!      
Come, buy wine and milk       
without money and without cost.
 2 Why spend money on what is not bread      
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 
 and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 
 3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
 I will make an everlasting covenant with you my faithful love promised to David.

Wait, so this would mean that God’s love is better than your favorite entrée or dessert?  Is it better than your favorite book series or sports channel?  Is the experience of His Presence on your heart actually more enjoyable than your favorite hobby and your favorite person to be with?? YES! YES! YES!!!  And, it’s FREE and available all the time!! 

He leads us to a banqueting table of His love.  This is truth.  But, we don’t truly believe it because we haven’t experienced it.  Most likely it’s because we’re so full of these other things in our soul, that we have no room left for the RICHEST pleasures that God has to give us in His love!  We’ve allowed the devil to steal from us by planting unbelief in our hearts concerning how GOOD He really is. 

You do have to be thirsty (as it says in the verse above).  If you’re satisfied with your life and current experience of God, then that is all that you will have.  But, if you put yourself in a place of hunger and thirst (by removing some of the things that you’ve been consuming), THEN you will be able to eat that which is truly good (verse 2 above).  Therein, you will find true life.  There’s a reason Jesus says “blessed are they hungry, for they WILL be filled” (Matthew 5:6). 

So, I want to encourage you.  If you’ve not truly entered into this 504 season by putting away some things (food, entertainments) in a way that makes you thirsty and hungry for something more, something real – do so now, it’s not too late, the Lord will meet you.  If you’ve been abstaining from things but haven’t yet experienced anything like what I’m talking about, ask the Lord to come and to fill the spaces you’ve opened for Him.  He promises to do it (Luke 11:13).  Renounce your agreement with the deception that says He’s not really that enjoyable or that we shouldn’t expect to experience God!  Agree with the Truth that He is good, and that it is His LOVE that will endure forever (Psalm 136) – it is more lasting, more fulfilling than the lesser pleasures of this life.

His love IS better.

 

Let Praise Arise in Haiti

Right now, the attention of the globe is on Haiti, and rightfully so!  The devastation there is immense, and overwhelming.  If you don’t know much, rather than recount the details, you can look here:  http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CB_HAITI_EARTHQUAKE?SITE=ILMOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

One thing that’s been very interesting, and wonderful, is the amount of attention being given to both PRAYING and HELPING the people of Haiti in this time.  Usually, when crisis hits, human compassion arises, and many rush to help.  This is wonderful.  But, I’m struck with how many people/organizations responded immediately by calling the world to PRAYER on behalf of Haiti!  I think this is SO good!  Haiti should be a target for prayer!  I couldn’t help but think – Haiti needed prayer BEFORE the earthquake hit!  Of course, every nation needs prayer, but Haiti has long been in a desperate situation.  The depths of poverty and corruption that hold that nation in a vice-grip are hard to fathom.  Unfortunately, they’ve long been forgotten on the international landscape, as more “important” things, and our comfortable American lives, keep us from seeing this “insignificant” island nation.

The circumstances in Haiti are dire, but in mercy, God is raising up the world to intercede for these once-forgotten people!  I have a question:  Would the world be praying for Haiti, if there wasn’t this urgent crisis??  Sadly, probably not. 

The most horrific part of this whole thing is this:  Many souls have been lost in this tragedy.  Current estimates state that a staggering 200,000 are now dead – more than the entire population of the Lansing/East Lansing area (where I live)!  I can’t even imagine what that looks like!  These 200,000 souls have entered into their eternal destination, and for the majority of them, it wasn’t Heaven!!  This is the most terrifying result of this calamity!!

However, the blunt truth is this: these people were headed for hell, regardless of how soon death knocked on their door.  It is the urgency of the current situation that has drawn the compassion and prayers of the world.  And, oh how it is needed!  Sometimes it takes a shaking (literal or figurative) to get our attention, and give us the sense of urgency that is needed.

Zoom out from Haiti for a moment.  Perhaps the situation we live in is more urgent than we realize?  Do we need a “shaking” to come to us?  Oh, that the Lord would reveal the truth of our reality —  without a tragedy!

Did you know that every day 150.000  people on earth enter their eternal destiny?  Every year in America over 2,000,000 meet their mortal end.  And once again, for the majority of them, the end is not Heaven.  This is staggering!  THIS is urgent!  Jesus has provided the means, by His blood, for ALL to be saved! 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

I don’t know about you, but THIS stirs me to pray!  While we live our lives day in and day out, there IS an urgency that demands us to respond – the lost, dying souls of hundreds of thousands, each individual as precious to God as our most beloved.  We need a sense of urgency before the crises hit!  Lord, share Your heart with us! 

Zooming back in on Haiti —  it is God’s desire for the people of that land to be redeemed.  It’s His passion to bring beauty out of the ashes of this earthquake rubble.  His heart longs zealously that Light would invade the darkest places of that island.  We can join Him in this!  We can intercede.  We can contend that Haiti’s righteousness would shine like the noonday sun.  The Father wants to turn this whole thing around, from sorrow to joy.  He desires to bring such a change that Praise would arise to Him from Haiti.

    I was impressed as I read Psalm 67 last week that I should pray it for Haiti, and I would encourage you to do the same.  Pray it also for the U.S. and every nation on the globe – that praise would arise in every nation, as people come to the saving knowledge of Christ.  It is imperative that they know Him before their final hour!  Oh, Jesus, reveal Yourself, and LET PRAISE ARISE! 

Psalm 67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make His face shine upon us,

 2 that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

 3 May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You.

 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly  and guide the nations of the earth.

 5 May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise you.

 6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.

 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.

Let Praise Arise in Haiti!

 

The Wisest Prayer

The Wisest Prayer    Song of Songs 1:1-2 Solomon’s Song of Songs: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth-for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Songs is such a misunderstood book.  I’m not wanting to unpack the whole thing, but actually only highlight these two verses that open up this grand love story, as an inspiration to you as we take this time before the Lord, and as you are setting yourself aside for this special time with Jesus in the Word, in prayer, in fasting, etc.    King Solomon was the wisest man perhaps to have ever lived (until Jesus came in the flesh), because God Himself blessed him with the wisdom of Heaven.  He actually wrote thousands of songs and poems in his life.  But this one, the “song of songs” (1:1), is considered the HIGHEST, the BEST, the most excellent of all those that he, in his wisdom, produced.  It has been called the “song above all songs” and “the song of ALL songs” (i.e. that which all others are born out of).  Why would God call it so?  On the surface it looks simply like a love story between a man and woman.  But, it doesn’t take much insight to understand that this song transcends the “natural” and actually details the supernatural passion of God expressed by Jesus for His Bride (us!!).  This is why it is the very highest expression of “song”!  I only mention all of this because many times people choose to ignore the book, assuming that it’s not important or relevant to them.  It IS relevant!  It’s YOUR STORY!    And I find that the opening lines to this song of utmost wisdom, expressing the heart of God, and our story, are powerful if we can make them our own and make them our prayer as we come before Him.   Let’s look at the very first statement, in 1:2:     “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth”   Since we’re talking about God, how do make sense of this?  Knowing that God doesn’t actually “kiss us with his mouth” (and that image can cause trouble for many, especially men), we must ask the questions: “What is a kiss?” According to the dictionary it is “an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc.” and “to join lips in respect, affection, love, passion, etc”.  Also, in Scripture, the mouth of the Lord refers to His Word, and what He is speaking.  So, if we retake the verse, it might make more sense to us to say:   “Let Him express His love, affection, and passion to me through His Word.”   To take it even further, if a kiss is to “join lips”, perhaps this would mean that God’s Word becomes our word!  What we find in this one little phrase is a wonderful prayer that we can make our own, and which even instructs us how to interact devotionally with the Lord.  In my own prayer, I might say, “Jesus, come touch me deeply with Your love.  May Your words come to me.  Change me by Your Word and make me more like You.”  And then in your time reading the Word, put His words on your lips.  In other words, pray and read the Word out loud as a prayer to Him.  In this way the “kiss” is complete.    As we do this, we will find our heart filled with His love and our soul exhilerated in Him as His words, His thoughts, His feelings become our very own!  Try it and see if this truly isn’t the “wisest” kind of prayer you can pray!  -Jessie Still

 

The Rewards of Fasting

Matthew 6:4,6,18: “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”   Many times we believe that as we “serve the Lord” we just have sort of “grin and bear it”.  We believe a lie that we should never expect that God would give us something.  But, if God promises us a reward, it’s unbelief if we don’t expect and receive the rewards that He DOES give!    In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5,6,7), as Jesus is teaching about how to live as His follower, He consistently tells us that when we come before Him genuinely, the Father WILL reward us.  He is good and loves to give good gifts!! J   So, as we draw near to 504, let’s set our minds to expect it to be a two-way street that as we give to the Lord, He is going to give to us as well.  I’d like to share with you some of the rewards of fasting.  These actually have been taken from a book entitled “The Rewards of Fasting”.    Fasting sensitizes us toward God.  It puts us in a place where we become more sensitive to His Spirit within us.  We hear Him more clearly.  We feel His Presence stronger.  It positions our heart, mind and spirit to receive more from God.  Our Desires change.  We will find that we have a stronger desire for righteousness.  Whereas many times in life, we feel a strong pull toward sins that we have to resist, fasting will actually cause us to feel pulled towards holiness.  It will be easier to say “no” to sin!  It changes our perspective; big things get big, small things get small.  Sometimes we get so focused on little things and wrong things that we miss out on the REAL things.  We need our perspective realigned.  Fasting will do that. Fasting releases a Sprit of revelation on our minds.  We need the Spirit to give us understanding as we read the Word and as we even go through life, to know what He’s doing and what He’s saying to us and those around us.   Fasting strengthens our identity in God.  We reaffirm that we belong to Him, He reaffirms that we matter, we bear his name, we are called by His name for His purposes on the Earth. Fasting equips our bodies to experience God.  I don’t think I can say it better, so, here’s a quote from the book: Our bodies are a vehicle through which we experience God, and what we do with them dynamically affects our spiritual lives. Our capacity to experience intimacy with Him is either enhanced or diminished by our physical actions. This is important to understand. God’s design is brilliant. When righteousness reigns in our physical appetites, our ability to experience Him is enhanced. The opposite is also true. Although we may pursue God hard, if we fill our emotions with trash and let our physical appetites get out of rhythm with the Holy Spirit, our ability to experience His life will be quenched.  Well, if those few rewards (and yes, there are surely others) don’t excite you, you’re clearly not awake.   Let’s look forward to meeting the Lord in a fun and powerful way in 2010! The dates of our “504″ (21 days = 504 hours) are January 10th-31st.   -Jessie

 

Plan the Fast

This was written specifically for my church, where we are looking forward to our annual 21-day season of prayer and fasting in January.  However, it’s good encouragement for anyone thinking of incorporating fasting into their life.  Enjoy!

We’re less than a month away from our yearly “504” (21 days x 24 hours, seeking God in a special way).  So, I’m continuing this series to set our minds for this time. 

I’m by no means an expert on the topic of fasting.  However, I have attempted to make it a regular part of my lifestyle (with varying degrees of success and seriousness) for the last 15 years.  I believe in the power of it, and desire to continue to grow in this grace.  So, I’m hoping through these posts to encourage you and prepare you to engage in fasting in a meaningful and fruitful way.

The best advice I can give you is this: PLAN FOR IT:

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve entered into a fast (whether it was part of a day or many) and what unfortunately happened was, I simply didn’t eat.  There was nothing special about how I spent the time or sought God.  Those are very frustrating times that leave me thinking, “why didn’t I just eat??”.  The point is, if you’re going to fast, make the most of it!  To do so, you have to plan for it.  So, here are a few things to consider:

 

1. What kind of fast will you do?

      Before discussing specifics I have to say this: IT ALL COUNTS!  If all you do is give up sugar, if it’s unto the Lord, it counts!  He sees and He will bless it!  It’s not about how “hard” the fast is for you, it’s about your heart in the matter!  “Bigger” is not necessarily better.  If your heart is that it be “easy”, that’s all you’ll get – an easy fast.  If your heart is to encounter Jesus deeply — you will! 

      If you are not experienced with fasting, or if you have a very strenuous job, I DO encourage you take an “easy” fast.  However, you DO want it to be a challenge, because by pressing yourself, you are forced to lean into the Lord in a deeper way, and acknowledge your need for Him.  This is where you find Grace!  This is part of the beauty of fasting.

      That being said then, as we’re looking toward a 21-day period, there are a few ways you can approach it:

-A “complete” fast – i.e. no food at all, just water.  This can be a strenuous fast.  Do it only if you feel you have the freedom of lifestyle and grace from the Lord to do it, or if you specifically feel He is “calling” you to do it.

-A “juice” fast.  No food, just liquids.  This is considerably easier, still challenging and requires definitive lifestyle adjustments for the fast period.

-A “Daniel” fast.  A diet consisting mostly of fruits, vegetables and grains.  This is fairly doable for anyone.

-Create your own!  Fast completely three days each week.  Or fast two meals every day (only one meal a day).  Go with what you feel you will be able to stick with and/or what you feel the Spirit may be “calling” you to. 

-“Non-food” fasts.  There are great to do alone or in conjunction with a food fast.  Here you make a conscious decision to “give up” certain things for a season.  You may choose to do a media fast (no TV, movies, radio, etc.), a “word” fast (saying as little as possible, or refusing to talk about yourself, etc.), a “money” fast (stop spending in a certain area and give the money away in a way that honors the Lord).  The possibilities are endless.  Just think of it as a gift.  Whatever you give to your Father, He will enjoy!  So, be creative and have fun (yes, I said FUN in relation to fasting. For real.)

1. Do LESS activity.

      If your fast restricts food intake, this will happen naturally, since you may feel weak.  But, in a practical way, you should schedule LESS things to do, so that you have more time to give toward seeking the Lord in prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, listening, etc.  Spend your “eating” times in spiritual seeking.  Turn off that TV show you always watch.  Limit your computer time, etc.  We’ll be hosting weekly corporate meetings for worship, prayer and teaching as well, because want to all do this together, so make room for that, too.  Our church’s small groups will be on hiatus for these three weeks as well, to give priority to this.

1. Keep a journal- start now!

      It’s always great to be able to remember when the Lord speaks to you or answers a prayer (we forget so easily!).  You can also expect that He will be encountering and speaking to you in a deeper way as you are seeking Him deeper (that IS His promise, after all!).  Keeping a journal is a great way to make the most of this.  Write down everything that He says and special Scripture passages that stick out to.  Write down dreams that you have during this time and ask for their meaning.  Write down inspired words you hear from others as well.  You’ll be amazed, I’m sure of it!  You may even want to begin NOW, by writing down what you’d like to see as you seek Him, or special prayer requests you want to focus on during that time.  Have some expectation.  He WILL meet you.    

4.  Practice!

            We still have a couple of weeks before the “504”.  If you’re new to fasting, but want to make the most of this, try it smaller measures NOW.  Especially if you think you want to do a pretty “serious” fast in January, try a few days now.  Or if you’re very new to fasting, try a portion of a day several times and build up your “endurance”.  He will meet you, even if this!  As I said before, it all counts! J   

Next time, I’ll talk about the REWARDS of fasting.  Yes, there are rewards!   The, you’ll REALLY want to jump in. J

 

For the JOY

^{Zechariah 8:18} Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me. ¹⁹ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”

It’s become an annual tradition for our church to take a 21-day period in January as a special time of prayer and fasting, to set ourselves apart for the Lord, and launch us personally and corporately into a new year.  Sometimes we call it a time of “consecration”, to be more inclusive of the many ways that we can give ourselves to a time that is “holy to the Lord”.  Generally, those tools we use to give ourselves more fully to the Lord have been referred to as ”spiritual disciplines”, e.g. fasting, prayer, Bible study, worship, giving, serving, etc.  One of the most powerful of these, I believe, is fasting.  It is also probably the most under-utilized and perhaps misunderstood of these avenues to engage with God.  Sometimes I wonder if we’ve under-played the fasting aspect of this time, simply because it’s an oft-hated activity.  Those who have fasted will many times confess how much they dislike it, and those who have not ever actually fasted probably haven’t because they dislike the very idea of fasting.

See, actually I think that we should call them “self-disciplines” not “spiritual disciplines” because we are actually disciplining our self (aka “flesh”) so that our spirit can be free.  We have the Spirit of God in us, and He doesn’t need to be disciplined, WE do!  We have to put reigns on our self-indulgent tendencies (how we spend our time, money, energy and how we choose to gratify our appetites: physical, emotional, etc.) so that we can be freed to truly and deeply experience God.  Fasting (and the other disciplines) is uncomfortable because it challenges our selfish nature and our self-centeredness (what we feel we “need” and what we want) – this is probably what causes our dislike/hatred of it.  However, if we can apprehend grace to enter into it, fasting should be an extremely joyful experience!  Why?  Because it sensitizes us and opens us up to more of Jesus, and He is EXEEDINGLY joyful! 

I know, we are currently in a season of “feasting” (in the midst of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays).  Feasting is also very Biblical, and I hope you enjoy this season to the fullest!  But, it helps to prepare yourself before a season of consecration, and that is why I’m putting this out now.  The dates of our “504” (21 days = 504 hours) are January 10^th-31^st (some of you reading this are not a part of SOCC, but you can definitely still set aside a season of seeking God – why not?).  So begin now to think about how you would like to take advantage of this time. 

As I alluded to in the title of this post, it was with JOY that Jesus was able to endure the Cross (Hebrews 12:2).  He knew what would be accomplished by going through the crucifixion.  And, though He didn’t enjoy the process, He knew it was worth it, and He knew that He would enjoy the results.  Similarly, we are told that we should take up our Cross (deny our self) and follow Him (Matthew 16:24)!  Denying self — in whatever choices it looks like — usually doesn’t “feel” good in the process, but what if we could look forward to the results (nearness to God and more of Him in our life) and have JOY??  That is His desire!!  That’s the whole point! 

Just as the verse at the top of this post states, the Lord wants our fasts to be “joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals”.  That may seem odd when in the natural, a fast can make you tired, irritable and weak.  But, if the result is that you are being drawn closer to the heart of God and walking nearer to Jesus, how could it NOT be a joyful, glad and happy occasion??  And I dare say, it WILL be!

 

Look forward to more thoughts on this in the weeks to come, and if you have questions or thoughts, please post them for discussion! 

 

Are You Ready to Labor?

Last week at our prayer meeting, Lios Friedrich shared a dream that the Lord gave her, and I was immediately reminded of another prophetic dream that was given to Beve Place in 1993 (16 years ago!).  The message of each was similar, and each I believe is a call to us as a Body to get our eyes off ourselves and look to the Fields, for the are ripe for hearvest, and look also to the Lord of the Harvest, because He’s calling  us out as laborers.    Matthew 9:35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  . Luke 10: 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-twoa]’>[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.   John 4:  34″My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”   I suppose it would be prudent to ask the Lord and ourselves: have we done this?    In Lois’ dream, she saw herself walking into the church building, and as she did, she suddenly realised that she had a supernatural deposit of milk to feed newborn babies.  The meaning of this dream comes easily.  Lois, a woman well-past her baby-rearing years, would not likely be expecting to nurse newborn babies ever again.  Yet, suddenly had the means to do so, and knew that she must be ready to do so.   It could be easy for many Christians to feel as if their “prime” years of ministry are over and not being expected that they would b ecalled upon to care for and nurture those who may soon be “born” into the Kingdom of God.  Or, you may just not feel that you are “called” to do that.  But, if you suddenly realised that you were being called to do so, would you be ready and willing?  If you are, the Lord will give you the ability and the means to do so!   We live in a Day when things are rapidly changing, structures are crumbling, and moral fabric continues to erode.  The people we see day to day may not seem frantic (yet), nor are they running to us for answers (yet).  But, how many do you think are troubled in their souls and asking “why? why? why?” and wondering where all this is heading?  I think they are MANY.  Will you be ready in the unexpected moment when they turn to you asking for the reason for the hope you have?     1 Peter 3:14-16 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.    I believe that as Jesus looks at those all around us, He says “open your eyes, the harvest is RIPE!”.  This should give us urgency to PRAY, and to heed the call/need for Laborers in the harvest field!  Both are needed and necessary — prayer and labor!  This should be the Church’s finest hour!    Open our eyes, Lord!   -Jessie       Beve’s dream went something like this:  The people all around were in chaos.  There was a great shaking of the things that they put their confidence, and they were frantically looking for answers.  They came running to us (God’s people) but we were not prepared!  We were not ready to respond to their needs and we did not have the answers they were looking for.  There was a very heavy URGENCY to the dream.  But, she indicated that it wasn’t that God was angry, there was a very real sense of His love to the dream.  She felt the Lord that we were to give ourselves seriously to developing our intimacy with God (“filling our lamps with oil” as in the parable of virgins, see Matthew 25), so that we would bef ully prepared and “full” when the time came to give out to the masses who would come, and be searching.

 

How Jesus Frees Captives

So, I believe it was my Junior year at Eastern Michigan University.  I had made friends with a guy named Matt* (this story is real, but the names are not) who was in my Choir class.  My friendship with Matt started in an interesting way.  I did not know him, but one day the Lord gave me a prophetic word for him.  I shared it, it was true, and he was stunned.  Basically, I had “read his mail”.  He had been brought up Christian, but here in his first year at the University, he had decided to finally live his homosexuality “out”, after hiding and sneaking around for many years.  I sought to share God’s love with Him, and encouraged him to seek the Lord for freedom.  He was torn and didn’t really seem ready to give up the gay lifestyle.  One evening, he introduced me to his boyfriend, Dan*.  It was an awkward encounter.  Dan was extremely quiet, and I had the impression that he didn’t like me at all, perhaps that he was even mad at me, for trying to influence Matt this way.  The meeting was brief (I felt uncomfortable and left). 

 

The next day, I found a LONG email in my inbox from Dan.   

 

I was shocked as I read, “I see God in you, and I want that. I don’t want this life.”  He poured out his heart and soul to me — someone he barely knew!  God had brought that encounter to his life.  Dan also was torn.  He knew homosexuality was wrong, but didn’t think that he could change it.  As I reached out to Dan, he began seeking to know God, and asking God to fill the deep needs in his soul, where brokenness was leading him to sin.  He broke off the relationship with Matt.  We spent many hours talking and praying together.

 

And, guess what?  God set Dan free!!  Completely!!  He was able to walk in holiness and not be ashamed of himself before God.  A few years later, Dan got married.  Today he is a Pastor at a large church in St. Louis, and has three beautiful kids.  He is happy and restored.  Change is possible.  I’m blessed that I got to be a part of God’s healing work in his life, and we are still in touch as friends today. 

 

But, it’s important to understand that the answer for those who struggle with homosexuality is not heterosexuality, it’s really HOLINESS.  It’s about coming into union with the One who can make them into His perfect image.  In our efforts to reach out to those who may be in this lifestyle, we want to point them to Jesus, not try to “make them” heterosexual.  Heterosexuality can be just as sinful, if a person is acting out and trying to fill unmet needs in unholy ways.  Jesus is the goal.  He will restore the person to wholeness in EVERY area, and sexual orientation is only ONE area that needs healing.  The goal is healing, not just behavior modification.  Does that make sense?

 

So, I stated in my message that I believe that the Church should be the BEST place for a struggler to find healing and that we really have ALL that is needed to see someone find freedom.  What do you think is needed?  Well, according to those that have left the gay life and come to freedom in Christ, THEY say what they most needed was:

 

1.  Loving Community:  To be embraced and loved, even in their sinful state.  Healthy friendships with those who know Jesus is one of the most healing things that can be shared.

2.  Honesty:  To not feel that they have to be perfect or pretend that everything’s ok.  They also need to be able to share what they are going through without being treated as “gross”.  And, they need us to not change our standards (God’s Word) about what is right.

3.  Prayer and Accountability:  Don’t we all need this? 

 

As you look at that list, it really applies to what ANY of us need and what ALL of us SHOULD offer to each other and anyone that comes into our lives!  Anyone can do this!  Again, perhaps part of our “failure” to reach the gay community is our failure to love and find healing in OUR OWN struggles?!  If we can begin to love, be honest, get accountable, and pray each other to freedom, perhaps then the Lord will grace us to bring freedom to the captives outside the church whom we so easily judge and/or cast aside as “impossible”.         

 

I know it works.  I’ve seen it.  Jesus loves to heal!

Jesus took this as his job description:

 

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
 
And, His Spirit is now in US!

 

-Jessie    

 

If you interested more in this particular topic, visit Exodus Ministries at www.exodus.to

 

A Jealous God

This weekly word post is taken from Francis Frangipane’s book, “Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God”. Enjoy!

  

“You shall not worship any other god, for the Lord Whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God!”  (Exodus. 34:14)

 

The Lord did not say He was, at times, jealous; he said His Name, which reveals His nature, is Jealous.  Right next to His Name, “I AM” is His Name “JEALOUS”.  His love is not some ethereal principle of “higher cosmic consciousness”.  His love is focused upon us, actually jealous for us as individuals.  He “calls His own sheep by name” (John 10:3).  Jesus knows your name.  he loves you personally.  The fact that Christ is jealous for us as individuals, caring and providing for each aspect of our lives; and that the suffered humiliation and death on the Cross to pay for our sins, demonstrates how great a love is with which he loves you.  He gave all. He deserves all.   

 

His jealousy for us is perfect.  It is not he same as human jealousy; petty, possessive, and insecure.  He is not sitting in Heaven wringing His hands, wondering what we really think of Him.  his jealousy is based upon His pure love for us and His desire to bless us ad fulfill our lives in Him.  he understands us, yet knowing our weaknesses, he still “jealously desires the spirit He has made to dwell in us” (James 4:5).  His promise to us is faithful:  “I will never leave you nor forsake you”  (Hebrews 13:5).  he refuses to stop loving us.  You may think of yourself as a sinner, as unlovable; as though no one wants you, but Jesus desires you. 

 

Early in my ministry, upon occasion I gave up on certain individuals, people who seemed to me hopelessly unreceptive to God.  As the years passed, I would later discover these same individuals were now walking with God.  Jesus is faithful.  he loves you with a  love that is jealous for you as a person.

 

God knows, however, that in order for you experience his love, the idols of self and sin must be destroyed.  And to prove our intentions and love for Him, He tells us to smash these idols. 

 

Exodus 34:12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 

Would you [desire to] be holy?  Then remove the idols of self and sin from within you.  For holiness exists in a soul purified by love;  is exudes like incense from a heart without idols. 

 

Be Strong & Courageous; Bear Much Fruit

Sounds good to me!  I must admit that one of my heart cries has always been to “bear much fruit” in my life.  Don’t we all?  Don’t you long  for your life to be meaningful, to have impact, to make a difference in someone’s life?  Of course, we all do.  It’s in the fabric of our being.  Because God put it there.

 

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man

       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

       or stand in the way of sinners

       or sit in the seat of mockers.

 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 

 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

       which yields its fruit in season

       and whose leaf does not wither.

       Whatever he does prospers.

 

 4 Not so the wicked!

       They are like chaff

       that the wind blows away.

 

 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

       nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 

 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

       but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

John 15?

5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

 9″As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

Joshua 1

6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

 

I want to be unshakable, unmoved by life’s circumstances and storms and fruitful in every season (good or bad).  I desire to answer the call to be strong and courageous, to not give in to fear, and yes, to press in to “possess the land” and all that the Lord would give to me/us.  These passages make it clear what the keys are for unlocking this supernatural strength, courage and fruitfulness: 

 

-delighting in God’s laws

-being rooted deeply in the Lord (like a tree)

-drinking deeply from the waters of Life

-abiding in Jesus, being fully and vitally connected to Him.

-meditating on the Word day and night

-remaining in His Presence

-obeying the Lord

 

So, instead of trying harder to produce more results/fruit/etc. in our lives and mustering up faith and courage to carry on day after day, we are instructed VERY clearly by God that our main priority must be being with Him. Call it “quiet time”, “devotional life”, prayer/Bible study.  Whatever you call it, it’s basically about building your relationship with Jesus.  All strength, all power, all courage, and great fruitfulness are promised to flow from THAT reality.  And, it takes time.

 

TIME.  We all have it, but most of us would say we never have “enough”.  A wise person once said to me, as I mused about “not having time . . “:

 

We have time for what we want to have time for. 

 

Get it?  To put it differently, your truest priorities are revealed when you look at where you actually spend your time.  Many of us have great notions about what we consider a “priority”.  But, truth is revealed in what we actually do with our time.  You can say that your relationship with God is of primary importance in your life, but if the only time that is set aside for Him is when you’re at church on Sunday morning, what does that really say? 

 

Where can you “find” the time?  Well, maybe you can spend less time in front of the TV screen or the computer screen.  You could skip a meal here or there (it’s called fasting).  You can get up earlier or go to bed a little later.  It’s not that hard to find the time, the hard part is making it a priority decision and doing it. 

 

I know for many of you reading this, that may not be a news flash.  It’s not for me.  I’ve been trying to live my life that way for a long time.  But, I still haven’t seen what I believe is the end result that the Word describes.  I have yet to see what I would call “much fruit”, and it’s still a struggle many times to “be strong and courageous”.  Does this mean that it’s not true?  No, because God cannot lie, it’s impossible for Him to do so (Hebrews 6:18)!  It is the answer and we must not grow weary in doing good, for if we do not give up, we WILL reap a harvest (Galatians 6:9)!  They key is:  Don’t give up!  Keep faith for “much fruit”, keep vision for God to His part as you do your part.

 

Take the prescription that the Lord gave Joshua:  Take His Book (the Bible) in your hand, and in your mouth (speak the words back to Him) and think upon it, day and night.  Give long and loving meditation to God and His Word.  Then, you will see Him conquer your enemies and give you every promise that He has for you.