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

 

VOM

So, I was in the apartment workout facility, with CNN on the TV today, and was SO excited [not exactly the right word] and surprised to see a commercial from Voice of the Martyrs!!! 

Voice of the Martyrs is an organization dedicated to helping, and exposing the horrendous persuction that is perpetrated against Christians in many parts of the world.  The stories they share of real life believers, suffering for following Christ TODAY on another part of the planet will shock you, in a very needed way. 

It’s inconceivable to me that the things happening right now (torture, imprisonment, death) in some countries are so NOT well-known to us in the “free world”.  We say we believe in human rights . . .but suddenly if “religion” is involved, nobody wants to touch it — what’s that about?!?  A life is a life, right?

Anyhow, I won’t rant about it.  I was just VERY glad to see that they were able to make a commercial that tells the TRUTH, and get in on a national station that so many look to for news.  That’s what I call REAL NEWS.  Maybe we’ll all wake up a little bit. 

I encourage you to get informed.  and PRAY.  If you’re a believer in Christ, these are your FAMILY members!  If you’re not, they’re still human, like you, who deserve the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of what nation they live in.

love to all — J.

 

We all long for freedom

“There is hope, but we fear to hope,” she said. “We still dream of rearing our children in a country where everybody would have equal chances at opportunities.”

This is a quote from an article I just read about Myanmar’s current unrest (Yahoo news got  this one right, thanks to the AP).  Pray for the Christians in Myanmar/Burma, too.  The media like to focus on the monks, but they are not the only ones terrorized by a militaristic government.   

And, don’t be fooled.  Although North Korea finally admitted to having nuclear reactors/plants (who did they think they were kidding anyway?) and have agreed to “cooperate” with peace-seeking nations in a disarmament plan, they are not suddenly good.  I hardly consider this breakthrough.  While thier loftly leader Kim Jong Il is trying to look good in the face of the global pressure, the people of North Korea are literally dying every day!  Oh, you didn’t know?  I’m not sure why the media doesn’t tell us about the fact that there are many in prison workcamps, and that there’s been a country-wide famine in North Korea for many years, causing the death of thousands every year.  . . . .  [if you didn't notice I linked to several of the words above, if you want to find more info on any of this stuff, just click them and follow the link] . . .

I could go on for a while about the burdens that many counries carry, but I won’t belabor the point – we all want to be free!  Our founding fathers were right (not that America is perfect or that those men were, either):  ”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 

So, what is the solution to all the ills and burdens in the world?  Should we come in with military might and fight for the freedom of those who are oppressed?  Maybe.  Or, we could appeal to the High Court of Heaven . . .

Because “if the Son [Jesus Christ, the Son of God] sets you free, you will be free indeed.” From the Bible, book of John, chapter 8:36. 

Sounds simple.  that’s because it is.  Real freedom — freedom of the soul and spirit– is paid for already,  and can’t be regulated by any human government.  and, it’s what we were all made for, and it is what we all long for — to truly be free.