Tag: love

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Timing is everything.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The gospels are filled with Jesus performing miracles. Yet Jesus often would tell people, “don’t tell anyone.” It’s commonly called the “Messianic Secret.” Isn’t the best part of experiencing a miracle talking about it?

Here in Luke 9, but also in Matthew 16:20 and Mark 8:30, Jesus reveals who he is and what will happen to himself in the near future. I believe these “concealments” have everything to do with timing! If you’ve been walking with Jesus for a while, you begin to see the miracle of the moment. You realize the extraordinary odds of timing as you meet someone, talk with someone or having a note, text or call just happen to take place exactly at the moment of need. All the miracles in the Bible are surrounded by these timely events that must take place in supernatural order. It becomes obvious that these moments are not coincidental, but providential! God orchestrates the most complex timing of events down to the perfect minute. Like Jesus meeting the local samaritan women at the well, outside of town, at noon. That is a precise appointment. And, it took place with Jesus, the disciples and the woman all walking to meet at that moment.

John’s gospel gives us clear hints about why Jesus wanted people not to talk about these experiences so openly. John tells us Jesus said, this phrase several times – my “hour has not yet come” (John 2:4; 7:6, 8, 30). Combined with this perceived secrecy, we have Jesus telling us there is an order to what God is doing. As leaders, we look at principles of momentum and mass, capacity and clarity, but Jesus lives by this “for such a time as this” mindset.

Paul used this beautiful phrase, “the fullness of time.” Wow – isn’t that a deep thought. How can time be full? God is outside of time and his omniscience means that everything is now. There is no then or when! But, Jesus being fully God and fully man, lived within the context of time, where being led by the Spirit of God would pinpoint the accuracy of a miracle moment with perfect precision.

What does mean for us? It means that we can both experience the miracles of God’s moments as well as yield to the Spirit of God to PARTICIPATE in these moments. Have you ever felt like God was doing something supernatural but it just hasn’t happened yet? We cannot step out of time, but we can absolutely step into quick obedience when God directs us to go or speak, wait or pray.

Prayer

​Dad,
It is such a mystery to know that your thoughts are above mine and your ways are beyond my comprehension! Yet, we experience these miraculous moments and you invite us into partnership to be used in them as well. May my faith and courage to be obedient grow like the Apostle Paul said to “take every opportunity,” to see you at work in our lives and other’s lives too. Thank for inviting us to not only walk with you but also work with you in Your Kingdom. That it would be done on earth as it is in heaven!

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The dilemma of suffering.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭21‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even with all that had happened to Job – immense loss and excruciating physical anomalies, he somehow held onto his quick wit. This chapter opens with Job wanting to talk to his friends, getting a word in edgewise, because when we are not in pain ourselves, we are just full of unhelpful opinions! Job tells his “comforters,” LISTEN TO ME. It’s the least you can do, “Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭21‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ 🤣🤣🤣.

Job asks the question we all want the answer to, but God will not give it!

WHY?

Sure… why suffering?

But it’s far more than that. Because we are completely and obsessively comparative to others, we want to know about the sense of inequity, the fairness of it all.

Why ME, as opposed to why YOU?

I’ll just say it, “you’ve got to be worse than me, come on admit it!”

Ok, ok, ok – clearly I know I’m not perfect, but there has got to be someone worse than me out there. God… go bless them with suffering.

Job asks a fair, reasonable question, given the limited perspective we have about EVERYTHING. Why do the wicked prosper? Job lists all the incongruities and inconsistencies about suffering. Their livestock breed like rabbits, the kids hop about without a care in the world. They skip, dance and sing with innocent abandonment. Isn’t wealth supposed to be a curse? Aren’t they supposed to be miserable in their miser ways? (I added those last two). The wicked mock God and declare their independence from Him in every way. Plus, they truly believe they made all of it happen by themselves!

Job vomits out his frustration with unfiltered angst. “One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.” Job‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Job ends this chapter with a clap-back, “Thanks buds, I appreciate all your advice coming from seats of safety.” He writes, “How can your empty clichés comfort me? All your explanations are lies!” ‭‭Job‬ ‭21‬:‭34‬.

Wow! Job describes his (and our) dilemma but laying out the only thing he can figure out – you’ll find no justice in suffering! In fact, from our angle, our view, our experiences, we only see senselessness. If we think we can find the answer to the disparity of suffering in Job, we will be sorely disappointed. Suffering exists because of our own sin, which results in brokenness. But about the equal distribution of suffering? We just do not know. Only God knows. What we do know and can trust about God knowing all things: He is always right, true and just. Everything – EVERYTHING – He has done, does today and will do tomorrow is forever PERFECT. So we can try to pass the quiz God gave Job in chapters 38 & 39, which I guarantee you will fail. Or, we can have faith and trust the creator of all things, who does all things well. Simple, right?

Prayer

​Dad,
Whew. Every once in a while I get it in my head that I want to know things! Or, even funnier, that I want to control things. My thirst for knowledge of things and my curiosities feel so arrogant and foolish when I read Job. Job’s story helps me not only to be self aware in my lack of wisdom and understanding. It also helps me self correct my thoughts and opinions when going through suffering or being a good friend to someone who is going through suffering. You are so good God! I see it in the ancient text. I feel it in my spirit. Your love and mercy, your justice and goodness are more appreciated and apparent when suffering comes into my view. Thank You!

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Three moments of faith in mission.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Luke and Mark record this cataclysmic event in the life of the twelve. Jesus sends them off on their first mission’s trip! Luke gets right to it, while Mark first tells us Jesus sent them out in twos. The Chosen, Season 2, Episode “Spirit,” captures it perfectly!

The mission: cast out all demons and heal all diseases. Telling everyone about the Kingdom of God.

Travel instructions: Take nothing. What? Yeah, no walking stick, travel bag, food, money or extra clothes. Wow. no stick, bag, cash or snacks – I’d feel naked! When they go into the town and stay at someone’s house, they should stay with that family until it’s time to leave the town. Later on, when Jesus sends out 70 people, Luke includes a phrase that modern mission’s organizations still use today. The idea is to look for the person of peace – “if a son of peace is there…” Realizing that every town has that unique person, likely ordained by God to be the “key” to the city. Jesus sets the high bar of faith for his followers.

First faith is this “power and authority to cast out demons and heal all diseases.” That’s a big faith. I have been on some mission’s trips and do not remember one of them including that in the mandatory pre-training!

The second faith is that God will use people to provide ALL the needs of the missionaries. It is well known that hospitality is a high priority in middle eastern cultures. If a family sees that its guest has some need, they are prepared and honored to meet that need, even sacrificing their own needs to provide for others. I’m sure the disciples were well cared for in that area.

Luke records Jesus third faith requirement. What happens if I am rejected? Rejection is hard, no matter what century or circumstances you’re in. Jesus tells them, if the town refuses to welcome you – it’s on them NOT on you! Isn’t it interesting that Jesus gives them a framework to understand the possibility of failure? How often when things go sideways on a mission’s trip do we feel that it is our fault and we take responsibility for it. In Jesus training, he forewarns them that it is more likely it’s the people in the town, rather than something they might do wrong.

We might see these passages out of Luke and Mark as only applicable to the first twelve or the second seventy. We’ve got to realize, these stories are meant to be seen as critical for ALL disciples, then and now. As a follower of Jesus, the same three faith experiences in our mission of spreading the gospel is a part of the Kingdom of God. It’s fine for us to classify certain callings to full time or lifetime missionary work, especially in countries not of our own origin. But the reality is Jesus calls us all to the three part faith excursions to GO.

Go, cast out demons.
Go, heal all diseases.
Go, trusting God to provide our needs.
And GO, knowing that rejection may happen.

We (the Church) are really good at believing that all these “discipleship” scriptures are for the professionals of faith. Like there are those God has picked and they must really be good at it. Certainly, that is NOT me! Maybe you feel that you can throw God some cash to help others, which is wonderful to be a generous investor into missions. I still believe is a mandatory experience of a true follower of Jesus. Go on a mission’s trip. Cross a cultural boundary and experience God and people in other contexts. Just remember, Jesus has called all of us to both BE a disciple and to MAKE disciples! All those who profess Jesus as Lord have His power and authority to deal with demons and heal the sick. All of us who proclaim to be citizens of the Kingdom of God are called to live by faith, even to the point of experiencing the radical hospitality of others. And all who follow Jesus will experience failure in our witness and rejection by those who are set to oppose God instead of submitting to Him.

Prayer

​Dad,
Admittedly, faith is scary for us… or at least it is for me. I think everything I know about the miracle of my relationship with you is all about faith. You credited Abraham with righteousness because of his crazy faith in you. Faith to believe, faith to go, faith to sacrifice Issac, and faith to foresee the promised inheritance for the nation! When it comes to stepping out to deal with the demonic or to believe for healing of another – it’s really hard. Even now there’s a part of the Christian community that doesn’t believe it SHOULD happen, let alone could happen! I want to believe. Like the man said, “help me in my unbelief.”

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The art of the evangelism deal.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was a working Apostle. Paul’s business was tent making and repair, but really he focused more on disciple-making and soul-repair.

Paul worked a side gig for two reasons:

  1. To not be one of these itinerant preachers who roll through town, spewing heresy and disunity, which was common during ancient times. The Judaizers were especially unhelpful at this way of life. I believe Paul was an excellent businessman! He knew his craft, but more than that he knew people and felt at ease in the open-air markets in every major city. These swap-meet style businesses would line the main streets of the city where thousands of shoppers would buy and sell their goods and services.
  2. Even more impressive, was the fact that Paul knew how to make the art of the deal in evangelism! To “euaggelizó” bring the good news of Jesus to anyone who was seeking God. Paul’s most successful disciples became Pastors, Teachers, Deacons, Deaconess’ and host homes for churches everywhere Paul travelled.

When Paul writes to the churches in Colossae, he did so out of experience, not theory. Paul LIVED these verses well before he taught these practical concepts. When he writes “walk” in wisdom, he uses a very familiar Greek word, “peripateó,” to walk or really to conduct oneself. The New Living Translation captures it well – LIVE wisely.

Then Paul kicks in his real strategy that everyone who has ever shopped to scoop up a bargain, a prime-day, coupon-ish, can’t pass-it-up sale is familiar with. Paul is saying that everywhere people are, where people gather, hang out, just go about living life is the absolute best place for believers to be! Paul knows what we forget, God is at work all-the-time! God is revealing himself to every single person on the planet. The moments where we collide with someone searching isn’t coincidence it’s providence!

Business man Paul says, “Don’t miss this fire-sale moment where God is supernaturally working for us to have conversations about the gospel – the good news!” Paul uses this Greek business word, this swap-meet bargain, grab-it-now word. He says make the most of EVERY OPPORTUNITY. The word opportunity is ​agorázō, “buy-up at the marketplace!” Everyday that Paul showed up at the “agora,” the city’s bazaar, was going to be a hot, flash sale of God rescuing a soul! Another way to say it is that believers need to show up where people work, live and play. Start chatting people up with gracious, kind, authentic conversation! NLT translates it as “attractive,” but Paul’s actual words are “seasoned with salt.” Because, who wants to be a part of a tasteless, dull conversation. Make it spicy, or at the least flavorful!

This is Paul’s secret-sauce to making the art of the evangelism deal. God does 100% of the work and asks us to join Him in the miracle of transforming a life. But how do I do this you ask? What do I say? Well, it’s really important that you begin by just being a normal human being who enjoys people. Come on, it’s not that tough. Quit the nonsense of “but I’m an introvert,” or “I don’t even like people.” You cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God without behaving just a little bit like a citizen of God’s economy. Just being nice is a good start. Practice in the mirror 🤣.

What Paul did next is genius. He would wait, watch and listen for someone to ask him, “so what’s your story?” Or, how’d you become a tent maker guy? At this point Paul and every single believer in Jesus would simply and briefly share their own story, their own testimony – the personal witness of how they met God.

So the next time you see a sale, a bargain, and you feel the need to jump on it before that discount slips through your fingers, just remember – you can also seize these kind of life moments that God customized for you to be a part of the miracle of new life!

Prayer

​Dad,
You know I LOVE this strategy! It is so natural, so easy, so non-threatening. For years I thought evangelism or sharing my faith was a confrontational, three-step method of memorizing Paul’s Roman’s Road or a script I was taught that made me so nervous. What a relief to know that I can’t and don’t save anyone! That’s all You. What a joy to just be normal and enjoy the moments that you have ordained to allow me to be a part of Your story, a true citizen in the Kingdom. Oh, how I wish everyone would follow Paul’s simple way of just being themselves. And when you show up, wow – it is spectacular.

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Relentless Pursuit – Part 2

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is so interesting that I providentially landed on these verses this morning. I just finished off a sermon series yesterday called, “A Better Us – Relentlessly Pursuit.” (https://bit.ly/chasinghumans).

From Adam & Eve, to Moses, to David, to Hosea and more, God has come after us. He comes after us in our disobedience, our disagreements, our depression, even our denials! An 1890 poem by Francis Thompson captures it. God is the Hound of Heaven.

God pursues us because he loves us, He wants us to walk with Him, find beauty, strength and freedom in Him. The Hosea story is the wildest twist of an awkward, even controversial love. God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a known prostitute. This whole story is a physical, marital, family object lesson about how unfaithful Israel has been with their love covenant with God. In the end, Hosea has to pay to buy his own wife back, out of the sex slave industry – ”So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine,” ‭‭Hosea‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬.

It was not so easy to buy back Israel though. God promised that one day it would happen and it did 800 years later! The price to buy Israel back from their sex (idolatry) and death slavery was the death of His own son, Jesus. God chased humans then, He still chases humans today – all over the globe, in every minute of every day. God still chases after YOU and me. In the sermon I talked about how wonderful it is for someone to pursue us (not it a stalker kind of way).

For someone to know whether I live or die, when I love or lose love, when I’m healthy or sick? To be known and loved by God is the greatest feeling and experience we will ever know. Even when we run, hide, rebel or become an enemy of God – He yet pursues. Read these verses David wrote in Psalms.

Psalm 23:6 – “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will
pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house
of the LORD forever.”

Psalm 139:7-12 “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.”

Let God catch you ALWAYS.

Prayer

​Dad,
I am so thankful you pursued me and you still come after me! I am in awe to see your patience and mercy in the very long story of your people – Israel. Yet, you do not withhold judgment nor justice. And, You are the only one qualified to make those justified decisions.

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Relentless Pursuit

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is your calling to go or stay? After a terrorizing night on the beach, where Jesus (a Jewish Rabbi and his 12 Jewish disciples) landed on the shores of Gerasenes. Gersa was a part of the larger Roman Decapolis or ten cities. Jesus purposely crossed the Galilee for an appointment with divine destiny.

No self respecting Jew would have anything to do with this area of the eastern shore. It is believed that the Decapolis was the “Las Vegas” of its day, where there was entertainment, exploration and excitement galore. Gerasenes was known to the locals as “pig island” because of the vast herds providing pork meat products supplying the massive festivals in the arenas. Where there were personal vomitoriums, like public toilets, surrounded the outdoor stadiums, whether it is true or not, decadence was absolutely a big part of the Roman celebrations.

We don’t know where the “tomb man” came from, nor his history. But we do know where he ended up! Out of his mind, and the under control of thousands of demons – his body was like an influencer’s party at an Airbnb. After Jesus exercised the demons out of the man and allowed them to take temporary residence in a large herd of pigs, the response was immediate. The locals wanted Jesus to GO, but the exercised man wanted to go with him! The villagers and the previously demon possessed man were apparently afraid. The difference is, the villagers were afraid of Jesus bringing this kind of power over demons but they also saw that Jesus had power over their entire economy! The pig herders didn’t want Jesus to wipe out any more of their financial income.

The now safe-n-sane man was also afraid. He was afraid to go back to his own community, realizing that his previous life had likely burned all of his relational bridges. He was afraid of the power of his past. The now freed man begged Jesus to take him with them, but Jesus told him “No.” Jesus wanted him to go back to his family, back home where everyone knew his story. Interesting that his “discipleship” path led him back, not forward to follow the savior. Jesus gave him one simple but profoundly difficult command, “Tell them everything that God has done for you.” Some folks journey doesn’t lead them off to extraordinary adventures where life is hard, where the mission field requires language and cultural training. Some are called, chosen to go back to where they came from. Back to the familiar place, where people know them and know their story well.

Jesus was telling him to go back and live a whole different story, starting with the one where he was roommates with 2,800 devils. He had crazy fits of rage, and was a constant danger to anyone that tried to come near to help. But the new story, where he had been set free, now had the power of the love of God radiating from every pore of his soul! This amazing story shows us that Jesus clearly wanted the previously known mad-naked-man to follow him, but to do so by going back to his people, immediately illustrating that God wants us to both BE a disciple but also MAKE disciples. This story also illustrates how God relentlessly pursues the human heart, stopping at nothing to free us and give us a whole new story to tell.

This is how God pursues – endlessly, constantly. Mad naked man only knew how to cut himself, to fend off suicidal whispers. He only knew how to scream from the intense pain of torture and imprisonment. He ran towards Jesus in hope that he could help him, save him! You don’t think God pursues you? Look again. In your torment, fighting to stay alive while whispers of death haunt your mind – scream out to Jesus! He will meet you on the beaches of your own pig island and set you free.

Prayer

Dad,
My life had nowhere near the trauma of the mad naked man, but who knows where it might have gone. All I know is that you saw me, spoke to me and offered me the relationship I needed most – to be my Father. You saved me and are constantly setting me free from my past. I live because you re-wrote my story and now I am yours forever.

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United we stand.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul, writing to the churches in Ephesus, from prison, calls out followers of Jesus to be unified under the fact that there is but one body and one Spirit. There may be factions of belief, but there should not be fractures of behavior towards one another. Why? Paul tells the Church, unity reflects our calling!

As a follower of Jesus, fully committed to his Lordship over all things, our individual and community calling is from God. Because of that, Paul lists the actions, the behaviors of our calling – humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance because of love. The letter to the Ephesians was primarily based on the theme of unity. Paul sent Timothy there to pastor the church, eventually leading up to Timothy becoming a bishop over the entire region. The ancient city now lies in ruins with thousands of tourists passing through marveling at its once magnificent structures, even highlighting several multi-level, apartment style homes. Ephesus today, once home to Jesus’ mother Mary and the burial place of the Apostle John only has a handful of believers along with a very old Catholic monastery.

Unity in the Church today is still as vital as ever. Yet, with thousands of denominational factions and ministerial accusations becoming viral social media posts, it is very apparent that we have not done enough to honor Jesus’ prayer in John 17 to be one.

Prayer

​Dad,
Walking the ancient streets of Ephesus and meeting one of the few dear Christian ladies across the street from St. John’s tomb, it was disheartening to realize that many of the New Testament churches no longer exist. I am sure the reasons are more complicated than just our issues with disunity, but it is still sad. I remember an old song based on John 13:35, “they will know we are Christians by our love.” I ache for those who proclaim your name to live under your banner of love for one another.

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When God speaks.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning. The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David writes this Psalm highlighting the voice of God. It is believed to have been written when God told David that he would not be building the temple because of his bloody war hands. So David gives his son the detailed plans and instructions to build the magnificent structure, including the surrounding courtyard, 1 Chronicles 28. It is in these celebratory moments that David writes about the power and majesty of the Lord’s voice. This Psalm was inserted towards the end of David’s life.

Yesterday, we had a sudden storm race through Southern California, but with this quick burst of rain also came massive thunder and lightning. Thunder that rattles windows and scares little children! This timeless reminder is what David uses to highlight the power of God. When God speaks in power the earth itself shakes in response!

It reminds me of the moment God told Elijah to go out on the face of mount Horeb in 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah experienced hurricane force winds, an earthquake, and fire. But God was not in those destructive experiences. After all that Elijah heard the sound of a low whisper, he covered his face and went out to listen to God. Yes, God’s voice cannot only come in power, enough to split cedars, make mountains skip and leap and strip forests bare. God can also come in a whisper, drawing the human ear and heart close to himself. God, as creator of all things, has both the power to wreak havoc as well as the power to save and heal our hearts.

Prayer

​Dad,
When I stop and think about Your power over all things in everything that exists everywhere, it humbles me to realize that You love us – You love me! We are uniquely created in Your image and You breathed life into our soul. It reminds me that all that power has been leveraged into the physical might to save us, not destroy us. Your power is for us not against us. You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. I am thankful for Your power working in me.

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Prophets foretelling future.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.” Acts 11‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Like the Old Testament Prophets of old, Abagus tells the Church, there is famine coming. GotQuestions.org states, “Claudius Caesar had several unintended effects on Christian history. First, his scattering of the Jews in Rome led directly to Paul’s encounter with Priscilla and Aquila.” And, “God sovereignly used the reign of Claudius Caesar, as He did every other Roman emperor, to continue spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ across the world. Some of Paul’s earliest letters were written under the reign of Claudius Caesar.”

Luke uses this very public tragedy to highlight the prophet office, or the gift of prophecy. A prophet was one who received direct messages from God and communicated them to the people. The gift of prophecy is mainly active as a forth-telling, which is declaring of God’s truth, especially in encouraging one another in the Church. The less common is fore-telling, predicting future events.

Here in Acts 11, Agabus predicted (by the Holy Spirit) that a great famine was coming. Clearly this forecast allowed the Church to prepare ahead of the crisis on behalf of those who would suffer in Jerusalem. This massive mission push was a New Testament theme that not only addressed the speed, agility and ability of believers throughout the entire region. It also highlighted the unity of Christianity in sending money to Jerusalem. This allowed the Pastors to purchase food and get it distributed to those affected. Sending funds and distributing food was a powerful testimony to nonbelievers that the Church didn’t just care about folks spiritual needs but physical needs as well.

This thread of distribution in disasters is still relevant today! During Covid, hundreds of Churches were the distribution centers of food because of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program which began in May of 2020 and ended in May of 2021 having distributed more than 173 million food boxes. And, many people don’t know that ConvoyofHope.org, is oftentimes the first to arrive in national disasters around the country. It is amazing and challenging to know that God has used the Church then and does so still today. One of the marks of Christianity on our culture is how believers give time and money in a crisis – both local and globally. The beauty of this moment recorded in Acts is that God gave warning through the gift of Prophecy that allowed the Church to begin preparing before the famine even hit.

Prayer

​Dad,
It would be great if we (the Church) had more prophetically gifted individuals for just such reasons as Agabus had proven faithful. I have really longed for the Church leadership offices to get beyond just the two pastor/teacher flavors. Lacking our apostolic and prophetic seems to keep us wandering in circles, missing the urgency and the push of the Spirit which both these gifts give us. We have given into fears in our churches because these missing gifts were abused in the past and later shuffled off as insignificant. This one prophetic moment gave the early church more than just a head-start it gave it the edge for politicians and business leaders to follow. This kept the church relevant in resources, leading the charge to care and directing people and funds to where both were much needed. Could you give us another chance, a boost of confidence to follow the model of the early church?

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God’s favorites.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

”One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied. And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” ‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are those in our society that are in need and should receive special attention and care. These folks existed in ancient days and they still struggle today. They are widows and orphans. Because God’s heart always leans to the least among us, he expects that we will do the same.

In the U.S. from 2022, there were approximately 11.48 million widowed women and 3.7 million widowed men in the United States, the average age is 59! The word “widow” is sited 80 times from the Old and New Testament. Today’s “orphan” would be our children lingering in foster care. In 2022, approximately 368,530 children were in foster care in the United States. Which is down from 400,000 just 10 years ago.

Here in Kings, with the story of the needy widow, Elisha responds to her desperation by walking her and her sons through a miracle rather than just giving her money. In fact, through this miracle, God allowed this widow to become an entrepreneur, with a sustainable income for her future. That’s a compounded interest miracle!

Kings tells us that this widow’s husband was a part of Elisha’s School of the Prophets, and the widow reminds him that her husband feared the Lord! Since Elisha figured out that this widow was willing to speak up and ask, he knew he could put this skillset, this gift to work! He first asks what she has. She responds with, “I’ve only got one flask of oil.” Olive oil, in ancient days was used for just about everything, far more than it is today. If you had a grove of olive trees, you had a sustainable income for life, because oil was a highly needed commodity.

Next, Elisha puts her to work ASKING. “Go and borrow as many empty jars as you can.” Big jars, little jars, used jars and new ones – who knows what her friends and neighbors let her “borrow” knowing they were helping her out.

Elisha then tells her, “go into your house with your sons.” My wife, Robin, points out the highlight of the miracle about to take place is the fact that her sons were able to experience God’s power and provision right alongside their mother. She begins to pour from her only oil jar. She fills up one jar, then another, and another. The tension rises when the mother discovers they are out of jars, “Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.” (4‬:‭6‬) All the jars were now filled!

She tells Elisha what happened, expecting that he would want to know or maybe even receive part of the miraculous oil himself. Elisha tells her to sell the oil to pay the debt and keep the rest to live on! She receives a miracle and an inheritance check from God!

Caring for widows or children of foster care doesn’t mean we just hand over a bunch of money. God could have made it rain coins from the sky if Elisha asked him to. Working with both widows and children formerly in foster care means helping them understand their own gifts and talents and teach them to become self sufficient is incredibly important. Both still need believers to pray and seek God for miracles on their behalf. But helping them see their worth and value after death, abandonment or abuse is critical for their mental and spiritual well being! It’s money leveraged to teach and get them moving in the right direction. Many of the widows that I have known were properly cared for through planning before their husband’s death. Serving both widows and children of foster care requires building trust – love must be earned before it’s honored! Being involved in their lives becomes a great way to redirect and inspire them to keep going, and discovering what God will do through their lives even after a difficult season of loss. It is a joy, privilege and honor to serve the folks that God considers most valuable because of loss. When we serve widows and children of foster care, we are blessing some of God’s favorites!

Prayer

​Dad,
I enjoy seeing what you love and learning to love it as well. And I know you love widows and orphans. You see their great needs and hear their cries for help. Thank you for enlisting us to share in the joy of praying for, blessing and caring for those you deeply love.