Know Your Niche

Who am I? Where do I fit in? What is my purpose? According to Christian psychologists Tim Clinton and Chap Clark these are questions we need to answer. They suggested the following questions for us to answer:

“Tell me the choice you are concerned about today. What are the options you have considered? If you picture a future in a career path, what do you envision?

What input have you gotten from people who know you best? What would your peers say your talents and skills are? Do you value their insights into your life? Do you agree with them?

Are there any Biblical principles or directives that are guiding you? If so, what are they? As you pray, do you have a sense that God’s Spirit is leading you in a direction? Are you willing to do God’s will if He shows it to you clearly?

What are the doors that are open to you at this point? On a scale of 0-10, how well would you say you are obeying God and pursuing Him now? How will you be convinced that you know what God wants you to do?” [1]

Consider the long-term implications of your decisions.

If you are not where you should be, ask the Lord to get you on track. Make your request known to God with thanksgiving. God says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” [2] God will lead you.

The love chapter follows the spiritual gifts chapter. In the love chapter, the Lord tells us that no matter what our calling and gifting is, the foundation for making it work is love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” [3] All work unless done out of love is unprofitable.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Levite and Priest were highly trained in the Word of God. They had position and authority, but they lacked love. When they saw a person in need, they passed him right up. In America, people become famous and rich because they can do something better than others or because they look good. But do we ever stop and ask ourselves if this person is doing what he or she does out of love?

When thinking about our niche, we need to know what God wants. Not what the world wants.

For example, my passion is to speak and to write for the Lord, but the world is full of speakers and writers. I hear preachers who are better than me. When I look at the book section at Walmart there are many writers better than me. Who am I that I should serve the Lord in this way?

However, dollars and cents do not validate my calling. Popularity does not validate my calling. It is NOT about me. It is about love. God’s love!

In God’s economy, unless I have love I am nothing. There are a lot of great speeches and books that are going to burn someday, but what has been spoken, written, or done out of love for God and neighbor shall endure.

The world lightly values what is of great worth to God. The world does not value God. BUT embrace God anyway. God is the best employer. He pays good wages. He supplies all our needs according to His riches and glory.

God pays for what He wants done. Hudson Taylor once said, “God’s work done in God’s way will have God’s provision.

In regards to personal appearance, Dustin Hoffman recently asked the question, “How many interesting women have I written off because their outward appearance didn't meet my expectation?” It is so easy to rate people by their outward appearance and miss their great inner worth.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” [4]

I like God’s economy. He takes people like Fanny Crosby, a blind woman and calls her to help seeing people see. She wrote some of Christendom’s most beautiful hymns. God takes people like Joni Eareckson-Tada, a quadriplegic, and calls her to teach people with operational limbs how to serve the Lord well.

Our Father is a Gardener. [5] We are in the best of care when we put ourselves in His care. Consider all the plant life He sustains! Let God cultivate you! Let God nurture you! Let Him fight off your pests and pestilences! In His hands you will bear much fruit.

When I was a boy, one uncle asked me, “Are you a conformist or nonconformist?” I aim to be a conformist to the will of God, and a non-conformist to the will of the world. I do my best for God and the herd when I be who God made me to be. My goal is to serve the Word of God and to testify for Jesus. [6]

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” [7]

Present yourself to God. Let God have you. Do not allow your lack of experience or ability to stop you from serving God.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” [8]

How do I become better? The answer is transformation!

Transformation is what made the Rocky movies so powerful. When that song “Feeling Strong Now” starts and Rocky Balboa starts working out, it is like, okay, I have been going nowhere, but now with an excellent mentor and steadfast commitment to the mission, I am going to win.

For me, the movie was never about Rocky becoming the heavy weight champion of the world. It was about me doing what God made me to do.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment...” [9]

God has us at our best when He has us humbly serving Him. Proud people are hard to teach. Hard to mold! Who can tell them anything? They know it all. In their mind, the entire world is out of step with them. They are hard to work with. They are not team players. God prefers to work through a BODY of believers.

Good coaches build on positives but confront players who fail to put forth effort. Diligence is the difference maker between professionals and amateurs. “Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” [10]

Finally, consider this, God did His best for us when He gave us His only begotten Son. Should we not do the same for Him? Let us respect and cheer one another on in this game called life. God has given us gifts. Let God identify, cultivate, and make them produce for you. God knows our niche and He helps us fulfill it!

[1] Dr. Tim Clinton, Dr, Chap Clark with Dr. Joshua Straub, The Quick Reference Guide to Counseling Teenagers, Baker Books Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI 49516, © 2010, p. 155
[2] James 1:5-6
[3] 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[4] 1 Samuel 16:7
[5] John 15:1
[6] Revelation 1:2
[7] Romans 12:1
[8] Romans 12:2
[9] Romans 12:3-5
[10] Proverbs 22:29

Spiritual Fire Versus Fiery Judgmental

“Jesus sent messengers before His face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set towards Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?’ But Jesus turned, and rebuked them, and said, ‘You know not what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” [1]

Jesus Christ is God’s Savior. He seeks to save people. That is what He does. He also allows people to refuse His saving grace. The Lord is not quick to anger.

The Samaritans did not receive Jesus into their city because of a disappointment. He was just passing through and not staying to minister. So, behind their rejection was a desire to receive Him. Later, an entire village of Samaritans believed in Jesus.

“Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word.” [2]

Jesus also spoke well of a Samaritan to harsh religious leaders. He told them of a certain Samaritan who understood well what to do with the divine mandate to love one’s neighbor. [3]

James and John were too quick to condemn the Samaritans when they said to Jesus, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?” Jesus rebuked them. [4]

Jesus told these same disciples that after they received His Holy Spirit, they would be His witnesses in Samaria. And they were! The city of Samaria was under the spell of a sorcerer named Simon until Philip came and did healing miracles among them. They believed in Jesus and were baptized in water. Afterwards, Peter and John laid hands on them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Samaritans got the fire. The fire of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit! [5]

Let no one be quick to condemn people. Jesus does not want to destroy people with fire, He wants to transform them with the fire of the Holy Spirit so they can be saved and live with Him in paradise.

Later on life, Peter wrote about God’s judgement. God threw the angels who sinned down to hell. God did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness. God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes. He made them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly. God judges unjust, lustful, self-willed people who are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, but He is not hasty to condemn them. Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [6]

In the Old Testament, King Saul persecuted God’s servant David. King Saul died in defeat before his enemies. In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus persecuted believers in Jesus Christ. Rather than send fire from the sky to destroy Saul of Tarsus, God sent Saul the revelation of Jesus Christ. Saul believed in Jesus and became one of His most prolific writers and speakers. Our Lord prefers to fire up His enemies not fire them away.

May we all become more like Jesus Christ in this way!

[1] Luke 9:52-56
[2] John 4:39-41
[3] Luke 10:25-37
[4] Luke 9:54-55
[5] Acts 1:8; Acts 8:6-17
[6] 2 Peter 2:4-10; 2 Peter 3:9

Millions of Muslims Converting to Christ

Salem Voice Ministries recently reported that more Muslims have converted to faith in Christ over the past decade than at any other time in human history. Muslims from Morocco, Somalia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Maldives have embraced Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah.

In Iraq, more than five thousand Muslims converted to Christ since the end of major combat operations. Fourteen new churches opened in Baghdad. Dozens of new churches opened in Kurdistan, some with between five and eight hundred members. More than one million Bibles have been shipped into the country since 2003. Iraqis are snatching Bibles up so fast they constantly need more.

There were only five hundred known Christians in Iran in 1979, but there are more than one million Iranians who believe in Christ today.

Around a million Muslims believed in Jesus over the past decade in Egypt. The Egyptian Bible Society used to sell about three thousand copies of the JESUS film a year in the early 1990’s. In the year 2000, they sold 600,000 copies, plus 750,000 copies of the individual cassette tapes and about a half million copies of the Arabic New Testament. There’s one congregation which meets in an enormous cave on the outskirts of Cairo. Some ten thousand believers worship there every weekend. A prayer conference there drew some twenty thousand believers.

There were only seventeen known Afghan Christians in 2001. There are more than ten thousand believers in Christ now. Dozens of baptisms are done each week!

In 1990, there were only three known Christians in Kazakhstan and no Christians in Uzbekistan, but now there are more than 15,000 in Kazakhstan and 30,000 in Uzbekistan.

In Sudan, more than one million Muslims have converted since 2000, and some five million have become Christians since the early 1990’s despite persecution that has killed more than 200,000 Christians. Bible instruction happens even in caves.

In December 2001, Sheikh Ahmad al Qataani, a leading Saudi cleric, appeared on a live interview on Al-Jazeera satellite television to confirm that, sure enough, Muslims were turning to Jesus in alarming numbers. “Every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity,” Al Qataani warned. “Every day, 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity. Every year, 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity.”

One of the most dramatic developments is that many Muslims are seeing dreams and visions of Jesus and thus coming into churches explaining that they have already converted and now need a Bible. This fulfills a Bible prophecy spoken by Joel, “In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days... And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” [1]

[1] Joel 2:28-32

Divine Intervention

Divine intervention

Yes we need it

Yes we want it

Divine intervention

After God established him

After God made him strong

He abandoned God

Due to his unfaithfulness

War broke out and many died

Twelve hundred chariots

Sixty thousand horsemen

Troops beyond count

Fortified cities fell to his foes

He became subject to foreigners

Foreigners took his treasures

They replaced finery with poverty

Rehoboam and his leaders

Humbled themselves

The king had not set his heart

To serve the Lord

The Lord intervened

The king repented

God’s anger turned from him

The king’s life was spared

Divine intervention

Yes we need it

Yes we want it

Divine intervention

Based on 2 Chronicles 12:1-14

Receive The Holy Spirit

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to make Him out to be evil. [1] For example, if we don’t talk about Him because of the tongues or gifts controversy or snake handling controversy. If we fear to enter dialogue about the Holy Spirit because of these issues, we are essence saying the Holy Spirit is undesirable in our midst.

The truth is the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. He reveals truth to us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to testify for truth and to worship the Father in truth. He is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. [2] His baptism is a baptism of love for God and others. He is not an unclean spirit. He is the HOLY Spirit. He helps us to say no to sin, and yes to righteousness.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter (Paraclete) who comes along side of us. He is our Advocate and Helper. He sighs in groans too deep for us to discern when we don’t know how to pray. He is Christ in us, the hope of glory. [3] God indwells people by His Spirit. Instead of Jesus walking in one place in Galilee, we have Jesus walking all over the world in many places at the same time, through His people the Church.

The Church is where the Holy Spirit is. The Church began when the Holy Spirit filled believers in Christ on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. We must be born of the Spirit to enter God’s kingdom. People profess that Jesus is their Lord by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears fruit in believers. He gives grace-gifts to believers. In a world full of put-downs, the Holy Spirit is the builder-up. The Holy Spirit is the source of our fellowship with God.

Jesus is still saying to disciples today, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [5]

[1] Matthew 12:31-32
[2] John 15:25; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; John 4:24; Romans 5:5
[3] John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Colossians 1:27
[4] Acts 2:4; Mark 1:4; John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14
[5] John 20:22

Tribute to the Best Father Ever

In October of 1987, I was reading the Bible when I came across the following words, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” [1] God wants His people to demonstrate His care for those who have lost spouse and/or parent. I prayed, “Lord, help me to meet either an orphan or widow.” And I believed somehow it would happen, but I didn’t know how.

That very evening, I was at a Bible Study led by Robert Weathersby. At the end of the study, Robert took prayer requests. A young Chinese lady, named Linda Pang, asked for prayer for her mother and sisters. Her father had just passed away and her mother was experiencing deep grief. After the study, I asked Linda if her mother would be okay with our family coming to visit her. She was happy that we were willing to do so.

That Sunday, we went to visit Linda’s mother. Her Chinese name was He Rue Hua. Her English name was Lydia. Lydia believed in Jesus and so did all her daughters.

Years after she lost her husband, Lydia wrote her testimony. It was entitled, “The Love I lost and the Love I gained.” In her testimony she spoke of how devastated she was to see her husband suffer from cancer and then, die. However, before he died, he believed in Jesus. And he told Lydia, and his three daughters to believe in Jesus. Lydia said that her husband died with such a serene look about him. She knew there must be something to this Jesus.

It was Lydia’s first birthday without her husband the day Sherry, our two babies Grace and Glory, and I came to visit. The Chinese often said, “Kaiche gungzi” when they first saw our two babies! “Kaiche gungzi” means “they look like baby dolls.” Lydia enjoyed holding our babies. She said that God blessed her with our love for her.

God brought other Christians into Lydia’s life. Two of her daughters married successful businessmen. Linda, her oldest daughter, got a scholarship to study in Australia. Lydia’s testimony was that she lost a love but gained more love.

Amidst the backdrop of hardship and loss, God wrote a beautiful story with Lydia’s life. She is now with the Lord.

The reason Lydia is with the Lord and her daughters are walking with the Lord is because of their loving Heavenly Father. That is why I am wishing God, “Happy Father’s Day.” He is the best Father ever and the source of all good fathers.

[1] James 1:27

God’s Grace in the Last Days

“Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me?’ And what was God’s answer to him? ‘I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” [1]

Elijah’s government had killed God’s prophets and ruined places where God was worshiped. His government put a price on his head. He felt overwhelmed because he thought he was the only one left in his country that was testifying for the Lord. But, in fact, the Lord had 7,000 others who were testifying for Him. God gave them grace not to deny Him. God’s mercy on them was the difference maker. They were saved by God’s grace and not by their works. They transferred their trust from self or others to God alone.

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [2]

Those who overcome the dragon (Satan) do so by the blood of the Lamb. The blood of the Lamb (Jesus Messiah) cleanses us from sin by which the devil tries to claim us as belonging to him.

Those who overcome Satan do so by the word of their testimony. John speaks of the testimony of Jesus Christ. “John… bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ.” “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” “I fell at his [the angel’s] feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” [3]

Those who overcome Satan do so because God has given them grace not to love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Normally, people want to live not die, but God’s grace empowers professors of Jesus Christ to prefer death over denial.

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” [4]

While some would not consider martyrdom a victory of God’s grace, it is just that. “Martyr” is the Greek word for a witness. In the context of the Bible, a martyr is someone who testifies for Jesus Christ: that He is the One God the Father sent to save us from our sin! It was Jesus who spoke by the prophet saying, “I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.” The angels of God testify for Jesus saying, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” [5]

When we stand for Jesus Christ, He stands for us. Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” When Stephen was in process of dying for His testimony about Jesus, the Lord gave him a vision. In the vision, he saw Jesus standing for him. “He, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” [6]

So, remember this! God’s grace in the last days is to testify that Jesus Christ is your Savior from sin, and to do so, even if and when threatened with pain or death for doing so. This is what the believing remnant does in the last days. We testify for Jesus Christ. And praise the Lord! He testifies of us as He did to Elijah when He said to Him, “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” [7]

[1] Romans 11:2-6, 32
[2] Revelation 12:11
[3] Revelation 1:1-2; 1:9; 19:10
[4] Hebrews 11:35-38
[5] Isaiah 43:11; Luke 2:11
[6] Matthew 10:32; Acts 7:55
[7] Romans 11:4-5

Our Rallying Point is Christ

A mainline denominational church where Jesus Christ was never mentioned during the sermon! I was disappointed. A minister for 26 years, before he came to know Christ! I met this pastor years ago while distributing Gospel tracts.

The Apostle Paul tells us that before he met Christ, “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” [1]

“The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit.” For some, the catch of dishonest income is weightier than Christ. Paul urges us to be rooted and built up in Christ. [2] Christ yields good fruit in our lives.

Early on in our marriage, I read in the Bible... “God did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness.” [3] Afterwards, Sherry would hear me praying, “Lord, make me a preacher of righteousness.” Jesus Christ is the only source of righteousness for every sinner. Only He forgives sins! Only He gives us the HOLY Spirit. It is by faith in Him that we receive God’s approval. I must preach Christ to be a preacher of righteousness.

The Corinthians forgot who their rallying point was. Paul wrote to them, saying, “Let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” Spiritual pride led them to pit church leaders one against another. Paul wrote to them, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” [4]

Paul urges us to focus on Christ. When he speaks of being an apostle, he is an apostle of Christ. When he writes, he writes to us who have been sanctified by Christ. When wishing us grace and peace, it is grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul thanks God for us, it is because of the grace that has been given to us in Christ Jesus. He always exalts Christ. [5]

Paul reminds us that only Jesus was crucified for us. Our whole eternity depends on what Jesus did for us on the cross. If Christ had not died on the cross for our sins, we would have died in our sins and perished forever.

It may be foolish to those around us, but for us who believe, the cross of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. Paul wrote, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” [6] All good things come from God to us through His Son. So, let us rally around Christ.

[1] 1 Timothy 1:13, 15
[2] Proverbs 12:12; Colossians 2:7
[3] 2 Peter 2:5
[4] 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:31
[5] 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
[6] 1 Corinthians 1:18; Romans 8:32

Speaking Prophetically

God has shown such incredible grace to the human race. He has revealed this grace to an unworthy person like me.

Heroes! As a boy, the main characters of comic books were my heroes. Why? Perhaps, because they were the focus of people’s attention. As a teen, my heroes were rock stars. Later, I wanted to be a famous missionary for the Lord. And after that a well-read writer and popular speaker for the Lord. The common denominator between these aspirations was to be noticed for doing something very well.

Many religious people have wanted to do great things “for God” but ended up building towers of Babel. Babel represents humans trying to take from God what belongs to Him alone, namely, the love and worship of people.

Babylonian towers fall. Disappointment and disillusionment follows. They leave much rubble behind. Denial of failure must give way to a better plan for success.

Amidst my ponderings of heroes of this world, the Lord pointed me to His servant Jeremiah in the Bible. I was eighteen when I first read his book. The outcomes of his work did not suit me at that time. He got rejected. No one wanted to listen to a thing that he had to say. Once, he was even disposed of like trash.

Thankfully, the Lord never gave up on me. He questioned my motives for speaking His Name and for teaching His Word. He helped me to see how foolish I was. The only Savior of the world is Jesus Christ. Like Jeremiah, I must point people to Christ alone for salvation and for help.

So, let us consider God’s servant Jeremiah. God did not measure his success by the number of people who read his book or the number of people who listened to him preach. God just gave him words to share with people, and he shared them.

God’s heroes are different from the world’s heroes. Jeremiah did not serve God so he could be the center of people’s attention. He did not serve God for money. He did not serve God with the hope of gaining for himself the affection of a beautiful spouse. He did not serve God for the sake of dining on delicious food or having a nice parsonage given to him. His goal was to hear from God and speak for God.

God’s servants are usually mistreated by self-centered leaders. For example, Florence Nightingale was rebuked by authorities for not following their rules, but their rules hurt not helped people. Florence rebelled against her rich upbringing. She chose to live in squalid conditions amidst wounded British soldiers. She fought the system of abuse in British military hospitals and improved the conditions. As a result of her rebellion against bad leadership, many critically wounded soldiers were nursed back to life.

G. K. Chesterton once said, “The only really practical type of a rebellion is that in which is also a repentance. All real reform springs from this sense of something wrong, not only in our surroundings, but in ourselves.” [1]

God revealed to Jeremiah that something was wrong with his world. Rather than cover it up or deny it, he exposed it. Jeremiah received his revelations and abilities from the Lord. It seemed at first that he would die at a young age, and that his work would remain unnoticed and unappreciated. But by God’s grace, Jeremiah preached and wrote for the Lord over a period of forty years. The people who refused to listen to his words from God lost their city. Many of them lost their lives. He survived. His writings survived. People still read his book today. Glory to God!

In Hebrews 11:32, God mentions Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. These men lived during an age of anarchy. Every man was doing what was right in his own eyes. There was no king in the land. Outlaws were considered good. Law abiding people were considered evil. It was like the Wild West! People were bucking broncos. They refused to be saddled by anyone or anything. God gave them into the hands of their enemies to help them repent. They experienced hunger, thirst, hard work, and homelessness. Finally, when they had enough, they cried out to the Lord and He gave them deliverers. God gave them Gideon and Barak who were cowards by nature. He gave them Samson who melted like butter in the presence of beautiful women. He gave them Jephthah who vowed a crazy vow to God that resulted in the death of his daughter. They were imperfect men who God empowered to deliver His people from their enemies as they trusted in God.

These men subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in battle, and turned to flight, the armies of the aliens. They did this by faith in God. [1]

“OTHERS endured cruel mocking and scourging, yea moreover, bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, and slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the world was not worthy). They wandered in deserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” [2]

Mocked not praised? Whipped not massaged? Bound not given bracelets? Imprisoned not given a parsonage? Stoned not celebrated? Sawn asunder not healed? Sheep and goat skins for clothes instead of Abercrombie? Destitute, afflicted, and tormented? Wandering in deserts? Living in caves? These unnamed others represent a band of gracious gifts of God to an unworthy world. People who willingly suffered for God! They understood God’s worth.

Jeremiah was a messenger of grace to an unworthy world. He was imprisoned for the Lord. [3] Priests and officials tried to kill him. He was thrown down into a muddy well. He sunk in the muck up to his armpits. In spite of all this, Jeremiah spoke wonderful words of promise from God to his people. Would you tell such people like that anything nice? Jeremiah did!

Jeremiah told his people, “Thus says the Lord the Maker thereof, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name: ‘Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.’” [4] Jeremiah urged the people to call upon their Maker to receive revelations from Him.

Still sitting in prison, Jeremiah wrote, “Behold, I will bring health and cure to this city; and I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.” Have you heard of urban renewal? Jerusalem was on fire. The dead were all about. But God was going to heal their city and make it alive again. The Lord’s plan was to fill their city with peace and truth. [5]

God promised to end their enslavement to foreign powers. He promised to help them rebuild their land. God promised to cleanse them from sin. Sin had ruined them. He promised to make the name of their city a name of joy, praise, and an honor before all the nations. [6]

God promised to restore wedding celebrations to them. It seems that people were no longer getting married before their nation fell. People were just living in sin. For those of you who DID enjoy a wedding day, can you imagine if it never happened? Bride, you didn’t have a beautiful gown. Groom, no tuxedo! No flowers. No pastor to bless. No congregation to pray. No big meal afterwards. No music. No dancing. [7]

“The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” [8]

God spoke through Jeremiah of a Branch of Righteousness that brings salvation. “In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely. And this is the name wherewith she shall be called: ‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’ David shall NEVER be in want for a man to sit upon his throne and the priestly order will NEVER lack a priest to offer sacrifices to the Lord.” [9] Jesus is the King whose kingdom never ends. He is the priest who lives forever and intercedes for us.

The Lord promised us through Jeremiah His prophet, “I will multiply the seed of David My servant and the Levites who minister unto Me.” This passage speaks of the Church. Jesus is multiplying priests unto Himself via His Church. In Christ we have been given gifts and fruits of the Spirit to be God’s heroes in this world. [10]

God says to captives via His prophet, “I will cause their captivity to cease, and have mercy on them.” [11] God can break the chains of whatever holds us back from serving Him. Just hold out your cuffs and He will unlock them.

All this good news came to Jeremiah while imprisoned for the Lord! Of whom the world was not worthy, such love and grace flowed through this man of God. To follow his prophetic example, I too, must place hearing from God and speaking for God above the concerns for myself. To God be the glory!

[1] Hebrews 11:33-34
[2] Hebrews 11:37-39
[3] Jeremiah 33:1
[4] Jeremiah 33:2-3
[5] Jeremiah 33:6
[6] Jeremiah 33:7-9
[7] Jeremiah 33:10-11
[8] Revelation 19:10

[9] Jeremiah 33:14-17
[10] Jeremiah 33:22; 1 Peter 2:9
[11] Jeremiah 33:26

The Irreconcilable Reconciled

Have you heard of irreconcilable relationships?

Irreconcilable…

No way to get back together again

That’s where God’s people were in Jeremiah 2

He had tried to win them back

But they refused to return

So God wrote people

A bill of divorce

“That’s it!”

“We are through”

What’s more, Jeremiah describes

Dire consequences

Due to their divorce

War, starvation, disease, displacement

Death

No hope

For this relationship

To revive

Until Jeremiah 33

The Lord spoke of My Branch

The Lord our Righteousness King

Our Priest

He never fails

Jesus Messiah

On a wooden cross

He paid our penalty for sin

God placed on Jesus

The sin of us all

God said

The wages of sin

Is death

But My gift to you in Jesus

Is eternal life

God so LOVED the world

That He gave His only Son

To die for us

So that

Whosoever

Believes in Him

Would not perish

But have everlasting life

Jesus is the resurrection

And the life

He who believes in Jesus

Even though he dies

Lives

Seen by many for forty days

He ascended into heaven

But He is returning

To gather His own

Jesus made a way

Back to the Father

So that sinful people

Like you and me

Could once again

Have a relationship

With the living God

The living God

Is faithful

He is gracious

He forgives sin

He rescues

He loves

He helps

He provides

He prepares a paradise

For all who believe

Call upon the Name of Jesus

And thou shalt be saved



Poem for Turning from Idols to the Living God

I repent

I repent of

Other gods before my God

Our God is a jealous God

He will not share His glory with another

As a youth I marveled in comic book heroes

Even Thor, a Greek god, was one of my heroes

Why did I marvel in them

I wanted powers like theirs

To be the center of attention

Not so much to be spent

Rescuing people

Oh, the heart is exceedingly deceitful

Who can know it?

There is no one like Jesus

He IS the Son of God

He IS the Savior of the world

By Him all things exist

He holds all things together

By Him all things exist

Though being in very essence God

He did not count Godhood

Something to be grasped

He became a servant

A servant to the point of death

And His death happened on a cross

He had no earthly bride

A soldier pierced His side

After a three day sleep

There was new creation

As God put the first Adam to sleep

And made from his rib a bride

After the second Adam’s side

Was pierced

After He rested

A bride came forth

She is the Church

His new creation

The true hero

Found a damsel

Not through self-exaltation

But through humiliation

He gave His life for her

He bled and died

But rose from the dead

So that she too

His bride

Could live forever

God has His own script

A story for humankind

It is not a script for one

One of the human race

To be super or above

All others

But that through God’s Son

Jesus Christ

All could experience new life

All could be transformed

All could live forever

All could overcome evil

This is why

I

This is why

No one

Should give

God’s glory

To another

Jesus Christ alone

Is Lord

He is the King of kings

He is the Lord of lords

Every knee shall bow

Every tongue confess

HIS Name

Don’t give to humankind

What belongs to God

To God be the glory

To Him be the honor

Praise His Name

Serve the Lord with gladness

Make His ways known

In all the earth

Go preach the Gospel

To every creature

Let them know

That Jesus Christ

Is Lord of all

I repent

I repent of

Wanting anything else

But to be with Christ

To be one member

Of His body

The Church

And with her

And in her

Bring Jesus Christ

Honor all my days

Lord, please forgive me

Of my sin

Please cleanse me

Purify me within

Make me worthy Lord

To proclaim YOUR name

May I decrease

May YOU increase

May I be Your vessel

Through whom others

Receive YOU

I bow my knee

I confess with my tongue

That YOU alone are Lord

Forever and ever

World without end

Amen

Jesus Christ is Lord

The Prophetic Mantle

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s verdict on messengers of God was “Wanted dead not alive.” They issued death warrants for the servants of God’s Word. [1]

Ahab began to rule northern Israel 852 years before Christ was born. He married a pagan princess from Sidon named Jezebel. After their wedding, He built a beautiful temple to her pagan gods. Their goal was to turn God’s people into pagans. They legislated on behalf of those who rejected God, and persecuted God’s loyal people.

Did Ahab and Jezebel succeed in canceling faith in God? Did they cut out the tongue of God as Mao Zedong, the father of communism in China, once vowed to do? No, they failed. And so will every government that takes up arms against God.

God sat in heaven and laughed at Ahab and Jezebel’s scheme to dethrone Him. God was not going to abdicate His throne to such a filthy and vulgar couple. It is just that for God a thousand years is as a day. In due season, they would perish. [2]

Proud people do not intimidate God. God told the empire of Edom that though they made their nest in the stars He would bring them down from there. No nation’s wealth, weapons or technological advances can cancel God. “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.” [3]

Elijah and seven thousand others refused to bow their knees to the pagan gods of Ahab and Jezebel. By God’s Spirit and Word they defied the dark overlords of their day. They got used to being labeled as outlaws. As being politically incorrect! “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” [4]

Elijah and his fellow prophets continued to honor God. They obeyed God amid mockers. They did not compromise with compromisers. They kept serving God when the majority of the people in their nation focused on serving themselves.

Ahab and Jezebel wanted God’s servants dead. So, God’s people gathered in obscure places to avoid being arrested. Obadiah told Elijah that he hid one hundred prophets in caves to spare them from being killed by Ahab and Jezebel. Can you imagine incurring that kind of stress to talk about God? [5]

While in China, we met with believers at night. We often changed our meeting venue to avoid being arrested. We never advertised in print the time or address of our services. That information was shared by word of mouth sometimes just hours prior to the meeting’s start time. Each meeting had the potential to be our last. Some of us might not be seen again. Our phones were bugged. Agents followed us. Officials visited us for the purpose of information gathering. We had to learn how to tell the truth, but not the whole truth to protect one another. Our primary objective was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The ministry of Elijah and his fellow prophets still exists. Not in the sense of writing new books of the Bible. Jesus said, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” [6] The prophetic ministry exists as a gift of the Holy Spirit to bring forth messages of God that are relevant to people’s navigational needs to hear from God.

Peter told a crowd of thousands from all over the world: “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maid servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.” [7]

The gift of prophecy is mentioned in multiple places in the New Testament. God says to us, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” God says to us, “He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” The word “edify” here means to build up. I enjoy being around people who move in the gift of prophecy. I know they make God happy because He says, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy.” [8]

When Jesus spoke to the seven churches of Asia Minor, He said to them, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Prophecy is hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches. [9]

Don’t be afraid to receive the gift of prophecy. Moses and Jeremiah expressed their concerns about it to God, but God told them that He would be with them. Prophecy is an unmerited gift of God’s grace that operates in people via the indwelling Holy Spirit. Moses murdered a man and yet is considered one of the greatest prophets that ever existed. David murdered an innocent man and committed adultery, yet Peter declared David to be a prophet of God. David even prophesied of Jesus when he wrote that the Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced. Isaiah said that he was a man of unclean lips, but God touched his lips and helped him to prophesy of the coming Messiah with incredible accuracy. James wrote of Elijah saying: “Elijah was a man of like passion with us...” If God had to wait until someone was perfect before He could use him, His work would never get done. [10]

Don’t fear what people will say. Once, God took of the Spirit that was on Moses and laid it on seventy others and they began to prophesy. Two of the seventy were elsewhere when the Spirit fell, but they still prophesied. When Joshua saw these two men prophesying, he reported them to Moses. Joshua got on Moses’ case, and said, “’Moses my lord, forbid them!’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!’” [11]

The New Testament speaks of prophets in multiple passages. Philip the Evangelist had four daughters who prophesied. The harlot Babylon persecutes God’s prophets until Christ returns. The Lord wants people to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Prophets are a tremendous band of Word warriors. During the end times, the beast kills two prophets and leaves their dead bodies in the streets for the world to see, but God raises them back to life while everyone is watching. [12]

Now, is the time to pursue the prophetic mantle just as Elisha pursued it. [13]

Before the Holy Spirit filled them, the followers of Christ remained in an upper room steadfastly praying for the promise of the Father. Are we waiting for the promise of the Father? If not, why not? The devil is leading so many people astray from God. Are we going to let him win without a fight?

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down of strongholds. With them we defeat arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. And with them we bring every thought into captivity to obey Christ. The battle for the minds of people must be won. [14]

The prophetic mantle empowers God’s people to overcome the lies of the enemy. To be focused on the author and finisher of our faith Jesus Christ. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. [15] God is able to accomplish by His Word and Spirit what we cannot.

So are you ready for a fresh anointing of God’s Holy Spirit? Lift up your hands! Open your mouth! Be an empty cup before Him. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesy!

[1] 1 Kings 18:4
[2] Psalm 2:4; 2 Peter 3:8
[3] Obadiah 1:4; Isaiah 40:15
[4] 1 Kings 19:18; Proverbs 29:27
[5] 1 Kings 18:4
[6] Revelation 22:18-19
[7] Acts 2:17:18
[8] Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 13:1; 14:1–4, 39
[9] Revelation 2-3
[10] Exodus 4:10; Jeremiah 1:6; Acts 2:39-40; Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 6:5; James 5:17
[11] Numbers 11:25, 28-29
[12] Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:3, 13, 22; 11:7-12; 18:20
[13] 2 Kings 2:1-12
[14] 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
[15] Revelation 19:10

To Obey is Better than Sacrifice

The prophet told the king

Heed the voice of the Lord

Punish Amalek for what he did to Israel

Destroy them all

Saul gathered soldiers 210,000 strong

He destroyed the Amalekites but…

Spared King Agag AND…

The best of sheep, oxen and their young

Everything despised and worthless

He destroyed

The Lord told the prophet

“I greatly regret that I made Saul king

He has turned back from following Me

He has not obeyed my commandments

Samuel the prophet prayed all night

King Saul set up a monument to himself

Saul blessed the Lord when he saw Samuel

“I have obeyed the commandment of the Lord”

Saul declared

“Why do I hear the voices of sheep and oxen?”

Asked Samuel

“The people spared the best for the Lord.”

Answered Saul

“The Lord sent you on a mission.”

Said Samuel

“Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord?

Why did you swoop down on the spoil?

Why did you do evil in the sight of the Lord?”

Samuel demanded

“I have obeyed the voice of the Lord

I accomplished the mission

That the Lord sent me to do

The people took the sheep and oxen

The people took the best of things

To sacrifice to the Lord your God”

Saul explained

So Samuel said:

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice

And to heed than the fat of rams

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft

And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord

He also has rejected you from being king.”

Then Saul said to Samuel

“I have sinned,

I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord

I feared the people and obeyed their voice

Please pardon my sin

Return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”

But Samuel said to Saul,

“I will not return with you

You have rejected the word of the Lord

And the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

Samuel turned around to go away

Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

Samuel said to him,

“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today

He has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.”

Samuel mourned for Saul

The Lord regretted that He had made Saul king

With great authority

Comes great responsibility

To obey is better than sacrifice

First Samuel 15

Prophetic Perseverance

How do they do it? How do they prophesy?

Jacob H. Kaplan wrote, “The prophets are conscious of a divine call. They do not speak of a resolution or purpose, framed by themselves, to devote themselves to their vocation; but they describe a moment in which they received a call.” [1]

Their unique ministries were not born of self-motivation or self-will. The Lord called them. The callings of Moses, Samuel, Amos, and Jeremiah are described in the Bible. [2]  God’s presence in their lives moved them to do what otherwise they would not have chosen to do. At one particularly low point in his ministry, Jeremiah wrote...

“O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, ‘Violence and plunder!’ Because the Word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” [3]

After being mocked, Jeremiah did not want to speak for God. But the Lord compelled Him. The Lord was stronger than him. The Lord prevailed upon him. God’s Word was like fire in his bones. He was too weak to hold it back. He could not but speak for God.

God works in His servants both to will and to do His good pleasure. Otherwise, they would fail. James advises us: “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” [4]

The Lord has compassion and mercy on us when we experience persecution due to speaking for Him. “Yes, Heavenly Father, please continue to strengthen our resolve to speak for you. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

[1] Jacob H. Kaplan PhD, Psychology of Prophecy, Philadelphia, Julius H. Green, © 1908, p.83

[2] Exodus3:4; 1 Samuel 3:1-ff; Amos 3:8, 7:14-15; Jeremiah 1:4-10
[3] Jeremiah 20:7-9
[4]  Philippians 2:13; James 5:10-11

Lift High the Name of Jesus

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples of Jesus to speak a language that was understandable to a multitude of diverse people who normally could not understand them. The Holy Spirit anointed the disciples to speak of Jesus with bold convictions. Later, when the disciples were commanded by religious authorities not to speak of Jesus, they replied, “We are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” [1]

 The Holy Spirit empowered Paul to glorify Jesus Christ:
“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God,
The firstborn over all creation.
By Him, all things were created that are...

In heaven and that are on earth,
Visible and invisible,
Whether thrones or dominions,
Or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things,
In Him all things consist.
He is the head of the body, the Church,
He is the beginning,

The firstborn from the dead,
That in all things He may have the preeminence.” [2]

The Holy Spirit empowers tongues to speak the Name of Jesus with joy and adoration. His Name is the sound of heaven because in heaven angels and saints sing His praises. His Name is wonderful! His Name is above all others. Faith in His Name saves us. Miracles happen in the Name of Jesus. So, let us lift high the Name of Jesus!

[1] Acts 5:32
[2] Colossians 1:15-18