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

A Fireproof Marriage

“Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” [1]

In Scripture, God uses the concept of marriage to help us understand to help us understand how He wants to be with us, and us to be with Him. [2] So, in this blog I am using the marriage between Catherine and Caleb in the movie, “Fireproof” to write about a fireproof marriage with God and His people, the Church.

In the movie Fireproof, Caleb exploded at Catherine when she disagreed with him. When we don’t get our way, what is our natural response? Does anger honor God, spouse, or those around us? No, it tends to dishonor everyone including ourselves. So, we need Christ to change our anger into understanding and patience. Catherine hated Caleb’s angry outbursts. She wanted to love Caleb, but Caleb was being unlovable. Intimacy was broken.

Caleb and Catherine tended to speak poorly of each other. Does speaking poorly of people behind their back lead to good relations? NO. The Lord calls us to bless not curse one another. What kind of things do we say about people behind their backs? Are they positive or negative? God can change this about us. But we must confess our short-comings and ask God to change us.

Caleb’s friend Michael helped him to understand the importance of oneness in marriage using salt and pepper shakers. Two people may be as opposite as can be and yet complement each other perfectly. We need to see how people, unlike ourselves, may be just what we need to be a better person. For example, some people are contemplative, and others are outgoing. Some are frugal and others are extravagant. Some are risk-takers and others are cautious. The Bible says that there is a time and season for EVERYTHING under the sun. [3] If we have to be right all the time, we’re wrong. It’s okay to be wrong as long as we accept corrections.

After Caleb struggled to stop looking at pornography on the internet, he finally destroyed his computer. Jesus said if your eye causes you to stumble cut it out. What radical steps should you take to remove destructive behavior from your life? For sure, ask Jesus to change your appetite by the power of the Holy Spirit so that you no longer crave that which is destructive.

Even though Catherine was “done” with him, Caleb kept trying to win her back. How often do we let others make the first move towards reconciliation? Christ demonstrated His love for us by dying for us while we were still His enemies. [4] That is true love.

How can we change? The answer is the grace of God. God can make us by His grace what He is by nature. Be humble! God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. [5]

Love needs to be demonstrated. Caleb sent Catherine flowers with a note attached. God demonstrated His love for us. What are practical things we can do to let others know we love them?

While caring for Catherine while she was sick, Caleb apologized to her for the poor husband he had been towards her. Have we done anything to someone? Do we need to ask them to forgive us? What keeps us from asking for forgiveness? What is the most important thing you believe God wants you to do—right now—to improve your relationship with God and those around you?

Jesus forgave those who crucified and mocked Him! He prayed for those who tortured, insulted, and hated Him. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even after Jesus prayed this prayer, those around Him kept on doing what they were doing. Nothing changed. The soldiers who Jesus forgave parted His raiment and cast lots for them. The rulers who were there continued to insult Jesus, saying, “He saved others; let Him save himself if He be Christ, the chosen of God.” [6]

Mother Teresa said, “People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

God calls us treat one another as He treated us. Love requires the grace of God. Love requires the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the very essence of God. His essence is love. To love as Jesus loves, we have to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is hard to add something in a cup that is full. John the Baptist said, “I must decrease but He must increase.” [7] We can’t be filled with Jesus as long as we are still filled with self. To have a fireproof marriage with God, spouse, and people, we must have Jesus Christ fill us. Jesus went to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday not to be celebrated. It was so God could forgive us and fill us with His Holy Spirit.

Are you ready for fireproof marriage with God and others? If so, remember Romans 12:2, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” As you ask Jesus to transform you. He will take you to new heights, widths, depths, and breadths of the love of God.

[1] Romans 12:2
[2] Ephesians 5:25-30
[3] Ecclesiastes 3:1
[4] Romans 5:6-8
[5] Ephesians 2:8; 1 Peter 5:5
[6] Luke 23:33-35
[7] John 3:30

Evangelizing

By faith and prayer... “Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” [1]

By exhortation... “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” [2]

By commitment... “Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” [3]

By endurance... Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4]

By focus... Don’t be entangled with worldly interests or affairs that don’t concern you. Attend to the work God has given you to do. [5]

By collaboration... God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. [6]

By cultivation... Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of hands [prayer]. [7]

By cheerfulness... “God loves a cheerful giver.” [8]

By remembering your calling... God called you not according to your works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to you in Christ Jesus before time began. [9]

By using the right weapon… “the sword of the Spirit which is God’s Word.” [10]

By guarding your heart... “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [11]

By goodwill... “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill.” [12]

By increasing in Christ and decreasing in self. [13]

By joy... Let pointing people to Christ be your highest joy. [14]

[1] Jude 1:20
[2] Joshua 1:9
[3] 1 Corinthians 15:58
[4] 2 Timothy 2:3
[5] 2 Timothy 2:4
[6] Ephesians 4:11-12
[7] 2 Timothy 1:6
[8] 2 Corinthians 9:7
[9] 2 Timothy 1:9
[10] Ephesians 6:17
[11] Matthew 6:21
[12] Philippians 1:15
[13] John 3:29
[14] John 3:30

Old Testament Prophets

The Old Testament prophets were men of the times.
Their message was meant for their times.
Their message was of timeless value because...
They were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Via the secret resources of exhaustless power...
Wisdom and grace given to them by God!
Endued with Holy Spirit power,
He moved them, they spoke.

Light of generations yet to be born.
Light for my generation.

Revealing God, His character, His holiness!
His nature, His mind, His heart!
His will and His ways!
Inspired by God!
Teachers!
Reproving, correcting, instructing!
Perfecting God’s holy people!
Fashioning them for good works. [2]

Amidst opposition,
The prophet sings:
“I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my Salvation.
The Lord God is my strength.” [3]

When people feel abandoned...
The prophet declares...
“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” [4]

They lived in a day when light was dim.
They had unfinished Bibles.
Jesus had not yet come.
The seal of the tomb had not yet been broken!
The resurrection light had not yet shined!
Pentecost had not yet come.
Yet, they believed in “Mighty God.”
“The Everlasting Father!”
“The Prince of Peace!”
“Upon His shoulders rests the government!”
His peace knows no end!
No matter how high sin ascends...
It shall come down!
Injustice, arrogance and pride...
Shall cease to exist.

They wept for sinners!
Breathed out promises!
God, the Holy One working...
In these devoted, yielded men.
Thank You God for them!

With Bible open...
I walk with Old Testament prophets...
I enjoy communion with the One...
They enjoyed!
The Lord of glory!

[1] Poetical version of Samuel Brengle’s Ancient Prophets
[2] 2 Timothy 3:15-17
[3] Habakkuk 3:18-19
[4] Jeremiah 31:3

Fatherly Hearts Toward Children

Abram was ninety-nine when the Lord changed his name from Abram (father of people) to Abraham (father of many people). “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” [1]

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. Abraham and Sarah made a meal for them. The Lord told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. He was to be called Isaac. [2]

The three men got up to leave. They looked down towards Sodom. Abraham walked with them. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him.” [3]

These three men, perhaps angels, spoke of the future of Sodom and the future of Abraham. The men of Sodom were about to be destroyed. The Sodomites failed their fatherhood roles.

The Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” [4]

The three men left and went towards Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Abraham interceded for Sodom. His nephew Lot, Lot’s wife and two daughters were living there. Abraham asked God to spare Sodom if only ten righteous people lived there. God agreed. [5]

God’s demeanor towards Abraham who trusted and obeyed Him was different than His demeanor towards the Sodomites who disregarded God and faithful fathering.

In 2012, the Cherokee County Health Department released a statistic that 61% of its unmarried teenage girls had become pregnant. Many men were in prison for not paying child support. They were guilty of impregnating girls, forsaking them, and moving onto other girls. They abandoned their children. One boy told me that each of his four siblings was from a different father. When I asked who his father was, the boy replied, “My father was in jail before I was ever born. I have never met him.”

Children need to be noticed. Imagine a child swinging for the first time! Imagine a child riding a bike without training wheels for the first time! Perhaps, many boys taking attention deficit pills would not need them if their fathers were giving them attention and guidance.

Fathers, take time with your children. Go places with them. Tell them Bible stories. Pray with them. Teach them good manners. Teach them how to fix things. Build memories! When they are grown and you are older, you will realize the favor they did for you by wanting to be with you.

How important is fatherhood to God? He says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” [6]

[1] Genesis 17:1, 5
[2] Genesis 18:1-14
[3] Genesis 18:17-19
[4] Genesis 18:20-21
[5] Genesis 18:22-33
[6] Malachi 4:5-6

The Fruit of Messiah’s Ministry

When the Jewish people were carried off by their enemies into exile, it looked as though God’s plan of salvation had failed. All that was left of Israel was a stump, but out of the stump came a Branch. And this Branch, our Messiah, Jesus Christ, has done wonderfully.

The Messiah comes with justice and righteousness for the poor. His Spirit yields wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. He brings peace and good times between former enemies. Children need not fear what they formerly feared when the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea. The Messiah gathers His scattered Jewish people back to Israel. [1]

In that day, God’s people will praise Him for turning away His anger and comforting them. They will say, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.” With joy they will draw water from the wells of salvation. They will say, “Praise the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim and exalt His Name.” [2]

“Sing to the Lord, for His glorious deeds; let the whole world hear. Shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” [3]

[1] Isaiah 11:1-9
[2] Isaiah 12:1-4
[3] Isaiah 12:5-6

Unto Us A Child is Born

Amazing! God used pagans to purge His people of ungodliness. He compared Assyria to an ax, a saw, and a club in workman’s hand. Only a remnant of His people were saved in the day of His wrath against ungodliness. The remnant consists of those who trust in and obey the Lord. Many in Israel had betrayed and abandoned God. They were the weak links that caused the nation to fall.

The ungodly rejected God’s efforts to reform them. When God took down the brick walls of Samaria and Ephraim, they said we will rebuild them with dressed stone. When He took down their fig trees, they said we will replant them with cedar trees. They refused to acknowledge God and give Him glory. [1]

God used Assyria to destroy Samaria and Ephraim. God warned Judah’s political and religious leaders that the same was about to happen to them unless they repented and returned to Him. But Judah’s leaders persisted in abandoning God and leading those under their authority to do the same. They made unjust laws. They preyed on widows and robbed fatherless children. Eventually, they turned on one another and devoured one another. God used the cruel nation of Assyria to judge them, but later when Assyria became proud of its achievement, He turned His wrath against Assyria. [2]

Against the backdrop of impending judgment, the Lord proclaimed good news of salvation, and that from God. After years of darkness and distress, a great light would appear. A child would be born. A Son would be given. The government will be on His shoulders. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end. He shall reign on David’s throne over the kingdom. He shall establish and uphold His throne with justice and righteousness forever. God’s zeal will accomplish this.

Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this world shall become His kingdoms. After centuries of disappointment in our leaders and in ourselves, Christ will come again. Those who believe shall be saved and inherit His kingdom that is full of righteousness, justice, and peace! [4]

[1] Isaiah 9:8-12
[2] Isaiah 9:13-21
[3] Isaiah 9:1-7
[4] Revelation 19:11-16

Christ is the Hope of Sin City

Jeremiah was conflicted with God’s people because God was conflicted with them. God wanted them to relinquish sinful ways. The four sins that God called them out for were idolatry, lying, thieving and sexual sin. Jeremiah opposed these sins because God opposed them. The hope of sinners to be saved from sin is the Savior Jesus Christ. Jeremiah avoided cynicism in regards to the circumstances of his city by trusting in the Lord’s promises to bring about changes that he could not bring.

Basically, Jeremiah urged the people of his city not to live autonomously from God. Not to resist promptings to draw near to God! He warned them that life never ends well for those who reject God’s help. God was confronting sin in their lives to save them from harm and bring them to a better life. He loved them. He wanted to save them, but they needed to cooperate with God.

Grief over being separated from God is good, but it is not complete unless it leads one to repentance… to say, “Okay, God, I am ready to forsake and renounce sinful ways, and to embrace Your ways. Please forgive me for my sins. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can live life Your way.” God’s grace is about letting Him do for you what you could never do for yourself, namely transform into His image.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” [1]

“The battle in this world is not to succumb to denial, cynicism, or assimilation. Like Jeremiah, the only hope we have to cling to is that God will be with us.” [2]

Christ is the hope of sin-city. And how does the Heavenly Father reveal Jesus Messiah to us? He reveals Him to us via His Word and Holy Spirit. We draw strength and wisdom from Him as we Sabbath in Him. We are blessed to know and walk with God. God sings over us with gladness and loud rejoicing. We rest in His love. Sin-city is about despair, loneliness, and degradation. New life in Christ is about love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. [3] 

[1] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[2] The words about Jeremiah stem from my reading of Walter Brueggemann’s book, “Hopeful Imagination - Prophetic Voices in Exile,” copyright ©1986 by Fortress Press
[3] Zephaniah 3:17-19; Romans 14:17

Rejoicing While Waiting ~ Habakkuk’s Story

Habakkuk cried out to the Lord, “Violence!” Strife and conflict was abounding! He said to the Lord, “The law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” [1]

The Lord’s response was. “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.” [2]

Facing trouble from within and without, Habakkuk resolves, “The righteous person will live by faith.” [3] Faith in God!

God indicated to Habakkuk that woes were coming to...
“...Him who makes himself wealthy by extortion!”
“...Him who builds his house by unjust gain.”
“... Him who builds a city with bloodshed and injustice!”
“...Him who makes neighbors drunk to gaze on their naked bodies!”
“...Him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ [worships idols] [4]

Habakkuk finds hope in the Lord. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” [5]

The tables will soon be turned. “Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known...” [6]

Habakkuk ends his book with a song of faith unto God: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” [7]

Habakkuk rejoiced while waiting. He metaphorically kept the umbrella close by while praying for rain. He handed his prayer of faith over to the director of music to make it into a song. [8]

So, let us bring out the musical instruments and write songs of faith in God. Let us praise God in the face of adversity. Praise Him joyfully. Celebrate the coming victory in advance!

[1] Habakkuk 1:2-4
[2] Habakkuk 1:1:6-7
[3] Habakkuk 2:4
[4] Habakkuk 2:6, 9, 12, 15, 19
[5] Habakkuk 2:14, 20
[6] Habakkuk 3:2
[7] Habakkuk 3:17-18
[8] Habakkuk 3:19

The Burden of the Lord

“The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.” [1]

A prophetic burden is a message of weighty importance producing sorrow or grief. [2]

The burden that God shared with Nahum was to tell the Ninevites to repent lest they perish. The metaphor God uses to describe the Ninevites is of a pride of lions. They teamed up as lions to hunt, capture, and consume prey. They literally ate good people for lunch.

“Where now is the lions’ den, the place where they fed their young, where the lion and lioness went, and the cubs, with nothing to fear? The lion killed enough for his cubs and strangled the prey for his mate, filling his lairs with the kill and his dens with the prey.” [3]

“Behold, I am against you... the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.” “Nineveh enjoyed its status as a power-center of the world and gloried in the fact that the voice of her messengers commanded attention in palaces all over the world. That day would come to an end under the judgment of God.” [4]

I once heard Dr. James Waller speak on the topic of genocide. A common factor to all genocide events is the dehumanization of one group of people by another group of people.

Consolee Nishimwe survived the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. She is the author of the book ‘Tested to the Limit’ in which she narrates her personal story. “Life in Rwanda before the genocide was beautiful. I was fortunate to have good parents and a great family. I had a happy childhood.” The turning point in her country came when the Hutus started using social media to characterize Tutsis as “cockroaches.” Then, the genocide occurred. In one hundred days, about 800,000 people were slaughtered by Hutu extremists. They targeted Tutsis, as well as their political opponents. [5]

Currently, the following people groups are on genocide alert: The Kurds, Christians, Druze, Shi’a Muslims, the Yazidi in Iraq. The Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Armenian Republic. Christians in Nigeria by Boko Haram an Islamist terrorist group. [6]

The Lord shared His burden with Nahum. To walk with Jesus is to participate in caring for people via praying, preaching, and providing for them. They need both spiritual and physical attention.

​The Apostle Paul’s burden was for Christian churches. He wrote, “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” [7]

Our Lord Jesus has shared His ministry to widows, orphans, and to foreigners with me. Such ministries are both challenging and fulfilling. “Thank You Lord Jesus for sharing Your burdens with me and others and allowing us to be Your hands and feet to them. Blessed be Your Name!”

[1] Nahum 1:1
[2] Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Nahum 2:11-12
[4] Nahum 2:13 & Enduring Word Commentary
[5] bbc.com/news/world-africa-54877202 & 26875506
[6] genocidewatch.com/countries-at-risk
[7] 2 Corinthians 11:28

Giving Ill-Gotten Gains to the Lord

“Many nations are gathered against you. They say, ‘Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!’ But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand His plan. He who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. ‘Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hooves of bronze, and you will break to pieces many nations. You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.’” [1]

“God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” [2]

When many nations gathered against God’s people to defile them and gloat over them, the Lord intervened. He gave His people horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break them in pieces. They gave the ill-gotten gain of their enemies to the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

[1] Micah 4:11-13
[2] 1 Corinthians 1:27