Not a Scoffer

Since the days of Jesus, every generation has included believers who became convinced that He was returning any minute.  Books were written, timelines constructed, movements birthed. At various times in seasons past,  people left their jobs, postponed marriage, sold their goods and moved to remote locations to wait for the promised imminent return, which obviously never came. Over the past 2,000 years the lesson seemed to be that any rational person should hesitate to sound the alarm of the soon return of Jesus. Far safer to stay well away from such talk. No one wants to embarrass the Kingdom, or look like a kook, right? 

Yet a generation is coming which will be the last one--the Bible says so. At some point there will be a people on the Earth for whom the warnings were given, those who will need to heed  the call to urgency in order to stand, even to survive. That generation will see all the prophecies come to pass. That generation will be a people refined through the events of tribulation, a generation whose eyes are locked on their beautiful, glorious King. They will learn that the One who saved them is also more than able to keep them, empower them, and bring them safely into His returning Kingdom. That generation will see with their physical eyes the coming of the Lord. Wow!

So we seem to be faced with an impossible choice, either look like a total nut, or relegate the biblically-orthodox doctrine of the Second Coming to a time far, far away and therefore irrelevant to me and mine. The world goes on as it always has, oblivious to the return of Jesus, but it should not be so for us.  We live in tension...bills must be paid, homes must be kept, children must be raised, yet Jesus told us to keep our eyes on the horizon, lest we miss the day of our visitation.  We are warned to stay close to Him, be alert, to heed the biblical warnings and keep them fresh, so as not to fall in with scoffers. II Peter 3 says that there will be those who say, "people have been saying for thousands of years that He's coming... where is He then?"  So the real choice is between thinking His return is so distant as to be irrelevant, or eagerly longing and living for His coming. 

I believe we are in an extraordinary season, one that should not be wasted, yet the pull is strong to live my life as usual...like nothing out of the ordinary is on the horizon. So I'm asking myself, does my life reflect my belief that He is returning soon, or have I unknowingly slid into the camp of the scoffers? Is it possible that scoffers do not know they are scoffers? I think perhaps so. Giving mental assent to the message while living as if "I needn't worry too much because those events will likely happen far, far in the future" is deceiving myself about where I am actually camping.  And so I repent, asking for a heart more awake, more tender, more given to God. I ask for more willingness to give myself for His purposes, and live more fully for Him. 

I cannot think of a better message to resound in every generation through the ages than "Jesus is coming soon."  Any message that causes the people of God to think seriously about eternity, focus more intently on Jesus, give themselves more deeply in love and commitment to God is a good message. Wasting my life on Jesus and His kingdom is not a waste. If I feel the urgency of the hour and give my heart more completely to Jesus, live my life more in love with Him, give myself more completely to His message, then I have missed nothing of eternal value. And if He delays coming until another generation, and I look foolish for giving a 'false alarm," then I guess I am a fool for Christ, but how better could I spend my life than on Jesus, who gave me everything?

He is coming back and He is coming soon to gather in His family and make the whole world His kingdom. This is true, even if I sound like a kook for saying so.  

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." 

Matthew 25:42

To the Jew First

"we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews."

Jesus (John 4:22)

"...the gospel is the power of God for salvation
to every one who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Paul (Romans 1:16)

_________________________________________

Think on this for a minute or two. We worship the God of Israel, study (and follow) a Jewish Bible written by Jewish men and kept intact by Jewish people. We were saved by and serve a Jewish savior, and are citizens of a kingdom which, when it is fully implemented, will be ruled by a Jewish man, whose throne will be in Jerusalem (Rev 22:2). We owe a debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. Our faith is rooted in the ancient olive tree God designed before time began. He graciously called and adopted us into the family He made. We are now in a season in which God is giving us an opportunity to partner with Him in calling the rest of the family home again.

If you peek at Isaiah62fast.com, an international solemn assembly and fast has been called, beginning May 7 and concluding on Pentecost Sunday, May 28. More than 5,000,000 people have already committed to fasting in some form (water, juice, 'no meats no sweets', one meal per day, and some who cannot fast food are fasting media). Thousands of prayer locations in over 115 nations are set to meet daily.* All over the world, believers are committing to pray for at least one hour per day for twenty-one days that Israel would recognize and receive her Messiah, and come into her calling in God's kingdom. This is directly tied to the Great Commission and the greater riches for the whole world, as promised in Romans 11:11-12. Information about the fast may be found at Isaiah62fast.com. 

If your first thought is, "Israel is not my thing," or "didn't Jesus make the Jewish people obsolete?" then you are not alone. There is a lot of clutter in the western church regarding this topic. Thinking runs the spectrum from benign disinterest to active hostility. But loving Jesus shouldn't make us hate the people He came from, or the faith He practiced. At the very least Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations, which would definitely include the Jewish people.

The goal of any fast is to seek the Lord, a set apart time to turn our hearts more fully toward Him. This is a season to do just that, to ask Him to reveal what's on His heart. If you love Jesus and long for His return, ask Him to show you more regarding His role for Israel. I promise you, there is a role and its fulfillment will be more glorious and joyful for the entire planet than we could ever imagine. Yes and amen! Maranatha Lord Jesus!

 Romans 11:11-12

Does this mean that God has rejected his Jewish people forever?
 Of course not! His purpose was to make salvation available
to the Gentiles (that's us!) and then the Jews would be jealous
and begin to want God's salvation for themselves.
Now if the whole world became rich
as a result of God's offer of salvation,
when the Jews stumbled over it and turned it down,
think how much greater a blessing the world will share in

later on when the Jews, too, come to Christ."

Living Bible version

 __________________________________

*Countries where prayer meetings are scheduled: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Angola, Australia, Austria, Bali, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), England, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Wight, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Republic of Niger, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Scotland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. At last count, there are more than 1,000 prayer spots registered in the United States alone. Come on, y'all!

Beautiful Fasting

At the end of January, I came across an opportunity to join a fast for revival that began on February 22. I heard about it in such a way that I knew in my knower that God was inviting me, even coaxing me to participate and so, after some hemming and hawing, I did. That fast comes to an end on Palm Sunday, April 2. Hundreds of thousands of people have been fasting, in various ways, pleading the blood of Jesus over our sins, the sins of our nation and asking God to let His judgment pass over America and bring revival, and more than revival....another great awakening or Jesus movement. There is a stirring in the land, a growing anticipation that God is moving and ready to move in greater measure if we ask. So we've been asking and hope you are too.

As I've participated, the topic of fasting has inevitably come up among my acquaintances, and I heard a lot of different ideas about what fasting is. Some brush away the idea as too hard, or an archaic Old Testament discipline, or 'too Catholic.' Many believe that fasting is for people with more willpower than they have, or for those more spiritual than they are. Others believe it is undertaken to twist God's arm to get the thing prayed for, or to demonstrate one's devotion and gain spiritual brownie points. None of that is even remotely true. 

I can best debunk those misconceptions by sharing what fasting is to me. It is not easier for me than for anyone else. I am certainly not more spiritual than others (pause while I attempt to stop laughing hysterically), and I have terrible willpower. I hate to miss even one meal, so the idea of not eating for days on end seemed impossible as well as undesirable. I have started and failed more fasts than anyone can imagine. I have bargained my way out of fasting, fasted in ridiculous ways ("I'm giving up liver and bubble gum"), begun fasting only to stop a few days later.  You name it, I've experienced it while fasting. But here's the bottom line...I don't like fasting, but I love what it produces in me.

I have learned over the years that fasting is the most vital tool I have. That might have something to do with the fact that it's God ordained. (Matthew 9:14, Mark 2:20 and a bunch of Old Testament verses). Fasting snaps a plumbline that refocuses my walk. It silences the siren call of cultural voices that beckon me to follow. It is a way to quiet the 'old man' and make him submit to the Spirit. Fasting creates more time to spend with Jesus. It reveals my tremendous need for God, by uncovering the depth of my weakness. It highlights my addiction to my appetites; for food, for entertainment, for my own opinion, for buying and collecting. I can then ask God for help in crushing those idols. Fasting hollows out a space in my soul, creating an emptiness that only God can fill. Extended fasting helps me become internally still and silent, my ears intent on hearing God's whisper, my attention focused, my longing directed at the One I was designed to adore. I become more tender and receptive to Him. I experience the satisfaction the world cannot supply, for it was never intended to. During fasting, I remember why I was created and Whose I am. 

So absolutely, fasting is tough and sometimes unpleasant. But as a discipline it draws me like a magnet, not because I love asceticism but I love being close to Jesus, and fasting with prayer takes me there.

Here are some things to know about fasting: it is not for the elite, but for everyone; it does not change or coerce God, it changes me; it is God's prescribed way to clear away cultural clutter, and subdue the flesh; it gives us more bandwidth in the Spirit, so we hear God more clearly; it is something Jesus said his disciples would do, so if we are His disciples we must do it. It also settles a lot of physical disorders. I usually enjoy less arthritic pain and my stomach issues take a break as well. Fasting is now recognized by science as a health benefit, which God knew all along.

The good news is that you can learn to fast. There are many fine books on the subject, filled with the theology of fasting, practical tips on how to fast, as well as exhortation to fire you up for fasting. Start small and let God grow you in this discipline. Over time (after many partial and failed fasts) I began to see fasting as Jesus' invitation to come away with Him for a season, to be alone with Him. I learned to ask for grace to persist (because you always want to quit), and didn't let missteps make me stop. Fasting did not become easier, but became do-able. 

There are many, many different ways to fast, as well as fasts of different lengths. The manner of fasting is less important than our focus during the fast.  Whether we undertake water alone, or one meal a day, or 'no meats or sweets' is less important than setting yourself to draw near to God, let Him refresh you, and listen for His voice. To avoid fasting is to refuse a grace that God says we need. So when considering a fast, say in faith, "I want to know you more, show me how I can fast!" If I can do it, so can you!

If you have not experienced the pleasure of drawing near to Jesus through fasting, you are in luck.  A global solemn assembly and fast has been called for May 7 through the 28th. The focus is God's purposes for Israel.* So far nearly 1,000,000 people from intercessory prayer ministries all over the world are committed to participating. Go to www.Isaiah62fast.com for more information. Then ask the Lord, "How might I fast?"

 *For a teaching on why we should pray for Israel, go to 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbL8-004u-U (message starts @ 39 minutes)

Nicodemus

"The man's face clouded over. This was the last thing

he expected to hear, and he walked off with

a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to

a lot of things, and not about to let go."

Mark 10:22, The Message

I have recently discovered that I am Nicodemus...or the rich young ruler, not sure which one yet. Not literally of course, but I do have the same problem with Jesus that they did. Nicodemus was a devout Jew who wanted to follow Jesus, but found that he also wanted to keep his reputation, his lifestyle and his stuff. 

The film series The Chosen illustrates this perfectly. Nicodemus was a Pharisee* who'd spent a lifetime studying Scripture and teaching his people. Teacher of Israel was more than just his job, it was his role in a tight-knit community and ultimately, his identity. When he meets Jesus he's intrigued. Soon he's convinced that this is indeed the Messiah, the hope of Israel, the one he and his fellow Pharisees had read about, prayed and longed for. Yet he is troubled. He correctly sees that following Jesus will likely disrupt his life. Like the rich young ruler (or the average American), he lived in a comfortable home, had enough to eat, nice clothes to wear. He had a respected profession that made a living for his family and gave him status. He had plans and expectations for his life.   

The most poignant moment in one episode was when Jesus personally invites Nicodemus to follow Him. Over the course of several scenes, he weighs doing just that. In the film at least, it becomes clear that he does believe and wants to follow, and we grieve with him when it becomes evident that he can't quite let go of his lifestyle. Near the end of that episode we see Nicodemus behind the corner of a nearby house, weeping bitterly as the disciples prepare to set out with Jesus, without him. Belief was not enough to cause him to follow. It was a powerful moment, all the more so because I could see myself in it. 

The struggle is real: I have long told Jesus, You have my heart. I did not realize I was subconsciously adding, but don't mess with my status, my rights, my bank account, or my things. I did not know the extent to which I was holding onto MY riches. I am Nicodemus, rich and comfortable, fat with the goods of this world. I am the rich young ruler with a lot to lose if I unreservedly give myself to God. That man desired to more fully live for God; Jesus knew what was holding him back. Jesus told him, "Go, sell all that you have and give the money to the poor. Then all of your treasure will be in heaven. After you've done this, come back and walk with me." (Mark 10:21 TPT)  Please understand, Jesus wasn't being mean. He loved that young man. He wasn't condemning wealth or setting up a model for welfare. He was giving him an opportunity to see himself clearly so change could occur. God grant that we all experience that moment of clarity, because we cannot see where we're bound unless He shows us. When we ask for more of God, we can be sure He will show us where we don't have room for Him. And sometimes we too go away sorrowfully, because we aren't willing to give up our riches (whatever they may be). 

Many of us have been praying hard for revival for years, leaning into prophetic words given, reminding God of His promise to bring revival. But I'm realizing that my concept of revival is inadequate for the current reality. I have realized that my desire for revival has been wanting Him to revive me without messing with the parts of my life I've reserved for myself. Ouch! But seeing is part of the remedy, it is when we truly know and confess our need that He comes and fills it. Our need makes us candidates for God's help, and do we ever need God's help. 

We need revival that breaks the yoke, expels demons, draws the lost and the prodigal. We need revival that empties jails, closes bars and transforms society as well as people. We need revival that prepares the church for the second coming of Jesus. Exciting meetings and a bit of refreshing are simply not enough, transformation is what is needed. Transformation begins when the church sees herself and mourns. It begins with repentance.

This is a Nicodemus moment. The body of Christ is being invited to see that we are not rich, we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Jesus already knows this. He isn't angry. He isn't demanding we get our act together. He is tenderly calling His beloved Bride to mourn over her lack, confess her emptiness, and ask for a baptism of fire. Empty of ourselves and leaning on Him, that is how we follow. That is the only way we can follow. He asks us to empty our hands, take in His presence until we are overflowing, then rise and go forth to do exploits. 

We dare not wait to see what happens in November, as if politicians are bringing the Kingdom. God is shaking the kingdoms of the earth now, tumbling support systems, exposing fault lines...not because He's mad, but because He loves us so. It is His kindness that strips away those things we've relied upon, exposing our idols--not to shame us, but to prepare us. For revival is coming...the sort that will shake the earth, display the power and glory of God, disturb those in authority and terrify demons. Revival that propels workers into the harvest field with the gospel of the Kingdom, signs and wonders following. Do we really think that comes to a church settled on her lees? Comfortable in her normal? Content with old wineskins? Beloved, we are destined for so much more, but we will not get there by pulling up our bootstraps and trying harder. We will only overcome by leaning fully on Jesus.

So I confess my weak and partial 'yes' and rejoice. My weakness qualifies me, for He chooses the weak things, the foolish things, the lowly things to more fully show forth His glory. I choose Him and want to keep choosing Him. I want to see His beauty, feel His presence, witness the glory of His coming kingdom. I want blind eyes to see, prayer meetings that provoke earthquakes, the lost saved, prodigals returned, to hear demons shriek as they leave. I want to see a Bride, heart fervent, abandoning all for the joy of knowing Him and making Him known. To be filled like that, I must first be emptied of my way. I see the example of Nicodemus and the rich young ruler and confess I am just like them. Rather than turn away, I want to be among those who are His no matter the cost, so I say yes, even knowing it is incomplete. 

The best thing we could learn in this crazy season is that we cannot go forward without complete dependence on God. My strength, my resources, my will, my social standing are nothing weighed against Jesus. Hah! Less than nothing! My hope and expectation are in Him. I am His, therefore He will not only rescue, He will keep and sustain me. My confidence is not in my commitment, it is anchored deep in my faithful King. He will lead me if I will follow. If I keep my gaze on Him, He will baptize me with His fire again and again, until my heart is no longer divided...until I am fully His. Maranatha!

I don't want to be offended when it's all coming down.

Baptize my heart with your fire, desire

Once again you're going to shake everything that can be shaken

Jesus, Desire of the Nations,

The only safe place is in the center of the flame

The only safe place is in You

Baptize my heart with your fire, desire.

I want to be for you, not against you. 

I want to be with you where you are.

I pledge my allegiance to Jesus

I pledge my allegiance to the Lamb

Misty Edwards, "Baptize my Heart"

*The Pharisees were the devout religious of their day. They believed and studied the Word of God, they attempted holy living, they ran worship services for the faithful. Of all the first century Jewish sects, their theology was closest to what Jesus taught. Jesus rebuked their hypocrisy, not their devotion to the Word of God.

Back

Back. Back to the beginning, to the fundamentals, to the way things used to be. Back to the basics. Back to the good ole days which usually prove not to be so good, once we take a closer look. Back to normal, which wasn't that normal. Back to first love, which would be much better. For years believers have yearned for a return to the days of the book of Acts. What they are longing for of course, is not going back to pit toilets and mud-daub houses, but the excitement of daily salvations, the sick healed, the dead raised, prison doors--both spiritual and literal--opened and chains loosed.

Back. Jesus is coming back. We don't know the hour or the day, but it's hard not to think that we are at least in the beginning of that season. In Matthew 23 Jesus said He won't return until Jerusalem welcomes Him back. Revelation 19 says He is coming back for a Bride made ready, spotless, united, and mature; a congregation of lovesick worshippers who will cover the world with the message of the Kingdom before the end.

The high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 is His call to unity. This is not a Council of Churches unity in which all denominational and cultural differences are compressed into a bland, homogeneous, politically-correct sameness. The God who created us with such distinctiveness could not possibly have wanted us all the same. His intent in making us so different was surely to weave a vibrant tapestry; the gifts and callings of each group contributing to the beauty of the Bride. The unity Jesus calls us to is not sameness, but oneness in Him. Devotion to God that burns and purifies and draws us irresistibly to Him, aligning us to one another in the process. Red and yellow, black and white adoring together the One who made us different to be a blessing, not a curse. A unity that takes us back to what we were in the beginning, beings designed for communion with the Holy.

Acts 2 details early believers living in unity, sharing all things, meeting from house to house as they figured out how Yeshua's resurrection deepened and expanded their Jewish faith. So going back to the book of Acts means a return to the origins of our faith, before the Gentilizing, before the persecutions, inquisitions, and crusades. Back to when Israel knew Messiah had come. When they saw the Torah with new eyes and began to understand God's heart for the nations. When they knew their sins were forgiven, God's promises would be fulfilled, Yeshua would return, and His justice would reign. Back to following 'the Way' for the joy set before them, no matter the cost.

For believers, back to the beginning would be the remnant of Israel worshipping with the remnant of the nations; together again as they were in the infant church--One New Man, interdependent, united, standing beneath the banner of Yeshua, the promised Messiah of Israel's God. Take us back, O Lord. Back to the original design, the plan You made that cannot be improved upon. Incline our hearts to Yours O God. Revive and restore hearts of fervent love and submission that we might go back, back to the origin, the foundation of Jesus upon which our house must be built. Then united, we will turn to the abundant harvest fields in preparation for Your glorious return. Come back soon lovely Jesus!

Conspiracy

Conspiracies...almost daily a new one pops up. Covid-19: naturally occurring virus, or government funded conspiracy? Cash shortage: real, or conspiracy to permanently move to a cashless society? Black Lives Matter: social-justice organization, or pawn of intellectual elites conspiring to destroy America? What's up with China's 'Safe Cities' product?* And what about the UN? Rumors are everywhere and we can wear ourselves out trying to get the right intel so that we can decide where to stand, what to think, what to say, what to believe.

So let's get right to the point--yes, it's all a conspiracy...of course it is. The devil lost his bid to be god of this planet and has been conspiring to take over ever since. From the beginning we have been hated, lied to, warred and conspired against. Beloved, there are sides here. Choosing one over the other has consequences. You were not saved for membership in the First Church of the Undisturbed, you were inducted into a kingdom at war.  When we chose God we chose to become the enemy of His enemy. Ever since the Garden, the forces opposed to God have conspired to destroy what He loves.

The Bible is full of conspiracy stories because the stories are about people, and people have proven to be willing to do anything to get what they want. Generals conspired against Kings. Kings conspired against other kings. Political leaders conspired against Daniel, and against Mordecai and Esther. Religious leaders conspired to kill Jesus. For those so wired, pandemics and social upheaval are not tragedies, but opportunities to advance an agenda. While we complain about masks and statues people who believe they are better qualified to control our lives than we are, are quietly leveraging this crisis into remaking the world order. On the United Nations own website it says Covid-19 is an opportunity to "steer the world" towards its goal of a one world utopia.** Go to the site. Look at it yourself.

So we are clearly in a battle, but not against our government or competing experts. Our enemy is neither another race, nor another political party, nor the police (or even the U.N.). We are being provoked to rail against the system, but a better system is still just a human system. We have a real but unseen enemy who knows his time is short. He is working overtime to keep us fearful, angry, and against each other. He wants us running after causes, running after information, running so hard and so fast that we don't have time to think or pray. He wants us running in terror or rage down any path except the one that leads to God.

Don't fall for it! Take a breath. Take several. Step back. Good information is important, but in this battle information has been weaponized so we must have discernment. Definitely get information, but look at sources yourself rather than accept what others have concluded. Pray. Decide for yourself whether something is accurate. Ask our Father for revelation about the big picture. Our enemy uses physical agents to do his work but he is not physical. So our remedy must be spiritual too, truth from an unimpeachable Source, direction from the One who knows where we're going.

Let's remember that Covid-19, race relations, and civil liberties, though important, are subplots in a very big story. The Earth is not an experiment gone wrong, or a machine left unattended. God has been letting us, like petulant toddlers "do it ourselves." He has given us millennia to improve things without Him, but we have not made the world better, we've simply found more efficient means to hate our brother. God is not silent, absent or uncaring, just waiting for us to recognize our deep need and call on Him.

There is a remedy but it won't come through a new President, or a vaccine or better policemen. This shaking has revealed the futility of only seeking human solutions to problems that God alone can solve. We have information yet are not wise. We have leisure but are not free. We have money but are not rich. More programs, marches, food drives, masks and vaccines are band aids; what is needed is soul surgery by the Great Physician. God does care about the unrest and the fear and the anger and has the answer for the cry of the human heart.

The gospel of the kingdom has never been more important, nor Jesus's identity as Savior of the World more timely. God is calling us to carry His message to a world desperate for deliverance. But it's difficult to carry something when my hands are already full. So for saints as well as sinners the way forward goes right through the Cross. This season has caused me to question what I'm leaning on. Am I navigating through life using social approval as my compass? Am I trusting my civil rights to keep me safe? Do I love my stuff, my opinion, and my routine more than God? I want to take this moment to assess my focus. I want to empty my storehouse of the tarnished dime-store trinkets I thought so important, and wait for God to fill me with real, lasting treasure. Treasure He can multiply and I can carry to those around me.

Oh my friends, let's take time to seek the Lord! We need God; we need His perspective; we need His presence and power; we need His heart for the nations. Conspiracies do not confuse or confound Him. He has the information we need, plus the perspective to give it meaning. His love for us is fierce and unrelenting as well as tender and inexhaustible. He has the map for where we are going. We can trust His wisdom and His plan.

Do not be afraid. Seek His face. Get fresh oil. Maranatha!

                                    

______________ For more information go to:

*https://www.csis.org/analysis/watching-huaweis-safe-cities  More than 50 nations already use this product.

**https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ What is the "Decade of Action"?  What is "Agenda 2030"?  

Watch and Wait

“Blessed is the man

who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting at my doorposts."

Proverbs 8:34

The Golden Gate, Jerusalem

At the beginning of each year I ask the Lord for direction on how to pray for the new season. For 2020 the word was "Watch and Wait," though He didn't tell me what to watch and wait for. And then 2020 arrived...unfolded, turned inside out, and exploded! I soon discovered I was a card-carrying member of the "Ten Spies Club," hanging out at my house, watching the news in confusion and anxiety as giants roamed the land. Watching and waiting patiently for the Lord evaporated as I heard bad report after bad report. Then I remembered that God hadn't shown the Israelites the giants to drive them to despair but to Him...to afford them an opportunity to see God do great things beyond their imagination.

So I've been reminding myself to step back, take a breath, and watch and wait to see what the Lord will do. I've been encouraging myself to remember that what we see in the media, what we hear from dueling experts, internet influencers and all the other talking heads is not the whole story. "They" are telling us the giants are too big; that we are too small, too weak, and too afraid. That may be so, but we are also not alone.

God is with us. God is for us. God is moving. The gospel was preached at the very site where George Floyd was killed. People of all colors stood together, worshipping and praying. There were salvations and baptisms. That report did not make the nightly news. Watchmen for the Nations is just one ministry among many using this stay-at-home season to do recurring online gatherings with the body of Christ around the world. Over the past two months, I've celebrated Passover with believers in Israel, earnestly prayed with Christians in Morocco, Egypt and Jordan, worshipped with the Body of Christ in China, Japan, and Korea. Wept as Jewish and Arab believers honored one another and committed themselves to one another. Wept again as I listened to testimonies of racism, but also pledges of reconciliation and hope. Just yesterday I listened to the testimonies of young men who flew to Washington to minister the love of God to the spiritually starving who occupied downtown Seattle. Healings, deliverances and salvations followed. The Spirit is touching hungry hearts, drawing them to desire more of Jesus. Believers are rising...not to shake their fists at the world system, but to serve and bless and worship the Lord. To proclaim His beauty and worthiness. To affirm their membership in a kingdom that cannot be shaken, even as the world quakes and trembles.

This does not mean we refuse to see the darkness. It does not mean we deny the reality of pain and sickness and injustice. Encouraging ourselves in the Lord isn't delusional optimism, putting on a brave face or wearing rose-colored glasses. Rather, focusing on Jesus and what He has said will adjust our perspective, keep our minds steady, focus our internal eyes on the horizon...where He is taking us. We must look reality in the face, then turn in childlike trust to our good God and rest in His character. We must look to Him for our response, not our political party, social justice warriors or even the local church. Reminding ourselves of our true citizenship and where we are headed will encourage us. It will also help us remember that we are part of something much bigger than getting back to normal. Normal is overrated anyway. The Lord of history is moving us toward the conclusion of all things, and He is preparing His Bride. God is revealing His heart for the nations, He is touching the lost, He is awakening His people. The Earth groans and convulses, the nations rage, lawlessness increases, yes that's true; all this He told us to watch for, while looking to Him to keep fear at bay. Trust and wait on the Lord. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, allow Him to comfort, encourage and strengthen us, we will move toward becoming the people God wants us to be. He will return for His Bride, one people united in their passion for Jesus, pouring out their lives in abandoned sacrifice because He is so lovely.

So watch the news, check the internet, listen to the theories, but all with a grain of salt (maybe several grains). Remember that Joshua saw the giants too but came to a different conclusion. His perspective was forged in communion with the Holy One. Look for the good that God is doing in the midst of darkness. Remember what God has done in the past to spark desire for Him to do it again. Revival is coming, expect more than exciting meetings with great music. Spend time with our great King. Soak in His presence. Let His love touch you. Ask for fresh oil. Gain perspective from the One we can trust not to lie or misdirect us. He is in charge of our rights and reputation, not the government. God is taking us somewhere, but to see it we have to focus and listen to Him. Watch and Wait. Listen with a heart prepared to obey.

Maranatha, even so Lord, come!

"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are

not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not

yet the end. For nation [ethnos, ethnic group] will rise against nation,

and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be

famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the

beginning of birth pangs." Matthew 24:6-8