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| Voice of Prayer: Storms come, but do not be defined by them. |
Now from that song, he mentions being burned by other lovers and in respect, the world can provide many lover's, but to whom will we trust our hearts to?
Being held for a ransom, literally tied up into something of the world is a "really bad place" to be. Yet there are many who are not saved today. They have not turned to hear His voice, the Lord of glory, but have continued to walk and hold onto abandonment, brokenness and pain.
Refugee: one who flees for safety, either from war, forced out by hurricanes and tornadoes.
The Collins Dictionary gives this meaning: REFUGEES are people who have been forced to leave their homes or their country, either because there is war, because of political or religious beliefs or because of natural disasters.
Bad things can occur. We live an world with an evil ruler (satan), yet our hearts are to be set on Jesus Christ the Lord of glory. Understanding that He is to leads us, yet I wonder how many are still placed in harm's way. More bad can come upon the world when sin is prevailing.
Scripture tells us in Matthew 5:44-45..."love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun rise on the evil and o the good; and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
We may not want to think about that sin thing! But when a nation turns from the things God they move into harm's way. I remember this family who moved out of harm's way in the Texas area. They moved many miles due north of them to be doing "what the Lord asked them to do".
So today they are high and yes dry. They have their home and safety as well.
But even if you are in the as we say "bad zone", the Lord has a way out. Being Christian should not be one who just functions within a "church building". They should not to consider that they are cutting edge when they remain closed up like Jericho behind closed doors. (The difference, the world is going to get them, instead the Lord has come live within us and show us to take the land for His own glory.) If God is truly in us and with us we should be taking the land for His glory.
Recently I had written on standing like Esther. We should stand in the face of any real situation that can kill, yet when we know God is with us, we stand victoriously just like Esther and she did it through prayer. In Scripture we find others as well who took the "hard " road if you will allow it. They took what is known as a non-antagonistic stance toward the world. In Daniel and Joseph, we saw relationship precedes any ministry.
You cannot lead anyone you cannot influence. If we are cut-outs that just fit within the building...then we will be of no value where it counts. It is a real service to speak prophetically to your congregation but what about speaking that in the marketplace?
There has been many violent storms come through the coast lands as well as many fires inland of this great country. Yet are we speaking of God 's goodness and are we going into all the world or is is just about "that" Saturday night service or Sunday morning service.
In Dr. Bernard's Greek translations he introduced three such words for "world".
One is found in Matthew 13:22. Within this speaking of Jesus, "the cares of this world (aion) refers us to the period of time, to a generation that is in human history.
A second one is found Matthew 24:14. Again in Jesus' speaking, it is, "This gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world (oikuomene) as a witness to all the
nations." Oikuomene means land, territories and geographical nations.
Then Dr. Bernard gave alos a third meaning for world that is found in Mark 16:15. Again within Jesus' speaking, "Go into all the world (kosmos) and
preach the gospel to every creature." This use of kosmos by Christ is very
interesting indeed. Within this meaning we find it means to penetrate every social order, arrangement or culture—the
way human society is organized. Yes, we are to penetrate the culture with God's word.
Have had many a talk with my husband and son-on-law as well about how to penetrate the culture as it is. If you have been in church for any length of time you will find it is divided into what is known as the the society in seven pillars.
They are : (1)
religion, (2) family, (3) business, (4) education, (5) government, (6) arts,
and (7) media. The latter five of business, education, government, arts and
media make up what is called the "marketplace."
In understanding we are given the command to "go", then we also understand that Jesus gave us that to "preach" but also to engage.
(In a recent teaching from Life Giving Wells, the Lord gave me the teaching for "God Devised Glorification". Within that teaching we are to engage, not remain within "four walls".
Whether you have been abused by a hurricane, hit by a fast moving tornado or seen raging fires within your community, state or country, still the mandate still holds. We are to engage and in that point to engage that social order within any territory and yes the marketplace we must prove to be the relevant.
I have seen people in the last ten years to stop their teachings and pull up couches to just "chat it up" about some distant memory of God from their youth or early years of ministry but mention nothing of His majesty and glory that prevails when we come on a bent knee to pray in Jesus' name and to live like He purposed: not as a refugee from the area of 'hard knocks', volatile situations but to live for His glory in His peace and His victory. AND that is for today, to live for Him, and expect Him to prevail for us.
There are many people misplaced, and some without anything much to return to but ashes. Do not allow the devil to tell you are finished! Do not allow him to lie to you! It is not over! Get up, dust off and heed God!
And for those who have been through it already, what about our taking part in prayer for those affected, and what about some support from our check-book for those affected, and what about food from our own pantry to support another, and from the prayer room of our house?
No we cannot be in all places like God, but when we pray, we live outside of the box. When we pray we seek the face of God and see things change for the glory of God and for the safety of His people things happen, the environment is changed and life appears again.
And for those who have been through it already, what about our taking part in prayer for those affected, and what about some support from our check-book for those affected, and what about food from our own pantry to support another, and from the prayer room of our house?
No we cannot be in all places like God, but when we pray, we live outside of the box. When we pray we seek the face of God and see things change for the glory of God and for the safety of His people things happen, the environment is changed and life appears again.
Living out the Pharisaical route should not be considered among us.
I remember reading once of Pastor Kong Hee wrote and preached that people of the church were not to live like they are carving out a Christian ghetto for themselves. He wrote they who do live that way, live in legalism and continue to make man-made rules. He said in that environment, members of the Christian faith would be taught to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.
Yes, each one of them within that congregation would remain unexposed to the world around them and remain also very innocent to those things as he related.
Ours is to live a life unhindered. If we truly live within Jesus's teachings, adhere to that truth only and do as He does we would be outside of the walls more often. God truly wants to keep us safe and if we obey Him, then we should be found with Him in truth, love, peace, holding onto faith that we are purposed to live for Him. Whatever the occurrence in your life, yet God is alive and He hears us when we really seek Him in prayer.
We are not to live as "refugees". We are to live for God to see His glory come and fill this earth, not just within four-walls of a church building. Today, I pray that you would know when God is speaking. And it will not be from the lazy boy recliner of life. We must be immersed in Him, His word, and be those who will pray those truths out. May the Father of Light reveal to you what is on your pathway, and may you heed those detours and obey to move ahead when the going is clear, yet remember He said I will never leave you nor will I ever forsake you. Where ever you may be at this moment and whatever condition, obey the Lord's leading and go in His peace. Live life to the full, and fear not. Remember, " seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." ( Luke 12:31-32) Amen.
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New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
God Devised Glorification
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