The Persecuted Church

The Persecuted Church

The link above is a video of believers from Kosovo. I see faith, hope and love. What do you see?

⁸ In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. ⁹ We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. 
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me." John 14:1

It is not denial, it is faith. Pray for the Persecuted Church. What to pray?

Acts 4:29-30
Ephesians 6:18-20 

James 3:18,
Camelot

See Jesus in the Church

⁴³ After spending two days in Samaria, Jesus left for Galilee. ⁴⁴ Jesus had said that a prophet is not honored in his own country. ⁴⁵ But when Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people of Galilee welcomed him. They had seen everything he had done at the festival in Jerusalem, since they, too, had attended the festival. John 4:43-45

John set the scene telling about one of the miracles of Jesus. Jesus heals the son of an official from Capernaum. It is easy to skip over the setting or attitude. Jesus had just traveled to Jerusalem for a festival along with others from His hometown. The result was increased faith. At the end of this miracle, John 4:54 states, "This was the second miracle that Jesus performed after he had come back from Judea to Galilee." Faith was on the rise. What changed? 

The hometown people saw Him in a larger context. They saw Him in the reflection of other believers who knew Him from a different perspective than they did. 

When I read this passage, my heart leaps for the international and district assemblies of my denomination(one of many who make up Christ's Church. I love watching people who show up from our local congregation for the first time at district assembly. Their vision of who Jesus is and what He is doing in the CHURCH is greatly increases. With such a perspective shift from that glimpse, our faith, our hope, our love for Christ, God's people and the world increases. 

My prayer is that in my local church, the announcement to become a local representative at district assembly will not fall on deaf ears...for their sake and perspective, for the district's sake and enrichment, and for Christ's sake and His Kingdom. 

Step up Church, let's lean in and allow Christ to give us His eyes in a deeper way!

James 3:18,

Camelot

Grounded by Faith

These flowers all have their own stem that lifts them up from the ground and gives them life-giving water. 

Another life that received life giving water was the Samaritan woman in John 4. But more than one life was born that day. The Samaritan people from her village testified for themselves.

They told the woman, “Our faith is no longer based on what you’ve said. We have heard Him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42 GW)

Everyone must have their own faith. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish. In the waiting, we pray for those we love, for those trapped by sin, for our city, our region, our world. Join Jesus in His intercession for the harvest. 

Clearly, Christ’s love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died.

God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. (2 Corinthians 5:14, 18 GW)

James 3:18...

A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. (James 3:18 GW)

Camelot

Faith Grows

For our Good Friday service I prepared a station the exhibited the Parable of the Sower. Parables are even richer in meaning if you prepare, act or walk them out. So many truths were beautifully pictures n my spirit, but one was saved for a few days later. I came in on Monday to remove the thorns from the soil that represented the worrying believer...Tuesday I came in to transplant the soil...

I have a new appreciation for seeds. Wow. Overnight without the thorns the seeds that had already sprouted over the weekend were making their way to the surface. 

All of Luke 18 has been precious to my soul this week for many reasons, but one verse I love today because what joy I had in finding faith sprouting where there was only thorns before.

I can guarantee that he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8 GW)

Willing and Able

A famous saying...God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

In the garden of Gethsemene, Jesus called His disciples to watch and pray. I have a always been disappointed in them, but convinced I could do no better at the same time. But surely someone could, right?

But when I think of what Jesus was wrestling with, I know that the power to live out faith was dependent on His willingness to continue as the Son of Man through the suffering of the cross and not to mention the rejection of His Father for the sake of the world. 

When He saw His disciples, I wonder if He was reminded that unless He did the will of the Father, we would never go from willing and unable to willing and able.

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41 NLT)

In the wrestling of Jesus, Matthew accents the question change...

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Jesus checks on the disciples and sees their weakness.

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NLT)

In their weakness, He still looked on them with love. Thank You, Jesus!

James 3:18,

Camelot

Shepherds and Sheep

In the Old Testament, the Lord warned the leaders (shepherds) that he put OVER the sheep (his people)...

Ezekiel 34...
‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? ³ You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. ⁴ You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. ⁵ So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal. ⁶ My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the whole earth. No one searched or looked for them.

In the New Testament, we are all ministers of the New Covenant if we belong to Him...

Matthew 25...

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.

Mother Teresa said, "The reason we have no peace is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

I love this song and what a reminder that we are our brother's keeper... Please join me in praying this week for the men of Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene as they retreat to seek the Great and Good Shepherd.

James 3:18,

Camelot

A Song for Going up for Worship

O Lord, out of the depths I call to you. 

O Lord, hear my voice. 

Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy. 

O Lord, who would be able to stand if you kept a record of sins? 

But with you there is forgiveness so that you can be feared. 

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and with hope I wait for his word. 

My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, 

more than those who watch for the morning. 

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, because with the Lord 

there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness. 

He will rescue Israel from all its sins. (Psalms 130:1-8 GW)

Hope receiving forgiveness and mercy is hope that is reality in real life.

James 3:18,

Camelot

Wisdom from God

Wisdom begins with an open unguarded heart toward God, Jesus increases the void that is filled with wisdom and the desire to learn from Him.

Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌊given⌋ to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior— righteousness and justice and fairness— to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young— a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction— to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline. My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings, because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a ⌊golden⌋ chain around your neck. My son, if sinners lure you, do not go along. If they say, “Come with us. Let’s set an ambush to kill someone. Let’s hide to ambush innocent people for fun. We’ll swallow them alive like the grave, like those in good health who go into the pit. We’ll find all kinds of valuable possessions. We’ll fill our homes with stolen goods. Join us. We’ll split the loot equally.” My son, do not follow them in their way. Do not even set foot on their path, because they rush to do evil and hurry to shed blood. It does no good to spread a net within the sight of any bird. But these people set an ambush for their own murder. They go into hiding only to lose their lives. This is what happens to everyone who is greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away his life. Wisdom sings her song in the streets. In the public squares she raises her voice. At the corners of noisy streets she calls out. At the entrances to the city she speaks her words, “How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? “Turn to me when I warn you. I will generously pour out my spirit for you. I will make my words known to you. “I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention. You ignored all my advice. You did not want me to warn you. I will laugh at your calamity. I will make fun of you when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a violent storm, when calamity strikes you like a wind storm, when trouble and anguish come to you. “They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer. They will look for me, but they will not find me, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They refused my advice. They despised my every warning. They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle. They will be stuffed with their own schemes. “Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away. Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference. But whoever listens to me will live without worry and will be free from the dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:1-33 GW)