I was sitting at the WH yesterday morning talking with some of the regular customers. I told them how my family and I are leaving next week to spend over two weeks in Europe. One man told me to be careful, you see on the news all the time of the terrorist attacks. The discussion at the bar then turned to ISIS, Islam and Muslims. The conviction, passion and joy with which these Christians talked about God damning Muslims to burn in hell troubled me. I countered back biblically and theologically, but I was out numbered, and the heated debate I found myself in was not one I was going to win, or change any hearts of those with whom I was engaging. Huntsville with Redstone arsenal and all the military contractors and suppliers is a city over the top with American patriotism. I walked out thinking, there still is allot of work left to be done for the kingdom of God!
It reminded me of the way I felt over a year and a half ago when I saw the bumper sticker on one side of the vehicle in front of me which stated, 'Obama is a Muslim. He will burn in hell" :) (John 14:6). Complete with smiley face and all! On the other side of the car was an ICTHUS fish! It compelled me when I got home to sit for several hours and write out my retort to the bumpersticker and person driving the vehicle. (ya, I am passionate and wierd that way!) Attached is that post again, as it applies exactly to this situation this morning.
“Obama is a Muslim. He will burn in hell J (John 14:6)” bumper sticker
Through prayer and a set of circumstances only God could arrange, I got to meet one of my neighbors who is a Muslim. We are beginning to form a relationship that I hope will grow. I have also become friends with Bayram, who converted to Christianity from Islam. Maybe this is why what I saw today affected me so much that I had to sit down, waste a couple hours, and theologically vent in writing to get it out of my system.
On my way to Teri’s to get my haircut, there was a car in front of me that had a several bumper stickers on it. One said, “ I’d rather be waterboarding terrorists” Another said, “The only good Arab is a dead Arab.” The one that saddened me the most was this one, “Obama is a Muslim, He will burn in hell! (John 14:6) . (smiley face and all). This verse John 14:6, is the one most quoted by those who enjoy the thought of their enemies (typically the Muslims and the Democrats) burning in hell, in which Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If I may, I would like to clear the air on this issue, but not by removing from it the stench of hell, as trend would have it. I actually believe that hell is real. I don’t claim to understand it or God’s motivations for it, but I can’t say that I have a problem with it having read the Gospels. I myself have two children, beautiful daughters, and my passion for them has the capacity for fury. If one of them were murdered, I couldn’t imagine containing that fury. That is why I can understand a literal hell more than I can understand limitless grace. So I’m thankful that God is not like me. But say, by some miracle, I chose to offer my one of my daughter’s death as pardon to her executors in exchange for their gratitude, and they persisted to mock my treasure as garbage, proclaiming, “To hell with her! To hell with forgiveness! To hell with you!” In that case, I would, with all the wrath within me, unflinchingly press them into a white-hot furnace and restlessly spend all eternity feeding it coals. Again, I am not like God, nor he like me, but I can at least say that I would be rather suspect of some god so needy and sheepish that he would welcome everyone at an infinitely wide gate to his kingdom, even those who spit on him as they entered. So it’s not that I think hell isn’t real, like some. On the contrary, I think that there are as many creative ways as there are creative truths that will take you there. In fact, I think the gate to hell is wide enough to accommodate the Christian with even the biggest ego. Those who refuse his way are just as far from receiving his life as those who refuse his truth. Those Christians, who like a husband who understands the truth that he is married, but lives out his marriage in a way that is adulterous and has multiple affairs and lusts after multiple women. Christians that understand the truth of the Gospel, but live out their salvation in an adulterous way having lusting and having multiple affairs with greed, materialism, pride, consumerism, and comfort.
Christians who quote John 14:6 out of context almost invariably do so in order to indicate who is going to hell, and almost just as invariably do so with delight. But Christians who delight in the damnation of the lost are in the same boat as Christians who reject the damnation of the lost. It is a lost boat. The life of Christ is indeed unavailable apart from the truth of Christ, but so too is his life unavailable apart from his way. Those who claim his truth are bound to his way, just as those who claim his way are bound to his truth. God did not write the truth in the clouds. He proclaimed it along an unwavering path on this earth until he was red in the face, red in the hands, red in the back, red all the way down from his crown to the dribbling drops from his toes. So those who proclaim it to try to paint others red are rendering themselves twice the sons of hell as the damned.
All are damned. Jesus died for all. Not all will be saved. Salvation comes in a human sized package, not a globe sized blanket. God did not cuddle the world into his loving arms. His arms revealed a much more violent, passionate, particular love. It is a love whose truth must be received and whose way reflected by its recipients, who proclaim its particularity by loving the world in the same particular way, a dramatically persuasive way. The truth without the way is hypocrisy. Just one smirk over even one for whom those arms were nailed reveals a heart that is liable to be thrust into the pit. If you see a wandering sheep struggling to find its way, then it's time to get into character: climb up to the highest hill and hang yourself as a signpost, like a dead snake on a stick, until that sheep sees God’s way in you and believes it to be the only way. That is cross bearing. But don't for a second think that the Gospel was a silent film, as do those who fight against orthodoxy in the name of orthopraxy. The Good News is not good unless it points to something better than you. The so-called "incarnational gospel" proves to be both deaf and dumb if it thinks that incarnated things should stop speaking. It was, after all, the Word, not the way, that was made flesh. It proves also to be arrogant, because it assumes that its love is as holy as Christ and as humble as his cross, as though there is nothing higher to point to. So the one who proclaims a voiceless, referentless Gospel needs to make sure he or she is powerful enough to save those who hear it. The way with out the truth is humanism. If you let that sheep wander up to your demonstration and never confess it as mere parody, if you act as though any old shepherd will do, as though all shepherds have loved the same, saved the same, bled the same, as though there is nothing unique, nothing worthy of any special praise, as though God loves with other shepherds' arms, then you better hope that those other shepherds can save you as well.
Christian heartlessness and Christian spinelessness are two symptoms of the same problem. It is the problem of pride, which either tries to raise itself up or bring God down, so that we are either as good as God and therefore God accepts us, or as bad as a devil that God is too indifferent to damn. Whichever god pride creates, they both end up looking like the devil. Why is it the tendency for us to assume, despite our view of ourselves, that we have an inherent attractive force on God; that he is near to us in our self-righteousness and near to us in our unrighteousness? We concede a measure of oppositeness, but in the way magnets are opposite, so if God is high and lofty, we are pulled near; if God is low and humble, he is helplessessly pulled to our side, an incarnated pat on the back.
God is holy and humble, lofty and low, and we are not attracted to that. God forced contact with his creation and the only attraction that was revealed was the attraction of some iron nails that had his hands in the their crosshairs from before he hit the ground (Mt. 2). God revealed his attraction to us and we revealed our repulsion to him. We are opposite in the way magnets are not. The image of God hated God because he would not let it be more than mere image. A mirror that reveals a different face has to be fixed. God stared his image in the eye to reveal how distorted it had become. So to fix the distortion, the mirror was shattered. Better to gouge out God’s eye than let him cast you into hell. Besides, the reflection of the Son was too hard to look at, something like the reflection of the sun. His image had to darken him up. So it scribbled feverishly with the broken glass. With swords and spears it panted and prodded and gritted its teeth until finally some reprieve from the glare—overcast (Mt. 27; Mk. 15; Lk. 23). The light came into the world, but it was darkness that the world sought (Jn. 3:19). So God became dark, dark red so the world could behold his glory without being consumed by it. With the final touches and his final breath, the masterpiece was complete. They stepped back to behold their divine portrait only to discover a mosaic of human effort. The picture they painted of God turned out to be a picture of human condemnation.
God didn’t save you in Christ because he loved you, as though God’s love can be located outside of his saving act. “God has demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). God’s love is not unsubstantial and hollow like human love. Love is as concrete as red is a color. Love has limitations and not all colors are red. But the limitation of God’s love is the source, not the amount. It is a ray come down to the world, not a line running through the world. Its point of origin is the Son. Those who turn away from the Son will forever live in their own shadow. Many choose the shadow way by denying the truth of Christ. He will not force their hand to accept him. But many choose the shadow way by denying the way of Christ. And they will not force his hand to accept them.
I don’t pretend to know anything concrete about the referent to that word “hell”so carelessly tossed around by some Christians and so carelessly tossed out by others. But I do know that it has a referent. And there is enough description surrounding it to indicate that whatever hell is, it is a big problem. I also know that I am not God, so how I may handle this problem is irrelevant. God handled it by sending his Son to be killed by and for the world. He only requires the gratitude due, which, if genuine, will produce a commitment to the truth and a commitment to the way. Only to the grateful will the life be granted. As one old preacher once said, “This is God’s universe and God does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don’t have a universe.” So the next time you proclaim John 14:6, make sure your mouth and your body; the truth you profess and the way you live are in sync with your bumper sticker. And if they are not, sit down and shut up until you become grateful. Do the world a favor and just be still until you know that you are not God.
Please share your reflections and comments below.
My morning office is the Waffle House. About 3 months ago I went into the Waffle House (WH) and I sat down in a chair at the “low bar,” the bar you can sit at that is at normal chair height. I did not notice the used coffee cup that was on the bar in the back next to the menu rack in front of the chair I sat in. It belonged to a man I will call Chuck., who happened to have gone outside to smoke a morning cigarette. Chuck is a man who comes frequently to the WH. He is a “rough” and crude man in his late 60’s. He cusses allot and gives the waitresses and customers a hard time and is sharp with them when he is “in that mood.” Chuck walked back into the WH, saw me sitting in “his chair,” walked up to me and said coldly “Hey mother F*%ker you are in my seat!” I turned to him and before I could say a word the two waitresses who were standing there almost jumped over the bar and verbally attacked Chuck. One said, “Now you listen here you mother F&%ker this man here is a f*#king man of God and if you ever talk to him like that again I will kick your f*cking @ss!!“ The other waitress jumped in, “ Ya you d#ck, he is my f*cking pastor! What the f@ck is wrong with you.!” Show some f@cking repect! The waitresses high fived each other and one said to the other. “Sword of the spirit b#tch!” And Chuck turned and walked out.
I sat there and processed what had just happened! First, the waitresses have never come to an ODC gathering, though I have invited them many times. And I never told the waitresses I was their pastor. But because of my coming into the WH four or five mornings a week and talking, listening, and praying with them it appears that is how they saw me. The other day the waitresses were talking about how life seemed to be attacking them. I took out my phone and I read to them from Ephesians 6 about the armor of God and explained it to them. And the one waitresses shouting “Sword of the spirit b#tch” shows they were listening and retaining what I told them, I just need to work a little more on their application of that verse!
Fast forward to a month ago. I was walking in the WH and Chuck was outside in the front smoking. I said good morning to him as I was walking by and Chuck kind of quietly and nicely (especially for Chuck!) asked if I had a moment. I told him sure and stopped by him. He said quietly as he looked at the ground, “I know you are kind of a religious guy and it’s not that big of a deal but I was wondering if you would pray for me for something. “I said, “Sure what’s up?” And he went on to say that the Doctors think he may have prostrate cancer and he had a test today to confirm it. I said, “of course,” but before I could say anything else he opened up and told me a story for about 10 minutes. The short summary of it was that he used to go to church a long time ago and was kind of close to God. Then he was drafted to Vietnam to fight in the war. He said he did some things there he was not proud of, things God could not forgive him for. He said in attacks on villages he shot and killed enemy soldiers who were just kids, also women, and elderly. He saw children killed and witnessed and participated in other atrocities of war. He stopped praying after the war and has never gone back to church since he came back to the states. When I asked to pray with him there he said no, he had to leave, but for me to pray as you feel God will listen.
As he walked away my heart both mourned for him and was convicted for me. I had joined in with others at the WH at times commenting on Chuck and his behavior. However, the reason Chuck was an angry, and hurtful man is he was filled with guilt that separated him from God. Guilt from things he did he thought were not forgivable. And I thought, I know and preach that God can forgive anything, I have never put him to “the test” of his forgiveness like Chuck has to. If I was the one looking down an M-16 and watching bullets splatter bodies of kids and women from my gun and trigger I was pulling, the event might make me an even bigger, hateful, guilt filled ass than Chuck. It reminded me that people are never the enemy.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. I was in the WH at the bar talking with customers and the waitresses when Chuck walked in. He walked over to a side bar he never sits in by himself and sat down. No cussing, no loud comments to people as he came in the restaurant. He looked devastated. One of the waitresses said they heard his son had died the previous night. My spirit told me to go sit in the chair next to him and I did. I said good morning to him and he said hey, and his eyes began to fill with tears. I told him I had heard that his son had died and if it was true, and if so I was so sorry. We talked again for 20 minutes. Summary, he told me his son who was 31 years old and some of his friends, Chuck, and Chucks wife, (his son’s mother) were out on the front porch talking. His son told his friends how he had bought a new pistol. They asked to see it. He went into his truck and got it out, removed the clip, and thought the gun was empty. It was not. He came back to the porch and in handing the gun to his friend when somehow it went off and the bullet hit is son in the head from less then 2 feet away. They rushed him to the hospital but he died a few hours after he arrived. Chuck said he and his wife witnessed it. He could not get the sight out of his mind. It reminded him of the war. He had to come home from the hospital and clean his son’s blood, hair, and other parts from the side of his house and porch. Tears were flowing down his face. He asked me if this was God’s punishment for the kids he killed in Vietnam. I said of course not and we talked awhile. His son had a wife and two kids 8 and 10 years old.
After we finished, I went home and my wife and I took the chicken I had grilled for dinner, along with sides, bread and a dessert, and I put it in a box and took it up to the WH. I also wrote a note to the family stating I was praying for them and asking to let me know if I could help in anyway with my phone number on it and put it in the box as well. I pulled into the WH just in time as Chuck was walking to his car to leave. I parked, got the box and gave it to him. Chuck teared up again as he took it. He said I did not have to, but I insisted, told him I was praying for him, and I left.
Fast forward to today. I received a call today from Chuck. He thanked me for the food. He then said he and his family do not have any money. They are getting the cheapest cremation they can, and just going to do a remembrance service at their home. Their family does not attend a church, they do not know many church people, let alone preachers, and he asked if I would be willing to come to their house and share from the Bible and some words over their son and their family. I told him I would be honored to.
“I have been going to the WH regularly for over 3 years now. Sometimes I wondered if I needed to continue going. Only one or two people, employees or customers, have ever came to an ODC gathering. So if you go by traditional church metrics, my time investment has not led to “church” growth or increased “numbers in the pews.” It has not resulted in one penny going into our offertory plate or pastor support. Yet God reminded me of my prayer I say to him every morning, which is, “God, please send me today the ones that no one else wants.” No one wanted Chuck, even I found it hard to be around him. But God through just being faithful has given me an amazing opportunity; to be welcomed into his house; a house, a circle of family and friends that no other pastor has ever been invited into, and share the love of God with them. And that is my hearts desire, not to see them as an “evangelists projector opportunity” but a family in pain that simply needs the love of God, and to love them. I pray I may honor this.
My ODC family, I pray today you will be led by the Holy Spirit not to seek and enter into some structured ministry with people, but just simply enter into life and the lives of people. That in your daily set schedule you will allow and come to expect, even long for interruptions from two things: God and people. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections on the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
I am still spending time in 1Peter this morning
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me by the hand on the adventure You have for me today.
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
You've chosen us and called us. You equip us and encourage us. You save us and send us as the people of God to proclaim the goodness and mercy of God. We are priests and prophets and kings in Christ, a royal priesthood proclaiming Christ. "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever!" (Revelation 1:5-6) "Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation," You "have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10, NKJV).
In alignment with Your heart and submission to Your will, abiding in Christ as Christ abides in us, we humbly and faithfully embrace our identity and fulfill our destiny as the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, continuing the ministry of Christ here in this world (1 Corinthians 12:27). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
You are our Priest and Prophet and King. So in Christ, as the body of Christ, we are Your priests and prophets and kings -- "ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). As priests, we pray; as prophets, we proclaim; as kings, we reign -- all in submission to Your will and Your way, all through Your Spirit and by Your grace, with the measure of authority You've entrusted to us as Your people, Your body, and Your church (Matthew 16:19). Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 5:10).
We do our part, as best as we can and all by Your grace, to live into the fullness of all You have already done by Your part (John 19:30). And all in Your time and all in Your way, we look forward to the day we hear "loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15 ). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My ODC family, I pray you live into the fullness of your identity and destiny in Christ every day, as best as you can and all by God's grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box.
Join in the "Daily Prayer of Freedom" 7 day commitment
Five days ago I posted this prayer, "Daily Prayer of Freedom" as part of my blog. At our house church last night we discussed equipping and arming ourselves with the ability to pray boldly, pray "strong prayers" over are lives. As Christians growing in Christ as disciples of Christ, we need to grow into prayer warriors against the powers and principalities of this world. (Ephesians 6:10-13) As we grow from infancy to mature Disciples of Christ, the way we pray and our prayers need to "mature" as well. Our prayers need to evolve from "milk" for infants to "solid food" for adults.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?....For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14)
Last night we read through the Daily Prayer of Freedom together and spent time reflecting on its depth. We asked each other "What would happen if we prayed like this, out loud, daily over our lives, families, and dominions? We committed together to pray this prayer at least once daily for at least 7 days starting today June 29th though next Wednesday July 5th. I am asking if all of you reading this blog would please join in with us.
The Daily Prayer of Freedom is a complete prayer of covering and protection by the complete Triune of God. It is not a short prayer, so before you start, go get a cup of coffee, set aside 15-20 minutes for you and God. Enter into the prayer and read it slowly, It is not an timid prayer. I would suggest you read it out loud as you walk around your home, work place, or neighborhood. Again, Please join in with us.
Daily Prayer of Freedom
From John Eldredge’sbook, “Wild at Heart”
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, renewed in you, to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect and dimension of my life totally and completely to you. I give to you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I stand in absolute agreement with your Spirit and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit and by your Spirit alone.
Dearest God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust, and all the glory of my life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, every idol, and I give to you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. This is all about you, God, and not about me; you are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. I ask your forgiveness for my every sin. I renounce my sins. I ask you to search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life and grant to me the grace of your healing, deliverance, your holiness, and a deep and true repentance.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you in everything as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending Jesus; I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love, your Spirit, and your kingdom. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I bring the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, throughout my kingdom and domain.
Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you to be one with you in all things—spirit, soul, and body, heart, mind, and will. I sincerely receive all the work and triumph in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice, through which my every sin is atoned for, I am ransomed and delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and every claim being made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your cross and death, dying with you to sin, to my flesh, to this world, to the evil one and his kingdom. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry [and anything else you are currently struggling with]. I put off the old man. Apply to me all the work in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare and household. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life—dead to sin and alive to God. I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life, and I give my life to you to live your life. I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your hope, love, faith, joy, your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power, and strength. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare, and household. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule, and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the work and triumph in your ascension, through which Satan has been judged and cast down, and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you. All authority in the heavens and on this earth has been given to you, Jesus, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and dominion, now and forever. I take my place now in your authority and in your throne, through which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and established in your authority. I give myself to you, to reign with you always. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your authority and your throne; I receive it with thanks, and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness, their every weapon, claim, and device. [At this point, I specifically name all foul and unclean spirits that I know have been attacking me, such as fear, doubt, accident, injury, death, the religious spirit, pride, arrogance, etc.] I send all foul and unclean spirits bound to the throne of Christ, together with every back-up and replacement, every weapon, claim, and device—by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. I command the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the heads of those that refuse to obey, and I send them to judgment, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every foul power and black art—every hex, vex, and incantation, every spell, weave, web, veil, shroud, charm, and snare; against every ritual, sacrifice, and device; against every vow, dedication, and sacrifice, every word, judgment, and curse—written, spoken, unspoken, or transferred to me. I command them disarmed and broken by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every witch, cult, and coven, every channel of black arts to me. I cut them off in the name of the Lord; I send the glory of God to them to turn them in Jesus’ name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and every human being—their spirit, soul, body, their sin, warfare, and their household. I bring the full work of Christ between me and [now I name people I’ve counseled or prayed for, family members, folks in crisis looking to me, etc.]. I command their human spirits bound back to their bodies and their warfare bound to the throne of Christ in their life. I bring the full work of Christ between me and my household and all people, in the authority of Jesus Christ and in his name.
Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I honor you as Lord. I receive all the work and triumph in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with power from on high, sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength, and guide. I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life.
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus over my life today, over my home, my family, my work, over all of my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ once more over my spirit, soul, and body, over my heart, mind, and will. I put on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, helmet of salvation; I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of your might, to pray at all times in the Spirit.
Jesus, thank you for your angels. I summon them in the name of Jesus Christ and instruct them to destroy all that is raised against me, to establish your Kingdom over me, to rebuild the shields and hedges of protection around me and my household, and to minister to me your ministry. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me. I now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my household, my kingdom, and domain in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving all glory and honor and thanks to him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To addd some time in the Word, you can read and meditate on Psalm 91, Ephesians 6:10-20, and Romans 8:18-39.
My ODC family, I pray today you will take time this morning pushing into and connecting yourself completely with God, so you can spend the rest of the day pushing back evil and ushering in the kingdom of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
This morning I felt compelled to begin my day by reading one of my favorite prayers over my life, my family, and my ministry. It is the Daily Prayer of Freedom. It is my go to prayer when I want a complete covering and protection by the complete Triune of God. It is not a short prayer, so before you start, go get a cup of coffee, set aside sometime for you and God, and read it slowly this morning. I would suggest you read it out loud.
Daily Prayer of Freedom
From John Eldredge’sbook, “Wild at Heart”
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, renewed in you, to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect and dimension of my life totally and completely to you. I give to you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I stand in absolute agreement with your Spirit and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit and by your Spirit alone.
Dearest God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust, and all the glory of my life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, every idol, and I give to you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. This is all about you, God, and not about me; you are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. I ask your forgiveness for my every sin. I renounce my sins. I ask you to search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life and grant to me the grace of your healing, deliverance, your holiness, and a deep and true repentance.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you in everything as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending Jesus; I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love, your Spirit, and your kingdom. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I bring the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, throughout my kingdom and domain.
Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you to be one with you in all things—spirit, soul, and body, heart, mind, and will. I sincerely receive all the work and triumph in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice, through which my every sin is atoned for, I am ransomed and delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and every claim being made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your cross and death, dying with you to sin, to my flesh, to this world, to the evil one and his kingdom. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry [and anything else you are currently struggling with]. I put off the old man. Apply to me all the work in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare and household. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life—dead to sin and alive to God. I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life, and I give my life to you to live your life. I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your hope, love, faith, joy, your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power, and strength. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare, and household. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule, and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the work and triumph in your ascension, through which Satan has been judged and cast down, and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you. All authority in the heavens and on this earth has been given to you, Jesus, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and dominion, now and forever. I take my place now in your authority and in your throne, through which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and established in your authority. I give myself to you, to reign with you always. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your authority and your throne; I receive it with thanks, and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness, their every weapon, claim, and device. [At this point, I specifically name all foul and unclean spirits that I know have been attacking me, such as fear, doubt, accident, injury, death, the religious spirit, pride, arrogance, etc.] I send all foul and unclean spirits bound to the throne of Christ, together with every back-up and replacement, every weapon, claim, and device—by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. I command the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the heads of those that refuse to obey, and I send them to judgment, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every foul power and black art—every hex, vex, and incantation, every spell, weave, web, veil, shroud, charm, and snare; against every ritual, sacrifice, and device; against every vow, dedication, and sacrifice, every word, judgment, and curse—written, spoken, unspoken, or transferred to me. I command them disarmed and broken by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every witch, cult, and coven, every channel of black arts to me. I cut them off in the name of the Lord; I send the glory of God to them to turn them in Jesus’ name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and every human being—their spirit, soul, body, their sin, warfare, and their household. I bring the full work of Christ between me and [now I name people I’ve counseled or prayed for, family members, folks in crisis looking to me, etc.]. I command their human spirits bound back to their bodies and their warfare bound to the throne of Christ in their life. I bring the full work of Christ between me and my household and all people, in the authority of Jesus Christ and in his name.
Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I honor you as Lord. I receive all the work and triumph in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with power from on high, sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength, and guide. I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life.
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus over my life today, over my home, my family, my work, over all of my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ once more over my spirit, soul, and body, over my heart, mind, and will. I put on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, helmet of salvation; I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of your might, to pray at all times in the Spirit.
Jesus, thank you for your angels. I summon them in the name of Jesus Christ and instruct them to destroy all that is raised against me, to establish your Kingdom over me, to rebuild the shields and hedges of protection around me and my household, and to minister to me your ministry. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me. I now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my household, my kingdom, and domain in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving all glory and honor and thanks to him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To addd some time in the Word, you can read and meditate on Psalm 91, Ephesians 6:10-20, and Romans 8:18-39.
My ODC family, I pray today you will take time this morning pushing into and connecting yourself completely with God, so you can spend the rest of the day pushing back evil and ushering in the kingdom of God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
This morning I had a conversation over coffee with a good friend. He was telling me how he lacked passion and joy in his spiritual life. He was reading the Bible daily and praying, but he was in a place now where these things felt more like a routine and he was not receiving the joy, passion and happiness he once did. He longed for a return to that feeling, and was reading more and praying more to try to get it back again. He wanted to experience again the depth of longing of praying, searching the Scriptures and the direction of God like his life depended on it, because it does, instead of just going through the motions.
I was with another gathering in a home yesterday around noon where part of the discussion and prayer was in this same vein. We wanted to break free of the structure, legalism, routine and control we have created and centered many of our churches and Christian experiences around. Where the cross is neutered and domesticated and the Holy Spirit is viewed as a “lap dog” that can be beckoned to come and go as needed. We confessed and prayed release and freedom from the powers and principalities we have put into place in the church and our walks with Christ that keep us from ascending to a real encounter with Jesus.
God has an amazing way of reaching and speaking to you where you are. It just so happenedthat a book I by “chance” was drawn to read now spoke, and read from last night spoke into this.
But how does one keep the passion in practice and not just the performance? A musician who simply copies a master may be technically accurate, structurally sound. But he will never be a true musician, nor an original artist, nor a passionate creator, but only a derivative paper doll. It takes more than technical skills and disciplined knowledge to fuel passion. It takes the imaginative living of your art.
For those following Jesus passionately in their daily lives, it takes an emotional connection, an experiential identification, a sensory awareness, a creative imagination, a spiritual engagement with the living Christ. For Wesley, the “Method” of Methodism was never meant to be an organizational scheme, but a missional relation, and incarnational regime of living Christ out loud in every part of life. Methodists didn’t just spout Jesus, they shouted Jesus, and everyone who met them saw Jesus in them…
To follow Jesus means more than walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the illustrious teacher, or speaking with his tongue. Jesus is not a hero to be emulated and put on some pedestal, admired from afar. Methodism was not in the business of incubating a message, but incarnating the messenger. Holiness was not the working harder to mimic Jesus, but was to manifest Jesus. A life of holiness was not the imitation of Christ, but the impartation of Christ through the impartation of the Holy Spirit, who connects us to Christ’s resurrection presence and power. When the Three become One in you, transcendence becomes immanence. Then you know the “kingdom come.” Then you know the joy, and bliss, and heaven….
The “good news” is the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But the good news “story” is less a genre than an attitude, less a position than a posture, less a doctrine than a dance, less a statement than a song… As Jesus people, we are singers of the Jesus song. The lyrics of the melody? “I Love to Tell the Story of Jesus and His Love….”
(Leonard Sweet, “The Greatest Story Never Told: Revive Us Again” pgs 92, 93, 97, 100)
My ODC family, I pray today you will enter into the dance with Jesus who is constantly dancing over you. I pray you will enter into the song of the Holy Spirit who is constantly singing over and in you. I pray you will join in the cast of actors on the stage of this world the Father has created and prepared for you. And that you will create, improvise, imagine and present the gospel in a unique way never seen before that only you were designed to compose and perform. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Encounter with God
Every Monday night One Direction Community (ODC) meets at Terenovas for Community Dinners from 6:00pm-7:30pm. Afterwards at 8:00pm -10:00pm we have Monday Night Worship. (MNW) which is a 2 hour time of soaking prayer and worship. About an hour into it, and ODC leadership team member Pete, had an amazing encounter with God and Jesus. It knocked him to the ground and lasted over 3 ½ hours. Pete was transported spiritually into the presence of Jesus and then the Father. He was led to the New Jerusalem, taken over and shown images of Africaand Huntsville, Al. Pete was amazingly present with Jesus and God, yet able to hear us gathered around him as we asked him questions about where he was and what he was seeing. He was also able to hear questions from us directed to God and Jesus, ask them the questions, then tell us their reply. All of us who were there felt God’s presence in the room, an “electric” and holy atmosphere effected us all. It was an amazing experience that has changed me. I have spent much time talking with Pete afterwards and I am still processing the event.
I recorded most of it on my iphone. The video was accidently stopped a couple times during theevent so the video is in 3 parts. With part I being the start and part 3 the end. I downloaded the videos to Youtube so I could share them with you and others. Here is the link to the videos.
Part 1: https://youtu.be/ot9f2E0bmn4
Part 2: https://youtu.be/GYTyNhm1DWM
Part 3: https://youtu.be/xEEeqDaJ098
I would welcome your thoughts, questions, or reflections. If you would like to discuss this in more depth or have questions, please contact me.
Much love,
Gary
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart, closer to the Father as I begin this day, which is Father’s Day.
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.... From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made Him known" (John 1:14-18).
Lord Jesus, You are the Son of God; You are God the Son. You are "close to the Father's heart" because You and the Father are "One" (John 10:30). You are "the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very Being" (Hebrews 1:3). You are "the image of the invisible God" for "in (You) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1:15-19).
Just as You are "close to the Father's heart," You long for every one of us, as sons and daughters of God, to be just as close to the Father’s heart. You passionately prayed that prayer for us when you walked this earth: "As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. That glory that You have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:21-23). That's a deep expression of the desires of your heart that we fully receive "grace upon grace" (v. 1. 16).
My Father God, on this Father’s Day, I draw near to you, close to the Father's heart, as best as I can all by your grace, through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I embrace Your Holy Spirit, abiding in me -- living in me that I may live in you (John 14:17). "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of (us)" (2 Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My ODC family. I pray on this Father’s Day you will set aside some time to spend with your heavenly Father and to draw close to the Father's heart. Through his grace upon grace may you draw deeper in communion with Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit that abides in you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! Happy Father’s Day dads!!!!
Acts 8
"Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria......Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word." vs.1, 4.
I was almost excited when I read chapter 8. The early church in Jerusalem, was forced to scatter, to leave the only "church" they knew. This scattering, caused them to proclaim and share the Gospel to knew people, new neighbors, and plant new churches. “the Church became a movement of God! Later in chapter 11 we will read:
"Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch" (11:19)
Those early disciples were forced to leave their "first church", this led to planting of other churches, including the great church in Antioch! The persecution and scattering the enemy meant to destroy the church, God used it to grow and further establish His church. I look back at what happened to us when we had to leave IOM. This “scattering” of us led to the launching of Kids of the Kingdom, Community Dinners, Monday night Worship, Limestone Flea Market service, and the Downtown Rescue Mission training and Worship. The church was designed to be a movement. To scatter then gather, scatter then gather again. When the church ifs forced to leave and takes with it nothing but Jesus is when it is most effective.
I am learning that the church is at its best when it is fluid, underground, subversive, and countercultural. It is the unknown, quiet, humble stealth acts that the church changes things.
Pray over you life, the life of your church and the life of your ministries. Have you been stuck, complacent, or comfortable in a season of “gathering”? Pray that the Holy Spirit will motivate you and guides you into a new season of scattering. Pray God leads you, leads us as a church and reveals to us our new “Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antiochs in which to start new house churches and ministries.
Please share what verses you dwelled on in Acts 8 and your thoughts or questions with us in the comment box below.
As we start week 2 in Acts, a reminder here that I posted last week of what we have committed to during these 28 days of reading through Acts.
I am asking all of us as a church, as a family, as a community of faith to come together and pray over these ministries and the future and vision for ODC. I would like us to dedicate ourselves to pouring ourselves into his word and prayer as we seek God’s will and direction for our lives and ODC. To aid us in this I am asking us to commit to one another and join together in these 5 things.
1. Starting this Monday, , spend the 28 days following reading through the Book of Acts of the Apostles. There are 28 chapters in Acts, so we will read one chapter a week for 28 days. Spend time in S,O.A. P.S. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer, Sharing) daily on each chapter. Pray then over your ministry and ODC’s.
2. Start up/join in a Band Group. We need to both encourage and hold each other accountable to time in the Word, Prayer, and our daily walk with Christ. Do not delay, pray to God who to ask you which one or two persons to invite to join you, and do it. No excuses, no delays.
3. Set aside just one hour a week (you can do more than one) away from distractions and spend that hour in solid prayer.
4. Fast one day a week in prayer. Read Isaiah 58 on fasting for guidance or contact me if you have questions on fasting.
5. Daily Lunch + prayer: Everyday when you sit down to lunch, you pray over your meal. After your prayer over the meal, and a 30 second prayer over ODC and its ministries for God’s vision and leading.
“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”” Mark 14:37-39
“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
I have heard teachings and songs on this verse that suggest that the tearing of the curtain was symbolism ofan act of God removing the barriers to Him and giving us full access. Yet this took place on Good Friday at the moment of the death of Jesus when our access to God was slaughtered. There are Scriptures that point to our access to God,, however I do not believe this is one.
In Genesis 37:33-34 when Jacaob sees the multi color coat of Joseph that was dippedin goats blood and believes his son has been killed by a wild animalthe passage states, “He recognized it and exclaimed, “It is my son’s tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days.”
“Then Jacob tore his cloths”
In 2 Samuel 1:11 when David finds out that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle, the passage states, “David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.”
“David the grabbed his own clothes and tore them. As did all the men who were with him.”
In Mark 14:60-65Jesus declares that he is the Christ, the Son of God. When the high priest hears this apparent ultimate blasphemy the passage states, ” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death”
“And the high priest tore his garments”
All throughout the Old Testament whenever one experienced the death of a loved one, a holy man, or there was an act of blasphemy the person would express that by grabbing his shirt or garments at the neck and tearing them downward . It was a symbolism of the extreme grief, agony and anger at the event that occurred that went in to the heart and soul of the grieving person.
Good Friday was the day we as Christians lost the battle. Satan, sin and evil won the day and slaughtered our savior. We need to embrace this and not try to insert some nice thing like the tearing of the curtain gave us access of to God. Mark, in writing his Gospel account of the crucifixion and death of Jesus, was not portraying an event that gave us access to God, but removed it. The temple was the dwelling of God. And the temple curtain was his “clothing.” The tearing of the curtain represents the mourning and grief of God! All those Jews who read this account would instantly assume this tearing of the vestments. Especially when Mark specifically states the curtain was torn from “the top to the bottom.” Indicating how clothing was torn.
This passage should be read as God in extreme grief and anguish at the death of his son tearing his vestments and screaming in agony “MY son!!! You Killed my Son!!! And falling to his knees in mourning.. And the earth shook and the sky was darkened as God wept.
This passage is an important one in respect to our understanding of God. As a pastor, if someone approaches me with a tragedy: the death of a child or a loved one. And asks where was God when this happened? I will refer them to this passage and say he was tearing his vestments and mourning their death along with you. When and event happens like this that shakes you to the core and in extreme grief you fall to your knees and cry out, know that you have a God who ‘s cry of agony was heard throughout the heavens and understands your grief and is there with you.
In the crucifixion of Jesus we see the suffering and agony of the son out of extreme love for us. In the tearing of the temple curtain we see that the suffering and agony, the sacrifice for our behalf out of deep love for us impacted the very core of God.
Today as we continue are time of reflection and mourning on our journey to Easter, I want you to reflect on and be assured, that no matter what situations you find yourself in today, have experienced in the past, or may present themselves in the future, that drop you to your knees and all you can do is scream and cry out, you have a God the Father that cried out and tore his robes, and God the Son who cried out from the cross, that are kneeling down with you.
To which I say Praise be to God!!!
Please share any reflections you have in the comment box below.
“After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty!” A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the Passion of Christ: His betrayal, trial, scourging, crucifixion, and burial. Today is the day more Christians fast in prayer than any other. Scripture tells us Jesus hung on the cross from the sixth thru the ninth hour, and on the ninth hour he died. That converts to 12:00pm-3:00pm for us today. Be in prayer today.” (John 19: 28-30)
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy..
Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this Good Friday, we remember our Good Shepherd, when You laid down Your life for Your sheep. ...
"Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).... And they crucified him.... When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'... Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:22-39)
We truly have no idea of the suffering You endured for each one of us. For as much as we can take at a time, we begin to imagine the physical suffering and the emotional suffering, as You hung naked and rejected by the nails driven into Your hands and feet, gasping for breath and dripping with blood from Your shredded skin and nerves. But we can't even begin to comprehend the spiritual suffering You endured as the One who knew no sin became sin on our behalf, when You willingly took upon Yourself all the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21).
In that moment, bearing the full weight of our sins, the full weight of my sins, You were forsaken by the Father and separated from the holiness of God, so that we would never have to be forsaken. In unimaginable anguish of spirit, You cried out to the Father in the most heart-wrenching cry of all eternity, as the Lamb of God took away the sins of the world by taking them on to Yourself in the passion of the cross, determined before the foundation of the world and prophesied long before the coming of that day (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53).
Carrying our sins, You descended into hell on our behalf to break the power of hell over our lives (Acts 2:31; 1 Peter 3:18-22 and 4:6). But hell couldn't hold You because Satan had nothing in You and no power over You (John 14:30). "Through death, (You defeated) the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14).
What an incomprehensible price You paid for each one of us. We may never fully comprehend for all eternity the depth of Your suffering for our sins so that we could dwell forever in the depths of Your love in the intimate presence of our holy God. But on this holy day, we stand amazed at the foot of the cross and in the Presence of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family born out of the blood of the cross. may you take time on the journey to the joy of celebrating the resurrection of Christ to think on the suffering of Jesus and be filled with knowledge of the truth of how much God loves you and suffered for you to always be with you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me.
Please share you reflections on Good Friday throughout your day in the comment box below.
Next week begins Holy Week, It is my favorite season of the church. Though I am not a practitioner of traditional church and its structures, I love the seasons and rhythms of the life and breath of God's church. Belief and participation in Holy week and Easter gatherings are the most radical, extreme, and revolutionary acts of a Christian. These events were cataclysmic and forever changed the the paradyme we live in. They launched the movement of Christ and the movement of his church.
For ODC's Holy week reflection I spent time going through all for accounts of the Passion narratives in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each one of these Gospel's accounts contains different details of Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trials, and crucifixion. I took these various details and combined them chronologically into one more comprehensive passion narrative. Reading through it gives you a more complete picture of the last hours of Jesus leading up to the cross. I included it below in this reflection. All of it could be in "quotations" as it is made completely from Scripture verses.
I broke it down into different roles and groups so it could be read in a congregation, with different people taking on a role and reading its lines. Please feel free to use this in any of your gathering this Holy Week. After you read through it, I would love if you would post your comments and reflections.
The Passion of Christ.
A compilation of selections from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
by Gary Liederbach
NARRATOR: One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
JUDAS: "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?"
NARRATOR: They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
DISCIPLES: "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
NARRATOR: He said,
JESUS: "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"
NARRATOR: So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said,
JESUS: "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
NARRATOR: And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another,
DISCIPLES: "Surely not I, Lord?"
NARRATOR: He answered,
JESUS: "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
NARRATOR: Judas, who betrayed him, said,
JUDAS: "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
NARRATOR: He replied,
JESUS: "You have said so."
NARRATOR: He said to them,
JESUS: "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
NARRATOR: Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said,
JESUS: "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
NARRATOR: Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
JESUS: "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
NARRATOR: And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying,
JESUS: "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!"
NARRATOR: Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them,
JESUS: "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
"You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
"Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
NARRATOR: And he said to him,
PETER: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"
NARRATOR: Jesus said,
JESUS: "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."
NARRATOR: He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them,
JESUS: "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."
NARRATOR: Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,
JESUS: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."
NARRATOR: Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them,
JESUS: "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial."
NARRATOR: He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,
JESUS: "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
NARRATOR: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,
JESUS: "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
NARRATOR: Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
JUDAS: "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
NARRATOR: So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,
JUDAS: "Rabbi!"
NARRATOR: and kissed him
JESUS: "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
POLICE: "Jesus of Nazareth?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."
NARRATOR: This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
JESUS: "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
NARRATOR: And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him,
JESUS: "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!"
NARRATOR: So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said,
SERVANT 1: "This man also was with him."
NARRATOR: But he denied it, saying,
PETER: "Woman, I do not know him."
NARRATOR: A little later someone else, on seeing him, said,
CONFRONTER1: "You also are one of them."
NARRATOR: But Peter said,
PETER: "Man, I am not!"
NARRATOR: Then about an hour later still another kept insisting,
CONFRONTER 2:"Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean."
NARRATOR: But Peter said,
PETER: "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!"
NARRATOR: At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
NARRATOR: Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,
JESUS: "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."
NARRATOR: When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,
POLICE: "Is that how you answer the high priest?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"
NARRATOR: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
ACCUSERS: "We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"
NARRATOR: But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,
HIGH PRIEST: "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
NARRATOR: But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,
HIGH PRIEST: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
NARRATOR: Jesus said,
JESUS: "I am; and `you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and `coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
NARRATOR: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
HIGH PRIEST: "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?"
NARRATOR: All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
ACCUSERS: "Prophesy!"
NARRATOR: The guards also took him over and beat him.
NARRATOR: Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said,
JUDAS: "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."
NARRATOR: But they said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "What is that to us? See to it yourself."
NARRATOR: Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money."
NARRATOR: After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
NARRATOR: So Pilate went out to them and said,
PILATE: "What accusation do you bring against this man?"
CHIEF PRIESTS: They answered, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you."
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law."
NARRATOR: The Jews replied,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "We are not permitted to put anyone to death."
NARRATOR: (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
PILATE: "Are you the king of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: He answered,
JESUS: "You say so."
NARRATOR: Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,
PILATE: "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."
NARRATOR: But they were insistent and said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."
NARRATOR: When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them,
PILATE: "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
NARRATOR: Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
PILATE: "Are you the King of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"
NARRATOR: Pilate replied,
PILATE: "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."
NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,
PILATE: "So you are a king?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,
PILATE: "What is truth?"
NARRATOR: After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
PILATE: "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: They shouted in reply,
CROWD: "Not this man, but Barabbas!"
NARRATOR: Now Barabbas was a bandit. This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting,
ASSEMBLY: "Crucify, crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,
SOLDIERS: "Hail, King of the Jews!"
NARRATOR: and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them,
PILATE: "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him."
NARRATOR: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Here is the man!"
NARRATOR: When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted,
CROWD: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him."
NARRATOR: The Jews answered him,
CROWD: "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God."
NARRATOR: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,
PILATE: "Where are you from?"
NARRATOR: But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,
PILATE: "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered him,
JESUS: "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
NARRATOR: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out,
CROWD: "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor."
NARRATOR: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews,
PILATE: "Here is your King!"
NARRATOR: They cried out,
CROWD: "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Pilate asked them,
PILATE: "Shall I crucify your King?"
NARRATOR: The chief priests answered,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "We have no king but the emperor."
NARRATOR: But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said,
JESUS: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
(At the mention of the place called the Skull, all should stand, as able.)
NARRATOR: So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
PRIESTS: "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"
NARRATOR: Pilate answered,
PILATE: "What I have written I have written."
NARRATOR: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another,
SOLDIERS: "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it."
NARRATOR: This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." And that is what the soldiers. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,
JESUS: "Woman, here is your son."
NARRATOR: Then he said to the disciple,
JESUS: "Here is your mother."
NARRATOR: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus said,
JESUS: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
ASSEMBLY: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
NARRATOR: The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying,
SOLDIERS: "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
NARRATOR: One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
CRIMINAL 1: "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
NARRATOR: But the other rebuked him, saying,
CRIMINAL 2: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
NARRATOR: Then he said,
CRIMINAL 2: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
NARRATOR: He replied,
JESUS: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
NARRATOR: When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
JESUS: "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?"
NARRATOR: which means,
JESUS: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
NARRATOR: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
BYSTANDERS: "Listen, he is calling for Elijah."
NARRATOR: And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,
BYSTANDERS: "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."
NARRATOR: Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,
JESUS: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
NARRATOR: Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,
CENTURION: "Truly this man was God's Son!"
NARRATOR: And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
(The Bible text is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989)
READERS
1. Narrator
2. Jesus-
3. Peter-
4. High Priest-
5. Chief Priests:
6. Judas:
7. Disciples:
8. Police
9. Servant 1-
10. Confronter -
11. Confronter 2-
12. Accusers-
13. Crowds:
14. Soldiers:
15. Criminal 1-
16. Criminal 2-
17. Bystanders:
18. Centurion:
19. Pilot
God is doing some amazing things in my life and the life and ministry of One direction Community. Doors to ministries are opening, lives are being transformed, and chains are being broken. I can see the way God is moving in tangible ways around me and I love it. Satan and his principalities see it as well, and they hate it. As we advance the kingdom of God into territories held by the enemy we will be greeted by forces, seen and unseen, conspiring to work against any movement of God.
"Enemies of the coming kingdom want nothing more than to see good, sincere, talented, gifted and gracious people get destroyed of wounded ( or help the destruction and wounding of others) because they're trying to do a job they simply can't do without the deep calling and coverage of prayer." Jim Griffith
What follows is the "Daily Prayer of Freedom" From John Eldredge’sbook, “Wild at Heart” It is my go-to prayer for covering of protection and empowering by and through the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit. It is not a short, sweet, simple prayer, because there is nothing short, sweet and simple advancing God's kingdom and spiritual warfare. Take time today to read this prayer of yourself, your family, and your ministry.
My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, renewed in you, to receive from you all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect and dimension of my life totally and completely to you. I give to you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I stand in absolute agreement with your Spirit and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit and by your Spirit alone.
Dearest God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust, and all the glory of my life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, every idol, and I give to you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. This is all about you, God, and not about me; you are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. I ask your forgiveness for my every sin. I renounce my sins. I ask you to search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life and grant to me the grace of your healing, deliverance, your holiness, and a deep and true repentance.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my creator, redeemer, sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you in everything as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending Jesus; I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your love, your Spirit, and your kingdom. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I bring the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, throughout my kingdom and domain.
Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I give myself over to you to be one with you in all things—spirit, soul, and body, heart, mind, and will. I sincerely receive all the work and triumph in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice, through which my every sin is atoned for, I am ransomed and delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and every claim being made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your cross and death, dying with you to sin, to my flesh, to this world, to the evil one and his kingdom. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry [and anything else you are currently struggling with]. I put off the old man. Apply to me all the work in your cross, death, blood, and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the blood and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare and household. I bring the cross, death, blood, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life—dead to sin and alive to God. I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life, and I give my life to you to live your life. I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your hope, love, faith, joy, your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power, and strength. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I bring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit, every foul power and black art, against every witch, and against every human being and their spirit, their warfare, and household. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ to the borders of my kingdom and domain, and I stake it there in Jesus’ name.
Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule, and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the work and triumph in your ascension, through which Satan has been judged and cast down, and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you. All authority in the heavens and on this earth has been given to you, Jesus, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and dominion, now and forever. I take my place now in your authority and in your throne, through which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and established in your authority. I give myself to you, to reign with you always. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your authority and your throne; I receive it with thanks, and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, my vehicles, finances, over all my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness, their every weapon, claim, and device. [At this point, I specifically name all foul and unclean spirits that I know have been attacking me, such as fear, doubt, accident, injury, death, the religious spirit, pride, arrogance, etc.] I send all foul and unclean spirits bound to the throne of Christ, together with every back-up and replacement, every weapon, claim, and device—by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name. I command the judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the heads of those that refuse to obey, and I send them to judgment, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every foul power and black art—every hex, vex, and incantation, every spell, weave, web, veil, shroud, charm, and snare; against every ritual, sacrifice, and device; against every vow, dedication, and sacrifice, every word, judgment, and curse—written, spoken, unspoken, or transferred to me. I command them disarmed and broken by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against every witch, cult, and coven, every channel of black arts to me. I cut them off in the name of the Lord; I send the glory of God to them to turn them in Jesus’ name.
I now bring the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and every human being—their spirit, soul, body, their sin, warfare, and their household. I bring the full work of Christ between me and [now I name people I’ve counseled or prayed for, family members, folks in crisis looking to me, etc.]. I command their human spirits bound back to their bodies and their warfare bound to the throne of Christ in their life. I bring the full work of Christ between me and my household and all people, in the authority of Jesus Christ and in his name.
Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I honor you as Lord. I receive all the work and triumph in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with power from on high, sealed me in Christ, become my union with the Father and the Son, the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength, and guide. I honor you as Lord, and I fully give to you every aspect and dimension of my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will—to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh, Holy Spirit. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me into all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life.
Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus over my life today, over my home, my family, my work, over all of my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ once more over my spirit, soul, and body, over my heart, mind, and will. I put on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, helmet of salvation; I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of your might, to pray at all times in the Spirit.
Jesus, thank you for your angels. I summon them in the name of Jesus Christ and instruct them to destroy all that is raised against me, to establish your Kingdom over me, to rebuild the shields and hedges of protection around me and my household, and to minister to me your ministry. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me. I now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my household, my kingdom, and domain in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving all glory and honor and thanks to him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Please share your reflections from your time in prayer in the comments box below.
God has been putting some amazing people of God in my life the past 8 months or so: Prayer intercessors, prophets, Apostles, worshippers and people repenting, and surrendering to God. Gatherings are happening where healing: physical and spiritual have been are are taking place. There is no doubt the spirit of a revival is happening in Huntsville/Madison and north Alabama. The time is near.
Now being a darn-yankee from Cleveland, Ohio I have never attended what southerners call a revival. 3 0r mare days or gatherings under a tent on a church lawn. So that is not the revival I am talking about. I am talking about the renewing and actual presence of God.
I attended Asbury Theological Seminary. Across the street from the seminary is Asbury College. In 1970 a revival happened in the chapel at Asbury college. I have been in the chapel for several gatherings. Attached is a link to a 30 minute video on the revival. Take time to watch it.
Reflect on it: What are your thoughts? What are your feelings? Pray for a revival today in your city and in your life.
Please share your thoughts and comments below.
"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Mathew 16:13-17
I believe Jesus' main goal with walking with his disciples, mentoring them, discipling them was to get them to a place where they could hear from the Father. Hear God's voice speak to them so the could listen to his voice and obey what he is saying to them. The simplest definition of a disciple is someone who listens to what God is saying to them, and the does it. Hearing and then obeying.
Can you hear from God? And as importantly, if our goal is to make disciples who make disciples; Are you comfortable training others to hear from God? I want to introduce you to a tool called "the Learning Circle." It is a toll that can help you here from God
Above is a diagram of a learning circle from a training event. I will break it down to you.
Kairos event: you are traveling in life and a kairos moment happens. This can be a blessing or a speed bump. A dream at night. A change in a job. An argument with your wife. An unexplained blessing. A family or personal situation. Or something that happens to a friend they come asking you for advice.
If Someone comes to me with a kairos event and I want them to hear what God says to them about the event.
Observe: Spend time observing what actually happened, who was involved, what was said, what was done. Where it occurred. Look event from all angles
Reflect: on Their observations: Why do you think it happened? What did that mean to you? How did you feel? What were your motives?
Discuss: First two I am mainly listening. I then discuss with them. I use the Three "Ts"
- Testimony: a personal story of something similar that happened in my life or one that I know of.
- Teaching: Is there a teaching from a book, video, article that relates.
- Testament: Is there a passage of Scripture that relates or addresses aspects of the event.
These three steps: Observe, Reflect, and Repent all occur on the repent and hear side of the circle. This is where we observe and reflect on what happened. We repent where needed on our participation in the event. And through the discussion, three "T" and prayer we hear what God is saying to us. What is God saying?
Next we move to the believe and obey side of the circle. One this side is where we believe in what God has spoken to us and how we are called to obey it.
Plan: We Observed, reflected and Discussed the Kairos moment. We have discerned God's voice. Next then is forming a plan. Depending on the Kairos event, it could be: If negative event.How am I going to prevent this from happening again? If positive, How am I going allow this to happen more often? How am I going to obey what I heard God telling me to do.
Accountability: What form of accountability, metrics, or other means is going to be put in place to make sure that the plan is carried out.
Act: Set starting time for plan and being acting on it.
Allot of this we do intuitively. This tool simply puts it down in an outline form. So often we in the church when asked about something reply with "generic" reponses. "Just spend time in the word" "Pray on it." "Spend time hearing what God is saying to you." If the person heard that last reply, they probable walked away saying to themselves. "Ok, but how do I go about hearing from God?" Also, if someone comes up to you and says a kairos moment has happened to them and asks for you to help them determine what God is saying to them, you have this tool to help you.
Think about a recent Kairos event in your life. Spend time going through it using the Learning Circle. Get together with your spouse a good friend and tell them about the learning circle. Have each of you think of a kairos moment and take turns leading each other through the learning circle.
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comments box below.
A little over three months ago I posted a reflection entitled "Were an American Band" on our need for accountability. As it happened, this past Sunday's discipleship training I lead at the Downtown Rescue Mission focused on Accountability. Last night's reflection at ODC's Community Dinner's also was on our need for Christian accountability. So I felt God wanted me to remind all of you again of your need for Christian accountability.
We all need to be in close Christian accountability with one of two the same-gender persons that meet together once a week. At ODC, we call these accountability groups "Bands." Bands was the name given to accountability groups by John Wesley. John's requirement of every early Methodists to be in an accountability helped fuel won of the greatest spiritual revivals in the history of our country and the world. This is a longer post as our requirement of God to be in close Christian accountability is one that most people are reluctant to obey. Committing to a Band weekly requires stepping out of your comfort zone and reaching out to one or two people and inviting them into accountability with you. However, It is one of the most important commitments you can make that will build up and strengthen your Christian walk.
As mentioned, Bands and spiritual accountability are at the core of discipleship and Methodism. The early Methodists were susceptible to friendship. They liked it. They sought after it. They knew they could not live this kind of holy life on their own. They could not hunger and thirst for God by themselves. They could not maintain the Spirituality of the means of grace by themselves. They wanted and accepted friendship because they needed it. This goes against our western and Americanized Christianity and our pride in our independence and homes with fenced in backyards and back decks.
But Spiritual accountability is a risky endeavor. Even Jesus experienced that when his friends betrayed him. Will you get betrayed by friends as well? I guarantee it. By members of a small group? probably. But we can’t throw away the baby with the bath water. Personal accountability was what Jesus demonstrated as plan A for forming disciples in his church. And their is no Plan B. And unfortunaltey, Plan A is way down on the the list resources are spent on in most churches, tucked under a discipleship ministry.
We are called to put our complete sufficiency in God, by trusting others. It is a paradox. Indeed we put our lives in the hands of God by putting our lives in the hands of others. Through whom does God speak to us? Through whom do we discern the moving and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Through whom do we overcome the fears that hold us back and overcome the deceitfulness in our own heart that clouds our vision from seeing what we are meant to be doing? Through friends. This is why they got into bands and classes. Why they developed spiritual friendships. Because they longed for the fullness of life. They longed for the Zeal for God and neighbor and the salvation of the whole world.
Dallas Willard in his book the “Divine Conspiracy” states. "I know exactly what is wrong with our making of disciples and ourselves becoming disciples. The problem is not that we do not know what we need to do, we know what to do. The problem is that we do not do what we know we are to do. The problem is not that we do not know what we are called to be, but we do not seek what we are called to be." I have probably not told you anything really new here or anything you did not already know. You know it already! You need to do what you know! How do you overcome the perineal problem of being a hearer of the word but not a doer of the word? The person in James’s Gospel, the Christian that looks in the mirror and says to himself, "What a fine Christian you are!" "What a marvelous child of God you are!” And then turns his back and walks out the door and lives just like everyone else. I know of one way, accountability.
We need deep spiritual friendships. Joining with a few others in deep spiritual friendship who will help you take what you know you are called to be and motivate you to pursue what you are called to be for all it is worth. That is why I believe so strongly we first need to all be in a Band and prayerfully support each other. To share testimonies of how God is working, and encourage each other to embrace that need to look outside as well as inside and encourage us to ask, "Who do I need to share the Gospel with?" My ODC family and those reading this reflection. I pray that you will pray, seek and invite one or two people into forming and beginning a Band with you this week.
Here is the ODC document on Bands. It contains the explanation, format, and how you start and continue with a Band that we use. Please feel free to copy, paste and use this document as needed in your church or ministry.
Bands
. A BAND is made up of two or three people, all of the same gender, who meet weekly for 60-90 minutes for personal accountability for their spiritual growth and development. It is recommended the group not grow past three but rather multiply into two groups of two once the fourth participant has proven faithful to the process.
· A BAND is a simple way to release the most essential elements of a vital spiritual walk to people who need Jesus to change their lives from the inside out. This tool empowers the ordinary Christian to accomplish the extraordinary work of reproducing spiritual disciples who can in turn reproduce others.
There is no curriculum, workbook or training involved. There is no leader needed in the group. A BAND is the simplest form of spiritual community and provides ongoing accountability to learn, obey, and pass on spiritual truth. It incorporates the values of living a balanced spiritual life which results in the developmentand reproduction of disciples.
There are only two suggested qualifications for starting or joining a BAND group:
1. A desperate need for Jesus Christ (Luke 5:29-32).
2. Faithfulness in the process itself (2 Timothy 2:2).
THOUGHTS ON ACCOUNTABILITY
BAND groups involve the sharing of an extremely personal nature. It is imperative that you come to a clear agreement on the confidentiality of whatever is shared in the group. Discuss the limits of confidentiality, (e.g., how things will be handled if information is revealed which involves the safety of someone or illegal activities).
Consider using 2 Timothy 3:16 as an outline for application to your life:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NIV)
· TEACHING- what we should know
· REBUKING- what we should avoid or stop doing
· CORRECTING- what we should do differently
· TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS- what we should begin or continue doing
Remember that accountability to Scripture involves not only applying it to one’s own life, but also blessing others by passing on to them what you are learning. Always consider if there is someone outside the BAND you should be sharing spiritual truth with and make this part of the accountability process.
Be specific when developing an application plan. Think through when, how, and with whom you will put what you are learning into practice. Make sure to follow up with checking on progress in succeeding weeks.
FORMAT OF A BAND: C.H.A.T. with each other.
1. CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
FELLOWSHIP
We are motivated by sharing struggles in mutual accountability. Start the time together by going over the Accountability Questions with one another (45-60 minutes).
2. HEAR THE WORD
DISCIPLESHIP
We grow spiritually as we read Scripture in context and in community. Continue the time by discussing what the Lord has impressed on you from your weekly Scripture reading. Your group should read 20-30 chapters per week (e.g. read the book of 1 Samuel or read the book of Ephesians 5 times.) Many people find it helpful to read aloud. If you prefer to listen to Scripture, you can download the “World English Bible” which is a public domain audio version, for free at http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm.
If someone doesn’t finish the reading in a given week then the entire group takes the same assignment for the following week.
:3. ACT ON IT
MINISTRY
We serve as we apply the truths of Scripture to living in love towards others day by day. Live out what the Lord impressed on you in the reading to apply it to your life and pass the truths on to others (5-10 minutes).
4.TELL OTHERS
EVANGELISM
We pray for those who need the Lord and reach out to them as we have opportunity. Close in a time of prayer. Pray for one another. Part of this time should be praying for the lost friends, family, and acquaintances for whom the group has been praying throughout the week (5-10 minutes).
WORSHIP
We acknowledge God in prayer and through our obedience. In your time of prayer, do not forget to praise and thank the Lord for who He is and what He is doing in and through you as a group and as individuals. Remember to, your obedience (Act on it) to the Lord is worship! (5 minutes)
Here is the list of ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS to ask one another when you gather in your weekly band meeting.
These questions are to be asked of one another in a weekly meeting of accountability (Proverbs 27:17). They are to stimulate conversations of character and confession of sin to God and one another in a safe environment which values honesty, vulnerability, confidentiality, and grace.
1. How have your insights from last week’s reading shaped the way you think and live?
2. Who did you pass your insights from last week on to and how was it received?
3. How have you seen God at work?
4. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
5. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate sexual thoughts?
6. Have you acknowledged God’s ownership in your use of money?
7. Have you coveted anything?
8. Have you hurt someone’s reputation or feelings by your words?
9. Have you been dishonest in word or action or exaggerated?
10. Have you given in to an addictive (or lazy or undisciplined) behavior?
11. Have you been a slave to clothing, friends, work, or possessions?
12. Have you failed to forgive someone?
13. What worries or anxieties are you facing? Have you complained or grumbled? Have you maintained a thankful heart?
14. Have you been honoring, understanding and generous in your important relationships?
15. What temptations in thought, word, or action have you faced and how did you respond?
16. How have you taken opportunities to serve or bless others, especially believers?
17. Have you seen specific answers to prayer?
18. Did you complete the reading for the week?
EVANGELISTIC PRAYER
Each person in the BAND group is to list two or three individuals who need the Lord’s salvation. Write down the names of all those identified in the group on each card so that all of you pray for each of the lost souls weekly. Keep this card in your Bible as a bookmark for your daily reading so that each time you open your Bible you are reminded to pray for these people. You can use one or two of the these verses daily in your prayers and insert the names of those you are praying for into them.
1. Lord, I pray that You draw _____ to Yourself (John 6:44).
2. I pray that _____hear and believe the Word ofGod for what it really is (1 Thes 2:13).
3. I pray that ______seek to know You (Acts 17:27).
4. I ask you, Lord, to prevent Satan from blinding _______to the truth (2 Cor 4:4; 2 Tim 2:25-26)
5. Holy Spirit, I ask You to convict _______ of his/her sin and need for Christ’s redemption (John 16:7-14).
6. I ask that You send someone who will share the gospel with _________ (Matt. 9:37-38).
7. I also ask that You give me or ______the opportunity, the courage and the right words to share with _________ (Col. 4:3-6).
8. Lord, I pray that ________ turn from his/her sin and follow Christ (Acts 17:30-31; 1 Thess 1:9-10).
9. Lord, I pray that _________ would put all of his/her trust in Christ (John 1:12; 5:24).
10. Lord, I pray that ________ confess Christ as Lord, take root and grow in faith and bear fruit for Your glory (Rom. 10:9-10; Col. 2:6-7; Luke 8:15).
11. Lord, I pray that You draw _____ to Yourself (John 6:44).
12. I pray that _____ hear and believe the Word ofGod for what it really is (1 Thes. 2:13).
13. I pray that ______ seek to know You (Acts17:27).
14. I ask you, Lord, to prevent Satan from blinding _______ to the truth (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Tim 2:25-26)
15. Holy Spirit, I ask You to convict _______ of his/her sin and need for Christ’s redemption (John 16:7-14).
16. I ask that You send someone who will share the gospel with _________ (Matt. 9:37-38).
17. I also ask that You give me or ______ the opportunity, the courage and the right words to
share with _________ (Col. 4:3-6).
18. Lord, I pray that ________ turn from his/her sin and follow Christ (Acts 17:30-31; 1 Thes. 1:9-10).
19. Lord, I pray that _________ would put all of his/her trust in Christ (John 1:12; 5:24).
20. Lord, I pray that ________ confess Christ as Lord, take root and grow in faith and bear fruit for Your glory (Rom. 10:9-10; Col. 2:6-7; Luke 8:15).
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer for them is for their salvation.
- Romans 10:1
“The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49)
A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isa 40:6-8)
Today is Ash Wednesday. On this day we receive a gift, a reminder, one that we only hear in the church. That we are all going to die. In a world that continually advertise living longer, products that take “years off your life”, and contain the “secret of the fountain of youth” and immortality, the church is the only place left that reminds us we are going to die. We are not immortal, we do not control our own destiny. Has death been defeated by the Jesus’s works on the cross? Absolutely. Will death be completely destroyed and trampled away in the new age to come? Absolutely. Has death been de-clawed, put on a leash and domesticated in the world today? Absolutely not.
Ash Wednesday reminds us of this. It reminds us we are going to die to remind us how truly priceless is the gift of life. It reminds us we are going to die, so today at this very moment, we can truly live.
“God hath given to man a short time here upon Earth, and yet upon this short time Eternity depends…” Jeremy Taylor
Ash Wednesday reminds us we are going to die so we can prepare and order our life for our time of death.
“Have we not had all our life-time to prepare to die; so many years to make ready for one hour; and are we so unready and unwilling yet? What have we done? Why have we lived?” Richard Baxter
What is “IT” that individuals fear about death?
° Obliteration
° Torture in hell / Damnation
° Failure to accomplish what should be done
° Coming alive in the grave
° Loss of relationship(s) (relational isolation)
° Being alone
° Loss of significance
° Loss of control
° Loss of experience (sense isolation)
° Discovering s/he was “wrong” about life
° On-going pain
° Other
Right now do an exercise that may seem strange. Lose your eyes right now and create a picture in your mind of your physical death or being physically dead. Take a few minutes to do it. What did you see? How did it make you feel?
Today death and dying are isolated and removed from society, homes, families, and unfortunately the church. The dying are isolated in hospital rooms, and nursing homes. They are cared for by dying “professionals” and Hospice workers. The holy experience of death is removed from family homes to funeral homes. The amazing gifts, wisdom, mentoring, and teaching from one who has walked a life alongside Christ are lost and never heard.
The dying are not social outliers but are an integral part of the community of faith. “Why should not a living Christian be exactly of the same spirit with a dying Christian?”
The dying have something valuable to teach the community of faith.
“The dying serve as resources for the entire faith community”
Death highlights the significance of every person’s life.
“The dying remind us of the value of life”
Death does not need to be frightening experience but can be a time of gratitude and joy for believer.
“Freedom from fear of condemnation.”
Spending time with the dying helps to prepare us for our own death.
“A pattern to follow”
Take some time now and throughout your day and reflect on these passages of Scripture that look at death.
John 11:23-26
v All the resurrection narratives
v Romans 8:38-39
v Romans 14:8-9
v 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
v 1 Corinthians 15 (esp. 15:19)
v Philippians 1:20-24
v Philippians 3:20-21
v 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
v 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
v 1 Peter 1:3-5
v 1 John 3:1-3
v Revelation 21:3-5
Spend time today reflecting on something you rarely do, "you are going to die." How does that make you feel? How does that influence your priorities? How does that influence your stewardship of your finances and resources? How does that effect the way you allocate your time, life your life, express your love?
Please share your thoughts and comments below.
My family and I are in Birmingham attending a soccer tournament my daughter Paris is playing in with her school, Bob Jones High School. The hotel we are staying in has free breakfast. In one corner of the breakfast room are two waffle making machines. As I was going to make a waffle a young boy around 8 or9 came up with what appeared to be his grandfather wanting a waffle as well. I told the boy I would help him. So I filled up my cup of batter from the dispenser and one for the boy as well. I opened both waffle irons and I told the boy to pour the batter around the waffle iron like I was doing, then slowly close the top half of the iron down on it. The boys just dumps cup of batter on one corner of the iron and as it was spilling over the side slams the top half of the iron down. Now I don’t know how many of you remember the comedian Gallagher who smashed water melons over the crowd with a sledge hammer, but the batter had the same effect. It splattered out of the iron all over me, the boy and the grandfather!!! It covered my arms, shirt and face!!! After I collected myself all I could do was laugh!! The boy did not say a word. The grandfather said he was so sorry.
I went to the bathroom and cleaned up as best I could and came back into the breakfast room. Nancy had come in then as well. We talked with the grandfather. As it turns out, he was not the boys grandfather, he was the boy’s foster father. The mans name was Eardmire and the boy Cameron. Eardmire said he and his wife agreed to become Cameron’s foster parents this past July. He said it has been hard and their as been “bumps” in the road. His eyes teared up as he spoke. He said Cameron was only 6, but he has been through more terrible things in his 6 years than you can ever imagine. He said Cameron has three other brothers and sisters and they are all with different foster parents. He became Cameron’s foster father at age 64!
Eardmire said that years ago he and his wife became foster parents for three boys. They came from similar hard and abusive situations. The three boys all had different fathers but the same mother. He and his wife were their foster parents for over 10 years. It was hard raising them as well. But he said now one of the boys is in the Marines, one is in the Army, and one is in College. Eardmire said like the other boys, Cameron was a thorn and he and his wife wanted to love him into a rose and let him blossom. As we shared about us and our church being outside of the box, he said, “exactly!” The church needs to go into and outside the hedges as that is where the the thorns that need nurtured into blooming are found.
We prayed some, hugged, and said good bye. I sat back down at my table amazed and thanking God for the encounter I just experienced. For Eardire’s tears as the strain of raising Cameron at this age of his life were evident, however there was a confidence and unshakable faith and love in his eyes as he looked at him. The love of a father for his child.
It is in the splattering and mess of life when all you can do is laugh that God shows up.
I have to go, actually looked my watch and I have been lost in this blog way to long and I have to fly to make Paris’s next game. Go out and get splattered by life today!!!
This past Thursday evening at the Huntsville Downtown Rescue ODC partnered with the band 718 Project and held a worship night that around 300 people attended. It was a powerful evening of prayer. A deaf man received his hearing. A woman with sever arthritis in her legs could walk normal again. She texted me this morning that for the past 2 years her husband had to put her socks and shoes on her because she could not stand the pain doing it herself. This morning she put them on herself pain free! Addictions were broken. adults and children heard the voice of God, people accepted and recommitted to Christ and God was glorified. God is so amazing!
From this ODC is now going to do a Gathering as part of our Community Dinners gatherings the first Monday of every month at the DRM. The Zume Discipleship training I was going to lead on Sunday mornings is now going to be moved and held at the DRM to allow those in their program to attend. My training class has grown from 16 now to 40!
Church was designed to be a movement not a location. ODC has been doing Community Dinners weekly in a restaurant for 8 months. Our children ministry meets in an apartments Community Center. Our new gathering meets Sunday mornings in the Limestone County Flea market. We meet and gather in the Jiffy Laundromat.
For Good Friday we put Crosses up along the walking trail at Indian Creek the week before and hold Stations of the Cross and Good Friday service in the park's pavilion. Our Easter service is going to be held in a community Center of a HUD project in Huntsville. We will prayer walk the community for a couple weeks before and hand out flyers and pray with people. Easter Sunday we will put out 1,000 eggs for the kids, do a service, grill burgers and dogs, and share stories with their community. We believe that 50 will come to Christ and we will launch a house church in that community center.
I am saying this simply to encourage you to think outside the box. To see church as a movement throughout your day instead of a location on one given day. But be prepared that if you pray for God to lead you to minister outside the box, he will honor that and show you what real out of the box faith, worship, and grace looks like. It is challenging me right now. I pray you are now or will come to the place it challenges you as well.
This Friday evening, February 23rd, we are having a gathering of prayer in one of our worship leaders home at 7:00pm in south Huntsville at 15041 Leafmore Dr SE, Huntsville. We will be praying over a movement of the Holy Spirit and awakening in Huntsville/North Alabama. We will be praying over healing, We would love to pray with and over you.
We are all member of The Church. We are all part of the movement of God. We are all missionaries. The definition I use of a missionaries is someone who is willing to sacrifice everything except the Gospel, for the sake of the Gospel. Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, then reflect today on these questions:
Is your church life based on movement or a location?
How are you participating in the movement of God?
Where is church as the movement of God happening around you?
Where is God calling you to enter into his movement?
Please post your reflections as a comment below. Also please connect with me as I would love to help, train, and walk with you, your small group, your church in becoming movemental.