MARK 3:1-6

6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Sabbath restrictions: picking corn, wheat, or any grain is a no-no. Pharisaic criticism is immediate (End of Chapter 2). Jesus preached at a local Synagogue and clarified His posture: LORD of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5). After healing the man at the Pool of Bethesda, our Lord’s next act of “Sabbath defiance” was to walk through the fields on the Sabbath and permit His disciples to pluck the grain, rub it between their hands, and eat it. Scripturally, it was not illegal for a hungry person to take some of his neighbor’s fruit or grain, provided he did not fill a vessel or use a harvesting tool (Deut. 23:24–25), then the Synagogue. It was at this church service where a divine encounter happens: the withered hand extends. His response is incredible: serving and advancing His agenda and beliefs, regardless of personal consequences. He really was not like the Scribes.

I)    CONDITIONS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  (3:1)

On that same Sabbath Day, Jesus went into the synagogue to worship; and while He was there, He deliberately healed a man. For the third time, Jesus violated the Jewish Sabbath traditions intentionally. The man with the paralyzed hand had no idea that Jesus would come to the synagogue to heal him, so waiting one more day would not have upset him. But Jesus wanted to do more than merely heal a man; He wanted to teach the Pharisees (Luke 6:7) that God wanted His people to enjoy freedom and not suffer in religious bondage (Acts 15:10). Jesus wanted to challenge the pharisaical legalistic traditions.

The man had a problem: his hand was non-functioning. Physical limitations would have had an impact on this man: he would be limited as a worker: the agrarian/labor culture would be difficult, which led to a state of dependency on others. There appears to have also been an emotional impact on the man: he undoubtedly had periods of confidence deficiency. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that he lacked assurance and doubted his own abilities. There were probably issues of envy and jealousy concerning those he felt inferior too.

Spiritual ramifications: when all else failed, he found solace in his seeking out God. There is one great benefit from great limitations: we are allowed to acknowledge our insufficiency and lean into a great God. It’s possible that this condition led him to be in a place of prayer when his encounter happened. Sometimes there is a blessing that can be found in affliction: as it positions us to recognize our need and the one who is more than our need.

Doing good on the Sabbath (3:4) There are three traditional interpretations of Jesus’ meaning: 1) Man must be concerned with relieving the distress of others; 2) God’s will is best served by healing rather than plotting to kill, as the Pharisees were doing (v. 6); 3) Jesus is committed to destroying Satan’s disfiguring works every day. When correctly understood, no command of God ever prevents us from doing good to others.

II) COMPASSION: THE MODUS OPERANDI OF JESUS 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other (2-5)

I find it amazing how the enemies of Jesus held Him under such close scrutiny. Their touchstone of anger seems to concern itself with His compassion. After observing Jesus operate, they realized He would most likely stop and minister to this man on the Sabbath. This is a central truth about our Savior: Jesus always was, and always will be moved by the needs of others. Listen to the statement Jesus makes: “Stand up” “Stretch out…”

A spirit of criticism immediately rose in the midst of the leaders. Amazing, isn’t it? For Jesus to return to the synagogue was a brave thing to do. It was the act of a man who refused to seek safety and who was determined to look a dangerous situation in the face. In the synagogue there was a deputy from the Sanhedrin. No one could miss them. In the synagogue, the front seats were the seats of honor and they would be sitting there. It was the duty of the Sanhedrin to deal with anyone who could mislead the people and seduce them from the right way; and that is precisely what this deputation conceived of themselves as doing.

Whether, not could (3:2). It is significant that Jesus’ enemies understood that Jesus could heal if He wanted too. This demonstrates for us that having faith in Jesus isn’t just a matter of knowing about Him, it’s a matter of submitting to Him. As Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) Jesus freed it from legal encumbrances, and in grace delivered this man from his distress. Look at the requirement: the man had to exert faith:” by standing, stretching his arm and hand out, Stand forth: The literal Greek here is; “Be arising into the midst.” That is, “step into the midst of all the people so that all can see you.” Jesus answered the spying attitude of the Pharisees by this daring action, then by walking in the obedience of action.

Jesus command drew instantaneous response: especially from His enemies, as they became enraged with indignation. His words became a galvanizing force of unity among His detractors. The Pharisees conspired immediately (euthys; 1:10) with the Herodians (12:13), influential political supporters of Herod Antipas, in an unprecedented common effort to destroy Jesus (15:31-32). His authority confronted and overwhelmed their authority, so He had to be be killed. Their problem was how. So, what really is better to do good things or harm, to ignore suffering or to extend faith and hope?

“Stretch out your hand” What a commandment. This object of derision and limitation (deformed hand) was requested to be seen in the presence of everyone who observed the happenings. Tradition says that the man tried to display his good hand, not the damaged one. Paralyzed hand: the Greek implies that he had not been born that way but that illness or affected him. Jesus needed to see the point of shame, which is what He asks of us. It is never wrong to expose ourselves to Him: He washes away our sin and our infirmities when we let Him.

3:5 Jesus looked around (from periblepomai, an all-inclusive penetrating look at the Pharisees in anger. This is the only explicit reference to Jesus’ anger in the New Testament. It was non-malevolent righteous anger coupled with deep sorrow (grief) at their stubborn thoughtlessness (pōrōsei, “hardening (Romans 11:25; Ephesians 4:18)” toward both God’s mercy and human misery. Jesus’ opponents cared neither about worship or the crippled man. They were in the Synagogue to find a new way to attack Jesus (v. 3). Jesus felt anger and deep distress. The tenses of the Gk. verbs provide insight. “Anger” is aorist, viewing this emotion as a point of time, or moment. “Distress” is present, viewing this emotion as a continuing, pervasive thing. We may be momentarily angry at those who reject Christ and choose sin over righteousness, but our prevailing passion must be distress over the impact of their choice on them!

Moses had prohibited work on the Sabbath, but he did not give many specifics (Ex. 20:10). It was wrong to kindle a fire for cooking (Ex. 35:3), gather fuel (Num. 15:32ff), carry burdens (Jer. 17:21ff), or transact business (Neh. 10:31; 13:15, 19). But Jewish tradition went into great detail and even informed the people how far they could travel on the Sabbath (200 cubits, based on Josh. 3:4). Jewish tradition stated that there were thirty-nine acts that were strictly forbidden on the Sabbath. The Sabbath Day had become a crushing burden, a symbol of the galling religious bondage that had captured the nation. In the teachings of Jewish legal scholars, minor cures were not permitted on the Sabbath, although saving a life was a different matter. Even the strictest observers of the Sabbath allowed compromising the Sabbath to save life or to fight in a defensive war. The rule against cures applied to physicians, however, not to healings wrought by God. Even the Pharisees disputed whether prayer for the sick was permitted on the Sabbath.

III) COMPARISION: WITHERED THEN, AND NOW

Are there areas in your life that you see as withered, damaged, wanting to keep them out of the light?I call you to bring them out of darkness and into the light! The LORD is looking for ways to give us ‘bright spirits’ (Colossians 1:12, Isaiah 62:1). Having a bright spirit means we need to stop hiding our points of inferiority by masking them with our strong points, The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light (Matthew 6:22) If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light (Luke 11:36).

This remarkable promise is within the reach of every believer, regardless of the level of bondage or darkness they have experienced in the past. We can be so full of the light of God that we are as a bright and shining lamp. The essence of God’s being is light. It is His light that drives out darkness and energizes our spirit: This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The “whole body” in Matthew 6:22 (above) is not just the physical body but the entirety of an individual, the physical body, the spirit, the mind, the emotions, and the will. The lamp, or eye, is the doorway through which we experience the supernatural impact of God’s light. This is also called the eyes of the heart, or the eyes of the understanding.

Light or darkness enters a person according to their focus. Having a good eye requires that we direct our focus correctly, both in the overall goal of our life and in the small increments of time that comprise of our daily life. Our eye is good, or receives light, when our primary goal is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength––with our entire being. Our eye is bad, or receives darkness, when our primary goal is anything other than to love God with all of our being. Darkness doesn’t enter our heart only when our focus is on something blatantly sinful. Darkness can also enter our heart even if our focus is something good, noble, and dare I say, even biblical. These other focuses have a definite place in our life, but they must always remain secondary. If the first commandment does not remain our primary goal, we make ourselves vulnerable to all kinds of distractions and disappointments, bitterness and anxiety, and ultimately to darkness.

Here are some key steps we can take in our daily lives in order to live within God’s light. These steps also strengthen our resolve to remain in the light, ever increasing our heart’s capacity. When we pray, ask God for His light to enter our hearts, so that our points of withering may be exposed to Him: God, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle (Psalm 43:3). That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened… (Ephesians 1:17-18). What are points of withering today where we need light shed? It could be uncontrolled fear, possibly a temper that’s intimidates those around you, maybe it’s found in your speech.

CONCLUSION

Today, let’s stretch forth our transgressions and faults before Jesus. Trust Him to heal you and make you whole as you place your life in His light.

I can remember when the *snap, *crackle, and *pop I hear now when I try to get out of bed was just the cereal and not me!!

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3

Intro: Psalm 23 is quite possibly the most beloved passage in the Bible. Spurgeon called it, “the pearl of the Psalms.” Millions have memorized these words penned by the shepherd king, David. Ministers have recited them at weddings, baptisms, and funerals to offer words of comfort, hope, peace, and protection. Quote: “The world could spare many a large book better than this sunny little Psalm. It has dried many tears and supplied the mould into which many hearts have poured their peaceful faith.” (Alexander Maclaren)

Psalm 23, the most quoted passage in all the Bible. Six verses, 118 words, untold amounts of comfort. Even its position is strategic for comfort; sandwiched between Psalm 22: the Psalm of the Cross, and Psalm 24: the Psalm of the coming Kingdom. Standing between Mt. Calvary and Mt. Zion are the tranquil waters and green pastures of David the shepherd boy turned king. In the annals of this ancient homily we find ongoing comfort and encouragement. Observe with me today how…

I) GOOD SHEPHERD’S KNOW… OUR CHARACTERISTICS

Let’s talk for a minute about problems associated with charactistics. There are three problems (at a minimum) that exist with sheep, that shepherd’s deal with constantly:

A)  Cast Down sheep (technical term) Frustrated/self serving sheep

1.         It’s amazing how similar we are to sheep. This is why Scripture relates with sheep metaphorically. We tend to naturally want the comfortable position where there is little hardship, minor need for endurance, or demand for discipline. We tend to look for the path of least resistance. Cast Down Sheep: a heavy, long-fleeced sheep will lie down and as it stretches out to relax, it can lose its balance and then roll to its side. Because it has lost its center of gravity, sheep will panic, struggle and often find itself upside down, completely discombobulated. When a sheep is in this position, gases begin to build up in the body, cutting off circulation to the legs, and if not corrected the sheep will die in hours. The only one who can restore the cast down sheep is the shepherd (Phillip Keller: A Layman’s Look at the 23^rd Psalm).

2.         Sometimes we are like cast down sheep. Spiritually we find ourselves on our backs, helpless and pleading, with excessive gasses and toxins accumulating in us that threaten our existence. Then He comes along and restores us through grace, setting us right side up before we explode!

B)  Sheep with excessive wool

1.         A sheep’s wool can easily get matted with thistles, muck, and other garbage. As these materials accumulate, the sheep becomes weighed down by its own wool.

2.         As God’s sheep, we can become weighed down with self and our carnal nature. When we are weighed down with selfishness, pride, or arrogance, we are easily cast down. So what’s the answer? The answer is for the sheep to get sheared!

C)  Rotund sheep

1.         When sheep get too fat, they become unhealthy. We have to be careful, that we don’t become overweight with success, influence, or affluence, or worse yet, with an inactive faith that fills us without seeing a reciprocal export of action.

II) GOOD SHEPHERD’S MARSHAL… TOWARD WHOLENESS

“The Lord is my shepherd . . .” (Ps. 23:1)                                                                                                          

A)  A statement of ownership

l.          The image of a shepherd implies ownership and care. In biblical times, each sheep received the mark of its owner cut into its ear. This symbolism of ownership carried over with the trusted servants of a household, who were marked with an awl in the ear, which would then be plugged with an earring of value.

2.         This first statement is important because it means that you are acknowledging that you are no longer your own shepherd. Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6), and rebellion and independence are a natural part of our sin nature.

B)  A statement of oversight

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’”

(John 21:15)

1.           Christ told Peter to feed His sheep. The Lord has placed under-shepherds into place in the church to feed, protect, and direct the flock.  Satan hates the office of pastor because a pastor stands between the sheep and him. This protective position prevents Satan from having total access to the sheep to devour them.

2.           Paul told the elders (episcopos) at Ephesus to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV) Peter told the elders to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you.”  

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers: not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock… Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (1 Pet. 5:2,3 NKJV; Heb. 13:17) 

C)  A statement of relationship

l.           In Psalm 23, there are descriptions of the seven divine, covenant names of God.  One of them is Yahovah-Ra’ah (Rohi), “the Lord my Shepherd.” The word ra’ah (Rohi) means a “friend,” “companion,” or “covenant partner.”

2.          Jesus knows His disciples, your names, your personalities, your characters, and your gifts. “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  

  “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3 NKJV)

“. . . I shall not want” (v. 1).

D)  A statement of contentment

1.  Another translation says, “I don’t need a thing” (The Message). When the Lord is your owner and manager, He takes responsibility to provide well for you, as a good parent, husband, or father would do. This is where faith kicks in.

2.   Faith is rest, a trusting contentment and knowledge that “my God shall supply all (my) need” (Phil. 4:19 NKJV). Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself : “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Phil. 4:11 NLT).

3.  Jesus is Yahovah-Shalom, “the Lord our peace.” In order for sheep to “lie down in green pastures” (v. 2), sheep must be free from apprehension, tension, vermin, and lack. Note: Phillip Keller says that sheep do not lie down easily. It’s almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless 4 requirements are met:
1) Free of FEAR; They must feel safe
2) Free of FRICTION; They must feel accepted
3) Free of FLIES; They must be free of pestilence
4) Free of FAMINE; They must be filled with food

         E)  A statement of abundance

l. Insufficiency is part of the curse. David said that “they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

“O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” (Ps. 34:9-10 KJV)

1. When Israel came out of Egypt, they came out with silver and gold: He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered.

(Ps. 105:37)

III) GOOD SHEPHERD’S PROPEL… TOWARD RESTORATION   “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matt. 18:12 NKJV)

He Is Your Restorer                                                                                                                         

1)  The Shepherd meets us where we are

“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.” (Mark 5:2-5)

           2)  satan loves to detour the process of re-establishment by displaying himself, in order to foster fear, or too create attraction through temptation.

 “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit!’” (vv. 6-8)                                                                  

       A)  Jesus loves to ransack our problems

1. Fetters and chains try to bind us. Can’t happen. It will never work.

2. Attempts to tame the outer man are fruitless. Binding the outer man will never change the inner man. Psalm 23’s power is found here in the Gaderene demoniac, as forgiveness follows his deliverance. He restores my soul… How cool is that?

        B)  Jesus wants to be involved in  our well-being

“Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.” (vv. 9-13) 

D)  Jesus looks out for what’s best for us

1.  A shepherd is not distracted from the care of the sheep.

2.  There is nothing more important than restoring a sheep to its rightful place.

3. Jesus left the multitudes to go all the way to Gadara (14 miles), because there was a man there in need.

            E)  Jesus completely restores us

“Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” (vv. 14-15)

1.  This man was completely restored in body, soul, and spirit.

2.  His desire to live, follow Jesus, and serve was restored.

            F)  Jesus appoints those He restores

“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (vv. 17-20)

 1.  Restoration should always lead to productivity. He who is forgiven much, loves much. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:46). History demonstrates that Christians who did the most for the current world were specifically those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. C. S. Lewis

             2.  Jesus “fixed our wagons” so we could haul something, and that something is the “gospel load!”

Conclusion: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who propels us, marshals us, knows us. He is the good shepherd who died for us: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), He is the Great Shepherd who rose for us: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20), He is the Chief Shepherd who is coming for us: “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (I Peter 5:4). Jesus has called us to dwell in His house forever. Faithfulness bears rewards: both for now and in our future! Are you believing and embracing this truth for yourselves? Let MY Great Shepherd come and meet you today. He is here to minister to your ever need!

 And wherever he went- into villages, towns or countryside- they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed (Mark 6:56)

A.  Miracles and the movies. Going to the movies might be an appropriate metaphor to understand miracles. Before the feature presentation there are usually some previews of coming attractions. That’s how it was with Christ’s miracles during His first coming.

B.  Jesus Christ was no mere slight-of-hand magician. He was, in the truest sense, a worker of wonders. The Gospels do not have an unhealthy interest in miracles, but they give us plenty of miraculous evidence to believe in Jesus.

C. There are two qualifications about Jesus’ miraculous works that should be made:

1. Miracles do not appear on every page of Christ’s life. As much as we love to focus on them, they were exceptions to the norm.

2. Miracles are not self-authenticating in and of themselves. They must be examined and proved, just like prophecy needs to be examined and proved. They do not ensure belief: “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village (Mark 6:5-6).

3. They should help engender faith: “But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father  (John 10:38; 20:30-31),” but they can get in the way of faithful progress: “Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill (John 6:26).”

D.  The issue before us in our text is that all that came to Jesus were healed. I would like to ask why. For what reason did our Lord work miracles, signs, wonders, and works?

I) PREVIEWING IDENTITY

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this (Mark 2:10-12)!”

 A.  There is a significant relationship between the miracles and the Messiah’s identity. Jesus healed the paralytic’s sickness to prove that He could solve the man’s bigger problem of sin. Why was this important? Healing and forgiveness are inter-connected: sodzo.

B.  It’s important for us to remember that while we were out living selfishly for ourselves, Jesus died to redeem us.

C.     Miraculous occurrences openly demonstrate that the Kingdom has come as a confrontational force, light vs. darkness: “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters (Matthew 12:28-30).”

D.     There is a hard and fast relationship between the reign of God being re­established on planet earth and the Messiah’s identity. Casting out demons was a sign that the end of the age had come.

E.    Jesus’ identity is bound to His expression’s of Kindness: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them (Matthew 8:4).’”  These words followed a leper’s desperate plea for help. This resulted in a random act of the kindness, expressed as compassion.

F.   Sometimes Jesus worked miracles just because He wanted to. His heart went out to hurting folk. No doubt the leper welcomed the words, “I am willing.” His heart is touched with my grief.  Remember: Jesus is moved by your grief and pain in a very similar manner.

II) PREVIEWING CONTROVERSY (John 5:1-18).

A.    There is a tight relationship between miracles and messes. In fact, miracles can make things very messy. They can get the worker/participant of the miraculous in a lot of trouble, especially if they are done on in a non-religious way (here on Saturday). It may sound odd to our ears, but Jesus sometimes worked miracles to stir up the people, thus creating controversy and offense, so that they would be forced to deal with His deity and claims.

B. Rewarding faith, especially when a person seems to be undeserving can strike up controversy and be construed as offensive: “Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone (Mark 7:24-30).”

  C.  Friends, there is also an interesting relationship between faith and miracles. It is not an absolute relationship. Faith is not always required for a miracle for a very simple reason-God is sovereign, but faith and personal initiative seem to be important components. To the woman who was a definite outsider (a dog) the miracle proved a reward of her faith.

III) PREVIEWING PROPHESY

“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matthew 8:17).’”

A.  There seems to be a unique relationship between predictive/forth-telling prophecy and the Messiah. It was said in the Hebrew Scriptures that when He (Messiah) came the deaf would hear, the blind would see, and the lame would leap like a deer.

B.    Prophesy is designed to Pour out the glory of God: “When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it (John 11:4).’”

C.  There is a unyielding relationship between Jesus’ whole life and the glory of God. When Jesus walked/walks among us we see the glory of God. When people saw Lazarus walking around all they could say was, “Glory to God.”

Conclusion

But beyond any of these purposes, miracles are part of Christ’s saving work! As Jesus worked miracles He began to save the world. Miracles are not just proofs of deity, and therefore should not be approached apologetically only. The miracle stories of the Bible have salvation talk in them. “Faith,” “save,” and “mercy” are words that appear in the miracles. They are cameos of life in the new heaven and new earth. They are snapshots of future glory. When a miracle takes place the recipients have a brief glimpse into a future world ruled totally by God where there is no sickness, death, or oppression by the evil one.

1 TIMOTHY 1

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2010 when…

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave…

2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you…

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your mobile phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7. Every advert on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your mobile phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.

Today, I want to challenge you to confront “it.” “It” is whatever hinders your confidence that the purpose of God in your life is being perfectly, precisely fulfilled. “It” is whatever reduces your hope for the realization of everything you were meant to be. “It” is manifested in many ways, usually in things we feel and think, and in attitudes that begin to creep in around the edges of our mind. “It” rarely confronts you full-blown in the face, but rather seeps in through thoughts like, “I’m tired, I’m trapped, I’m through.” Or, “I’m too weak, I’m too sick, I’m too faithless.” “It” has a way of reducing your sense of joy, of embedding a subtle fear; “it” has a way of confronting every one of us, and “it” needs to be challenged right back.

I) IT AND THE PROPHETIC PROMISES

First, let’s hear the declaration of this passage:

• There is no one with greater promise before them than you.
• There is no one with reason for higher hopes than you.
• There is no one with larger potential or a more certain future than you.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy as he faced his “it,” and they are the Holy Spirit’s words to you today.

Paul helps Timothy confront his “it”

Timothy faces the difficulty of a new pastorate, with different challenges.  Timothy’s “it” was: I don’t know how I can follow in the footsteps of somebody like Paul. Paul had founded the church, and Timothy was assuming Paul’s pastorate. Timothy wasn’t without experience, but he certainly wasn’t Paul.

This letter from Paul must have been written in response to a letter that Timothy wrote to him (which we don’t have). Timothy’s letter probably said something like: “I don’t know if I can do this; everything’s coming apart at the seams.” Paul’s letter is both an urging for Timothy to remain in Ephesus, and an encouraging to him not to give up. Paul said, in essence, “Timothy, I want you to stay where you are. Don’t let anything that would thwart, taunt, distress or become an obstacle stop you.”

In a very real sense, Paul called Timothy to live up to his name: Timothy. While that isn’t the way Paul actually says it, thinking about this passage of Scripture in those terms addresses something that is true for all of us.

“Timothy”—A prophecy for your life

The name “Timothy” is derived from two Greek words: timao, which is the verb for “to honor, or to establish worth or value,” and theos which means “God.” Wrapped up in Timothy’s name is a tremendous prophecy about every human life.

Society places a dollar value on people when it determines wages or life insurance. We can be deceived with an inflated–or a reduced–sense of our worth, because dollar value really has little to do with real value.

We may not be functioning in the worth of God’s purpose in us, but in a worth that human beings have put upon us. The appraised value of a thing by a knowledgeable assessor is wrapped up in that idea of timao.

Once the true worth of what God has placed in each one of us begins to be perceived, it changes the way we view any of the “its” that face us. There comes a new sense of esteem. Not self-esteem, but the esteem of being honored by God. It’s not that Deity is marveled by the wonder of who we are, but that the living God, knowing what He has invested in us, will not dishonor what He has designed.

Consider the price that was paid for us

There’s one other idea that’s wrapped up in the word, timao, in the ancient Greek usage, and that was the idea of penalty. That seems contrary to esteem, worth and appraised value. But it was used in the court systems of that ancient day in regard to the exacting of a penalty in relationship to a committed crime or violation of social law. The concept is obvious: This violation is worth the degree of penalty. Consider, then, not only did God create the intrinsic worth and value in us, but look at the price He was willing to pay to redeem what had been lost in us because of our sin.

Father God, seeing what sin does to us, still never loses sight of the wealth of what He has placed in you. His desire to see every aspect of your life fulfilled. The “its” of our lives will blind our vision to the possibility that there is any hope nearby. That’s the reason the Father sent His Son. For Jesus, in dying, is not only paying the price of the penalty of sin, but He is being laid down as a payment that says to you and me, “This is what you’re worth in My plan, to which the Spirit then seals” You have to be worth so much more than “it,” or God would not have paid such a great a price.

II) DIMINISHING IT

Receive the Holy Spirit’s prophecy about you

As you face your private circumstance, see a letter written for you… This charge I commit you to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare… (v. 18)

Prophecy does not just relate to future events, or to the examination of past events in which you can see the marvel of God fulfilling what He said He would do. There is another level of prophecy in the Bible in which the Holy Spirit speaks to people about themselves now. He does it in a number of ways. One way happens when you are reading the Bible, when all of a sudden a verse seems to jumps off the pages and speak to you. Something rises in your heart, and you know that verse is for you right where you are. That’s the way the Lord makes His Word speak to you.

Another way the Lord speaks to us is that He whispers to your soul things the Bible says, but they are not direct quotes. For example, you may be facing a situation and feeling uncertain and fearful. The Lord speaks to your soul: I’ll never leave you or forsake you. I’m going to be there. I’ll be there in the courtroom with you. I’ll go with you to that job interview. I’ll be there when you have to have that face-down conversation. He whispers by the breath of the Spirit. He also speaks to us about things that have to do with the Father’s purpose in us. You sense it way down deep in your soul—it isn’t a physical thing, though you can sometimes feel it physically. There’s a sense of, “This is what I’m about.”

That sense of mission and calling, that sense of longing to realize the expression of certain things you would like to do and be are not idle fancies. They are prophecies from the Creator saying, “I made you for that.”

There are prophecies that sometimes come from a brother or sister in Lord as they are speaking with you or praying with you: “The Lord has given me a word for you.” I’m talking about the way the Lord gives wisdom by His Spirit through words of prophecy and there comes confirmation in your spirit of things you already sensed in yourself.

III) STRATEGIC CHALLENGES TO IT

What’s your strategy?

Paul says, “Timothy, I urge you, wage a good warfare, according to the prophecies that were spoken over you.” Later in this book, those prophecies are referenced again. To wage the warfare is a single verb in the Greek text: strateuo. You’ll recognize that this is where we get our word, strategy. Strategy has to do with recognizing the tactics of the enemy. It has to do with taking the high ground. It has to do with thinking clearly in the middle of the flack. It has to do with holding your ground. Every one of those things apply to the concept of strategy.

What’s your strategy when bullets are flying in every direction? As Paul is saying, by the Spirit of God, to Timothy, the word is to you: Don’t let turmoil change your mind about what God has said about you. He’s not pulling out of the investment He has made in you. You aren’t going to be sold cheap on Wall Street because it looks like things are about to crash. The Lord’s going to under gird your life and be there.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). We are not powerless against the devil’s attacks, even if it feels that way sometimes. When Jesus died on the cross, the devil’s defeat was sealed for all eternity, yet he still refuses to yield and constantly harasses God’s people. But because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we believers have divine authority and powerful weapons at our disposal to remove the enemy from our lives.

1) Our first weapon: the blood of Jesus And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11). Jesus alone is the perfect sacrificial lamb. When He is Lord of our lives, His blood is applied to our lives, much like the Passover lamb’s blood was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites.

2) Our second weapon: Holy Spirit But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house (Matthew 12:28–29). If Jesus Himself used the power of the Holy Spirit to drive out demon power, how much more do we need this powerful weapon! The Holy Spirit is stronger than any demon spirit and will show us what we are dealing with and how to overcome it. Jesus said that He would go away and send another Comforter: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit was coming as a stand-in for Him. The Holy Spirit replicates that same role in the lives of people who are open to His ministry. He moves on us to understand the concept of substitution as He works into us the Spirit of submission and supplication.

This means that we are to SURRENDER to the Lord’s purpose in your life

All the evidences of the power of God (MANIFESTATIONS) only serve their highest purpose when behind them is the force, His Person, the Holy Spirit working these traits in people.

3) Our third weapon: the name of Jesus Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” ¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. ¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded (Acts 19:13–16).

Holy Spirit energizes, prompts and directs prayer. Supplication is another word for prayer. The Greek word for “pray” occurs 86 times in the N/T, and by comparison, the word for “supplication” occurs 19. Where it occurs and how it is used helps us to understand that supplication is another dimension of prayer. What we usually speak of as prayer is actually petition—we’re asking. We’re taught to do that: ^“Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11).”

God welcomes those requests and He answers them. Supplication is directly related to what we usually hear expressed as “binding and loosing.” With supplication, we are dealing with a struggle.

In Ephesians 6, the Bible says that the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged now—to see people brought out of bondage—does not happen without a struggle: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28). The Bible makes clear that spiritual bondage is not only personal but can also be national. There are regions that are bound up where Satan pulls puppet strings through evil leaders who control and manipulate people.

Binding supplication has to do with moving into that area prior to an advance of people bringing the Gospel of Christ, or while evangelism is taking place. It is to come against those forces seeking to blind the minds of men, to dissipate their strength, to bind them up. Supplication is about spiritual warfare. Its prayer that gets down to the brass tacks of the spiritual struggle: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:18).” The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS us for that kind of praying.

How does supplication apply?

In supplication, the Holy Spirit will animate your prayers. He prompts, directs and enables. Just as in Israel long ago, that fledgling Church took eight years before it exploded into world evangelism, there is something we are on the brink of in today’s Church. All those years in Jerusalem they had the power, but now it was coming to another dimension of breakthrough. Demons know Jesus and fear the power of His name. When we become Christians, we gain the right to use His name because we are now “married” to Him and have full access to His power. In a very real sense, we are His ambassadors on earth, wielding His full authority. 

CONCLUSION: Confront the “it” in your life

I call you to confront whatever “it” may be. To recognize the infinite worth that has been placed on you in God’s purpose. To hear the Holy Spirit saying, “That investment is assured. Father’s purpose is going to work you through whatever may be the problems or “it” that you’re facing that seems to obstruct the confidence that God is going to fulfill the purpose He intended for your life.

The Lord stands before us, saying, “Rise, and be healed.” Be whole, be confident. Put your feet where His feet are. Rise to stand in His strength. Receive and affirm the prophecies that have been spoken over your life. Express your certainty of God’s intent for you, and remember, you’re worth more than “it.”

Exodus 4:10-17

Moses possessed a calling: setting free a “would be nation” of slaves. He was God’s man for the hour. There is a current need that is relevant and reflective: God needs millions to step up to the plate and be used like Moses was used. Let’s examine Moses and see what kind of a man he was and let’s see if we are like him. Moses was,

I) WEAK IN SPEECH Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (4:10) Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent. I am slow of speech (weak)… Externally, Moses did not appear to be the man. He had a tall order in front of him, convincing God that he was a bad choice. Then he would face a secondary issue, convincing the people that he was the man if he could not dissuade God! Think about it my friends, if God would not relent, and He didn’t, Moses first task would be convincing Pharaoh of God’s better idea, namely letting his free labor walk off in the sunset. You think comprehensive Immigration Reform is a bad idea, try this one on for size! Regardless of the challenges however, Moses was God’s man of the hour.  God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

God’s normal method of operation has never deviated in regard to using those who don’t always measure up to our standards and expectations. Moses wasn’t the only man God has used who had difficulty speaking. In our countries early history, we produced a man we now revere as our greatest philosopher preacher. His name: Jonathan Edwards. His weakness: he could not hold his train of thought when looking at a crowd. His solution: he wrote out his messages in manuscripts and read them. The result: his preaching brought America’s first great awakening. This is consistent with God’s heart. After all, he has chosen to call the weak (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

1:27–29 God’s choice is reiterated three times for emphasis (ἐκλέγεσθαι, eklegesthai), but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence, and the objects God has chosen are the antithesis of those persons described in 1:26, for you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. Paul may use the neuter, “the foolish things,” “the weak things,” “the insignificant things,” and “the despised things,” to refer to a class “so little valued that they do not count as individuals.” It would be similar to referring to persons as “the help,” “the hired hands,” “the gate,” or “the body count.” 

II) MEEK IN MANNERISM But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send (v.13).” The key to understanding the virtue of meekness is that it is not a quality of weakness but rather of strength. Meekness is not cowardice, timidity or lack of confidence. In classical Greek the word from which we derive meekness was used to describe tame animals, soothing medicine and a gentle breeze. The word also implies self-control. Aristotle describes it as the mean between excessive anger and excessive passivity, so that meekness can be regarded as strength under control.

Numbers 12:3 tells us that Moses was the meekest of all men, at least in the Old Testament. By definition, to be meek means you are patient, gentle, and possess a good disposition. His meekness was probably induced through failure, based on his past. Meekness is the diametric opposite of pride. Scripture tells us that one of Jesus claims was: “I am meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29).” Meekness and gentleness appear in the Bible among lists of virtues, and two corresponding motifs are associated with them: they are commanded behavior, and rewards are promised to people who display these virtues. Thus the psalmist can claim that God “will hear the desire of the meek” and “will strengthen their heart (Psalm 10:17).” The meek “shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity (Psalm 37:11 NRSV).” The day will come when “the meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord (Isaiah 29:19 NRSV).”

Gentleness is one of the evocative nine fruits of the Spirit against which there is no condemnation of the law (Ephesians 5:23), and it is one of the virtues that Paul begs the Ephesians to display as they “live a life worthy of the calling” to which they have been called (Ephesians 4:1–2). Meekness is a virtue that New Testament Christians are commanded to “put on (Colossians 3:12)” and “aim at (1 Timothy 6:11),” and Christians are repeatedly exhorted to “be” meek or gentle (Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 2:18. 1 Thessalonians 2:7; James 3:13, 17). Gentleness is a prerequisite for holding church office (1 Timothy 3:3), and “a quiet and gentle spirit” among wives is “in God’s sight … very precious (1 Peter 3:4).”

Another biblical motif we see is that meekness or gentleness is commanded as the spirit by which we as believers are called to perform certain duties. The list of such duties includes restoring wayward Christians (Galatians 6:1), correcting opponents (2 Timothy 2:25), receiving the implanted word (James 1:21) and making a defense of the gospel (1 Peter 3:15). Meekness is also something we need to possess if we are ever going to fulfill God’s purposes in our lives for our future. After all, “The meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).”

III) NEED TO SEEK So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. ¹⁷ And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs (16-17).” Moses had the appearance of being unqualified. He had long since left the fold of the take charge personalities. He was not the General Patton or Petraeus of his era. His weaknesses led to his need to seek after God to make up the difference. To the degree that Moses really was inadequate for the task, God stepped in order to compensate. Who can argue with God’s stated desire to and intention when He said: “I will be your mouth (authority and shaper of activity) (v.16).”

“Take this rod in your hand (v.17).” God uses whom He chooses, and He uses what is in our hand, the meager things we possess. An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward people, springing from a recognition that God is in control. Although weakness and meekness may look similar, they are not the same. Weakness is due to negative circumstances, such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person’s conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.

The world has often passed over those vehicles uses, deeming them unqualified or ridiculous. Jesus was rejected by the religious community. They constantly called into question His credentials. Peter and John suffered the same fate in Acts 4:13, as the religious leaders viewed them as ignorant and unlearned even though they had sat at the Master’s feet for three years learning and advancing. We have seen the same thing in America, as DL Moody had no formal Biblical training, Billy Sunday was a converted Baseball player turned evangelist. Smith Wigglesworth couldn’t even read when he entered into the ministry of service, and once he did learn how to read, he never read any other book beside the Bible.

CONCLUSION

Make sure that your belief system includes a note that says, God can use little ol’ me. Service requires stepping out and becoming a respondent to His prompting and the vast needs of humanity and the church. Are you weak and meek? Then you are optimized people to reach the hurting and the lost! As we prepare to License these men before you, make sure that you commit to help them as they express strength through weakness, meekness in their mannerisms, and as they continuously seek Him for His great blessing. Gentlemen, FB Meyer once said, I used to think, that God’s gifts were on shelves, one above another and the taller we grow, the easier we reach them. Now I find that God’s gifts ARE on shelves one beneath the other and the lower we stoop, the more we get. How low are you willing to go?

JOSHUA 1:1-6

If you ever study history collegiately, you will undoubtedly be introduced to the term ‘Turning Points.’ The phrase ‘Turning Points’ refers to transitional aspects of history that change the way the future unfolds in a major way. The birth of Christ was a turning point. Moses and Mt. Sinai was a turning point. Luther’s thesis against Catholicism also qualifies, as does the exploits of the Wright Brothers, the invention of the Steam Engine, and in more modern times, the fall of the Berlin Wall and quite possibly, the collapse of the Twin Towers. As you can see, turning points can be good things or at times they may not always be the most pleasant of activities.

Turning points can also be seen in much smaller ways on a personal level. Graduating from school or deciding to drop out could be seen as turning points. Getting married, moving to a new city in order to start over or to accept a promotion: these are turning points in the development of our personal history. Some turning points are more important than others, even though they may not look like it on the surface. Examples of these kinds could be seen in accepting Christ as your savior or submitting to Holy Spirit’s presence for greater empowerment in life and ministry. All in all, turning points are important.

That’s the case with our text as well. The story of Joshua’s ascension to leadership is a major turning point in the life of the Jewish people and in his own life as he had to be strong and courageous under fire. This is really a story about one chapter of history closing and another one opening, as Joshua approaches the changing challenges of life. We can look at the way Joshua dealt with these challenges as they give us vivid lessons for the turning points of our own lives. Observe with me how Joshua was:

I) ANOINTED (vv. 2-4) “Moses my servant is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan…” Joshua had been a servant who had experienced second hand revelation for the most part, now he was hearing the voice from the mountain top on a personal level. Moses was dead. Moses, the man who had led them out of slavery, challenged the Pharaoh, brought water from rocks, communed with God, established the Law, built the Sanctuary, etc., was dead.

The shock of the events must have been overwhelming to this man who stands as a witness to the future ministry of the Christ. Joshua is a lot like the disciples and us in his ministry. He followed the Law Giver, Moses, whereas Jesus gave a new law, the law of grace and truth. John 1:17 says that: “The Law was given by Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Joshua received his anointing to accomplish his calling the moment God spoke to him and commissioned him by way of a command to “go over this Jordan.” Joshua’s turning point or moment of transition had finally arrived. Joshua was going to fulfill the prophetic word Moses had spoken over him. He was going to lead the people into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 records the words of Moses as he tells Joshua what the heart of the Father was for him and they are powerful words for everyone who has pursued the Lord faithfully in service only to find themselves caught up in turning points of their own. Listen as I read them to you: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the lord has sworn to their fathers to give to them and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord said, ‘He is the one who goes before you. He shall be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you, do not fear nor be dismayed.’”

Joshua was about to step into the shoes that Moses had vacated and the people of Israel were about to find out how big his feet were (verses 2-4). I once heard a speaker share a story that every dad could relate with. He told us how his son would put on his favorite shoes when he was small and how this caused the father to dream of the day when he would fill his shoes. That’s what Joshua was doing here. He was stepping into Moses Birkenstocks at just the right time when they would fit perfectly and not cause him to stumble. The lessons had been learned, the growth had been accomplished and the shoes fit. Everywhere Joshua had walked was about to be given to him. This wasn’t unfamiliar territory, mind you. He had visited this land before as a spy (Numbers 13:8). He had seen that it was good land with a lot of bounty found in its borders (Numbers 13:21-25). Joshua’s testimony was: “It’s a land that flows with milk and honey.” This, my friends, is the key to successfully navigating your turning points: obstacles must be viewed as opportunities. When we are able to do this, the anointing (blessing) we need will be ours. Now that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Remember, after Joshua was anointed, he was:

II) ASSAULTED No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you (5). Let me ask you something: have you ever wanted to accomplish something really good for the lord in your life? Most of us have this dream, even if we are reluctant to talk about it. We want our life and our work to have eternal importance, don’t we? Joshua had this as a promise. His life would count. He had seen the Promised Land and Joshua knew that it was bountiful, good, and sufficient. But it was a land inhabited by giants and hordes of people.

During the first go around, Joshua saw the challenges, the obstacles and the difficulties. He believed that God would win the day, but the people didn’t have his same opinion, unfortunately. The consequences: 40 years of wandering and the passing of a generation. The word Joshua reported had been ignored initially, with devastating consequences. Now the prophetic word would have the opportunity to be re-birthed, but with the renewal there would also come an assault to the promise. This is how it often is in our walks in the realm of the supernatural. What God has in store for us gets accosted, tested and challenged. Joshua would have to enter into an occupied land and face enemies who were very, very strong. Walls of resistance would confront them all along the way, up to and including the walls of Jericho, an impossibly strong place to conquer due to the fortification and strength of the walls.

There is a parallel in this lesson that addresses what we face as believers friends. The apostle John tells us that we are in conflict with the world in 1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. The apostle Paul tells us that we are in conflict with the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 and with the devil in Ephesians 6:10-18. All of us face challenges where the promises of God are confronted and where we can give in or heed the word given to Joshua: “Go over this river Jordan…” Friends, you may be facing strong and powerful enemies today. You may even be standing at the foot of Jericho’s walls and the obstacles you face may be hurling insults and taunts your way, making you feel like giving up.

If that is you, please, please, please remember the children of Israel. When they tried to avoid their obstacles, the problems only became worse. When they faced their challenges head on, they overcame! Let the words Moses spoke to Joshua ring in your ears today: “Only be strong and of good courage…” When you do, the anointing that is challenged by the enemy will give way and you will be:

III) AFFIRMED Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them (V6). Affirmation is a good thing. When we are positively reinforced, when we see that the path we have walked down is about to yield a harvest in our life, good things happen inside of us. That’s what’s happening here. The prophetic word that Moses proclaimed over Joshua is now being reiterated by the Lord Himself to Joshua, Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). First Moses, then the Lord called Joshua to the place of courage under fire. “Be strong and of good courage… be strong and of good courage… be strong and of good courage…” Let those words resonate in your hearts my friends, for they are words of power and meaning that lead to divine affirmation. You do realize, don’t you, that Joshua had plenty of reasons to be anything but strong and courageous?

He was entering into a new vocation late in life. He was given a staggering responsibility right after his mentor and friend had died. Did I mention to you that he was no spring chicken? Joshua had grown old watching as an entire generation dies in the wilderness. These factors could have easily mixed together into a potent and toxic brew, killing his hopes and aspirations, extinguishing his dreams. Instead of succumbing to these negatives however, Joshua took consolation in the reasons he had for taking courage as his friend. Think about these things. He had the power of God at his disposal. Joshua was walking under a divine mandate: “Take the land!” Did I mention that he had taken the time to cultivate the presence of the Lord in his life? Cultivation does make way for power and confidence you know.

Are you following me on this one people? This is how you face your hordes and your giants and your walls of resistance: “Only be strong and of good courage…” for the Lord your God is with you! Or maybe you need to hear it this way: if God be for you, who can be against you? Make it a point to have God acting on your behalf and good things will come your way as you persevere. You have promises in your grasp: don’t let them go! Aggressively implement what God has placed in your hearts when the time arrives and your preparation is finished. You have been prepared to win over your conflicts just as Joshua had been prepared to win his conflicts. You have the power of God, you have the presence of God and you have the promises of God at your disposal. As Joshua was and as Joshua did, so can we be and so can we do. Only be strong and of good courage.

CONCLUSION

Jesus has good things for us as His people as we continue to place our trust and confidence in Him. Salvation is the starting point, but there is so much more for us in this great faith walk we have embarked on together. Greater and greater victories will be yours as you walk in His anointing, overcome all assaults on your faith and walk in God’s affirmation. Be strong and of good courage my friends, and see where God leads you.

REVELATION 4:1-3; 5:1-7; 6:1-3

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” ²Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. ⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”  ⁶And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. ³When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”

This passage is a summons as Scripture calls you and me to look at Jesus calling His people to worship as it shows us worships place in warfare:

• Come up here. Step through the open door to deal with your dilemma.
• Look at the throne. The Creator is in position; your circumstances are not beyond His ability to find a remedy.
• There are abundant promises. There are hundreds of them for you in the Word.
• Jesus paid it all and secured the right to see that the will of God for this planet—broken through man’s disobedience—is executed. Jesus says, have I got a place for you, but for you to get there, you must begin to worship Me as you enter in.

I) ENTER THE TEACHING MOMENT

The Book of Revelation is a book of prophesy, but it is also a practical book of practical value. It speaks of worship, of wisdom, of things that work in life, not just the latest in end time speculation. These three chapters have a progressive crescendo that begins around the throne of the Father, the Creator, and move to the first responses that occur as the Lamb appears before the throne, and then continues to expand. Praise, worship, and adoration are important, as they cause Jesus to break the seal, advancing Heavens conquering program. In the Revelation you find this pattern four times, worship preceding the next stage of divine release of the judgment that rids the works of darkness and their control, releasing the purposes of God. It is the worshipping church that becomes the warring church, not by the might of its arm, but by the brokenness of its spirit in the presence of God. Not by the boldness of some self-assertiveness or stylized Christianity, but by simplicity and openness to Holy Spirit melting our hearts. As we magnify Jesus, He does all kinds of things, from re-shaping our character to beginning to fashion the life and purpose of God in them.

The Spirit’s crescendo of worship is seen in ever-widening, concentric circles, beginning with the saints in the presence of God, moving to the angelic host, who pick up the theme that has been inaugurated although they are not able to sing personally of the redemption through the Blood. They declare the worthiness of the Lamb who has been slain, and the magnificence of His wisdom, honor, strength, glory and blessing. Then it continues to expand until we see the crescendo of praise by the whole of creation—those that are in the earth, on the earth, under the earth. John steps in the spirit into the timeless, eternal realm. The focus of this message is to see how the context of this praise and worship setting relates to three things:

1) John’s circumstance. John says, “There was a voice like a trumpet (v. 1).” He’s referencing a voice he has already heard (Rev. 1), the voice of the Savior. John is hearing Jesus saying these words. In Rev. 4:1 John is summoned by the presence of Jesus into the presence of the Father, into the presence of Heaven, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” This stepping into the eternal realm constitutes a transcendent moment.

2) The church’s life. It’s not just John’s experience. It was significant “to the churches,” and not only those that John oversaw. While the letters went to the seven churches, the whole of this is “to the churches.” That means it’s for you and me right here, right now. It is the key to the revived church.

3) An eternal moment. John enters that eternal moment: “I was in the Spirit.”

II) ENTER THE TRANSCENDENT MOMENT

John is being summoned to go beyond the limits of life. For us to come in the spirit of worship and to seek the face of the Lord is to respond to the same invitation: “I heard a voice like a trumpet.” Why like a trumpet? Why not just a still, small voice? Why is Jesus calling John with a shocking shout? Think about John’s situation. There were two things true of John right then: he was in a state of personal confinement by reason of his incarceration on Patmos, and he had just had word from Jesus Himself that five of the seven churches under his oversight were in pretty sorry condition. Everything wasn’t bad, but there was enough, which prompted the Savior to say, “I have a few things against you. Let’s get this corrected.” There is a picture here of all of us.

Jesus is calling His people to a transcendent moment. The way you find it is in the worship of the Living God. The beginning point of our entering in is seen in our recognition that He sees where you are in life, and still calls, “Come up here!” The call is for us to draw near to the Living God so that something good may transpire in us. The purpose is to come and encounter Him in ways that engender the deepest workings of His Spirit in our lives and prepare us for the next stage of what He wants to do through us.

When the voice calls, a door is opened to transcend our limitations. John is going to have a revelation of Jesus’ ultimate triumph beyond everything else. There will always be warfare, struggle and tribulation until it’s finally all over. The world will always oppose you and seek to suffocate you. Satan will confront you with the ferocity that only hell can muster, but beyond it, Jesus is Lord, and He dwells in you. He will take you to ultimate triumph. That’s the message of the Book of Revelation. After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” ² And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

Three things happen when that door opens:

1) “I saw a throne.” As John steps through, he says, I saw a throne. He is speaking about the Most High God. He is saying, I was brought to a reminder that everything I deal with—as problematic as it may be, it is trivial by comparison with the grandeur and the glory of that throne. That does not mean God regards my circumstance as trivial in His heart. He knows I am dust, He knows those things are significant to me, but He is greater. He is grander. He is above it.

2) He saw those worshipping around the throne. And they’re worshipping the One who is the Creator. This is not only the One who rules above all, this is the One who is able to take nothing and bring about anything that’s needed. In other words, you are never at your wit’s end. The worst situation we can be in is the place when we say, “There’s not anything I can do.” Then, remember, God’s your Father; call home. Better yet, come home. Step through the door.

3) There’s a reason for that rainbow around the throne. The rainbow isn’t just pretty; it’s the reminder of a promise. To Noah, the Lord said, That’s never going to happen again. Do you live with the terror that the bad things that have happened to you in the past are going to happen again? There are some who have been battered and scarred by circumstance, and the Lord says, Step in, look at the throne, see the Creator who’s able, and the rainbow of promise for you.

III) ENTER THE TIMELESS MOMENT

I am persuaded that John enters a timeless moment and is given a picture of the span from creation to consummation. He is seeing the worshipping hosts at creation around the throne of the Father, and then he sees the sealed scroll. The sealed scroll can be called “the title deed to planet Earth.” It contains God’s original will (last will and testament) for man when He created humankind and put them on the planet. What will happen is that the Lamb will come and the scroll will be unsealed. As it is unsealed, there comes the execution of the will of God by His Son, the One who died to make it possible and rose again to execute it. Jesus Himself, the heavenly Advocate, comes to execute the Father’s will.

The judgments of the Book of Revelation are often seen as though they were a vendetta by the Almighty. It’s nothing like that at all. For God is not willing that any should perish. The infinite patience, mercy and love of the Father grieves over a broken creation. When finally there comes any show of God’s judgment, it is not for the purpose of exercising a vendetta; it is for the purpose of driving evil out of the earth in order that there might come the fulfillment of what was His original will was for humankind and for this planet. The Book of Revelation is that unfolding.

The church era is meant to be a time of cooperation as Christ executes His will through His people. As a people who learn to walk with Him—first, as John did, learning to transcend their own circumstances by finding a place in His presence—they take the next step to see a place of partnership with the One leading His church from victory to victory until the ultimate, consummate triumph. Chapter 6 is a continuum—The whole scene of John stepping through the door, finding his own circumstances confronted by the presence of the Creator and the glory of His throne of promise; then seeing Him take the scroll, and heaven breaking loose in praise; and finally when it was all over, the final praise meeting sweeping the whole earth, and there was a crescendo of praise. The King broke the seal, and the first thing that He did—and I believe it’s the first thing Jesus has done—He poured out His Spirit upon His church and launched a pathway of following not the Lordship of the One who will reign as King of Kings in time, but the One who presently is leading His people conquering and yet to conquer.

John says he doesn’t see a mighty warrior; he sees a Lamb bearing the marks of slaughter. I am persuaded that what John is actually witnessing—although he is writing at a point that is at least fifty years (by earth’s measure) after the fact—is a spectrum of all redemptive history reaching from creation of this planet as we know it to the consummation of things on this planet as it shall come about. He is witnessing in the presence of the Father, that moment when the Son of God, the Lamb, having been resurrected from the dead, spent those days with the disciples, and told them, “Now go into the world and preach the gospel. I will be back,” and He ascends. John is seeing Jesus just as He steps into the presence of the Father, having paid the price of salvation for humankind, having justified His right to come against the powers of hell with every force of evil, having made possible the capacity to cleanse human vessels of their filth and sin and fill them with the Holy Spirit, so that He can commission a people.

The pivot point is this: The life of the church of Jesus Christ will begin to impact our world multiplied times more than it presently does not only when it is awakened to the joys, the blessing and the vibrancy of living worship, as has been taking place in the church for the past 50-60 years, but what I believe the Holy Spirit is seeking to do is to bring the church to a place to see that the purpose of worship is to prepare the church for warfare. It is the power of the animated church in the presence of the King that is able then to follow in the pathway of the King and to move in the battle. This is movement in prayer, movement in witness, movement in confrontation. Jesus is the conquering King! The breaking of the first seal is the Savior’s way of saying, This is the way it’s launched. (6:1-2). There are two basic interpretations of this verse: Historically, the interpretation in the life of the church has been that the one on the white horse was Christ Himself. It is only of recent years—and frankly, I believe, in order to fit things into a “chart” that suggested this was anti-Christ. But there’s no reason whatsoever to think that. Nor has it been historically the interpretative position of the church, that is a more recent invention, and I will take exception to it but my reason is not just simply on the basis of opinion. It’s because of what is being shown us here.

What is being shown us here is the church launching its foray into an age-long battle until Jesus returns, following in the leadership of their King. In both this passage and Rev. 19, it is the same King on the white horse, but here He wears a crown, and in Rev. 19, He is wearing many crowns. Here also He has a bow in His hand and he goes conquering to conquer (6:2), contrasted with a sword and ruling as King of King and Lord of Lords (19:16).

Notice that He has a bow and not a sword. He rules with a sword later. But now, why the bow? I’m persuaded that the reason for that is given to us in the worship literature of the O/T: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. ⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. ⁵Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate (Psalm. 127:3-5). Jesus has sired a people. He is leading many sons and daughters to glory, In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10). He leads His offspring—born again through His blood, by the power of the Spirit that has been sent forth to earth. As the Bible says a father has a quiver full of arrows, the Son of God has people like you and me. There are some people who think He’s missed the target but He hasn’t. Where He has you is where He wants you, if not, He will reload you into the bow and let it fly. And He has taken His sons and daughters, and has sent His people into all the earth. It is our place to love and serve wherever our lives land as He shoots us forth. Zechariah 9:14 says, “Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet…” We are His arrows.

 Conclusion We are the church at worship and in warfare. Warfare is simply following the King where He goes. The essence is to first say: Jesus I come with gratitude. Thank you for helping me to step through the door that is open me into the presence of the Father to deal with whatever things I may be confronted with right now. And then: Place me in your bow and let me fly!

Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:1

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth… When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place… Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.

Today’s topic is a simple one: prayer; specifically, the prayer of intercession. It is my hope to give you a better understanding of what it means to intercede and to challenge you to employ this tool in our arsenal as a practical means of becoming more like Jesus in your lives. To intercede can mean to step in front of, or to take the place of someone else in a conversation. As a term that is taken from Scripture, it is important and at times mystifying. It is important because of the ramifications of its practice, mystifying because of the obscure nature of the word itself. Intercession is one of those rare words that is used in the New Testament that receives its meaning as a theological term that is somewhat different from its cultural root, in this way it is similar to terms like apostle and witness.

The word intercession only appears 5 times in the New Testament, with these primary meanings, to settle upon a person (like dew falling in the morning); to hit upon a person/thing (punching), to stumble upon something, or to encounter by chance. It also meant to meet with someone (usually a royal audience) for consultation/conversation, primarily to talk about an individual. Examples of intercession occur in Genesis 18, where Abraham speaks to God on behalf of Sodom. His plea is compassionate; it is concerned with the well-being of others rather than with his own needs. Moses was also effective in petitioning God on behalf of the Hebrew people (Exodus 15:25). Even the pharaoh asked Moses to intercede for him (Exodus 8:28). But just as the righteous often succeed in reconciling Creator and creation, the Bible also reminds us that the ongoing sinfulness of a people can hinder the effects of intercession (1 Samuel 2:25; Jeremiah 7:16). Christ is, of course, the greatest intercessor. He prayed on behalf of Peter (Luke 22:32) and His disciples (John 17). Then in the most selfless intercession of all, He petitioned God on behalf of those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). His work on the Cross is His ultimate expression of intercession (Isaiah 53:12).

Christ’s intercessory work did not cease when He returned to heaven. He still intercedes for His church: therefore He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25), and the Holy Spirit pleads on behalf of the individual Christian Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). The intercessory ministry of Christ is spoken of explicitly in only two texts (Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25). In each case the term used is entynchanō (cf. hyperentynchanō and enteuxis), the root of which refers to an approach, an entreaty, often a plea on behalf of another.

Finally, because of their unique relationship to God through Christ, Christians are urged to intercede for all people (1Timothy 2:1). The latter text shows intercessory prayer is a primary ministry of the church. Let’s look at three areas of intercession:

I) BARRIER ESTABLISHMENT

In the Old Testament, the word intercession has the meaning of establishing new barriers, boarders or the stretching of the boundaries that the tribes of the people of faith were to live within. The idea is like the stretching of the stakes of a tent, enlarging a habitation, setting the barriers we are to dwell within (Numbers, tribal boundaries); this is like Acts 17:26 “From one man He created all the nations of the earth. He decided beforehand which should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries,” and Ephesians 1:11a “Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God…” The act of intercession includes enlarging. In other words, because our sins were laid on (interceded as in settling upon) Jesus (Isaiah 53:6), we have an intercessor in heaven who has released to us an enlarged boundary, a new way of life in His purposes.

The cross has made a way for our inheritance: what this means is nothing is accidental, and that intercession is a key practice in extending the kingdom into the lives of those we are to be concerned about. Let me expound upon this concept for clarities sake by taking you to a biblical word for prayer, paga’. Paga’ refers to the extent to which a tribal boundary is reached. Sometimes the verb refers to “falling upon” someone in battle, that is, to meet up with the enemy with hostile intent (1 Kings 2:29). Paga’ is also translated “make intercession,” the idea being that a supplicant catches up with a superior, and reaches him with an urgent request. Thus, intercession involves reaching God, meeting God, and entreating Him for His favor.

I believe Paul understood the power of spiritual extension, of entering into the intercessory death of Christ. I think Paul understood the nature of prayer: looking out for the interests of others, bearing one another’s burdens, letting our hearts become filled with care and concern for those around us, allowing our hearts to be broken with that which breaks the heart of God: becoming compassionate. In Colossians 1:24, Paul raises a troubling image about his predicament at the time: “I am glad I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ’s sufferings for his body, the church,” Now couple this passage with Philippians 3:10, the concluding remarks of Paul’s testimony about the value of his religious life before encountering the Christ: “As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead, I can learn what it means to suffer with Him, sharing in His death.” These passages mean one of two things: either Paul had a messianic complex, thinking he was adding to the crosses power for salvation, or he understood the concept of intercession, extending oneself into the lives of others needs by courting an audience with the King. I chose the latter interpretation.

This is applicable to the way we conduct our lives in grace impacting relationships, entering into people’s hurts, as opposed to criticizing them. By praying the prayer of intercession and extending ourselves relationally into people’s lives, we enact the cross life. This speaks of the privilege of walking spiritually into the lives of others and breaking down walls and pushing back boundaries that sin and the enemy of our souls may have established which leads me to my second point:

II) DIVINE EXECUTION

In order to make a point, I have to once again turn to a troubling passage in Scripture that hides a powerful principle in its bosom: 1Samuel 22:18. This is the story of a bloody account that relates to Saul’s insane jealousy of David, and its results. Saul ordered his men to slay a group of priests who had helped David. Saul’s men refused to slaughter the priests; but a man named Doeg didn’t share their reluctance. When Saul tells Doeg to “do it,” Scripture records his response: “Doeg turned on them and killed them.”

The term turned on them is the same word for intercession: he fell on them like dew/rain, as the king commanded him to do. The story is disgusting, the principle isn’t. Intercession teems with the force of divine directive: doing the bidding of the King. This is a carnal example that resulted in human casualties and carnage due to corrupted motivations. When the principle is utilized correctly, it focuses us upon and into the spiritual world and the nature of warfare against those who oppose our Kings kingdom. This fits into the biblical definition of intercession where we are exhorted to punch forcefully.

Let me challenge your thinking today friends, take the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), and utilize it properly as a tool for deliverance, personally and for others. Take hold of the Word of God and bring it against the places where Hell has set up its walls of oppression and bound people under its rule-the walls need to come down!

Let me present you with another OT concept about intercession, it’s the idea of the “avenger of blood.” This had to do with the “eye for an eye” principle. When justice had to be implemented, the avenger was entitled to “fall upon” (intercede) or execute justice. That is an aspect of law that doesn’t translate easily into our culture; it was specific to the Hebrews, but the spiritual dynamic works incredibly well for us.

Our praise and prayer life is connected to the concept of justice. Psalm 149:3-6 says: “Praise His name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praises of YHWH be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands.” This is a powerful, powerful passage, packed with promise and truth for us personally. God is on our side. He exalts the humble, blessing them with salvation-we are to sing in bed and dance in His presence, it is an honor that brings God delight. How many of you want to be found faithful in bringing God delight? We are to have a song of rejoicing on our lips, and a sword in our hands-A SWORD IN OUR HANDS! (Read 149:7-9 together) To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;  ⁸ to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;  ⁹ to execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

When God ordains an assault on the powers of darkness, people must go with the high praises of God in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands. We are to bind up the enemies nobles (those forces who have wrapped up the work of God and the people of God), in other words: When we see brethren in need, we are to take the sword of the Spirit and move into action on their behalf, interceding against those who would do them harm: “This is the glory of His faithful ones.” So how do we do this in practical ways? We do this by learning the art of intercession, as

III) UNINTENDED CONVERSATIONALISTS

In our original definition of the word intercessor, we saw that it can mean: to stumble upon something, or to encounter by chance. entunchano (en-toong-khan-oh); Strong’s #1793: To fall in with, meet with in order to converse. From this description of a casual encounter, the word progresses to the idea of pleading with a person on behalf of another, although at times the petition may be against another (Acts 25:24; Romans 11:2).

In the work of the kingdom, we have a tremendous advantage, in that Jesus has accomplished the work of the Kingdom (salvation) for us. Everything that we do that relates to the kingdom: He has made provision for us-we have little if anything to do with our ultimate victory.

We are involved in His purposes, but the power belongs to Him, not us. This leads us to believe that as good children, we are to become like Jesus in all things, even prayer, following his prompting. Jesus said that He does nothing of his own accord/volition: He only did what He saw His father doing. This means that if we are to be effective in the Kingdom of God, we need to be people who follow the Lord’s prompting, even in prayer. Have you ever had a chance encounter with an individual in thought? You know, when someone pops into your mind?

Take this as divine direction and intercede. Pray for them in English and in the language of the Spirit. We are usually not granted the mysteries as to why the person needs prayer, but the Spirit knows, as He is the one who moved upon you to think about the individual. This makes us like lightning bolts from heaven (Job 36:32) sent to strike their mark, or arrows shot at an intended target-the opposite of sin (missing the target).

When we pray Spirit directed prayer, we are enabled by the Lord to reach His mark and strike His appointed place. By our prayers (intercession), God strikes the mark. In intercession, particularly with Spirit led and inspired language, we are capable of being right on target in prayer. What had been missed, is now re-instated; what was lost, is recovered. Use the picture of the Lord covering our unsteady hands with a bow or with a sword-together we hit the target.

CONCLUSION

Intercession pushes out the borders and executes the will of the king. It carries with it the agony of others burdens and cares, rather than bearing accusations & criticism. It directs our heart attitudes toward compassion and directs us to those who are in need of prayer. This is the supernatural power of divine direction-lightning bolts from heaven. The early church was powerful because believers learned how to live together and learned how to pray for one another. Do you want to walk in that same power?

1 Kings 17:7-16

Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ⁸Then the word of the LORD came to him: ⁹“Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” ¹⁰So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”  ¹²“As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”  ¹³Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’”  ¹⁵She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

This story starts out with a depressing note. You have a widow in dire straits, a mother and a boy who re about to die, with all of it being predicated by a famine. It is apparent that living conditions were pretty bad for widows in Israel. Throw in a famine, and bad becomes worst case scenario rapidly. This is how it is in life at times. We can face extremely harsh and difficult circumstances that are brought our way without our personal consent or approval. When events like this happen to us, it can seem like God is very distant, possibly in a galaxy far, far away and long ago. Our story really addresses the harsher aspects of life. This is why it makes an unusual text for Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is supposed to be a joyous occasion, not a digression into the harsher realities of life. After all, who wants to examine how external things can affect us negatively on a day set aside to honor mom? Yet when you really think about, what better time to stop and look at how our mom’s help us to deal with life in all of its finest moments?

I) A WIDOWS LACK (8-12)

As with so many of the characters in Scripture, we know very little about the people that we read about apart from the events that make up the biblical story. Sometimes this lack of details can be frustrating, as I like to see characters ‘fleshed out’ in order to see the complexities of these circumstances become more relevant to me, and because I am nosey. I mean, how many of us would love to peek inside Joseph and Mary’s little hostel and see what life was like for little Jesus?

The lack of details leaves us with a filtration system that distills us the most important elements, which almost always focuses on the crossroad encounter with God and/or His people, and the resulting faith explosion. Faith in and of itself is difficult. This is due in part to faith’s simplicity. We try and dissect it, in order to understand its principles and create a complex equation that is replicable in each and every application, thereby creating a scientific model that is quantifiable. The problem is faith isn’t rocket science. It more often than not boils down to the matter of choice. Faith usually means choosing that which is impossible or unreasonable as the correct answer. The funny thing is, it is in this place called faith where we find God’s blessing in the greatest measure, as we are stretched to the place of increase.

When God is going to do a miracle, He normally wants us to offer what we have. God can create something out of nothing, but He first wants us to see what He has given us, and He wants us to offer it to Him. It might be something tangible, like the flour and oil or the jar of oil. Or it might be even more personal like, you. No matter how bad things may seem, there’s always something we can offer to God, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38).” Be willing to trust God and do whatever he asks. Can you imagine going to a widow, a single parent raising her infant son alone, and asking her for the last bit of food in the house, knowing that both she and her child were themselves hungry, and starving to death? Can you imagine the struggles that this woman went through? The question is, “Was she going to obey?” God told Elijah in verse 1, “I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” Personally, I’ve reread that passage several times, and it sure doesn’t sound like she was expecting him. Just how God spoke to her, it doesn’t say, but she did obey him. It’s not a matter of understanding; it’s a matter of obedience. The Lord doesn’t always let us in on what He’s doing. In his book, “I Was Once Blind But Now I Squint,” Kent Crockett wrote, “Trust fills the gap when we don’t understand. We must give the Father the benefit of the doubt.”

Think about this as well. Elijah had to have tested her faith. When he showed up at her doorstep, he acted like the typical man, tired and hungry, with the usual response, “what’s for dinner?” And he was a complete stranger! That’s probably when the deepest depression set in. After all, she had enough of that from her former husband. She wanted to die, he wanted food and drink. Widows were usually poor people; normally they ran out of food first in a famine. This famine had been created by the drought. Therefore going to a widow for food was a strange directive. God was again using an unusual source to feed His prophet. Her obedient response demonstrated her faith in the word of the Lord. The Lord honored her faith by fulfilling His promise miraculously. This miracle of God’s continually supplying flour and olive oil was another polemic (protest) against Baal, just as was the drought. Baal-worshipers believed he was a fertility god, giving rain to make crops grow. But he could not overcome the drought to make wheat and olive trees grow. Only the true God could provide flour and oil in a drought!

II) A WIDOWS FEAR (13)

If there is one thing we all hold in common, it is fear. It’s why we struggle with doing God’s will, the revealed stuff like evangelism and praying for the sick. We either ignore mandates or we watch others try to do it, or we ask others to pray for us for an impartation, hoping it never comes. Fear is the number one evidence of The Fall, so he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself (Genesis 3:10).” Fear manifests in so many ways, our family concerns, our job concerns, and our money management.

When it comes to the widows fear, Elijah’s advice is amazing in its complexity, which illustrates just how hard it is to enact faith. Just go and do what needs to be done in the natural. Make the cake, which was the routine thing to do. You see friends, the key to the faith walk that propels us into being supernaturally empowered starts in the natural. It is usually as simple as stepping out and acting. This lets God take over and do the rest as you begin in the natural, offering your service and actions. Peter had to get out of the boat, or he would have been no different than the other eleven.

This is how prayer works. Faith has to be attached to it, or it is of no avail. It would always be best to accept and do the things that we know we don’t have to pray about. These are the things that we know make up His will. That doesn’t mean that we don’t welcome Him into the situation. It does mean that it should shape our conversation, declarations and faith focus. When we naturally extend ourselves, it allows Jesus to supernaturally extend Himself. This is putting the Matthew 6:33 principle to work in our lives, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. It is always the Kingdom first, then the provision follows in all of its various manifestations. Fear can only be overcome by giving God priority through faith.

By her obedience in feeding the prophet, the woman exchanged the uncertain for the certain, famine for plenty, death for life. It is significant that the prophet did not bring a massive food supply, as the little that the widow had proved to be more than enough. God stretched supplies to meet daily needs. It is the same for us today. Jesus calls us to depend on Him for “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). It’s good to know that we really can! Her obedient response demonstrated her faith in the Word of the Lord. The Lord honored her faith by fulfilling His promise miraculously. This miracle of God’s continually supplying flour and olive oil was another protest against Baal, just like the drought. Baal-worshipers believed he was a fertility god, giving rain to make crops grow. But he could not overcome the drought to make wheat and olive trees grow. Only the true God could provide flour and oil in a drought!

III) A WIDOWS PROVISION (14-16)

My, my, my… look at the widow’s outcome. I would have to say that things turned out better for her than she ever expected, as God more than abundantly supplied all of her needs for her and her son. This is why it is dangerous to develop a poverty mindset, my friends. Poverty thinking develops around the concept that we cannot give of our money, time or efforts based on the fear that God won’t come through for us in the end. It is restrictive concerning faith. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

That reminds me of the farmer that decided to buy a chain saw. A logging foreman sold him one that he guaranteed would cut down 15 trees in a single day. A week later, a very unhappy farmer came back to report that the power saw must be faulty – it averaged only 3 trees a day. The foreman grabbed the saw, pulled the cord, and immediately the saw growled loudly with power. “Hey” demanded the startled farmer, “what’s that noise?” I wonder if we’re kind of like that farmer and we just don’t get it. Sometimes we just don’t see how faith works. When God asks us to act with faith, we usually change the rules to suit our own understanding. Then we can’t understand it when there’s no miracle. All we can say is, “Hey what’s that noise?” We often can’t see God’s miracles because all we trust is our own understanding rather than the goodness and power of God.

CONCLUSION Two important principles for our giving are illustrated by this passage of Scripture. First, we must give something out of our need. That is the kind of giving that involves our faith. This woman had a need for herself and her family, but she gave to sustain the ministry and life of God’s prophet, Elijah. Then God multiplied her giving back to her. Second, this woman gave first. Her giving activated the miracle supply of God flowing back into her life. For perhaps as long as three years God multiplied her seed sown. Do what the widow did, put God first and watch Him provide for you. Learn the lesson of this prophetic principle, as you enact the walk of faith and see god prove Himself to be faithful all the time. The widow of Zarapheth learned that it is impossible to out give God and that God blesses through our sacrifices. This episode teaches us to invite God to work by His unlimited power within our limited circumstances and resources. Are fears robbing you of the joy of living? Trade your fear for faith. You Must Give God an Opportunity.

1 Kings 19:18

Elijah was a man who wielded power, yet he was like us. He was prone to depression and sought the approval of those who were in authority (1 Kings 19). He was capable of challenging a crowd (how long will you waver between two opinions?), and he was capable of running away from his problems following his peak life experience. To say that he was complex is an understatement. In the middle of his despair, the LORD tells him about a group of people who could have been supportive had not been so exclusionary. It’s funny how we can feel so alone in things, and be surrounded by people who could have helped. There isn’t a lot of information in Scripture about this group of 7,000. Our only references are here and Romans 11:4. This turned out to be a major revelation for Elijah, as he thought he was alone without any aid or assistance. This group must have been hidden and lived in obscurity. As God broke the silence following the displays of nature, we see the effect of silence.

I) EFFECT OF SILENCE: ON MINISTRY

Elijah was a man who was equally discouraged, defeated and downcast at this juncture in his life, which seems to be a strange place for him. Historically, Elijah has been deemed the Prophet of Power. Look at his resume. When he prayed earnestly after delivering a word, it quit raining for years. When he prayed for the drought to end, a cloud burst followed. He asked for fire, and it rained fire from heaven. He raised the dead, was fed by birds, saw miraculous increases of provision, interacted with angels, and heard the voice of God clearly.

This was a man who bravely confronted Ahab and Jezebel, calling them to the carpet over their misdeeds. Elijah also expressed great faith when he took up residence alongside the babbling brook. His patience and faith shine through his patient persistence in waiting for birds to airmail his meals to him. What can we say about his stand against 400+ false prophets and priests, all at once? But prophets and preachers are still people. All of us are subject to times of trial and questioning the viability of what we are doing. When Ahab didn’t suppress Jezebel, Elijah was filled with fear.

When this happened to Elijah, he withdrew to a cave on Mt. Horeb. The Cave became a place of fear here, just as it had before, 1Kings18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. These One hundred prophets were hiding in a cave for fear of Jezebel. Fear is the opposite of faith (faith mobilizes, fear paralyzes). Fear can be defined as believing more in what the devil says than what God has said. He was afraid that he was alone. But we are never really alone. And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”¹⁰ So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life (1 Kings 19:9-10). Notice Elijah’s Language (I have been). Not I am, not I will be (but I have been). In other words Elijah is saying: I’m done, I’m through, I’m finished, I came here to die.

The cave is the place where dreams die, it is the place where visions expire, it is the place where passion and enthusiasm and desire surrender to apathy and indifference and hopelessness. It’s the place where fear reigns and doubt robs the heart of any expectation of better things. Yes even the great Prophet found himself in a cave (A Tomb). But tell your neighbor: It ain’t over till God says it’s over. Just when Elijah thought all was hopeless, God reminded him to correct his attitude, change his perspective, and cancel his holiday. In every time and place God has placed faithful witnesses, people who are unbowed, unblinking and unbending, people such as Elisha. One of the greatest lessons of silence is seen in, when you fear or fail, don’t be harder on yourself than God is.

II) EFFECT OF SILENCE: ON EVIL

Have you ever felt like you’re all alone? You’re the only one trying to do what is right, you’re the only one who is standing for righteousness. You’re the only one on your job. You’re the only one in your family. You’re the only one on your street, In your town. Tell Your neighbor (I’ve got good news) It only takes one. It only took One David to get rid of Goliath. It only took one Moses to Lead 3 million people out of bondage. It only took one Ezekiel to turn a dry bone yard into a mighty army. I just want to tell you: You can make the difference on your job, in your family, in your city, in your church, In your world. Tell your neighbor: I can change it. The devil goes to great lengths to try to convince us that one person could never make a difference, but the devil is a liar. No matter how dark it gets one light changes everything. Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world. The only way that darkness can win is for the light to refuse to shine. Look your neighbor in the eye and tell them: turn the light on.

Baal was the “rain god,” but he could neither send fire nor bring rain! As the king started on his way, Elijah began to pray for rain, just as three and a half years before he had prayed for drought (James 5:17). He knew how to watch and pray (Col. 4:2), and he knew how to persist in prayer until God sent the answer. Before long, the sky was black with clouds, the wind began to blow, and the rains came. God gave Elijah superhuman strength to run ahead of the king as his chariot raced toward Jezreel. But when Jezebel hears of the events on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18) she was not impressed. Instead, she threatens Elijah’s life. Suddenly, Elijah is terrified, and flees (19:1–5a). Often our greatest trials follow our greatest blessings. God’s response to His troubled prophet encourages all who suffer depression or despair. God gives Elijah strength to flee (vv. 5b–8), speaks gently (vv. 9–13), listens to Elijah’s doubts and fears (v. 14), gives Elijah new purpose (vv. 15–17), encourages him (v. 18), and He ends the silence of solitude by giving him a companion who became his friend as well as student (vv. 19–21).

God reminded Elijah that His power was not present only in powerful elements such as wind, earthquake and fire, but in a “still, small voice” or the “gentle whisper” of the NIV. Elijah was reminded to be patient because God is present in the mighty as well as the meek, in majestic and modest elements, in the meaningful and mild, in the important and the insignificant, in the upside and downside of life, in the high and the ho-hum moments. Power does not always punish, pulverize or provoke. The reason Elijah ran was he ran out of patience with everything, including God. Was he wrong? Yes, this is why God said, “why are you here?” This story is a reminder that God is aware of our frailty.

III) EFFECT OF SILENCE: ON BELIEVERS

To solve a crisis, one has to examine its cause or locate its source. So what actually was Elijah’s problem? Not only did he believe he had no strength, he did not think God could save him. He stopped believing God was in charge, so “spending a night” (v 9) in a cave was his solution to the crisis. “Spent the night” has been translated by NIV and KJV in other places as “lodge” 34 times, and as “murmur” 17 times in the negative (Israel’s murmur in the wilderness), and “tarry” nine times. Strong’s even suggested it implies “to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense) to be obstinate (especially in words, to complain).” The fact is the text does not mention how long he planned on staying definitely not for a “night,” which is not in the Hebrew text. He just wanted to quit, which would have been devastating to the believers of his day, and to the nation God chose to provide a redeemer through. So let’s ask why.

It is often suggested that Elijah was suffering from depression. Depression can have many different causes (from suppressed anger to vitamin deficiency) and we should not assume that when we are depressed our problem is the same as Elijah’s, or his the same as ours. In his case, depression and discouragement seem to have stemmed from his skewed perspective. He both underrated his own achievement and undervalued the contribution of others. The answer, in part at least, was for him to be given a glimpse of things from God’s point of view. We need such glimpses too, if we are not to become discouraged in the Christian life.

Martin Luther once spent three days in a black depression over something that had gone wrong. On the third day his wife came downstairs dressed in mourning clothes. “Who’s dead?” he asked her. “God,” she replied. Luther rebuked her, saying, “What do you mean, God is dead? God cannot die.” “Well,” she replied, “the way you’ve been acting I was sure He had!” Let me know turn to the way God works in us and through us. Our hidden life with Him is what prepares us for our public life. Unless we are willing to go through disciplines like the dry brook, the depleted barrel, and the dead boy, we will never have the victories of Mt. Carmel, and Mt. Horeb. What we do with God in private is far more important than what we do for God in public. Elijah had a reserve, a deep deposit in his life God could draw from based on their relationship. When the chips were down, even when Elijah thought he was empty, God was there strengthening him. He has promised that, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).

The instructions ended with the information that God had no less than 7,000 loyal followers in Israel (18)! The lesson of the silence was hammered home by this closing rebuke. In his depression, Elijah had dismissed everyone’s faith but his own and had failed to appreciate all the different ways in which God was at work in other people. We need to guard our hearts against developing an attitude which often leads to a divisive arrogance and even fanaticism among God’s people today. The truth is Elijah only thought he was alone, but he was never alone, because before his battle on Mount Carmel with false prophets, a devout believer in the Lord in charge of Ahab’s palace by the name of Obadiah (1 Kings 18:13) revealed to him he had hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets and supplied them with food and water. Elijah had to change his thinking before it got worse.

CONCLUSION While he was afraid, he was never alone, and neither are you.