อดอาหาร ตุลาคม 2021

อดอาหาร  ตุลาคม  2021

สวัสดีทุกคน ผมหวังว่าคุณจะสบายดีและสามารถเข้าร่วมการอธิษฐานอดอาหารกับเรา ผมหวังว่าจะแสวงหาพระเจ้าและนมัสการร่วมกับคุรในอีก 3 วันข้างหน้า

ขณะที่เราได้เริ่มอดอาหาร ได้มีลางสังหรณ์ที่ครอบคลุมสิ่งที่เรามีเกี่ยวกับการเสริมสร้างความแข็งแกร่ง, การรักษา, และการเตรียมผู้คนของเราสำหรับเส้นทางข้างหน้า—จากภาพของไคลฟ์ เบเกอร์ในเดือนสิงหาคม 2020 ที่เป็นภาพของคานเหล็กขึ้นสนิมถูกแทนที่ด้วยตัวค้ำยันสแตนเลสในรูปแบบของพระเยซูและคำพูดล่าสุดของเรเน่ที่เกี่ยวกับการเสนอตัวของเราต่อพระเจ้า ช่างตีเหล็กของพวกเรา

การอดอาหารในครั้งนี้มีความรู้สึกที่แตกต่างจากการอดอาหารในครั้งก่อน: รู้สึกหนักมากกว่า, สำคัญมากกว่า, และมีความเร่งด่วนกว่าเช่นกัน

สำหรับไม่กี่วันและม่กี่สัปดาห์ก่อนหน้า ทีมผู้นำได้พยายามแสวงหาพระเจ้าในแง่ของสิ่งที่พระองค์ประสงค์ที่จะทำ และวิธีที่พระองค์ต้องการให้เราอดอาหารในครั้งนี้ และเมื่อคืนนี้เอง ผมได้มีความฝันทั้งหมด 3 ชุดด้วยกัน ซึ่งผมเชื่อว่ามาจากพระเจ้าและพระองค์ทรงตั้งใจจะบอกทิศทางสำหรับการอดอาหารแก่พวกเรา

ความฝันที่ 1

ในความฝันแรก พวกเราได้สร้างแผ่นดินขึ้นในดินแดนใหม่ เป็นเมืองชายทะเลที่มีชายฝั่งและแสงไฟของเมืองในเวลากลางคืน มีพื้นที่ชานเมืองที่มีบ้านเรือนสวยงามมากมาย พวกเรามาถึงฝั่งด้วยเรือไม้แบบโบราณ ราวกับเรือโจรสลัดจากภาพยนต์เรื่อง Pirates of the Caribbean  

สิ่งที่เห็นได้ชัดในความฝันคือการที่เรามีพันธกิจและหน้าที่หลากหลายอย่างที่ต้องทำ (เช่นเดียวกับในวิดีโอเกมแบบเปิดกว้าง) ในสถานที่ต่าง ๆ ทั้งในเมืองและในเขตชานเมือง สิ่งสำคัญคือเราต้องทำความเข้าใจแผนที่ของเมือง ทั้งถนนและเส้นทางต่าง ๆ ที่จำเป็นในการเดินทางในครั้งนี้เป็นอย่างดี และควรรู้ว่าพวกเราจำเป็นที่จะต้องไปเยี่ยมบ้านหลังไหนหรือใครบ้าง

หลังจากเริ่มเหยียบพื้นดินแล้ว ผมกลับไปที่เรือเพื่อใช้กล้องโทรทรรศ์เพื่อค้นหาภูมิทัศน์, เส้นทางและเป้าหมายของเรา ผมต้องประหลาดใจมากเมื่อออกมาจากเรือ เพราะอิสยาห์กับมีคาห์ลูกชายของผมได้สำรวจและค้นคว้าด้วยตนเองและมีความคิดที่ดีกว่าตัวผมเกี่ยวกับการจอดเรือบนบก พวกเขากำลังช่วยผมในการมองผ่านกล้องโทรทรรศน์และแม้กระทั่งเป็นผู้นำทางพวกเราเมื่อเราออกจากเรือ

ความฝันที่ 2

ในความฝันทีสอง กลุ่มของพวกเราอยู่ในที่สาธารณะที่เป็นสี่เหลี่ยม เป็นเหมือนศูนย์กลางของเมืองมีห้องอาหาร,ศูนย์การแพทย์และสถานที่ราชการ หรือเป็นตึกสำหรับธุรกิจ กลุ่มของเราบางส่วนได้นั่งรับประทานอาหารที่บริเวณห้องอาหารด้านนอก และมีหลายๆคนที่เดินวนไปรอบสถานที่สี่เหลี่ยมนี้ จนเมื่อมีงูเห่ามีพิษขนาดใหญ่(สีส้ม)ได้เข้ามาในสี่เหลี่ยมนี้และกระโดดขึ้นวนรอบคนให้เกิดความหวาดกลัว

ทุกคนวิ่งหนีจากงูด้วยความตื่นกลัว แต่โจ้เดินเข้ามาในสี่เหลี่ยมนั้นโดยไม่มีความกลัว เขารู้ได้ทันทีว่าจะจัดการกับงูเห่าที่ตอนนี้เป็นสีเขียวและสีน้ำตาลได้อย่างไร ทันใดนั้นงูเห่าก็ตามหลังโจ้ไป ซึ่งพวกเราก็กลัวเพราะว่าโจ้อุ้มโฮฟอยู่ในแขน งูก็พุ่งเข้าไปยังศรีษะโจ้ และโจ้ก็จับงูได้ แต่แทนที่จะจับได้ตรงศรีษะ แต่โจ้จับได้ตรงกลางลำตัวงู ทำให้งูนั้นสามารถที่จะเลี้ยวมากัดโจ้และโฮฟได้

แต่สิ่งที่โจ้ได้ทำนั้น ความจริงแล้วคือการที่ให้โฮฟได้เรียนรูัการจับงูด้วยตัวเอง โฮฟจับข้างหลังตรงหัวงูด้วยมือ อย่างไรก็ตาม การเป็นเด็กและไม่รู้จักกลัวอันตราย โฮฟได้ปล่อยงูไป และระหว่างที่วางงูเลื้อยลง งูก็ได้กัดแขนโฮฟ และโจ้ก็จับงูอีกครั้ง โจ้ทำร้ายงูและฆ่างู เมื่องูตายโจ้ได้ฉีกท้องงูเปิดแยกออกและได้เจอของเล่นชิ้นเล็กๆที่เป็นของโฮฟจากท้องของงู

ความฝันที่ 3

ในความฝันที่สาม ผมอยู่ที่ภูเขา มันเป็นภูเขาสูงและผมกำลังอยู่ในจุดกึ่งกลางค่อนมาข้างล่าง ผมมาจากที่ไหนสักแห่งและกลับบ้าน ซึ่งบังเอิญอยู่บนยอดเขา ผมได้ตัดสินใจว่าจะวิ่งเหยาะๆ ไปตามถนนบนภูเขา และมีรถวิ่งขึ้นไปบนภูเขาทางด้านขวามือของผม มันเป็นฉากภูเขาที่สวยงาม ผมรู้ว่ามันจะเป็นการวิ่งที่ยากและเป็นเนินเขา แต่ผมก็ตั้งตารอที่จะเพลิดเพลินไปกับความงามตามธรรมชาติของทิวทัศน์ขณะวิ่ง

ในขณะที่ผมกำลังวิ่งจ็อกกิ้งอยู่นั้น แมทได้เข้ามาข้างหลังของผม ผมรู้สึกตื่นเต้นและคิดว่าพวกเราน่าจะวิ่งเหยาะๆขึ้นเขาไปด้วยกัน อย่างไรก็ตามแมทอยู่ในสภาพที่ดีมากและวิ่งผ่านผมไป ดูเหมือนว่าเขาจะรีบร้อนและกระตือรือร้นที่จะแสดงความฟิตและความเร็วของเขา ผมรู้สึกเจ็บและผิดหวังเล็กน้อยที่ต้องวิ่งคนเดียวและรู้สึกว่าแมทพลาดโอกาสที่จะได้ใช้เวลาร่วมกัน รู้สึกเหมือนการไปถึงจุดหมายอย่างรวดเร็วไม่ใช่เป้าหมายที่แท้จริง 

สิ่งที่พระเจ้าต้องการสำหรับพวกเราคือ "การออกกำลังในชุมชน" และการเติบโต/ดีขึ้น แข็งแกร่งขึ้น และการสามัคคีธรรม และการให้กำลังใจซึ่งกันและกันมีความสำคัญมากกว่าการไปถึงเป้าหมายอย่างรวดเร็ว แต่นี่ยังไม่ใช่จุดจบของความฝัน

ขณะที่แมทกำลังก้าวไปข้างหน้าผมและไกลขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ ผมก็ได้เห็นว่าโอปอล์กำลังรอเขาอยู่ข้างหน้าเพื่อวิ่งกับเขา ผมคิดว่าโอปอล์อยู่ข้างหลังเราในบริเวณที่เราจากมาเสียอีก แต่เข้าใจได้ว่าโอปอล์ไม่สามารถไปได้เร็วหรือไกลเท่าที่เขาทำ แมทจึงให้โอปอล์ขับรถขึ้นไปบนเขาเพื่อรอเขา ในที่สุดเขาก็สามารถตามทันและวิ่งไปกับเธอ สิ่งนี้ดูเหมือนจะทำให้พระเจ้าพอพระทัยที่แมทได้คำนึงถึงข้อจำกัดของโอปอล์

ครอบครัวในพันธกิจ

ขณะที่ผมอธิษฐานในความฝันเหล่านี้ ผมเชื่อว่าพระเจ้าต้องการบอกเราเกี่ยวกับฤดูกาลที่จะมาถึง อย่างที่พวกคุณบางคนทราบ คำขวัญของ One Light Church คือ “เน้นพระกิตติคุณ เสริมพลังวิญญาณ ครอบครัวในพันธกิจ” ผมเชื่อว่าพระเจ้าทรงต้องการให้เรามีประสบการณ์และเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับความหมายสำหรับพวกเราที่จะเป็น “ครอบครัวคริสตจักรฝ่ายวิญญาณของครอบครัวที่รับพันธกิจร่วมกัน” ในฤดูกาลหน้าที่จะมาถึงนี้

คุณสมบัติ บางอย่างที่อาจมีลักษณะดังนี้:

· พาลูกๆ ไปปฏิบัติพันธกิจ แม้กระทั่งปล่อยให้พวกเขานำทางเหมือนที่พระเจ้าประทานความเข้าใจทางวิญญาณแก่พวกเขา

· ให้ลูกๆ ของเราใช้ของประทานฝ่ายวิญญาณและแสวงหาการนำทางจากพระเจ้าร่วมกับเรา ในการอธิษฐาน

·  ไม่วิ่งหนีจากภยันตรายฝ่ายวิญญาณหรือสงครามด้วยความกลัว แต่เผชิญหน้าและเอาชนะศัตรู โดยพึงระลึกว่าพระเจ้าพระบิดาของเราทรงควบคุมอยู่าและจะไม่ยอมให้เราประสบอันตรายมากเกินกว่าที่เราจะรับมือได้

· สอนลูกๆ ของเราให้มีส่วนร่วมและเอาชนะซาตาน โดยรู้ว่าพวกเขาจะทำผิดพลาดบ้าง แต่ให้วางใจว่าพระเจ้าจะทรงรักษาพวกเขาให้ปลอดภัย

· เพลิดเพลินกับการเดินทางของพันธกิจ เนื่องจากเป็นเรื่องเกี่ยวกับการเติบโตและการชำระให้บริสุทธิ์ และความเพลิดเพลินของเราในพระเจ้าและชุมชน มากกว่าที่จะไปถึงจุดหมายอย่างรวดเร็ว

.  ไม่ปล่อยใครไว้ข้างหลัง โดยควรคำนึงถึงข้อจำกัดของทุกคนในชุมชนของเรา ให้ผู้นำอยู่ท้ายและอนุญาตให้ผู้ที่ต้องการเดินไปอย่างช้า ๆได้เริ่มก้าวเดิน

ผมมีความกระตือรือร้นที่จะได้ยินจากพวกคุณว่าบางคนอาจจะมีสิ่งเพิ่มเติมในการตีความความฝันเหล่านี้และรับฟังจากพระเจ้าด้วยตัวคุณเอง

จากข้อมูลข้างต้นและในขณะที่เราถือมันอย่างหละหลวม นี่คือสิ่งที่ผมต้องการให้เรามีส่วนร่วมในการอธิษฐานเมื่อเราอดอาหาร:

วันที่ 1- การสำนึกบาป และ การเปิดเผย

ให้กลับมาหาพระเจ้าด้วยความถ่อมตัวและสำนึกบาปและแสวงหาพระประสงค์และแผนงานที่จะทำของพระเจ้า ฉันอยากให้เด็กๆของเราและคนหนุ่มทั้งหลายที่จะมีเวลาในการฝึกฝนการทำนายที่ได้ยินเสียงจากพระเจ้า 

ผู้วินิจฉัย 20:26 แล้วบรรดาคนอิสราเอลคือกองทัพทั้งหมดได้ขึ้นไปที่พระนิเวศของพระเจ้าและร้องไห้คร่ำครวญ เขานั่งเฝ้าพระเยโฮวาห์ ณ ที่นั้น และอดอาหารจนเวลาเย็น ถวายเครื่องเผาบูชาต่อหน้าพระพักตร์พระเยโฮวา 27คนอิสราเอลจึงทูลถามพระเยโฮวาห์(เพราะในสมัยนั้น หีบพันธสัญญาของพระเจ้าอยู่ที่นั้น) 28และฟีเนหัสบุตรชายเอเลอาซาร์ ผู้เป็นบุตรชายอาโรน ก็ปรนนิบัติอยู่หน้าหับนั้นในสมัยนั้น เขาทูลถามว่า สมควรที่ข้าพระองค์จะยังยกไปสู้รบกับเบนยามินพี่น้องของข้าพระองค์อีกครั้ง หรือควรหยุดเสีย และพระเยโฮวาห์ตรัสว่า จงยกขึ้นไปเถิด เพราะว่าพรุ้งนี้เราจะมอบเขาไว้ในมือของเจ้า

Fast October 2021

Hello everyone, hope you are well and able to join us in fasting and praying. I look forward to seeking God and worshipping Him with you over the next 3 days.

As we begin the fast, there is an overarching prophetic sense we have of God strengthening, healing, and preparing our people for the road ahead—from Clive Baker’s picture from August 2020 of rusty iron girders being replaced by a stainless-steel support in the form of JESUS and Renee’s recent word about presenting ourselves to God our blacksmith.

This fast feels a bit different than fasts in the past: a bit heavier, more significant, and a bit more urgent as well. 

For the past few days and weeks, the leadership team has been trying to seek God in terms of what He wants to do and how He wants us to fast this time around, and I had a series of 3 dreams last night that I believe is from God and intended to give us some direction for the fast.

Dream 1

In the first dream, we had made landfall in a new territory. It was a seaside town with a shore and city lights at night. It had a suburban area with many beautiful tract homes. We had arrived on the shore on an old-fashioned wooden ship, like a pirate ship out of Pirates of the Caribbean.

What was apparent in the dream was that we had various missions and tasks to accomplish (as in an open-world video game) at various locations in the city and in the suburban homes. It was important for us get a good understanding of the map of the city, the roads and trails that needed to be traveled, and which homes/people we were supposed to visit.

After setting foot on land, I returned to the ship to use the telescope to figure out the landscape, the paths, and our targets. To my pleasant surprise, while I had been away from the ship, my sons Isaiah and Micah had been doing their own exploring and investigating and had a better idea than I did about the lay of the land. They were helping me with where to look through my telescope and even led the way as we left the ship.

Dream 2

In the second dream, a bunch of us were in a public square. It was a city center with a restaurant, a medical facility and government- or business-type buildings. Some of us were sitting and eating in the outdoor seating area of the restaurant, and there were many people just walking around the square, when a large poisonous (orange-colored) cobra entered the square and was jumping up and in circles to scare people.

Everyone ran away from the snake in a panic, but Joe came into the square unafraid. He knew exactly what to do with the cobra, which was now green and brown in color. The cobra went after Joe, and we were afraid for him because he was also holding Hope in his arms. As the snake lunged toward Joe’s head, Joe was able to grab it, but instead of grabbing it by the head, Joe grabbed it in the middle, allowing the snake to continue to try to bite him and Hope.

What Joe was doing was actually to allow Hope to learn how to catch the snake by himself. As the snake lunged again, Hope grabbed the snake with his hand right behind its head. However, being a kid and not being aware of danger, Hope let the snake go, and on its way down, the snake bit Hope on the arm. Joe then grabbed the snake again and bit the snake, killing it. Joe ripped the snake’s belly open and got a small toy belonging to Hope out of the snake’s stomach.

We were all worried for Hope and said we needed to take him to the hospital quickly, but Joe was not worried. He said that it was just a bite and that the snake had not injected any venom into Hope’s arm. Marcia went to the medical facility in the square to ask the doctor (who was Filipino) to help with Hope, but the doctor didn’t show much interest. In the end, both Joe and Hope were fine, and the cobra was dead.

Dream 3

In the third dream, I was on a mountain. It was a tall mountain, and I was somewhere near the middle, or towards the bottom. I was coming from somewhere and returning home, which happened to be at the top of the mountain. I decided that I was going to jog the whole way up along the mountain road, and there were cars going up the mountain along my right-hand side. It was a beautiful mountain scene. I knew it was going to be a hard, uphill run, but I was looking forward to enjoying the natural beauty of the scenery as I ran.

As I was jogging, Matt was coming up behind me. I was excited, thinking that we might be able to jog our way up the mountain together. However, Matt was in very good condition and sprinted right past me. He seemed to be in a hurry and was eager to show his fitness and speed. I felt a bit hurt and disappointed about having to jog alone and felt like Matt had missed an opportunity to spend some time together. It felt like getting to destination quickly was not the actual goal.

What God was wanting was for us to “exercise in community” and that growing/getting better and stronger and fellowship and mutual encouragement was more important than arriving at the goal quickly. But, this wasn’t the end of the dream.

As Matt was getting farther and farther ahead of me, I could see that Opal was waiting for him far up ahead to join him in the run. I had thought that Opal was behind us in the area we were coming from, but understanding that Opal couldn’t go as fast or as far as him, Matt had arranged for Opal to be driven up the mountain to be waiting for him so that he could eventually catch up and join with her in the running. This seemed to please God that Matt gave consideration to Opal’s limitations.

Families on Mission

As I’ve been praying into these dreams, I believe God wants to communicate to us about the season ahead. As some of you know, One Light Church’s motto is “Gospel-centered, Spirit-empowered, Family on Mission.” I believe God is wanting us to experience and learn about what is means for us to be “a spiritual church family of families that are on mission together” in this next season.

Some characteristics of what that might look like:

·      Taking our kids with us on mission, even letting them lead the way as God gives them spiritual insight

·      Allowing our kids to exercise their spiritual gifts and seek direction from God with us in prayer

·      Not running from spiritual dangers or warfare in fear, but confronting and defeating the enemy, knowing that God, our Father is in control and will not allow us to experience more harm than we can handle

·      Teaching our kids how to engage and defeat Satan, knowing that they will make some mistakes, but trusting that God will keep them safe

·      Enjoying the journey of mission, as it’s more about our growth and sanctification and our enjoyment of God and community, than it is about arriving at our destination quickly

·      Not leaving anyone behind, taking significant consideration of the limitations of everyone in our community, having the leaders be in the rear and allowing those who require a slower pace to set the pace 

I am eager to hear what some of you may have to add to this as you interpret these dreams and hear from God yourselves.

Based on the above and while holding it loosely, this is how I’d like for us to engage in prayer as we fast:

Day 1 – Repentance and Revelation

Let’s return to God in humility and repentance and seek God’s will and direction. In doing so, I’d like to give our children and young people space to exercise their prophetic gifts in hearing from God 

Judges 20:26 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?” The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”

Day 2 – Healing & Deliverance

Let’s pray for healing: spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental. Let’s also ask God to rid demonic activity from our lives.

2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.

Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

Day 3 – Prayer for Safe Passage

We want to do amazing things in us and through us. When we engage in the mission of God fully, we will face many challenges and difficulties. It is through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Let’s pray for safe passage through whatever God has ahead for us.

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Fast 2021 - Day 3 (We Feast on Christ... And Food!)

One thing I frequently hear these days about Jesus is words to the effect of: “It’s not about a bunch of dos and don’ts. It’s about a relationship.”

I understand where this sentiment comes from. Far too often, Christianity has devolved into nothing more than an external behavior modification program. There is no doubt that relationship is primary. Our God describes Himself as love and has existed in a perfect community of 3 from all of eternity past, and Christ’s work of redemption was to reconcile God and man. The words of Proverbs 23:26 ring true: “My son, give me your heart!”

But, I think the primacy of relationship has led many into a false notion that our subjective feelings toward God are all that matter, and what we do or don’t do matters not at all. It’s an approach to God that says: “He loves me no matter what, so I can do whatever I want.”

Have you ever been in a relationship—or more specifically a good relationship—where the other person treated you however he or she felt convenient without any regard for your preferences or desires? Imagine if I told my wife Marcia, “I love you and you love me. That’s all that matters, so don’t tell me about your thoughts, feelings, and desires. I just want to be free to live my life however I please.” It would not be a great recipe for a successful marriage, and it’s not a great recipe for a great relationship with God.

Let us remember that the Proverbs passage I quoted earlier ends in this way: My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with us and wants to use that relationship to make us more like His perfect beautiful self, which is why His parting instruction to us, His disciples, included the last essential line: …teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Yes, it is about a relationship, but these are some of the ways that God describes our relationship with Him: Father-Child, God-Creature, Potter-Clay, Master-Servant, Shepherd-Sheep, King-Subject, Leader-Follower, and Teacher-Learner. We do well to obey Him. Because He is perfect, everything He asks us to do doesn’t just make Him happy—it is also for our good.

And, this is what it means to build our lives on Jesus the Rock.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” - Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus’s little brother, James repeated this idea:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. - James 1:22

A relationship with Jesus means doing the things He tells us to do. As a community we saw this together in the Samuel series

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

and to listen than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of divination,

and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has also rejected you from being king.”

We know about the 5 love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. It seems to God, more than receiving gifts, He feels loved when we obey Him.

Well, so what should we do? How are we supposed to obey?

The Matthew 7 passage above about building our houses on the rock is actually how Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount, and in the Sermon, Jesus lays out very specific things we are supposed to do and not do. It is the ultimate do and don’t do list for our lives.

Dos and Don’ts from the Sermon on the Mount

• do the will of the Father who is in heaven (Matt. 7:21)

• don’t do a bunch of mighty work in Jesus’ name in vain (Matt. 7:22)

• do bear good fruits (Matt. 7:17)

• don’t bear bad fruits or no fruit (Matt. 7:18-19)

• do beware of false prophets (Matt. 7:15)

• do enter by the narrow and hard way that leads to life (Matt. 7:13)

• don’t enter by the wide and easy way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:14)

• do ask, seek, knock for good things from God (Matt. 7:7-11)

• don’t feed your kids rocks and snakes when they are hungry (Matt. 7:9-10) ;)

• do be discerning (Matt. 7:6) but…

• don’t judge others (Matt 7:1)

• do seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33)

• don’t be anxious (Matt. 6:25-32)

• don’t serve two masters (Matt. 6:24)

• do serve God (Matt. 6:24)

• don’t serve money (Matt. 6:24)

• do look at wholesome things with your eyes (Matt. 6:22)

• don’t let your eyes look at bad things (Matt. 6:23)

• do lay up your treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20)

• don’t lay up your treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19)

• do fast YAY!! (Matt. 6:17) but…

• don’t be a hypocrite about it (Matt. 6:16)

• do forgive others (Matt. 6:14)

• do pray YAY!! (Matt. 6:7-13) but…

• don’t be a hypocrite about it (Matt. 6:5-6)

• do give to the needy (Matt. 6:2)

• don’t show off and practice your righteousness before others (Matt. 6:1-3)

• do love your enemies (Matt 5:43-48)

• don’t retaliate (Matt 5:38-42)

• do follow through with your promises (Matt 5:33-37)

• don’t take oaths (Matt 5:34-36)

• don’t divorce (Matt 5:31-32)

• don’t lust (Matt 5:27-30)

• do reconcile with one another quickly (Matt 5:23-26)

• don’t be angry with or insult one another (Matt 5:21-22)

• do God’s commandments and teach them (Matt 5:19)

• don’t relax even the least of His commandments (Matt 5:19)

• do good works and shine your light before others (Matt 5:14-16)

• don’t lose your saltiness (Matt 5:13)

• do rejoice and be glad!!! (Matt 5:12)

Why? … because we are the blessed of the Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven is ours! (Matt. 5:3-12).

I believe God is wanting to remind us of these truths today. Building our lives on the Rock isn’t just about every once in a while, singing songs about building our life on Jesus. It is laying bricks of obedience, day-by-day and piece-by-piece, on the foundation of His words.

Let’s build on our solid Rock, our Firm Foundation in 2021!

Fast 2021 - Day 2

Greetings! Hope the fast is going well for you. For me personally, Day 2s of fasting are generally when the benefits really begin to kick in. As my body begins to weaken, my existential experience seems to shift from feeling like a fleshly being with a spirit within to a spiritual being dwelling in temporary fleshly tent. A thank-you to all those who came to our house yesterday to pray and worship. We had a great time, and I trust that God will continue to tend to us as we fast and gather.

In yesterday’s post, we focused on what it means to drink from Christ and looked at John 7:37-39: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit.

What is it like to have streams of living water flowing from deep within us?

One of the primary and most significant things we experience through the Spirit is sonship.

But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God - Romans 8:15-16

Adoption is a theological truth that we can accept to believe and understand in our minds, but only through the Spirit can we really know how it feels to be absolutely loved, delighted in, and adored by God and to be able to look up to heaven and respond, “Daddy! I love you so much too!”

And, the only Way for us to experience this is in Christ. By being hidden in Christ, being united to Him, we of the sinful race can experience communion and fellowship with He of the holy race.

Remember this scene Christ’s baptism:

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:16-17

The benefits of sonship, God the Father’s love and acceptance are now available to us:

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. - Romans 6:8

Moses loved God and wanted to see the fullness of His glory—he wanted to look God in the face and see how splendid He looked in the fullness of His holiness and love—but couldn’t. God was too perfect, and Moses too imperfect to encounter God in His fullness and live to talk about it.

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” - Exodus 33

But, a remarkable thing happened for us at the Cross. The Rock of ages was cleft for us, that we might be able to enter in, be hidden in Him, enjoy the garments of His obedience, righteousness, and perfection, and look God directly in the face. The veil separating us from God was torn from top to bottom.

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3

This is what it means to hide in Christ. We boldly approach our perfect heavenly Father and look Him right in the face, as we responds back: “I love you, and I am well-pleased with you!”

As I pray, I feel the Lord wants me to address fear. Fear is a power tool that Satan uses to enslave the world (Hebrews 2:15), but God’s perfect love is supposed to cast fear out of our lives (1 John 4:18).

Those hidden in Christ cannot live in fear!

I think that for the people of our community, fear manifested its ugly self in these ways: fear regarding health & safety, anxiety over work & money, fear of rejection, shame/guilt/condemnation, and performance-orientation.

Fear says: “You better be careful about COVID, riding your motorbike, letting your kids play outside… or I will kill you/them!”

Our loving heavenly Father says: “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered… which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

Fear says: “You better work hard and make sure you have plenty of money, or I will starve you and your children!”

God says: “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

Fear says: “You are unlovable! People will only reject you or hurt you!”

God says: “My grace is sufficient for you. Love because I first loved you!”

Fear says: “You are unacceptable to God! He’s mad at you! You better be perfect if you want Him to be happy! You better stop sinning and be a great missionary if you want God’s approval!”

God says: “My love for you in unconditional! I died for you while you were still a sinner.”

Remember that our Father’s love and acceptance over Jesus didn’t result from His obedience on the Cross. Rather, Jesus’s obedience on the Cross was fueled by our Father’s love and acceptance.

What reigns in your heart today? Satan’s fear-empowered lies or the truth of God’s love?

Let’s pray that for the Spirit’s help in allowing us to really know and experience the full benefits of being hidden in Jesus.

Fast 2021 - Day 1 (Jesus, Our Rock)

Two weeks ago, we closed out our series through the books of 1 & 2 Samuel by focusing on the idea of God being our rock. In essence, the entirety of 1 & 2 Samuel can be summed up as God’s fulfillment of a line from Hannah’s prophetic song: “there is no rock like our God.”

[Sorry, Dwayne Johnson. You are just a rock, not The Rock.]

And, if there is anything that 2020 taught us is that we can’t put our trust and confidence in anything other than our Rock. It was shocking to see just how much a tiny invisible virus could disrupt life as we knew it, in terms of travel, social engagement, education, money, jobs, politics, health care, and access to resources. But, through it all, for the Christian, God proved Himself to be faithful, steadfast, and worthy of our trust and confidence.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge,

my savior; you save me from violence.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies. - 2 Samuel 22

As we begin the fast, I wanted us to focus in on the 3 ways we can take full advantage of God as our Rock:

• Building on Him

• Hiding in Him

• Drinking from Him

For the 3 days of the fast, we will focus on these in reverse order, and as we begin to empty ourselves of food (and other things we look to or depend on), let’s be praying and asking God to help us to get our fill, our sustenance from Him.

Earlier this week, I received a video clip from a pastor we are helping to build a well:

Imagine the joy, after digging for more than 3 meters, of finally getting down to the water level and the access to all of water’s life-giving properties!

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit.” - John 7:37-39

We took our kids on a bike ride this past Monday on the new walking path/bike trail that is being built along the north side of the Kok river just east of the superhighway. It was so fun and beautiful, we did 2 loops! Afterward, Marcia—who thoroughly enjoyed the ride—couldn’t help but remark, “I just wish the water wasn’t so brown.” My response was, “I think any river that flows this quickly is going to be brown like this," to which Marcia responded by describing family trips she would take to the Colorado River where the water was so clear you could see the bottom.

It reminded me of the description of the crystal clear River of Life described in Revelation 22:

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the main street of the city.

Imagine what a sight that will be! What’s greater yet is that, through the Holy Spirit, we have access

And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. - 1 Corinthians 10:4

No matter what is happening in the world or in our lives, we have an opportunity to drink from Christ, our Rock, and have rivers of living water pour forth from deep within us and flow right through the main street of our souls. Lord, we need you. We want more of you. Flow, Spirit, flow!

Fast 2020 - Day 2

For those who weren’t able to make it to prayer last night, we prayed through 2 Chronicles 20 in the following way:

1.     Standing before God in prayer with the boldness of those who stand in Christ’s righteousness (And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court)

2.     Exalting the greatness of God (“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”)

3.     Crying out to God about the adversities we’re facing (‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’)

4.     Invoking God’s help in humble dependence (O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.)

As we pray and look to gather this evening, let’s be expectant and open to hearing and receiving from God whatever He wishes to impart.

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel … in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you…

This morning, I had a video call with Ben in Adelaide, and God had put a Bible verse for us on his heart, Isaiah 54:17, which reads:

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

    and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

He made a brief video to share his heart for us:

As I have been meditating on his word, I feel as though there are other parts of Isaiah 54 that God wants to speak to our community, in reverse order:

Verse 15

If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.

Verses 9-10

“This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Verse 5

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.

Verse 2-3

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.

In summary:

·      I believe God wants to say to us that though it may feel like we are facing many adversaries, no weapon forged against us will prevail.

·      I believe God wants to explain to us that He is not beyond the afflictions we are facing. God isn’t mad at us or disappointed with us. He isn’t punishing us for disobedience. It is the Enemy who is trying to oppose us and God.

·      I believe God wants to reaffirm with us that His covenant of peace shall not be removed…

·      … because Jesus is our husband. He is covenanted to us, this God who is our Maker, the Lord of hosts, the Holy One, the Redeemer, the God of the whole earth.

·      So, we can continue to take possession of the nations.

This is not the first time that God has spoken to our church through Isaiah 54:2-3. In the past, it felt like God was highlighting words like enlarging, stretching, lengthening, and spreading. This year, I really feel the Holy Spirit highlighting the phrase: strengthen your stakes.

It seems God is encouraging us to dig in, stand firm, and be ready for the long haul. Storms can come and go, and it is important, even in the process of expansion, to be firmly grounded.

Fast 2020: Invocation, Impartation, and Celebration

Why do we fast?

As we begin this fast, I’ve received a couple of questions from people who have never fasted before as to why Christians fast, and I’d like to address it briefly before getting into what I’m feeling for this fast. Unlike for Muslims during Ramadan, fasting is not something that is legally required of us as Christians. It is a voluntary spiritual discipline that we engage in, to remind ourselves and declare — by more than words — that we depend on God more than we depend on the things of the flesh.

John Piper describes fasting in this way:

Fasting is a temporary renunciation of something that is in itself good, like food, in order to intensify our expression of need for something greater, namely God and His work in our lives.

In the Bible, Jesus predicted that His disciples would be a fasting people:

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Matthew 9:14-15)

And, they proved Him right. It was an essential part of the story of God’s mission to the Gentiles:

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:2-3)

There is a connection between fasting and our desire and longing for God and His Kingdom, and there are many examples in the Bible of God being moved into action based on prayer with fasting. We have to remember that our God is a jealous God (Deut. 4:24), and He notices when we fast (Matt. 6:18). He seems to be compelled by the expressed affection of His beloved.

However, we do not fast in order to get something from God. A man might buy his wife flowers because he’s done something wrong or because he wants to get something from her. Or, a man might buy his wife flowers simply to say “I love you,” and the flowers (and their associated cost) lend help to the man in expressing the sincerity of his affection for his wife.

In a way, fasting is like the flowers we bring to God as we tell Him, “Thank you for giving me so many good gifts, including the food you give me to eat, but I just want you to know that I love you and need you more than any of those other things.”

Isn’t Jesus worth giving up three days of food, or whatever else competes for our affection for Him? Not because we need anything from Him, but simply because we want to show Him that we want Him more than anything else.

With that said, I want to share what I am feeling for our community for this fast.

Invocation, Impartation, and Celebration

This is the word that came to me as I was praying this morning for the fast. I believe we are to call upon, ask, invite, invoke God to bring a greater measure of God’s presence and power to help us in our personal lives and our collective mission.

It is an understatement to say that 2020 has been a strange and challenging year, but I believe there is purpose to it. I believe the Lord is shaking the earth and His Church in preparation for what is to come.

Clive Baker, a trusted prophetic voice at Coastlands Church in Adelaide (an Advance partner church in Australia), shared a prophetic picture for One Light Church last month. It was a picture about the Holy Spirit providing Himself to us as a new stronger support structure to help us “Stand in the face of adversity” and to support and carry us through “until there is a day of Breakthrough and Breakout.”

God has done some amazing things in the past 2 years for the sake of His glory and Kingdom. We’ve taken enemy ground in Yafu through the new church plant, and continue to plunder Satan’s kingdom there, by bringing sons and daughters of God out of bondage and into Christ’s marvelous light. We’ve also seen God do some great things related to our Next Gen ministries at Thantip and Baan Farm, even reaching beyond those schools to go into the students’ villages to evangelize, which we did earlier this year.

As a community, we have our hands on a lot of great opportunities, whether it’s Andy’s evangelism with expats, Mitch, Christine, Marcia, and Brent at CRIS and Fiat Lux, or the various marketplace, community development initiatives we are involved in. I can also see God using us to plant a new church in Jalae in the very near future. We’ve got our hands to the plow in some great fields.

With all of these wonderful things God is doing, I sense a greater-than-ever opposition from the Enemy in trying to oppose us and the works of God. COVID has separated the Harpsters, Dai Lei, and Eric from us, and caused all kinds of travel, visa, and financial problems. I’ve also been made aware in recent weeks of the various spiritual struggles of many people here, and feelings of spiritual heaviness and opposition.

Pastor John Kilpatrick, who led the Brownsville Church through the Pensacola Outpouring, says that whenever there is a move of God, there is a corresponding move of Satan to oppose the move of God. This is something that is supported by Scripture and Paul’s life in particular, as he writes:

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Cor. 16:8-9)

For Paul, effective work came with much adversity, and yet his response was not to run, but to stay. In order for us to have staying power in the open doors that God has given us, I think we should expect heavy adversity. That sounds uncomfortable, but the good news is that God is with us and will fight for us, if we will let Him.

I say that because sometimes, we can get in the way of God helping us by trying to do things in our own strength. I believe that is the “old Victorian style Iron Girders with very large rivets … looking a bit tatty and rust-brown and charcoal grey” from Clive Baker’s prophetic picture, that the Holy Spirit is wanting to replace with Himself.

WE CANNOT DO IT OURSELVES. WE NEED GOD.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about “a great multitude” coming against the people of God in battle. King Jehoshaphat was “afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”

They gathered and fasted as an invocation for God’s help: 

“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

And, an amazing thing happened. The Spirit of God came upon Jahaziel and there was an impartation from God to his people:

“Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s … You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf … Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

What followed was one of the greatest worship celebrations we see in Scripture: 

“Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”

“Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.’”

“And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.”

We will break up this fast in this way: Day 1, we will invoke God’s presence and help. Day 2, we will wait for God to impart (speak, give us more of Himself). Day 3, we will celebrate God’s victory.

I look forward to gathering and seeking God together with you all over the next few days!

Fall 2019 Fast

One of the things I’ve really grown to enjoy here in northern Thailand are the passing thunderstorms. You can tell that one is coming—at least most of the time— about 30 minutes before it hits because of the far-off flashes of lightning and strong winds that sway trees and rattle windows that come before the storm. However, the actual rains don’t immediately follow the heavy winds. The winds usually die down momentarily before the rain drops begin to fall. This is apparently because the winds that bring the storm front create a partial vacuum in the atmosphere that draws air in from all sides, allowing us to experience the proverbial “calm before the storm.”

One Light Church is now nearing the 3-year mark (as our first Sunday gathering was November 13, 2016), and it feels as though we are in a bit of a “calm before the storm” season as a community, both seasonally and in terms of a longer term outlook. With the hectic summer season behind us, we have a few months of breathing room until the wonderful joys of parenthood hit our community with the birth of 4 new babies. Also, after having seen God be so faithful to us over the past 3 years in terms of planting us in Chiang Rai, there are wonderful signs of fruit and a deep sense of anticipation about the many wonderful doors of opportunity that are before us for making disciples and planting churches.

None of this really comes as a surprise, as we’ve had multiple trusted prophetic voices speak over our community that things would pick up after 3 years or that we will be experiencing a storm season as a community. However, I don’t believe that the season ahead is to be approached with fear or dread. I believe it is going to be a wonderful storm, one that should be approached with a sense of joy and expectation. In the Bible, there are storms of obedience (like what the disciples experienced when they obeyed Jesus) and storms of disobedience (like Jonah’s), and ours feels like what naturally happens when you get swept up in the will of a sovereign and almighty God who is on the move for the sake of His glory.

That said, as when you make a pit stop during a long road trip, this fast during a relative time of calm might be a good opportunity to kick the tires and see what maintenance, if any, God might want us to receive as individuals and as a community.

As I’ve been praying this week about our fast and the season we find ourselves in, God has given me 2 words: realignment and defragmentation.

The normal wear and tear of the road can cause the wheels of a car to become misaligned, leading to uneven tires, veering in the wrong direction, noisiness & shaking, and just general inefficiency for the car. In a similar way, after a computer hard drive is used for a while, the way that files are stored on it becomes fragmented and requires defragging for better efficiency and performance. I wonder if what God wants to do during the fast is to realign us as individuals and defragment us a community in order to help us weather whatever storms He wants to bring our way.

I believe we will need (i) greater precision and accuracy in aligning ourselves closely to God’s will and (ii) a greater degree of depending on each other as a community in the upcoming season.

Andy shared this past Sunday about Jesus being the cornerstone, and us needing to align ourselves to Him. Something in me resonated strongly with that sentiment. It reminded me of 2 passages in Scripture:

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (Zechariah 4:10)

Jesus is the cornerstone into which we are being fitted together, but He is also the builder who builds with accuracy and precision.

As I was praying around these themes this morning, I had a picture of a jigsaw puzzle on a table. The puzzle had been completed, but something had shaken the table so that some of the pieces had been displaced and were missing, out of place, or in the wrong direction. Minor adjustments were going to be necessary to put the puzzle back into order.

The good news was that the top of the box with the guiding picture of the puzzle was right there, standing on its side just above the puzzle, so that you could look at the picture and quickly put the fragmented pieces back into proper alignment.

I look forward to being with you all during this fast as we gaze into the face of Jesus, our cornerstone and builder, to see how He might want us to fall under His plumb line with respect to Him and each other.

Fast Days 2 & 3: Ask and it shall be given

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu Alleluia

Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Allelu Alleluia

Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Allelu Alleluia

These are the iconic words of a Christian song that has been sung all over the world by (mostly) children. They are simple but bold words, and represent direct quotes from Jesus our Lord. They are words that seem too good to be true. They are counter to the world’s understanding of reality, and really take child-like faith, even for Christians, to believe. But, the life that we are called to—being on mission for God—requires us to believe and walk out those words in faith.

In Scripture, they appear in order as follows:

Matthew 4:2-4 - And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 6:31-34 - Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 7:7-11 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Over the next 2 nights, as we gather, let’s continue to pray into these areas:

1. Greater vigilance that comes from reliance on God, as opposed to the comforts of this world.

2. Freedom from anxiety through seeking first the Kingdom

3. Asking, knocking, and seeking with our Father for good gifts and for His Kingdom to come in its fullness

May His presence be sufficient for you in your hunger! God bless, and see you tonight.

Fast Day 1: Vigilance

The front page of the OLC website has a beautiful photo of a tree in a field, basking in the sunlight. The feeling I get when I look at the picture—the same feeling I had when I first saw it—is a feeling of warmth, comfort, and hope. It is a very similar feeling to how I feel about this current season for our church: a season of being planted as an oak of righteousness in the middle of a bountiful harvest field, basking in the presence of God and the warmth of community, and showing early signs of fruitfulness. Praise God! There are so many things to be grateful for!

However, as we begin this fast, I do feel a precautionary reminder from God that Satan will not go down without fight, that we must not be lulled into spiritual lethargy, and that God might want to grow us in sanctity and maturity in a manner appropriate for the season ahead. That, because of what God wants to do in us and through us, we must be, in a word: vigilant.

Vigilance is a mandate for every Christian in the era of the Church.

Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! (Rev 16:15)

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thess 5:2-8)

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Pet 5:8)

I don’t think anyone would disagree that being alert and sober-minded is a good posture to have as a Christian. However, vigilance appears to be something more than just a posture of the heart. Vigilance costs something to have, as when a watchman of a city keeps a vigil overnight.

One passage from Scripture that God has been putting before me in this regard is Luke 22:35-36:

And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Cloaks in Bible times were highly valuable and precious items for people, which is why, regarding lawsuits, Jesus taught that if a person sues you for the less valuable inner tunic, we should also give them our much more valuable outer cloak (Matthew 5). In fact, the Israelites of the OT were forbidden from withholding a cloak overnight from a neighbor who had given it to them as a pledge during the day. Cloaks represented warmth and protection from the elements during travel and even served as blankets for people when they slept overnight. They were expensive and often an individual’s dearest material possession, and as Jesus taught, being willing to part with things dear to us seems to be a normal aspect of Kingdom life because the things we stand to gain in return have infinite value.

What cost are you willing to bear for a greater degree of vigilance? For a greater experience of the presence of the Holy Spirit? For greater maturity, spiritual health, holiness? For 3 days, yes, but also—perhaps—for a more indefinite period of time?

Let’s explore this question together over the next few days. Looking forward to seeing you tonight!