Reminders from the little Giant Killer

I was reading in 1 Samuel this week and really encouraged by some of the things God brought to my attention in Chapter 17 with the shepherd boy David before he kills Goliath.

David knew who he was in this assignment.  He was a only a shepherd.  And a child of the living God.  Not even a soldier in the armies of the living God, just a shepherd of some flocks of the living God.  So he took only a shepherd's staff and sling.  He did not try to be something he wasn't, and didn't even take a sword or shield.  He trusted that all he needed was the Lord himself to rescue him and to defeat the enemy.  And he could be himself, totally.  His trust was in the Lord to be the one to give him victory.

Saul offered David false armor, armor that didn't belong to him and that represented fear.  If he had accepted that armor it would have impeded his chance operate in the faith and freedom of movement that God was actually wanting to use.  David's measure of faith for this assignment didn't include that armor.  That "extra" armor would have impeded him in this battle.  Even though he seemed totally ill equipped by anyone else's standard.

"David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

This is a key encouragement for me as I am preparing to go into South America and entering the relationships and assignments that God has for me there.  I don't have to come up with some extra equipment.  I just go as myself (happily inadequate on my own) and trust that it is the Living God himself who goes with me every step of the way and HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.  And he is delighted to be strong in my weakness!  And I am delighted in it too.  I am free to be exactly myself and know that with him, that is totally adequate for every assignment and encounter ahead.

I just need him, on the mundane day of cross cultural life, just as much as on the most intense day I can imagine!  And I look forward to depending on him and trusting in his Presence on all of those days.  For days with the sheep and days with the giants.  I come in the name of the LORD.

(I leave for Peru this Tuesday Sept 11, and to Brazil Sept 27th!)

Restoring the Kingdom: The Baton Has Been Passed to Us

I've been so challenged by the boldness of the disciples in the book of Acts!   They just asked for trouble over and over again.  A) Get miraculously set free from prison. B) Proceed immediately to preaching the very same message that got you thrown into prison in the first place.  What!?

But even the earliest disciples were confused by the way in which Jesus intended to bring the kingdom of heaven on earth.  After he was resurrected, in Acts 1:6 they asked him, [so... now that all thats taken care of, now are YOU going to RESTORE the KINGDOM to Israel??]  And Jesus basically tells them, [NO, you are, thats why I'm leaving and you are waiting for the Holy Spirit to fill you, because now its your turn, YOU RESTORE the KINGDOM!  Here's your baton.]  

Here's the story in NIV Acts 1:3-9

 "After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, 

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."

   Jesus did his part.  It is finished.  But its a relay race, and by giving the Holy Spirit to live in us, to be himself in us, he has effectively passed the baton.  He made possible the restoration of all of us to the Lord.  And made an open door between heaven and earth, he is the access to the Kingdom of God from earth.  And then he began empowering each believer with the Holy Spirit, that we can be his personal agents of restoration.  So that he goes wherever we go.  That we can extend the Kingdom of God in each of our personal places of influence all over the world, wherever we go, he goes, and he hopes to restore justice through us.  To extend his kingdom of love through us everywhere we go.   God has always wanted us to partner with him in bringing his kingdom reign on the earth:  

Isaiah 59: 15-16

"...The LORD looked and was displeased

to find there was no justice.

16 He was amazed to see that no one intervened

to help the oppressed.

So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm,

and his justice sustained him.

God was looking for his friends to stand up for justice on the earth.  He is waiting for us to accept our true identity as sons and daughters of the King, and to represent his Kingdom everywhere we go, in love and power.

I can remember a walk in the park years ago, crying out to God for revival, 

and he very gently  reminded me: 

"You are revival."  

The baton is in your hand.   

"The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, now lives in you."  (Rom 8:11)

You restore the Kingdom.

God is reminding me again and again, as I see injustices in the world all around me, and cry out for mercy and justice and righteousness and life.  He is reminding me, 'yes, lets go restore the world to my love, together.'

Praying for wild boldness... :)

The power of agreeing with God!

Reading Luke 1 today.  I am amazed by the power of agreeing with what God says.  And the power of disagreeing with it.

Zechariah doubted what the angel said to him about the son God was going to give him.  So God shut his mouth for the next nine months and didn't let him speak.  And he didn't speak when the child was born either, not until 8 days later when he officially agreed with God and named him John.  And then he immediately prophesied and praised God for his own son and Christ who was coming.

Elizabeth agreed with God and praised him for answering her prayers and giving her a son.  Then when Mary came into the room (carrying Jesus who couldn't have been more than a few days past conception at that point) and the baby lept in Elizabeth's womb... she agreed with God!  She was filled also with the Holy Spirit and immediately gave a glad cry and exclamation and praise and prophesied about Jesus.

Mary agreed with the impossible sounding word of God for her life.  And Elisabeth told her what's true for all of us, if we will agree with what God says about us, Luke 1:45:

"YOU ARE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED THAT THE LORD WOULD DO WHAT HE SAID."

The other thing I learned this time reading is from 1:41-46 and 67

1:41 "At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."

This is the traditional and expected response :)  When the Holy Spirit recognizes Jesus nearby, he often causes various outbursts of joy, leaping, praising and prophecy, and its often contagious to anyone nearby willing to agree with him and join in the praise.

So my prayer today is:  "Abba Pai, when I feel that little leaping inside.  Help me to agree with you in joy.  I want to pay attention and lean into what your Spirit is saying in my heart.  I want to recognize you when you come in the room in a new way and praise you for it.  And I want to feel your heart more and prophecy over my circumstances and proclaim whatever you are saying....   So yes to the leaping!  Haha.  Thank you for declaring words of life and destiny and identity over me from every heartbeat in the womb.  From every swoosh of circulation in the placenta, you have been my source.  Tune my spirit in to the swoosh.  To your declarations over my life.  I want to agree with you more and more."