Most of us have surely entertained angels unaware.
Very seldom is it made obvious our encounters were angelic being(s). Just as often it isn't obvious when a liar or the father of lies is standing beside us whispering. It is only when we consider the lie and respond by our flesh that sin takes hold and we experience separation from the Father, Jesus and the Helper.
In Acts, Peter's encounter with an angel was made obvious after he was released from prison. I imagine the angel of the Lord striking Peter on the side just enough to awaken him from his deep sleep; the prison dim, yet lit enough for Peter to see and quiet enough not to awaken the guards. The release of shackles- silent, Peter's movements calm and the gates didn't creak as they opened. Therefore, Peter didn't realize he wasn't seeing a vision until he "came to his senses," ie., the night air, smells and sounds of the late evening hour in the street outside.
The known encounters Tom and I have had with an angel(s) were made known upon their disappearance when we weren't looking. Occasionally, there may have been a strong sense but most often we are all unaware. Remember:
Angels outnumber the liars by 3-1.
God's angels that are deployed here are commissioned visitors to this realm; messengers, guardians, servants and keepers of the will of God (to name a few).
With so much awareness of the evil around us, and it's prevalence in our world, let's remember, we have a great crowd of onlookers, witnesses, that we are fighting this fight before. Sometimes, angels are much more difficult to recognize because most my encounters have been ordinary people, many transient looking, but we have surely entertained angels unaware.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Jesus Didn't Know
Mark 15 records Jesus saying, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
vs 37: And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
Father God says He will never give us more than we can handle. I weep a lot these days because I think I need relief. Then I think of Jesus on the cross. We all have our own cross to bear on this earth. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Jesus continues ministering even while He hung on the cross. Of the accounts from the 4 Gospels. He forgave the thief at His one side, He spoke directions to John, "This is your mother" and Mary, "Woman, this is your son." Jesus prays for us that we be forgiven. these are the words Jesus spoke: He notes his severe dehydration as, "I thirst." Then two of the Gospels records Jesus saying, "It is finished." and "Into Thy hands I commit My spirit."
Mark 15:33-39 records the following:
At the Ninth hour (3 PM) Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
When the Centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
I believe Jesus could have thought when He said, "It is finished." and, "Into Thy hands I commit My spirit," that His work on the cross was fulfilled to its completion.
Could it have been the Father placed the sin of all the world upon the body of Jesus like a black shroud just the moment before Jesus' anguished cries?
Though Jesus knew in eternity past the full extent of the sacrifice He would make to pay the debt of sin, I believe Father God did not give the man, Jesus, foreknowledge of the experience of the separation from His Father, in order to carry the sin of the world with him to hell. It stands to reason and in line with the character of the Father and the humanity of the Son of Man that letting Jesus know beforehand could have been excesive torture. That knowledge would have been more than He could handle. He had it thrust upon Him. And notice how Jesus cried out loudly, "WHY?" I also believe it was immediately after that moment when Jesus gave out His gut wrenching, loud cry. Jesus' heart ruptured within his chest cavity and He breathed His last.
His Spirit immediately left His body, and Jesus was sent to hell to taste the second death, paying the price of sin, that we might never die. He spent those hours in hell in the depths of the earth, as Jonah in the belly of the great fish. But gloriously, He awkened a few saints of old and they were allowed to walk the streets of Jerusalem. At the end of his time in hell the debt was paid. He took the keys to the gates of hell and death from Satan. He visited the garden tomb and stood before Mary. And after all this, He ascended to the highest heaven to the eternal throne of Father God, that He might fill all places with Himself. He is standing at the right hand of the Father.
Pretty heavy, huh? I cried, with overwhelmed feelings. Such a great love from Jesus and Father God; and while I was yet, a sinner.
vs 37: And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
Father God says He will never give us more than we can handle. I weep a lot these days because I think I need relief. Then I think of Jesus on the cross. We all have our own cross to bear on this earth. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Jesus continues ministering even while He hung on the cross. Of the accounts from the 4 Gospels. He forgave the thief at His one side, He spoke directions to John, "This is your mother" and Mary, "Woman, this is your son." Jesus prays for us that we be forgiven. these are the words Jesus spoke: He notes his severe dehydration as, "I thirst." Then two of the Gospels records Jesus saying, "It is finished." and "Into Thy hands I commit My spirit."
Mark 15:33-39 records the following:
At the Ninth hour (3 PM) Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.
When the Centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
I believe Jesus could have thought when He said, "It is finished." and, "Into Thy hands I commit My spirit," that His work on the cross was fulfilled to its completion.
Could it have been the Father placed the sin of all the world upon the body of Jesus like a black shroud just the moment before Jesus' anguished cries?
Though Jesus knew in eternity past the full extent of the sacrifice He would make to pay the debt of sin, I believe Father God did not give the man, Jesus, foreknowledge of the experience of the separation from His Father, in order to carry the sin of the world with him to hell. It stands to reason and in line with the character of the Father and the humanity of the Son of Man that letting Jesus know beforehand could have been excesive torture. That knowledge would have been more than He could handle. He had it thrust upon Him. And notice how Jesus cried out loudly, "WHY?" I also believe it was immediately after that moment when Jesus gave out His gut wrenching, loud cry. Jesus' heart ruptured within his chest cavity and He breathed His last.
His Spirit immediately left His body, and Jesus was sent to hell to taste the second death, paying the price of sin, that we might never die. He spent those hours in hell in the depths of the earth, as Jonah in the belly of the great fish. But gloriously, He awkened a few saints of old and they were allowed to walk the streets of Jerusalem. At the end of his time in hell the debt was paid. He took the keys to the gates of hell and death from Satan. He visited the garden tomb and stood before Mary. And after all this, He ascended to the highest heaven to the eternal throne of Father God, that He might fill all places with Himself. He is standing at the right hand of the Father.
Pretty heavy, huh? I cried, with overwhelmed feelings. Such a great love from Jesus and Father God; and while I was yet, a sinner.
Fight, Stand OR Expect to Hemorrhage
Warfare isn't a matter of choice.
Whether we enjoy the hope of our salvation or don't want anything to do with Jesus, we are in the middle of a battle field. I personally think it is more fun to pray for all the saints knowing saints everywhere are praying for me than to hemorrhage all alone somewhere. I am Falling In Love With Prayer (actually the title of the book I just started reading).
However, putting on the full armor of God is our choice that we have to make on a daily basis. Take up the whole armor or suffer the unnecessary consequences. Life is messy enough without needing to constantly dress and re-dress our own wounds. Get into the fight, start helping to bandage the wounds of others and remain connected (lock arms) with strong saints. So, when a fiery dart does get through to our flesh (because our flesh left us exposed to the schemes of the devil), someone will be there to clean and dress our wounds.
Remember to put on the whole armor of God. I am praying for you in the Lord.
Whether we enjoy the hope of our salvation or don't want anything to do with Jesus, we are in the middle of a battle field. I personally think it is more fun to pray for all the saints knowing saints everywhere are praying for me than to hemorrhage all alone somewhere. I am Falling In Love With Prayer (actually the title of the book I just started reading).
However, putting on the full armor of God is our choice that we have to make on a daily basis. Take up the whole armor or suffer the unnecessary consequences. Life is messy enough without needing to constantly dress and re-dress our own wounds. Get into the fight, start helping to bandage the wounds of others and remain connected (lock arms) with strong saints. So, when a fiery dart does get through to our flesh (because our flesh left us exposed to the schemes of the devil), someone will be there to clean and dress our wounds.
Remember to put on the whole armor of God. I am praying for you in the Lord.
Son of Man Returning With Fire In His Eyes
I've been feeling pretty good about myself the past couple days... no obvious flesh attacks, but listening to Sean preach the evening service, I started feeling like a know-it-all inside so I quickly talked to God about it. Then, God used Sean to talk straight to my heart and it was tempting to ask him afterward if he had me in mind talking about pride and the flesh, and feeling pretty good about ourselves. The last worship song was all it took for me to start feeling overwhelmed by God's love for me, receiving from Him such instantaneous forgiveness (sometimes I try hiding for a couple days or so, sewing up fig leaves to hide my shame). As I was opening my heart with repentance, this is what I saw:
14 years ago I shook my fist at God and in cursing vernacular told Him I didn't want to have anything to do with Him, and saying, "I quit."
That jet propelled me into a dark tunnel that lasted for the next 5 years. When I came back to the LORD (2005), I pleaded with Him to never let me go into that place of darkness again. God allowed me to see the murderous spirit I harbored and nurtured, during that time, toward a banker in Cincinnati, OH.
I have seen the evil of my flesh and the deception in my heart. I know there is no sin I am incapable of if taken into that place of hate without God at my side.
Tom and I experienced predatory lenders, organized crime, evil oppression and great darkness after stepping into the arena of our legal system. We spent six years in that arena and acceptable descriptive words for that experience escape me. We sued the 4th largest bank in the US, filing a Complaint: Six Counts of Conspiracy. We prevailed but not before we lost our original attorney and our Complaint was whittled down to Breach of Contract. Though we prevailed, it was very, very unsatisfying. In the end, not one person was indicted for their crimes. And the practices of these bankers were not made public. We had an inside glimpse of the workings of this big bank (1996-2005) feeding their greed by passing paper and money back and forth amongst themselves and the incredible corruption of attorneys bought off, etc. It was only recently that the Father revealed to me that if we had been able to continue with the Complaint of Conspiracy Lawsuit, our attorney would have been murdered.
Therefore, I derive great comfort in knowing God's wrath will be poured out on the whole earth at the very end of this age, that He is a righteous Judge returning as The vengeful, Almighty King. And I will be at His side. I know He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
14 years ago I shook my fist at God and in cursing vernacular told Him I didn't want to have anything to do with Him, and saying, "I quit."
That jet propelled me into a dark tunnel that lasted for the next 5 years. When I came back to the LORD (2005), I pleaded with Him to never let me go into that place of darkness again. God allowed me to see the murderous spirit I harbored and nurtured, during that time, toward a banker in Cincinnati, OH.
I have seen the evil of my flesh and the deception in my heart. I know there is no sin I am incapable of if taken into that place of hate without God at my side.
Tom and I experienced predatory lenders, organized crime, evil oppression and great darkness after stepping into the arena of our legal system. We spent six years in that arena and acceptable descriptive words for that experience escape me. We sued the 4th largest bank in the US, filing a Complaint: Six Counts of Conspiracy. We prevailed but not before we lost our original attorney and our Complaint was whittled down to Breach of Contract. Though we prevailed, it was very, very unsatisfying. In the end, not one person was indicted for their crimes. And the practices of these bankers were not made public. We had an inside glimpse of the workings of this big bank (1996-2005) feeding their greed by passing paper and money back and forth amongst themselves and the incredible corruption of attorneys bought off, etc. It was only recently that the Father revealed to me that if we had been able to continue with the Complaint of Conspiracy Lawsuit, our attorney would have been murdered.
Therefore, I derive great comfort in knowing God's wrath will be poured out on the whole earth at the very end of this age, that He is a righteous Judge returning as The vengeful, Almighty King. And I will be at His side. I know He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Vision from Saturday Night Prayer -3/28
I felt like a bride undressing in front of her new husband for the first time.
At Saturday night prayer, I felt awkward praying out loud in our small group of four people. I became aware: I have spent so many more hours all alone in the presence of God, compared with praying corporately, that going into His presence, with someone I admire or don't know, isn't comfortable or easy for me. Sometimes I feel like a bride undressing in front of her husband for the first time. Anyway, we were focusing our prayer on Brazil and the Ministry Team and I started feeling empty and devoid of any sense for more to pray (all I could do was, under my breath, speak in tongues). After telling Jesus I was sorry for my lack of involvement in prayer for these precious saints, I prayed God would let me feel His heart for the Nations, like Brazil. When we came back together as a group, Larry prayed a glorious overview of the evening. And the brother that closed us in prayer remained standing before the Lord. Finally, LJ lead us in singing: "Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........" --
"Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........" -- "Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........"
As our singing gradually swelled with confidence into exhortation to all the saints, I felt the pleasure of God. I saw a large plume of incense rise to reach His nostrils. Then the fragrance lofted around the world to the remotest parts of the earth and all the saints were benefiting from the sweet smelling encouragement of hope. Their bent over bodies started to straighten up. I couldn't make sound come out of my mouth so I kept singing with my spirit. Later that week, I felt if we had sung that chorus 2 more times, their bent over bodies would have become completely erect with hope. "The Lamb Of God Is On The Throne!"
At Saturday night prayer, I felt awkward praying out loud in our small group of four people. I became aware: I have spent so many more hours all alone in the presence of God, compared with praying corporately, that going into His presence, with someone I admire or don't know, isn't comfortable or easy for me. Sometimes I feel like a bride undressing in front of her husband for the first time. Anyway, we were focusing our prayer on Brazil and the Ministry Team and I started feeling empty and devoid of any sense for more to pray (all I could do was, under my breath, speak in tongues). After telling Jesus I was sorry for my lack of involvement in prayer for these precious saints, I prayed God would let me feel His heart for the Nations, like Brazil. When we came back together as a group, Larry prayed a glorious overview of the evening. And the brother that closed us in prayer remained standing before the Lord. Finally, LJ lead us in singing: "Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........" --
"Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........" -- "Chris....tian....rise....... Claim....your....hope....... The....Lamb....of....God....... is....on....the....Throne........"
As our singing gradually swelled with confidence into exhortation to all the saints, I felt the pleasure of God. I saw a large plume of incense rise to reach His nostrils. Then the fragrance lofted around the world to the remotest parts of the earth and all the saints were benefiting from the sweet smelling encouragement of hope. Their bent over bodies started to straighten up. I couldn't make sound come out of my mouth so I kept singing with my spirit. Later that week, I felt if we had sung that chorus 2 more times, their bent over bodies would have become completely erect with hope. "The Lamb Of God Is On The Throne!"
Saturday, March 28, 2009
'Shaken Body Syndrome'
Mimi would often say, "Preach it sister!" And I would say, "Live it sister!" Back in the mid 70's, I started to learn how to share the Good News without causing 'shaken body syndrome' to each person I could capture to listen. I was a bonafide 'Jesus freak.' My poor unsaved family. When I was just out of high school, my first roommate (Mimi) was a spirit-filled, fruit bearing believer who had just graduated from UofO. It was a week after Mimi and I met (I had already moved into the adorable little duplex in Lake Oswego she had just rented) when she learned how young I was. "Well, it's a good thing I didn't know your age beforehand because I wanted someone older..."
God always knows the beginning from the end.
That year was a very fun year of growth in Jesus. The greatest desire of my heart was to know God. And, to preach His Word! One problem...I would keep on preaching (and sometimes still do) even when it was (or is) evident the person(s) lost interest. During that newborn, infancy year, I drank from and devoured the Word of God. I would read whole books of the old Testament or one of the Gospels on my day off. I memorized many verses and a couple chapters.
Jesus said we are to learn of Him. He is a God who wants to be known. He provided the Holy Bible, His Word to us just so we can know Jesus and 'Him who sent me.' He longs for us just to "Be still and know that I AM GOD." He wants us to have understanding of the mysteries hidden in the Holy Bible. He asks us to taste and see He is good. God is doing His part. He is knocking, speaking and showing us many things that we do not yet know. He wants us to find out the truth...to search out a matter. Whether we are a new born babe desiring the sincere milk of the Word, or a seasoned believer who has known God through many days of this life, we are all without excuse.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..."John 14
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans
"Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews
May God increase the acuity of our sight that we may see as through His eyes, quiet our hearts to hear His gentle voice, to ask questions and keep on asking, search the Word of God (as if for buried treasure) to better know GOD, seek Him with all our heart (like search and rescue) and finally, to stand firm as one who stands before the Lord.
May we always be desperate and hungry to know God.
Pray for all the saints. If we find ourselves weary, downtrodden and just plain running low on hope, let's check the engine of our heart to FIND...SEE...HEAR...TASTE...understand and KNOW HIM!
God always knows the beginning from the end.
That year was a very fun year of growth in Jesus. The greatest desire of my heart was to know God. And, to preach His Word! One problem...I would keep on preaching (and sometimes still do) even when it was (or is) evident the person(s) lost interest. During that newborn, infancy year, I drank from and devoured the Word of God. I would read whole books of the old Testament or one of the Gospels on my day off. I memorized many verses and a couple chapters.
Jesus said we are to learn of Him. He is a God who wants to be known. He provided the Holy Bible, His Word to us just so we can know Jesus and 'Him who sent me.' He longs for us just to "Be still and know that I AM GOD." He wants us to have understanding of the mysteries hidden in the Holy Bible. He asks us to taste and see He is good. God is doing His part. He is knocking, speaking and showing us many things that we do not yet know. He wants us to find out the truth...to search out a matter. Whether we are a new born babe desiring the sincere milk of the Word, or a seasoned believer who has known God through many days of this life, we are all without excuse.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..."John 14
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans
"Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews
May God increase the acuity of our sight that we may see as through His eyes, quiet our hearts to hear His gentle voice, to ask questions and keep on asking, search the Word of God (as if for buried treasure) to better know GOD, seek Him with all our heart (like search and rescue) and finally, to stand firm as one who stands before the Lord.
May we always be desperate and hungry to know God.
Pray for all the saints. If we find ourselves weary, downtrodden and just plain running low on hope, let's check the engine of our heart to FIND...SEE...HEAR...TASTE...understand and KNOW HIM!
GRANTED TO KNOW MYSTERIES.
In Matthew 13:11 Jesus answered His disciples' question of why He spoke in parables to the crowds and those who were not His followers.
After I gave my life to Jesus (suicide was the option previously considered), I testified to anyone and everyone about the great love of Father God and Jesus. My mantra was: "Once I was blind but now I see!"
"...because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.".
Months ago, I meditated on a verse that had jumped off the page (my gold nugget of truth I found in the Word of God that day). In the passage of Matthew 13:10-17, Jesus explains why He spoke in parables; Then He says to His disciples, "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."
Jesus then goes on to explain why the disciples were blessed. "...many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear."
However, the prophets and righteous men of old did not lack understanding. Is there a question you have or something you do not understand? Is it because you have eyes but do not see, or ears but do not hear? Or could it be you just haven't asked Him to help you understand?
"To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted."At 18 years of age, I thought Christianity had just begun because I had been searching for Him all my life and never "heard" the salvation message. I attended different denominational churches, memorized The Lord's Prayer, John 3:16 and the 23rd Psalm during my grade school days, and there was no lack of evidence I needed God.
After I gave my life to Jesus (suicide was the option previously considered), I testified to anyone and everyone about the great love of Father God and Jesus. My mantra was: "Once I was blind but now I see!"
"...because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.".
Months ago, I meditated on a verse that had jumped off the page (my gold nugget of truth I found in the Word of God that day). In the passage of Matthew 13:10-17, Jesus explains why He spoke in parables; Then He says to His disciples, "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."
Jesus then goes on to explain why the disciples were blessed. "...many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear."
However, the prophets and righteous men of old did not lack understanding. Is there a question you have or something you do not understand? Is it because you have eyes but do not see, or ears but do not hear? Or could it be you just haven't asked Him to help you understand?
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