Our lives are not our own but belong to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. There is no maturity without obedience, even unto death, if need be. We cannot waffle between two masters. We must consecrate ourselves entirely to the Lord not just in word, but in deed and truth.
Read MoreTo engage in this age, to obey our Commander’s assignment, we must soberly reckon with this age. We must soberly reckon with the Man and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. And we must soberly reckon with the cost. Only cowards take their hands off the plow and turn around. We cannot be cowards. We must count the cost without cowardice.
Read MoreHere’s a quick breakdown of what the Lord is doing in places where public expressions of Christianity result in persecution, excommunication, and death: Jesus is saving people. Many of those people are part of a disciple making group. Each person in a group is leading another group. Each of those people are being discipled and are obediently reproducing other groups of disciples that do likewise. And most of those people are women.
Read MoreNo one wants to get whooped so badly they can only escape by running through the public square bruised and bloodied in their birthday suit. But for all the popular fervor over “signs and wonders” putting the power of God on public display, only God can know the men and women with “hearts fully loyal to Him, on whose behalf He can show Himself strong.” May we be such a people.
Read MoreWe’re here to bear one another’s burdens. To help shoulder the messy, weighty responsibility of restoring the person who sinned and coming alongside any other persons affected or involved. If the exposure of another person’s sin makes us feel superior because it’s not something we struggle with, we’re in deception, and we’re being of no use to the brother or sister in sin. We’re just playing into the slanderous symphony composed by the Accuser of the Brethren.
Read MoreThe intensity of the dynamics present on the earth leading up to the return of Jesus can often result in people feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. The magnitude of the disruption coming to planet earth is only going to increase in the years to come. We want to respond to Jesus with wholeheartedness to what He is saying and doing, but what do we do when we feel weak and disqualify ourselves from wholehearted pursuit?
Read MoreScripturally speaking, music is warfare. Music is a uniquely effective teaching device. Music is the wave worship rides on in the throne room. Most significantly, it is a strategic means of fellowshipping with the One who inhabits eternity. If that doesn’t blow your mind, I don’t know what will. Yet in light of all these things, we find that music is one of His methods of maturing us.
Read MoreDo you know that God numbers your tears? He is touched by what touches us. May we be touched by what touches His heart. Let us implore Him to come to us. Let us cry day and night. May our tears be as incense rising to the throne. Cry out your tears in this fallen world, and let them have great intercessory meaning. When you are past words, intercede with your tears.
Read MoreOver years and decades, I began to discover that praying for Israel isn’t necessarily about coming into agreement with a secular nation-state or endorsing the humanistic agenda of a governmental leader— especially when those plans and values may be contrary to the Kingdom of God. It’s not even about adopting those certain traditions from a foreign culture. Simply put, praying for Israel is about loving what God loves because we love Him. And because we love Him, what’s important to Him should be important to us.
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