My heart is heavy right now. I don't ever remember feeling this heavy about ... the state of humanity. I broke down at work earlier today, thankfully I was only one of two people in the office, so it was easy for me to hide my face.
WHO are we to demand first in line service by "don't you know who I am" tones because some blades of grass in my lawn are losing life and turning brown? As long as my interests are served in the time that I feel they should be served, then you won't meet my nasty side. "This IS an EMERGENCY. My GRASS is DYING." Emergency?!? There are people starving and dying all over the world; children are being exploited, aborted and abused. THIS, my friend, is THE emergency.
WHO do we think we are? That we can let a
woman collapse in an emergency room, right before our eyes, and leave her there to convulse and struggling to hold on to her life - with no one holding on to her? We sit and pretend that nothing is happening just to try and "mind our own business" until it is too late. So, we accomplished our minding of
our own business after her last heart beat.
OUR time is too precious to have to THINK ahead to the consequences of leaving our babies in vehicles that become like high heat ovens - which we would never dare to think of sitting in ourselves for more than 20 seconds.
WHO are we, church, to place limits on God and completely abandon the thought that any revival could be legitimate because of the outrageous ways in which people were healed? Absolutely, we can't always quickly believe what is presented to us (as we learn that we must test the spirits in 1 John 4:1-7.) But please, we need to find the truth of it by the very Truth of Scripture and by the Spirit which guides us into truth. All throughout scripture, God healed. Jesus had a healing ministry! The apostles were used in healing. Their handkerchiefs, aprons and shadows were used. I'm reminded of John 9, when Jesus spit in the dirt, made mud for the blind man's eyes unto healing. Jesus not only physically healed, but he rebuked and set people free from demons. Even then, the scripture mentions that not every sign was even recorded in the book!
Acts 19 talks about the many signs and wonders which the apostles performed and that many many more men and women were added to their number. We need to see the PURPOSE of TRUE healing and signs and wonders of God - supernatural - to testify to the Word, to point to the Father, for salvation (John 14:11-14, 20:30-31, Hebrews 2:2-4.) In John 14, Jesus says we will be doing these wonders that He did, and even greater than these - can we even imagine? Verse 13, Jesus says, And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. That's the end of it. It is all for the Glory of the Father. If your true hearts desire is that many would see and fear and put their trust in God, then why are so many, even especially in the church so easily put off by the possibility of signs and wonders happening today??
It has become more and more painful for me to think about our society, our generation... the importance that our culture is placing on SELF. Our own happiness and gain is the most important thing, and to the world, this is truth and this is good. Obey your thirst. How selfish. I am so selfish. I am so scared of becoming like the Pharisee. A haughty, outward appearance of justice and keeping the law. But forgetting the Father's heart... to seek and to save the Lost. To set the captives free. To share food with the hungry, to provide shelter for the poor. To clothe the naked, to stop oppression and break every yoke. Not to condemn healing because it is done at an off time, in a weird manner. Forget the fact that this healing opened his eyes and revealed the Truth of a loving and compassionate Lord, Friend, Brother, Savior and transformed his life forever. We pray for revival and immediately, without going back to the Word, chalk it up to a circus, or a cult when uncomfortable, not so natural things are happening. So then what? What would you consider a revival in our land?
Lord Help us. Bring your Truth. What can I do? Lead us by the Spirit of Truth. Open our eyes. Break our hearts. Bring us to pray. Travailing in prayer. Above all else, may you be glorified. Jesus, let your name be lifted up. Use us to change lives Lord. Not for anything else but to point to You. You are the Truth the Life. I so need you Lord. Break my selfishness. Fill me with compassion. Increase my faith. My hope is in You!
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
