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enJOYing The Journey
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JJ Daniel, SW Washington
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WOUNDED AND NEGLECTED
How
many of the “lost and dying”, the “broken
and wounded” …sit next to you in the pews every Sunday?
Jesus
said that the anointing is on Him to “heal the broken hearted” – and He
passed that role on to His disciples. We are constantly aware of the orphans
and widows, as we should be, it is our job to take care of them (James
1:26-27). We hear of unbelievable poverty and devastation around
the world every day – is it our job to care?
Absolutely!! Should we do something about it? Absolutely!! Jesus said… “If
you give a cup of cold water to the least of these… if you visit someone in
prison… if you clothe the needy… you’ve given it to Me.” (Matthew 25) Clearly
it is the job of “The Church” – to be help to the needy. We are “JESUS” to a
lost and hopeless world… Absolutely!!
Joyce
Meyer recently asked: “Are you truly a Christian, or are you just
religious? If you are ‘Christ-like’
–
how many people have you helped today?”
(Joyce Meyer: What an anointed woman
of God! I can’t even get my mind wrapped
around people thinking she is “not of
God” or “shouldn’t be in the pulpit!”
…can’t help but wonder who those people think is anointing her to preach
the Gospel, and lead thousands to Jesus each month!!
GOD must think she is in the right place! Just a thought!)
I
agree with Joyce: If we are “Christ-like” … where is the evidence of it!? SAYING
that we are “Jesus with skin on” or… “A
disciple” or “A Christian” - is easy; LIVING it takes action!
The
passage I just quoted in Matthew 25 goes on to say… “if you didn’t do these things… I
don’t even know you.” How scary is that!?
I
remember the day a man from Iran told me that in his country, “to be a ‘christian’ means only that you are
not muslim.” It has nothing at all to do with Jesus, being “Christ-like” or
following His Word. Sadly, even in America today… being a “Christian” can mean
very little. Perhaps we need to be reminded that the word “Christian” means “Christ-like”
or “little
Christ.” (“Christ” = “anointed”)
We
read about the people Jesus rescued and all the lives that were instantly-changed,
when they had an encounter with Jesus, the Son of God; we believe the miracles
that He worked when He lived here, as a man… But, do we truly believe that He
is “The same, yesterday, today and forever”? Do we really “get” that He told His
disciples (you and me)
that they would do “greater things than these”?
What
are you doing to reflect the
love and compassion of Jesus Christ? I personally believe
that everyone who comes into the “Family of God” – has a designated purpose
that includes touching other people with the love of God. Didn’t God design
each of us to carry the good-news of The Gospel… to “all the world”? (Mark 16:15)
There
are so many people lost and dying; so many in need, so many places to get
involved, to support, and to pray for, to lend a helping-hand. Sometimes it can
even seem a bit overwhelming. Sometimes we can get so focused on “reaching others for Jesus” and “rescuing those in other nations” – that
we fail to notice all the hurting, wounded people setting beside us each week
at church (or in our own home).
I
don’t remember anyone ever teaching, or saying… “Now that you are born again,
you can’t hurt! You can’t have a problem! You can’t need prayer!!” …but I did grow up thinking that. I
find that the church (in general) is filled with
masked, hurting people, afraid to admit they have a problem, and afraid to ask
for help. How sad is that!!
JESUS
is the answer to every hurt – He still heals the broken heart… but somehow, we
have given our people the idea that now that they are “part of the church” –
they are automatically “healed and whole” – so they dare not tell anyone how
really broken and bleeding they are on the inside!! It seems to me that the enemy has blinded us
in this matter… to keep God’s people from being free and whole.
I
think that it was John Paul Jackson who recently shared this vision: First he
saw a crowd of people swarming into a large building (it may have been a stadium) …
in the vision he wondered who was there, what all these people were going to
see. The next part of the vision – he was on the inside of this building, and
it was “church”. Thousands of people
where flocking into the church; when they entered the building, the people
already there – ran to meet them, embraced them and ministered to them. He said
he heard the Holy Spirit share with him at the time of this vision – that no one
would be exempt; that
everyone in the church would be part of this harvest, because the need will be
so great!! So many hurting, hopeless people will
be flocking to the church, looking for help and hope - If the church is also
broken and sick, and in need - who will get these people free and whole?
I
can only speak of the church that I am involved with: here, we are currently
seeing the Holy Spirit rip off the masks – and bring to the surface, the
deceptions, the hurt and the need of those sitting in the pew. I believe that
God is serious about getting His Bride healed and whole… He is going after it
like I have never seen before. He is freeing and healing His children, and
doing some truly amazing things!! Sure, He is preparing His Bride, for His
return… yes! But He is also preparing her to “Be
about The Father’s Business!” There
is much work to do Family-of-God… He needs you healed and whole, and free – to
carry the good-news of Jesus Christ to the hurting, and to let rivers of living
water flow from you!
1 Peter 4:7-9 But the end of all things
is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have
fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”[a] 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling..
Please
allow me to leave you with something to think about:
1. How’s YOUR “love life”? Do you “look like
Jesus”? “Love like Jesus”?
2. What are YOU doing to “make a difference”
in the world around you?
John 15:12-14 This is My
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you
do whatever I command you.
John 12:9-11 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor
what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
1 Corinthians 13:2-4 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand
all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body
to be burned,[a]but have
not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Ephesians 5:1-2 IMITATE GOD! Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma
Shalom! SHINE ON!
JJ Daniel,
