Category: missions

Hail, Hail the Gangs All Here!

“One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.”

Luke 9:1-3, NLT

The first step these men took is to come to Jesus.  His closeness is essential and critical.  The very next step involves our relationship with 12 others.  We never work alone, but with others who have also come to Jesus.

Jesus intends to impart vast power to His disciples.  He might of sold this “power” and funded His ministry.  (That is certainly what I would have done in His place.)  But Jesus has no intentions of setting up ‘franchises.’ He has come to make disciples.

The terrible enemies are in control, both demons and diseases.  They have inflicted the human race with strange forms of darkness for centuries.  The seriousness of what is at stake can be understood by Jesus’ response of giving out, “complete” power.  I believe that this is what it is going to take.

This disciples are not just messengers, but healers.  They fully intend to intervene into the lives of those who are not healthy.  They transmit Jesus’ touch to heal everyone who is needy.  The implications are clear; Jesus is touching, even if His disciples are the ones’ reaching out.

He reaches us in our weakness

There are specific instructions which Jesus commands, and we see in subsequent verses, that there is a basic structure to the disciples life.  We do things that must align to a standard that Jesus established.  We must do it, before we can make it.

The idea of taking with us money or food isn’t permitted.  Leave your comfortable clothes at home in your closet.  This seems to be time for us to “strip” our minds, and desires from those things that might snag us.  The athlete of ancient Greece would strip himself of clothing, to run an exceptional race, with no hindrances and nothing to trip him up.

At Brokenbelievers, I would like to think that we are hungry for Him.  Remember that He who feeds us has drawn really close is to us.  There are many readers of this blog who are well educated and competent to succeed on whatever level they choose.  But they must first and foremost be disciples of the Lord Jesus.  That means we are those who chose to be under His direction.

^

ybic, Bryan

Check out my other sites: http://www.psalmslife.com and http://www.crossquotes.org. Thanks!

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Significant Worship

A Psalm Study, 108:1-6

A Song. A Psalm of David.

 1 My heart is confident in you, O God;
      no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
 2 Wake up, lyre and harp!
      I will wake the dawn with my song.
 3 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
      I will sing your praises among the nations.
 4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
      Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
      May your glory shine over all the earth.

6 Now rescue your beloved people.
      Answer and save us by your power.

–Psalm 108:1-6, NLT

David has tapped into strength and significance.  The astounding part of it is–it’s a Person, not a method.  He has a relationship that alters the reality around him.  David is outrageously enthusiastic about this.  He exudes a confidence that can’t be contained.  Our strength is in a person!  (Not religion, a moral code, ethics or even discipleship.)  It’s Jesus, it is a relationship, that is personal–a intimate friendship.

David refers to a ‘harp and lyre.’  These are obsolete for the most part.  But I think any musical instrument can be used.  A piano or a guitar, (even a cherry red Stratocaster) is quite acceptable.  But there is an interesting shift.  David’s heart and soul is his musical instrument!  Worship starts right there, not in a set of drums.  His heart is the primary place of worship.  That is where worship must happen.  And we can easily confuse this.

King David understands innately the significance of worshipping God.  He visualizes going out to all the peoples of the world–not as a diplomat, but as a worshipper.  That is his central thought and theme.  No trade treaties, or ambassadors or even peace envoys.  But Jehovah God is his ingrained purpose.

And worshipping Him is a reasonable thing.  David proclaims two attributes that are ‘sparkplugs’ for his spiritual life, (v.4).

  1. Love
  2. Faithfulness

These ignite his love and worship.  When King David thinks about them, he can’t help but sing and worship.  And they are extremely significant for us as well.  When you think of God’s love and His unceasing faithfulness–and if they are properly seen, and understood, you too will worship.  As a matter of fact the existence of heart worship is evidence of a healthy spiritual heart.

David wants to God to show Himself to the whole earth–everyone!  Far jungle tribesman and Eskimos, all need to see God!  Everybody gets to see Him. That is the wonderful purpose of Christian missions.  David wants desperately to share this with all.  He has a true zeal (and sometimes that scares us).

Verse 6 hints of the existence of sin and evil.  These are things so engrained and prevalent in our society, and in our hearts–we need a deliverer and a savior.  Jesus has to step in.  We have no other options, and our creator has got to be our Savior.  When we begin to realize our desperate predicament, all the vanity (an old fashioned word) and emptiness, we are halfway there. I encourage you to worship, everyday.

#

ybic, Bryan

 

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Photo: Chicago at Night

One of my favorite cities is Chicago, IL.  I like its bustle and its different neighborhoods.  I came across this photo on National Geographic and wanted to share it with you.

I think what it does is put you into a completely different viewpoint.  Seeing the city with a whole different set of eyes.  So much of walking out our spiritual lives is vision, seeing things from His perspective.