I have been praying for people for a long time. I am not saying that to brag but to witness the power of redemption that revolutionarily changes people's lives. Lies that people believed and lived accordingly when brought into the light of truth by the Wind of the Spirit begins a dismantling of behaviors and systems. I love to ask Jesus what is the root of a behavior or a belief, and then He actually shows us. No fear.
Today I prayed with a friend who was having some issues in a relationship with a guy. Whenever the guy was around she would close down and be very silent. This is not like her. She is very kind and engaging. We asked the Savior to show her the root of this behavior and He did. We asked what should she do and Jesus told her. Very clear and loving. She said she was unable and Jesus said she had the authority and power to do what needed to be done. She renounced the power and authority she has been giving this lie and I saw her face strengthen and peace began to rise in her face and eyes.
He spoke to her about other things that needed to be dealt with and with peace and assurance, much more than just confidence, she let her Savior do what needed to be done and said. She left differently than when she sat down and asked if we could talk.
I watched a Revolution take place in the systems that controlled her heart and mind. We thank Jesus...
7 comments:
another story of redemption. summer is beautiful.
ok why does that work so well THERE? ;-)
Thanks for sharing.......
life is beautiful, summer is a part that comment to both.
Wow - our Savior is so powerful!
It IS amazing.
There is something about a group of people putting themselves exclusively at God's service in a place where you can't help but be reminded of Him, while being far from many of the world's distractions.
Yes, there are warts even at camp, and yes, most of us are called to live off the mountain most of our lives. But there's something about that patch of earth and the people going there to serve, and most of all the God they are serving. There's no reason to think the concept of holy ground ended with biblical times.
I agree that camp is a special place and most definitely the Spirit is at work among his people there, pointing them to Christ.
May I also propose that the concept of holy ground ended when "the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom" (Mark 15:38). The Holy of Holies was not needed in the temple anymore when the cross opened the way for us to have the Spirit dwell in our hearts.
I say this not to diminish the holiness of places like camp, but to free those of us who are not there now to see that -- Jesus Christ -- is our new holy ground.
God made a new covenant with his people - "I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10).
Wherever Jesus abides, we are in the presence of God, and we are on holy ground. That is why wherever we trust in the sacrifice and power of His blood, whether "on Huntington Blvd. in Fresno, a beach in SoCal, and a coffee shop in Spokane" - we can have direct relationship with God in Christ.
I agree that there is no God-forsaken place on the planet. Kuyper has a great quotation about both Jesus and Satan claiming every inch of the earth. And I agree that God can work wherever we are, and wherever we are not.
I disagree, however, that the tearing of the curtain means that there are not places where God's presence is even more pronounced. I think the tearing of the curtain speaks more to the end of the idea that we need a mediator other than Christ. We now have direct access, we don't need the high priest to go in to the holy of holies any more. So I disagree on the emphasis: the curtain represents more the end of the need for sacrifices, priests, and temples, but not necessarily a place where we commune with God in an even more intimate way than in our normal surroudings.
The holy ground that God declared to Moses was like that, and I don't know of anything that says there can't be holy ground in the inner city, or the beach, or anywhere God so chooses. But I do think God makes His presence more pronounced in the presence of those who open their hearts to him exclusively in community, and that's easier to do some places than others. Jesus himself said he was prevented from doing miracles by the people's lack of faith; we should not be surprised that God shows up more when people do have faith.
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