Tag Archives: Spiritual warfare

January 17, 2016 · 8:56 am

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Greetings dear, beloved brothers and sisters in Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus Christ. May The Lord be glorified and blessed, and may we hear in that day: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, enter into the joy of your Lord.”

 “We HAVE no stamps.”

That was the answer that I received at the Post Office this week when I asked for 6 stamps that would be appeal to my Grandchildren.  This happened after I had just paid the electric bill, the phone bill, and the water bill there.  Our Post Office is a far more multi-tasked operation then those in “my old country.”

It is a bank (postal bank) payment center, sales center, and so very many other things that I sadly don’t understand.  But STAMPS?  I mean, FIRST of all, it is the Post Office. Even here!

“What?” I asked, raising my eyebrows incredulously. “NO STAMPS?  What do you MEAN?  First the bank has no money and now the Post Office has no stamps?”

The poor postal clerk lowered his head.  “We’ll have them NEXT week, I hope.”  He spoke the last two words more quietly though, not giving me much confidence. “We ran out.”

I left the post office and the title of the classic book, “Brave New World,” came to mind.  I didn’t feel very brave at that moment.

Having read and mediated through Revelation many, many times in my now 41 years of walking with Him, especially concerning “the mark of the beast” and other last days events. It always gave me pause to pray that we would have eyes and ears to recognize it and the grace and courage and fullness of THE HOLY SPIRIT, sufficient to go through whatever was needed to remain faithful, but that was hypothetical.  Suddenly it seems so real, so near, and more than a bit scary.

It seems easy to see how the current “world order” could collapse over night. Then a starving world might be fed with limited supplies administered through a simple implanted chip bar code. Not an id card that could easily be stolen or forged.  Food and shelter could be allotted to the masses on earth through the UN or whatever.

Well, that’s my “simple case scenario.” I do not want to be paranoid or a false prophet or even an imaginative one because it is a serious matter of following The Lord THROUGH whatever lies ahead.  And THAT can’t be done if I have gotten used to the world’s ways.  My focus NEEDS to be on Him.  My heart NEEDS to be His.  My spirit needs to be worshipping Him.

I begin each day SO aware of that, but then, there I am − out in the streets of Jerusalem for the rest of the day.

I have now used my Caspermat card successfully and made a paycheck deposit AND a rent withdrawal of cash directly from the machine.  The lady standing alongside the machine to help us helpless ones gave me a patient and pleased smile.  I had succeeded in avoiding being given a credit card. That’s right.  I personally do not choose to use them. So my card is only for deposits and withdrawals.

Is the postal system planning something similar?  I put that vain imagination aside for now.  As we see “the day approaching,” 2 Peter reminds us to be “found of Him in peace.” Thankfully we have such a cloud of witnesses cheering us on who have PROVEN Him faithful through the worst of fires and floods and He IS, perhaps above all, FAITHFUL.

Part of my “touchiness” about these things definitely stems from the fact that I briefly mentioned in my last letter: my immigrant limitations.  Yes, I DO speak Hebrew and understand it. That is, about 70%, unless it is in a totally new area.  It makes for heightened vigilance in any given situation where I am about to have something explained or someone giving me directions.

For example, we had to buy kerosene today and I am thankful that I finally have the routine down fairly well.  In America, I remember well buying kerosene for our kerosene lamps.  I would bring in a gallon container and knew the price.  The tank marked kerosene was clear and I would fill it up and pay.  Simple.  Now we buy neft in something approximately like a 18-20 liter container.

Well, this is what happened today.  We pulled up to the neft tank and opened our containers.  I went into the station and said, “Neft, bevakasha.  Slosh me’ot  shekel.”  (Kerosene please.  300 shekels.)  No problem.

He said, something, and I nodded confidently (knowing the routine I thought) and went out to tell my husband he could fill the containers.

“It isn’t working,” he said.  “He hasn’t turned it on.” Back I went.

“Tif’toe’ ach et h’neft b’vakasha?” (Open the kerosene please?) I asked again, thinking maybe he had been distracted.

“It IS open!“ he told me …and then he repeated the part that I’d nodded to again. “Uh…lo he’vanti…” ([duh…I don’t understand…)

Then came the (oh! immigrant!) hand signals which I UNDERSTOOD.

Put the nozzle back in the pump and then take it out again.  These are NOT words in my vocabulary. I made a mental note to commit the process to my oh-so-overloaded memory.

Words and language! SUCH a mirror of cultural differences and they leave so much room for one culture misinterpreting another.

I had to laugh yesterday morning on the train as a new sign got me thinking about all of this.  On the trains, the many signs are posted in Hebrew, Arabic and English.  (I am thankful for the English as for our first many years here there were NO English signs and it was all guesswork and dictionaries.  Directions were available in Hebrew, Arabic and RUSSIAN.  Over the years there have been also some Spanish, French and Amharic [Ethiopian] as well. But lately there are also more and more English – for better or worse…I’m still not sure)

Since the trains started running, the sign on the driver’s door had read in English: “Please do not distract the driver in any way. Thank you.”  By contrast the Hebrew read: “It is forbidden to talk to the driver!” And sadly I can’t read the Arabic.

It soon became evident that this was a useless sign as all of the RELATIVES and friends of the driver came by constantly to bring him food or news or a newspaper.  So now a new sign appeared.  The English reads: “Please kindly refrain from using your cell phone or speaking loudly near the driver.  Thank you!” The Hebrew reads: “It is FORBIDDEN to talk on your cell phone near the driver.  Do not do this!” And the Arabic looks even more forboding.

Israelis generally have a fascination with the fact that English speakers use please, thank you and have a good day!  They LOVE this!  It tickles their funny bone as ‘quaint’ and they take every possible opportunity to say these phrases to English speakers.

The bus, on the other hand, does not pander to English.  Off the train and on to the bus stop, I encounter young Egged (that is the name of our bus company. אגד  in Hebrew with NOTHING to do with eggs) workers handing out pamphlets, which can only mean that there is a CHANGE.  Boldly I asked if there were any in English.  Then I bravely took my Hebrew one and tried to decipher the message.  It was apparently explaining the mysterious boxes that appeared on some buses shortly after the first knife attacks.  We all felt re-assured at the time, thinking they were there to observe passengers and alert someone of an attack.  Wrong!  These new boxes are to enable those of us with travel cards to enter the bus through any door (not just the front door) and press our card against one of these screens, thus paying.  Simple?  NEVER.

There is a nice big screen, but it only seems to record the card if a small area of card is pressed at a particular angle way at the bottom.  This enabled the wonderful Israeli “innate helper characteristic” to emerge.  As soon as one passenger mastered the new process, he would proceed to teach everyone else.  Helpers multiplied until we were a veritable busload of teachers vying for students.

Before I got off at work, any poor unsuspecting new rider would enter a bus of piranhas.  Have you ever seen how piranhas attack its prey?  We can get that way here: “I want to help him!”  “No, no! It’s MY turn!”  “Let ME help him!”

Well, I am exaggerating a bit, but through my early morning eyes, this little comic strip played out for me to share with you.  We as a people, love to learn and in turn, love to teach.

Before work on Friday, I went to the IFI (Intercessors for Israel) prayer meeting. We are currently preparing our hearts for the annual conference beginning this year of January 25th.  It is the one conference that I attend as much as I can during a workweek.  Yesterday, the first of the annual speakers and helpers began to arrive and joined us for the 6:30 a.m. weekly meeting.

It was a strengthening joy and delight to see friends from the past, still walking strong with Him.  I sense something fresh from Him.  This is what we need: an intensifying of His Presence and a clean fear of Him and recognition of His Absolute Holiness.  This in the face of the sanctions lifted today from Iran.

I suspect that we do face a brave new world indeed.

BUT THE BEST NEWS IS THAT WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD!

Oh how I love what He said in John 16 — “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And so, WHERE will I focus my eyes.  They had BETTER BE ON HIM…OR I’M SURE TO LOSE MY WAY HOME.

I send you much love dear sisters and brothers.

God bless and keep you in His will,

Your sister J

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January 15, 2016 · 11:17 am

“Lord, I’m So Lonely”

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In the autumn of 1994, I stood on the bottom rung of my Christian life. Too many mistakes and too much pride had dropped me to that level. My inner faith reservoir offered little help as I tried to pray that morning.

“Lord, I am so lonely,” I muttered through my tears.

Then, I immediately heard these words: “Larry, it was lonely at the cross.”

I would like to to say that I nodded my head and said, “Yes, Lord,” but that would be a lie. Instead, His words angered me.

“That’s not fair, Lord. You’re God and I’m this lousy piece of flesh…”

My words trailed off because even in my low mental state, I understood the ridiculousness of my position. How could I possibly be angry at the one Person who understood my pain because He took all of my hurts, all of my sins, all of my bad days, and all of my emotions on His shoulders at the cross?

It wasn’t long before I laughed aloud at my foolishness.

He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14 NLT)

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January 14, 2016 · 12:55 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (1/14/2016)

The maturity level of most American believers is so shallow that if one describes 911 or Katrina as possible judgments of the Lord, we become offended and are quick to lash out with our tongues. “How dare you say something like that! Who do you think you are? A prophet? If so, you’re a false one,” we shout in unison.

The tumult continues until the person who has voiced such ridiculous beliefs is cowed back into his little box or his reputation shredded to pieces. This is what happened to Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson when they voiced their beliefs about 911.

What does the Bible state?

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has done it? (Amos 3:6)

We believers declare the Lord as the sovereign King over America, but when a 911 or a Katrina occurs, we quickly wrestle the divine scepter out of His grasp and place it in the hands of someone else.

But why do we assume the Lord, who is also our Judge, would not chastise America? Didn’t He use enemies and calamities to chastise Israel all throughout the Old Testament? Shouldn’t we expect to be treated the same as God’s chosen people?

Our immaturity resembles that of Jerusalem and Judah when Jeremiah prophesied to them −

Why then has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. I listened and heard, but they did not speak aright, no man repented of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord. (Jeremiah 8:5-7 NKJ)

Maybe it’s time for us to grow up before it’s too late.

(The preface from Common Sense 2016 by Larry Nevenhoven, ©2016, Amazon eBook)

My prayer for today:

Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit helps our minds to be renewed so that we American believers may discern what is the will of God for our nation. (Based on Romans 12:2)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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January 12, 2016 · 1:52 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (1/12/2016)

“For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me. (John 12:8)

Matthew, Mark, and John record the above words by Jesus during His last week of life. In John’s version, we learn that Lazarus’ sister Mary had poured a pound of expensive ointment over Jesus’ head and His feet. Judas Iscariot, who was the treasurer for Jesus’ ministry – and also a thief – was upset and asked, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Jesus intervened on Mary’s behalf, complimented her, and then spoke the above words about the poor.

Without doing some research, it almost seems Jesus’ words about the poor were callous and indifferent, but actually Jesus was referring to a verse in the Torah (first five books of the Bible).

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy, and to the poor, in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)

And by mentioning the first part of the verse in the Torah, Jesus was using a Jewish teaching technique to encourage His listeners to obey the commandment about helping the poor.

My prayer today:

Lord, help American believers to open wide our hands and purses to help our brothers, the needy, and poor in Asia.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 600 million people live in abject poverty in the slums of Asia.

6. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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January 10, 2016 · 2:07 pm

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Shalom dear sisters and brothers, from your sis in Jerusalem.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord, my God and my Redeemer and may I be a blessing to You and to Your children.

Sometimes we just need to “do the next thing “when the going is rough and the way seems dark.

I was reminded in my heart of what He said to me: “What you see…write.” And so I am. I pray that it will draw us all to Him.

 

“Celery Ameracano! ”

American celery?  What was he TALKING about?  The question had been, “Mah zey?” (what is that) in the snip of conversation that I heard as I ran through the shuk doing my chores while remaining alert for possible knife wielding neighbors along my path. But this arrested my attention and I stopped.

What in the world was American celery? I wondered to myself.

There it was, wrapped in a plastic bag (ours is loose…no bags) and neatly chopped down to just the stalk with no leaves. Yep,  I remember that.

“What IS it?” the lady continued to ask. “I mean…there are no LEAVES.  What do they do with THIS part?  The root is good and the leaves are wonderful, but THIS?  The STALK?  It’s not good for anything!”

I chuckled and picked one up already KNOWING that I was about to pay way too much, but I couldn’t resist.  After all, it was washed and CLEAN.  No mud on every stalk, which is a novelty for us.  True, it did look naked and bland when compared to the rugged celery tree that I usually bring home.

Actually, when we first moved to Jerusalem, celery was a rare find at all. The stalks were generally scrawny and pencil thin since it was grown for the leaves and roots.  Now, at least, we do get larger ones.  I smiled to myself.

Cultural differences are fascinating with our intricate differences. How they cook and eat, how they dress and play, how they communicate, the list is nearly infinite I guess.

It was very hard, immigrating here and being absorbed into Israel. I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t.  We didn’t come as tourists more than 21 years ago, but as older (nearly 50 at the time) olim (immigrants). Our first experiences were not pretty or painless. We were pruned down to our trunks!

Although I have come to the conclusion that in many ways we will always bare the marks of olim (immigrants), this celery incident gave me pause to worship and thank God Who has enabled me to come this far.  I thought of simply being able to UNDERSTAND a snatch of conversation while flying past in the midst of chores, and of the fact that we HAVE adapted to the culture in so many ways.

HE is the living river that waters us, wherever we are placed by Him, even if we feel dry, stretched out of shape, and pressed into a small container. Yet He is faithful, and His purposes WILL be accomplished.

 

Life continues on here despite the nearly daily attacks.

The capture of the terrorist who killed two in an ISIS-style attack in the middle of Tel Aviv last week encouraged the country. Somehow, our nation was uncharacteristically on edge after the terrorist escaped.  Tel Aviv, unlike Jerusalem, is not used to attacks.  Sadly, it is THE liberal “sin city” in our midst. Tel Aviv never sleeps and prides itself in accepting almost anything.

Arabs and Jews mix freely there, socially as well as at work. So, they don’t expect attacks.  It shook them.  Immediately the gunman’s family and village renounced the attack and stood as if they were all loyal citizens, horrified along with everyone else. It grieved me terribly that he was found back in his village, well provided for and hidden.

But as I said about the celery: cultures are interesting.

Whereas everyone was RELIEVED when he was caught, there was no rejoicing at his death. No candy and sweets were given out, no honking of horns in the streets and shooting in the air.

Those are the things that took place in the Gaza strip and many places in Judea and Samaria under Palestinian control when the original attack took place.

Cultural differences.

Israel does not celebrate death.

 

Personally, it has been a difficult time for me.  The death of my friend, a beloved sister in Him, has caused me to look closely at some things. In fact, many things.  I will not write about this now, but I do ask for your prayers.  I DO NOT question God or His decision and that is NOT my struggle. So, please pray for me. I will hopefully share when it is time.

Five days from today on the 15th of Jan, Lord willing, I will be 41 years old in HIM and I PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE.

Our weather has been cold and the rains have been INTENSE when they come.  Like everywhere else in the world, the changing weather patterns are wake-up calls and posing new challenges and life threatening dangers.  And how will we respond?  It has always made me weep to read in Revelation how many times God sent judgments intended to turn mankind to call out for mercy and instead it is written in Rev 16:8 (and other places) “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.  And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.”

I guess that this is really at the heart of my internal wrestling right now: the question of if we – or if I – am ready, willing to respond when God REALLY moves.  I USED to be (I thought) and I, for one, have been praying for true revival for some 40 years.  I have seen revival because I was saved in the midst of REAL revival. I know that there IS A PRICE.

THERE IS NO MORE LIVING LIFE AS I AM USED TO.

And the deep sifting of motives and responses is a fire that burns in me.  When God TRULY MEETS WITH US in the way that many of us are asking for – we will need to give ALL!  To whom much is given, much is required.  As I prayed for my dear friend, knowing that it would take a miracle for her to continue to live or to be raised from the dead (yes, that seemed a real option), I felt confronted by the COST of such a miracle in today’s complacent life.

HOW (you might rightfully ask) COULD YOU POSSIBLY CONSIDER LIFE IN JERUSALEM AT THIS JUNCTURE COMPLACENT?  A valid question, but even war and strife can become “the way it is” and God still sifts the deep, deep motives of the heart.  That is what I was confronted with as I prayed for my friend’s life.  Would I still be willing to watch and pray ALL night?  To fast and pray in the secret place for THAT long?  Oh, yes I USED to…but what about TODAY?

 

I began this letter with observations, although my heart is struggling, and I will end with another.  I’ve described before the shock that I had at the first funeral that I went to in Jerusalem when I understood that people are neither embalmed nor buried in a casket. But are wrapped in a shroud and placed in the ground, usually within 24 hours of passing.  In our main Jerusalem cemetery there is now limited space and many are placed in stone tombs, slotted into stonewalls.  I could not be at my friend’s funeral because of work, but another sister described to me the beautiful spot looking off toward the hills. She added that as my dead friend was placed in the wall tomb, she had a short vision of the Western Wall (Kotel, the last remaining wall of the temple where people go to pray and place “prayer notes” in the wall). She saw our sister “pressed into the wall” as the prayer notes are pressed in.

I thought of the words to an old Keith Greene song: “Make my life a prayer to You…I want to do what You want me to…”.

Hallelujah! A sister has passed through the gates of glory, from life into life.

God Bless you and keep you,

your sister J in Jerusalem

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January 7, 2016 · 10:01 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (1/7/2016)

Although most Christian and conservative leaders declare the 2016 Presidential election as the most important election in the history of America, it is not. In fact, it is almost irrelevant because Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rand Paul, Former Governor Mike Huckabee, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Bernie Sanders, or whoever cannot make atonement for America’s sin.

Only we believers can make a difference with our nation’s sin, in accordance with −

if my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This familiar verse is quoted over and over again, especially after a tragedy, like San Bernardino, but let’s be honest with each other, okay? We must be doing something wrong because it’s not working very well.

Over the years, we have memorized the words and mouthed lip service to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but have paid little attention to the context of why the Lord spoke His words. If we look at verse 12, we will learn that verse 14 was an answer to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:14-42.

In his prayer, King Solomon prayed about the possibilities of Israel being defeated by enemies, overcome by droughts, famines, pestilences, plagues, and sicknesses and asked the Lord to hear. To hear what? Prayers and supplications.

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3 NKJ)

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was He heard because of His reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)

Supplications are desperate, passionate, earnest prayers from the deepest part of our hearts, crying out to God for Him to intervene on our behalves. It usually includes weeping, crying, and fasting − that’s really what the verb “humble” denotes in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

A few times throughout history God has used an individual, such as a Moses, Samuel, or Daniel, or even a small group of people, such as Rees Howells and his college of intercessors during WWII, to stand in the gap to intercede for a nation. Yet at other times, God has required a large percentage of His believers to intercede on a nation’s behalf. The words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 suggest a large percentage of believers, rather than just an individual or a small group.

Now, I am not naive enough to believe we can get a large percentage of American Christians to agree on much of anything, let alone asking us to fast, weep, and cry out to God with heart-felt supplications. We American believers tend to look first to our government, second to a long list of possibilities, and last to God. So, until disasters and tragedies become everyday occurrences, I don’t expect national days of prayer and fasting to be much more than tiny blips on national radar screens with turnouts only large enough to fill small closets.

But then again, maybe God will bring forth a great move of His Spirit on America, right? The greatest outpouring of the Spirit of prayer on America was during the Businessmen’s Prayer Revival of 1857. That prayer revival ended up converting a million people and stirring up another four million believers, which totaled approximately fifteen percent of the nation’s population. But even so, the prayer revival did not stop the Civil War from taking place four years later.

Therefore, if God chooses to send a new revival to America, I’m all for it. Praise God! But I’ve been hearing about a supposed mega-revival coming to America for almost thirty years…and I’m still waiting. Let’s not make the mistake of placing all of our hopes on the “maybes” of wish-ions, but rather, let’s stand on something more concrete, like 2 Chronicles 7:14. (Common Sense 2016 by Larry Nevenhoven, ©2016, Amazon eBook)

My prayer for today:

Lord, I pray that every believer who has an ear will hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to America right now. (Based on Revelation 2:7)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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January 5, 2016 · 4:13 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (1/5/2016)

BASECO Slum in Manila https://markpedder.wordpress.com

BASECO Slum in Manila
https://markpedder.wordpress.co

I’m a month away from being seventy years old. Both of my knees are mostly blown out from playing football in my youth. My energy level is certainly not breaking any records on the get-up-and-go charts. The dreams I felt the Lord gave me as a young Christian – almost thirty years ago – have not happened as yet…and maybe they won’t ever happen.

But who knows? I could live for twenty more years, ten more years, five years, or just one day, but no matter what, God has a day circled on His calendar for me —

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others… (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)

For the most part, I do my best to ask forgiveness for the things I’ve done, but this doesn’t bother me that much. It’s the things I haven’t done, and should have done, that frightens me.

So, do I like fasting?

No, not really that much.

But this one verse is like a laser burning a hole in my heart and pushing me forward each week —

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:3)

Every person in Asia who does not know Jesus is a prisoner of the kingdom of darkness. This breaks the Lord’s heart and it better affect me in the same way.

My prayer for today:

Lord of the harvest, I pray that You would send out more laborers into the harvest fields of Asia. (Based on Luke 10:2)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 600 million people live in abject poverty in the slums of Asia. 

6. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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November 28, 2015 · 11:35 am

When Prayer Fails…

geezer

Yes, I ate too much for Thanksgiving and when I finally stopped, I looked around the table at our family. As I did, I had a divine interruption.

In a nano-second vision, I saw America in much the same way Choi Ja-Shil saw South Korea in the late 1940’s: a nation under the control of Satan and his kingdom of darkness. She immediately made up her mind to make a difference, no matter what it might cost her.

Choi Ja-Shil ended up fasting often and interceding up to ten hours per night for South Korea for the next ten years after her revelation. She did all of this while raising three children, attending a Bible school, and working to support her family.

Choi Ja-Shil’s prayers resulted in a meeting with Pastor David Yonggi Cho and starting a church in May, 1958. Eventually, the couple’s efforts produced Yoido Full Gospel Church (830,000 members), prayer meetings of 300,000 believers, and Osanri Prayer Mountain which has one million visitors per year.

Today, South Korea has the largest percentage of Christians of any nation in Asia. Not only that, Korean Christians – corporately and individually – are committed to prayer. Early morning prayer meetings, evening prayer meetings, and all night prayer concerts on weekends.

Now, how much of this was due to Choi Ja-Shil’s efforts? Only heaven knows.

Okay, what will I do with my revelation?

To be honest, I don’t know, but I’m willing to seek the Lord on what I should do.

So, for the next month or however long it takes, I won’t be blogging or on Facebook because I want to focus myself on this and also on some outside writing projects. If you have the time, pray for me to hear the Lord’s voice and to obey Him.

“When prayer fails, intercession begins.” (Rees Howells)

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November 22, 2015 · 10:24 am

“Are We There Yet?” (Part 13)

A big dilemma for the early church was – did new Gentile believers have to be circumcised and then become Jews in order to complete their salvations?

This issue came to a head when the Apostle Peter visited Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. Peter ate with Gentile believers until a group of Jewish believers arrived from Jerusalem. Then, Peter separated himself from the Gentiles and only ate with the Jews because he feared what the Jews would think and say. Paul confronted Peter to his face about his hypocrisy —

“If you, who are a Jew live like a Goy [Non-Jew or Gentile] and not like a Jew, why are you forcing the Goyim to live like Jews? We are Jews by birth, not so-called ‘Goyishe sinners’; even so we have come to realize that a person is not declared righteous by God on the ground of his legalistic observance of Torah commands, but through the Messiah Yeshua’s trusting faithfulness. Therefore, we too have put our faith in Messiah Yeshua’s trusting faithfulness… (Galatians 2:14-16a Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern)

This confrontation resulted in Paul, Barnabas, and others going to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders there. A decision was made that the Gentile believers just needed to abstain from:

(1) Things polluted by idols, especially meat sacrificed to false gods.

(2) Fornication, or any form of sexual immorality, including homosexuality and other improper sexual practices.

(3) What is strangled…that is meat from animals not slaughtered in a way that allows the blood to flow out.

(4) Blood, such as blood sausage.

(Taken from Jewish New Testament Commentary by David H. Stern)

These minimum conditions were placed on the Gentile believers so that the Jewish believers would not be offended to fellowship with Gentile believers. It was a good compromise.

Sadly, two centuries later, when the Gentile influence in the Body of Christ far exceeded the Jewish influence, a new dilemma developed – did new Jewish believers have to reject their Jewish roots and become Gentile Christians?

(Continued in Part 14…if you’re interested, the full series to date can be seen here.)

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November 20, 2015 · 11:23 am

If We Just Ignore Gays, They’ll Go Away, Right? (Part 10)

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First of all, if we believers are going to get serious about ministering to the gays in America, we have to get rid of our hatred and dislike for them. The only way we can do that is by being cleansed by the Holy Spirit, but we have to initiate the process.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Then, we have to ask for Jesus’ perfect love to fill our hearts for gays. His perfect love will drive us to fast and pray for gays and then be willing to be His vessels to them.

This may take some time, but we must get free of our hatreds and be empowered by His love before we move forward.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The Greek word ethnos is translated into the English word nations in most versions of the Bible. The word nations is one translation, but the Greek word also means a people group or a group of people of the same nature. 

Thus, I believe Jesus has commanded us to go to the gay communities of America and make disciples of them.

The gay communities we go to should include the Castro District of San Francisco, West Hollywood in LA County, San Diego’s Hillcrest Neighborhood, San Jose’s St Leo Neighborhood, and the cities of Oakland, Portland, Seattle, and other West Coast cities.

Will we make mistakes? Yes.

Will we have perfect plans for each city? At best, we may only know one step at a time for each city and have to wait on the Lord to tell us the next step, but to be honest, this is the safest route to victory.

Will there be trouble? Oh my yes! The kingdom of darkness will not open its gates so we can plunder it with the Gospel. We can expect fights, bad publicity, and maybe jail cells awaiting some of us.

The early Salvation Army provides us with examples of how to change cities by invading them with the Gospel.

“We are not sent to minister to a congregation and be content if we keep things going. We are sent to make war and to stop short of nothing but the subjugation of the world to the sway of the Lord Jesus.” (William Booth, founder of Salvation Army)

“Go for souls. Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.” (William Booth, founder of Salvation Army)

(Conclusion…if you’re interested, the full series to date can be seen here.)

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