Wake Up, O Sleeper
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Over the last six months I’ve been obsessed with the melody that is commonly attributed to the song Morning Has Broken (SASB #35). Over the last few years I’ve been obsessed with four particular passages of scripture: Ephesians 5:13-14, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Isaiah 6:1-8 and John 12:12-19. Over the last few months I’ve tried to combine these obsessions in song form. The result: Wake Up, O Sleeper. If you have your Salvation Army Tune Book handy, you can sing these lyrics to number 735.
If you would like the chords to this song (in an easier key than the song book) feel free to email me.
Wake Up, O Sleeper
Words by: Eric Himes from Ephesians 5:13-14, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Isaiah 6:1-8, John 12:12-19; Music: Old Gaelic Melody (Tune Book #735)
VERSE 1 (Ephesians 5:13-14):
Wake up, O sleeper
Claim resurrection,
Shake out the slumber
Stand up and sing!
Christ will shine on you
Golden reflections
Victr’y, he will prove;
Death has no sting
VERSE 2 (Ezekiel 37:1-14):
You saw a valley
Teeming with dry bones,
And made an Army
Stand to their feet.
Knit them together
Flesh on their marrow
Breathed out the Spirit
Made them complete.
VERSE 3 (Isaiah 6:1-8):
You fill creation
With Your Glory,
And filled the Temple
With your robe.
Shook its foundation
Host’s calling: “Holy”
Gave a commission
Asked who will go.
VERSE 4 (John 12:12-19):
Lord in your entrance
You are triumphant
We lay our branches
Down at your feet.
Hailing Salvation
Shouting “Hosanna”
Praise God in Heaven
Here comes our King.
Posted By: Eric at 12:59 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 25
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Thursday, July 20th 2006
Read: Exodus 40, Deuteronomy 34
You have finally come to the end of God’s detailed instructions for Tabernacle construction! And you have made it to the end of RevoDevos. Well done.
At the end of Exodus 39 a very touching passage is shared: “The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” (vs.42-43).
And in Exodus 40 we see God rewarding faithfulness with the blessing of His presence. “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.” (vs.34-38).
Isn’t it interesting that when God’s glory entered the Tabernacle they had just finished building that there was no room for anyone else (v.35)? Not even Moses could squeeze in there!
And then in Deuteronomy 34 we witness the death of God’s Revolutionary. Honestly, this is one of the most beautiful portions of scripture that I know. At 120 years old Moses climbs to the top of a mountain and God shows him all the land that was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Deuteronomy 34:4). The land that Moses had started a Revolution to possess.
“And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” (vs.5-7). Wait a second, who buried Moses? That’s right, God buried him. Isn’t that insane? God was faithful to Moses from birth to death even going so far as to bury His Revolutionary. But the Revolution doesn’t die with Moses.
The Revolution continues in verse nine: “Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.” Joshua was mentored and discipled by Moses for exactly this purpose: to continue the work of the Lord, to continue the Revolution. Every good Revolutionary makes sure that there our other Revolutionaries to fight with them and replace them when needed.
Q: Do you still want a Revolution? What are you going to do about it?
Posted By: Eric at 10:45 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 24
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Wednesday, July 19th 2006
Read: Exodus 36-39
We are coming to the end of Exodus and have encountered very specific instructions from the Lord. Exodus 36 begins with the most skilled workers agreeing to construct the sanctuary (v.1). Admitting that these workers are skilled at their craft is important to note. God has equipped them with these skills to fulfill His purposes.
God appointing these skilled people to construct the Tabernacle is not most miraculous part of these chapters. It is what God does through the least skilled people that should be noted.
In verse 3 Moses gives the skilled workers all the offerings the Israelites (the non-skilled) brought to construct the temple. “…And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” (v.3-5).
Did you catch that? The people were giving too much! They had to be commanded to stop! “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” (vs.6-7).
Wouldn’t that be nice? Shouldn’t that be the case today? Imagine planning a food drive for your Corps pantry and having to stop everyone from your congregation from giving because you have run out of room! Try to picture a soup kitchen stocked with good food that the homeless people that eat in it have to say, “Please, no more food! I am full. I don’t think I’ll ever be hungry again!” Or during your Christmas Kettle Campaigns, not being able to deal with all the cash and coin that the public stuffs in to the red buckets that Corps have to take entire days off because they cannot keep up with counting all the money or transporting all the loot!
In the Army today we may have “skilled workers” as our Officers—making the important decisions, keeping us afloat financially, directing our effectiveness—these people are appointed by God to fulfill essential tasks. We must never, however, not come to the point were Soldiers are not needed. Because an Army without Soldiers is not an Army at all.
We are all in this fight together. So if you are a Soldier let us apply the example the Israelites set for us in Exodus 36 and go above and beyond what is required of us and overwhelm the skilled workers of the day with our time, talents and treasures for God’s glory.
Q: Is God challenging you to overwhelm your leaders with help?
Posted By: Eric at 10:44 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 23
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Tuesday, July 18th 2006
Read: Exodus 33-35
In Exodus 33 we see God’s prescription for healing a broken, burned-out, frustrated Revolutionary. Remember, in chapter 32 Moses ordered that three thousand of his people be wiped out. How does God heal Moses of his pain? Through intimacy.
In verse seven we read this: “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.” I think that this is an incredibly beautiful and important portion of scripture.
When Moses had questions for the Lord or decisions to make or burdens to share he would leave the business and chaos of camp and meet with God in the “tent of meeting.” And God was deliberate in meeting with Moses. So much so that He sent a pillar of cloud to come down and stay at the entrance of the tent when they spoke. The Israelites— finally starting to figure things out—showed respect (v.8 by standing at the entrances of their tents) and worshipped God whenever He showed up in this way (v.10).
It gets better in verse 11: “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” Do you long for that kind of intimacy with God? To speak with God face to face, like friends? It’s absolutely beautiful! And Moses desperately needed this closeness; he was burned out. He questions God (v.12-13) and is desperate to find out what God wants him to do.
The Lord comforts Moses in verse 14: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Are you comforted by that awesome promise? Moses wasn’t, and in verses 15-16 continues to unload on the Lord. And the Lord continues to reassure him: “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” (v.17). Then in a beautiful act of desperation Moses—full of boldness—says: “Now show me your glory” (v.18).
Moses’ wounds were deep and God wanted to heal him through intimacy so what does God do? He put Moses in the cleft of a rock and caused His goodness to pass in front of Moses while saying His name, “the LORD.”
Did you catch that? He didn’t sit him on a couch and give Moses advice. He didn’t prescribe medication. He didn’t send him on a vacation or make him read a self-help book (or would it be a self-help scroll?). He didn’t get a group of Moses’ friends together and have an intervention. All God did was walk by and say His name. The LORD.
Q: Where are there areas in your life that need healing? What are you doing to be deliberate in finding intimacy with God? What are you doing to have a “tent of meeting” experience with God?
Posted By: Eric at 10:43 AM : Link : 0 Comments
7.20.06 Youth Prayer and Praise Night at the Chicago Temple Corps
Monday, July 17, 2006
Dear Metro Youth,
The Chicago Temple Corps is hosting the final Summer Prayer and Praise Night this THURSDAY, July 20th starting at 7pm. It will be a night of fellowship, prayer, praise and teaching for the youth of the Division and will be the closing program for this year’s Band of Survivors.
Worship will be Spirited and will feature many old Army hymns. There will be a time of open testimony in which you can share what the Lord is doing in your lives and at your Corps.
Here’s what you should bring:
-Your Bibles; there may be a "sword drill".
-A testimony.
-$2 to help pay for the snack.
Here’s what you should know:
-You may want to car pool or organize transportation with your Officer/Youth Leader/Friends. It’s better that way.
For directions to the Chicago Temple Corps (1 N. Ogden Ave. Chicago, IL 60607) please click here.
Remember it’s on a THURSDAY night, not our usual Friday Nights.
Thank you for your time.
Grace,
Eric Himes
Director of Youth Evangelism and Discipleship
Posted By: Eric at 1:00 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 22
Monday, July 17th 2006
Read: Exodus 31-32
Things just got really ugly. The Lord was speaking to Moses and was downloading very detailed instructions to his favorite Old Testament Revolutionary. He gave Moses two stone tablets (31:18) and provided a short list of rules to follow. While God was doing this the Israelites got restless. And in doing so they exposed a weak faith and sinned.
Look at 32:1 it says: “When Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron.” The part that is really convicting to me is the “right away” part. These people depended on Moses so much that when he wasn’t immediately instructing them, challenging them or leading them they didn’t know what to do with themselves. They followed Moses, not God.
Their impatience gives birth to disaster and they start blaming Moses for abandoning them. Then Aaron makes a huge mistake. He instructs the people to make an idol, something they can see; a god that will always be with them. Something tangible to lead them. Aaron doesn’t usually act like such a loser (see 32:24!) and he pays for his weakness.
When Moses comes down from the mountain he saw the rebellion that the Lord alerted him to in verses 7-8. Moses reacted in “terrible anger” (v.19) and destroyed the tablets that the Lord wrote with His own hand. So because Moses was frustrated with the Israelites he destroyed the Lord’s work. Do you think Moses sinned in doing this?
He definitely could have responded better and in 32:20 Moses starts to think more clearly and comes up with an awesome punishment; he literally makes the people drink their god. The god they created to be with them forever disappeared down their throats (and probably sat poorly at the bottom of their bladders). Classic.
God is only beginning to punish the Israelites. And it only gets more hardcore from here. Reread 32:25-35. Moses called those who would defend the Lord (the Levites) to kill those who had rebelled in their idolatry. Three thousand people were slain (v.28). And then just to be sure that everyone got the point, God sends a plague (v.35). Do you think this punishment is just? What does this reveal about the nature of God?
Q: How do you react in the times when you feel that God has disappeared? What do you do when your leaders are not leading you? How many times have you destroyed the work of the Lord because you were frustrated by the reaction of others? Are you willing to admit that God is sovereign and righteous and has the right to judge and punish however He wishes?
Posted By: Eric at 12:02 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 21
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Sunday, July 16th 2006
Read: Exodus 26-30
The instructions have continued for a few chapters and are coming down fast and furious to Moses and his people.
In Chapter 30:22-33, Yahweh includes instructions for special anointing oil that is worth discussing. The Holy Spirit is represented by oil throughout Scripture. It would be interesting if you would adapt this premise today: “Man, there’s oil on that song”; “I could feel the oil”; “get deep-fried”; “marinate”; “release the grease”; and so on.
There are three aspects worth discussing:
1. This oil is holy. “Whatever touches them will become holy” (Exodus 30:29). Now, watch this. This is Revolutionary. This kind of holiness was contagious. This oil was put on certain things and whatever touched those certain things (not even the oil directly) became holy. This is outrageous. This switches us from being a group of wimps who are scared to death of losing our holiness and being contaminated, to being robust, confidently holy people who go into darkness to brighten it up and who come alongside sin to make sinners holy. Wow!
2. This oil anoints. Now, the Holy Spirit is very active in our lives. He provides prevenient grace, He convicts, He regenerates, He guides, He leads you into truth, He points to Jesus, and so on. But He also sanctifies and anoints. In sanctification, He crucifies your natural inclination to selfishness and fills you up with a supernatural inclination—a default reaction—to please God. Revolutionary.
But anointing is a little different. Early Salvos called it the third blessing (salvation was first and sanctification was second). We don’t talk about it too much these days but there you go. Holy Spirit comes on you. As with King Saul (who “changed into a different person” see 1 Samuel 10:8-10), Peter, Paul and others in Scripture, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, things change. Often the context is engaging the Enemy and the results are miraculous demonstrations that God exists, cares, and has the power to intervene. As you can imagine, anointing in daily warfare is a Revolutionary resource.
3. This oil is exclusive. Exodus 30:32-33 indicates that it would be disastrous for you to use it for your own purposes. And God wasn’t joking. Nadab and Abihu (Aaron’s sons, whom you’ve come across three times in Exodus) were killed by God for breaking this rule (see Numbers 3:2-4). What does that mean for us? Don’t use the blessing and power of God for our own purposes, to accomplish our own ends, to make us look good, or for our own comfort.
Q: What aspects of the oil do you need (contagiousness, power, etc.)?
Posted By: Eric at 4:18 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 20
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Saturday, July 15th 2006
Read: Exodus 25
Once you enter covenant with God there is no guarantee that every day is going to be a “gotta blog this!” experience. The people of God exit the euphoria of dining with Yahweh and get down to the nuts and bolts of Revolution.
It doesn’t sound romantic but there has to be some preparation. Sometimes we get confused and think that, well, we “accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, so let’s preach to thousands and heal the sick and raise the dead.”
Though I’ve read it happening like that, it seems that a few other things have to be in place first. You actually need to get saved, not merely ask Jesus into your life. How? Mark 1:15: Repent and believe the good news! The thing is, it is not about you inviting Jesus into your life. It is about Jesus inviting you into His life. Do you get the distinction? One is all about you, where you’re going, your habits, your lifestyle. The other is about joining Jesus, where He is headed, in a great adventure that promises to impact globally and eternally.
Then you must get some things right in your life so that you can accomplish the things Yahweh has dreamed up for you. Paul took years that you don’t read about in the New Testament preparing himself to do all the exiting stuff you do read about (healing sick, confronting demons, raising dead, changing history).
There are character issues, discipline issues, training and skill issues. You need to cultivate the effective use of your gifts. You need to learn submission and service. You need to catch humility and experience holiness. And all of this is often worked out in the mundane, the monotonous and the trivial.
Tucked away in the detailed instructions for tabernacle and ark and table and lamp stand is a promise that is easy to miss. The Army caught it. In fact, we camp out on it.
The lid of the Ark of the Covenant was called the Mercy Seat (v.25). Now, you might recall the term “Mercy Seat.” It is the main feature of every Salvation Army meeting in every Salvation Army hall around the world. Our whole meetings and our whole meeting theology is centered on the Mercy Seat.
The Mercy Seat covers the covenant and the miraculous power of God. And in verse 22 Yahweh promises to meet with us there, at the Mercy Seat: "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.” Did you catch it? Remember that on Sunday, and test it out.
Q: What preparation does God want to make in your life this year for Revolution?
Have you really met God at the Mercy Seat (in miraculous, covenant intimacy)?
Posted By: Eric at 4:15 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 19
Friday, July 14, 2006
Friday, July 14th 2006
Read: Exodus 24
The people of God finally decide to accept Yahweh’s covenant offer. Covenant means “to cut.” Covenant is a bloody deal and it always involves sacrifice. Whether it is Abraham and God, or a Junior Soldier swearing in ceremony covenant involves blood and sacrifice.
And it appears that the people of God are up for it. They respond in verse 7 to the conditions with a corporate affirmation: “We will do everything Yahweh has commanded. We will obey.”
True or False: No one has ever seen God and lived.
If you said true, look at verse 11: “And though Israel’s leaders saw God, He did not destroy them. In fact, they shared a meal together in God’s presence!”
What? They saw God? That is enough to blow those people away who say that no one ever saw God. Not only did they see God but the leaders of Israel had supper with Yahweh!
Can you imagine that meal? I can’t. I can’t imagine the menu. I can’t imagine the dinner conversation. I can’t imagine “grace.” I just can’t get my head around it (yet).
And He didn’t destroy them. I don’t know, but it is probably a story that will shake your view of God. It should.
Intimacy is one of the benefits of covenant. God can trust you with some details He normally doesn’t share with everyone else. And the covenant conditions, those things in our lives that we change to align with God’s purposes and characters, allow us to enter into His presence.
If Soldiers around the world got their heads around this, I suspect there’d be a Revolution. Think about it. There are more than a million Senior Soldiers and nearly half a million Junior Soldiers. If 1.5 million Soldiers all fulfilled the conditions of covenant and began enjoying intimacy with Yahweh the effects would be catastrophic to the Enemy and beneficial to the Kingdom. Contagious love and compassion would overflow to hurting people.
The Salvation Army has already “invaded” 111 countries. I suspect this infectious love would spill over into a bunch more. Are you in?
Q: What have you sacrificed for covenant relationship with God?
What conditions must you fulfill to enjoy intimacy with God?
Posted By: Eric at 9:12 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 18
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Thursday, July 13th 2006
Read: Exodus 23
Here are more Revolutionary regulations from Yahweh to the people. They may not look that exciting to you now but you are enjoying the benefits of their practice.
People all over the world would love to read and experience the regulations of these verses. If you were systematically mistreated because you were a foreigner, you’d welcome this chapter. If you were scammed from justice just because you were poor, you’d be thrilled about chapter 23. If you were used to being slandered because of your religious affiliation, you’d fight to see these verses realized in your society. If you had to work seven days a week, you would love verse 12. If you suffered injustice because of bribes, you’d breathe a sigh of relief at this chapter.
God instituted here (and in surrounding chapters) a moral code that has provided a foundation for western civilization. And those of us living in the West are blessed by these verses today.
But you should be challenged to see them implemented in the rest of the world. God’s justice is not just for the West, but for every language, every people, every tribe, and every nation.
Twice in this chapter He explains that we are to take Him the first fruits (vs.16,19). The first fruits belong to Him actually, it all belongs to Him but He demands the first fruits back!
Far too many people are casual about our response to this command of Yahweh. The first fruits are to be given back to Him.
What does that mean? A tithe. What is a tithe? 10%. So if your part-time job pays you $100/week, $10 off the top goes straight to God in your cartridge. If you have a full-time job and make $400/week, that’s $40 tithe.
This isn’t anything worthy of praise. It is a command. It is God’s. If you don’t give it to God, you are stealing from Him (check Malachi 1 and 3 if you don’t believe me).
And soldiers are so much above that it isn’t funny. We start at 10% and go up from there. There are some soldiers who live on 10% and give the other 90% back to God!
Get it? Give it!
Q: What can you do to implement Exodus 23 in the rest of the world?
Have you been stealing from God? You should stop. Repent. Make it right.
Posted By: Eric at 1:57 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 17
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Wednesday, July 12th 2006
Read: Exodus 22
“Alright, alright, another list of laws. We get it.” Sure, there were a bunch of rules God laid on the people (again, all for their own good). But let’s camp out on a few verses near the end:
"Do not oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. Do not exploit widows or orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, then I will surely help them. My anger will blaze forth against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless.
If you lend money to a fellow Hebrew in need, do not be like a money lender, charging interest. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge of repayment, you must return it by nightfall. Your neighbor will need it to stay warm during the night. If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am very merciful. Do not blaspheme God or curse anyone who rules over you.
(Exodus 22:21-28 NLT).
This is a whole different mindset than our society today. What do you get out of these verses? God loves the poor. God loves the widow and orphan. God loves the aliens.
Now, you might fit into one of those categories. You might have slipped into the country illegally. You might lack parents. You might be poor by North American standards.
But if you’re dead and have a nail through your ear lobe (see yesterday) you need to move on and look beyond yourself. God is looking to demonstrate His compassion through you.
Note that God makes two promises: 1. He hears the oppressed; 2. He will take revenge on those the oppressors. The scary thing is that God has no tolerance for oppressors and you may be an oppressor without even knowing it.
These are not sins of commission, that is, things you do on purpose (like oppressing the poor). These are things that you don’t do (like not helping the poor). By not helping them, you open yourself up to the consequences (God’s wrath, etc.).
The bottom line is that we need to exert ourselves for the aliens (refugees), for orphans and widows, and for the poor.
Q: How many poor, orphans, widows, and refugees do you know? What can you do to show compassion to them this week?
Posted By: Eric at 11:36 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 16
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Tuesday, July 11th 2006
Read: Exodus 21
Whew! That’s a huge list of laws (and all of them are for the Israelites’ sake). It is starting to look a bit like the Articles of War!
But look at on in verses 5 and 6. There is a law for the Hebrews that slaves do not serve for life. After six years they are set free. But God slips in a provision for those who don’t want to go free. Why on earth would someone not want to go free? If the slave loves his master.
That’s the exception. Nuts? Well, if that happens, “then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life” (v.6).
A slave with a nail through his ear doesn’t have to be there. He chose to be there. He wants to be a slave. Is that messed up or what?
And yet this is the popular description that Jude, Peter, Epaphras, Timothy, and most of all, Paul use to describe their relationship with Jesus. Yes, they are apostles. Yes, overseers. Yes, super leaders of the Church. Yes to all of those titles. But they seem to really enjoy calling themselves bond-servants, or (as in some translations) “slaves.” They are slaves by choice.
And, of course, what is good for Epaphras and Paul is good for us. Most of us are chomping at the bit to get out of our obligations. We can’t wait to slip out of our Christian responsibilities.
God is looking for a different kind of warrior, a more dangerous breed of revolutionary. He is looking for people who choose to give up their wills, their futures, their prospects, their hopes, and their “rights.” He is looking for people who say, “I love my Master.” He is looking for the ones who will stick their ear lobe on the doorframe and say “swing away.” He is looking for Gospel slaves.
He is looking for you.
Remember, “You can’t make God love you more, but you can let Him trust you more.” Bond-slaves are Revolutionary agents, because they’re dead and Jesus Christ lives through them.
Q: What’s keeping you from taking a nail through the earlobe right now?
How will your life change if you have the guts to do it?
Posted By: Eric at 12:02 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 16
Monday, July 10, 2006
Tuesday, July 11th 2006
Read: Exodus 21
Whew! That’s a huge list of laws (and all of them are for the Israelites’ sake). It is starting to look a bit like the Articles of War!
But look at on in verses 5 and 6. There is a law for the Hebrews that slaves do not serve for life. After six years they are set free. But God slips in a provision for those who don’t want to go free. Why on earth would someone not want to go free? If the slave loves his master.
That’s the exception. Nuts? Well, if that happens, “then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life” (v.6).
A slave with a nail through his ear doesn’t have to be there. He chose to be there. He wants to be a slave. Is that messed up or what?
And yet this is the popular description that Jude, Peter, Epaphras, Timothy, and most of all, Paul use to describe their relationship with Jesus. Yes, they are apostles. Yes, overseers. Yes, super leaders of the Church. Yes to all of those titles. But they seem to really enjoy calling themselves bond-servants, or (as in some translations) “slaves.” They are slaves by choice.
And, of course, what is good for Epaphras and Paul is good for us. Most of us are chomping at the bit to get out of our obligations. We can’t wait to slip out of our Christian responsibilities.
God is looking for a different kind of warrior, a more dangerous breed of revolutionary. He is looking for people who choose to give up their wills, their futures, their prospects, their hopes, and their “rights.” He is looking for people who say, “I love my Master.” He is looking for the ones who will stick their ear lobe on the doorframe and say “swing away.” He is looking for Gospel slaves.
He is looking for you.
Remember, “You can’t make God love you more, but you can let Him trust you more.” Bond-slaves are Revolutionary agents, because they’re dead and Jesus Christ lives through them.
Q: What’s keeping you from taking a nail through the earlobe right now?
How will your life change if you have the guts to do it?
Posted By: Eric at 11:42 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 15
Monday, July 10th 2006
Read: Exodus 19
This chapter is enough to put the fear of God into any careful reader. We’ve been celebrating that Yahweh is a covenant God, and here He offers a covenant to his people. This is important for us, as we in The Salvation Army are the most covenanted people in history. Covenant is the biggest distinctive in The Army. And yet, most of us don’t really understand it.
Rob Dolby is a Salvo Warrior. He says this: “You can’t make God love you more, but you can let Him trust you more.” How? Covenant. Those people who take seriously God’s rules and commands—even when they don’t fully understand the reasons behind them all—live lives that God can trust.
How does God show his trust? With His character, with responsibilities, and with power. He doesn’t drop His name and character on anyone who chooses to use it. He doesn’t deploy just anyone on difficult missions. And He doesn’t delegate His authority and power to every Christian, or else we’d be seeing lots of dead people coming back to life, lots of deaf people hearing, and lots of blind people seeing.
He can’t trust most Christians with his power. Got it? Good. Let’s move on.
What are the terms of the covenant? The people had to commit to obeying and God promised to make them His possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
This is serious stuff. Even though they agreed to covenant, it didn’t mean that the people and God were buddy buddy. There were strict restrictions to handle with care. Otherwise, they’d break their covenant.
Q: You might be a Salvation Army soldier. How can you take the terms of your covenant Articles of War and Orders and Regulations as seriously as these people? Read the Articles of War at the back of the booklet and ask the Holy Spirit to expose areas where you are breaking your covenant.
How do you think God might advance the Revolution if every Solider embraced the covenant they’ve signed?
Monday, July 10th 2006 continued…
Read: Exodus 20
The people had just entered covenant with God, a brave act through which their promised obedience opened them up to massive privileges and benefits.
The promise was made. God descended on the mountain. And He outlines the terms of the covenant. He drops some serious rules for them to follow.
Historically, this is a Revolutionary act. When the Ten Commandments were given they set the moral standard for civilization. God outlines His commands for the people and everything seems hopeful.
How did the people respond in this first covenant conversation? Pathetically. They were scared out of their wits, they stood at a distance, and they shook in their socks. Not only that, but they gave up. Before they’d even tried to fulfill their end of the covenant, before they’d even engaged in one battle along with God, they threw in the towel.
To Moses, they whined, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die" (v.19).
Now, if you’re a slacker Christian, like most Christians, you don’t get it. But if you’re hungry for God, you know what just happened. Here the people of God had a great set up in which they could listen directly to Him. And they said, in effect, “No thanks. Not interested. Can’t do it.”
This is what most keen Christians struggle for their entire lives—to hear God consistently and clearly. And the people of God gave it up. Pathetic.
But, if you think about it, you might just want to include yourself in their number. God has given you the same opportunities of covenant (read 1 Peter 2:9). And yet, most people, maybe you, abandon responsibility and say to the Moses of today (maybe your youth leader or Corps Officer or DYS), “You speak to us—that’s fine. And you listen to God for us. We can’t do it ourselves.”
The thing is that in such instances, when God had given a covenant to Israel (or when we make promises with Him) God is trying to help us fear him. He is trying to get us to live in such a way that we are rightfully fearful of not pleasing the Lord. In other words, in such covenant situations, God gives lists of rules that we may know how to be obedient and that he might instill in us a desire to please him in every circumstance.
Q: Have you given up the benefits of covenant by giving up the responsibilities of covenant?
Why not crack open the Articles of War to renew your Revolutionary covenant?
Posted By: Eric at 1:45 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 14
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Sunday, July 9th 2006
Read: Exodus 18
Have you ever used the excuse, "I would like to spend more time with God but I just don't have the time?" It amazes me how sometimes we can't even give up 30 minutes of our day to spend time with the creator of the universe. We shouldn't view this time as a chore but rather a privilege. God wants to reveal Himself to us in new and exciting ways but the only catch is that we have to give Him the time.
This might mean that you will have to wake up a few minutes earlier than usual or possibly skip one of your favorite TV shows but trust me; it will totally impact your life. We have to make God our number one priority. If we're trying to build a strong relationship with God we have to give Him more than our Sunday mornings and our prayers at dinner.
Exodus 18 talks about Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, paying Moses a visit. Moses served as judge to the people and would sit all day and all night and help others seek God's will. Jethro flat out told Moses that what he was doing wasn't good. He believed that Moses and all of the people were wearing themselves out. They were all wasting time because they would be standing around for hours. Moses would have to sit and judge people all day, which, in my opinion, would definitely get tedious after a while.
Jethro suggested that Moses appoint some capable men who were trustworthy, to be officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. These men would learn the decrees and laws and then judge the people. Moses would only have to deal with the most difficult cases. Moses loved this idea because it made his load much lighter. This way he would have more time to Worship the Lord or simply marinate in His love. Moses appreciated Jethro's wisdom. When Moses was judging all of the people by himself, he wasn't making proper use of his time because he could have gotten others to help him out.
I think in many ways, we don't use our time efficiently. I realize that many of us have busy schedules but if our schedules become so busy that we don't have time for God, I think we need to re-evaluate our priorities. God loves us with an unconditional love and wants us to pursue Him.
In Joshua 1:8 it says "Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Q: Are you spending as much time with God daily as you would like to be?
What areas in your daily life can you change so that you will be able to spend more time with God?
Posted By: Eric at 8:55 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 13
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Saturday, July 8th 2006
Read: Exodus 17
Why do you think Yahweh pulled the cloud over to a stop at dry old Rephidim? He had a teaching moment, but what was he teaching?
The key thing to remember is that the wilderness, the desert place, is the place of formation. Yahweh was taking a nation of slaves and making them into revolutionaries. Israel was chosen out of all nations to be a light, showing the way to relationship with Yahweh (see Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2, Isaiah 49:6). Their Revolutionary lifestyle, as outlined in the covenant, was designed to turn the world upside down; having a day of rest, looking after widows, orphans, the poor, and strangers, the year of Jubilee (they never got to this one), let alone the awesome privilege of worshipping Yahweh.
But Yahweh had to teach them to embrace this Revolutionary lifestyle, by slowly challenging generations of slave mentality, removing it from the collective memory, and replacing it with a deep trust in His promises. So this lesson in Israel’s education is less about thirst and more about whether they really understood God and trusted Him to take care of them.
Yahweh was directing them through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. It was supernatural version of Map Quest (read Exodus 13:21-22). He stopped them at Rephidim so they started setting up their tents and unrolling their sleeping bags. They soon got very angry with their accommodations and got in Moses’ face about it! “Give us water to drink.” This is where it gets ugly. Moses reminds them of Map Quest. “For one, why are you complaining to me? I didn’t tell the cloud to stop in no-watersville. Two, why are you whining at God? Didn’t you see what happened to those Egyptians at the Red Sea?”
They continued in verse 3, “Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here to die of thirst?” Why blame Moses! Yahweh brought them out; Moses was just the man on the ground. Second, from the question, you’d think they actually liked Egypt. Hello, they were slaves, breaking their backs making bricks with no straw! Israel was far from being the Revolutionary nation Yahweh envisioned; instead they were a bunch of whiners. Moses named the site Massah, the place of testing, and Meribah, the place of complaining.
We’re on the same journey – from slaves to revolutionaries. Do we continually look back and yearn for the comfort found in the familiarity of slavery, (slavery to materialism, lust, comfort, security, self satisfaction) no matter how damaging and soul destroying it was? Or will we step out in faith and trust Yahweh?
Q: Can you relate with any of this?
How will you correct instances when you’ve forgotten where you came from?
Posted By: Eric at 12:17 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 12
Friday, July 07, 2006
Friday, July 7th 2006
Read: Exodus 15
Praise the Lord! The Lord has done great things for us. Take a moment to think about it.
Now, if you will, imagine an army. Rows upon rows of warriors clad in armor, waiving their swords, hoisting their spears, charging their horses; they are coming towards you. Now listen to the clatter of metal, the horse hoofs and chariot wheels, the battle cries. They are coming… faster and faster. You have women and children to protect—and no one is getting away fast enough and the army just keeps charging. Your doom is sealed.
Woosh! You are caught off guard by a noise similar to a waterfall. You risk a backward glance. Back there, where the army used to be, you catch the last signs of two tidal waves colliding. For a moment, as the water settles, there is no human noise, only water. Every eye is wide and mouth is open. Slowly, what is left of the army starts to appear on the surface. A few bodies float to the surface among pieces of wood.
Finally, everyone breathes and after three cheers for Yahweh, people start to relax. You are in shock. You've just seen an army—that was minutes away from murdering you, your family, and your nation—wiped out just before your eyes. That will take a couple years to get over! Some have tears rolling down their cheeks, still getting over the fact that they are still alive. Some are laughing and starting to crack a few jokes-like "That was a close one!" and "The grandkids ain't gonna believe this one!" No one really knows what to do but then the faint sound of music moves through the crowd and grows louder.
You can’t hear the words quite yet, but soon you begin to catch the tune. Someone next to you pulls out a makeshift drum and your daughter skips away to join a few dancers. Soon you begin to catch a few phrases.
Praise to the Lord! It feels right in this amazing and sacred moment. You close your eyes and listen. "I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed…" (v.1).
Be encouraged—the battle is the Lord's, and so is the victory. Still, the battle He wins is for you. Your part is to praise; your role in the story, your move in the dance. Read it again, or any one of the psalms, and see who He is. Sing your song of His goodness, and never let it die. Then see Him smile and watch Him continue to fight for you—He will always be faithful.
Q: Wars are won in praise. How are you fighting in this way?
Think about aiming to praise God straight–non-stop–for a whole day (under your breath, in words, in song, in shouting, etc.)
Friday, July 7th 2006 continued…
Read: Exodus 16
God’s chosen people have been rescued from an abusive and cruel ruling authority…and they’re hungry.
“Grumble, grumble, grumble”… “Ta-da!!! Food!”… “Grumble, grumble”… “Ta-da! Meat” … “Grumble, grumble” “ENOUGH!!! THAT’S IT!!!! You’re on bread and water for forty years!”
Seriously, though, the Israelites grumbled! At first they even complained they would’ve preferred death (v.3)! Sound stupid? Well, they thought they were dying of starvation. Seeing the truth of their slavery in Egypt was difficult because their perspective was twisted by hunger.
Have you ever looked back on a situation as “not as bad as I thought it was at the time?” We look back at the Israelites, craving “choice meats” they enjoyed in slavery and think that’s pretty stupid…right?
Ever looked back at “pre-salvation you” or your “non-saved alter-ego” and thought about “choice meats?” Ever watched other Christian friends enjoy delights that God has “taken” from you and gotten a little bitter? Maybe it’s relationships, possessions, a certain “freedom” with words, a bit of slothfulness...
Do we crave the choice meats we enjoyed in slavery? Check out verse 9. Catch the second half? “…for He has heard your grumbling.” God listens… to grumbling!
God wants to train us to “take every thought captive,” subjecting them to Him (2 Corinthians 10:5). However, sometimes “capturing” can take a while when the enemy puts on the guise of logic and reason.
What do we do? Grumble to God! Even before we’re able to construct an eloquent, purified and holy prayer; don’t be afraid to grumble to God! He knows how you really feel anyway!
What will He do? Rebuke you? He disciplines those He loves (Prov. 3:12; Heb. 12:1-13). If you’re wrong, He won’t gloat, He will provide! Maybe not what you wanted, but exactly what He wants for you. Sound good?
Q: Are there areas you feel you should grumble about?
Ask Him to provide.
Posted By: Eric at 11:15 PM : Link : 0 Comments
7.7.06 Youth Prayer and Praise Night at the LaVillita Corps
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Dear Metro Youth,
The LaVillita Corps is hosting a Prayer and Praise Night TOMORROW Friday, July 7th starting at 7pm. It will be a night of fellowship, prayer, praise and teaching for the youth of the Division.
Band of Survivors will be leading this Summer Prayer & Praise Nights. Worship will be Spirited and will feature many old Army hymns. There will be a time of open testimony in which you can share what the Lord is doing in your lives and at your Corps.
Here’s what you should bring:
-Your Bibles; there may be a "sword drill".
-A testimony.
-$2 to help pay for the snack.
Here’s what you should know:
-You may want to car pool or organize transportation with your Officer/Youth Leader/Friends. It’s better that way.
For directions to the LaVillita Corps (3621 W 24th St. Chicago, IL 60623) please click here.
The rest of the Summer Prayer & Praise Nights are as follows:
Friday, July 7
Summer Prayer and Praise Night 7pm LaVillita Corps
(3621 W 24th St. Chicago, IL 60630)
Thursday, July 20
Summer Prayer and Praise Night and Final Band of Survivors Program 7pm Chicago Temple Corps
(1 N Ogden Ave. Chicago, IL 60607)
Thank you for your time.
Grace,
Eric Himes
http://metroyouthnetwork.com
Posted By: Eric at 11:22 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 11
Thursday, July 6th 2006
Read: Exodus 14
We could go a whole month in this one chapter. But lets tackle verse 15: “Then Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!’”
This might be the only devotional you ever read that tells you to stop praying.
But it’s not like that, really. Is it? These guys have been watching God perform miracle after miracle in their midst. They’ve been on the receiving end of many blessings and have avoided every plague that was aimed at their enemies. They’ve had their faith stretched like rubber bands as their animals, their food supply, their health, and even their first-born children were all up for grabs.
I think it is fair to guess that they’ve been praying their sandals off for the last few chapters. And then in the last chapter they engage in Passover and extended conversation with Yahweh. But the bad guys are coming. It is time to stop praying and get moving.
Yes, you should keep in open communion with God at all times and all situations. That said, there is an inclination among Christians sometimes to use prayer as an excuse to avoid confrontation. Yahweh saw that the Jews were stalling. So He was straightforward with them and said, “Quit praying and get moving!”
So many times we keep praying and asking God for him to show us his will when he’s already revealed it to us. Here’s one for you: Quit praying and get moving. Act! Quit avoiding the fight with excuses that you are waiting for God to reveal His will for you. Do not tarry any longer. Start fighting now.
Jesus told Peter and Andrew to follow him, “and at once they left their nets and followed him” (Mt. 4:20, italics added). And Jesus also said to one man, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Mt. 8:22). Let nothing hinder you.
Look, if you don’t know what to do, talk to any of the thousands of corps officers who can affectively use you in the great salvation war. No more excuses.
“Not called!' did you say? Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face—whose mercy you have professed to obey—and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.” (William Booth)
Q: Avoided God’s will by praying to Him? What are you trying to avoid with excuses?
What kind of ‘moving’ can you do, starting this week, to help the Revolution?
Posted By: Eric at 10:23 AM : Link : 1 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 10
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Wednesday, July 5th 2006
Read: Exodus 13
As the chapter suggests, this is a major event, a day to remember forever. God is delivering His people out of bondage. Being free from bondage is the first stage of Revolution. Hallelujah!
God emphasizes that the Israelites are to annually celebrate this day forever. This freedom is an enormous source of national rejoicing. Also, Passover foreshadows the coming of Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the celebrations which we can participate in as he delivers out of bondage to sin. We praise Yahweh (God) for Yeshua (Jesus), who poured out His blood so that we would be exempt from the punishment of our sins.
God describes the effects of the Passover celebration twice: ‘This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hands or your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand” (vv 9, 16).
The mark is a way of showing identity; it shows who you belong to, what you belong to, and what you’re about. For the Israelites, it showed that they belonged to the Lord. It showed that they lived by his Word, and that he had set them free. As we have seen, the result of following the Lord is freedom. In the book of Revelation, the mark 666 identifies those who strayed from the bleeding lamb and turned to follow the beast. What is the result of following the beast and receiving his mark?
“If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” (Rev. 14:9-10)
The Salvation Army has a few symbols of its own, the most obvious being the uniform. It shows that we are saved to serve. They are a sign of covenant community, but they are also a sign to the people around us. And everywhere we go, whether we happen to be all Sallied up that day or not, people see us, recognize us as Salvos, and draw certain conclusions about us, take certain precautions around us, and interact with us in certain ways.
What conclusions do we want them to draw? We want them to see a zealous, passionate, covenanted warrior, exercising holy passion to win the world for Jesus (definition of a soldier). What precautions do we want them to take? Well, often they clean up their jokes and language. Sometimes the demonized avoid us and run. But we want them to repent of their sins because of the fear of the Lord overflowing from our lives. How should they interact with us? They should expect to encounter God through us. The question you have to ask yourself is are you so radical for Christ that it is visible to those around you, or do they have to ask. Do they know by merely being around you?
Q: How can those three responses play out in your life this week? Who do you belong to?
Posted By: Eric at 12:29 AM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos – Day 9
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Tuesday, July 4th 2006
Read: Exodus 12
"What? I have neighbors?" This is a question that is rarely asked but many Christians act as if they live in an underground bubble on a deserted island. Christian isolation is not the way God wants us to live. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
This isn’t just a New Testament way of thinking. Way back in the Old Testament God made His people love their neighbors. In Exodus 12:4 each household of Israel was told to take a lamb for their family but if that family was too small to eat the lamb by itself it would share the meal with their nearest neighbors. The scriptures didn't just say closest neighbor relationship-wise but the nearest neighbor.
So as we think of our nearest neighbors, how can we love them? How can we show that we love them? If our neighbors are having problems with their health and we know that they don't have anyone to take care of them what should we do? Should we pass by them without helping because it might mess up our schedule? We are called to care for our neighbors and their families as well. Love isn't a word it is an action.
We are not called to be soldiers not by word of mouth but by action. We can say we are soldiers. We can say we love our neighbors. We can even say that red is green and green is blue but it doesn't make it true. We have to actively love our neighbors. It is time we stop living like no one else matters. In the end it is not about us. I dare you to show your neighbors that you care. This may be difficult; they may seem like they don’t like you. Well, go out of your way to show them you still care. When they are sick be the first one to pay them a visit. When the cat runs away be the first one to offer to help look for it.
Yes we all have neighbors. Now love them.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
Q: Is there anything more potentially Revolutionary than authentic Christian community?
How many neighbors do you know? Have your shared with them your lives and the Gospel yet?
Posted By: Eric at 4:22 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos – Day 8
Monday, July 03, 2006
Monday, July 3rd 2006
Read: Exodus 10
Here’s another aspect of God we don’t usually notice these days. How many sermons have you heard about the God who mocks?
The tables have obviously turned on the Egyptians as they get pummeled by one miracle after another, as they get hammered by one plague after another.
And we’re not finished. God reveals Himself as the mocking God. Yahweh said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh… that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your son’s son how I have made sport of the Egyptians… that you may know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:1-2).
This isn’t the only time. In the face of a summit conference of nations organizing to rebel against Him, “God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans. And then in fierce fury He rebukes them and fills them with fear” (Psalm 2:4-5 LB). Let me introduce a nature of God you may never have thought about: the mocking God.
Check this verse out: God “stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets” (Col.1:15 Message).
Ha ha. He marches every demon in the universe, naked, with their tales between their legs, up and down the main streets. The mocking God.
There is much more (read Isaiah 40, for example). God is so much more powerful than any enemy. The very cool thing is that as great as He is, as dominant over every force in the universe, He “stoops down to make me great” (Psalm 18:35) and to make you great.
We’re not camping out on this to persuade you that He is mean-spirited. He is far from mean-spirited. He loves you with an everlasting love.
But He laughs at the enemy. He is not surprised by them. He isn’t off in some office trying to figure out what to do next. The Father isn’t plotting with the Spirit to come up with some effective response to Terrorism. Jesus isn’t out surveying Christian leaders for an appropriate strategy against abortion. God hasn’t convened a big assembly of the angels in heaven to develop a plan to defeat materialism. He isn’t asking the martyrs under the throne for a good idea to deal with pride in the West or corruption in the Rest.
He makes sport of the enemy. He demonstrates His power and mocks them.
Q: How does the revelation of a mocking God help you in the Jesus Revolution?
What specific enemy should you confront out loud, in Jesus’ name, with these texts?
Monday, July 3rd 2006 continued…
Read: Exodus 11
What would you give for total freedom? Maybe a few million dollars? Or how about the perfect career? What about your firstborn child? “What, are you crazy? Too much to ask!” But God’s already demanded it once (Abraham). Then He offered up His own later (Jesus).
“Then Yahweh said to Moses, ‘I will send just one more disaster on Pharaoh and his land, and after that he will let you go… about midnight I will pass through Egypt. And all the oldest sons shall die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest child of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the oldest child of his lowliest slave; and even the firstborn of the animals’” (c.f. 11:1, 5).
There is a price to freedom. And it isn’t cheap, either. Think of what freedom means to you. Some may say that it’s the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. Others say that freedom is not worrying about the stresses of life, just living as you see fit. Others still, may say it is real life. Freedom is the ability to live as God commanded us to without hesitation or restriction. It’s the ability to respond in perfect love to His commands knowing that you’re doing the right thing.
When Yahweh demanded the Israelites freedom from Pharaoh, the price involved many things, not the least of which was the firstborn of every Egyptian household. It was this bloodshed that brought them freedom.
Jesus Christ is the same freedom for everyone…not just those in the pews on Sunday mornings. His freedom is for all who are captive, which is anyone who has ever sinned and fallen short of the glory of Yahweh. News flash— that’s all of us! “Yahweh sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children” (Galatians 4:5). We’re orphans, but our Heavenly Father stops at nothing to give good gifts to His children. One of those gifts is freedom—from pain, sorrow, addiction, loneliness, depression, and more. The price of freedom is blood. Just like in Egypt where first-born Egyptian blood bought freedom for Israel, so Yahweh’s Firstborn’s blood offers freedom to the world.
Without bloodshed, there can be no freedom. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of that. He is the Firstborn of Yahweh, He is the perfect sacrifice. He is our salvation.
“For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13).
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Q: Do you have freedom?
How has your freedom affected your family, friends, school, and city?
Posted By: Eric at 4:20 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos – Day 7
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Sunday, July 2nd 2006
Read: Exodus 9
We’re into the thick of it. Pharaoh’s magicians could mimic the first couple of miracles that God performed through Moses. They pulled off the snake trick, even though their fabrications were eaten by God’s miracle (Exodus 7:8-13). They schemed up something similar to the bloody water (7:22). Of course, at that point, the more impressive and convincing miracle might have been changing the bloody water back to its original state. If you look back at chapter 7, the whole Nile River stunk, possibly because all of its fish died, and the Egyptians entire water supply was gone in a wave of Moses’ rod.
But now we’re getting beyond a little witchcraft. Actually, we’re way past what the best national witches and warlocks of Egypt could conjure up. Why? Because it’s not a fair fight. The limited power of Satan and his demons cannot be equal to the unlimited power of God and His angels. God is self-existent. He depends on no one to live, and is absolutely unique in the history of the universe.
Satan is a created being. God is all-powerful. Satan is limited in power, possibly to a similar extent as an archangel (though I don’t mean to offend an archangel with that speculation). God is everywhere. Satan can only be in one place at a time, like you. His demons are sent out through the earth, but he is not omnipresent. God knows everything. Satan doesn’t. It isn’t even close. Chapter 9 is about this unfair fight.
Witchcraft has been sanitized by our society through video games, movies, and a certain series of books that have integrated themselves into our cultural consciousness. Don’t be fooled; witchcraft is about demons. Any power it may have is demonic.
To ignorantly open yourself to the enemy is ridiculous. It warps your worldview. It twists your understanding of the enemy. It stunts your aggression. It is all very dangerous stuff.
How did Moses deal with it? He just obeyed God. He wasn’t thrown off, impressed, or discouraged by it. He remained in the Truth. And God was free to demonstrate His power through Moses because of it, even in the face of powerful demonic opponents.
You might be mixed up in some of the enemy’s stuff through witchcraft. Get out. Break the curse.
Q: What needs to change in your life to get out of witchcraft’s influence?
What commands must you obey and what truth must you clutch to defeat your demons?
Posted By: Eric at 4:18 PM : Link : 0 Comments
RevoDevos - Day 6
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Saturday, July 1st 2006
Read: Exodus 8
The plague of frogs; the plague of gnats; the plague of flies... and the list goes on. Each one is a result of one man’s stubborn pride and pathetic fear. That pride and that fear brought disease, destruction, and death upon his whole nation. It even cost him his own son’s life!
It is easy to identify with the Israelites who were bound and enslaved by a tyrannical ruler, but it is not often we choose to identify ourselves with Pharaoh, a man who was blinded by fear and pride. He was driven by his will being done and his kingdom staying put.
Pharaoh had everything. He didn’t have to worry about his next meal or how he was going to stay warm at night. He was afraid of losing his kingdom to the Israelites so he enslaved them for fear of being taken over. The act of enslaving the Israelites brought about what he feared the most, the destruction of his kingdom.
Pharaoh chose to harden his heart to the will of God. He made a decision to go against Him and to hold on to the very thing he was asked to give up. And because he didn’t give up the Israelites, he ended up bringing greater devastation to his kingdom than if he would have let them go. Pharaoh was given many opportunities to repent, but he refused.
But we, the Church, aren’t so unlike Pharaoh. I can identify with Pharaoh’s fear and pride. There have been times when Jesus asked me to surrender something that He knew would bring me harm but I chose to disobey and hold on to my sin. Eventually, these sins brought me serious harm; and I succumbed to spiritual death. If I had listened to God’s voice and not hardened my heart, I could have avoided the pain and devastation of my sin.
It is like a parent who warns their child that they’ll get sick if they eat too much candy. The child doesn’t listen to the parent’s warning and ends up with a stomachache. They pay a penalty for not listening to the wisdom of their parent. And in their immaturity, they miss the fact that the parent had their best interest at heart.
I wonder what would happen to the Church if we chose to trust and obey the Word of the Lord instead of turning from Him and harden our hearts. We don’t trust because we don’t know Him or His character. If the church truly knew who God was and knew His heart for us, we wouldn’t struggle to obey Him and the world would be vastly different.
Just a simple reminder of who He is and a word of instruction: “He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah” (Psalm 95:7-8).
Q: Identify your fear and pride and get rid it. Then obey, O.K.?
Posted By: Eric at 11:21 AM : Link : 0 Comments
