A bookmark ...

I was looking for a passage in the Bible when I came across a bookmark.  I have many notes, bookmarks and paper tucked between the pages but this bookmark is very special. 

It was handmade many years ago and was presented to me as a gift. I saw right away that much thought was behind the design and the text on the back of the bookmark was signed by a very special person.  

 If anyone would give me an offer to trade it for a painting of Picasso or Rembrandt I would say no because this bookmark is priceless.  I have plastic coated it so it will not change with time. It will stay with me forever and it stays close to my heart. It has also a special message on the back  

“Hi mom. Here you have some pictures.    Daniel”

So it was my son who gave me the bookmark and the message on the back side. That is why the value of this piece of paper cannot be estimated. It is one of a kind and there will never be one more like it.

When I found the bookmark between the pages of the Word of God, it got me thinking.

In a special moment in time God also made a bookmark to his much loved creation. All the parts of that special bookmark were carefully put together and when done it was the picture of a special person; The Son of Man, King of Kings, Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 

There will be no copies or imitations; it is one of a kind message on the back and  the value is priceless. 

The text on the back side is this:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

Sincerely yours, Ida

Salve that brings sight … in more than one way.

Jesus is advising the Church of Laodicea to buy salve from him to cure their blindness.

But what was their blindness all about?

I was a spiritual blindness and since Jesus told them they were indeed blind, but not in what way, I think they could understand well enough what he was talking about. Their spiritual eyes had been blinded and that blindness is always evolving on three levels:

:Blindness of who God is,

who I am,

and who my fellow man is.

(In John 9, Mark 8: 22-26, Matt12:22, Luce 11:14, you can read about when Jesus healed literally blind people). 

The blind beggar in John chapter 9 must have had his routine every day; knowing that his life was all about  sitting by the roadside holding out his hand and calling out

-          “Have mercy on  a blind beggar”

How many times had he been defrauded of the pennies some people had spared? A stone was left instead of a coin?  A left over bread full of molds was put in his hand? Those who cheated justified their actions by the fact that the beggar was “just a beggar”.

And so the blind beggar nourished a dream and waited for a miracle. Rumors of a “miracle-man” had caught his attention. There was a buzz among the population; the miracle-man was coming.

Now when the opportunity arose, he just had to take the chance that the "miracle-man" would see him and finally liberate him from the life he had lived so far. He saw his chance and did not give up his dream and one particular day a miracle really occurred.

After such a life altering event you might think it was all cheers and hallelujahs, right? Nope.

Complaints and criticism followed the healing.

(They at one occasion people even called Jesus a lunatic.)

There was another miracle performed in this story; the opening of the former beggar's spiritual eyes. Take a look at his new attitude in John chapter 9, verse 30-33.

It was not just his physical eyes that had been opened, but his spirit sensed that the miracle-man everyone was talking about was more than just a man, but also a man of God. His heart had been touched, and he questioned the attitude of the scribes so much that he was thrown out of his religious affiliation. His life was changed more than he ever could have begged for. 

His mother and father who he had never seen, he recognized by their voices; he could in fact recognize a lot of people who had passed him by every day; but some might look the other way when they met him; and you know why.

This new situation originated from the encounter with Jesus, The Son of Man. Jesus was not a magician who performed a stunning magic trick that could fool onlookers; he was God in flesh doing a life changing miracle that would last a life time.

From being a beggar to lecturing the scribes was quiet a change, don’t you think?  He recognized God in man, he recognized the lack of understanding of God in the scribes, and he got a new relationship with his fellow man; including his family who chickened out on him in the hour of persecution.

Now you might protest to my interpretation of the former beggar’s faith in Jesus because as you can see in the end of the story he asks who Jesus is. That sounds strange when you read about how he defended Jesus in the previous verses.  

But he must be asked a crucial question that needs to be answered although he had been called a “disciple” by those who scorned him.

Did he believe in the Son of Man?

Jesus didn’t ask him what occupation he might take on, now that his beggar profession was canceled.  He didn’t ask him if he were going to seek justice for all the injustice he had experienced. It all boiled down to the question:

-          Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

Everything else goes on from the answer to that question.

Had the Church of Laodicea lost sight of Jesus?  Who he was and why they believed in him.

Had the Church of Laodicea lost their awareness of that they all were like former beggars who had been saved by grace?

Had the Church of Laodicea lost their spiritual eyes in their responsibility towards their fellow man?  Jesus told them to not only preach the gospel about Him but also clothe and feed them and CARE for them as well? Had they grew weary or become indifferent of caring for their fellow man?

I’m asking myself and you can ask yourself if this could be the case.

I think these final words in Revelation chapter 3 can spread some light over what had happened in the Church of Laodicea.

“¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am!
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

The intimacy and fellowship they had had with Jesus must have gone missing somehow; because  Jesus had to knock, maybe even pound  on their hearts to get his place in their lives again. He loved them and didn’t want to lose them so he made them aware of the danger they had put themselves in, before it was too late.

Today Laodicea as a church and as a town is gone, but you and I are here and we have a chance to respond to that crucial question:

-          Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

Celtic Woman - Isle of Inisfree

Out of course and why we need to adjust the degrees.

A while ago I heard a pastor tell a story that made me think of the church of Laodicea again.

Many years ago this pastor and his colleague had been attending a conference in Norway and were heading home in a small plane. They each had their flying license in those days and were pretty confident of their ability to be pilots as well as pastors. They had locked the route on 290 degrees and expected to reach Stockholm after a couple of hours.

Suddenly they were contacted by the control tower at the airport they had just left.

-          “You are out of course”, the voice said.

The pastor thought it was odd because he was sure they had the right course and they called back and told the tower “we are on 290 degrees”. Ok?

-          No, you are out of course, the voice continued. You are set on 292 degrees.

The pastor and his friend thought it wasn’t anything to worry about; just a minor trifle. The voice was once more heard over the radio.

-          Yes, it doesn’t matter now; but in two hours’ time you will be in Murmansk, Russia.

They hastily adjusted their course to 290 degrees and reached their expected destination.

The church of Laodicea and the other churches mentioned in the book of Revelation had good intensions to reach their final destination but somehow they all were in one way or the other “out of course”. They were all warned and they were all given the chance to adjust “the degrees” to the right course and they all were promised to find a new position after the heart of God.

The church of Laodicea was content with her course. Her faith, her righteousness and her view of how life in Christ should be lived, was in a nutshell “just fine”.  Nevertheless; Jesus wasn’t happy with the  journey of the church.

 - Make adjustments! You are out of course!

^{Rev. 3:“18}  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;

and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;

and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

White clothes in the Bible symbolize righteousness. In the Old Testament God gave instructions how the clothes of the High Priest should be woven. He mustn’t wear clothes that were a mixture of wool and linen.  It had to be entirely made of linen.

Righteousness from God origin from only one kind of “fiber”; the salvation through Jesus Christ.

What was it, that the church of Laodicea mixed with the “linen”; the righteousness through Jesus; that made Jesus call what they were wearing “shameful nakedness”?

When Adam and Eve had done the devastating mistake in the Garden of Eden it says they covered themselves with leaves. Suddenly they were naked when Sin had entered between them and God.  What covered them then; some fig leaves wasn’t enough to make them stand blameless before God. They hid from God in their leaves and what could cover them was a sacrifice where blood was shedded. God made the clothes himself but another creature had to pay with its life. We can’t make our own righteousness; the fig leaves don’t cover our shameless nakedness, only the blood of Jesus does.

 Dear Reader 
Why don't you take some time and do some home work now. 
Look up the following verses in the Bible and think  about if you are wearing "fig leaves" or the righteousness through Jesus Christ. And also remember; There is still  grace on earth for the one who seeks the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 5 (Whole Chapter)

I would also advice you to start reading the entire  Gospel of John. Take notice of everything Jesus says and underline it. Read it till you know it by heart. My best advice ever to you dear reader
Sincerely yours, Ida

Prayer Warriors, Part 2

Jesus told a parable to show that "at all times [men] ought to pray and not to lose heart" (Luke 18:1-8). In other words, if you are not praying, you will lose heart. Most of the things I pray for I have to persevere and pray through to get the answer. God desires to see something deeper come out of my prayer time than just answered prayers. He wants me to become like Jesus, so he arranges battles that are character-forming. Not only will they ultimately change the world around me, but they'll change me first. This is what all true prayer warriors have discovered.
When we picture a prayer warrior, we usually envision a great-aunt or grandmother. I think that every family has one. You never find them looking into a crystal ball to know the future for little Johnny; they are at the throne of God creating Johnny's future in prayer. They are not wondering if Mary is going to make it; they are praying her through to victory. They do not have time to lament Harry's drinking problem; they are storming Heaven to see him delivered.
Prayer warriors are the most frightening, powerful, demon-chasing, world-moving beings on earth. In truth, they are co-creators with God! They look at astrological predictions and rebuke them. They never wonder about the future because they are too busy creating it. Prayer warriors are positioned by God to stand in faith for their families and churches and cities. Prayer is stronger than kings and mightier than armies. Prayer is the most powerful force on earth.
I remember when my Dad surrendered his life to the Lord. For ten years prior to that, during our visits, we clashed intellectually about God. Then one day he arrived at our home "armed" with an argument many use against God. He said, "If there really is a God, why doesn't He always answer prayer?" He was secure in his position, and I was tired of the argument. I went into another room for a few minutes and prayed, "Lord, You've got to give me an answer."
When I returned, I could see that Dad felt he won this round. I love my dad very, very much, so this is what I said: "Dad, forget all the people that you think didn't get answers to prayer -- you yourself are an answer to prayer! You are alive today because our entire family daily prays for you." (He was very overweight and smoked a pack of cigarettes daily.) Then I continued, "But let's experiment. You say God doesn't answer prayer; we say He does. So for one week we won't pray for you, and we’ll see what happens."
I can't remember ever seeing my dad turn so pale. He looked over at Mom and said, "Hon, tell the boy not to do that." Then, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, he said to me, "Okay. What do I have to do to keep you praying for me?"
In three minutes he went from not believing in prayer to begging us to keep praying for him. I said, "Dad, the only way I'll keep praying for you is if you pray right now and give your life to Christ." The Lord answered my prayer.
Prayer anchors us in God's strength for our battles. Each of us knows prayer works: we are saved because someone else prayed for us! As we look at the miracle of our own conversions, we gain confidence in God's help and ability to transform others.
Luke 21:36 tells us to be "praying [in order] that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." When Jesus says this, He is not talking about the Rapture. Every time the Bible talks about standing before God, it is speaking of a position of anointed authority and commissioning. Elijah stood before God as did Gabriel (1 Kings 17:1; Luke 1:19). One who stands before God is an attendant to the Almighty. When that one decrees God's Word, it comes to pass.
Nothing is Impossible
Jesus said, "With God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). God has called you to be a prayer warrior, starting with prayer for those you hold dear. Christ is in you, and He ever lives to make intercession. All you need to do is open your heart to Him, and prayer is going to come forth. Look around you at the landscape of life. God wants you to release, through prayer, His future for every need you see. He shows you what is wrong so you can pray for things to be made right. Why waste your energy criticizing people or situations that are wrong, when your prayer can change them!
The Lord our God in the midst of us is powerful. Our weapons are mighty to pulling down strongholds. Stop thinking of yourself as unable to pray. That is a lie out of hell. You are a prayer warrior!
There was a time when that great-aunt or grandmother was younger. She was just like you, and God showed her the needs around her. His grace came, and she made a decision not to judge but to pray. She did not start off strong, but she became strong. Now it is your turn to make that decision to be a prayer warrior.
Lord Jesus, You said that the armies in Heaven follow You, and Your name is called "the Word of God." Help me to not only believe Your Word, but pray it in the power of the Holy Spirit! I accept that You have called me to be a prayer warrior. By Your grace, I receive a new anointing in intercession. Amen! 
Author Francis Frangipane.  
The preceding excerpt is from the book This Day We Fight, by Pastor Frangipane. This book with associated audio resources are currently on sale. Please visit our online bookstore.