It is Sunday and the 36 of us have been divided into several smaller groups. Each group went to two churches to lead various parts of the services. Some gave testimonies, some demonstrated the 5-step healing model we have been using, and some preached.
It was said of me that I was hated without a cause. I did not come to harm, but my presence provoked others to put me to death. This response defies conventional logic, but have you ever felt threatened by someone who would not harm you? Have you ever felt jealous or insecure around those of superior skill and talent or other attributes even if they were of innocent intent toward you? This response is more telling about you than it is of them. It manifests a latent jealousy you may have been unaware of. Think of it as conviction to repentance that you may decrease that I may increase.
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This is my will for you that you sin not. Christians take this commandment seriously. They strive not to sin and have a means for redemption available to them when they do. Yet your life is not defined by what you do not do. The abundant life I have set before you is one of rich complexity and detail. Sin will keep you from it, but it is not defined by the absence of sin. Therefore do not pride yourself on what you abstain from. Seek rather to stand in liberty from sin that you may be free to pursue every opportunity I present you. Once your name is written in my Book of Life keep yourself pure that you may be a vessel of honor, available for every good work.
Do you love a challenge? Even if you don’t, you see people who do, and those who put themselves in situations that will require much of them are widely admired for doing great things with limited resources. Do you think that I like a challenge? I delight to fill ordinary things and situations with divine power. With my help Moses used a wooden staff to deliver a nation and a lunch for a small boy fed a multitude. But the challenges I really seek out are people. You know some people who are so far from me that it seems impossible that they would be saved. I go after them with all the resources of time and eternity and I invite you to be a part of the process.
Well, today is our second clinic, and we have gone to a city larger than the small village of 40 homes that we went to yesterday. Again we began the day with a circle of 36 people worshipping Jesus in the midst of the city. We are from six nations (U.S., Canada, Australia, England, China and India), and through our worship, we are lifting high the name of Jesus and His kingdom and His power over all other powers in this city. We are opening a portal in the heavenlies directly above us for His grace to fall and flow through us this day as we minster Jesus to a Hindu people.
Is your presentation of the gospel a closely structured argument starting at the beginning? That may be necessary for atheists, but only for them. Most people you meet already have some sense of spirituality and the eternal, even if it is not a saving faith. You honor them and the progress they have already made by starting there rather than establishing my existence at square one. Approach this task with the conviction that I can give you something for everyone, from the most militant atheist to the most mature devout believer. If you do not find it already within you then ask me for it and I will give it to you on the spot.
Jesus performed healing, and people received the Gospel. I have always hungered to see this happen and today, I not only saw it, I participated with 35 others in DOING it. Every member of our team saw God move in miraculous ways through them!
9:00 in the morning we walked into a quiet village in India with 200 houses, three Hindu temples and no functioning Christian church.
Do you think of anger as a sin? But my word says be angry and sin not. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Do you think that resentment is more acceptable than anger because it is more subtle? Yet resentment is anger accumulated over time. It is internalized and grown cold and hard, going hand in hand with bitterness. It is far easier to deal with anger in the day it occurs. Be honest with yourself to recognize the things that bother you for what they really are. Seek to resolve conflicts but realize that some will remain. Bring those to me that you may grow in grace and godliness rather than resentment and bitterness.
Joseph had a dream, and Mary had a visit from an angel. Joseph told everyone about his dream, and it got him into trouble. Mary pondered these things in her heart. Which do you think took the wiser course of action? Both the dreams and the visitation were proven true, but Joseph had to learn a few things before the fulfillment was complete. Sometimes the destiny I reveal to you is not meant to be public knowledge at the first. You must be prepared and molded to step into your destiny and it can take time and be accomplished in greater secrecy than you expected. Humble yourself and be patient, and I will exalt you in due time.
