I'll Give the Nations to You...

For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved... 

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:11-13, 15 NKJV)

Observation: This morning I am reminded of the mountain top experience above Eden Valley on June 29th, 2008. I am reminded of God's call to preach. Here is what I wrote in my journal on November 3rd, 2008… 

I prayed through Zechariah 12 & 13 on the mountain above Eden Valley the Sunday after I found out from Roger that we would be leaving The Adventure.  Roger and I talked on Friday, June 27th, and on Sunday the 29th I went to the mountain.  There in the warm sunshine the Lord led me to Zechariah 13.  And I felt as if He was saying to my heart:

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  (2Timothy 4:1-5 NAS95S) 

I remember asking for His Spirit. Crying out:  "Lord Jesus give me Your Holy Spirit. Make me a minister of the word. Lord I feel You calling me to preach the word.  Calling me to lift up Jesus as Christ our Creator, Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ ascended, Christ reigning as our High Priest, Christ our vindicating judge, and Christ our Coming King... That is the message I hear You calling me to proclaim."

And here we are in the San Luis Valley.  At the time I didn't know where I would be going. I just knew I felt God calling me to proclaim the message in word and song. I felt like He was saying to go make disciples... baptizing and teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded You.

Lord Jesus I thank You for bringing me full circle this morning. I thank You for bringing me back to the mountain. Reminding my heart of what You said to me that sunny June afternoon. Thank You Jesus for affirming me in this calling here to the valley.  I remember that young spidering and the verse your brought to my mind as I watch the wind carry him to his home... "Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles."

O Jesus, You are a good God. You are a Holy God. Lord Jesus fill me with Your Holy Spirit today. Father give me the words to say this weekend. Father help me to teach with power and great authority of Your Spirit. Father I pray that You will bring us to a place of corporate repentance through this Refiner's Fire series. Purge us Lord Jesus. Cleanse us.  Make these words of Zechariah a reality in our lives:

""I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10 NAS95S) 

Yes Lord Jesus, pour out Your Spirit of Grace and Supplication upon us.  Pour out Your wisdom and power in our midst.  Lord Jesus may we weep bitterly as we look upon You, the one whom we have pierced.  May we weep for the pain we have caused You.  May we weep for the pain we have caused each other.  Lord I think of the prayer of Daniel and I think it applies to myself and Your churches here in the valley:

""Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. "Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. 

"Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. "Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. "To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;" (Daniel 9:4-9 NAS95S)

Yes Lord, compassion and forgiveness belong to You. Refine us Lord Jesus, purify us through power of Your blood. You who live to make intercession for us, plead Your life, plead Your righteousness in behalf of Your people. Plead for Your Spirit to be poured out upon us that we might weep over our sin, turn from it, and then rejoice in Your salvation.  Turn us around Lord God that we might begin to proclaim Your message with boldness and great power. Father may we become like a city set on a hill. May we as Seventh-day Adventists shine the light and hope of Your soon return upon this valley that lives in the darkness of poverty, doubt, and despair. Send Your Spirit so we may shine with the glory of You. Awaken us, use us, empower us Jesus. We put our lives in Your hands!!!

Application: When we return from Fiji it will have a week shy of four years since the Lord spoke to my heart on the mountain above Eden Valley. In those four years we will have remodeled our dream home, been to Africa, and been to Fiji. During these years, we have not only preached to a peasant family on a hillside outside Opouwo, Namibia, but to prayer warriors in Innisbrook, FL, our family around Granny Steinmetz' bedside, and a prayer team in Southern Cal. 

In these four years I have also had the privilege of speaking to the grieving family of a mother who was taken from her child (Angelica), people at a homeless shelter who were grieving the loss of their friends, and many other grieving families. My heart is humbled as I think of all the ways that Jesus has answered my prayers. I am humbled to think He has taken a man who through a royal temper tantrum with his senior pastor in January of 2008, saying, "Don't get dogmatic with me," and used him in all of his weakness and insecurity to bring glory to His name. I am so thankful to Jesus for all He has done. And I know there is still miles to go.

And now it is on to Fiji. As I was driving back from Jack's Market yesterday, I was thinking of the song by Darlene Check entitled, You Said: 


You said ask and you will receive 
Whatever you need 
You said pray 
and I'll hear from heaven 
And I'll heal your land

You said Your glory will fill the earth 
Oh like water the seas 
You said lift up your eyes 
The harvest is here 
The kingdom is near

You said ask and I'll give the nations to you 
O Lord that's the cry of my heart 
You said distant shores and the islands will see 
Your light as it rises on us

When this song first grabbed my heart I wasn't quite sure why. Now I see. God is was birthing something in me for this Fiji trip. I now I must ask for the nations. I must ask for Fiji. Namimbia, and the most distant reaches of earth's wide bounds.

Prayer: Lord Jesus give us Fiji. I am asking the nations this morning. Let the distant shores… let the islands be alive with the light of Your grace. Father pour out Your favor on the country of Fiji. Use this trip as a catalytic moment for Your kingdom. Call forth missionaries from this Island land of "christian people" and make them more than those who simply profess Your name. Father make them a nation on fire from the nations. 

Make the mission of Adventure Outreach Ministries to raise up and send missionaries from the Islands to the mainlands of our world. O Father, start a movement in Fiji that will reach the farthest corners of the globe. Send out Your Spirit from this equator land. Like shock waves may He awaken revival wherever these Fijian missionaries go. Do it for Your glory Lord Jesus. Do it for Your honor. Do it because You are in the business of starting great things in little places. Magnify Your name Lord Jesus. Magnify Your name.

Dim Eyes and Brighter Blessings

Genesis 48:10-11 ¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.  ¹¹ And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!" 

Genesis 48:15-16   "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,  ¹⁶ The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." 

Observation:  Like the eyes of his father Isaac, Israel's eyes were dim when he gave the blessing to his grand children.  

Genesis 27:1-4  Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." And he answered him, "Here I am."  ² Then he said, "Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.  ³ "Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.  ⁴ "And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die." 

It is important to note the difference between Isaac and Israel, for there was no mistake on Jacob's part in blessing the younger child.  He intentionally crossed his hands to give Ephraim the greater blessing.  What is it about dim eyes and blessing?  Why was their deception in one case and intention in another?  Why was Joseph the younger more blessed than all of his older brothers?  Could this be God choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong?  

I think of the old hymn that says:  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Dim eyes and brighter blessings.  Could this be what God is calling us to?  To eyes dim to the ways of this would.  Eyes ready to close in sleep to the wickedness of sin.  After healing the blind man, Christ declared:  

John 9:39  "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." 

It appears that there is a sight that comes with blindness and a blindness that comes with sight.  I want the spiritual sight that comes with a blindness to sin. 

Prayer:  O Jesus, change my gaze.  Give me an eye for Your glory.  Make me blind to this world that I might bring blessing to it's inhabitants.  Let my eyes be glazed over with thoughts of You and Your kingdom come; not with the the illure of addiction, lust, and deception.  

Reign on the throne of my imagination Lord Jesus.  Come captivate me with visions of You.  Show me the way You would have me to go. Dim my eyes and with brighter blessings.

He Gives Again and Again

For if by the one mans offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one mans offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Mans righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Mans obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:17-21 NKJV)

Observation: The reason God is not threatened by sin is because He gives again and again. For the suffering and pain which come with sin, He gives again and again. For the heartache, He gives again and again. For the regret, He gives again and again. For the remorse, He gives again and again. For everything sin touches, the Lord gives again and again. For everyone sin betrays, He gives again and again. For everywhere sin reaches, the Lord gives again and again. Praise the Lord, where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.  

Satan would point to sin and suffering and say, "There you have it, if the world is so bad, how can God be so good?" 

Paul points to a world of sin and suffering and says, "Listen, it is the presence of grace in the midst of this very dark planet, that declares in an even greater way the goodness of God."

In Romans 8:18 he declares: 

"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18 NKJV)

And in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 we are told: 

"We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NKJV).

Sin is temporary. Glory is eternal. Sin might seem ominous, but Christ has conquered. He has overcome the grave. There is nothing to fear. As Hebrews says, 

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too (Jesus) shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:14–15 NIV)

Hallelujah, His life, death, and resurrection forever declare, 

 "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31–32 NKJV)

Application: God's invitation today is to focus on grace. Sure there is all kind of havoc because of sin. The world is messy. Life is messy. Hurt and heartache are all around. Injustice and bigotry abound. But let us no fear, let us not fret, let us not ring our hands in regret. Instead, let us raise our hands in worship. Let us raise our hands to the One who has overcome the power of the enemy; raise them to the One who has conquered sin and death; and raise them to the One whose glory overwhelms the grave. As Christ Tomlin sings, 

Jesus has overcome,
and the grave is overwhelmed.
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead.

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles wings
Before my God, fall on my knees, and rise

Prayer: Lord Jesus I give You praise for grace that overcomes. Praise for resurrection power available through the Holy Spirit. Praise for power to press on. Praise for giving again and again. You alone are worthy. You alone are good. You have all power and authority. You have the keys of Hades and of Death. You have defeated our foe, dispelled his lies… Jesus You are the King… Conqueror… Redeemer… Friend. You are my Savior and I worship You. I fall on my knees… And one day with all the saints made perfect… I will rise. Thank You Jesus. Thank You for the assurance of that day… Assurance even in the midst of hardship:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

(Romans 5:1–5 NKJV)

The Lord Reigns

"The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory." (Psalms 97:1–6 NIV)

Observation: This one thought, The Lord reigns… What a glory. What a declaration. The Lord reigns. He reigns over all the earth. He reigns over the kings of the earth. He reigns over the widows and orphans. He reigns in the palaces and nations' capitals. He reigns in the humble shanty's of ghettos and slums. He reigns over all and in all. How?

Through humility. The Almighty became a man. He lived and suffered and died. He breathed our air and walked our sod. He came to rob our sin and make us holy… He is the perfect Son of God. The Lord reigns.

Hebrews says, "It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

(Hebrews 2:10 NRSV)

My Savior reigns and rules on high because He descended to the depths. His perfect rule is the result of a perfect outpouring of His soul unto death. As He declared to Nicodemous under the starry night sky: 

"No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:13–15 NRSV)

Lucifer's aspiration was ascension. To be like God. To sit on heaven's thrown. What He didn't understand was condescension. What He didn't understand was incarnation; laying oneself down. Lucifer had been blind to the beauty of the gospel. His vision was clouded by the murky darkness of personal pride and ambition. He could not see the way of greatness, because he had made greatness all about himself. To be like God in the truest sense would not be taking the place of God, but rather excepting the place God had given. To be God is an impossibility. To be like him, to serve, to surrender, to love, to embrace and bless. This is God's design.

Prayer: Lord Jesus thank You for the affirmation of Your glory this morning. A glory that hung from the tree. A glory that emptied itself and came as a humble babe. You are glorious Lord Jesus. You are high and lifted up… The whole earth is filled with Your Glory. You are my only reason for boasting.

Jesus I love You. I adore You. Magnify Your name Lord Jesus. Your name be glorified. For You are all honor. All Praise. All Goodness. All Majesty. All Power. Your's is the power that breaks the shackles of sin and set's the captive free. Your's is the power that fills week men like myself with boldness for Your kingdom.

Give Your Servant an Understanding Heart

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:28 NKJV)

Observation: Ability to lead is not dependent on what we have in ourself, it is a gift from God: 

"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."" (1 Kings 3:9–14 NKJV)

The reason for Solomon's great discernment, the reason he had the courage and ability to delegate, and the reason people respected him was because he sought wisdom from on high.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." (James 1:5–6 NKJV)

Application: Do I truly believe God can give me the kind of wisdom needed to lead in this district? Is my faith in His faithfulness ready to receive His wisdom?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe, help Thou my unbelief. Grant to me confidence in Your providence. Lord fill my heart with faith, hope, and love. Teach me trust and teach me wisdom. Show me Your ways. 

When I don't know what to do as a Pastor, help me to call upon Your name. Lord there are so many books, so many resources, so many people saying this is how you do it. Lord, show me the way. Call me to prayer when I feel stumped and uncertain. Lord call our church to prayer and let us ask wisdom of You.

I Would Rather be a Doorkeeper

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NKJV)

We have been appointed for salvation. God's design, His desire, His intent for us is life. And what are we to do with these words? Comfort and edify. 

Ours is not a message of shame. Ours is not a message of "You bad, bad person."

Ours is a message of grace. The message we have been given is… "God's design for You is life. You are worthy to Him. So worthy that He gave his son Jesus. So worthy that even though You are guilty, You are not worthless. Your guilt doesn't change Your worth."

Wow. How humbling. How amazing. How gracious of our God. He does not hold our sin against us. The psalmist declared:

"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared." (Psalms 130:3–4 NIV)

The reason we have comfort… the reason our message brings courage is because the Lord keeps no record of wrong… He hopes all things, believes all things, and bears all things for His children:

"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV)

In Christ we have been reconciled to the Father. Jesus is God's declaration of worth over our lives. He is the ONE and only. I love what I read in Alex Bryan's book The Green Cord Dream this morning: Primal Adventism - was about men and women who longed to be with Jesus!

Why do we long to be with Jesus… because he longed to be with us… in the midst of all our shame, and guilt, and sin… Jesus longed to be with us. For the sake of the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the Father until all of His enemies are made a footstool.

That is who I want to be… a footstool. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Lord than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Just make me a stool Jesus. Let me hold the door for You. This is enough.