The God of our darkest hour

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3.22,23 NRSV

The prophet Jeremiah wrote these words when Israel was taken into captivity.  This was at a time of their darkest hour, there would be no deliverance and it would be 70 years of captivity before a remnant would be allowed to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and inhabit the burned and broken city.

In spite of what had happened Jeremiah, the weeping prophet proclaimed three aspects of the character of God that would sustain him and his people during this difficult time.

The first was the steadfast love of the Lord.

I think most of the people during this time felt as though they had been abandoned by God that he no longer loved them and had rejected them as his people.  Yet Jeremiah could state confidently that this was not true.  Because God loved them he had to discipline them.  For many people this is hard to understand but it is the sign of true love when you discipline someone in order to prevent them from continuing to do the wrong things that will lead to their destruction. His unquenchable love will always be toward his people.  They could always count on his love to be there. As much as they rebelled against him and angered him by their worship of idols, his love would not be shut off.  He would continue to extend his love to them with the hope that they would repent and return to him.

Love is a powerful force. It is infallible.   When you know you are loved you are empowered.  Paul said true God kind of love will never fail (1 Cor. 13.8).  It will accomplish its mission.  The love of God would prevail over his people.  Eventually they would return to him as he drew them with cords of his love.

 Human love will fail.  We see its failures every day in broken relationships, adultery and selfishness.  There comes a point in these relationships based in human love, where the love ends and separation or divorce usually results.

 God in his nature is love.  His love is immeasurable and we are the objects of God's love that he lavishes upon us.  This is the true nature of love, the giving of oneself to another person whether they reciprocate the love or not.  God's love has no ending point, it is an eternal love. 

God's love is a transforming love. When we enter into his love it changes us to be like him. When we have his love in us we desire to share this love with others.  When God created Adam he did not have anyone he could love in his human flesh. God knew this and stated that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2.8).  God created the perfect match for him in Eve.  Together they would grow in this love and enjoy the life God had given them.  The apostle John understood very well that the reason we can love is because God first loved us (1 John 4.19). He is the originator and the source of our ability to truly love.  When we have the same God kind of love it will be like his love for us, steadfast and unceasing. The challenge we face is to let that love continue when everything seems to turn against us and we are hated by others and persecuted by them for our beliefs.  There is a story of a man who was hated by a woman.  Every day he walked by her house, she cursed him and threw things at him.  But one day the woman was not waiting for him.  For most of us we would be relieved to not have to face the unkind words and actions of a person who was filled with hatred.  But this man stopped at her house because he thought something must have happened to her and he wanted to help her.  She was sick and he was able to help her.  His actions changed her attitude toward him. One of the greatest tests of love is how we treat our enemies.  Jesus said that we are to love them and pray for them. It does not mean we do not hold them accountable but it does determine how we treat them as a human being created in God’s image and likeness.

The news of late is a great example of what happens when people are not treated with love.  The offensive cartoons that had no basis of love motivating their drawings was reacted to by those offended not in love but in violence and destruction.  These groups are devoid of the love of God and their actions are true to their character.

As believers we have the opportunity to show God’s love to mankind in ways that are completely opposite to the ways of the fallen world. 

The second thing Jeremiah noted was the mercy of God.  He noted that God’s mercy would never end.  Israel was his chosen people, his special possession, through whom he chose to bring the Messiah to the world.  The nation was being punished for their sins of rebellion, idolatry, abuse, oppression of the poor and failure to keep the covenant God had made with them.  Yet Jeremiah could see the mercy of God in spite of what they were experiencing. 

Some have defined mercy as not receiving what you deserve.  So how could Jeremiah state this when the nation was getting exactly what God had told them would happen? 

Perhaps Jeremiah was looking at the captivity as a way that God would turn the nation back to himself. He could have completely abandoned them yet he was merciful in executing his punishment because it would have a positive effect in the end.  Had he spared them they probably would have returned to their sinful practices.

I think Jeremiah was also looking to the future when God would demonstrate his mercy to them.  His mercies would not come to an end there would be mercy extended to them daily in different ways but the punishment would not be lifted. 

Mercy is one of God's attributes that always amazes me.  It is God's kindness, compassion, pity and his favor that are synonymous with mercy. The word mercy is use 622 times in the NRSV of the Bible.  It is obviously a major emphasis.

His mercy is demonstrated often when he does not give us what we deserve or he spares us from something bad or evil that will happen to us.

The first time the word mercy is used in the story of Lot and his family when they were rescued from the judgment God was going to execute upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 19.15-16

¹⁵ As dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, “On your way! Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”

¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD’S mercy, seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters and led them to safety outside the city.

Lot was lingering when he should have been running.  God is his mercy had the angels grab his hand to pull him and his family out of a situation that would have ended his life.  God's mercy rescued Lot and his family.

I think there are many times in our life that God extends his mercy to us when we are unaware of what is happening or what is going to happen.  He changes circumstances, diverts people with evil intentions or intervenes to cause something to happen to spare us from experiencing something horrible.

God honored the intercession of Abraham to spare Lot and his family from the destruction.  God's mercy is at times the answer to someone's prayer for us.  I think we will be surprised when we get to heaven and God reveals to us how many times He intervened in his mercy and in response to the prayers someone has prayed for us.

I know in my own life God in his mercy spared me from accidents that could have led to my death.  You probably have stories you can tell as well of how God extended mercy to you to keep you from harm.  The following testimony is an example of God intervening in a life to spare them from eternal damnation.

Darrel Hall's testimony "Heaven & Hell Are For Real!" on 11/08/2014, 1:57pm...

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/testimony_heaven--hell-are-for-real/

I became a real believer in June of 2008 when in a bar, a very haggard and angry looking man told me my drinking has led me to a doorway of heaven or hell, then he showed me that one more step in the same direction and what lays beyond. Whoever this man was did not appear to enjoy suffering fools like myself. He was dressed in sackcloth or perhaps burlap like John the Baptist. As he motioned downwards my gaze was led to a hole or passage in the floor that led straight to hell. What I saw next sent me reeling out of the bar. The grisly detailed view of suffering below was shocking and caused me to windmill my arms and fall backwards out of the bar's front door. What I saw was no hallucination nor did it look like a picture - it was real! …

What drove me to drink was the knowledge of the evil of this world without the knowledge of why. I have spent years researching the evil in this world but got much more than I bargained for. That was my last drink - I prayed to have the obsession for alcohol removed from me and Jesus Christ made it very easy for me to stop and has really changed my entire selfish personality to something much better than what it was. Heaven and Hell are for real. This is a true story.

Just as the angels reached out and grabbed Lot and his family's hands God reached out to this man to spare him from an eternity in hell which is exactly where he was headed.

God revealed himself to Abraham as a God of mercy not only in Lot's life but also in his own.

God’s mercy shown to Abraham.

When he and his beautiful wife Sarah were traveling in Egypt, he was afraid that she would be taken and he would be killed.  In order to spare his life he asked her to identify herself as his sister.  I call this story "Beauty and the Beast" as Abraham's actions were less than noble and almost animal like in self-preservation at the expense of his wife.  God had mercy on both of them by intervening in a dream that King Abimelech had.

³ But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are about to die because of the woman you have taken, for she has a husband.”

⁴ Abimelech, who had not approached her, said: “O Lord, would you slay a man even though he is innocent?

⁵ He himself told me, ‘She is my sister,’ and she herself also stated, ‘He is my brother.’ I did it in good faith and with clean hands.”

⁶ God answered him in the dream: “Yes, I know you did it in good faith. In fact, it was I who kept you from sinning against me; that is why I did not let you touch her.

⁷ Therefore, return the man’s wife—as a spokesman he will intercede for you—that your life may be saved. If you do not return her, you can be sure that you and all who are yours will certainly die.” Gen. 20.3-8 NAB

God intervened to keep all parties from experiencing a painful and disastrous situation. In his love for Abraham and Sarah and because of his covenant promise to them he preserved them for his purposes.  King Abimelech was also shown mercy through the dream that enabled him to remain innocent even though he was acting in good faith.

We have many examples in the Scriptures of God demonstrating his mercy toward his chosen people. 

When Jesus taught his followers the basic core values of his kingdom which we call the "Beatitudes" he stated. "Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy." (Mt. 5.7) We are all recipients of mercy from God for our failures.  God could enforce his justice and give the punishment we deserve yet he holds back and is merciful to us in giving us time to repent.  His mercy triumphs over judgment.  This same mercy he extends to us is the way he wants us to treat others.  James the brother of Jesus wrote (James 2.13 NRSV)

¹³ For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

We live in a world that often shows no mercy because they do not understand the mercy God has shown to them.  I have been reading a book called the "Locust Effect" by Gary Haugen who works with the International Justice Mission.  The book recounts many stories that are difficult to read because they portray humanity acting in ways that are almost beyond belief.  One story was of a man in Chennai, India who took a job working in a brick factory.  The owner gave him a loan of $10 to help him with some of his expenses and debts he had incurred from not having sufficient income in his previous job. But this loan became a way for the owner to make him his slave.  His salary was only a dollar or two per day to support his family and this was not enough so there was no extra money to pay off the debt.  In addition the only food he could buy was the food provided by the owner who charged more money than what could be purchased in the market.  His debt grew greater and the owner had no mercy whatsoever upon the man. When the man asked if he could leave the factory to find wood to sell to make more money to pay off his debt he was denied.  There was no way out for this man and there was no help from the police to be able to get away and report what was happening because the police were being paid by the owner to come to the factory and beat anyone who tried to leave.  It was a hopeless situation for the man and his family as there was no mercy extended to him.  Eventually he was rescued by IJM but it was a very difficult process.  There are many similar cases like this throughout the world where people become the slaves of owners who are corrupt and have zero compassion and mercy for their slaves.  God's kingdom of mercy has not come to these people but as Jesus stated they will not receive mercy in their day of judgment

We are to be merciful, to hold back our judgment to give people an opportunity to change their ways.  We are often quick to judge and quick to sentence someone to punishment but showing mercy can often produce a change in behavior that may not have been accomplished through judgment. 

I remember when I was taking a motorcycle trip with a club I belonged to and something fell off the back of my motorcycle.  I turned around to get it but the group kept going so by the time I picked up the falling article they were a ways ahead.  At that time the speed limit was 55 mph and in order to catch up with them I had to do a different version of 55 mph.  The highway patrol was coming toward me and he turned around when I passes him.  His lights were on and I knew I was in trouble.  I did not make any excuses but was surprised when the patrol man said, “you need to slow down and have a good weekend!”  It was not what I expected but it was an act of mercy that I will never forget. And I rode more slowly after that.

The final attribute that Jeremiah noted in this verse was the faithfulness of God.  God is always faithful to act according to his character.  He is faithful to be just as he has said he would be. He was a God of mercy and he was faithful to show these mercies every day.    His faithfulness was not dependent upon ours.  If we are unfaithful he remains faithful because he cannot deny himself (2 Tim 2.13 NRSV)

¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

God is also faithful to keep his covenant.  The covenant he made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David was never rescinded.  Hebrews 11.11-12 gives this information regarding Abraham:

11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

God kept his covenant with Moses to bring his people to the Promised Land.  He kept his covenant with David to always have a descendent upon his throne through which the Messiah would be born.

Jeremiah knew that God would be faithful to his covenant he had made with his people even thought they had been so unfaithful to him.  The covenant God had made with them would be honored and that gave him hope. They were still God's chosen people, he had not completely rejected them.  The promise of the Messiah would still come through his people.  God would honor the covenant he made with them.  You will be my people and I will be your God was still how God would operate.  (Ex 6:7)

⁷ I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.

God demonstrates his faithfulness to us not only in his character and covenant but also in his help he gives us.

God is faithful to us in our daily walk with him.  The following verses confirm his faithfulness toward us in specific areas.

He is faithful to strengthen us (1 Cor. 1:8-9 NRSV)

⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

He is faithful to now allow us to be tempted beyond what we can take and provide the escape route (1 Cor 10.13 NRSV)

¹³ No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

He will be faithful to sanctify us until the day of Christ's return (1 Thes. 5.23-24 NRSV)

²³ May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

He is faithful to strengthen us and guard us from the evil one (2 Thes. 3:2-3 NRSV)

³ But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one

He is faithful to us in our times of suffering (1 Peter 4.19 NRSV)

¹⁹ Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Faithful to forgive us (1 John 1.9 NRSV)

⁹ If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Faithful to fulfill the hope he has promised to us of eternal life.(Heb 10:23 NRSV)

²³ Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

We are exhorted to be faithful in our steadfast devotion to the Lord (Ac 11:23)

²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion;

Faithful in our duties as ministers (Eph 6:21)

²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.

Faithful to walk in the truth (3 Jn 3)

³ I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.

Be faithful in times of persecution even until our death. (Re 2:10)

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

 

In Israel’s darkest hour, Jeremiah knew God as a loving, merciful and faithful God.  These attributes of God give us a solid foundation in our relationship with him that will sustain us in times of difficulty or adversity.  These same attributes should also bear witness in how we live our daily lives before God and our fellow man.

Don’t go there!

Have you ever been warned by someone to not go to a specific place or warned to not do something? Sometimes the warnings are based on wisdom and experience of the person issuing the warning and other times the warnings are based on fear and lack of understanding of the situation you will face. Some have stated that “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will.” I am not sure I fully agree with that statement when you understand what the word “safe” means. When I taught motorcycle classes we would always ask the students if they thought you could ride a motorcycle in a “safe” manner. Almost all of them agreed that it was possible but when I explained what the word safe means, it changed their view. “Safe” means to have the absence of risk. Riding a motorcycle will always have risks involved, it is unavoidable so one needs to understand what those risks are and how to minimize them to keep from having accidents. Likewise when thinking about fulfilling the Great commission to go into all the world, there will be risks that one will have to take to be able to reach the people with the gospel message. I would rather say that the best place to be is in the center of the will of God. Safety is not guaranteed as many missionaries have lost their lives going to where God called them to go.

Jesus was faced with the challenge of going to places where the potential for problems was great. On several occasions his disciples warned him or were very concerned about him going to certain areas. One area the Jews avoided was Samaria. When the kingdom was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms, Samaria became the capital of the northern 10 tribes. The northern kingdom rebelled against following God and had no king who truly led the people to follow Jehovah. The prophet Micah along with many other prophets were sent to warn them of the coming destruction and captivity. In addition to being disobedient to God they were also oppressive of their own people and used them to gain wealth.

The prophetic corpus generally exhibits a disdain for Samaria, targeting it as the recipient of imminent judgment. In Micah 1, Samaria is the embodiment of sin. Hosea and Amos specifically target the corruption, violence, and apostasy of Samaria and its monarchy. Burglary and violence were rampant (Hos 7:1). Samaria’s officials were corrupt and immoral (Hos 7:2–7). In Samaria, the poor and oppressed were victimized (Amos 4:1). Samaria was also the hub of idolatrous practices (Hos 8:5–6; Amos 8:14).

Schreiner, D. B. (2012, 2013, 2014). Samaria. In J. D. Barry, L. Wentz, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair-Wolcott, R. Klippenstein, D. Bomar, … D. R. Brown (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

The prophet Amos condemned the people of Samaria who lived in houses and beds decorated with ivory (Amos 3:15; 6:4) because their wealth was gained through oppression of the common people of the nation of Israel

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Samaritans were a mixed breed of Jewish heritage and pagan nations. After the northern Kingdom was taken captive by Assyria most of the Jews were transported to another city and only a few were left in Samaria. They began to intermarry with the other foreigners which was an uforgivable crime. Even in the strictest Jewish households today intermarriage is forbidden. If one marries a Gentile, his or her funeral is carried out. They are considered dead. The Samaritans set up their own temple in Mount Gerazim rather than in Jerusalem.

In the New Testament times the Jews did not associate with the Samaritans. If at all possible they avoided passing through Samaria on their journey to the north or south of Samaria. The Samaritans often made it difficult for them to pass through so there was resentment and bitterness against them.

In spite of these contentions and the concerns of his followers, Jesus did not let that hinder him from passing through the country. On his way he met the woman at the well and ministered to her as well as the village where she lived. I am sure the disciples questioned in their minds whether it would be safe for them to go through Samaria and they had justifiable reasons to avoid going there. Yet the “Don’t go there” message did not register with Jesus and the lives of many people were affected because of his being there.

Another incident in the life of Jesus that drew opposition from his disciples was his journey to Bethany. The scribes and Pharisees had been plotting against him for some time and his disciples were afraid that something bad was going to happen to him. They had tried to stone him but Jesus was able to get away from them. When Jesus announced to his disciples that they were going to return to Judea to go to Lazarus’s home, the disciples questioned him.

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?

The New International Version. (2011). (Jn 11:8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

When Jesus told him the purpose of his return was to wake up Lazarus they again protested by stating that if he was just asleep he would wake up and be okay. They really did not want Jesus to go back to Bethany. Yet Jesus went in obedience to his Father and a tremendous miracle happened when Lazarus was raised from the dead. Again the “Don’t go there!” message was ignored by Jesus.

The final account of Jesus going to Jerusalem during the Passover noted that he led the disciples and many followed behind him in fear.

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.

The New International Version. (2011). (Mk 10:32). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Jesus knew what was going to happen to him and the people had a pretty good idea that trouble was coming. Jesus had warned his disciples of his impending abuse and death that would happen in Jerusalem. He continued in spite of the fear of the people and did not let anything keep him from going where he needed to go. He knew his mission, the risks involved but he also knew the outcome which enabled him to face what was going to happen.

Hebrews 12.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. NLT

When the church was born persecution caused many to scatter to unreached areas. Phillip was one who ventured on to Samaria to share the gospel message with a people who formerly were avoided. Whatever obstacles that kept the church from moving into Samaria were removed as Phillip went into this previously forbidden territory. This was a major event in setting a new course for the early church.

Philip’s evangelism enjoyed success, albeit unexpected success (Acts 8:14–25). From this, the Church expanded and grew, securing a solid infrastructure—enough to support the global missions of Paul and other missionaries. Thus, the sequence of the events recounted in Acts portrays the evangelization of Samaria as a critical hurdle for the spread of the Gospel. Only after seeing the evangelization of Samaria was the Church bold enough to target the world and the Gentiles for evangelism.

Schreiner, D. B. (2012, 2013, 2014). Samaria. In J. D. Barry, L. Wentz, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair-Wolcott, R. Klippenstein, D. Bomar, … D. R. Brown (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles and he ventured into many new areas to preach the gospel. He was often rejected, driven out of town and once was stoned by his own Jewish people. He did not quit in spite of the opposition he faced. He was led of the Holy Spirit to change direction at times to reach people prepared to hear the message. He was determined to go to Jerusalem and was given warnings by several prophets of what would happen to him if he went there. Many tried to convince him to “don’t go there” because of the potential of trouble but Paul was determined to go in spite of the conditions he would face. Were this warning a prohibition or a preparation for what he would face? The prophecies he received came true, Paul was imprisoned but God used this to further the gospel and provide us with many of the books of the New Testament.

Reaching the Muslims has always been a challenge for the church. The first missionary to the Muslims was Raymund Lull who was born in 1235 A.D. He was from a wealthy family and lived a life of wine, women and song. His conversion came as a result of seeing a vision of Christ.

“One evening the seneschal was sitting on a couch, with his cithern on his knees, composing a song in praise of a noble married lady who had fascinated him but who was insensible to his passion. Suddenly, in the midst of the erotic song, he saw on his right hand the Savior hanging on His cross, the blood trickling from his hands and feet and brow, look reproachfully at him. Raymund, conscience struck, stared up; he could sing no more; he laid aside his cithern and, deeply moved, retired to bed. Eight days after, he again attempted to finish the song and again took up the pleas of an unrequited lover. But now again, as before, the image of Divine Love incarnate appeared-the agonized form of the Man of Sorrows…Then Lull could not resist the thought that this was a special message for himself to conquer his lower passion and to devote himself entirely to Christ’s service.” P.34-36 Biography of Raymund Lull by Samuel Zwemer

During this era the Crusades against the Muslims were taking place. Lull was moved by the love of God to reach out to the Muslims through his writings and his personal ministry. He believed that the “pen was mightier than the sword.” He was a great proponent of sending missionaries to reach the unreached nations. He was instrumental in getting instruction in foreign languages into the universities for the purpose of equipping Christians to reach the Muslims. He made 3 trips to Northern Africa to preach the Gospel to them. His first trip that was scheduled he did not board the boat as the fear of death overwhelmed him. A second ship was going to Africa and he boarded it in spite of being very ill. Once the ship left the harbor his sickness went away. He actively shared the gospel and was involved in debates with the Muslim leaders. Twice he was expelled from the country and told if he ever came back he would be killed. The threats did not stop him. He returned the third time when he was 79 years old. He was prepared to be a martyr for his faith.

“His love had not grown cold, but burned the brighter “with the failure of natural warmth and the weakness of old age.’ He longed not only for the martyr’s crown, but also once more to see his little band of believers. Animated by these sentiments, he crossed over to Bugia on August 14, and for nearly a whole year labored secretly among the little circle of coverts whom his previous visits he had won over to the Christian faith.”

He also spent time trying to influence those who had not become believers in Christ. He constantly emphasized the love of God revealed in Christ. The church at that time used warfare to try to convert the Muslims but Lull’s weapon was always the love of God.

Lull finally came out of hiding and presented himself in the open market.

“Lull stood before them and threatened them with divine wrath if they still persisted in their errors. He pleaded with love, but spoke plainly the whole truth. The consequences can be easily anticipated. Filled with fanatic fury at his boldness, and unable to reply to his arguments, the populace seized him, and dragged him out of the town; there by the command, or at least the connivance, of the king, he was stoned on the 30th of June 1315.” P. 143

Another believer during this era who tried to reach the Muslims was St. Francis of Assisi. He traveled to Jerusalem to talk with the main Sultan of the Muslims. Many appealed to him to not go there. They thought he was crazy to make this trip and feared that he would be killed. But Francis appealed to the Sultan and shared the gospel with him. The Sultan was not willing to believe so Francis challenged him to have a fire built and he and one of the Muslims followers would walk through the fire. The one who survived would prove whether Islam or Christianity was true. It was like the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Francis was prepared to walk through the fire when the Sultan stopped him and told him that he would not accept his faith and told him to return to his country.

William Carey is known as the “Father of Modern day Missions.” He was discouraged to not go to India by his own church members and leaders. His wife was reluctant to go and I am sure she tried to convince him to not go there. Yet he went in spite of all who said, “Don’t go there!” His work was difficult and discouraging for the first 7 years. But he began to have breakthroughs and found his real gifting in learning the language of the people and creating a written language for them so they could have a Bible in their own language to read. Carey’s accomplishments are still felt today in India. One of the practices he was able to change was the Hindu custom of burning wives with their husbands after they had died. India has never been the same because of Carey’s faithfulness to go.

Gladys Aylward was told she was not suitable to be a missionary and was rejected by a mission board. She knew God had called her and she began to take steps to be able to go to China on her own. She reached China and had a tremendous impact on the nation, reaching many for Christ. She did not heed the “Don’t go there!” message communicated to her but went to a nation with great challenges and fulfilled God’s call on her life. Aylward was able to convince the leaders of China to abandon the practice of tying young girls’ feet with rope to make them pointed and smaller but also deformed which impaired them from walking.


Short video of her life.

I could cite many more examples of people who have gone to the hard places, against the advice of well-meaning people and have had fruitful ministry as they pursued God’s calling. The calling to go to the hard places does not always involve going to another country or people group. There are thousands of unreached people in our communities. They will not come to our churches on their own, they must be reached by people like you and I who are willing to go to the places where they can be reached. Some of the places they frequent may be uncomfortable and unnatural for us to go to but we cannot let that be a deterrent to reach out to them. The gospel message must be preached, it is God’s vehicle to bring the message of salvation to the lost. However foolish it may seem, it is still God’s plan and his calling on each of us to convey his message.

I want to play a part of a video taken at the Ignite conference to conclude our time tonight. It is an example of people who were willing to go the hard places to share the gospel.

Show video ( message by Pastor Jeff Durbin; start at 34.39)

Preaching at an abortion clinic not a friendly environment but the people who go there for abortions need to have the opportunity to hear the gospel and be spared from living with the lifelong guilt of murdering a human being.

Maybe tonight God is speaking to you about going to a country, a people group, a place where the lost gather for the purpose of reaching them with the gospel. He is looking for people who are willing to go to the hard places to share his message of love, repentance and forgiveness. Will you go in obedience to him regardless of the suffering, rejection and threat of death? There will always be some risks but the rewards will far outweigh whatever the risks may be.

What do you want me to do for you?

If Jesus came to you and asked you, “what do you want me to do for you?” what would be your request?  What would you ask for or desire from the Lord?  Would it be for yourself, for other people or ministries?  It is a question that reveals the needs we perceive as well as the motivation of our heart when we express our request.  In Mark 10 this question is asked by Jesus on two occasions.  The first involved two disciples, James and John.

Mar 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."

Mar 10:36  And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Mar 10:37  And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

Mar 10:38  Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

Mar 10:39  And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized,

Mar 10:40  but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

The two disciples were in what is referred to as the “inner circle” of the twelve disciples.  They possibly had a closer relationship with Jesus than the other disciples and were participants in some ministry that the others were not a part of. It seems that they thought they had a special in with Jesus and could ask him for something that would distinguish them from the other disciples.  Their petition was presented with somewhat of a demand, expectation or entitlement that Jesus should do something for them without even considering whether it was good or bad.  They were asking Jesus for a blank check signed by him.  There was a presumption on their part that their position or relationship with him would give them access and receive whatever they asked of him.  So their approach to Jesus seems to be filled with pride and there is not much humility in the way they presented their request. It was also presented as being something very selfish. “We want you to do for us…”  Did they think Jesus owed them something or that they deserved to have whatever they would ask of him?  Jesus did not rebuke them for asking, he gave them the time to make their request rather than chastise them for their attitude and approach to him. Jesus had much more patience that I would have had with a request like this.

Their request was very selfish and reflected their desire to be recognized as someone very important, powerful and worthy of honor and being honored by the other disciples and everyone else. To be seated at the right and left side of a person of honor was a special honor.  They were not asking for something trivial, it really was a big request. 

Jesus responded by stating that what they were asking for had a price they would have to pay to be even considered for this position of prestige, power, authority and privilege.  We use the expression “right hand man” to indicate someone who is very important and useful to us. 

Jesus questioned them asking if they were able to pay the price of drinking from the same cup he would drink and be baptized with the same baptism.  The cup was a reference to the cup of suffering that he would take and the baptism was the baptism of fire, another reference to the extreme suffering he would face.  Jesus had just informed them for the third time what he was going to face in Jerusalem.

Mark 10.32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

I am not sure if they had this in mind when they gave their reply. They were confident that they could do both of them.  Jesus only confirmed that they would be experiencing both of these but he did not predict how they would respond. 

Jesus turned down the request because it was not in his power to give them this position.  His father would make that decision. Only the Father could determine who would meet his qualifications to be in these positions.

There are several things we can learn from the request of James and John.  Matthew claimed that it was the mother of them that made the request while Mark claims it was not the mom but the two men who made the request.  James and John were the authors of it no matter who presented it.

Wrong Motivation.

We at times are not any different from them as we often bring our request to the Lord with wrong attitudes and selfish desires.  We like recognition, power and authority.  It makes us feel important. Requests like this will not be given as they will do more damage than good.  I think at times God is being merciful to us by not giving us what we ask for.

 James the brother of Jesus made it clear that we do not receive what we ask for because our motivations are not correct.

James 4.3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James and John were known as the “Sons of Thunder” .  You have to wonder what they would have done given this power.

Proximity does not give privilege.  James and John had been walking with Jesus for some time and they were close to him.  We can get messed up with this idea and we see it happen in relationships especially with people who have influence or power because of their position.  We think that because we know someone or are with someone they will do something for us.  Our proximity to them does not merit them doing anything for us.  We basically are trying to milk the relationship to get something out of it that others would not be considered qualified or worthy.  We have expectations that are based on a false idea.  Sometimes it is the proximity of another person we know who is closer to the person that we are that we try to go through them to get something.  We find someone who can get the attention and the ear of the person and use them to get something for us.

Expectation of entitlement will lead to disappointment. James and John appear to have had an entitlement mentality.  For whatever reason thought they were entitled to these positions more than any of the other disciples.  The request was denied and I am sure there was some disappointment and perhaps a feeling of foolishness thinking that they were entitled to receive something this important.  Their request has a negative impact on the relationship with the other disciples when they found out what they had asked of Jesus. An attitude of entitlement keeps many people from living with a healthy work ethic.  People owe them something. Perhaps this was James and John’s thoughts as well. When I was in the military we had a Catholic chaplain who drank and smoked.  He felt he was entitled to do these things because he had taken a vow of celibacy.  Entitlement gets us into trouble in many areas of our life.

There is a price tag we must be willing to pay to receive what we desire. Places of honor, privileges, positions, power all come with a price.  Salvation is God’s gift to us but it cost him dearly.  Few things in life come without a price that we have to be willing to pay.  As missionaries one of our challenges is to learn the language and the culture of the people we minister to.  It takes time, effort, sacrifice and dedication to get to the point where we can communicate at a level of understanding.  We have the example of many missionaries who ventured into people groups that were difficult to reach yet they were willing to pay a heavy price to minister to the people. 

 Many never achieve their potential because they are unwilling to pay the price required.  James and John thought they could pay the price but it was much more costly than they really understood.  They saw the glamour and prestige but not the price they would have to pay. Eventually they did experience what it meant to truly follow the Lord and the price that is required.  James was beheaded (Acts 12) and John was sent to the isle of Patmos and was possibly also martyred later in life.

The positions they requested were not in Jesus prerogative to reward.  It was only to be granted by the Father.  Jesus submitted himself to the will of his Father as was reflected in his response to their request.  A lesson for all us when people ask something of us and we are not in a position to grant it. You can’t give what you don’t have.

In spite of their misguided request we do see in both James and John that they understood that Jesus would set up a kingdom and he would reign over it.  They knew in the end he would be victorious even after he had just told them that he was going to die.  They had faith in his mission and wanted to be a part of it.

The second person to make the same request was Bartimaeus, a blind beggar.

Mar 10:46  And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

Mar 10:47  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Mar 10:48  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Mar 10:49  And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you."

Mar 10:50  And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.

Mar 10:51  And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight."

Mar 10:52  And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

A blind beggar’s life in that day had to be very difficult.  Levitcus 19.14 prohibited putting stumbling blocks in the way of the blind.  Yet this did happen as it was a source of entertainment for sick minded people.  Begging for people with a conscience has to be one of the most humbling acts.  I can’t think of too many other things that will make a person feel like low life than begging.  But for Bartimaeus it perhaps was his only way of staying alive and he was forced to do it.  Regaining his sight would radically change his life.

His petition was granted while the petition of James and John was denied.  Bartimaeus had a real need, his blindness was a hindrance and forced him to live a difficult life.  But I wonder if his true desire was to see Jesus and follow him.  Perhaps his request went way beyond meeting a human need.  There are many things we can learn from him regarding his request.

First, Our requests should be based on a true need and bring glory to God.

 Blindness made life very difficult for him and his request was not considered selfish but a true necessity. It was also a request that had even greater significance in that it enabled him to follow Jesus something he probably would not have been able to do. Whatever it is that we ask of Jesus must be based on a true need and when given will give glory to him.  I am sure his testimony was on his lips wherever he went and God was glorified through it.

Secondly Determination and persistence get God’s attention.

We see in Bartimaeus a strong determination to get the attention of Jesus in spite of those who tried to silence him.  Bartimaeus would not be denied.  When he was told to be silent he cried out even louder.  He was not going to miss this opportunity and the reality was that Jesus never passed that way again.  For him it was now or never and he was not going to let others determine his destiny.  He knew Jesus as Rabbi and the son of David and he had obviously heard of his miracles.  Jesus was not going to pass him by but stopped and had him brought over to him and then asked him what he wanted. He was not going to be denied, he was persistent.  Prayer is often like that.  We need to be persistent and not let anything or anyone keep us from asking for something we know is needed.  At times we need to ask and keep on asking, not because God does not hear but because God is testing us to see if this is really something we want or desire. 

Thirdly, God honors faith.  he had faith that Jesus could and would do what was asked of him.  Faith is based on knowledge and Bartimaues had heard about the miracles of Jesus and he believed he could heal him.  Why bother to ask if you do not have faith to believe it can happen?  His faith was based on what he knew to be true about Jesus.  He had enough knowledge about him that gave him confidence that his request would be heard and granted by him.  Our prayer must also be like this, full of faith in the character of our God.  He is not a God who says ‘No’ all the time.  He delights in hearing and responding to our prayers as a loving Father.   God responds to faith filled prayers. It is prayer of faith that is not double minded that gets results (James 1.8).  It is the prayer of faith that brings healing (James 5.15). It is prayer the prayer of faith that speaks forth what is desired specifically to happen in the situation (Matthew 17.19). God honors prayers of faith.  It demonstrates our confidence in him to do what we know he is both able and willing to do for us.

As we begin a new year all of us have things we want to ask from the Lord and he invites us to ask just as he did for James, John and Bartimaeus. We can base our request on selfish, vain glorious things like James and John and be denied. Or we can ask as Bartimaeus did based on true need, bringing glory to God, faith filled confidence in God’s desire to respond favorably, determination and persistence to not be denied and expressing specifically what it is that we want.

Jesus is asking each one of us tonight, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

The godly couple

Luke 2:22-38

²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” ^j

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,

³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. ^u She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. The New International Version.

40 days after the birth of Jesus his parents came to the temple to dedicate him as the first born son to God.  This was a requirement of every Jewish family and Joseph and Mary were obedient parents.

When they arrived at the temple there were two people they would meet who would have a tremendous impact on their lives through the revelation they shared with them.

Tonight I want to look at these two special people and draw applications to our lives.

Simeon's name means "God hears". He is an example of one who was dedicated to serving the Lord and living a righteous life.  He was waiting for the promise given to him that he would see the fulfillment of the Promised Messiah.  He was one who walked with God and was led of the Holy Spirit to go to the temple at the exact time Joseph, Mary and Jesus would be there.  It was a divine appointment orchestrated by God to reward Simeon for his righteousness and devotion.    We do not know how long he waited from the time he was given the promise until it was fulfilled.  It may have been a short time or possibly several years.  Timing is always in God's hands.  Though Simeon was elderly, he did not lose hope that he would see the Messiah.  When we experience delays in seeing God's promises come to pass it can be discouraging if we do not see things from God's perspective.  His timing is always the right timing.  We cannot lose hope when there are delays but like Simeon be constantly serving while we wait and watch with expectation that God will fulfill his promises to us. While we wait we must continue to be faithful to the life God has called us to live and serve Him whole heartedly.  Simeon did just that.

In my own life there was a period of waiting upon the timing of God to fulfill the desire of my heart to be in full time ministry.  While attending Bible school in Montana I felt that God was calling me into full time ministry and made plans to join the ministry after graduating from the Bible school. I was married at that time and when my wife became pregnant we decided to move back to Minnesota to be nearer to our families when our daughter was born.  I had to find a job and daily searched and took temporary jobs that paid little money.  I finally received a job teaching in a Christian school which provided a steady income and opportunity to work with students.  At the end of the school year, my college roommate contacted me and told me about a job at his dad's church and Christian school.  We decided to take the job working with the youth of the church and teaching at the Christian school. We were there for 3 years and then moved to Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN where I wanted to pursue a master's degree.  This plan did not work out and I returned to teaching at a Christian school for 4 years.  The job was terminated due to low enrollment so I had to seek for work and was hired by the Minneapolis Public Schools as a long term substitute teacher for the next two years. During this time, my wife left and I was served divorce papers.  It was a very difficult time for me and my daughter.  I felt as though the call of God to be in full time ministry was virtually gone.  I spent the next 7 years working with the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center and enjoyed the work that we did.  Yet in my heart there still was this longing to be in ministry but I did not know how or if it would ever come to pass.  Since my desire to go to Seminary did not work out as I thought it would, I began to study through a Seminary that offered a distance learning program. I benefitted greatly from these studies and it kept my hope alive that one day I would have open doors because of the degrees I earned and be able to return to full time ministry.  During these 7 years of working in a non-ministry field God prepared me to be released into full time ministry.  It really was a miracle of his making and he fulfilled the desire of my heart.  His timing is always right and though it may seem slower than we want, it is always for our best.  Wherever you are at in your life, whatever you are waiting for, do not lose hope.  Keep moving forward, stay faithful and devoted to the Lord and he will bring to pass what he has for your life.  Simeon waited and he was rewarded.

Simeon was also a man controlled by the Holy Spirit. Before the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2, the Spirit operated differently by coming upon a person and directing them. This is what happened to Simeon. When the Holy Spirit moved upon him to go to the temple he went.  Had he delayed he may have completely missed the opportunity to see the Savior he had been waiting for.  Being led of the Spirit is an identifying mark we have as children of God. 

Romans 8 .14 for all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 

We have the advantage of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, he is constantly with us. Being Spirit led is something that should be normal in our lives as believers. The challenge we have each day is to choose who will lead us: our fleshly desires, a carnal mind or the spiritual desires.

Being led of the Spirit involves being dead.  As God's children we must put to death our fleshly life so that the life of the Spirit can lead us.  We have this assurance and we can count on the Spirit to be active daily in our lives to lead us into the things of God.  '

Galatians 5:22, 23 

²²But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control;

(NLV)

These are benchmarks we can use to test to see if what we want to do is really in agreement with the Holy Spirit.  If any of these are not evident in what we are planning to do then it should be a check point for us to stop and not proceed with whatever we plan to do.

Being led of the Spirit also involves sensitivity on our part to understand how the Spirit speaks to us.  For many people it is an inner voice, impression, thought or just a word that comes to your mind.  As you walk with the Lord his voice and the leading of the Spirit will become more defined.  As we respond in obedience we will see how the Spirit is guiding us.

We do not know how Simeon was led but we know that he responded to the form of leading he was given. He met Jesus and for him that was all he needed to be fulfilled in this life.  His bucket list was completed. He was now ready to die, his salvation had come.  What a joy it must have been for him to hold Jesus in his arms and make the declaration about him being a light that will shine upon the nations and be the glory of the people of Israel.

In our lives Jesus also must be the one we seek and the one we want to see manifested in our lives.  Simeon saw Jesus in person and it meant the fulfillment of a promise he was given.  He longed to meet the Messiah and was rewarded for his life of devotion to the Lord.  Jesus must be the longing of our hearts as well.  I think all of us want to see him dominate and control our lives.  We want to be like him and experience greater intimacy with him in our daily lives.  As John the Baptist stated, "He must increase and I must decrease."  Jesus wants to be our life as we walk by faith in his promises to us.  It is Christ in us that is the hope of glory.  As we seek him he promises that we will find him and receive all he has for us. I pray that during this next year we will all become greater seekers of Jesus and allow him access to every area of our life so he can make us more like him.  I pray that each of us will grow in intimacy with him and receive fresh revelation from him in our seeking him.

Simeon not only was led of the Holy Spirit to go to the temple but he was used by the Holy Spirit to give prophetic words to Joseph and Mary that predicted the hardships that would come but also the joy that will be the result of what will happen in the future.  The prophecies noted that Jesus would experience rejection and that his mother's heart would be pierced by the pain she felt when this would happen.  But there would also be great joy in others who receive Jesus as the Messiah.  Further he declared that the hearts of the people would be revealed as they accepted and rejected Jesus' identity and mission.

Being led of the Spirit directs us where we should go as well as the words we impart to people under the anointing of the Spirit.  We can count on God to speak to us and through us as we live our lives in holiness and devotion to him.  God will use us to bring words of encouragement and warning to people as we walk closely with him as Simeon did.  He wants to use each one of us as his mouthpiece and by the power of the Holy Spirit he will do it.

The second person in this godly couple was Anna.  She was another person who was rewarded for her devotion to the Lord.  She had been a widow for many years and spent her time in the temple in fasting and prayer.  I love how the Lord connected her with Mary, Joseph and Simeon just as he was speaking to them.  The prophetic words Simeon spoke must have brought great joy to her heart.  She was at the right place at the right time because the Holy Spirit was orchestrating her life.  God is the divine arranger.  He puts people in our lives at the right time and right place to be a blessing to us.  I think he finds great pleasure in doing that for us, giving us surprises along the way just to show us how much he loves us and wants to bless our lives.

When I look back on my life I see many divine appointments, people I met and situations that happened that God orchestrated to bless my life and guide me in decisions I made. I think of our recent outreach to India and Nepal and how God led us to different people at the right time and right place.  One day we were out exploring a community and praying for the people and we met a Hindu man who spoke excellent English.  He helped us get into the community where we shared the gospel with the children and adults and gave some food to the children.  He told me that word got out that we were coming and some of the people in the community called him to ask him why he was helping the Christians, not everyone was in favor of us coming there.  He was more open minded about hearing what other people believed and he had a desire to help people so he saw no problem aiding our group.  We had a great time with the children as well as the adults and I was really thankful for God directing us to meet him.  We had other divine appointments along the way and we saw how God was orchestrating these surprises.

Anna was a prophetess and I am sure she was very familiar with the Messianic prophesies and like Simeon was waiting for their fulfillment.  When she saw the Messiah she must have been thrilled.  I love her response, "she began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior that the Messiah had finally arrived."  She could not contain her joy and had to share the good news with those who like her had been waiting.  I don't think we as Gentiles can fully appreciate what it was like for the people of Israel to finally see the Messiah.  When you look at their history you see all the struggles, times of trial and testing, failures, imprisonment, captivity, abuse but also the times of great blessing they also experienced because of the covenant God had made with them and his great love for them.  The coming of the Messiah had great significance for them.  The Messiah was their hope of finally being delivered from all the troubles they had experienced.  For them it would the beginning of a new age where they would no longer be dominated by other nations and oppressed.   They had great expectations of what would happen when the Messiah came.  When Anna met the Messiah she was thrilled.  Jesus came first for the household of Israel as prophesied but he came also for the Gentiles like you and I.  Meeting Jesus is still the greatest gift one could ever experience.

When people meet the Messiah and receive the gift that God has made possible through him, the response is like Anna's, one of great joy and thankfulness. I received a newsletter from the YWAM Chennai, India base this week and the testimonies of God's power to save and heal were very inspiring.

"Our teams ministered in villages where there were no churches.  Many people heard the gospel and were saved.  They prayed for a paralyzed ex Hindu priest he got saved and later he also began to walk. He was so filled with the Holy Spirit he could not stop crying and praying to Jesus. "

The gospel message is Good News!  It sets people free from all the lies and deception of the devil who loves to keep people in darkness.  We may not always see these kinds of responses but we must continue to share the news with all who are willing to listen and especially with those whom God has prepared to receive the message.  May we have the enthusiasm of Anna to share the gospel at every opportunity.

There are other examples from Anna's life for us to learn from as we approach the New Year and think about what we would like to change or see changed in our lives and ministry.  Anna's dedication to prayer and fasting challenges me.  Here was a widow who could have been doing many other things but she dedicated her singleness to serving the Lord in the temple every day with prayer and fasting.  She was an intercessor and a prophetess whom God gave a great honor in meeting the infant Messiah.  Her life of prayer and fasting indicate her intense desire for the Lord and the relationship she had with him.  Being known as a person of prayer and fasting is a reputation we all should desire.

  The flesh does not want to pray and the devil seems to make sure that we do as little as possible because he does not want us to be in tune with God and led of the Spirit.  When Jesus began his ministry his popularity skyrocketed.  Huge crowds gathered to listen to him and see the miracles he performed.  He was in high demand and had very busy days of ministry.  Yet he made it a point to get away into the wilderness where he previously spent 40 days in prayer and fasting to connect with his Father and receive what he needed to carry out his ministry.  As ministers grow in popularity the demands on their time become even greater and it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you have to say yes to every invitation or fall into pride thinking that you are really someone special.  We must never be too big or too busy to pray. 

As we end this year of 2014 and look forward to the New Year I pray that all of us will make a more concerted effort and spend the time daily in prayer, waiting upon the Lord and being responsive to his directives he communicates to us in prayer.  It is so easy to let the work of the day or other things push out our time of prayer and seeking the Lord.  Our daily communion and connection with the Lord is critical but we also need to set aside special times, maybe even parts of the day or a complete day to really seek Him in prayer and fasting.  We are living in difficult times and I believe that we need to focus more of our time in intercession for our fellow ministers and ministries as well as the billions of lost souls.  Individual prayer as well as corporate prayer are needed desperately in this hour.  Our prayers do accomplish things that we could not accomplish by ourselves.  We underestimate the importance often because we do not see immediate results.  Prayer is an act of faith in a God who calls us to pray because he will respond in his time and way.  It is not meaningless effort but it is powerful beyond our understanding.  I believe that as we spend more time in prayer God will open new doors of ministry or make our ministry more effective.  Andrew Murray was a man of prayer and he made a statement that has always stuck with me, "the sin of prayerlessness ".  Failure to pray indicates that we do not value it properly or that we do not understand its importance in God's Kingdom.  For him it was a sin not to pray because it reflected self-dependence rather than God dependence. 

In Simeon we see a man who served God wholeheartedly and walked in holiness.  We also see a man who did not give up hope that the promise he had been given would be fulfilled.  He was also a man controlled the Holy Spirit who spoke to him and through him to bless Joseph, Mary and Anna.  He was a man who longed to see Jesus and his Kingdom established.  His life speaks volumes to each one of us.

Anna was a prayer warrior and prophetess whom God blessed by allowing her also to meet the Messiah she longed to see.  She was an enthusiastic evangelists who could not keep the good news to herself and wasted no time sharing the good news with others.  Her life of prayer and fasting was rewarded by the Lord.

The lives of this godly couple present a challenge to each of us as we look to the New Year.  God is looking for Simeons and Annas today to carry out his kingdom work.  I pray that each one of us will become examples like they were in the coming year and each day of our lives.