Begging Demons

The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission…

Mark 5:12-13

Here is a demon-possessed men who has, not one, but several evil spirits taking up residence in his body. Legion (the spirits) recognize Jesus as the Son of God and are filled with fear. “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me” (vs. 7). He begged Jesus again and again not to ‘send him out of the area.’

Evil is a powerful force in this world, but it shudders in the Presence of Christ. John wrote, “Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). It strikes me this morning that Jesus gave the demons permission. He is King of all.

Lord Jesus, clearly you are the Lord! Even your enemies beg at Your feet. You are victorious… be victorious in me today.

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My Redeemer Lives!

"Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

Job 19:23-27

It takes someone in despair to feel these words. If life is fine with no problems, you can still appreciate these words… they are nice… but they lack the power that is evident when someone at the end of themselves speaks them. That’s the case here in Job 19. Job was despairing because of his worse-than-dire circumstances. Yet Job’s faith says in the midst of his pain, “I know that my Redeemer lives! He is not dead and I will one day see Him. Yes, in my flesh will I see God.”

Difficult days (weeks, months!) are never welcomed, but they bring a level of faith and dependence on God that is not possible during easy days. God decides to leave us in pain, often. He is not a personal super-hero in our lives who flies to the rescue at the first sign of a miscue. When things don’t go perfectly, He allows us to experience the pain, promising to never leave us (Matthew 28:20).

It must be that God’s agenda for me is more than just a conflict-free life. (It seems as though following Christ often leads me into conflict!) God is more interested in my character than my convenience, so difficult days come. I’ve yet to suffer as Job did… but even Job knew that God was working even when it didn’t seem like it. God is working. I can trust him! My task is to stay as close to His heart and His plan as possible, regardless of the day.

Lord Jesus, You said that You would be with Your disciples who were carrying out Your mission. You said that you’d be with us to the ‘very end of the age.’ We’re not there yet, so I believe that Your are with me! You are with Your people! Increase my faith in You and bring glory to Yourself through me. Live Your life through me is my prayer this day. I love You, Lord. Help me to feed Your sheep.

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Church Conflict

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come…

Acts 21:17-22

Here’s the Apostle Paul, James the brother of Jesus and all the Elders in the Jerusalem church… and they’re having church conflict like I’ll never see!

Thousands of Jewish Christians who are ‘zealous for the Law’ are causing problems in this first century church. Judaizers were adamant that Gentile believers become Jews first in order to receive Christ for salvation. The church leaders has previously written (Acts 15) to the Gentile church releasing them from the requirements of the Jewish Law. But these Judaizers were still present in the church and were about to cause problems for Paul. Legalism is often appealing to the masses. It’s hard to take refuge in Grace sometimes. People feel more ‘secure’ in rules and regulations, it seems.

There has always been church conflict. Seeing how James, Paul and the Jerusalem Elders handle it is encouraging. It also make me realize that I shouldn’t be surprised when conflict arises. People think differently… and not everyone allows the Scripture and the Spirit of God to mold their thinking. That’s me much of the time, too, not just the ‘other people.’ (smile) I need to constantly be tapped into the Source of Wisdom. In the Church Jesus is the Head – so I must function as He determines. I need to bring Him glory as I serve as a leader in His Church.

Lord, You are the Lord. Be glorified by Your people. Be glorified by me! Show Yourself strong and mighty and lead me well. Stand by my side, as you did Paul’s, and say ‘Take courage!’ (Acts 23:11) I am encouraged by Your Presence today. Live Your life through me, I pray.

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Fighting Against God

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.

Acts 5:38-39

Before the ruling Jewish council Peter and the other Apostles said, ‘We must obey God rather than men!’ (Acts 5:29) They went on to explain that God had raised Jesus, whom those men had killed, from the dead. Now this Jesus was at the right hand of God Almighty, granting repentance and the forgiveness of sins to Israel.

The response? ‘…they were furious and wanted to put them to death.’ It is interesting how death is so quickly seen as the solution for these religious leaders. In John 11 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and what do the religious leaders want to do? Kill Lazarus. Huh? Jesus just raised him from the dead. If you kill him, couldn’t Jesus raise him again?

One of the Pharisees, Gamaliel, had a cooler head. He gave the others a quick history lesson and may have sensed the activity of God among Peter and the others and the events surrounding Jesus. If it is of human origin, Gamaliel said, it will come to and end soon enough. If it is of God, you will find yourself battling the Almighty. If you go toe-to-toe with God, you know who wins, right?

I intend to be in that number, a part of that unstoppable force who are living for God and serving Him. I want to not work in my own strength but in the strength God provides. I want God to lead and to battle for me.

People do rise up against me. May I be so closely connected to Christ and honoring Him with my whole heart that they find themselves opposing not just me but God as well?

Father, may I be a fixture in the center of Your will! I will yield my ambitions to Your purposes for my life. May people who oppose me find themselves fighting You. Correct me as needed and bring honor to Your Name through my life. This is my prayer today.

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Into Temptation

“On reaching the place He said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’”

Luke 22:40

In the model prayer (Luke 11), Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He ended the prayer with ‘And lead us not into temptation.’ Here in Luke 22 it is just a few hours before Jesus would be betrayed by Judas, arrested, tried and murdered. He goes as usual to the Mount of Olives to pray and He encourages His disciples to pray to avoid temptation. It is something that they might fall into and something that they can avoid through prayer.

When Jesus comes back to them He finds them sleeping. He says, ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ Again, temptation will come and it is something we fall into. Prayer is our defense.

Earlier in Luke 22 Jesus told Peter that Satan, that Tempter and Accuser, had asked to ‘sift him as wheat.’ Jesus says to him, ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.’ Prayer is the defense for Jesus on behalf of Peter. Even though Jesus knows that he is going to fail… he will deny Christ three times before the rooster crows… still, Jesus continues to pray for Peter.

“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

Peter will turn back because he will have failed. He will have fallen into temptation and sin… but that is not the end! There is repentance and the forgiveness of sin available. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Temptation is something that I can easily fall into and prayer is the defense. I cannot sleep and pray simultaneously. Jesus says, ‘Get up and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation.’ Praying not to fall raises my awareness of temptation. This is good defense!

When I stumble off of a curb it’s because I didn’t realize that it was there. If I had known it was there, I would have walked differently. When I fall into temptation it’s usually a surprise. Praying allows me to see with spiritual eyes the curbs in my life. Through prayer I am able to connect with the One who wants to be my Comforter and Guide. Jesus, as seen in today’s passage, clearly does not want His followers to fall. Prayer – walking with Him everyday – is a powerful defense against what Satan would like to accomplish in my life.

As it’s been said, the best defense is a good offense! In the ‘armor of God’ (Ephesians 6) there is one offensive weapon: the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. As I follow Jesus’ example (which was to quote Scripture in the face of temptation; Matthew 4) I, too, will be able to avoid sinning against God.

Father,
Hallowed be Your Name,
Your Kingdom come.
Give me each day my daily bread.
Forgive me my sins,
For I forgive everyone who sins against me.
And lead me not into temptation.

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Stand Firm

“By standing firm you will gain life.”

Luke 21:19

We ought not be surprised when difficult days come. When trouble and ridicule and temptation come, why are we surprised? Jesus said that all these and worse will come our way, but by standing firm we will gain life.

There’s something significant with not wavering during the onslaught – however it comes. When we keep our confidence in Christ and our identity in Him firmly fixed in our minds during opposition, we gain something. It’s a good sort of assurance. It’s courage. It’s life.

Paul talked about our standing firm in the spiritual war that’s going on in Ephesians 6. He gave us the imagery of a soldier putting on armor so that we could ‘stand firm during the day of evil, and after we have done everything, to stand.’ It’s easy enough to not stand, to lie down in the midst of the battle. Life can be brutal… times can be tough… discouragement is common, but Jesus wants us to stand firm and gain life. Our hope is in Him.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)

As we stand up for Jesus and stand firm in the battle, the promise is life.

Thank You Lord for the forgiveness of sins and the new life I have in You. Thank You for the promise of life to come! This day I have put on Your armor because this struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness and the powers of evil in this world. I ask for eyes to see the battle as it really is and for the strength and courage to stand firm against it. For Your glory – King of kings.

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God's Hand On My Life

He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.

Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Ezra 7:9, 28

The gracious hand of God was on Ezra. Evidence of this is seen throughout his story. The letter from the King reflects such grace. The provision and safe travel to Jerusalem shows God’s hand on him (Ezra 8:31).

I need God’s gracious hand on my life. I have lived in that space before where He leads and blesses the work… it’s His Kingdom, His work. I’ve also been in that place where it’s all my effort. While God allows me to strain, it is so different when His gracious hand is on my life and in the work. (Did I say that it’s His work?)

I seek God’s gracious hand today. I need His Spirit to engage and quicken my spirit. I need Him to go before me and pave the way! I commit to travel on the road that He paves! I have already given my life back to God this morning. I will serve Him however He leads today and this week… just may His gracious hand be on me! Then, like Ezra, I will take courage and lead in His strength and grace.

Father – I seek Your hand today. Lead me in the way you’d have me go. I ask that today I would see the evidence of Your gracious leading and provision. Like Ezra, I will praise You, God Most High.

“Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”

Ezra 7:10

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Zacchaeus' Salvation

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Luke 19:9-10

What transpired to bring salvation to Zacchaeus? It’s Good News that he could be saved since he was a vile tax collector! He was a Jew who overtaxed his fellow Jews for the hated Romans. This job, and the way he carried it out, made him very wealthy and very despised. What did a guy like this do to receive salvation – which is what Jesus said. “Today salvation has come to this house.” Here are the variables that I see coming together that meant salvation for Zacchaeus.

1. He was a son of Abraham. In spite of his wrong ‘business practices,’ Zacchaeus was still an Israelite. Heritage matters. In other places we read that Jesus’ ministry was directed to the nation of Israel. Later the church would take the Gospel to all the other nations. It seems that Jesus makes this comment for those listening. Zacchaeus’ identity had been consumed by that of ‘dreaded Roman tax collector’ – but this was not his true self! He was a son of Abraham. Salvation came as Zacchaeus remembered who he was.
   
   
2. Zacchaeus acted on his curiosity of Jesus. He wanted to see Jesus, but the odds were stacked ‘high’ against him. ☺ Zacchaeus overcame his obstacles to get a clearer view of Christ. If he had walked away that day salvation would not have come to his household.
   
   
3. Jesus invited Zacchaeus into relationship with Him. In the 1st Century to be in a person’s home and to share a meal with them was a significant relationship marker. It spoke of mutual respect and appreciation. What an honor for Zacchaeus! He had the Lord in his home! What an invitation Jesus made to him that day…
   
   
4. Zacchaeus came down from the tree ‘at once’ and welcomed Jesus gladly into his home. No delay… no excuses! He received Jesus with joy… and this lead to his salvation.
   
   
5. Zacchaeus repents! Unlike the Rich Young Ruler in the previous chapter (Luke 18:18-25), Zacchaeus’s wealth did not keep him from salvation. Due to the very Presence and relationship with Jesus, Zacchaeus gives away half of his possessions to the poor and promises to make restitution to anyone he had cheated. Four times the amount was way beyond anyone’s expectation or what would be necessary. All of this came from Zacchaeus, unprompted by Jesus. Unlike the Rich Young Ruler where Jesus gave instructions to what that young man should do, Zacchaeus does this on his own.
   

Jesus’ response: Salvation has come to this house.

I certainly need salvation to come to my house! Jesus is the Savior. When He comes, He brings salvation. In Christ salvation has invited itself over. Have I welcomed it gladly as Zacchaeus did? Have I embraced the Savior fully? Have I responded spontaneously with repentance and generosity simply because of Jesus’ Presence?

Every person… every family needs to have Salvation come over to their house. It will differently in every home, but Salvation still comes. As people are re-introduced to their true selves (they are loved by God Almighty, children of the King!); as they pursue Christ and gladly welcome Him into their homes as He has requested; As they repent of things that have been greater than Jesus in their lives (these are sometimes called idols) – Salvation comes to their home and into their lives.

“Blessed are You, the King who comes in the Name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the Highest!” Yes, Hosanna – Lord, save us today…

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We Must Celebrate

“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Luke 15:31-32

The father had to celebrate – there was no choice. He had to be glad because the younger brother was dead but was now alive! He was lost but now found.

Celebration is a must in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not by chance or optional… we must celebrate when the Gospel has it’s life-changing, powerful effect in the heart of a person. The prodigal comes home and Heaven celebrates. The one lost sheep… the single coin misplaced… these are found and there is great rejoicing!

I will celebrate what God celebrates. I can be more intentional and intense in this rejoicing. I want the tenacity of the shepherd and the woman as they were seeking the lost. I want the heart of the Father who runs to and embraces the prodigal son. I want to lead the church in this celebration as our mission begins to be fulfilled in the life of a person who was lost but now is found! This person… every person matters to God! Let’s celebrate as He does!

Lord Jesus – use me to promote celebration in Your Kingdom. May a spirit of rejoicing permeate me and Your people as we live for You and extend Your love and Kingdom in the hearts of those you’ve died to save. You are the mighty King! You are mighty to save! I worship You today. Be magnified through my life I pray…

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