Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103: 1-5

At my home church – Black Rock Church in Fairfield Connecticut, we have a dedicated Prayer Ministry Team along with a dedicated Prayer Room. Every Sunday in our church and, in particular, in that room (when the church building is not closed due to a pandemic) we see God showing up with amazing power. God’s power to enter in to do physical, emotional and spiritual healing and life restoration has grown to be a regular occurrence.

A significant part of the prayer dynamic is to give God the credit (give testimony) to the power of His work and share it publicly.

Below, Prayer Team leaders Jim and Chioma share several examples of what is becoming a typical Sunday Morning experience in the Prayer Room at Black Rock Church:

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Story 1

One Sunday morning a woman entered the prayer room looking particularly downcast. We engaged with her and as we talked we learned that she had just been driving by the church consumed with desperation and hopelessness. Depressed and feeling completely abandoned she knew she needed help. An impulse caused her turn into the church parking lot, walk through the entry doors and go straight into the Prayer Room.

In the Prayer Room, we met and she explained that her adult son was in real trouble and she was facing serious financial struggles. She also acknowledged that she had never even been in a church before and had never heard the Gospel.  So, we shared God’s ‘Good News’ that was intended for her and asked if she’d like to pray to receive God’s gift. She responded, “What do I have to lose?” and prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

We continued to pray about the specific issues for her and her son and could see the burdens being lifted off her. She began to smile and even to laugh saying what she was experiencing was, “Too good to be true!” as she wiped away her tears – now tears of joy. She exclaimed, “I feel so much better!”

We then gave her a Bible and suggested that she begin to read the Bible every day starting with the Gospel of John. She turned the Bible over in her hands, soaking in what the Holy Spirit was pouring into her.

Now, this woman has been regularly attending Black Rock Church. She also has been a regular member of an ongoing Bible study as well as attending adult classes offered at the church. She even attended the latest women’s conference and is dynamically growing in her faith. We praise God for another example of His power to heal and to save!

Story 2

A woman who was going through a very difficult divorce that was tearing her family apart started regularly coming to the Prayer Room seeking God’s comfort and peace. For over a year she came in for prayer almost every Sunday. Gradually, she was becoming stronger in her growing faith.

One Sunday this fall, she came in with her adult daughter. Her daughter was depressed and in a lot of emotional pain.  We explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to the daughter, and she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. As we continued to pray for God’s healing touch, both mother and daughter broke into tears – weeping for the relief and freedom the Lord was showering upon them.

Now, mother and daughter’s relationship has been restored and renewed. Sundays, the two have been seen regularly in the café sharing coffee and enjoying being at church together. We praise God for one more example of His restoration power!

Story 3

One particular Sunday a young man in his early thirties tentatively walked into the Prayer Room. We engaged and he shared that he was filled with anxiety over his job. He was having trouble sleeping and a number of health issues were beginning to crop up. We learned that, though he had been raised Catholic, he had begun attending Black Rock for the last few months.

We probed, “Do you know what being ‘Born Again’ means?” He shook his head. “I’m not really sure.” So, we joyfully explained the ‘Good News’ of the Gospel to him and he chose to pray and make Jesus his Lord and Savior.

Since that day, this young man has been growing in his faith in Jesus. The Lord has poured his spirit of peace upon him – a new peace he did not have before. Now, through Jesus’s presence in him, he testifies to the joy and strength he has to overcome the challenges of this life. We praise God for another example of His overcoming power!

Story 4

On another Sunday morning, a young woman came into the Prayer Room overwhelmed with the burdens of life. Her depression showed on her face and her entire countenance. She said she was a new believer but exclaimed, “My life is crushing me.”

We prayed for her and for the details she shared. She cried deeply – a good cry releasing her burdens. She left encouraged and ready to begin delving into God’s word to hear His voice.

The following week she returned to the Prayer Room and the first thing we noticed was that her face was radiant. Her countenance now reflecting a life filled with new peace and joy. It was a remarkable transformation.

One Prayer Team member said her face was reflecting the light of God something like what Moses must had looked like coming down from the mountain. She shared how she was now filled with peace and that God had done a remarkable thing in her life that week.

Then, about 3 month later she came into the Prayer Room with her boyfriend. They were having problems in their relationship and wanted prayer. Her boyfriend was new to church and acknowledged that he had never heard the Gospel before. Once again, after explaining the ‘Good News’ of Jesus, he prayed to accept Jesus as his Lord as Savior. We were all in tears as the couple forgave each other, with both sharing new life in Christ that morning. We praise God for one more example of His transforming power!

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The above are examples of what God has been doing Sunday’s at Black Rock Church. However, God’s power to heal and restore does not stop even by a pandemic. Though the church building has been closed, the Prayer Team is available to pray by Zoom on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Dial in, even for just a few minutes to receive a real dose of spiritual refreshment or something even greater!

Wednesday, 7-8:00pm – Prayer for your personal needs during this challenging time.

Join Zoom Meeting (use this link each week): https://technoserve.zoom.us/j/92539036173
Meeting ID: 925 3903 6173, One tap mobile: +1 929 436 2866, 92539036173#

I Don’t Understand? Illuminate Me!

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. – Ephesians 5:13

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God – James 1:19-20

 

Recent events that have cascaded from the death of George Floyd – the demonstrations, the rioting, the political turmoil and the social demands for change often seem to be more about spreading the pain. The people who have felt the pain, who have experienced pain, desire for others to know and even share in their pain.

Yet, I struggle to hear from the demonstrators and rioters’ clearly define what is at the core of their pain. Certainly, there is police brutality, but I initially was not clear on what constitutes systemic racism.

I was reminded of my children when their emotions would boil over in very real frustration and anger. We parents ask, “What’s wrong? We want to help.” But the child throws their hands up and runs off screaming, “You just don’t understand!”

You’re right, I don’t understand. Help me understand. Illuminate me.

The problem is that pain and emotions have taken over. It is often not until after some time when the emotion has subsided that the real communication and understanding can begin. Yet, even though I don’t like the confusing cry of pain it has gotten my attention.

I don’t like what is going on. But, all the demonstrations and rioting and destruction reflects deep-seeded frustration with the way the world operates. Even the greatest economic and political and social system that has produced the greatest freedom and prosperity for the greatest number of people the world has ever known is bound to be corrupted by the sin of man.

With man at the helm, sinful selfishness will rise up to expose greed, power-lust, deception, injustice and bigotry. It is becoming painfully obvious and inviting many to rise up and revolt against the unfairness of it all. Before you think I’m going off on a political rant, let me clarify that all of what I described is the sinfulness of man which will inevitably drive us into despair and ugliness and ruin.

It is all so simple!

As Christ-Followers we have the perfect example to follow in the person and the character of Jesus Christ.

Though he was tempted in every way as we are tempted, but by the Father’s leading and through the power of the Holy Spirit he lived a perfect life having never sinned. Having never demonstrated prejudice or bigotry or degrading another human – not Hebrews, not Samaritans, not Gentiles, not Romans, not Greeks, not male or female, not rich or poor, not black, brown or white (we aren’t even certain of his skin color). I would argue that he did not even exhibit any of these sinful behaviors toward the religious authorities that tortured and killed him.

Right now, I can hear people crying out, “That’s a cop-out! There are many Christians who are guilty of staying silent concerning the ongoing elements of racism in our culture!” And I have to honestly respond – True!

I said it was simple, I didn’t say it was easy.

Many of us are selective about what we imitate when we follow Jesus. Why? Either we wantonly resist following what we know to be true or we are ignorant of the truth. We have blind spots that we are completely oblivious to.

Or, it is possible that we have become numb to the evils in this world to the point we accept them as normal? Pastor William McDowell of Deeper Fellowship Church, a Black man even acknowledged how numb he was when others first sent him the video of George Floyd’s death. He initially shook his head in disgust but thought, “These things happen so much. Whatever.” and just moved on in his daily routine. He later realized that he had become separated from his emotions to cope with the regular episodes of evil that attack our senses. He had to be shaken out of his numbness to let the personal pain from this horrific event to surface.

So, what do we do?

I believe that this is one of the main purposes of the church – the body of Christ. Without judgement, we are challenged to call out the sin amongst us and to lovingly encourage one another to grow into the fullness of Christ. As a part of that we are to help each other identify the blind spots and blemishes that God wants to actually meet the desires of our own hearts to clean up and be further molded into the image of Christ.

It is difficult. I, for one, have never considered myself a racist. I try to show Christ-like respect and love for all people. I happened to have been born in certain circumstances, like everyone, not of my choosing. I’d classify my life experience growing up as ‘privileged middle-class’ that has colored and defined how I see the world around me. Therefore, I have blind spots relative to those who have a completely different life experience.

Yet, we are challenged in 1 Corinthians 12:26 – And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

What we are going through right now could be considered an opportunity for spiritual cleansing – purification. A time for many of us to grow into a more accurate image of Christ. And together experience that oneness as the true Body of Christ. What do we need to do that?

It Begins With Illumination!

Those who know and have lived this kind of suffering to illuminate what many of us would not or could not see. We are seeing more and more excellent dialogues happening where those in our communities who have suffered under bigotry and racism are speaking up to open our eyes and shine a light on what many of us have been blind to.

James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

As our sin is exposed by the light, the answer is not to get mired in guilt and self-degradation as some would have us do, but to do as Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14 – Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

To acknowledge our sin, to accept God’s grace, to push who we’ve been behind us and press forward to display all the goodness, righteousness and truth of God through our life. And then, individually and collectively be even more empowered to address the ills of this world.

In my previous post, I talked about the new covenant standard for prophesy is not for a select few but something Paul hoped all Christ-followers would engage in. He writes in 1 Corinthians 14:3 – But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

Hearing God’s voice and then being God’s mouthpiece for one another that can breathe life into our dry bones. The onus is somewhat on all of us to establish relationships within the community where we can honestly express and talk/pray through our feelings. If we are not willing to do that we are not being fair to ourselves and to the community – not giving the community a chance to “love one another.”

James 5:16 – Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4 that we should “bear” with one another in love. That doesn’t just mean that we are “putting up with” or simply accommodating one another, or even appreciating one another, but even with our imperfections we lift each other up to an exalted place and celebrate each other’s uniqueness in Christ.

Now, at this time as Christ-followers we must stand to bear up our brothers and sisters of color and agree, “Black Lives Matter!”

Yet, if anything in this life is to truly matter we must first be dedicated to declaring . . .

“Christ’s Life In Us Matter’s Most!”

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Please watch and give a listen to this beautiful and timely song written and performed by Zabbai with Jhislani entitled Illuminate. Crying out to hear from God to illuminate the way.

Find the YouTube link to the video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIa12qMhHqc

“Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.” – Ezekiel 37:5

What does a white boy from wealthy Fairfield County, Connecticut know about racial injustice?

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Personally, I have done extensive research on the subject of American slavery and have written three novels on the subject. So, I know something of it intellectually but in the Biblical sense of  “knowing” I know very little.

In my church I am thrilled to see a vision of heaven unfolding – a growing congregation experiencing a dynamic mix of generations, economic classes, cultures and races. We love one another and the differences fade away as the image of Christ in us surfaces. We don’t always get it right but with the Godly grace we have been given, we strive to extend that grace to one another.

Many of us within our congregation have been praying for years that the Lord would move us from a fairly racially and culturally homogeneous community with a smattering of minority members (my wife jokes that she was one of the few minorities – she’s Greek) to what we are becoming. God has wonderfully answered our prayers. Yet, one of the great challenges is not fully comprehending or appreciating the wounded-ness that many arrive with. We strive to understand but many of us can’t fully ‘know’.

Watching the video of the heartlessly, cruel death of George Floyd, I cried out, “Why doesn’t someone jump in to stop this?” I realized they were literally the same words I cried out a few weeks earlier watching the torture of the perfectly innocent Jesus in scenes from The Passion of the Christ. Man’s horrible inhumanity to man (and often on the basis of race, culture and religion) is so regrettably nothing new. It only underscores how desperately we need a Savior – a loving God to save us from ourselves.

Demonstrations of people who ‘know‘ something of being mistreated in ways I ‘know’ little of cry out, “I can’t breathe!” They are not just echoing the words of a dying man, they are crying out to say that they know of injustice. They’ve experienced the suffocating knee of the evil one pressing down on their necks.

The real enemy works to pit us one against the other and we are all too often so quick to fall in line. Before these demonstrations were hijacked by anarchists doing the ‘Ruler of this World’s’ bidding, many demonstrators were genuinely crying out from their heart. Crying out for what? Their hearts desire is that the blatant evil be exposed, justice prevails and change results.

I don’t doubt their efforts can lead to some change. No one should doubt that on the whole, over the years in the US things have changed for the better. But the condition of the heart can not be legislated clean. It requires surgery by a Savior.

The ‘Prince of Peace’ actually said this in Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”

Is Jesus advocating violence? No. Jesus is saying that he did not come to carelessly scatter peace about through inspiring platitudes. This kind of peace has no sustaining power to take hold and truly change the corruption in our hearts. So, what did Jesus bring? He brought a sword (machaira). Jesus is saying that he came to cut deep to the bone or to the very heart of the matter so people can truly be healed from their deepest wounds.

What has transpired since the horrible event has left me and so many others shocked, appalled, angered and confused – and from so many various perspectives. Yet, the core, selfish evil in man’s hearts can only be changed by the power of God entering into the individual’s life to perform the required surgery of the heart.

I was recently reading in Ezekiel and so much of what is occurring today spoke to me. The Prophet says in 11:19 – And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

And when I watched the news and heard the multitude cry out, “I can’t breathe” it brought me right back to Ezekiel 37:1-10 (NRSVA)

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’ Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Prophesying is merely hearing God’s voice and then being God’s mouthpiece. The Goodness, Righteousness and Truth of God’s word is what can breathe life into the bones of people dried up by the evil of this world.

So, how do we as Christ-Followers respond to these events rocking our world? By listening for God’s voice guiding and directing each one of us. Many will be guided one way and many will be guided another way. We listen and obey, not judging others for how God is directing them. All, ultimately being led to be His tool to breathe life into dry bones.

Ultimately, we can not ignore the truth as Christ-Follower’s that we are called to be people who extend God’s healing and comfort to each other and to those near and far. We don’t have to have experienced what others have experienced and fully know their pain to enter in to provide healing and comfort. Jesus consistently, healed individuals of their physical and emotional wounds that led to ultimate spiritual healing and restoration from death to life.

I recommend, as with Ezekiel, that each one of us listen for God’s voice and then obey. And, with great anticipation we let God breathe life into the dead bones so that the vast multitude will cry out in relief,

“Finally, I can breathe!”