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. 13 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, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14–

This past Sunday Pastor Kevin gave a great end-of-year message entitled Letting Go & Moving On focussed on these Philippians 3 verses. (See it at http://www.blackrock.org)

Most of us would love to just forget and move on from 2020. But, following the service, our small group had a great discussion about the concept of Forgetting raised by Paul.

Firstly, I love that the Apostle Paul, one of the great pillars of our faith and writer of much of the New Testament acknowledges that he is not perfect. He does not understand it all. I certainly can relate to that. We are all figuring it out as we walk this journey of faith.

Then Paul writes of laying hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. I had always taken this to mean that it was about grabbing ahold of something God has grabbed ahold for me. But it is not “for me” it is “of me”. God has seized hold of what he created us to be. That’s what God hangs onto, not the garbage we have accumulated in our life. That’s what Paul wants to grab hold of – all of what God intended for him to be.

How does Paul say he does that? By doing one thing! Now, it appears that Paul may not be much of a math wiz when he then seems to talk of doing 2 things – 1. forgetting those things which are behind, and 2. reaching forward to those things which are ahead. But, it is actually one thing, saying that while he is reaching forward he is forgetting. They are part of the same thing like the many motions comprised of swimming or mountain climbing. As a part of propelling yourself forward you are pushing things behind.

As I get older I’m getting pretty good at practicing something that the Apostle Paul apparently excelled at. Now what was that? Oh, yes – Forgetting

More and more often I’m forgetting my keys, my glasses, my iPhone, where I left things, or, I may go to the grocery store and come home with bags of groceries but forgotten the one thing my wife asked me to get.

Unfortunately, when Paul talks of forgetting those things which are behind, he is not talking about that kind of forgetting.

I don’t know about you, but there have been plenty of experiences/episodes in my life I wish I could forget. Embarrassing moments, bad behavior, words I wish I could take back. Sometimes when I’m doing something, a completely random memory will pop into my head and I’ll just shudder with embarrassment at the thought.

I love Paul’s urging about forgetting the past. Whatever foolish, hurtful things we have done or have been done to us – whatever ways we have been hurt or damaged, just leave it behind and forget it. I love that, but it just doesn’t seem to come that easy. It is particularly hard and probably near impossible for those who have experienced sever trauma – the horrors of war or real mental, spiritual and physical abuse.

Why? For those who have been abused, the memories are seared into their sub-conscience. It may not be a matter of will-power. Or, if it is bad past experiences there are often consequences and repercussions and other people involved that cause these memories to be resurrected. It can seem inescapable. And, it seems a bit like cheap wise-guy wisdom of the world – “Hey, just fuggedaboutit!”

However, the Greek word for Forgetting – Epilanthanomai – includes in the definition “given over to oblivion” (the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening).

Depending on the context, the Greek word could be consciously or unconsciously forgetting by exertion or supernatural means. But, in this particular context, it is not a spiritual thing where a memory is magically wiped away. Paul says, this is what he does – He chooses to set his mind on that which is ahead and let the past be left behind. Paul is talking about a conscious decision. It is not a one and done but a process of forgetting.

We all know this to be true in our lives. Memory of failures and mistakes, what we have been told we can or cannot do haunt us as a reminder “I’m not going there again.” I won’t risk embarrassment and failure because of my bad experiences in the past. But what if we could just wipe away these unwanted memories from our past?

Like a Spiritual Super Power

In the movie comedy, Mystery Men– there are seven quirky amateur crime-fighters with strange powers including one who gets intensely angry, one who hurls silverware, a bowler, a shoveler, one who knocks people out by passing gas, and an invisible boy who can only become invisible when nobody is looking at him. (I think I may have a few of these powers. I’ll let you guess which ones)

I have come up with my own super hero with unique super power – Fuggedaboutit Man or Oblivious Man – A comic book super hero whose unique super power is the ability to FORGET. The Super hero can press on through any difficulty – not being burdened with the memory of any abuse or weakness or failure or embarrassment. Every moment being new and fresh with the belief that he/she can do anything regardless of past experience to the contrary, to ultimately outlast any adversary or challenge to go on to ultimate victory!

I see Paul as the original Oblivious Man.

Think of the baggage Paul had to carry around when becoming a Christian. He was a well-known enemy of the Christians participating in their pain, suffering and death. The disciples knew of Paul’s past and were seriously challenged to accept him. Think of what he had to overcome to be accepted into the Christian community and allowed to minister so powerfully.

So, how did Paul say he was able to put his past behind him? Of all the things Paul could say to do – to pray, to meditate, to strive, to study, to exert faith, to do good works, to fast, to worship or to do any of the Spiritual disciplines – In Philippians 3:13 Paul says: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.

So, it seems to me that Paul is indicating that to effectively forget that which is behind us we must be moving forward with all of our interest and attention on pressing on to what is ahead.

What are we reaching forward for? Paul goes on to say in verse 14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

What’s the prize?

Ephesians 2:10 NLV – For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We strive (as Paul strived) to lay hold of that masterpiece that God sees. To be resurrected from what we see us to be to then realize that perfect creation God has made us to be – each of us unique but still a perfect reflection of Jesus. That’s the “Prize!”

Do we really see ourselves that way? Giving over to oblivion the old man/who we were – all the wounds and hurts and failures and messaging telling lies about who we can never be? All of that may have to be jettisoned in order to fully discover our true identity in Christ.

Colossians 3: 9-10 – you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

Forge is the most significant part of Forget – Are we called to forget everything? No. We are called, with God’s strength, to put that which holds us back behind us. Whatever inhibits us from moving forward to become all we were created to be in Christ Jesus. The imagery is that of climbing into a car. You hit the gas and begin driving to a new destination as your past gets smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.

How Does God Deal With Forgetting Past Sin and Corruption?

I find it interesting that God is not forgetful – yet, even He chooses to do a similar kind of forgetting/obliterating. But, the indication is that it doesn’t just disappear. In Psalm 103:12 it says – As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. And likewise it says in Micah 7:19 – He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Also, in John 1:29 John the Baptists declares that Jesus ‘takes away’ the sin of the world. He removes it. The Greek Airo means to bear away or carry away.

These scriptures suggest that it is still out there somewhere but in a far distant place that cannot harm us. The power and penalty of sin is removed. It does not mean it is necessarily permanently destroyed from our memory. It’s part of what God can use to turn bad into good. Circular – forgetting enables us to press forward, pressing forward leaves the old self in the dust.

God wants to heal and restore us, yet how often does God use our painful past experiences to give us compassion and understanding to bring healing to others? We use forgetting to move forward but God can use our past for His kingdom.

Finally, for the bitterness we hold towards the abuse we have faced in life Hezekiah offers in Isaiah 38:17 – “Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” (Sounds a bit like Paul putting his past behind him.)

Thank you God for lovingly delivering my soul from the pit of corruption enabling me to become that which you have laid hold of me.

Happy New Year to all and for 2021, as we forge on for the great prize, let’s remember to forget!

But He answered her not a word

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word.” – Matthew 15:21-23

This is a follow-up to my Blog post of July 1^st2020 – Jesus a Racist? Exposing the Heart of the Matter

In that Post, I confirmed what we already knew – Jesus was/is not a Racist. But, there is another element of the story I did not dive into that has continued to ‘stick in my craw’ as they say.

Was Jesus being rude?

The question is raised based on Jesus’ initial response to the Phoenecian woman crying out for help and Matthew writes “But He answered her not a word”. My reaction was that he is being rude and totally disregarding her.

Perhaps you have experienced something similar? Asking for help in a store and feeling like you are invisible. Or, having a conversation with someone but their attention is on looking for someone they’d really rather be talking to. Or, speaking to someone but they’re constantly scrolling their iPhone. It is just plain rude.

But, wow! This kind of takes it to another level. The poor woman is crying out in sheer desperation for help for her demon possessed daughter and he says nothing?

This requires taking a closer look: If Jesus was actually disregarding her, Matthew would more likely have used the Greek word Agnoeo meaning ‘being ignorant of’ or ‘ignoring’ her. An example of its use is found in the NIV translation of 1 Corinthians 14:38 – “But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.”

What did Jesus actually do?

In this scene, Matthew records that Jesus used the word ‘answered’ 4 times, meaning he positively responded to others requests 4 times. In this particular instance Matthew writes, “But He answered her not a word.” So, Mathew did not choose the word Agnoeo to say he ignored her, he records that Jesus did, in fact, answer her but answered her without saying anything.

How do you do that?

I’ve had plenty of experiences that I believe most people can relate to. It is about 1 person being in conversation with 2 others. The first person has been keeping a secret from the second person but the third does not know about the secret. Take a surprise party for instance. Let’s say I’m throwing a surprise party for person 1 and person 2 has heard about the party but missed the part about it being a surprise. (I’ve been each of these 3 persons at one time or another) While I’m standing next to person 1, person 2 comes up to me saying, “Hey what time is the party?” potentially ruining the surprise. What do you do?

You turn your back to Person 1 and through facial expressions and hand gestures you ‘answer without a word’. You might mouth the word “quiet” or put a finger to your lips or slash your fingers across your throat or simply put a finger or hand up. Any of these gestures would communicate “be quiet you knucklehead” without saying a word.

Was Jesus doing something similar? The imagery I get from Scripture sets the scene with the Disciples following behind Jesus and the woman coming around to be in front of Jesus. When she begs him, Jesus answers her without speaking a word but perhaps with some gesture that the disciples could not see.

Maybe it was Jesus giving her a nod or a wink or simply putting his index finger up to say, “Wait a moment. I will answer your request but I have something to teach my disciples.” I don’t know what gestures may have conveyed this message back in the 1st century Israel. Regardless, He certainly in some way responded to her request without speaking.

I’m satisfied and blessed that Jesus is still Jesus. He’s not rude and the full character of Christ stays intact. I am ready to move on.

• Personal note: I love when I get into scripture, looking for God’s leading and insight and he takes me down a path of understanding. It makes sense and I’m good with it but then I find if I’m willing to press in a little further he will expand upon my understanding. That is so good!

In this case, before I move on, I stop to wonder if there might be a hand gesture unique to Middle Eastern culture that could convey this kind of message. I go ahead and do a little google research. I find that in the Middle East there is a very common hand gesture referred to in Egypt as the “Osbor Shwaya”.

The hand gesture is when the fingers are cupped together pointing up and the hand is slowly swung up and down. What does it communicate? It says without a word . . . “hang on/ I’m working on it/be patient/just a minute.”

Is that what Jesus did? Did He, without a word, and by this hand gesture convey to the woman, “Hang on, it will be done, be patient.” If this gesture was common back in the day, it seems to me a legitimate possibility that this is what Jesus did.

Jesus conveyed a silent message to the woman that said:

• He was fully prepared to answer her request,
• while encouraging her to be patient,
• as they continued in a dialogue,
• that would teach a powerful lesson to His Disciples.

Also, if you read the subsequent dialogue exchange between the Phoenician woman and Jesus with the understanding that she is certain Jesus will do what she asked, it takes on a whole different tenor. I don’t know about you, but I love that.

Jesus does not ignore us when we speak to him

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” – Matthew 7:8

How many ways does God communicate to us? Are we listening and looking and being patient in the process? Are we trusting enough and patient enough to believe that he is working out the good for all involved even as he is planning to answer our prayers? It is all a part of God’s multi-tasking goodness.

Many are desperate to hear God’s voice. As for me, while I love hearing God’s voice, I’ll take an answer from God without a word anytime.

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Extending to all a fresh start in the New Year of 2021. In the growing darkness I pray we Christ-followers even more so embrace Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. – 1Corinthians 14:26

As I was prayerfully preparing to lead one of our Wednesday night Power Prayer meetings I was led to 1Corinthians 14:26 for inspiration.

In this scripture, Paul seems to be asking the brethren in Corinth, “How does this work? You gather together to worship God and then each of you has some spiritual element to offer?”

1. a psalm/song
2. a teaching
3. a tongue
4. a revelation
5. an interpretation

God is saying, You show up to gather in my name wondering what meeting together may be about and then the Holy Spirit shows up to lead the meeting – guiding and directing.

As I was preparing, I went through the list of spiritual contributions. What would show up at our meeting?

Let’s Check The Boxes

1. A psalm/song? Certainly, our worship leaders will provide the worship songs and no doubt someone will be led to quote scripture from the Book of Psalms. But, would someone really just break out into a new song? No. Never seen that before.
2. A teaching? I plan to provide brief guidance on prayer and have the group engage in a “spiritual stretching” exercise. Check.
3. A tongue? Whoa! Let’s skip that one. For the sake of unity, our church does not encourage the practice of speaking publicly in a foreign tongue. Nope.
4. A revelation? God is generous to often give us words and images of things in our meetings that provide revelation to who He is and how He wants to work in our lives. Check.
5. An interpretation? Often, as God gives us revelation another will provide further insight and clarification as to the meaning of what is being shared. Check.

I went into the meeting with a notion of how God would work.

The Meeting

Once at the meeting, we entered into God’s presence with worship (Song). Check

People quoted scripture (Psalm). Check.

I encouraged people to be bold as we sat for a period of quiet/listening to then share what was coming into their mind. It was an exercise in trusting that our God is big enough to communicate and that the place we were in was a safe place to risk stepping out and be bold (Teaching). Check.

A number of people shared some really good stuff that God dropped into their mind/spirit (revelation). Check.

Others entered in to share related thoughts and scriptures to give deeper meaning and understanding to the revelations shared (Interpretation). Check.

I have to say that as a spiritual stretching exercise (Prayer Hot Potato) it was expectedly a bit forced and uncomfortable. But, people listened, God spoke, and many were bold to share whatever they heard.

I really do hate to put people on the spot and to impose on others; making people feel awkward or pressured. However, we checked off the boxes I expected to check regarding how God would move. In my judgement, the meeting went pretty well but not great – a little too awkward.

As I began to wrap up the meeting, I asked if there was anything anyone else would like to share.

A quiet Chinese woman named Powan, who is a relatively new Christian, boldly raised her hand. She shared how blessed she was in the previous Sunday’s church service to be asked to read the teaching scripture. What was the blessing? That she was asked to read it in her own language (Mandarin?). She went on to share how that had encouraged her, feeling included and realizing how universal her faith in Christ truly is.

I was pleasantly convicted. Was that a Tongue we are talking about? Check?

No one spoke out in a foreign tongue in the meeting but the irony of her testimony did not escape me. God was stepping in to say, Don’t be so quick to think that something in My Holy, written word is not possible for today. I was blessed.

Then, just in closing, a man named Peder who is fairly new to our church jumped in to ask if he could play a song he had just written. We all looked at each other. Hmm, Okay. He grabbed the worship leader’s guitar and started worshipping with a new song. Wow.

The realization hit me that, once again, God was breaking in at the last minute to check another box I had left unchecked. A new song. Check.

I could only shake my head and worship God for the things I kept off the list. God wanted to remind me of the purpose of Him inspiring Paul to ask, “How is it then?”

How is it then? It is by His people gathering, fully expecting God to show up and use each one to bless and edify all in any number of ways. God shows up because it is all about what HE does through us to build up the Body of Christ.

So. when we do gather together to seek God’s face let’s all be prepared to be used in a unique way for His glory, for our mutual joy and for the building up of the Body of Christ.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Our Senior Pastor, Steve has been preaching a wonderful series on 1 Corinthians 13 – The Love Chapter. So desperately needed in this time of division and unrest. Reminding us of what true love is as the world around us seems to being cascading into a pit of darkness and hate.

In Steve’s message he addressed our motivations for doing good deeds being meaningless to God if not done out of love. I am nothing and I get nothing if our motivations are not purely out of love. He highlighted the point that in the Greek the word for ‘nothing’ is just that – ‘nothing’ – zip, nada, zero. There is no deeper meaning to take from the original Greek. Without love we are worthless and what we are doing is worthless.

I agree and every major translation agrees, consistently translating the Greek word Oudeis as ‘nothing’ in these verses. However, I’ve wrestled with this notion before. What does this mean? It’s like God is using a line from an old Mafia movie; If you don’t do good stuff for the right reasons “You’re dead to me!” The God of pure love considers me nothing and says my good deeds are absolutely worthless? For a teaching about love, how loving is that? This took me back to a personal study I did about the meaning of ‘nothing’ a while back. So, something like the Seinfeld show being a show about ‘Nothing’, this is a brief study about ‘Nothing’.

A Study About Nothing

I have no doubt that this statement is true. I know in my own life good deeds I have done that were poorly motivated and left a bad taste. Yet, something just didn’t jive with the God of love and forgiveness and grace that I know. Still, Jesus said some harsh words in love that are hard to hear but true. I decided to take another look.

As mentioned before The Greek word used is Oudeis, a pronoun meaning nothing – also meaning no one or no man. Hmmm? In fact, the word is translated about 50% more times in the New Testament as no man, then as nothing.
As an example, in James 3:8 it reads – “But the tongue can (Oudeis) no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

If you are a Greek scholar now is the time to correct me if there is something I am missing. But, how the scholars translate the word depends on numerous factors including the context and the words used around a certain word. In James 3:8 for example, they chose to use no man because of the reference to a human body part; the tongue. Yet, for this scripture, if you replaced no man with nothing, I don’t think you would lose much, if anything, in the translation.

But in 1 Corinthians 13:2-3, would replacing nothing with no man change anything about the meaning?

I think it might

Verse 2 in 1 Corinthians 13 says – “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing (I am no man).
In this verse, Paul is referencing himself saying if he is able to exercise all these powerful gifts, what an incredible “man of God” he is! He is talking about his spiritual self-image/spiritual ego. Look at me and how special I am! But, if we replace nothing with no man, Paul could be saying, “without love, I am really no man (of God) at all. It shifts the focus from God’s condemnation of us as being nothing to Him to us looking in the mirror and seeing how shallow we really are.

Then in Verse 3 it says, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing (I am useful to no man).”
Paul now shifts from the greatness for exercising spiritual gifts to even how wonderfully holy and sacrificial we are. Look at me and what I do for others! Once again, puffing up our chest with our good works and fueling our spiritual egos.

Also, if we look at the Greek verb in this verse, Opheleo often translated as ‘profit’, it also is defined as ‘to be useful’. So, if we replace ‘Profit’ with to be useful and nothing with no man, Paul might be saying, “without love, I am to be useful to no man.”

Once again, this use takes the emphasis away from God’s judgement or condemnation to creating a reality check for who we think we are in Christ.
In other words, without LOVE I am not the Godly man I think I am and I am not accomplishing the things of God that I think I am.

One other rationale for replacing nothing with no man is that Paul in these verses is referencing himself as his motivation as a man of God so using no man makes some sense.

WARNING: I am not a Greek Scholar

I enjoy digging into God’s word and considering how God can speak to me through the rich diversity of the original language.
There may be some scholarly reason as to why nothing is used rather than no man that I don’t understand but even if that is the case, the teaching holds true supported by many other scriptures.

Our motivations, even for those things that are good, must be checked if it is going to be of any use as a loving expression of who God is and for building God’s kingdom.
In Mark 10:18 Jesus said – “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” And that’s why we check our spiritual egos and motivation as James writes in James 4:8 – Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

God loves us through the sacrificial love of His son, Jesus Christ. As Christ-Followers, our sins are wiped clean. If we fall short, we are not nothing in His eyes.

In order to mean something to loving God and building His Kingdom we most powerfully engage and are used through a loving, cleansed and purified heart.

“God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” – Hebrews 2:4

Miracle – An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

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Weeks ago, I Joined in on the newly-formed Wednesday Evening Prayer Zoom Call hosted by our Church’s Prayer Team. I entered the meeting with great anticipation. It was only the second meeting for this ministry to substitute for the Prayer Ministry I highlighted in a previous post (On Any Given Sunday) usually available Sunday mornings when the church building is open.

The previous day I was leaning over working on a home project when my back went out. A painful bolt of electricity shot through my body. I was left hunched over and in agony. Stretching, cold compresses and Ibuprofen was not providing much relief. So, knowing this team of dedicated, faith-filled pray-ers, I was not only hoping for, but expecting a miracle.

I got on the call in a standing position because getting up and down was too painful. We entered in and I shared my request. Jim, Gaylord, Chioma and Angel prayed for my healing. When they were done, Jim asked me to check it out. I stretched and bent over and reported that my pain felt better. Yes!  But, they pressed in and continued to pray wonderful prayers for complete healing. They stopped and I tested my back, now bending completely over and getting up and down from a chair with almost zero pain. Praise God!

I went from steady pain and very limited mobility in my lower back to complete mobility and just a slight twinge of pain. What a relief! After our call I went out and did a little jig for my wife, Eleni to show off. We prayed and thanked God!

And now . . . . for the rest of the story!

I got up the next morning and much of the pain was back. I had booked an appointment with a Chiropractor that, after the previous night’s prayers, I intended to cancel but in the morning decided to keep. Hunched over in pain I went in to see the chiropractor and came out in worse pain.

However, the doctor did identify that the problem was a combination of decrease in the cushion between 2 lower vertebrae, a build up of cartilage on the bone that restricts movement and strained swollen muscle around the vertebrae. He recommended the standard ibuprofen, ice packs and stretching.

I did ask him how I could have experienced many hours the previous night where my mobility was restored and the pain was virtually gone? He shrugged his shoulders – “Something must have caused the swelling to recede and then lying in a bad position overnight caused it to inflame. Perhaps the ibuprofen finally had kicked in for a time?”

Well, I’m pretty certain it was not the ibuprofen. It had not proven very effective prior to my reprieve. I experienced God’s healing touch responding to His people’s prayers of faith. But why hadn’t it continued? An image of a deflated balloon ‘popped’ into my mind. Yes, that’s how I was feeling; a bit deflated.

The Deflated Balloon

The image of the deflated balloon stirred up a memory of my first encounter with a dramatic healing experience. My friend Mark was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and was going in for surgery. Just before the surgery our church mens group gathered around him for prayer. We obviously prayed for his healing and as we prayed an image of a balloon came into my mind. The balloon had a small hole in it and was slowly withering to something like a shriveled fig.

Isaiah 34:4 – the prophet is declaring judgement against God’s enemies – “All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.”

This was the first time I can recall that a clear image came into my mind as I was praying – an image that seemed connected to our prayers. Yet, the image didn’t quite match up with how we were all praying for God to just make the tumor disappear.

When we concluded, I shared this with Mark. He squinted and shrugged, “Well, Ok.” He later shared that he did not take it as something positive but thought it meant something about the air going out of his life. He was not particularly encouraged by it.

Mark went into surgery. When the surgeon opened him up they were certain to find a solid mass that would be a challenge to cleanly remove. Their hope was to scrape it all out leaving only good tissue. The most reassuring comment to his family at the end of the surgery would be to say, “We believe we got it all.”

But, when the surgeon went in they were shocked to find a cavity with a wrinkled blob of tissue inside. The best way they could describe the tumor was as a ‘deflated balloon’! It was as though it had been filled with fluid but had popped and drained out leaving this shrivled mass disconnected from any other tissue. It was then easily removed. After testing the surrounding tissue they declared Mark clean and free of cancer. Wow! We praised God for his miraculous healing.

As with most miracles I’ve encountered, this was not the end of the story

God healed Mark but years later the cancer came back with a vengeance. Once again, we all prayed for a miracle but in 2007 my friend went to be with the Lord.

I had to ask, Why heal then and not now? Was the initial healing even a real miracle?

Certainly, not of the same magnitude, but why heal my back just for an evening? Was it just a short period of ‘mind over matter’? Was it the case that I wanted to believe I was healed, so the pain went away but it was all in my mind?

No, I have concluded that the Prayer Team had prayed and God chose to cause the swelling to recede. I was healed. For whatever reason God chose not to answer the part of the prayer that it would be a permanent healing. Why?

Where in the World is Lazarus?

I’ve wondered about this in the past. When God chooses to heal it is about signs and wonders to make the reality of who He is known – to draw people into the reality of a loving relationship with a living God. But how long should we expect it would last?

For those that Jesus restored, say hearing – did they not lose their faculties as old age set in? I’ve had both shoulders miraculously healed – I still can’t throw a baseball anything like I could when I was younger. The Miracle Mets won a World Series against all odds in 1969 but they haven’t demonstrated the miraculous very often since. (Sorry JT)

Then there was Lazarus. He was not only raised from the dead but raised from the grave! But, still he died. He’s certainly not walking around somewhere today. (Maybe he is? Hanging out with Elvis somewhere?)

So, why bother healing if it is not permanent?

After the pain came back I posed this question to my friend, Pastor G and he responded with this wisdom:

“We know that all healing in this life is just a foretaste, a sip of the permanent healing that awaits us in Heaven where we will inhabit eternal bodies made by God Himself that will be immune to pain and weakness.”

In this corrupt and fallen world where man has turned his back on God’s incorruptible ways there is no permanence. Even those of us who have eternal life in Christ are all appointed once to die (Hebrews 9:27).

Any of God’s goodness in this realm is only a taste of what is to come. Yet, even as we step  further out in faith and see Him do what only He can do, and then testify to His good works, the tastier this ‘abundant’ life gets. (John 10:10)

So, what about my back? I got a taste of God’s supernatural goodness and then through another 10 days or so of discipline, (ibuprofen, ice packs and stretching) my back fully recovered. Once again, I have even more reason to testify to God’s goodness and declare . . . Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” – Lamentations 2:22

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Black Rock Church, Fairfield Ct is opening up for 3 straight nights of live worship limited to 140 participants beginning Wednesday August 5th.

TO ATTEND, PEOPLE MUST REGISTER AT: http://brc.church/outdoorworship.
IT will be held in the church parking lot with appropriate social distancing and requiring a mask.

Also, Black Rock Church will begin opening up Wednesday Nights of ‘Praying Boldly’ Meetings for a limited number of participants starting August 12th

Come join us at these events to Worship our God for who He is and to experience Him for what only He can do!

“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” —Matthew 15:21-24

 

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In these days of tearing down statues of leaders who represented some of the worst in us (and likely some of the best in us too) are being destroyed because these people were flawed by some form of racism. Now, the notion of tearing down statues of Jesus Christ is beginning to gain traction. The issue seems to be that Jesus is often erroneously depicted as a white man.

But, what about Jesus’ character? Was he flawed with any prejudices or bigotry?

I love Jesus and I love his character for so many reasons. I love him for what I know to be his kind and gentle nature. I particularly love him for his willingness as God to come down to be amongst us as a man without judging us for our failures, but intent on saving and restoring us.

Jesus reached out in love to young, old, male, female, rich, poor, religious, irreligious, black, white, Jew and Gentile. I believe that there was not a prejudiced bone in his body. Yet, there is an episode in the Gospels that initially caused me some concern. Was Jesus behaving with prejudice and bigotry toward another human?

Was Jesus a Racist and a Bigot?

In Matthew 15:21-28, we find Jesus departing with the disciples from Jerusalem and heading northwest toward the coastal region of Phoenicia and the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They are nearing the end of their journey when a Phoenician (Gentile) woman rushes toward them screaming for help. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But Jesus just stays silent.

What? Jesus looks to be ignoring her and letting his disciples fend off this irritating woman. Even though they ignore her, she keeps crying out to the growing annoyance of the disciples. They finally come to Jesus urging him to tell her to go away and stop bothering them.

What does Jesus do? He agrees and declares, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He’s basically saying, “Yeah, you guys are right. Leave us alone woman! We didn’t come for you. I only came for the house of Israel.”

I’m stunned by Jesus’s prejudicial lack of compassion. But wait, the woman now prostrates herself in front of Jesus to stop him and pleads further for his help. Certainly, this is where Jesus will respond to her worship of him?

But, no! Now Jesus only appears to be at the end of his patience and answers her saying in essence, “Look, it’s not good to give to the dogs what should be for my children.”

My eyes bulge! Wow! He is not only rejecting her as a Gentile, but it sure sounds to me like he is degrading her, calling her a dirty, filthy stray mongrel dog, consistent with the common prejudice of Jews towards Gentiles.

But Jesus is supposed to be better than that!

But, this irritating woman won’t stop, and she responds, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Okay, True. But so what? To me, this is not much of a compelling argument.

At this point I imagine Jesus and the disciples’ kind of waving their hands at the woman saying, “Yeah, right. Go away. There are no crumbs here for you, you dirty dog” as they go to complete their journey.

But, Jesus seems actually impressed with her last statement. Based on the woman’s weak argument he does a complete 180 and answers her by saying, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And at that very hour, her daughter was healed.

I should be excited or at least relieved but, even in light of Jesus honoring her faith with a miracle, Jesus has engaged in 4 forms of bigotry by:

1. Being Complicit – While others are engaging in bigotry, he is complicit by staying silent.
2. Lacking Empathy – He ignores her needs because she is deemed “unworthy”
3. Overt Bias – Jesus blatantly declares his people’s superiority over others as inferiors.
4. Being Degrading – Dehumanizing another human being by referring to them as animals.

Wow! Who is this guy, and what have you done with my sweet Jesus?

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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!”

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as He came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” . . . Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil – Matthew 3:16,17;4:1

In these days of the Coronavirus I’ve found plenty of opportunity to electronically connect with family and friends and the Body of Christ.  There have been Zoom prayer meetings 4-5 times or more each week. Prayer is flourishing. They are an awesome use of tapping into God’s amazing creation through technology. Yet, I must admit I find it only an adequate substitute for gathering together and it does come with some risk.

The Zoom Bomb

One of the regular prayer meetings I have been participating in has been Dr. Chauncey  Crandall’s Nights of Hope and Healing on Sunday Evenings.

This last Sunday was an exciting opportunity for Dr. Crandall to share his testimony of how God has led him to where he is in his spiritual journey. This would lead into Dr. Crandall interviewing Jeff Markin who by Dr. Crandall’s prayer God miraculously raised back from the dead. It drew a great crowd excited to hear about God’s amazing handiwork.

The event opened up with worship and prayer but as Dr. Crandall began to share – it happened. What I had heard and been warned about happened. The event was Zoom-bombed.

Zoombombing, Zoom-bombing or Zoom raiding is the unwanted intrusion into a video conference call by an individual, causing disruption.

In this case the intruder started posting disgusting, lewd and illicit pictures as well as scrawling crazy political and offensive comments. As the ministry team scrambled with how to address the intrusion a sinister voice cackled, “Yeh, what are you going to do about it?”

I must say for myself and likely all on the call it was upsetting and initially the enemy’s goal to disrupt was being realized.

Very quickly, though, the mind of Christ took over. Dr. Chauncey and several others began rebuking the evil spirit and casting it away. We all entered into a prayerful state for God’s victory and for the disturbed life of the intruder. We all turned our video imaging off and Dr. Crandall pressed on followed by Jeff’s testimony without further disruption.

What were we on the Zoom Meeting for?

Yes, it was disturbing and it did accomplish setting the purpose for the meeting back a few minutes but what the Zoom-bomber didn’t understand is that he was playing right into God’s hand.

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