Epiphany

 

"Come and see what God has done,

    his awesome deeds for mankind!" 

(Psalm 66:5 NIV)

January 6 is the official end of the Christmas season as we begin Epiphany.  The season of Epiphany focuses on Jesus as a young man and then his early ministry.  It sets us up to go deeply, reverently, and penitently through the season of Lent - aware and focused on how much Jesus has done for us.  Epiphany, though, begins a lighter season - focused on the Light of Christ.

According to dictionary.com, epiphany is "a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience."  

We can speak today of having "epiphanies" when we suddenly understand something.  You can puzzle over what a Bible verse meant and then somehow in a moment it becomes clear.  You can wonder why a person does certain things and then suddenly realize the reasons behind what they do.  You can struggle with solving a vexing problem, only to "wake up" with an epiphany of the solution.  

The Magi ("wise men" in some Bible translations) from the East (probably modern day Iran and/or Iraq) were focused on the Light of Christ.  They would have been some of the best educated people in their culture(s), who knew the new star they saw was unique and important.  They believed the prophecies about a "King of the Jews" and so followed the star to the baby Jesus so they could worship him and give him expensive gifts. They had traveled from between 6 months to two years to see the Christ Child. 

What would have caused them to have so much trust in prophecies of a "King of the Jews" that they would have made this long, expensive trek over and around the Middle Eastern deserts just to see an infant/toddler?  

I think the Magi had an epiphany - an insight into the Truth of the new star - because they had spent years studying many truths in many religions and cultures.  When we study the foundational document of our faith - the Bible - we learn God's Truth.  Also, I believe the Holy Spirit told the Magi that THIS star - this Truth - was important.  I believe God gives us a variety of epiphanies in life but all of them harken back to Truth.  

What is Truth?  Jesus said that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  So when we seek Jesus the Truth - as the Magi did - and when we come to the Father through him, we can see the glorious deeds he has done for us.  We can see the Light and Glory of God through Christ.  And we can trust the Truth of God's Word, Jesus. 

What Truth will you trust in today?

Light of the World, 

Thank you, Jesus, for being our Way, our Truth, and our Life. Thank you for showing us the Father and for guiding us with Holy Spirit.  Thank you that your Truths are trustworthy and help us to understand our world and to obey your call.  Show us the places in our lives where we need epiphanies and help us to seek you and then be able to hear and understand what you are telling us.  Help us to see all the wondrous things you have done and your glory in the earth.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.  

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

    and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  (Matthew 2:1-12)

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6 NIV)

March 17, 2021 Prayer - For Miracles, Signs, and Wonders in our Day

God of Miracles,

We give thanks to our Lord and call upon your name.  We sing praise to you for all your deeds and wonders, for all your glory, and for your strength.  We seek your face continually, longing to be in your presence.  We remember with gratitude your marvelous deeds which you have done, your miracles and the judgements from your mouth.   When we remember all the mighty deeds you have done, all your holy ways, all your power displayed in miracles, we joyfully praise you!  Blessed is the King of Kings who comes in the name of the Lord!   God, we know of your renown and stand in awe of your work.  But in this day and age, we cry out to you - we beg you - to make your good works known today.  Even though there is great darkness upon this earth, you have not completely abandoned your people; in your wrath, may you remember mercy.  Revive your people in this time and place; revive your renown among those who do not know you as Lord and Savior.  God, pour out your Holy Spirit through the revelation and power of faith.  Pour out your miracles, signs and wonders in this day.  Pour out your Healing Power and your Convicting Presence in such a way that every person knows it was you who did the miracles.  We know that where there is unbelief, you cannot do many mighty miracles, so we pray for a great outpouring of belief upon us.  We know that our belief shouldn't be rooted in religious laws but in the Way, the Truth, and the Life in Jesus Christ and because of the Power of Holy Spirit.  So, help the lovers of God teach your Truth so that your Life is opened up within all who hear it and your instruction delivers us from the ways of death.  We pray in the name of Jesus for a great outpouring of your Spirit, especially manifest in signs, wonders and miracles in this day!  Amen.  

"O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;

Make His deeds known among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Seek the Lord and His strength;

Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence].

Remember [with gratitude] His marvelous deeds which He has done,

His miracles and the judgments from His mouth..." (1 Chronicles 16:8-12 AMP)

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

I will consider all your works

    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy.

    What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;

    you display your power among the peoples." (Psalm 77:11-14 NIV)

"[T]he whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'" (Luke 19:37-38 NIV)

"O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2 NRSV)

"Their unbelief kept him from doing many mighty miracles..." (Matthew 13:58 TPT)

"What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life and the miracles of God’s tremendous power have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith!"  (Galatians 3:5 TPT)

"Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too." (John 14:6 TPT)

"When the lovers of God teach you truth, a fountain of life opens up within you, and their wise instruction will deliver you from the ways of death." (Proverbs 13:14 TPT)

February 21, 2021 Prayer - Turnaround

God of the Turnaround,

Praise to the Lord for your glory and strength, your holiness and your majesty.  You are unchangeable, unshakable, unstoppable, God Alone.  We praise you for your Voice which is thundering, powerful, and moving upon this earth.  Thank you for the strength and peace you give to your children who hear your Voice and follow your Way, Truth, and Life.  Thank you that you hear the prayers of your people, that no prayer goes unnoticed as it comes before your Throne of Glory.  In this day and age it can seem like you are silent in the midst of the demonic chaos that has been unleashed on this world.  It may seem like you do nothing to avenge the wickedness, corruption, and evil that has been poured out in this nation.  But you are on your throne in good times and bad and we believe you - we trust you - to guard us and to guide us; help our unbelief and our mistrust.  Today we pray for you to pour out your goodness upon multiplied millions of your Children who seek to honor and serve you with their lives.  And we pray for the judgement of wickedness in this world to take place.  We pray for breakthroughs for which your People have waited decades to now occur.  We pray for you to cleanse and remove from power anyone and everyone at any level of government whose ideas, thoughts, and plans are not in total and strict alignment with yours.  We pray that your Spirit's Power would pull out the iniquitous roots that have tried to strangle righteousness in this land.  We know that you set into place governments and give righteous laws, but you despise the political spirit and the ambition, lust for power, greed, and desire to change this nation away from her God-ordained plans.  We pray against the spiritual forces of wickedness that lust after wealth, power, and perversion, that deceive and twist communication.  We pray you would break the demonic chains of humanism, secularism, and pluralism that have bound our minds for generations.  Free us from these forces of idolatry, we pray in Jesus's name. Without your supernatural intervention, these evil roots will not be eliminated.  But we believe that the power of the wicked will be broken because you, King Jesus, are arising.  May our prayers release your Spirit to do in a day what human methods, ideas, thinking, and religion can't do in decades.  We pray you pour out on this generation your omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. May Love and Justice will be seen simultaneously, and may repentance be complete. By your Spirit you have begun these processes. Now we pray for a complete and total turnaround in this nation, in Jesus's name!

"Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness].

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

The God of glory thunders;

The Lord is over many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people;

The Lord will bless His people with peace." (Psalm 29:1-4, 11 AMP)

"Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6 AMP)
"Then the eighth angel with a golden incense burner came and took his place at the incense altar. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer up, consisting of the prayers of God’s holy people, upon the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the holy ones billowed up before God from the hand of the angel." (Rev. 8:3-4 TPT)
"Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24 AMP)
"For the Lord is our judge,    the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
    it is he who will save us." (Isaiah 33:22 NIV)

“May everyone who knows Your mercy keep putting their trust in You, for they can count on You for help no matter what. O Lord, You will never, no never, neglect those who come to You.” (Psalm 9:10 TPT)

"Better the little that the righteous have

    than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous." (Psalm 37:16-17 NIV)

You are not a God, created by human hands
You are not a God, dependent on any mortal man
You are not a God, in need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

You are not a God, created by human hands
You are not a God, dependent on any mortal man
You are not a God, in need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

You are God alone from before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone and right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
And you are God alone

Unchangeable, unshakable, unstoppable
That's what You are
Unchangeable, unshakable, unstoppable
That's what You are

"You Are God Alone (Not a God)" 
by Billy and Cindy Foote

• (c) 2004 Billy Foote Music
• Integrity's Hosanna! Music

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOargNFiDd4&list=RDZOargNFiDd4&start_radio=1 

(some material from: https://www.givehim15.com/post/january-29-2021)

February 15, 2021 Prayer - Communicating Good News, Thwarting Evil in Communication, Awakening

Word of God,

We join with the psalmist in proclaiming that, from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, your name is to be praised.  We praise you for the gift of abundant life you offer us when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior.  We thank you for your wisdom and guidance you pour out on those who seek you.  Today we pray for wisdom, knowledge, and guidance to overwhelm those who seek to communicate the Good News of your Gospel and spread the Light of your Way, Truth, and Life.  Give breakthroughs very quickly to those who seek to communicate your Truth and Righteousness in the tech area, that they may build platforms and craft messages that can be used by you to bring the Lost, Broken, and the Prodigals to faith.  Give these builders creativity, wisdom, financing, and technological breakthroughs so quickly that other platforms that stifle free speech, the free exchange of ideas, and, most importantly, your Gospel message, will be quickly inferior.  We want to honor you with our voices and communication - to tell of your righteous deeds and saving acts, to proclaim and declare your power and love to new generations of Believers.  So, in the name of Jesus, we pray you would bind every evil spirit that seeks to keep your Gospel message from going forth.  We know the arrogant cannot stand in your presence, you hate all who do wrong, and you destroy those who tell lies, are bloodthirsty, and deceitful.  Where their vindictive and controlling natures have been emboldened to try to throttle or even attack the message of your Truth, break the power of the wicked, we pray in Jesus's name.  We pray that their communication - whether in half-truths, twisted words, or outright lies - would be scrambled, ineffective, and totally unable to confuse people that you want to reach.  Instead, we pray for Holy Spirit to be released in power and glory upon your Church for Reformation and upon this nation for Awakening.  We call out to you for revival so that, when hundreds of millions of citizens have powerful encounters with Holy Spirit and He takes up residence within them, their beliefs and passions will change to reflect your Will and your Ways.  May this revival weaken the hold of anti-Christ ideas of secularism, humanism, socialism, and communism and turn this nation back to the original intentions you had for her.   So we pray you would give your communicators the tools they need to be about the spreading of the Good News in and for this day and time.  You are our God forever and ever; you will be our guide even to the end. In the powerful name of Christ we pray, Amen!

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised." (Psalm 113:3 NIV)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 NKJV)

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

"He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding." (Daniel 2:21 NKJV)

"My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

    do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

    your mighty acts to all who are to come." (Psalm 71:15-18 NIV)

 

"Even when I am old and gray,

    do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come." (Psalm 71:15-18 NIV)

"The arrogant cannot stand
    in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;

    you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful

    you, Lord, detest.

But I, by your great love,

    can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down

    toward your holy temple." (Psalm 5:5-7 NIV)

"For the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous." (Psalm 37:17 NIV)

"For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide even to the end." (Psalm 48:14 NIV)

January 27, 2021 Prayer - Faith like Daniel

Most High God, Revealer of Mysteries,

Thank you for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Thank you that you have established your laws, your covenants, and your grace to show us what is righteousness and to save us from our sin.  Thank you for the deep wisdom and discernment you offer to us through the work of Holy Spirit.  God, today we ask that you give each of your children the humility, discernment, tact, and courage of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  When they were abruptly transported to a new world and had to adapt, you gave them grace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to deal with the new world.  Thank you for their model of consistent faith in your laws and your ways.  Thank you that, like them, when we say no to the pleasures and "good food" of the world, we can be rewarded with health, wholeness, and even wealth.  Thank you that when we refuse to adapt to the worship of other gods, you will be with us in the fires of persecution, keeping us unbound and unharmed from the attacks of the enemy.  Thank you for giving us - like Daniel and his friends - knowledge and understanding so that we can know how to learn and operate according to your principles in this new world.  As we walk through this chapter of life, we pray you would keep our hearts pure so that we are trustworthy and not negligent or corrupt, we are respectful of authority, but we are asking questions that may bring enlightenment and freedom.  Holy Spirit, give us the freedom that comes from living life deeply connected to you, our Wisdom, Courage, and Truth.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." (Daniel 1:8 NIV)

"To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." (Daniel 1:17 NIV)

"When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.  At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him." (Daniel 2:14-16 NIV)

"The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”  (Daniel 2:47 NIV)

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)

"He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”  Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”  (Daniel 3:25-26 NIV)

"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4 NIV)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 16:17-18 NIV)