Day 6 - Intense Treatment - Cutting off and springing forth into freedom

 God of Freedom,

We know it does not please you when we play at "fasting" and go through the motions of penance.  You want us to free those who are wrongly imprisoned, lighten the burdens of those who work for you, let the oppressed go free, remove the chains that bind people, share our food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, give clothes to those who need them, stop pointing fingers and spreading vicious lies and rumors, and not turn away from our own flesh and blood who need help. Then your salvation will come like dawn and our wounds will quickly heal.  

Your godliness will lead us forward and your glory will be our rear guard.  Then when we call on the Lord you will answer quickly, "I am here."  Your light will shine from the darkness as bright as noon.  You will guide us continually giving water when we are dry and restoring our strength.  We will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.  Some of us will rebuild the deserted ruins of our cities.  Give us wisdom over how to rectify problems so we can move forward speedily.  Then we will be known as rebuilders of walls and restorers of homes. May your glory set a guard behind us.   

We know there is now no condemnation for us in Christ because the law of the Spirit has set us free.  We do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit and have our minds set on what the Spirit desires.  When we are governed by the Spirit, our minds have life and peace and we live in the realm of the Spirit.  We are led by the Spirit, children of God and not living in fear.  We cry "Abba, Father" because we are co-heirs with Christ.  We, along with Creation, eagerly await when Christ will deliver us from bondage and decay and bring us into freedom and glory.  We wait patiently and hope for what we don't yet have and the Spirit intercedes for us.  

We know that in all things you work for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose.  You foreknew us and predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus.  We are called, justified, and glorified.  You are interceding for us and we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.  Thank you that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord - not death, life, angels, demons, present, past, future, powers, height, depth - NOTHING.  Thank you that your Blood flows through us and restores us, in Jesus's name. Amen!

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,

    only a day for people to humble themselves?

Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed

    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast,

    a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

    and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

    and break every yoke?

7 

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness[a] will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

11 

The Lord will guide you always;

    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

    and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

    like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.  (Isaiah 58:5-12 NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

 

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8 NIV)

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Some notes from:   NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011

February 18, 2021 Prayer - Praying for Pastors

Shepherding God,

Thank you that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Thank you that you are the Good Shepherd who gave up his life for us on the Cross so we could know eternal life in you.  Thank you that you know those who are yours and they know and recognize you.  Thank you for the many men and women you have put into places of leadership in your Church.  Thank you for all those you have appointed with your Grace to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  We pray that by the power of Holy Spirit they would be able to fulfill their calling to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry so the Body of Christ is enlarged and built up.  We pray that each of them would have hearts that are set on You.  May their relationships with spouses be pure and godly.  May they be sensible, well-behaved, self-disciplined, hospitable, not lovers of money, patient, kind, generous, and gentle.  May their hearts be set on guiding their households and their local churches with wisdom and dignity, bringing up physical and spiritual children to worship with devotion and purity.  Protect them from falling into pride or greed or ay other sin that would damage and disgrace their testimony.  We pray for those in Church leadership who are struggling with fear, sin, discouragement (even despair) and/or overwhelming circumstances.  We pray for Holy Spirit to pour out upon them the grace, strength, courage, wisdom and discernment they need.  We know that your weapons of warfare include your divine power to demolish strongholds, arguments, and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.  So, we pray in the name of Jesus that you would break the power of every wicked stronghold, burden or scar in their lives.  Take every thought and action captive to you, and help them to come out of the darkness into the fullness of your love.   Give them encouragement, peace, and joy as they go about the ministry work you have set before them.  We pray that the blessings of divine grace and supernatural peace that flow from God our wonderful Father, and our Messiah, the Lord Jesus, be upon their lives and ministries, in Jesus's name.  Amen and Amen. 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

"I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep....I alone am the Good Shepherd, and I know those whose hearts are mine, for they recognize me and know me, just as my Father knows my heart and I know my Father’s heart."  (John 10:11, 14-15 TPT)

"And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers. And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12 TPT)

"If any of you aspires to be an overseer in the church; you have set your heart toward a noble ambition, for the word is true! Yet an elder needs to be one who is without blame before others. He should be one whose heart is for his wife alone and not another woman. He should be recognized as one who is sensible, and well-behaved, and living a disciplined life. He should be a “spiritual shepherd” who has the gift of teaching, and is known for his hospitality. He cannot be a drunkard, or someone who lashes out at others, or argumentative, or someone who simply craves more money, but instead, recognized by his gentleness.

His heart should be set on guiding his household with wisdom and dignity; bringing up his children to worship with devotion and purity. For if he’s unable to properly lead his own household well, how could he properly lead God’s household?  He should not be a new disciple who would be vulnerable to living in the clouds of conceit and fall into pride, making him easy prey for Satan.  He should be respected by those who are unbelievers, having a beautiful testimony among them so that he will not fall into the traps of Satan and be disgraced." (1 Timothy 3:1-7 TPT)

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)

"May the blessings of divine grace and supernatural peace that flow from God our wonderful Father, and our Messiah, the Lord Jesus, be upon your lives." (Philippians 1:2 TPT)

"Freedom"

Step out of the shadows, step out of the grave

Break into the wild and don't be afraid

Bring all of your burdens, bring all of your scars
Come back to communion, come back to the start

Where the Spirit of the Lord is

There is freedom, there is freedom

Come out of the dark just as you are

Into the fullness of His love

Songwriters: Edward Goltsman / Kim Crawford; "Freedom" lyrics © Worshiptogether.com Songs, So Essential Tunes, Sixsteps Music, Capitol Cmg Genesis, Be Essential Songs

Free life

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you....It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life...Use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows...Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. (from Gal. 5 MSG)


I continue to wrestle with the concepts of liberty and freedom in a civil/national context and the concept of freedom through the grace of Christ in a spiritual context. I do not claim to understand it all, but I will say that I want the freedom that comes through living out Christ's grace. I don't know how to do it fully and completely, but I seek after it anyway. Will you join me?

God who came to proclaim release to the captives, help us to embrace the fullness of your abundant life lived through faith in Christ's grace. Help us to live that out as we serve one another in love. Spirit, animate and motivate us to the furtherance of your Kingdom. Amen.

Freedom 2

My husband and I have a favorite movie that probably seems odd, since it was made before even our parents were born - "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. (Awesome movie I highly recommend!) In the movie the main characters are tired of working every day plus holidays in "show business," so one decides to open "Holiday Inn" - a venue that will only be open on holidays. This song is from the July 4th show:

SONG OF FREEDOM
Freedom, freedom
That's my song for today
Listen to this American troubador from the U.S.A.
I'm singing a song of freedom
For all people who cry out to be free
Free to sail the seven seas
Free to worship as we please
If the birds up in the trees can be free
Why can't we?
I'm bringing a song of freedom
To all people wherever they may be
Free to speak and free to hear
Free from want and free from fear
Sons of freedom far and near who agree
Sing with me
That all God's children shall be free
[By Irving Berlin for "Holiday Inn" (1942)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4841GZL5AhA]

I think we can agree that freedom isn't free. Our Founding Fathers and their generation fought a long and bloody battle with England in order to gain independence. Eighty years later an even more bloody battle was fought that, in part, ended in the freeing of slaves. Eighty years later there was a second "world war" to free people from tyrants like Hitler and Mussolini. And the fight for freedom continues around the world today in different places and different ways. I don't believe that the human condition is such that anyone can say they want to be a slave to someone else. So, the quest for freedom in its many forms goes on.

I guess that part of my prayer today comes right from that song:

For all people who cry out to be free
Free to speak and free to hear

Free from want and free from fear
That all God's children shall be free

Those whom the Son has set free are free indeed. May all your children be free. Lord Christ, may it be so. Amen.

Freedom

Today is Veteran's Day, usually a day which goes by with a quick internal recognition of the price generations have paid for these United States -- and a grumble about the Post Office or Bank being closed for the day. But for several days I've been thinking about freedom - both cultural/societal as a U.S. citizen and that freedom we gain from Christ. I will save my strong concerns about our freedom as US citizens for another blog. Instead, I will, too, thank God for the men, women, and families who have fought, served, and persevered in order to maintain these United States.

But, because my citizenship on earth is relatively temporary and I have a permanent citizenship as part of Jesus' family, my thoughts and prayers head in that direction. Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NIV) My first freedom - and therefore my first allegiance - must be to Christ. Tommy Walker said it this way (and I agree):, "My allegiance and devotion, my heart's desire and all emotion go to serve the Man who died upon that tree"*. After all, "the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Cor. 3:17 NIV) So, Spirit, grant me your freedom.


As we know, though, there are still many who live without freedom, especially spiritual freedom. And we are called, at least in part, to proclaim that freedom to those in bondage:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." (Isa. 61:1 NIV)


You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13 NIV)


Maker, Father, Savior, Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder,Free-er:

All praise to you, Lord God for the beauty of your Creation and we, your Created.

With thanks we remember our freedom from death and sin. Thank you for the gift of grace.

Spirit of the Lord, be present and give us our spiritual freedom.
May we preach the good news to the poor in spirit.
May we help to bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners.
May we serve each other in love.
May all our allegiance and devotion go to serve Christ, in whose name we pray.

Amen.




*("Only A God Like You," (c) 2000 Integrity's Praise! Music).

Rising in freedom

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say it is well

In the last few months one set of themes around me have been about love, grace, and freedom.  This past Sunday we visited a church finishing up a series on "Setting the Captives Free," where, as a part of the service, they had 40 individuals and couples walk across the platform, each carrying a large cardboard sign explaining what they had been freed from on one side and their current state on the other (like a "then" and "now"). For instance - "One week from divorce" became "Strong, growing marriage;" "Abortion 9-21-83" became "Son born 8-26-91"; "Alcoholic in college" became "40 years sober."  

(And) I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow no more pain

I will rise on eagle's wings

Before my God fall on my knees and rise

I will rise

And, isn't that what Easter is about?  We are freed from the chains of sin and death.

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead

⁶ "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; 
       I will take hold of your hand. 
       I will keep you and will make you 
       to be a covenant for the people 
       and a light for the Gentiles,

 ⁷ to open eyes that are blind, 
       to free captives from prison 
       and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.  (Isa. 42 NIV)

So, this is my prayer for us this week:

Bondage-breaking God, we pray you would free us from any ongoing fears, shame, depression, sin, or anything that inhibits us from flying free. Grace-giving, God, help us know love, joy, and freedom through Christ.  El Shaddai, All-Sufficient, help us to hold on to the hand of our Savior and be a Light to those around us.  Omnipotent, Holy, and Loving God, be honored in our ministries.

Amen. 

"I Will Rise" - CCLI Song No. 5183450

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Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Louie Giglio | Matt Maher

An upside-down Christmas

God, help us to look deeper this Advent and Christmas and to not let us get caught in a surface-deep understanding of Christmas.

It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth good will to men
From Heaven's all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing

Alpha and Omega, help us in solemn stillness to hear your angels' songs once again and to contemplate the truths and reality of your Advent.

And ye beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing

Lord God, as we contemplate an "upside down Christmas," may we lessen the burden for those crushed, toiling, taking slow and painful steps, whose hope seems to be faint.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
      for the Lord has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.  (Isa. 61:1-2 NLT)

Sovereign Lord, may we be anointed by your Spirit to proclaim freedom and rescue to a world in need.

For lo the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

King of the Universe, may your return be soon and may peace flood the earth so that all the earth reflects your glory.  Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come. 

Amen.

"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" (Public Domain)

By Edmund Hamilton Sears & Richard Storrs Willis