Author: John Page 19 of 156

Matthew 10:38-39 “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 10:32-33 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

As outlined in previous posts, God is looking for those that He can use to repair the breech, build up the old waste places, raise up stable foundations, and restore the paths of protection and provision. Such things, however, won’t happen by themselves. They require God’s power and our faithfulness. And in God’s economy, the currency is different than that we have grown accustomed to in our society today.

The following thoughts have been on my mind with respect to deterrence theory in a world where malign actors have been bolder and more brazen in their activities, whether in Eastern Europe or in the Western Pacific. The way we are to best deter malicious activity is to demonstrate our capability and our will to counter that activity, and in doing so, decrease the perceived benefits and amplify the perceived costs and risks in the minds of an opponent. That allows us to control them by molding their decision-making processes and dissuading them from the activity we hope to stop before it happens.

The world uses this same strategy against Christians in trying to shape how we live our lives and how we proclaim our commitment to the Lord. They seek to amplify the perceived costs and risks of a faithful and bold testimony, while marginalizing the perceived benefits of doing so. They hope to control us by molding our decision- making processes and dissuading us from the activity that they hope to stop before it happens.

Yet, in God’s economy, it isn’t about power, or prestige, or profitability. It also isn’t about the safety of blending into our surroundings, indistinguishable from the rest of society. It is about yielding to Him while fully realizing the costs and the risks in doing so. In fact, we embrace the risks and the costs in service to the Lord. As we lose our lives, figuratively or literally for Him, we actually find real life. And it is glorious!

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO LIVE FAITHFULLY, REGARDLESS OF A HUMAN CALCULATION OF BENEFITS, COSTS, AND RISKS. The Lord is looking for us to fully, expectantly, faithfully and boldly follow Him, regardless of the risks and the costs; or maybe, because of the risks of the costs. And certainly, because of the grand benefits of doing so.

I Corinthians 16:8-9 “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentacost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In 1942, Pastor William Dunkle wrote the following about I Corinthians 16:8-9 in a devotion to military members spread around the world during World War II (from “Strength for Service”):

“Open doors and adversaries in the same sentence? An open door ought to symbolize entrance into opportunity without barriers. But St. Paul takes for granted that opportunities and adversaries are usually found in conjunction. It is a surprising truth that the things that oppose us in life actually offer us our finest opportunities for growth and service … Facing now a world gone suddenly mad and the armies of sin and shame mustered against it, our Christianity is shocked to attention. The door becomes ‘great’ when we realize the extent of the opposition. At once we are aroused into a now-or-never desperation of heart! However terrifying the odds against us, the door through which we must enter to relieve the need of the world is squarely before us.”

Opportunity and adversity are not mutually exclusive. In fact, just the opposite; often they are a natural fit. The world needs tough and resilient Christians to seek the opportunities that are conjoined with adversity. Yet, we are not to use the toughness of fake bravado and false bravery that is traditionally employed by the world.

Runner, athletic coach, and business coach Steve Magness writes about his extensive research on toughness in “Do Hard Things.” He says that “real toughness is experiencing discomfort or distress, leaning in, paying attention, and creating space to take thoughtful action. It’s maintaining a clear head to be able to make the appropriate decision. Toughness is navigating discomfort to make the best decision you can. And research shows that this model of toughness is more effective at getting results than the old one.” He goes on to say that “research consistently shows that tougher individuals are able to perceive stressful situations as challenges instead of threats.”

God has called Christians to be tough. He has also called us to seize opportunities for Him in spite of our circumstances. We will face adversity, but need to lean in, pay attention, and create space to take thoughtful action in order to make the best decision for impact. The stressful contexts we face should mainly be seen as opportunity-filled situations instead of threatening dangers. And finally, our gaze should not neglect the challenge but should primarily recognize our need for the Saviour. Trusting in Him will allow us to best navigate any discomfort.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE-DISGUISED OPPORTUNITIES ALL AROUND US. Impactful situations are squarely before us as we seek to repair the breech, build up the old waste places, raise up stable foundations, and restore the paths of protection and provision. The adversity we face in doing so may actually be an open door.

I Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Philippians 3:20-21 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.”

Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

This past weekend was the seventh anniversary of Supreme Prayer, which started on February 13, 2016 on the day that Justice Antonin Scalia died. On that Saturday seven years ago, it was a bitterly cold evening that revealed the potential fragility of our balanced system of government. Those prayer warriors huddled around one another, and lifted up our nation’s well-being to the Lord. Then, they came back the next weekend, and the next weekend, and the next. Not knowing who would show up and what God would do, they kept coming back and lifting up their petitions unto the Lord with faith and importunity.

In the intervening years, God has done more than eye could see or ear could hear. He shaped and molded our nation’s structure to protect us and to preserve our future.

Last Saturday was a wonderful celebration of God’s faithfulness through this ministry. Those who were there seven years ago gave testimony and offered praise. And, the evening provided a stark contrast with the ways of the world.

It was a noisy night, with protestors for freedom in Iran holding a rally on First Street NE between the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court. Their chanting and singing was designed to bring attention to their cause. They wanted the public and the U.S. Congress to hear their cries.

Nearby, our group of forty or so met. Our activities were designed to bring attention to our cause, but the audience was far different from the protestors. We wanted the Lord alone to hear our cries.

For the last seven years, He has! This Saturday, we will meet again, and will patiently and faithfully cry out to the Lord.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD FAITHFULLY AND PATIENTLY CRY OUT TO THE LORD. We serve an Audience of One.

Isaiah 58:11-12 “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

Isaiah 58:7-8 “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to they house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.”

As outlined in the previous two posts, God is searching for a faithful few who can repair the breech in our land as He builds up the old waste places, raises up stable foundations, and restores the paths of protection and provision. Our communities, our states and our nation are long-overdue for such an outpouring of healing, renewal, and revival.

There are two primary categories of contingencies in the passage above that are holding us back today like they were in the day of Isaiah. The first is a real, genuine, authentic, ever-guiding, never-neglecting faith. This was addressed in last week’s post.

The second category of God’s contingent promises is a practical spiritual application of our faith that impacts those who are around us.

We face afflicted people throughout our days and in every corner of our society. They are practically and spiritually poor, hungry, and naked. They lack hope and resilience. They face chronic instability and insecurity. They endure unsettledness and a profound absence of peace. They carry the weight of the world on their shoulders with stifling burden and loneliness. They live with strife as well as physical and moral poverty. They stumble through life in darkness and blindness.

We are directed to help meet the practical and spiritual needs of the desperate world in which we live. If we do, then we will illuminate our world like a magnificent sunrise. We will have energy and vitality to complete our tasks and a resilient reputation to lead the way. And, we will regain our ability to reflect the glory of the Lord into the environment around us that is thirsting for a glow that has been absent from their shadow-filled lives.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY. If we do, the glory of the Lord shall be our rereward.

Isaiah 58:11-12 “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

Isaiah 59:1-2 “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you. and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Isaiah 58:9 “Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity.”

As discussed in the previous post, the Lord is seeking a faithful few who can repair the breech in our land. These believers can build up the old waste places, raise up stable foundations, and restore the paths of protection and provision. Our society desperately needs this type of healing, renewal, and revival.

But there are two primary categories of contingencies in the passage above that are holding us back today like they were in the day of Isaiah.

The first is the nature of the expression of our faith (the second will be described in next week’s post). The Lord is looking for a real, genuine, authentic, ever-guiding, never-neglecting faith. He isn’t looking for a part-time faith. He isn’t looking for lack-luster faith. He isn’t looking for a fair-weather faith. He isn’t looking for a half-hearted faith. Instead, He is looking for a faith that pervades our lives and propels our labors.

The people who were holding back God in Isaiah’s day were living with one foot in the world. They were familiar with sin, they fasted for show, and they forsook the sabbath. They failed to examine their hearts, their conversation overflowed with disrespect, and they quickly pointed their puritanical fingers at the missteps of others.

So do we! And we must change course so that we are fully directed towards Him!

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO EMBODY A REAL, GENUINE, AND AUTHENTIC FAITH. If we do, God is looking to quickly respond – here I am!