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The Church are the people of God on the earth. We are also
called the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ and the House of God. If we keep
going we will find titles like sheep, building, Holy Mountain and light. Each
title or label give us both a revelation of what we are to be and a practical
handle on what that might look like. If we are the Bride we start to grasp the
revelation of faithfulness, intimacy and commitment. We also get the practical
aspect of “in a relationship” and “covenant.”
I don’t know about you, but even though I am a leader, I am
still drawn to love. When I feel love I move in that direction. So when I feel
more love from this world than I feel from God, in which direction do you think
I move? This is a problem if I don’t
have any place, any time, or any ongoing method of encountering the love of
God. If you want to put out the Holy Fire that should be burning within me, all
you need to do is show me love while hindering me from encountering the love of
God. Simple.
So what should we do?
The other night Shirley and I went to one of Reeds
basketball games. After the game the two schools had several fights break out.
As Shirley and I walked toward the parking deck, a swarm of youth followed.
They were not following us, but the sound of flesh striking flesh. With every
blow you could hear the sound of people “awe” as they entertained themselves on
the pain. If you knew what to listen to, you could also hear the sound of one
who is being broken, the gasp for breath, the groan of a face cut open, a joint
wrench past it’s stopping point. I have heard these sounds to many times in my
life. The “smack” of flesh on flesh, the “grunt” of a body hitting the earth,
and the verbal barfing of the crowd as they bask in evil and injustice, these weary
my soul.
A moment ago I asked, “What should we do?” The answer for me
is to open my eyes and heart. This world has pain and suffering and these are
calls echoing through the darkness of this world for help. While we desire this
world to be good, being good without God is impossible. I am fully aware of how
many horrors the church and people of God have accomplished through the ages. I
am aware of the religious wars, the injustice to humanity based on religion and
the way the Bide of Christ makes herself rich by embracing the ways of the
world. For me this does not negate the
reality that our only hope is in Christ, it confirms it. If the very best of us
are susceptible to evil, what hope is there for those without God’s indwelling
Spirit? If the Godly wrestle with evil, how can those who desire nothing of God
prevail?
Would you be willing to join me, and others, by living lives
that see the pain and evil of our world? It is so tempting and natural; to hide
ourselves, protect ourselves. But when we allow our hearts to feel the things
of this world, when we suffer with others; even though empathy, we start to
awaken our prophetic voice. Like the nation of Israel enslaved under the rule
of Pharaoh, we cry out for deliverance. When we allow ourselves to live in
comfort, even false comfort, our voice is stilled. When we feel the harm, see
the suffering, our voice is strengthened.
Our first action of intervention is intercession. I know
that for many people in the church intercession is a waste of time, they have
not faith for it. The ways of this world has far removed from them the hope
that God will act. They see themselves as soldiers of the Bible. Taking the
word of God they move with truths and teachings to save some and confront others.
Politics have replaced prayer, social media the quite conversations with God
and venting has become their cry for mercy.
But we are not soldiers of the Bible, but of Christ Jesus the Lord. He
is alive and able to intervene in the live is mankind.
In the world in which I live in there is not human power to
stop pain and suffering. While we can do good things, only God is able to
change the world we live in. Yes, we can join Him in His work and we should,
but only as we are also fulfilling our role as His voice. You may never have
believed it or you may have believed it once, but now you no longer believe
that prayer changes the world. It does. It changes the one who prays and it
changes those who are prayed for. God commands us to pray and in the command is
the hope of world transformation.
Here is a starting place. Look at the world and look at the
word. Watch the news but instead of just absorbing it, take it to the Lord. Read
the following verses and see if God does something in your own heart. The goal
is not to recite the passages but to allow the passages to speak to your heart.
When God’s work impacts our heart, our mind and mouth cry out to Him. If we are
able, at times we become united with Christ and join Him in His intercession.
Agreement with God changes us and it changes the world. If you need to go back
and re-read all those old children’s Bible stories of God’s might and power, do
it. Don’t easily allow this world to make God in their image. Seek the Lord and
He will be found by you. In doing this you will be made into His image and not
the other way around.
Have a response? Send me you thoughts. Have a resource that
will help others? Post it in the comments
section. Have a world or neighborhood with pain and suffering? Pay.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1
Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians
4:6-7 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John
5:14 NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and
thankful. Colossians
4:2 NIV
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you. Jeremiah
29:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful
in prayer. Romans
12:12 NIV
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark
11:24 NIV
“For where
two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew
18:20 NIV
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great
and unsearchable things you do not know.’
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who
call on him in truth. Psalms 145:18 NIV
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need. Hebrews
4:16 NIV
But to you who are listening I say: Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you. Luke
6:27-28 NIV
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my
God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalms 18:6 NIV
From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalms 18:6 NIV
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray
for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is
powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door
and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done
in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 NIV
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert
and of sober mind so that you may pray.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed
you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that
whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
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