THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD:
Jesus read this prophecy at the beginning of His 3 year ministry- it's like His mission statement: Luke 4:18
| |||
He doesn't say He wants to have a big influence, or lots of follower, a nice place of worship or even a nice place to rest His own head!
He declares that God's Spirit will be upon Him
And that He will "proclaim" which means: to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly.
I don't know if Jesus knew exactly what that looked like but He prophesied by speaking out the scriptures. We too can speak out the scriptures- in fact the very same scripture Jesus did! We may not know how or what our work will look like in "releasing captives (spiritually and physically), causing the blind to see (spiritually and physically) and setting the oppressed free (spiritually and physically) but we do know we can proclaim it in Jesus name with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and it will be done.
Sing this song and PROCLAIM the truth. YOUR mission statement. LUKE 4:18
I can only lead as far as I've been...
In the book of Joshua I was impressed by how many times it talks about how the Levites were not given land, but GOD HIMSELF as their portion. All the other tribes were allotted large amounts of land after they entered the "promised land" and took over Jericho by Joshua's lead after Moses died.
I'd like to learn more about the Levites- from what I know they were set aside to be priest to God- they were the ones who performed the ceremonial sacrifices and offerings. Someone also brought up a great point to me: they didn't have land and so they didn't have to spend time working the land. They lived off of the offering of the people and spent their time serving God.
This reminded me about what Paul said about staying single if we could. Marriage is a beautiful thing- but Paul just recommended that if we could it would be a good thing to use all the time we have without the concerns of serving our husband/wife and kids on serving God and His people. I'm not saying if we not married we won't serve God, but maybe this is an encouragement if you do find yourself single to look at this time as a blessing. You may see others having houses, businesses, children... but when you have no "earthly" wealth, God will be your portion. And He is enough. Read Joshua and see what I mean!
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
Thinking about the story of Jesus being such a humble servant/leader that He would wash His disciples feet really confounds me. Especially in light of my last post on watching the movie "God Of Wonders". He holds the universe in His hands and yet chooses to serve us? In our most vulnerable, dirty, embarrassing places? That is the God of Love that I want to know even more. His loving kindness draws us in.
Jesus can serve in such humility because "He knew He had come from God"- when we know who we are in Christ we can serve freely...
John 13
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?”he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT, ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED
Ahhh the infamous fine line between "giving it to God" "surrendering to His will" and yet asking, seeking, and knocking as Jesus Himself commanded us to do! It can get really frustrating and cause much debate- but I think it all comes down to the heart. If we ask as a child full of faith- going to our Father with total trust and love- I believe we can ask and chat and talk the day away with God. But if we ask and demand as a spoiled brat using God as our cosmic genie than we are getting nowhere and also missing out on the most important relationship we could ever have!
So do we surrender everything to God- all our hopes, desires and plans?- YES
Do we still ask, seek and knock about everything that is on our heart and mind with a child like faith, hope and love- YES
BOTH TOGETHER, not one or the other.
