We just don’t get it. We really don’t. We need to come to a realization folks. We are spoiled, unappreciative, offended and looking for reasons to be divided. Church we’ve gotten it so wrong. It’s time to wake up.
Over the weekend I was blessed to attend a training with some of my really good ministry friends. Valerie had read a book titled “Women who risk” by Tom and JoAnn Doyle. I would highly recommend it. She reached out to them via email, invited them to come for a house meeting and this past weekend they flew in from Texas to provide us with tools and information on how to engage and minister to the Muslim community in our neighborhoods. Their ministry has been based on over 20 years of traveling to the Middle East as well as planning over 90 trips to Israel.
Some of their stories broke my heart. They had told us about the time they were ministering to a woman that kept turning her head to listen when they spoke. She found out through the translator that her husband had shoved metal into her ear and made her deaf on the one side because she accepted Jesus.
Another testimony that hurt my heart beyond measure was that of a father and young son. They were both threatened with execution for accepting Jesus. They were told to renounce Jesus or be beheaded. The son and father did not go back on their faith. They then beheaded the young son and began to play football with his head as the father was forced to watch.
When ministering to that community, they ask two questions right away when someone wants to accept Jesus. 1. Are you prepared to be ostracized, criticized and rejected by your family and community for Jesus? If they say yes, then 2. Are you prepared to die for your faith in Jesus?
Can you imagine if we had to answer those two questions before accepting Christ here in America?
We are so spoiled with our Sunday services, our Bible studies and our lackluster lukewarm commitment to being Christian here in America. Would your neighbors or those you work with even know you’re a Christian by your words, actions and the way you live your life?
People are dying every day for our Jesus and we can’t even bring up His name during every day conversation with friends over coffee because “what if I offend someone.” What if they die without Jesus because you failed to open your mouth?
How can you say that you would take up your cross and die for Him, when you don’t even live for Him?
We broke into small groups and went to minister at local Muslim owned shops and restaurants in the area. The group I was with ended up heading to the Oasis market in Youngstown Oh. When we got there JoAnn began to strike up conversation with the owner of the shop and her daughter. They were really sweet people. To be honest, I’ve always been intimidated by the Muslim community, it’s never been a group that is willingly walk up to during street ministry, now I have a new way to look at things, a new perspective on what those women go through and a new passion to show them as much love as I can.
They were really delightful and the daughter had a cyst on her wrist with a splint covering it. They asked if we could pray for her and she accepted prayer. I laid my land lightly on her wrist and commanded healing praying in the name of Jesus. It was the first time I’ve prayed for someone of that faith and it really warmed my heart the way they both received us. The conversation was really nice and I am excited to follow up with them again.
Lesson learned, stop hiding behind our comfort zones. JoAnnn mentioned that America really treats our comfort as an idol. We hide behind it. We don’t want to stretch ourselves beyond our normal limits. This is such a hinderance to the gospel message. We need to get over ourselves for the sake of the salvation of others.
During this training before we headed out, they did something else that I’ve never experienced, they washed our feet. Again, totally out of my comfort zone. Yet during this time, the presence of the Lord fell on me and hit me so hard it reminded me of the experiences I’ve had with Jesus in the past. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I felt the presence of the Lord so strong, like Jesus himself was washing my feet in that living room. This beautiful woman washed my feet, picked up my right foot, kissed it and prayed over me in the most beautiful way. I was so humbled and blessed by this experience. I am nothing, yet at the same time, to the Lord I am everything He designed me to be. The sooner we come to the realization that we are all here for one another, to serve, to share the Lord and to grow in relationship with the Lord functioning as a part of the body of Christ as heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, the better off we will be!
The rest of the day was filled with fellowship that led into a late drive home. I was so overwhelmed with my experiences from that morning, I couldn’t turn off this desire to shout Jesus from the rooftops like I was just saved. That presence, so strong, reminded me of the times I’d seen Jesus right before my face. I turned on some worship and began to pray.
Then just like He used to, I saw the Lord standing in the kitchen with me, and I lost it. I couldn’t stop crying. In that moment I felt so small, so tiny in His sight. I felt Him turn towards me and this immediate confirmation hit my spirit as He knelt down in front of me. He motioned to that same foot, picked it up and kissed it, just like she had earlier that day. In that moment I knew that the Holy Spirit was working through those folks that day like I had not experienced in a very long time. I wept.
I wept for every idle minute I spend outside of the will of the Lord. I wept for every person I passed by in the streets and fail to engage in conversation, I wept for every time I put the tv on and let it babysit my kids. I wept for my heart and mind being so wrapped up in school, moving, a wedding and a family that it’s lost it’s desire to spend time with its first love. I wept for the way the Lord hit me with His presence, reminding me that I never have to leave it, and knowing that when I do leave it, it’s my choice. I wept for every idle word that has come out of my mouth, every feeling I’ve let take over, for every thought I don’t take captive in my mind. I wept for every time I’ve failed to get on my knees in my own home to pray. I wept because there is no greater love than the Love the Lord has for me and I’ve let life drown out the blood that was spilled for my salvation. I wept because my visions that once came daily, have become weekly, then monthly. I wept because when I was alone it was me and the Lord and now I need to prioritize my time better. I repented for not being intentional with my time and then I cried some more. The Lord will reveal our hearts, He will draw us closer, He will remind us that He misses us and He will never leave us; but He won’t force us.
This journey is never over. We have never arrived. This is life in the kingdom. One of revelation, of growth, of supernatural experiences, one of trusting the Lord and letting go of our own expectations. One of excitement, healing, freedom and truth. A life of surrender. I encourage you to embrace it. To learn about new things, to step out in new ways. To be creative. To be who the Lord designed you to be. To never shrink back. To be open to learning new things about new cultures and to be prepared to toss your opinions aside searching for truth.
I am beyond blessed. Thank you Val, for opening your home and for opening my eyes once again to the beauty of the Gospel.
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Matthew 10:38 - And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Mark 16:15-16 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Romans 8:5-6 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 6:16 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 13:8 - Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:10-17 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Corinthians 9:22 - To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Isaiah 6:8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
2 Timothy 4:5 - But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
1 Corinthians 1:17 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Mark 8:34 - And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
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