A little technicality right off the bat, but please do bear with me. Communion: Greek koinōnia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah), from G2844; partnership, as in someone you have things in common with, which is, (literally) participation, communicate/communication, communion, and fellowship. The idea of communion is also very closely associated with another really important word, koy-no-nos’ , meaning someone who shares, that is, a companion, partaker, or a partner, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:7.

In the Eucharist, which is “the blessing” or, according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, one of several definitions is to “speak well of”, the bread and cup are not mere symbols that point to an absent Savior. It is not merely bread, and not simply a cup and should never be minimized down to just a “thing we do”. Communion is symbolic and is the God-given means by which the risen Jesus unites himself to his people. To eat the bread is to participate in the body that was given on the cross and is now enthroned in glory. To drink the cup is to participate in the blood that ratified the new covenant and now cleanses, gives buoyancy to, and seals us as God’s own. We are His. This is not magic, nor is it a trivial memorial of something from long ago. It is a Holy Spirit-fashioned communion with the entirety of Christ as a whole — crucified, risen, ascended, and present. Friends, that’s a big deal.

i think, we, as believers, have somehow trifled over communion. The idea is one of partnering with Jesus in His livingness and freedom, to participate with Him in fellowship as a son and daughter, not as a cousin or uncle. This may seem odd to a few, but communion to me is much like the idea of renewing wedding vows. i heard a woman say once, “It is more than union, it is communion”. More.

If we are “in Christ” we are living and free, and freedom is not just something we dreamed of long ago, but is a reality in Christ through the washing and regeneration of His work on Calvary, on our behalf. We, who, by His body and blood through faith, are in Christ, we are partners, associates, and companions of God. Jesus has made us FREE!

This is a true story: In Zambia in the late 80’s, there was a group of gorillas at a zoo. The gorilla’s had been in captivity so long it had become their residence. The walls were painted, the gorilla’s had hung pictures, had hot and cold running water, probably even had phone service so they could call out for pizza. All silliness aside though, many hadn’t known anything else but that place behind bars, with ceilings and tall fences, and concrete barriers. At some point in the later years of their captivity, the zoo management decided to turn them loose, set them free. So, they opened the gates. The gorilla’s didn’t leave. They tried to shoo them out, but they wouldn’t leave. Eventually, as the story was told to me, the authorities even tore the fences down, but the gorilla’s still wouldn’t leave. It was as if the idea of freedom was only something they had dreamed of long ago but was only now just a vague notion and impossibility. Even when the wind of freedom blew through the compound, it was the smell of something un-recognizable, so foreign to them it couldn’t possibly be true, and they refused to act but elected to stay in captivity, or what is called, “government by consent of the governed”. That is a real principle and is when authority is only legitimate when it is born from and remains subject to the will of those who are being ruled. It is in direct opposition to God’s divine right. When sin rules the lives of people, believe it or not, they are choosing to be ruled by death whether they are ignorant or fully cognizant and informed. i choose to no longer be ruled by sin, darkness, death, hell, or the grave. i do NOT consent.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”  Under the tyrannical rule of hell we have no rights, except the right to suffer and mindlessly obey.

Without Christ living in us, we are slaves to our master “sin”, and we MUST obey our master. When people live without Christ, they consent to darkness, and no matter how good they look or how good their works are, it is “government by consent of the governed”, they are consenting to be slaves. It doesn’t have to be that way. God has a better idea. There are no fence riders in this incredible battle, no “on lookers” who are neutral; there is no room for sitting on the fence. Every person is either for or against Him, whether they realize and acknowledge it or not. The more obvious the “Line of Choosing” becomes the more obvious it is as to who is on the left and who is on the right. This is not a contrast of “us versus them”, but a contrast of “God and us” and how we commune with God. Sometimes we ask the Lord a question, and His answer corners us, and we then try to find a way out in order to still the voice of our conscience. Those who consent to the government of sin are becoming more and more uncomfortable as God presses the question of eternity closer to them. When all is said and done what or who do you commune with? Heaven or hell? And you can’t escape the question by not choosing, because to not choose IS to choose. Friends, there is only “express consent”, which is deliberate, unmistakable, and clear agreement, as in when we take Communion. And then there is what is called “tacit consent”, which is implied agreement by our non-action, our silence and simply being good little doggies who go-along-to-get-along. “Express consent” says, “I actively say yes”, and “tacit consent” says, “I stay and accept benefits, therefore i am assumed to say “yes”.

TODAY, I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GLADNESS AND JOY!!

We are no longer captives to sin, but are free, for we, by God’s kindness which leads to repentance, have partnered with God and are His companions, His fellows, heirs with Christ, “we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” And it’s NOT just some vague dream we had and can’t relate to. We are no longer slaves but have freedom in Christ who is alive and relevant for today. Therefore, we take the broken bread, His body as was “given for us” on the cross, Luke 22:19, and receive the cup, His blood “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”, Matthew 26:28. By this we are in solemn agreement as to the death and resurrection of Jesus and do hereby testify of His life.

Deuteronomy 19:15 reads, “…at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”   So here are two witnesses:

Romans 6:16-17 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

It is not ingenuously chewing nor passively drinking but entirely about our heart-trusting, life-surrendering, gladly receiving His once-for-all sacrifice, which never again needs to be repeated. Communion is symbolic of the theme of Christ’s breaking, pouring, and giving and we respond by receiving with open hands, sharing one cup and one loaf, the visible signs of Koinonia with Jesus and each other. In taking communion we agree with grace and grace is a gift, not an achievement, and is in three dimensions ( i know that’s strange to say but it’s how i see it). Yesterday, Calvary remembered, today, Jesus is present, and tomorrow the coming marriage supper of the Lamb in glory. Do you see it? Communion is never mere ritual; it is a living, symbolic parable of the entire story of redemption. God has torn our fences down and told us we are free.

By the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, God the Father declares we who believe have the blood bought right to communion with Him, the King of the Universe. You are standing on legal ground, so don’t let the enemy talk you out of what God has given you.

And just how did we come to have such a right to communion with God  and have complete legal ground to stand on? Again. Behold, the ultimate court case:

Because of the choosing that happened in the Garden of Eden, sin entered in. Because of that choosing, satan held an apparent (not actual)-supreme power over humanity. We need to know that The Supreme Judge in the Supreme Court of Heaven is sworn to uphold the demands of the law in every case.

In order for man to be free, by law, an innocent and willing substitute had to be found to take his place who could fully meet the demands of the law and represent both God and man. The only solution was for God to become man, paying the penalty, thereby letting man go free. Because God loved us from the beginning, He saved us from the legal penalty of death due to humanity’s transgression.

Redemption means that one who is capable of redeeming and taking the place of another actually meets the demands of the law and becomes the legal substitute by paying the redemptive price for those who are condemned to death because of breaking the law. God decided that through the atonement and the substitution of an innocent victim to take the place of fallen man, He would free it from satan, thereby legally and forcefully evicting him, restoring man’s dominion so as to carry on the eternal purpose, as it was intended from the beginning, and we’re not talking of “power”, we’re speaking of dominion and authority: Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Jesus was sent to pay the price for the death penalty man incurred in the garden, thereby breaking the power satan had. It was a redemptive work based on the principles of redemption for man who being under the penalty of death, was unable to pay.

When satan put to death the sinless, innocent Son of God, the High Court of Heaven cancelled all satan’s claims against humanity. The Lamb of God, the Righteous Son of Glory paid the penalty of ransom, thus meeting all the demands of God and the Holy Law, defeating satan and his host with his very blood. Because we are “alive to God, in Christ”, as in Romans 6:14 “…sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Therefore, if we confess our sin and believe in our heart, satan loses his case in the High Court of Heaven, and man comes away from court with power and authority by the blood of Jesus, and we are made representatives and officers of God’s law, and can dispossess and cast out, can heal and  strengthen, and do what-so-ever the High King of Heaven says for us to do. Because of the work of Jesus Christ, it is our legal, redemptive, blood bought and divine right to be free and resist the enemies of Heaven until the intimidating grip of false authority on mankind is brought down to the ground. The walls of hell WILL fall, all the way to hell!

Christ has once and for all hurled satan from his position of power, so that he is a conquered enemy. (stop fighting with the devil and start talking to God) The might of satan, the prince of all diabolical powers, is already broken. Our greatest strength against the enemies of Heaven, is not to fight against the devil, who is beaten and cast down, but to come into the likeness of The Son, Jesus, the Christ of God. Jesus, all by Himself, has broken the powers of satan and defeated every demon everywhere forever, so that those who look to Jesus in faith are liberated from the influences and bondage of darkness.

i’m telling that account in order that we would see and comprehend that we have every legal right to enter into real communion and stand in righteousness before Him. The Father, God, said because of the blood of the Son, God, you and i are able to receive what He has given us and we will !not! allow hell to talk us out of what God has given us.

We — are — FREE! Do you get it? Can you sme  ll the wind of freedom! TODAY, I BRING YOU TIDINGS OF GLADNESS AND JOY!!

The idea of Communion, or Belonging, Connecting, and Friendship is a theme which runs through Matthew 6:9-13 and Romans 12:18-21. i expanded The Lord’s Prayer, as seen in Matthew 6:9-13, so see what you think:

Holy God, You are The One who is near us in mercy and love and at the same time You are high exalted above us, for your Name is the expression of Your Being, the Name who is sanctified in all creation. Let Your divine rule come, Your divine sovereignty, which more and more fully attains it’s rightful place in the heart and life of mankind, as in Heaven where your will is obeyed, spontaneously, with perfect joy, in a perfect manner without a shadow of unfaithfulness. Lord we ask for Your supernatural aid and blessing in our lives where Your dominion is perfect and all the real needs of man are replenished, not solely for us as individuals on our own merit but in reliance on the grace of God. We ask for forgiveness as we absolve and acquit those who are indebted to us, who act wrongly towards us, we absolve and acquit them on the full ground of Your grace, the sweeping grace of God. We are conscious of our own weakness and ask that You would direct our path away from circumstances in which we are exposed to evil temptations. We celebrate and are glad in You who gives us the victory and causes everything to contribute towards the good of those who love You. Help us that our prayers and life habits would not degenerate into mechanical, and ceremonial formality. For You are the Glory and power, the Perfect Friend who reigns forever. Amen.

As a summary, the Lord’s prayer is a picture of a friend and companion as God sees those two words, and in the Hebrew idea of “companion” is the idea of communion. Psalm119:63, “I am a companion of all them that fear the Lord, and of them that keep your precepts.” There where the writer uses the word “companion”, it is a picture of belonging, and connecting as friends who keep in close communion, as those who live in the continual fusion of Himself and us, who inwardly keep His commandments, as distinct from other people who may or may not adhere to the Lord’s preferences and standards. And that is “keep” in the sense of someone who keeps a garden or a wife. They cultivate those standards, and cause them to prosper and be fruitful, allowing His words to change our hearts. When we take communion this is what we are declaring of ourselves by our actions. It isn’t merely going through the motions of some religious ritual, but representative of a legal partnership with God like a grafted branch participates with a tree. Get it? That is communion.

Communion is more than just the Lord’s supper with a shot and a wafer, c’mon, who actually wants to be part of a shot and a wafer fellowship? The act of communion is outwardly confirming of our faith in Christ, and we do it in remembrance of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

Communion with God is not merely asking Jesus into our life, going to church, giving a tithe, and being part of a club. Personally, i have no interest in artlessly and unaffectedly being in a club any longer. It should be and truly IS more, so much more. Again, the New Testament word for “communion” is “koinonia”, and is used in 1 Corinthians 10:16 in the sense of “implying fellowship or sharing with someone”. Look at this though, “Sharing with each other” is more than small talk, it’s more than agreement, and means we must be honest and emotionally available in order to do the give and take of real fellowship.

Fellowship and sharing are a two way street which is God’s intent for His relationship with you and i, more than harmony but unity. i’m speaking of communion with God that demands our separation from the world, not fellowship with darkness and the dead, meaning we can’t be sort of saved. Hey, let the dead bury the dead.

But as i said, righteous communion paints a much bigger picture than simply a shot and wafer with solemn music playing in the background. According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, “communion”, or “koinonia”, is where our bond is that of holy love, which implies sharing a “common enterprise” as fellow-workers and a participants, and that “common enterprise” is as we are rowing the boat together in the same direction for the same high purposes of God. The main idea of communion is that of fellowship, meaning it expresses inner relationship.
And as if that wasn’t enough, God’s intention is to share with us, who love Him, a close bond, as close as a branch and vine are of the same root, taking part in His life and the cross confirming our vows and faith.  Do you see it? Where the vine goes the branch goes, and where the branch goes the vine goes and they share attributes back and forth. That’s communion.

Maybe i can paint it slightly different like this: Communion is confirming what has been   deposited in us by our faith in the Son of God. There is ownership in saying “our faith”. By the Lord allowing us to be in communion with Him, He is calling us “companion” or “friend” with a sense of trust, joining Him in His work advancing the Father’s house and all it stands for. See Luke 11:5-8. It is an expression of the closest and truest fellowship with God, not as Him over there and we are over here, but as two who go together, labor together, rejoice together, sharing life and times like inseparable friends who belong, connect, have friendship and call each other “home”. Do more than simply read the words, study to see the theme. Look at this: The way Philemon1:4-6 is worded it is a word picture of communion. “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

John 16:15, “All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” That is the liberal sharing of the vine with the branches, without holding back or keeping some of Himself in reserve incase things don’t work out. The Lord never holds out on us. He is willing for continual communion, are you?

It is extremely short sighted of us to make a solemn face, walking all poised looking to the front of the church to take a bit of bread and wine, calling it communion, yet never really buying into all which God has for us. This is a big deal friends.

Ruben Studdard pointed out our upright heart posture in communion, the “koinonia”, is the continual fellowship and walking together with God. “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In his presence daily live. I surrender all, to you Jesus I surrender all, all; All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

Think about it.

Not just common union but communion! Not just knowing about God, but knowing God. i can say, i know God. i — know — Him. i know what makes Him glad, what makes Him sad, His preferences and standards, how He feels about situations, and that He loves me and even likes me. i don’t know Him as well as i’d like to, nor can i say i know Him very well, but i can say i do, indeed know Him, and that is the result of communion, which is more than just union. Can you say, yes, I know God, and He and i go together?

Thank you for lending me your ears, joining me here at Outposts, a fine establishment by the Ockluhwahhah River, where the trees gently lean over the rivers edge and every evening is pleasant.

i’m Social Porter and this program has been brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, Area 22 Guitars, Miss Alma Green, Hide and Tallow Slaughterhouse who’s rather morbid company slogan is, “The hand of God and mankind’s self-inflicted blows seem equally heavy … giving a strong cumulative impression of the world as an abattoir”. Let’s not forget Allador Wise at Duncraggon Inn, all those Owenby’s out in Balfour, the world famous Paul Powers, and Trinity Bakers where there’s always something good in the oven.

Be strong and courageous this week, extend yourself to the Lord, it’s an extension of yourself you’ll never regret. Live in constant communion with God, sit up straight, don’t mince your words or mumble, the world needs to hear what God has given you to say. i’ll catch you next time, amen.

i realize, of course, we need to find and possess ALL our worth and value in Jesus. Well, we need and ought to do a lot of things, but honestly, making all our springs of joy and existence to be in Christ alone is not as easy as we might think. We are so often, so easily dragged backwards into the hopeless, Godless world we live in.

Lately i’m having a hard time completely finding my value in the Lord, although ALL my value is Christ alone, and there is not another. Oh sure, i know all my value is in Christ alone, and everyone who has spent time with God knows it’s the truth. Yet, if it’s all as much the truth as we declare it is, why do we tend to vacillate all the days of our lives? It’s right up there with saying “I know Jesus loves me forever”, but when things are bad we say, “Why has God abandoned me? Doesn’t He love me anymore?” And again, even though we know Christ-alone is the absolute, ultimate truth, we talk ourselves out of what we know is true. Good grief, why do we do that?

i have pondered this before the Lord and here’s how my thinking goes. All my life everything i’ve done has had some sort of measuring stick tied to it. For example, when i was young i was told, “If you mow the lawn, i’ll give you $10.” After i had gotten the lawn mowed i felt like i had value because i’d earned $10. Society likes kids who make good grades in school, and they shy away from those who don’t. i was told when i was young, “If you make good grades your mother and i will be so proud of you.” And then came the unspoken part which went something like, “And then we’ll treat you like we like you…a LOT! And if you don’t we’ll withhold our emotional availability and will subtly hold you in contempt.”  Implying that if i didn’t make good grades, nobody would like me nor would my parents be proud of me. Make good grades = everyone likes you, make poor grades = nobody likes you. Interestingly, there were people who didn’t like me even if i made the best grades, and people who did like me…. a lot …especially when i made the worst grades. As long as my value was tied up in my ability to produce, i would always fall short, especially if i was always raising the bar of what was successful.
So much of my life’s value has been tied to my ability to make money, and when the Lord moved me out west, suddenly i became “the guy who was busy but didn’t make money” because my vocation changed to serving the Lord fulltime. Friends, it’s glorious to think of ourselves in full time ministry, but i’m telling you, when you’ve got $10 in your pocket and $500 in office rent is due, all that “full time ministry” stuff is very uncomfortable, especially when, like myself, you absolutely refuse to beg for donations and drum up support. I will not do it. As a result, my self-worth crashed and burned because all my value was tied up in my ability to make money. i didn’t realize so much of my value was tied up in making money, but it was. i’m far closer to the idea of “all my value comes from Christ alone” but on the other side of that, i’ve been in the throes of a complete identity crisis for 17 years now, all because my value in my own eyes was expressly tied to my ability to make money and be approved of by others. i’ve been trained that my worth is expressly tied to my ability to produce and be valuable (according to someone else) since i was born, diligently taught by my parents, school, friends and associates, movies, advertising, the military, bosses, clients, even some parts of the church (do good, get good, do bad, get bad). i have never known anything other than the concept my value comes from another man’s evaluation, subtly checking the boxes on a hypothetical performance chart. It all points out that my perspective is not nearly as important as the evaluators.

But then, i’m faced with God telling me, for 53 years now, that He is my value, He is my all in all, He is my strength, He is my hope, He is my wisdom, He is my insight, He is my peace, He is my, well — everything that is anything of real and lasting value, yet i have never known anything other than a worldly system which has been in my head since i was born. So to say, “all my springs of joy are in Him” can prove to be a difficult thing for most of us to imagine, that is, if we’re honest.

i think most of us, if we’re honest have a really hard time imagining ourselves as having value unless we attain a worldly standard, make money, or achieve some note worthy success.
Having value any other way is nearly unimaginable even though i have a very vivid imagination. But yet there is evidence in my life of value which comes by a different route than my being productive enough to deserve value. i stand in faith, i’ve lived a supernatural life so long i can’t imagine living any other way, i’ve witnessed the blue fire around the corners of the room during high praise, and no i’m not making that up, i wasn’t the only one who saw so i know i didn’t imagine it. i’ve witnessed the Holy Spirit set in upon the room and change our bodies, hearts, and make people sane again, whether i believed it or not, and He didn’t ask me if it was ok. My life has been more than natural, it is super-natural because God is supernatural, and i can’t deny where i’ve been with Him, even if it’s beyond the beyond of my imagination. It is the Lord. i’ve lived in the throes of an “expectation of God” for so many years, it’s like the worldly idea of success, though stuck to me so well i can’t peel it off, is being superseded by God’s “better idea”. i’m a constant witness of the glory of God out growing me to the point it is humbling to be in the presence of such constant goodness. From way out at a distance, it’s like someone is riding on a horse bringing good news to my dim “earth ears”, and the closer He gets to all things, the more all things become like Him.

Matthew 10:31, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” and 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Our value in Christ is not something you earn, achieve, or negotiate—it is a gift declared by God and secured by what Jesus did on the cross. We are infinitely and unconditionally loved, forgiven and declared righteous, and most of all, our value in Jesus is the value of someone for whom the Son of God gladly laid down His life, and it doesn’t fluctuate with performance, feelings, success, or failure. Our value is measured by the infinite worth of Jesus Himself who says in Isaiah 43:1, “You are mine!”

What do you think?

The Bible doesn’t use a single, specific word that directly translates to “audacity” in modern English, as the term carries flavors and colors of boldness, courage, or sometimes comes with little sidebars of openly caring less what others think, depending on context. However, several Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible convey pretty direct references to what we would call audacity or being audacious, particularly in the context of bold faith, risk taking, danger, and maybe even being over-the-top adventurous. It needs to be said though, that audacity can be negative or positive. Audacity describes a boldness or a certain fearlessness, and negatively speaking, it can be a willingness to disregard any normal restraints. Let us be audacious in our faith while wholeheartedly putting away from ourselves the rude, unrighteous willingness to disregard normal constraints. Does that make sense?

One word that aligns closely with the positive sense of audacity, which is boldness rooted in faith, is the Greek word parrhesia, which occurs 31 times in one form or another.

Parrhesia translates to “boldness,” “confidence,” or “freedom of speech” and implies speaking or acting openly and courageously, often in the face of opposition or great risk. It’s not just courage, but huge courage. It’s used to describe living a fearless proclamation of truth or faith, and looks a lot like the audacious character seen of David, Esther, Jesus, Paul and the list goes on and on.

Philippians 1:19-20, “… for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage (parrhesia) now, as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Audacity is something we should boldly ask the Lord for. And i mean asking more than just one and done, but pursue that kind of faith.

In Acts 4:29-31, The apostles pray for parrhesia to speak God’s word boldly amidst persecution. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness“, or parrhesia. Wouldn’t you know that God answers, the room shakes and they’re filled with the Spirit.

Paul repeatedly asks for prayer for audacity as in Ephesians 6:19–20.

In Hebrews 4:16 believers are encouraged to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” Ah, do you see the implication of parrhesia, which reflects audacious faith in possessing God’s mercy? The apostles had the nerve, ! the nerve !, to approach the King of the Universe and request His help, and He was all to glad to reply, an enthusiastic reply even. They weren’t just milling around in the throne room, tugging at God’s sleeves asking for self-centered favors.

C’mon, be audacious in your prayers. A.S.K., ask, seek, knock. Remember, Jesus said we have not because we ask not. Righteous audacity, or parrhesia, literally captures the essence of acting or speaking with fearless conviction, trusting in God’s ability to do what He says and soooo much more. Like the examples of David facing Goliath or Daniel praying despite a death sentence.

While other words like the Hebrew chutzpah (often associated with boldness or nerve), or Greek words like tharsos, courage could be used, but i don’t believe either one is large enough to fit the idea of audacity. Parrhesia best reflects the bold, faith-driven audacity we’re looking for. Again, please consider that negative audacity is called arrogance, but that’s a whole different discussion.

i’ll say this again and i hope it sticks to you: Audacious faith points to bold, courageous acts of faith or defiance of evil in the face of overwhelming odds, and is rooted in trust in God, in the sense that faith is a type of “trust training”.

Do you pray with audacity, having the nerve to dream out loud to God? Do you have the audacity to “step in” the river with God? Are you audacious in standing up for what you believe? Not rude but hoisting your colors up the flag pole without stumbling around, choking on your words and being embarrassed?

In 1 Samuel 17 David faced Goliath, who was a massive Philistine warrior, and everyone was terrified of the guy, and probably his own people were frightened of him. Armed with only a sling and five stones, David’s audacity stemmed from his faith in God’s power, declaring, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty”, 1 Samuel 17:45. His boldness led to a stunning victory, slaying Goliath with a single stone and sent the Philistines running for their lives.

          In Daniel 6, Daniel defied a royal decree forbidding prayer to anyone but King Darius, and let me tell you, nobody but nobody denied the King anything or they just were killed. Despite knowing the penalty was death in a lions’ den, he continued praying to God openly. His audacious commitment to his faith resulted in God’s miraculous protection, as the lions did not harm him, demonstrating divine deliverance. In fact, his audacity to believe God over the King changed the face of a nation, at that time.

Those are just two of many and their lives highlight audacity driven by faith, courage, and conviction in the face of absolute danger or overwhelmingly impossible odds.

How about some modern examples of faith-based audacity. For 30+ years a man known as Brother Andrew smuggled Bibles into communist countries where Christianity was all but banned. His audacity in Christ led him to drive past armed border guards with hidden Bibles, trusting only God for protection. In fact, his mission organization delivered over 365,000 Bibles in 2024 alone.

Of course, we can’t leave out Corrie ten Boom’s Resistance in WWII. Her actions still resonate in present day discussions of courage. She and her family hid Jews from the Nazis during World War II. They were driven by their belief in God’s call to love and protect others. Regardless of being arrested and imprisonment in a concentration camp under horrible conditions, Corrie’s audacious faith sustained her. Besides these examples, today, there are a multitude of people’s lives that reflect extraordinary courage, rooted in faith, to confront oppression, danger, or injustice, impacting communities and even the world today.

Hebrews 10:19–22 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence (parrēsia) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” Because of Jesus, you now have the right and possess the nerve to march straight into the presence of God almighty, King of the Universe and ask for whatever you need. That is staggering audacity — and friends, God loves it.

In Mark 7, a Gentile woman has the audacity to argue with Jesus when He initially says no. Jesus commends her: “Woman, you have great faith!”

In Genesis 32, Jacob literally grabs God and says, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” God renames him Israel (“struggles with God”) and blesses him. Then there is the persistent widow of Luke 18. Jesus tells a parable about a woman who keeps pounding on an unjust judge’s door until he gives her justice, then says, “Will not God give justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night?” Jesus was saying, pray with shameless audacity. To sum all this up, audacity is praised when it flows from faith in God’s grace and promise. i heard somewhere that the gospel actually creates holy boldness. Because you’ve been forgiven everything, loved infinitely, and given direct access to the throne, God’s love is audacious, His gifts are audacious, and He’s calling us closer to Himself. We can now live and pray and speak with fearless confidence that the world will often call “audacious.” Do you have the audacity to live the life Christ has called you to?

So yes — God wants you to be audacious… with Him and for Him. Think about it.

i had a dream where i went to a friends house. As i pulled into his driveway the first thing i noticed was that his house was surrounded by a tall wooden fence, high enough that you couldn’t hardly see anything of even the roof except the peak. i went to the gate, which had a buzzer and intercom, pressed the buzzer and told him i was there. In a moment, the gate unlocked. When i stepped through the gate, inside was another gate with a buzzer and intercom. There were many gates in a short space before i got to the front door. When he finally opened the front door he glanced around outside as if he was checking to see if anyone else was watching and let me inside. In the dream, from the front and back windows i could see his entire yard was a series of fences and gates. i thought why, oh why is there so much fencing, and fencing inside the fencing, mostly hiding nothing? When i asked him why all the extreme fencing, he said it was nobody’s business what was inside. i thought to myself, “But there’s nothing to hide but hiding itself.” As i woke up the Lord gave me a revelation. i realized his ardent fencing was built out of fear, fear that if anyone saw inside his yard they might use it against him, fear of shame, fear someone might “know” something. i thought to myself that truthfully speaking, there was nothing to know, and fear was driving all his constant guarding.

You know, i’ve discovered the hard way that we can be a friend to someone, even if they don’t let you in the gate, but it’s pretty impossible to have a relationship with them. As they sit inside their highly guarded, nearly insurmountable fence or wall, yes, we can talk to them through the boundary, pass notes back and forth, and even toss food and water to them over the top, but in the end, it is very, very limited, and totally controls any real connection, if any connection. We need to connect, meaning we must let God tear down the walls and fences of our own construction. i did NOT say boundaries were NOT good, because they are, they are God’s invention and even God has boundaries, obviously. But our constant walling out the Lord and the very people we need in order to prosper in our efforts to secure life and have it more abundantly, i believe is driven by woundedness, and fears of all sorts, and usually the kind of fears which totally make no sense. All the while, we sit in sustained, abject loneliness while feeling falsely secure behind our fencing, secretly wishing we could be free. We need to connect. Some are so dedicated to their fences, the term “immurement” comes to mind. Immurement literally means “walling in”, and is a form of imprisonment, in which a person is placed within an enclosed space with no exits, and if it’s allowed to persist, the prisoner will simply die from starvation or dehydration. It can be spiritual as well as physical.

Going to church is good, but is it really, truly, enough of a connection? i fail to understand how many people base their entire connectivity with God through a 1 and ½ hour event on Sunday. When scripture says, Forsake not the gathering together of yourselves in Hebrews 10:25, it doesn’t mean merely “go to church”, as we’ve been taught. It means to connect, and i mean for more than just 10 minutes before and after. The Lord didn’t make a law out of going to church in that scripture, we did. We’ll be told we absolutely have free will to do as we see fit, but then there’s the subtle, unspoken coercion that, “if you don’t then we’ll think you’ve backslidden”, all decided in the court of public opinion of course.  We’re the ones who made a law out of it all, yet we don’t make room for the real connections we need …and connecting takes time and maybe even courage. God is telling us to get ourselves to a group of like-minded people where we can freely express ourselves, be open and disclosing, and connect. Maintaining a complex fencing system denies us the connections we so desperately need, and i don’t care how tough you think you are, you can’t successfully do life unto the Lord, hidden behind your fences.

And what if we’ve been hurt by someone’s callous religiousness? Let me say that it’s bound to happen. Some people feel it’s their job to make sure others are compliant with the rules, and boy, do they love to tell people about all their rule breaking. In light of that, here comes the idea of “moral superiority” which inspires others to put up more fencing. “They’ve” been to church every time the doors are open and they really feel the need to ask, “i’ve been noticing you’ve not been here much. Why haven’t you been here?” “i’ve noticed you drink a beer occasionally, don’t you know it’s a s-i-n to drink?” “i’ve noticed you have some worldly music in your car. Where is God in your life?” “i’ve noticed you don’t bring your Bible sometimes. i thought you were a Christian.”

Regardless of those who feel obligated to make sure others are “fixed and complying” with some unspoken rules, we can look past them and address what’s going on with ourselves. We need to connect. Ever hear of stonewalling? It is a persistent refusal to communicate or to express emotions. It is common during conflicts, or when people attempt to avoid uncomfortable conversations out of fear that engaging will result in a fight, or someone will know something and use it against them. When we allow our fences to not only keep other scary people out, they also serve to keep us in. Every fence has two sides you know. Come out of your fenced in area you’ve built. God is calling you to connect. You think you’re gifted? You probably are, but, my friend, you can’t give away what you’ve got unless you are there to give it away. i’ll say it again, we can be a friend to someone, even if they don’t let you across the fence, but it is pretty impossible to have a relationship with them.

What do you think?

This year, i am 72. That isn’t long compared to some, but it’s pretty long to me considering when i was a child our neighbors said, “That boy will likely never live to see 7.” i was a dangerous child i suppose. These are the days i thought, in my youthful ignorance, that i’d never see, yet here i am, having cast a long shadow in my Christian community somehow, yet there it is. Surprisingly, i’m still alive — still praying, actually more than ever with greater intent, greater vision, living and walking in a personal, radiant, relational conversation with God all day, everyday. i never thought i’d see this level of intimacy with God, in fact, it was not even within me to imagine such beauty.

Think or more better, “think on these things”. Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Can you believe it?! Someone as vast and eternal as the King of the Universe has stooped down to know the very small dust in the window sill, who is me, and He actually wants to be friends. He even knows my name!

Regardless of me and my crazy life, God has caused me to “Cast a long shadow”. It may be a “long shadow” cast and only God can see, but it is there, never the less. To “cast a long shadow” can either be an idiom or a metaphor, and in my case it’s more idiom than anything else. For clarity’s sake, from the Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, an idiom is a “common phrase or expression whose meaning is figurative, not literal, often rooted in culture.” For example, “stiff necked” in Exodus 32:9 means stubborn or rebellious. In Daniel 2:33-34, the idea of having “Feet of clay” points to a hidden weakness in someone who is strong yet they are destined to crumble. As it pertains to people, “Casting a long shadow” means having a significant, far-reaching, or lasting influence — a lifestyle which profoundly affects others. And it can be positive, as in someone’s achievements which may inspire generations, or negative, as in someone who acted scandalously or intimidated others, possibly for a couple generations.

To say a believer is someone who “casts a long shadow” is about legacy, meaning our walk in the Lord influences future people and events. As Christians our Fruit of the Spirit attributes, or character, can “cast a long shadow”. More than “what” we do, more than just being “on the way”, but wholly about “the way we go our way while in The Way”. Not merely the words we use but “how” we use our words which includes facial inflections, body posture and tone of voice. Do you get it? As example, my insistence on being honest, and i mean “down to the bone” type of honesty, influences those around me to also be honest. It may make others uncomfortable, but then we must ask “why are they uncomfortable?”

To quote a well-known missionary, C.T. Studd, “only what’s done for Christ will last” and he’s not talking about mere works, but more how we are, or, “the way we go our way while in The Way”. What he was saying reflects 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”

For years i worked hard as a musician. Oh boy, i religiously ran my scales, read my Bible, prayed, witnessed, religiously attended church, gave my tithe like a good boy, and ran the scales some more. Day in and day out. i played on the worship team at several churches, big meetings and small meetings, just every where i could. i was casting a long shadow alright, but i fear it wasn’t a good one. My “long shadow” was all about myself. i looked great but i was slowly dying inside. i didn’t pay any attention though to who i was but more how i appeared and how well i performed. i was always measuring, how good was good enough, how bad was too bad, did i say the right churchy sounding things, did the people like me, etc, ad naseum. Never once did it occur to me what kind of person i was. Jesus said I AM the Way, but i never thought about the way i went while in The Way.

Not until the last 20 years has God finally gotten my attention about who i was and how i was which was far more important than my ability to quote  scripture (so i would appear knowledgeable and pious), copying someone i heard preaching or praying so i could appear amazing, just amazing, and everyone would say, Wow!, a lot. But more importantly, did i value honesty, integrity, commitment and keeping my word? Did i put a higher value on knowing Jesus? Was my relationship with God one of belonging and connection, and Jesus as a forever-friend? All that loud living and full-throttle activity, without Christ as the focus and endpoint was/is/shall be a dead end.

So let me ask you, what kind of legacy will you leave? One day, i absolutely guarantee, you won’t be here any longer. You will no longer live under this sky, breathe this air, drink this water, or walk on this ground. i know it’s hard to imagine not being here anymore because it truly is the only place we’ve ever lived, but there WILL come a day when all you’ve known changes. Think! Do you “cast a long shadow”? What kind of shadow is it? Listen to me, i’m old and i really believe this is important — after you are gone, it is highly likely, within a couple generations, most all your stuff, pictures and all, will have gone to a thrift store or the trash. Within three generations almost no one will hardly remember your name, and the only one who remembers you and all that you have done is God. In light of that, more than anything i want my “long shadow”, my legacy, to be one of kindness not personal greatness. i want to be an advocator instead of a litigator, i want to impact the world around me with Godly patience and Godly boundaries, being generous like God is generous. Your actions create echoes upon the world around. If anyone remembers me i want them to think of how i loved my neighbor, remembered as the guy who listened and heard what other people said and possessed wisdom only God could have given, and that’s only a few. Who you are is more important than the great things you done. All that stuff you think is so great, when all is said and done, only what is done in Christ will stand.

If you want to make a difference, i believe the biggest difference you can make is to come into the likeness of the Son, Jesus. Be like Jesus, study Jesus, talk to Jesus and learn to have an everyday-walk-around conversation with God. Say, what kind of “long shadow” do you cast? Think about it.

Calvin Coolidge said: “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.”

When we use the term, “Press On”, as it’s used in Philippians 3:12, it means to be diligent and keep on keeping on, don’t stop, don’t deviate, focus and keep on straight ahead. Persistence has won battles; it has been an undeniable aid in everything from restoring marriages to scientific discoveries to overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. i used to have virtually no persistence, couldn’t finish hardly anything, and wondered why my life felt so no-where. An old man told me once, ” persistence is not mere stubbornness—it is faith refined in the furnace of delay”. Ugh! The “furnace of delay”, meaning a prolonged, intensely difficult season of waiting where we have been purposefully delayed in the fulfillment of a promise, dream, or breakthrough. We need persistence. i think it’s a learned thing, especially in this “instant gratification” world we presently live in, and in light of getting what we want, when we want, and how we want, the idea of a “furnace of delay” sounds just awful.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Persistence. The Greek word for “abide” occurs 127 times in the N.T., 35 times in it’s variations in the gospel of John alone. A major concept in abiding is persistence, continuing on, to tarry, and carry on. Considering how often the Lord uses the word in scripture, i figure He sees persistence as important for us to learn and practice.

“Cave bestiam”, Latin for “beware the beast”. One of satan’s favorite things to do is to try and get us to give up! However, God tells us to endure, persist, continue, and finish. Let me say those four again …. endure, persist, continue, and finish.

Persistence is one of God’s more subtle attributes, but an attribute of the Lord nonetheless and we should be aware if God was not persistent and did not share His persistence with us, we would yield to the world and capitulate easily in the wave of darkness and wrongness of character, which daily, if not hourly, washes over the world around us. Evil may be persistent, but God is more relentless in His pursuit of us than we have enough imagination to grasp.

Persistence. The Lord has pursued us with His enduring, everlasting love, He persists in His relentless reaching and seeking of those who are His to bring us home to Himself.

Consider for a moment if you are a persistent person and in what way.

i want to re-tell a story, a sad story, of someone i met at a nursing home. i’ll call her Gladys. When a friend and i first walked into her room to visit, she was laying on her bed, covered by a crisp, freshly creased sheet and thin faded blanket, staring at the wall. She was bone thin with very fine gray hair pulled tight across and behind her head, withered facial features, and she was pale, nearly translucent pale, her skin so thin you could see the veins just below the surface. She was so frail and still we thought she was dead were it not for the faint rise and fall of her chest, barely perceptible only if we stood silently and watched for a moment. Holding our breath with intense focus, we paused for a moment, hoping she would turn her head and speak, but when that didn’t happen, i ventured forward and asked how she was today. In a voice as thin as the rustle of dry leaves, while still staring at the wall she replied that she was just laying there waiting to die, tired of being in this world and was done with breathing. Finally, she slowly turned her head to look at us, and from very thin pale lips, told us she didn’t understand why she was still alive. With perplexity in her voice, she continued on saying her heart just kept beating and beating, and she had decided to just wait on it to quit. So, everyday, all day, every week she waited.

The next week we came back and there was Gladys, laying in her bed, almost exactly as she was the first time we met. i’m telling you, it seemed she had not moved an inch since the last time we say her. Hands folded across her chest on top of the sheet and blanket, skin thin as wet paper and her eyes were closed. i spoke softly to her a little above a whisper and asked if she was awake. With her eyes still shut, she said “Yes”. i told her it was a beautiful day, it was warm, and the flowers were blooming everywhere — then i asked her why her eyes were closed. She said she was tired of looking at the sky and the flowers and trees, tired of looking walls and people and just didn’t want to see any of that anymore. She insisted she was still waiting to die.

A month or so later, Gladys really did die. She died from a failure to persist — she didn’t want to be here anymore so badly, her body just simply stopped. It took her over two years to will herself to die, but it appeared she had accomplished her goal.

Sadly, we came to find out, two years prior to that, someone had prophesied to Gladys she only had a couple years left and God was going to take her home, and in light of that foolish and cruel prophesy to a healthy woman with children and grandchildren, Gladys decided that if that was the way it was going to be, then she’d just lay down and wait. She waited for over two years, failing to persist everyday a little more and a little more, until one day, she indeed left the land of the living.

Gladys was a good example about where we go when we cease our persistence of the Lord, life, love, goodness, hope, peace or any other good thing God has sowed into our lives. After meeting Gladys, i realized that it’s the truth, any of us, if we allow it, can become so sad, so resigned to ceasing to breath, we will, at some point, stop. God has another plan though.

After that dreadful story, i much prefer a “positive perspective of persistence”. That phrase has a nice rhythm doesn’t it? “Positive perspective of persistence”.

Persistence, what is it? Here’s part of what i’ve come up with: it is the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. In other words, we press on even when we feel like quitting, even when you think you’ve got good reason to quit. If God didn’t say quit what you’re doing, we will stand our post like the soldiers we are. Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but it IS the evidence that a person is committed to Jesus. Again, persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life.

Joyce Meyer said, “Typically, i have to do the right thing with a right attitude for a long time before i start getting right results, that’s persistence.” i believe she was right. In my experience, though limited, i too have realized i often have to treat people right for a long time before they begin to treat me the same way. Not always, but by far and large, most of the time. Persist in treating people right is the key phrase there. That means even when they don’t treat us well, we repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Consider it a kindness. Consider it a version of sharing your bread with the poor like in Isaiah 58:7. Just as God is kind to us and persists to love us, we need to be like Him. Just as natural seed finally takes root and the beginning of a plant breaks through the ground, we also will see breakthrough if we continue to do the right thing, regardless of what others do. Again, the sticky words are “continue to do the right thing”, persist.

On a side note, what is your idea of “breakthrough”? Be honest, down to the bone honest.

People frequently give up too easily. When their feelings quit on them, they quit too. There is what i call, “The spirit of Eeyore”, which sounds just like Eeyore on Winnie the Poo. Eeyore’s attitude says, “What does it matter? No one cares anyway.” OR “It’s ok. i’ll learn to live without it.” OR “It figures, might as well go home.” OR  “Nope, just got lonely being so popular. i figured being boring old me was better’n being something i ain’t. Hope you’re not too disappointed.”

When we give up, or cease to persist, despair and hopelessness is just a breath away. Let me encourage us all, when we are pressured to give up and turn our back on our friends or even Christ Himself  — don’t do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and continue, or persist to live for Christ. Matthew10:22, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Read Luke 18:1-8, James 1:12, and Romans 5:3-4 to name a few. God has a lot to say about perseverance and persisting.

Enduring means to persist, and it doesn’t mean to persist in order to merely be saved or merely get what we want, it means to persist in our pursuit to apprehend Jesus, our life, the Lover of Our Souls. He alone is the source and focus of our persistence! Altogether. Such persistence honors God’s sovereignty and transforms the one who waits. Persistence kills pride, or “I deserve an answer now”, deepens desperation for God Himself rather than simply getting from God what we want, and it forges character that can carry the eventual blessing without being crushed by it.

Just because we give up on something, does that mean we are a failure? No. It may seem to us we are a failure, but that’s failure as WE measure failure. God doesn’t see it that way. There’s a time to doggedly continue on just like there’s a time to let go and set your feet in another direction. Several years ago, two other men and i had a men’s meeting we called the “20/20 Men’s Group”. We persisted for a year, and at the end of that year we felt the Lord point us towards re-assessing our efforts. In our prayer and re-assessment, we perceived the Lord to encourage us to let our meetings go. Honestly, i didn’t want to because i loved the idea of the “20/20 Men’s Group”, but i also know it’s better to follow the Lord instead of keeping on with something He’s moved on from. So, we let it go, and it proved to be the right thing. Does that make us failures? Absolutely not. When to stop pursuing something is a good question, for truly, there are times to cease to pursue a direction which previously we knew to be the will of the Lord. If God changes direction, we must go with God, not be stubborn adherents to an old paradigm.

Greg Herrick wrote that “stubborn faith is not the same as persistent love.” Just because someone’s great-great grandparents did church like they did, if God has requested we change our way of doing things, for Heaven’s sake just change. When the great-great grandparents started the church, it was a great idea. But people have changed, culture has changed, ideals have changed and we mustn’t be so stubborn as to not change when God has moved on. If we’ll not change, what was once a great blessing could easily become a restraint so tight we can’t hardly breathe anymore. The gospel message is the same, of course, but how we go about doing it may lead to our being called to a higher place by the Lord. If we will move “with” the Lord we will do more than simply grow but will flourish. Persist in the pursuit of Jesus, not persist in a paradigm you like, methods you’re comfortable with, or some melancholy idea of “the way we used to do it.” In fact, i believe the phrase, “We ain’t never done it that way before” has stopped many ministries from continuing to prosper.

Here’s an interesting example of persistence with change: Ever heard of a company called “Traf-O-Data?” No? Well, at the time, me either. How about Microsoft? Oh, yea, we’ve all heard of that one. As it turns out both companies were started by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Traf-O-Data was the first company they started in 1972. Gates and Allen ran it for several years before throwing in the towel. They gave up on their original. But, if they hadn’t given up on Traf-O-Data, then there might never have been “MicroSoft”, and i must say, they did much better with MicroSoft than their original idea.

So how do you know when to press on vs. when to let go and follow God’s lead to a new thing? Here’s some questions to help in the re-assement of things: Is your plan still correct and how can you tell? We’ve gotta’ be honest about that one. If it’s not correct, update the plan. Wait on God to confirm it, and yes, the Lord does, unwaveringly, confirm His word. Is your goal still correct? What’s your evidence? Be honest. If not, update or abandon your goal. There’s no honor in clinging to something when God has moved on. Here it is, hear me on this: Persistence is not stubbornness.

i am my own best example of stubbornness which i have often confused with persistence. Letting things go was hard for me. I had always believed we should never give up, that once i set my mind to something, i should hang on to the bitter end. i figured the only thing worse than dying was quitting. You know, the old “captain must go down with the ship and all. i often felt like a failure if i surrendered and didn’t grip my project even tighter in an effort to “make” it work, squeeze it until it works. It was hard for me to learn the difference between persistence and stubbornness. Again, if God changes direction, we must go with God, not be stubborn adherents to an old paradigm.

Romans 14:19 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which we may edify one another.”

Persist in apprehending that which makes peace and edifies the body of Christ. That’s very plain and straight forward.

Colossians1:23 says we should persist in our faith, persist in our being established and firm, not moved from the hope held out to us in the gospel.

1 Corinthians 14:1, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

This obviously means to persist until we apprehend love, to persist in reaching towards the spiritual gifts God has for us, especially prophesy, and don’t let the word “prophesy” scare you off. i think so often we get stuck on a word and miss the content. This is not buying into crazy doctrine but i’m saying, simply, don’t get stuck on a word like “prophesy” just because it’s not in the scope of your vision. Persist to understand what God means, and just because some individuals have done it poorly doesn’t mean it is not a viable gift from the Lord.

Persist to walk in the truth, not just the facts, but the truth, truth and fact are different you know. Remember also there is a balance in persistence. 1 John 5:18 “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin”. Friends, it isn’t necessarily the one cookie that makes us over weight, but the lifestyle of cookies we persist in. It isn’t automatically the one-sy, two-sy of things we do wrong which defile us, it is the lifestyle of wrongness which we persist in. It is not so much the lie here and there which get us in trouble but the theme of lying that causes us such grief. The key word for today in 1 John 5:18 is “continue” or “persist”.  Like in 1 John 3:6, it says “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” That scripture isn’t speaking of a single act, but a lifestyle. It is our conduct and habits which reveal if we really know Jesus or not. Remember: There is balance in our persistence and persistence is not stubbornness, and ceasing to persist on something does not mean anyone is a failure. Think! How does God see the situation? Persist and find out. If you ask Him i guarantee He will answer, by and by. Oh, yes He will.

i read somewhere that the value of persistence comes not from stubbornly clinging to the past. It comes from a vision of the future that is so compelling you would give anything to make it real. This life is real, God is real and alive. i really believe persistence of action comes from persistence of vision. Let me encourage us all to pursue God for our vision and dreams. It ain’t over yet, and i’ve not heard the bell ring, so let’s put our shoulder to the wheel and persist in our pursuit of Jesus. Think about it.

Persistence allows you to keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated to do so. According to early Christian writers, there are two virtues of courage: Patience & Persistence. Patience is enduring difficulties or danger without being inordinately cast down. Persistence is continuance in spite of difficulties or danger. If there exists in us true courage, therein is faith & hope also, and if there is hope and faith, patience and persistence are close at hand. Persist in prayer, persist and endure through trials, and persist in faith and obedience. Through Christ we shall be persistent, enduring, and steadfast.

In Luke 5:17-20 Jesus was teaching in a house and some guys carried a paralyzed man up onto the roof. There they took apart the roof, and lowered the paralyzed man into the room so Jesus could heal him. Those guys were VERY daring, not to mention it was probably very messy considering there was dirt and roof stuff falling onto the people below. i’d bet anything people complained and maybe even yelled at them to stop, but yet they persisted because they had hope something would change, they had a vision of the future for their friend. Let us be willing to persist on behalf of our neighbors in the same way.

i’m Social Porter and this has been brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, Area 22 Guitars, Cannie Ledbetter at Oakdale Cemetery, Skyland Battery and Ignition, Mr. Jack Johnson at Johnson’s Gulf Service, Elmo and Mary Hogan, and Trinity Bakers where there’s always something good in the oven.

Be persistent this week, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Persist! Persist! Persist! Be at peace and let Jesus be your rest and comfort. Until we meet again, Amen

John 5, The Politics of Bethesda: Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be well?” The man said, “Sure!” Jesus said, “Take up your bed and walk.” So the guy did, and he had no idea God had just visited him. The Pharisee’s, who seemed to be screening things, tell the guy, “Gahh! Don’t you know it is WRONG to work (carry you bed) on the Sabbath!??!? What’s a matter with you?!!?” The guy sez, “Well, the man who made me well said to pickup my bed, so i did.” Pharisee’s, with condescending exasperation, “ARGH! Do you do everything you’re told?!? Who is this “person” who said pick up your bed!??” The guy sez, “I don’t know.” Later, the guy who was healed was in the temple (he evidently was not ignorant of who God was, he just didn’t actually know Jesus), there he meets Jesus, Jesus gives him some advice, then the guy goes and tells the Pharisee’s (“Look!, Look!, right over there! That’s the guy!”). Then Jesus makes an incredible statement about working on the Sabbath, He sez, vs17, “My father is working today, so i’m working today.” Very upsetting! Jesus was a lot of things, but “nice” wasn’t one of them.

“Nice” is VERY subjective you know. Ummm … ok, wait. The law says it is illegal to work on the Sabbath, but the Father works on the Sabbath, Jesus works on the Sabbath. Wait a minute! So if God didn’t make that law, then who did? The lawyers and Pharisees were more concerned with obeying the rules, and who cares if anyone got healed after 38 years of being incapacitated, just keep the rules, by all means. Following God’s lead is far more important than being a good rule keeper, checking off all the performance accomplishments. Prayed today, Check!, read my Bible today, Check!, Went to church today, Check!, Witnessed to someone, Check!, Spent an hour with my spouse (how gracious of me), Check! Was nice to people at work (feeling piously benevolent about that), Check! Didn’t work on the Sabbath (oh man, i’m doing the stuff now!), Check! i should be ok ’cause my list is checked off right? But why is my job, my marriage, my relationship with my folks/kids, why does all that just seem kind of, i don’t know, tilted?? Off balance, unfulfilling.

Why do i always spiritually feel like my arm is out of joint and i’m out of breath? Why do i feel like i’ve been holding my breath all day? i’m doing the formula, and it’s just not cutting it anymore! Oh bother, What will we do, what will we do?? i’m fairly certain that in the life of every believer, at some point, doing the formula (pray/read/fellowship/tithe) is not enough, and there’s nothing wrong with doing those four points, of course not, it’s just that being good little law keepers isn’t enough. Toeing the line of a moral code will eventually inspire the best of us to be double-minded simply because the pressure to constantly perform is more weight than we can bear. God wants a relationship not just rule keepers, he doesn’t want to do it FOR us, He wants to do it WITH us. Do you believe that y-o-u-r well being is directly tied to y-o-u-r ability to be obedient?? Be honest!

That means when you get life wrong you don’t deserve to be well or do well, and when you get it right enough, ahh,now you are worthy of blessing and well being.

Ships captains of 150 years ago used to have a phrase that everyone recognized as a command to come about to the given nautical heading. They would say, “Come to”, meaning to change your old heading to the new. Maybe you don’t exactly know who is gently knocking on the door of your heart. Maybe you think you do and it terrifies you. Maybe you think if you could get your life together better things would go more smoothly, always reaching to be a little more obedient in hopes of a better result. Maybe some of that is generally true in the sense of just paying attention to the details, like washing your clothes, doing the dishes, or showing up for work. But thinking we can be obedient enough that God will give us what we want is another story. We must cease our mindset of giving to get, always needing a little bit more in order for you to be OK.

Being a rule keeper may make us acceptable to our peers, but what if we did the right thing simply because it was the right thing, not because the rules said we should do the right thing? You know, people tend to mandate acting correctly and also feel the need to add a penalty at the end, like a threat to all rule breakers everywhere.

The Pharisee’s of John 5 demanded the minions keep the rules and do what they were told. They made up rules the minions had to keep that they, themselves, had special excuses as to why they didn’t have to keep the same rules. On one hand they demanded the man be obedient to their rules, but on the other hand when the man obeyed God instead of keeping the rules, they wanted to know if he always did what he was told. Oh, so, it’s like the attitude is: i’m glad you do what you’re told as long as i’m the one doing the telling, otherwise you’re just disobedient? Church leaders set a standard tithe as 10%, but God moved that forward and said something bigger, He said, “Follow me”, which is a present, active, imperative verb. It’s imperative, meaning “do it!” It doesn’t mean keep the rules, nor did He add a penalty afterwards saying, “and if you don’t, i’ll make you pay.” That’s not what God said. Acts5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” and Acts4:19, “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.” i didn’t say don’t respect authority, but i am saying our ultimate responsibility is to God, first, with a continuous upward pointing to the sovereignty of God as a platform for where we plant our feet, on the entire word of God, not just the parts which support our agenda.

What do you think?