Bound 4 LIFE Vid.

Bound 4 LIFE Central NC Chapter, which is pretty much out of IHOP-AC has been doing silent sieges and praying for the ending of abortion.  I made this video out of some clips from our sieges, just to have for people who may not necessarily know what we do.  If you want to…check out the website: Bound 4 LIFE Central NC.

Revolutionary Relative Speaks Out

William Wilberforce’s grandson speaks out against abortion.  Check out the article on Bound 4 LIFE.

Rethinking Heaven and Life After Death

I just started reading this book Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright.  It addresses the common misunderstandings about heaven and life after death and the resurrection.  I have heard very good things about this and just from watching these interviews Wright seems very solid.  Here are some interviews about the book: the first one is on a comedy show (kinda random) and the second is a little more serious. 

N.T. Wright on the Colbert Report

N.T. Wright Interview ABC

Mary of Bethany: Journey of a lovesick heart part 3

There is so much more to be said about the life of Mary of Bethany.  But I’m gonna finish up here.  This is possibly one of the most beautiful displays of affection toward Jesus seen in the New Testament.  If you haven’t read part 1 and 2 of these posts, you should before you read this one. 

Something happened in the heart of Mary, so much so that it leads her to this extravagant display of affection.  John 12:1-8 (Matt. 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9).  This is at the beginning of Jesus’ last week before crucifixion.  He decides to spend time with some of His closest friends.  Martha is serving.  Jesus is reclining at the table.  Here comes Mary with a pound of nard; costly perfume.  Judas later says that it could be sold for 300 denarii, which was equivalent to 11-12 months wages.  It was a years wages; annual income.  Most scholars believe this was her wedding dowry.  Mary was probably given this as her inheritance from her family to use for the future.  This was her everything.  All she has.  And she pours it all out on Jesus.  She begins to wipe His feet with her hair.  Can you imagine the emotions in her heart?  She is one so in love, so abandoned that she is willing to give her all in extravagance to the Lover of her soul.  And it says, “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”  Oh, the pleasing fragrance of extravagant devotion.  This young girl displays the most amazing and beautiful picture of lovesickness. 

The first response we see is that of the disciples.  The account in Matthew says they were indignant, where John specifically describes Judas Iscariot’s response.  The religious spirit is stirred and awakened in them as this extravagant display of passion and love provokes realms of their religious devotion.  Why this waste!?  This could have been sold to give to the poor.  John tells us that Judas stole from the money he kept for Jesus.  Look what Jesus says: “Let her alone.”  Leave her alone, she is at my feet.  I told her that this will not be taken away from her (Luk. 10:42).  She has done this for my burial.  She has done a good deed to me.  You will always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 

I believe Mary had the revelation that Jesus was going to suffer and die at the hands of men.  She anointed Him for his burial (as was the custom of that day).  The disciples still did not understand Him, when He spoke of His death to them.  Look at the account in Matthew 26:12-13.  Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”  Why does Mary get a memorial for her gift given to the Son of God?  Surely, many others have given more extravagant offerings.  The reason, I believe, is because she did it before it was popular-with a lovesick heart.  She anointed Jesus for burial, before any of His closest followers.  She had a revelation of what was on His heart because she had sat and received His words and journeyed on the pathway of love. 

Jesus says the testimony of her extravagance will be preached wherever the gospel will be preached.  Why does Jesus connect this to the gospel being preached in the world?  He is saying: her heart is the picture of what I am going to the cross for.  She is the standard.  I am dying for a heart that is completely abandoned in love, one that will give everything.  This is the standard of the discipleship of Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)- it goes so much further than evangelizing the nations.  I believe Jesus had the fragrance of this extravagant offering on Him all week, thus as He walked the road to Calvary, He would smell it- this is why I am doing this!  Father, this is what I want (John 17:24-26)!  I want her- a bride, from all the nations, fully abandoned in love, equally yoked to Me, and who love Me like You do, Father- unreserved lovesickness!    

Mary of Bethany: Journey of a lovesick heart part 2

Ok. I want to continue in the progression of a lovesick heart.  John 11.  In verse two, John identifies Mary as the one who anoints Jesus’ feet, but this event has yet to happen at this point.  John 12 comes after John 11 chronologically (for the gospels are not necessarily in chronological order- check out a harmony of the gospels).  He is basically identifying her so she won’t be confused for someone else.  

They send word to Jesus, presuming upon His love for Lazarus, for they know He loves them.  Jesus declares His purposes in verse 4.  He, purposefully, stays in the place where He is, instead of rushing to the aid of His sick friend.  After this, He tells His disciples its time to go to Judea, which is a huge risk because many Jews were seeking to stone Him there.  Jesus declares (11) “Our friend, Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go that I may awaken Him out of sleep.”  The disciples say if he’s sleeping, he will get better.  In essence, why would we wake someone up from sleeping, when they need their rest to recover?  I love verse 14.  Jesus basically says, “Look y’all, he’s dead!!!”  I can see this kind of like one of those forehead smack moments where Jesus goes, “duh!”  J One other interesting thing in this paragraph is the response of Thomas.  Most of us think of this guy, when he is in his unbelief (John 20:24-29), but have we ever considered him, in his faith and boldness- ready to die with Jesus if He were stoned in Judea. 

 

Martha is the first to go out to meet Jesus.  In verse 21, she responds to His coming saying, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Can you see some of the accusation she has toward Him, not coming when He first got word.  Jesus says that he will rise again and she responds: I know that!  She is so bold!  It seems like Martha has some forms of accusation and offense in her heart.  Jesus questions her faith, asking her if she believes He is the resurrection and life, even in that moment. 

 

She tells her sister Mary, He is calling her, so she goes out to meet Him, for He has not come into the city yet.  The Jews follow her.  Mary comes and speaks the same words as Martha, but look what happens to Jesus when she comes.  “He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.”  Jesus was visibly shaken, and groaned in His spirit, then it says, Jesus wept.  What provokes the God-Man to groan and weep?  Mary spoke the same words as Martha, but she had received His words (Luke 10:39- sitting at Jesus feet) and His words were living in her.  She then postures her heart and self at His feet again, she speaks the same words- but it invokes groaning in the spirit of the Son of God.  Her posture was that of lovesickness, saying “Though I’m troubled, and don’t know what to do, I’m not offended.”  Her words and actions had weight, because she had received His words and cultivated them in her heart from the last visit.

 

In the midst of this beautiful picture of a lovesick heart, and the tenderness of Jesus toward her, He receives more accusation from the Jews (37).  Jesus’ heart is being moved by the response of a lovesick heart (Mary), and He comes to the tomb.  He tells them to remove the stone and Martha speaks up, showing unbelief and accusation: “there will be stench.”  Jesus responds, as the One who has power over death, saying they need to believe.  Jesus prays to the Father, and says the coolest thing, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me.”  When has the Father already heard Him, when He is just now praying?  I believe the answer is in verses 33 and 35.  The groaning and weeping intercession of Jesus, had already risen to the Father, gaining authority in the heavens to manifest in power on the earth.  He prays this out loud, that those around would believe, then calls out “Lazarus, come forth.”  Why did He say his name when He could have just said “come forth?”  I believe the authority and power of the God-Man’s groaning intercession was so great, that if He had not spoken his name, all the tombs and graves on the earth would empty!  Oh, the power of the intercession of the Son of God.

 

Consider the power of a lovesick heart, without offense, even in the darkest times.  This heart cries out in the darkest night “Jesus, Your leadership is perfect!”  Her authority in intercession (speaking the words) came from the place of intimacy, sitting at Jesus’ feet (the one thing), receiving His words, and cultivating them in her heart.  Intimate authority.  I believe this miracle stirred Mary’s heart so much that it provoked her to the most beautiful, extravagant picture of lovesickness we will ever see.  We’ll check that out next time.  

Mary of Bethany: Journey of a lovesick heart part 1

I have recently been arrested by the life of Mary of Bethany.  I have read about her seemingly countless times, but the Lord has been highlighting this progression of love that was produced in Mary. 

The first passage: Luke 10:38-42.  Jesus, the most famous prophet in Israel, is invited into the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  The thing I so easily forget is that when Jesus comes into a region, He doesn’t come alone.  He is followed by the 12, many other disciples, the sinners, the sick, the untouchables.  Can you say entourage.  Paint the setting out for yourself.  Jesus, sitting in the central place of the house, is ssurrounded by His disciples, and anyone else who could fit in the room.  The poor and sick gather round the house outside, hoping to get near the miraculous Rabbi.  Based on the disciples other table-discussions (Luk. 22:24) and the prior events (Luk. 10:17-20) the topic could possibly have been a debate over who is “Jesus’ man of faith and power.”  All the time, Martha is trying to feed and keep satisfied the disciples, with the story of the men who tore the roof off to get to Jesus incessantly playing over and over in her head.  Stress.  Amidst all the commotion, we see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.  In all the accounts of Mary in the scriptures, we see her at Jesus’ feet.  Mary and Martha are both occupied: Martha with all her preparations, and Mary with this beautiful Man.  Martha calls her out in front of everyone.  Boldness!  Do You not care?  Tell  her to help me.  In essence, “If You do care, You would tell her to help me with all this work.”  Jesus answers and says that she is worried and bothered about so many things.  I imagine him now turning and looking at Mary and saying, “but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  She is doing the one thing needed.  She has chosen the right and good thing, and above all…she can stay right here.  She is listening to My words and her position is presuming upon My love, and she can stay here.   There is one thing that is needed (Luk. 10:42, Ps. 27:4) and it shall not be taken away from us!   

ATL

Its been way too long since I have posted anything.  I just got back from Atlanta.  I drove down and went to the Passionate Pursuit Conference at IHOP-Atlanta.  It was really awesome!  The Holy Spirit is moving and working all over the place.  God is simply looking for hungry people because He comes where He’s wanted.  I feel like I got some impartation at the conference, though I’m not really sure what it was.  It was also nice to see my friend Amanda Slade.  She went down for The Watch internship for a couple months, where she does nightwatch (midnight to six a.m.).  She’s gonna come back to IHOP-AC and help lead our nightwatch in the future. 

Cultural Amputation

I have been studying the Sermon on the Mount recently.  Today I’m meditating on verses 27-30.  Adultery.  Us guys know this all too well: lust is fueled by sight, which leads to immorality in the heart, which in turn can and sometimes leads to outward immorality; but here’s the thing…ALL ARE SIN!  I think Mike Bickle said one time that the urges are there but “there is no form of the gospel in which we are not required to deny the urge.”  The biggest thing I have been looking at is the cutting off verses (29-30).  Jesus is essentially saying: even if the most valued things in your life cause you to sin, get rid of them.  I can tell, though, He likes using this imagery.  Maybe because He is smashing the religiosity of the pharisees and takes things external, since they did as well.  Jesus teaches this again in Matthew 18:8-9, connected to sin.  I was reading John Stott’s commentary and he said something to the effect of us being culturally maimed in order to preserve purity; and we have to be willing to accept some cultural amputation in this world, than risk destruction in the next.  That set me off to pray for an hour today.  Cultural amputation!  Not just in the area of lust, but all areas.  We are to be salt in the world, but if the salt has become tasteless, it is no longer worth anything.  We must walk as cultural amputees. 

Movie & Silent Siege

On Friday, all of the IHOP-AC staff and interns got to go see the Horton Hears a Who movie that just came out.  Go see and support this movie.  It is a prophetic film for the hour regarding abortion.  It beautifully depicts the value of life and that “A person is a person no matter how small.”  Go see and support this movie, and spread the word about it.  Pray that God would use this to confront people in America and that it would be an instrument to raise up a culture of life.  Heres a couple videos of Lou Engle talking about the movie.

On Saturday, we went on our first silent siege as a bound 4 LIFE chapter (central NC) at an abortion clinic in Greensboro, NC.  It was a powerful time.  The Lord instilled more and more sobriety about this issue of life and innocent bloodshed in our land.  I remember standing there counting babies (about 2 babies are killed every 3 seconds) and it was really hitting me hard that these aren’t numbers but lives that are being taken.  I lost count at around 520 something and felt an overwhelming burden to cry out for God’s mercy on our land for this injustice.  America really needs to wake up and see what we are doing.

Here’s some photos of our group from the siege.

But I Serve

I have been meditating on these verses some in prayer room this week.  They have really been a challenge to me.  Jesus is at the last supper and talks about the new covenant, which is His body and blood poured forth.  He tells them that one of them will betray Him, and they begin questioning one another who is going to do it.  It’s the natural human blame shift tendency over a HUGE deal.  In the midst of this, pride arises and everyone begins to declare their credentials as to why they could never be the one to betray Him.  How quickly it moves from identification to self-exaltation.  I know for myself, and maybe you feel the same way, that so many times I can relate better to the disciples than to Jesus in the gospels.  We all want to think we are the strongest among the group.  God’s man, the chosen one. 

Look at what the undisputed Chosen One says:

And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. 24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:23-27)

The One with all power and authority in the universe reveals the meekness of His heart.  He puts it into perspective for them, while they are sitting right there.  Just before He had stooped to the lowest position of servant-hood that culture accepted (foot washing), and in the midst of their “locker room talk” over who is the greatest apostle, He says, “I am among you as the one who serves.”  Jesus is taking the value system that is so innately rooted in the human race and flipping it upside-down.