5 Radical Statements - 1 Chapter: #3

As I begin the freedom to write and express whatever I want again, I wanted to start with the most important thing - Jesus. As I was reading today there were 5 statements in one chapter that I think would drastically change the way we live if we really wrestled with them. Luke 9:


#3 "He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." (verses 1-2)

I know this is a long statement but we need it all. Jesus just had prayed for a little girl who was dead and she came back to life and then ate with them. He then pulls the 12 together and does this. "He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal."

What did he send them out to do? 2 Things. Go look again.
     1) to proclaim the kingdom of God
     2) to heal

What did he give them for that?
    1) power and authority over all demons
    2) power and authority to cure diseases

I'm not the wisest person and I am often wrong. Most of the time when Jesus makes a statement to His disciples we continue to apply it to today "go make disciples of all nations..." "follow me" "repent" "be born again" etc. Most of the time as I read this, I read it how it had been preached to me, "Jesus sent out the 12 to preach the gospel! 1) The gospel that Jesus refers to in Mark 1:14 is not the same gospel that we refer to today. Now we say "Gospel/Good News - Jesus came to live, die, and rise again for our sins." The gospel/good news he proclaimed was a military term used by the Romans. When they conquered a new area they would proclaim the gospel the "good news" that the new area was part of the Roman Empire. They now had all of the rights, privileges, and protection that all Roman citizens have. 2) He doesn't say preach the gospel. He says proclaim the Kingdom. So Jesus was proclaiming that Heavens kingdom was here. It was about to come (and did at the cross).

What happens in the Kingdom? People know and see God and Jesus who He sent. They are complete - no sickness, pain, suffering, lacking, depression, insecurities, etc. Many times when we read this but miss out on the other parts of this verse. Proclaim the Kingdom and cure diseases to show the Kingdom. It's like show and tell. He sends them out to show (cure diseases) and tell (the Kingdom is near).

The last part is the how. Jesus sends them out He gives them power and authority over demons and to cure diseases. Jesus gives them/us power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. (This was never for them to boast in what happened - later they did and he rebuked them for it and told them instead to celebrate God knows them - but it was to show that God is real, loving, furious, and pursuing them.)

My question for us to wrestle with is: Why don't we still do this? I don't think the question is why doesn't God do this but rather why don't we pray for this? When's the last time you prayed for someone and asked for them to be healed and expected in instantly? When's the last time we rebuked a demon (or apparent demon - I say apparent because in America they masquerade much better. By the way, a person is not a demon. Please don't rebuke a person as a demon. Jesus loved the person and hated the demon that was bothering them. Love the people enough to rebuke other things.) So I wonder:

"Why don't we still do this?"

5 Radical Statements - 1 Chapter: #2

As I begin the freedom to write and express whatever I want again, I wanted to start with the most important thing - Jesus. As I was reading today there were 5 statements in one chapter that I think would drastically change the way we live if we really wrestled with them. Luke 9:

#2 "A voice came out of the cloud, saying..." (verse 35)

Jesus goes up to the top of a mountain to pray taking two of his students and closest friends with Him. When He's there, His face changes and His clothes grow. Two other ancestors who were vital in the faith appear beside him (Moses & Elijah - further proof he wasn't either one of them because they were standing next to each other). Then a cloud enveloped them. It overtook them. Then we have the statement that made #2.

Most of the time, I had skipped over this section. This phrase is the set up to what was really important. The important part was what He said, right? Yes and no. Yes what He said is vitally important, but equally important is this fact: the Father God speaks to the ones He loves. This God that we refer to is not one who is distant, disconnected, or cold. He's one who is constantly engaging and pursuing those that He loves (which is all of us). I ask you: what do you expect God to be like? Honestly, what do you expect out of God?

Pause. Stop reading and think about this for a minute. Write down how you view God and what you expect from Him. I think I expect a creator God who was large and in control but didn't really interact with me. Who was "for me" as long as I was being obedient and if I wasn't then prepare for the smack down. God is a judge who was waiting to bring the gavel down on all of your worst punishments rather than a God who had already ruled that Jesus would take your punishment and now there's no wrath left for you once you become a believer. This God is desirous for you. He's not like other gods who "create you" then leave you to walk in what he gave you. He came to get you, and then continues to pursue you.

Look at the women who are happiest, their husbands came and wooed them into marriage, then they keep wooing her 30 years down the road because their extravagantly in love with her. It's the same idea that God does not come and pursue us until we're Christians and then leave us until after we die. He continues to seek us out and come find us. He is the voice in the cloud that comes down to us, envelops us, and then speaks to our core. He tells us about Jesus the one who is the ultimate man who would die for us. This is the God of the Bible, the God of Christianity. My question for you to wrestle with is:

What/how do you expect God to act and interact with you?

5 Radical Statements - 1 Chapter: #1

I am officially back from China where I served for two years. While I was there I blogged about life and this incredible type of Love I was finding and somehow was coming out through me. Please feel free to check it out at abramsinchina.blogspot.com. I often tend to write too much, please skip over those if you dont want to read them all but dont ignore the whole blog due to some of them being long.

5 Radical Statments - 1 Chapter: #1

As I begin the freedom to write and express whatever I want again, I wanted to start with the most important thing - Jesus. As I was reading today there were 5 statements in one chapter that I think would drastically change the way we live if we wrestled with them. Luke 9:

#1 "But you, who do you say I am?" (verse 20)
Jesus poses one of the most telling statments of all. He asked who do people say I am? His discipled answered "Some say John the baptist, others say Elijah, and others say a prophet who back to life again." Good answer to the question - but then Jesus gets real. "YOU, what about YOU?" Where are we sitting? Who and what do you expect me to be?  I find this telling because many religions (not all) have a form of  a G/god they attribute worth and power to. Jesus is what makes all of them different. Many people believe in "a greater being/God/ something bigger" but the devisive part comes down to "Jesus. What about Him?" If you believe in Jesus for what He said He was, then He's the Son of God and THE ONLY way to God. If you just take Him as a teacher, philospher, good person, or prophet - then your in a completely different boat. I don't say this judgmentally, but just as a fact I want you to know - if you do not think Jesus was in fact the son of God - then you do not go to heaven. You may believe 120% in God but if you're missing Jesus, you don't really know God.

For the believers, I find this also telling and questions we need to wrestle with. "You, who do YOU say I am?" Our first, initial correct answer would be "Jesus the Son of God." My question is "really? Do you honestly 100% believe that?" Does the core of who you are know and believe that Jesus is a real man who lived on the earth during the Roman rule around the years 30AD and who lived naturally by eating, drinking, farting, teaching, getting a cold, and taking a shower and supernaturally by healing cancer, bleeding, blindness, deafness instantaneously, by shifting the whole atmosphere around him wherever he went, by commanding a storm to knock-it-out and a demon thrashing someone around to get out. If Jesus is really the Son of God, and you honestly think that's true then you're life should be 150% reflecting that or in process of it.

We have to start here because if we don't. The rest of them are just going to be nice teachings. We have to agree to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God with full power and authority by the Holy Spirit to prove Himself as God, set up God's Kingdom, and do what God was doing in Heaven, but on Earth. I challenge you to wrestle through this. Don't give a quick "oh yeah" answer but if I or anyone else could look you in the face and say "Jesus - who is He to you?", what would you honestly, from your soul, in your own words, say?

Seeking His Face

Since I'll be seeking His face in China this next year, I need to create a new blog that's less blatantly worshipful.

Please continue to read my new blog:

http://AbramsInChina.blogspot.com

Some other info:

Snail Mail:

Hua Qiao Foreign Languages Institute

ATTN: Abram Goff

No. 365-8 Jing Yue Street

Changchun, Jilin 130117

People’s Republic of China

Twitter:

AbramInChina

Skype:

abramgoff

What is it to seek Love's face?

Not just Your hands, not just Your trail, but Your very face.

I want to look into Your eyes and see the depths of your endless soul.

Galaxies were sparked from the gleam of Your eye.

Hearts stand still at the sound of Your voice.

I run at the pursuit of knowing you.

I leave it all behind, it hurts to see deep in my heart.

But engulfing my heart, is this Love that I am seeking.

Because

Love is not unmoving.

Love is not unconsuming.

Love is not comfortable.

Love is not uninvasive.

Love is not predictable.

Love is not logical

But

the face of Love

is unlike anything we have ever seen.

stops your heart, then gives it a reason to start again.

brings tears, fears, and pain to the surface - then carries the weight with his own tear.

is beautiful.

Serving Him.

Serving God

is being a missionary wherever you go.

Making his love tangible, then telling the story of how.

being a missionary

is not directly going to a third world country

and living in a hut with no water or electric.

This is the cultural idea of missionary.

Being a missionary

is living an intentional life focused on eternal things.

taking His love and message to those who don't know.

Yes, this means the arms of the broken, the poor, and the needy,

but not limited to those.

The heart broken have many faces, skin tones, accents, backgrounds, income levels, ideals,

but one thing is the same across the board.

Their heartbreak is noted in the lack of God, and they need to know about Jesus.

What if we all just focused on him a little more.

what would happen then?

If we all just gazed at him.

the world would change.

The Crest of the Wave

The tide is growing.
Far above my head.
Will you let me drown?
You won’t let me drown.
Waiting for the wave to crash down.
It’s about to crash.
Evelope me in a rush of unexpected love.
Not necessarily the pleasant love.
The invasive, self-destructive love.
It tears apart your understanding and
Everything that stops you from experiencing.
Tossed to and fro in a whirlwind of uncertainties.

I’m about to lose my grip.
I’m about to lose it all.
I’m about to question everything I knew for certain.
I’m about to be lost so much deeper than before.

I’m about to be held.
I’m about to find what it is I’ve been looking for.
I’m about to know the truth in my bones.
I’m about to be so concealed in His heart that no one will find the old me.

So.
Let it rain on me.
Let it swallow me.
Toss me to and fro because
Happier in a hurricane of you,
Than on a sun shining shore without.
I do not know where I’ll end up.
But I know that you will be there.
And by your hand I will be.
By your hands I am.

I’m taking a deep breath.
Closing my eyes.
Hold me close.
Help me be.

I got your back!

As Israel would go off to war, God told them “Do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God… will be with you.” They are possibly marching off to their death. Fighting against enemies, horses, chariots and “an army greater than yours.” –Deut 20:1-4 But as they head off he says do not be afraid. I am going with you. God’s saying, “Take a breath. I got this.” God has always said, “I got your back.” Shoot. “I got your front too, I’m leading this pack.” You need your best warriors up front. “I got your back, I’m leading the pack, don’t worry Jack it’s time to attack.”

The commander steps up in front of the army and says if you just built a house, planted a garden, got engaged, and have yet to enjoy the end result of that, go home and enjoy. If you are scared and weak with fear, head out so it doesn’t pass on.

Man. I get scared a lot. Every time I speak in front of people I get nervous and think of what could go wrong. Every time I try to follow God, I start walking then realize what he just said would happen, and I usually need a bathroom break. I worry about things al the time and am scared a lot of times. . Scared of heights, disappointing people, and sometimes of the dark (or perhaps more of the creativity in my head tells me what is in the dark or could be coming out of the dark.) I don’t really want to die. I’m ok with it, I’m looking forward to the after party, but not something I am in pursuit of. So, if the arm was made of men like me, they probably would have all left. But obviously, they didn’t because they knew that God was the supreme power. God could knock out an army with a breath. That they could walk up and yell and God could kill them all. They knew not how but that God was in complete control, and that he was leading the way, and that he had their back.

FOR THE FEARFUL: If anyone thinks I’m bold or daring, I’m not. Appreciate the thought, but not really. I freak out and am afraid, but God reminds me who he is and how invested he is and then we go. I try not to let any fears stop me from doing anything. He told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous” 3 times in the same monologue. Repetition aids learning. Courage is not the absence of ear but the presence of fear with action overcoming it. Mark Twain said “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting in spite of it.” (see- quoting someone famous always aids your case) So God is telling Joshua, “Strap up. I know your afraid but act in spite of your fears.” God knows we’re afraid. He doesn’t condemn us for it, he just calls us not to be bound by them.

You know that what he says more times than “be strong and courageous”? “Fear not.” He tells us not to be afraid 365 times in the Bible. So maybe instead of realizing our fears then acting in spite of them, we realize God in the situation first, then apply ourselves to the situation. I think many times we forget God in the situation, we forget who exactly he is and what he’s doing there. One of the most beautiful examples and the most perfect perspectives is David.

D. vs. G. – 1 Samuel 17 – Game time.
Look at David. Puny little fella. Sheppard. No formal training, and he walks up on the scene wehre thousand of soldiers are staring at this one man who is mocking THE GOD. Not "a god," but "THE GOD." "a god" means either a human with an ego or a piece of metal/rock. Talking about an actual God, THE GOD who has power to DO SOMETHING. Something out of our of our control and power. It just so happens that this REAL God is in complete control. Has complete power. Is not made fun of lightly. David walks up and says, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, who he should defy the armies of the living God.” – 1 Samuel 17:26. David shows up and says, “What? Who does this guy think he is?! He’s making fun of You, God? Oh, heck yeah, we’ll take care of him!” When people ask him what he ewas doing or worriying, David says, “Seriously? He’s making fun of God. God’s probably just itching to take care of him and all ya’ll are too scared to do anything about it. Pssh, God’s got this!” God’s waiting on someone to step up. So David walks out there (with about as little as possible), calls Goliath out on his comments, then says, this butt-whoopin is coming from the Living God you just made fun of. Today, everyone’s going to know Him. So David does not coward in fear, Goliath starts towards him and David runs toward Goliath. Slingshot. God does work. Goliath goes down. David cuts off Goliaths head.

THAT is God having things. That is the right perspective we should have. I wish I had more. That God is heavily invested in this and that he is the one in control. He’s never broken an promise. Ever. Walk in that. When he says go, rock on and roll out. Let’s go. God’s got this. He’s got your back. He’s got your front. He is the one doing the work. He is the one getting the glory. It’s about him. We get to follow Him. Let us follow hard in the wake of THE GOD.