witness

Fervent Day 11 Suffering Of One

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Romans 15:30-33
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Fervent, Day 11

I’ve never really considered myself to have suffered for Jesus.

Unfriended on social media?
Losing a real, face-to-face, personal friendship?
Labeled as the “Jesus girl” or the “church girl”?
On the receiving end of snarky comments, text messages, and emails?

Yes, to all of these.

Beaten for proclaiming Christ?
The lives of my children threatened for my refusal to renounce Jesus?
Imprisoned for relentlessly sharing the gospel?

Never, not once. Not even a hint.

Occasionally, I will remember to pray for the “persecuted church,” even pray fervently with tears and renewed vigor, but I shamefacedly admit to generally feeling fairly disconnected from “them.”

Then, one summer I read a book that marked me for life.
Some things you simply cannot un-read.

Nik Ripken, using a pseudonym to protect his identity and countless other believers whose stories he tells, shared many unforgettable accounts in his book The Insanity of God. Years later, Stoyan’s testimony continues to speak volumes to me.

Stoyan had been imprisoned for his faith, and as Nik thanked him for sharing his story, Stoyan made a remarkable statement:
“I thank God and I take great joy in knowing that I was suffering in prison in my country,
so that you, Nik, could be free to share Jesus in Kentucky.”

My heart plummeted as I read his words, and simultaneously put up defenses.
How could Stoyan consider it a trade-off for himself to be chained so that I can be free?

We aren’t connected!
Me, in midwestern United States, free to drink Starbucks, parade around Target at my leisure, share Jesus when, or if, I want, walk in my church doors whenever I please (or don’t please) and belt praise music whenever I feel (or don’t feel) the urge.
Stoyan and I are not connected.
How could we be so intertwined that I should feel a debt to him and his persecution?

A debt so heavy I should feel all the more urged to share Jesus, as if on his behalf?

My response was similar to Nik’s…
“Those words pierced my soul. I looked Stoyan straight in the eyes. ‘Oh, no!’ I protested. ‘No! You are not going to do that! You are NOT going to put that on me. That is a debt so large that I can never repay you!”

I pray Stoyan’s response will mark your heart like it has mine.

“Stoyan stared right back at me and said, ‘Son, that’s the debt of the cross!’
He leaned forward and poked me in the chest with his finger as he continued,
‘Don’t you steal my joy! I took great joy that I was suffering in my country,
so that you could be free to witness in your country.’

Then he raised his voice in a prophet-like challenge that I knew would live with me forever: ‘Don’t ever give up in freedom what we would never give up in persecution! That is our witness to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!””

“Don’t ever give up in freedom what we would never give up in persecution.”

Sisters, I confess I have done exactly this.
I have indeed “given up” sharing the hope I and Stoyan both possess because, well, I have other things to do, you know? All the Target runs, the coffee, the groceries, the running of kids to all the places, the laundry, oh please the laundry…
Besides, what if I push someone away in my passion to share Jesus?
What if I offend someone?
What if they ask me a question I can’t answer?

When I am afraid of “awkward”. . .
I plead for the Holy Spirit to remind me of Stoyan’s call to
“never give up (my witness of Jesus) in freedom what he wouldn’t give up in persecution.”

The apostle Paul was familiar with persecution.
He was also familiar with the comforts of life.
He knew hunger, and he had lived in plenty.

He knew years of education and finery, and had also felt the cuts of whips, the weight of rocks as he was stoned, and emotional distress accompanying oppression.

His prayers on suffering in the church have little to do with being removed from it, but rather, persistence to share Jesus in suffering, together with other believers.

“… brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, (…) and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people…”
(2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, emphasis mine)

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints…” (Romans 15:30-31, emphasis mine)

Stoyan, Paul, Nik, myself, and you, dear sister Christ-follower, wherever you are living in the world, are all connected.

There is no “persecuted church” and “free church.”
We.
Are.
Church.
Together in One Body, Christ’s.

Every single believer carries the weight of the same gospel, purchased by the same blood, from the same God and Savior of us all. May we cease to be guilty of “giving up in freedom what our brothers and sisters refuse to give up in persecution.”

Stoyan is right to expect the free-by-law believers, to boldly share Jesus, precisely because he is suffering for the same gospel.

We are bound together.
All suffering together.
All preaching Christ together.
All interceding for one another together.

Unity is the heart of Paul’s laborious prayers and the thread woven through every single letter he penned. Because we are one, may we live, and preach, and suffer as one.

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Tabernacle Day 14 Heart Work: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Heart work!

The Questions

1) Who is the “we” in this passage?  
 
2) What is John describing in verses 1-4?  

3) What comparison does John make in verses 5-10?

4) What do we learn about our choices in this passage?

1 John 1:1-10

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Original Intent

1) Who is the “we” in this passage?
From this passage alone, we do not get any indication about who the exact recipients of this letter were or where they were located. Based on the contents of the letter, we know that John is speaking to believers that he knows very well because of the way he addresses them. (1 John 2:1) We also know there are issues of false teaching from within the Christian community plaguing this congregation. (1 John 2:18-19) 

2) What is John describing in verses 1-4?
John is telling his readers he has had first hand knowledge of Jesus. He saw Him, he touched Him, and he is now testifying about what he experienced. He is an eye witness of the life of Jesus and now professes these real-life truths so that others may come to know Him and fellowship in the body. (1 John 1:3) 

3) What comparison does John make in verses 5-10?
John uses the comparison of light and dark. This is a similar analogy he makes in the Gospel of John. In his comparison, God is light and the opposite of light is darkness, which is separation from God or that which stands in opposition to God.  

4) What do we learn about our choices in this passage?
John makes it very clear to the reader we have choice in the matter of light and dark. He says we choose to walk in the light or we choose to walk in the dark. If we choose light, “we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” If we choose darkness, we have no truth in us and we are liars. This is, according to John, the most simple form of the gospel, we either follow in light or we walk in darkness.  

Everyday Application

1) Who is the “we” in this passage? 
The exact audience of this passage is not known but as we read this today, the words of John are still just as true, therefore, John’s words serve as a wake-up call for all believers. When we witness and experience God’s greatness and walk in His light, we have fellowship with one another and put Him on display. The “we” in this passage could be defined as every person who aligns themselves with Christ.  

2) What is John describing in verses 1-4? 
John says in sharing His life-experience with Christ, his joy is made complete by watching others share in the same faith. We may not have seen Christ on this Earth, but we see His power every day and have opportunities to testify about the eternal life found in Him. John told his story, which is exactly what God is asking of us, to tell our story- His story- in our life. If you are interested in sharing that story of His transformation, consider encouraging other women by writing it out and letting God use it to reach others! Contact Dee at facesofgrace@gracefullytruthful.com for more info!  

3) What comparison does John make in verses 5-10?
We recognize light and dark. It is obvious when we walk into a dark house or a dark room just how overwhelming that darkness can be. Darkness plays tricks on our mind about what and who is in the room. When we can’t see the “truth” of the room, navigating through it is extremely difficult. One flip of a switch and the room illuminates, the truth of the what and who is in the room becomes obvious. John uses this light and dark illustration to make clear how God illuminates the dark spots of our heart; where God is, darkness cannot exist. When we confess our darkness before Him, the light floods just as if a switch had been flipped. “I once was blind, but now I see.” God’s truth, His light, His forgiveness, all bring fellowship and restoration to the hurting, dark spots of our life.  

4) What do we learn about our choices in this passage?
As a believer, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must daily choose light. The shame of an un-righteous past, the brokenness of relationships, or the lure of addiction are no match for the power of God in our life. There is no darkness and no sin so great that God’s light cannot overcome. Choosing to put the darkness of our life before Him once and for all allow us to be transformed a little bit more into His perfect, beautiful likeness as we are refined by His truth. Darkness is pervasive, it is also a liar. It comes from the Father of Lies who stands in opposition to God and wants darkness to stay. Yet, God is faithful, even in our darkness, to be a beacon of light leading us into eternal relationship with Him.  

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Our Current Study Theme!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Chase Day 3 Say Yes

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:18-20
Philippians 4:13
Jonah 1:1-3

Can I tell you a secret?

Let me warn you, sister, it’s not pretty.
But it’s real.
And I have a sneaking suspicion a few of you might share this particular secret.

Deep breath.

I’ve spent most of my walk with Jesus terrified.
Terrified of sharing Him with those who may not know Him.
Terrified that my lack of knowledge will keep me from adequately explaining or defending the gospel.
Terrified to make a spectacle of myself. Wearing sandwich boards and yelling from street corners isn’t for me . . . and surely, that’s what evangelism means, right?
Terrified of the judgement of others. “You’re too quiet,” I’ve been told. “Jesus can’t work through quiet, shy people.” I’ve been afraid that my words (or lack of the right ones) might even push someone away from Him.

My fears led me to believe that sharing Jesus was for other people.
Bible scholars.
Those with more courage.
Those with better words.

But His Word insists that the Great Commission isn’t just for other people.
It’s for me.

But the fear. It paralyzed me.
You too?

We’re not alone. If we take a peek at Jonah, we find a guy who really, REALLY gets it.

Most of us know how the story begins: God sends Jonah on a mission to deliver His word to the people of Nineveh.
No big deal, right?

Here’s where it gets interesting: Nineveh was a chief city of the Assyrians. Now the Assyrians were some seriously. bad. guys. If there was a way to live cruelly, immorally, and with basest savagery, the Assyrians perfected it. And if you were unlucky enough to find yourself in battle against them, you’d better hope you died in the fighting. I’m gonna’ do those of you like me, with an active imagination, a solid and spare you the graphic details; suffice it to say the Assyrians turned humiliation, torture, and death of their enemies into an art form.

With that in mind, let’s imagine:

“Hey, buddy,” God says, settling on the ground next to Jonah. “I have a job for you. Those Ninevites . . . yikes. I need you to head over there and tell them that they’re doing it all wrong. There are gonna’ be serious consequences unless they make big changes.”

Jonah blinks a few times, swallows, and rises to his feet as nonchalantly as possible. “Yeah, um, I’ll get right on that,” he mumbles, avoiding eye contact.

And then he takes off in the opposite direction, as fast as his sandals, and his terror, can carry him.

God watches Jonah disappear into the distance. “Kiddo,” He whispers to His fleeing child, “You can’t outrun my love. I’ll be with you always. We can do this.”

Days pass. Huddled in a corner on the lower deck of a boat in the center of an epic storm, Jonah shrinks from the enraged stares of the ship’s crewmen. “It’s . . .” he licks his dry lips and tries again. “It’s me. The storm is because of me. I’m running from God.”

Jonah hangs his head.
The death he sought to escape is upon him, what’s somehow worse is the ache in his gut from ignoring God’s call.

Resting a hand on Jonah’s slumped shoulder,
God leans in.
“I’m here, child. You can’t outrun my love. I’m with you always. We can do this.”

A few more hours find Jonah floating on partially-digested fish food, dodging jets of stomach acid, and trying to breathe through his mouth. Bobbing alongside him, God lifts a finger to Jonah’s chin, gently tips Jonah’s face up to meet His gaze. “I’m here, my precious one. You can’t outrun my love. I’m with you always. We can do this.”

And this time, His words break something inside of Jonah. Hope begins to build. Maybe he can carry out God’s purpose for him, after all. Maybe he isn’t wise enough, or brave enough, or enough of a wordsmith.
Maybe Jonah isn’t enough.

But God is!

So Jonah says yes.

What about us, sisters?

Jonah had every valid reason to fear the Assyrians.
The fears silencing us as first-worlders may look different from Jonah’s, but are no less real.
The fear of judgement.
The fear of failure, or disappointment.
The fear of not being wise enough, or brave enough, or well-spoken enough.
Of not being enough.

But God is enough.

And the same promise He made to Jonah, He has already made to us!
 “I’m here, my sweet girl. You can’t outrun my love. I am with you always. We can do this.”

A few years ago, I learned a new way to think about evangelism:
Share Jesus, generously and always.*
Those words broke something inside of me.
Hope began to build.
Maybe I could carry out God’s purposes for me, after all.

He’s not asking me to defend the gospel with academic precision.
He’s not asking me to make a spectacle of myself, or drag unwilling bystanders into repentance.
He’s not asking me to have exactly the right words, or change my quiet personality.
He’s not asking me to be enough.

He IS asking me to believe that He is enough,
and to say yes.

When I’m chatting with another mom and she shares the hard things she’s facing, instead of trotting out my usual “I’ll be thinking of you,” He might ask me to pray for her, right then and there.

When a friend loses a family member, instead of posting the requisite “Let me know if I can help” and then forgetting about it, He might nudge me to call her on the way to the grocery store and ask what I can grab for her.

When I encounter someone who looks or sounds or thinks differently than me, He might remind me to look her in the eye, smile, and offer a kind word or a hug.

And maybe, when I encounter a heart-broken mama, where I too have been heartbroken, I can tell her that I know how she feels, because I’ve felt that way too. And then I can tell her about my very sure and certain hope!
Because that’s generous.
That’s being always ready.
That’s biblical evangelism.

Say yes with me, Sisters!

*Concept taken from 3DM.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Flourishing Day 10
Guarding The Gospel

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Timothy 1
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
John 14:25-27

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame
the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
for God gave us a spirit, not of fear,
but of power and love and self-control.” verses 6-7

Every time I see a ‘but’ written in Scripture, I tend to lean in a little closer. When a ‘but’ is referenced, look for the contrast so we can uncover more depth in the truth God is revealing to us.

Take this verse for example. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear and timidity, BUT of power, love, and self-discipline. The interjection shows us that the first part of the verse isn’t the absolute truth (no matter how we might feel sometimes); rather what God has given us is solid!

I’ve found myself reciting that verse quite frequently the last few months as I’ve been walking through a difficult season in my marriage. My husband and I have had some very hard, raw, and vulnerable conversations with one another and that is only by the grace of God. I’m not sure we would be here today if it weren’t for stepping out in His spirit and not holding onto the fear that could cripple our growth individually, and as a couple.

Memorizing Scripture to combat the enemy when he tries to weave his way into my life has been vital! I have verses taped all over my apartment, and it has made such a difference as I’ve been able to guard the truth in my heart, meditate on it, and then speak it aloud!
Never forget the power that is unleashed
when you speak things out of the dark into light.

Being afraid of something is a struggle we all face at various points in our lives. Whether it’s infertility, financial strain, job loss or failure, dying, marital strain, not being accepted into college, you name it, we’ve all had them. Those places in our hearts that are prone to fear is where the enemy tries to attack first, which is why we must learn to guard the truth that we’ve been given!

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 
who saved us and called us to a holy calling,
not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace,
which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. verses 8-10

As a Christian, it can be really intimidating to tell others about the Good News. I was never ashamed of the Gospel per say, but I was nervous to share with my friends as I didn’t know what their response was going to be. It wasn’t cool to be a Christian growing up, so my “church life” and my “friend life” were very different.

With that being said, I do remember the first time I shared the Gospel message with someone as it completely changed my life forever. I was in Uganda, speaking through a local translator. I had no idea if what I was saying was translating well, but at the end of the conversation the sweet lady was crying, I was crying, and she desperately wanted Jesus in her heart.

I knew from that moment on,
I wasn’t going to stop telling those I came in contact with about the Gospel.

It was my job, as a daughter of the Most High God to guard the Gospel, and to walk forward in the power and authority that He has given His children.

You see, God broke, shattered, completely destroyed, the power of death by His sacrifice and lit the pathway to life with Him for all of eternity through the Good News. And He has appointed us go and share, not hide behind our own shame and fear.

It should be our goal to get everyone we know, and then some, with us to Heaven.

“While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse,
deceiving and being deceived. But as for you,
continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it.” verses 13-14

So, my sweet sister. may I urge you to cling tightly to His truth?
Guard it with all your might and let His truth wash over you,
breaking you free from lies and fears!
“God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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