Relating to the Inner Circle Twelve

I don't know about you, but I think there is some fun to being "in the know". Being a part of the inner circle that knows what a leader is truly thinking and what is going to be said before it's even spoken. To be part of that group can be thrilling but, as we see in the scriptures, it can also be challenging.

Jesus had such a group. We call them the apostles, or disciples. There were twelve of them... Simon Peter, John, James, Philip, Judas son of James (also called Thaddaeus), Judas Iscariot, Andrew, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot. Luke 6:12-16 tells us there were more disciples that followed Jesus, but it was the twelve men listed who are called apostles in that chapter.

I'm sure these men felt excited to be chosen by this miracle-performing, authority-speaking/teaching rabbi. Little did they know at the time, being chosen meant they would face challenges and deeper lessons than the masses of followers.

To start with, the only thing these men had in common was their interest in following and learning from Jesus. Few were like minded, or of the same background. I like to think Jesus chose men who might not like each other so that they could learn to be of one mind to glorify the Messiah, to praise God Almighty for the things He was doing. (Romans 15:5-6) As well as, to know others who didn't think like them but could still be called to preach about the Holy One of God.

It's great to see how the Lord loves variety. These men held traits that can still be seen in mankind today. Twelve years ago, (Has it really been that long?) I wrote a series on the disciples to guide us in identifying with one or more of them.  I'm updating those posts and re-publishing them again. One each week. We should be able to find a place among the inner twelve.

What's so cool in our present day walk with Jesus is that He rose from the dead. 

He lives within all those who accept His gift of salvation. Jeremiah 33:3 still applies to us...ask Him and He will tell of great and mighty things... in other words, inner circle knowledge. This means all believers today can be in the know.

A Word For Today's Craziness

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Waiting Is Not Easy

In the midst of our modern day troubling times, I've heard several prophecies that promise things will turn around. Up to now, many have not been fulfilled. It’s been months and years. While the prophets can be trusted, I found myself growing frustrated over the slowness of the completion of the prophecy ... even to the point of wondering if the prophet heard correctly. Then the Lord brought to my mind David and Saul.

Saul screwed up to the point that God no longer saw him as worthy to be king over His nation. So, He had Samuel anoint David to be king. There were no large crowds to witness this. Only family and the prophet were there. In researching the time it took from the anointing to him actually being crowned and acknowledged by the people as their king, I discovered something.

I have always thought of David fighting Goliath as a young teenager who just happened to arrive at the right time with the right heart to take down the enemy’s key man. While some of this is true, there is, as in any good story, background that is key to the success of what we read.

David kills Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. But if we go back to 1 Samuel 16, we see that's when Samuel anoints David as king. In God’s eyes, David is the new king. Yes, Saul is still in charge and recognized by the people as king, but when David faces off with Goliath he is the anointed leader of his nation. As king, he kills the giant who represents the men daring enough to come against God’s chosen people.

Not only that, but he represents the tribe of Judah. The battle being fought is on the land of Judah. He is fighting to regain his homeland. He is righting a wrong. Even though, the people surrounding him saw him as a foolish youth, he was their yet-to-be-acknowledged leader … the “God-chosen” leader.

I have to wonder what went through David’s mind. He knew he had been anointed, his brothers knew it, but no one acknowledged it. Was it real? How long did he have to wait to be the real king? Even still, he didn’t let this stop him from fighting to regain something that was his nation’s to begin with. And, after his victory over Goliath there were more battles to be won. We actually don’t see David crowned king until 2 Samuel 2, even then it’s only over the people of Judah. Finally in 2 Samuel 5 the anointing of the Lord is fulfilled and David is crowned king over all of Israel. In other words, it took years.

When a word from the Lord is spoken, I tend to think it will happen right away. But, as with David it doesn’t always happen in that manner. Recently, the Lord told me - “Don’t grow weary in the waiting.” So, in my waiting, I will remember that the spoken word of the Lord will come to pass. He will fulfill it. I will continue to pray and to hope in the promise of His Word. Keeping in mind, “There is always hope.”

Here Comes the Next Book.

 

The Visitor Series

The next book in the visitor Series is mine.

Check it out -

The Visitor Sees A Ghost 

 

To see the book on Amazon click here.

Harrowing Times

I don’t have to go into details or examples of how weird things have been lately. Strange unheard of occurrences happening — seems like everyday, and intensifying. What gives with all that? I mean is it a God thing? Or is it the result of weather phenomenons caused by geo-engineers?

I hope you hear me out to the end. What I’m about to say is meant to be an encouragement. I hope my words can be gleaned in that way. I want to help us all be prepared. It’s not easy to say these things but I don’t want any of you to fall through the cracks of fear and worry.

If what I’m hearing is spot on, things - some caused by man and some by God - will get worse for a short while before it improves. This can be disheartening. 

For those of us who know Jesus we should take all our fears, laments and concerns to Him. He has each of us in His hands. No matter how hard it is to believe He does care or will turn things around, we must trust Him.
 

Jesus is our Heavenly Avenger who has the Father’s plan and the final word.

His plan is to bring our focus back to Him and make things better. In my experience, in order to improve one area of my life, God had to remove something else. Of course, I didn’t even realize that an adjustment was necessary.
 

I was recently reminded about the Israelites in Joshua 5:2-9. After they crossed over the Jordan River, they’re told there’s a little thing the elders neglected to do.
 

Circumcision.
 

As a result all the men had to endure the painful act of removing their foreskin in order to be right before God.
 

We have seen and heard of so much loss, but it is not done yet. There is still more to come. The lives we see lost are not lost to God. They have only shifted from the earthly realm to the eternal one. Our loss is eternity’s gain. So as we see more unusual phenomenons and deal with unfolding truths, let’s lean on Jesus through prayer and the reading of His Word. Let’s agree with Him that His plan will be victorious. Let’s be prepared for a revival to hit our land, as well as other nations of the world.
 

These are the days that God is restoring his church to be a light to the nations. Keep your eyes on him. Don’t take your eyes off Jesus. In fact, by focusing on the Lord we can show those around us who Jesus is and what The Almighty can do.

 

Jesus is our defender, our shepherd, our restorer, our hope who will never leave us. (Hebrews 3:6; 13:5-6 ; Psalm 33:20) He’s got this.

 

As an end note: I recently heard that multiple children being rescued from the earthquake rubble speak about a man in white staying with them, feeding them, and playing with them. Like I say, there's always hope.

Crazy Times

As we approach Christmas I think back to the era when Jesus came as a baby. Times were rough. I know the first believers thought that He would make life better, but He didn't. Then when Jesus ascended things got worse. Those who embraced His teachings were threatened, arrested, beaten, or stoned to death. In the midst of these threats I see something that speaks to me - they had backbone and stood up to the pressures of society. Even threats of death did not stop them from spreading the message of Jesus. 

Looking at today and all the craziness - truth being smothered in favor of lies, wars and rumors of war, mysterious weather occurrences - I feel we are living in similar days.

Does this mean Jesus will be returning as the Bible prophecies tell us? 

That would be cool. To be taken away from all this mess. 

But what about those who don't know about God?

Some say things are going to get worse. Others say that God is going to fire up a world-wide revival so that those who don't know Him will find about Jesus. I wonder... could both of these theories be right? What if things get worse while God's power ignites a revival across the nations? 

No one will be able to sit idly by and watch the two sides compete. We will be drawn into the path of revival or settling for the norms of society.

So, a question arises for each of us... are we like the early followers of Jesus? Do we have a backbone? Do we have the gumption to keep our eyes on Jesus so that the wrong thinking of the world does not cause us to back down?

I will confess, in my earlier years I did not always have a backbone and would shift my position based on the arguments given. Presently, my focus has been on Jesus and maintaining a backbone has become easier.

No matter what the days ahead may bring I know God will use it to get His plan accomplished. Being prepared to give an answer... to stand up for Jesus... that's our way of being prepared to receive the Messiah when He returns. (Matthew 25:1-13) Remember - with Jesus - there is always hope.