Ephesus!
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, In today’s reading, you will find Paul arriving in Ephesus. Ephesus was a remarkable and important city in Paul’s world. But the people of Ephesus needed My power and My grace. In Paul’s time, Ephesus was one of the four largest cities in the Mediterranean region, which were Rome, Ephesus, Antioch of Syria, and Alexandria in Egypt. Along with Jerusalem (the center of Judaism), Luke emphasized the first three of these cities as he wrote the book of Acts. Ephesus was a large, multi-cultural, busy city, a major banking center, a town with a harbor and on major trade routes, and a city full of crime. Ephesus was rampant with sexual perversion. It was deeply impacted by a fascination with all sorts of superstitions, demonic religions, black magic, and mystery cults. You can probably imagine similar cities in your day. Ephesus was a place of financial power with an interest in spiritual power. What you see in Luke’s account is reflected in Paul’s words to these same believers several years later: Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12) Luke carefully frames Paul’s visit to Ephesus with an emphasis on the Holy Spirit. At the beginning, he records Paul’s asking: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” At the end, Luke wrote: The Holy Spirit confirmed that he should first travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then return to Jerusalem. Luke’s account makes clear what Paul emphasized while he was in Ephesus. While there are many demonic powers and religions that touch your world, there is only one true and living God. That true and living God is known as YAHWEH — YHWH in Hebrew — Father, Son, and Spirit. We are above all other spiritual powers and are directly involved in the lives of all those who belong to Us. We live in them through the presence of the Holy Spirit Who is in them and guides them. I revealed YHWH through My time on earth. You can find life in YHWH through Me. No person and not even another spirit can control the power of YHWH. In the middle of Luke’s account, he showed us an example of the world of the occult and demonic spirits. I love the way Luke described an encounter with an evil spirit and finished with this summary: Everyone was shocked and realized that the name of Jesus was indeed powerful and praiseworthy. … Again, word spread, and the message of the Lord overcame resistance and spread powerfully. Paul will have more interaction with the people and the evil spiritual powers in Ephesus on a return trip to Ephesus and will also run into problems caused by people from Ephesus in a later trip to Jerusalem. For now, you just need to realize that a spiritual battle for the eternal destinies of the people of Ephesus and Asia Minor had begun in earnest. Ephesus was a place that would oppose Me with evil spiritual power and evil determination. Nevertheless, My messengers were not afraid to speak the truth of the Father’s grace, My power, and the Holy Spirit’s guiding care in this place that desperately needed it. Verses to Live All who belong to the Father and who are My true disciples are filled, empowered, and led by the Holy Spirit. You will need this power as you face the times in which you now live. But remember, “[T]he Spirit Who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1 John 4:4 NLT). These words were written by John years later to Christians in Asia Minor where Ephesus was located! Paul would say it this way in his letter to the Ephesians: All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3 NLT) So as you read, recognize you are entering the world of spiritual warfare; but don’t be afraid! I have overcome! While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul’s overland journey brought him back to Ephesus. He encountered a group of about a dozen disciples there. Paul: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers? John’s Disciples: We’ve never heard about the Holy Spirit. Paul: Well then, what kind of ceremonial washing through baptism did you receive? John’s Disciples: We received the ritual cleansing of baptism that John taught. Paul: John taught the truth — that people should be baptized with renewed thinking and turn toward God. But he also taught that the people should believe in the One Whose way he was preparing, that is, Jesus the Anointed. As soon as they heard this, they were baptized, this time in the name of our Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same way the original disciples experienced at Pentecost: they spoke in tongues and prophesied. For three months, Paul continued his standard practice: he went week by week to the synagogue, speaking with great confidence, arguing with great persuasiveness, proclaiming the kingdom of God. Once again, some members of the synagogue refused to believe and insulted the Way publicly before the whole synagogue community. Paul withdrew and took those with him who had become disciples. For the next two years, he used the public lecture hall of Tyrannus, presenting the Word of the Lord every day, debating with all who would come. As a result, everyone in the region, whether Jews or Greeks, heard the message. Meanwhile, God did
Interconnected!
Note from Jesus Dear Follower, I challenged My apostles before My ascension to make faith in Me a worldwide movement of grace and discipleship offered to all people (Matthew 28:18-20). They were to begin where they were. They were to share grace with their people and reach their region. Then they were to impact the world with My good news and a life of discipleship (Acts 1:8). This sharing is what the apostles did in Jerusalem and Judea in the early days of My church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Then with the martyrdom of Stephen, some of My followers were scattered out from Jerusalem and Judea and went into Samaria and even to more-Gentile regions (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 11:19-21). On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas followed a similar pattern in each city by teaching first in Jewish synagogues and then also going to Gentiles (Acts 13:1-8; Acts 13:44-46). In today’s verses, you read about the interconnectedness of the ancient world. You can see how My early disciples spread the word, strengthened churches, and grew My movement. Paul, Peter, and Barnabas were great missionaries, disciple-makers, and church planters. Many other people also were instrumental in helping to grow the church. In today’s verses, you meet Aquila and his wife Priscilla (also sometimes called Prisca). They were a great team. They were devoted to bringing people to faith in Me. They were upper middle-class merchants who took the gospel with them wherever they went in their business travels. They opened their homes as the places for My disciples to meet in three cities — Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome (Acts 18:1-3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19; Romans 16:3). You also meet Apollos, who traveled widely and was a great public speaker and a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures — the Law, Writings, and Prophets. Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos are examples of the many people throughout the ages who have shared My story of grace as they traveled. For each of them, his or her job was a calling. It was a way to spread My message to all with whom they came in contact. They sought out groups of believers and strengthened them. They shared news of what was happening with My disciples in other places in the world. They led others to follow Me. They offered their time and their homes for believers to meet, eat, and worship together. Their faith was not just something they had in their heads or believed in their hearts, but it permeated every aspect of their lives. In today’s verses, you will notice that Paul travels through significant portions of the northern and northeastern Mediterranean region. He goes through Greece, Macedonia, the Roman province of Asia, Galatia, Syria, and Judea. He goes back and strengthens struggling churches. He encourages new believers. He confirms leaders in the churches he had previously planted. He carries news about what is happening in My family in other parts of the world. However, Paul was not alone in doing these things. Others are not named in the Bible but were like Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos. Through the efforts of all of these disciples, the good news about Me spread all over the world. I used the folks you know well, like Paul, Peter, and Barnabas. I also used those you know less well, like Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos, and some folks not mentioned by name. What I began with a small group in Galilee has impacted the whole world. You are testimony that this process didn’t end in the first century. This process is still effective. This process is still part of My plan! So, based on what you read today, I want to place a few things on your heart. First, don’t be afraid to travel and go to new places in the world. Yes, travel can be tiring and sometimes even dangerous. However, you are My disciple. You are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. Your mission field is as close as your next door neighbor and as far away as someone from another culture on the other side of your world. Second, when you travel remember that you go as My representative. Whether your travel is for vacation, business, pleasure, or intentional mission, you are My messenger. No matter who pays for your travel, you are sent by Me, to represent Me, and to share My grace! Third, use your travel as a time to connect to other believers. Do not take a vacation from fellowship and worship. Bring a word of grace from the people with whom you normally fellowship. Give the believers you meet encouragement. Offer a blessing in My name to their church family and their worship gathering, no matter how large or small. Enjoy the blessing of being family with people you don’t yet know, but with whom you will share eternity! Fourth, as you travel, I will place people in your path who are seeking to find what you have found in Me. If you listen to hear the hearts of these people you meet, the Spirit will help you and empower you. One of the benefits of your going to other places is to be available to these people. Some you meet will be asking to find hope, seeking to discover Me, and knocking on the door of heaven needing grace (Matthew 7:7-8). Fifth, when you go, be respectful of those you meet. They know their culture and how to reach people in their culture better than you do. But, if you find yourself compelled to correct something, make sure you do it tenderly and privately after you have invested yourself in their family of faith and the community they are trying to reach. Priscilla and Aquila are great examples of this principle, especially in how they corrected Apollos: “They took him aside and in private explained the way of God to him more accurately and fully.” Your life is more interconnected to the
Dealing with Idlers
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, Some messages of truth are hard to hear. Nevertheless, a family has to have expectations of family members if it is going to function productively and impact the community around it positively. The way one “bad apple” behaves can destroy the influence of the whole family and can bring disorder and frustration to the whole family. Today’s message is a hard message. Paul and the church in Thessalonica were facing a real problem. The group of disciples in Thessalonica had some folks who were “idler busy-bodies” — folks who didn’t work and went around sticking their noses into everyone else’s business telling these productive folks how to live their lives. The idlers’ reputations were rubbing off on the whole body of believers. The result was that the church was becoming more and more disrespected in the community. So Paul sent some instructions to the Thessalonians about how to discipline these idlers, the purpose behind this discipline, and the principles upon which the discipline was built. Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians to discipline these “idler busy-bodies” by warning those who were lazy and who were depending on the church to take care of them. If they didn’t change their lazy ways, the church family was to “withdraw” from active fellowship and support of the idlers. There should be no more help for folks too lazy to work. Paul reminded the Thessalonian disciples of the purpose of this discipline. The goal was to restore these brothers and sisters to fruitful lives of service. This discipline was to be done with an attitude of helping a family member, not treating this idler as an enemy. Paul also helped the Thessalonian believers recall his own teaching and example when he was with them. He had purposefully worked hard when he was among them to set an example so they could see what it looked like to work hard and not depend on others for support. For Paul, the church family needed to have a reputation in the community as good, decent, hard-working folks: people who “never grow tired of doing good”! Verses to Live I know that you sometimes struggle with what to do when people do not seem “to get it” — that is, when they do not realize that they are not going to change their circumstances until they change their behaviors. This complacency is especially true of folks who can work but learn to grow dependent upon support from the church family and become lazy in their own lives. I hope you will read carefully as you see Paul lay down some great principles for you to follow as you try to deal with these kinds of situations. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 NLT) For the sake of the church, brothers and sisters, we insist in the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed that you withdraw from any brother or sister who is out of order and unwilling to work, who is straying from the line of teaching we passed on to all of you. You know how essential it is to imitate us in the way we live life. We were never undisciplined nor did we take charity from anyone while we were with you. Instead, you saw how we worked very hard day and night so we wouldn’t be a burden to even one person in the community. We had the right to depend on your help and hospitality, as you know; but we wanted to give you a model you could follow, to lay a path of footprints for you to walk in. This is exactly why, while with you, we commanded you: “Anyone not willing to work shouldn’t get to eat!” You see, we are hearing that some folks in the community are out of step with our teaching; they are idle, not working, but really busy doing nothing — and yet still expect to be fed! If this is you or someone else in the community, we insist and urge you in the Lord Jesus the Anointed that you go to work quietly, earn your keep, put food on your own table, and supply your own necessities. And to the rest of you, brothers and sisters, never grow tired of doing good. If someone disregards the instructions of this letter, make a note of who it is and don’t have anything to do with that person so that this one may be shamed. Don’t consider someone like this an enemy (he is an enemy only to himself) but warn him as if you were redirecting your own brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) Response in Prayer Righteous Father, I want to be a compassionate person who helps those in need and yet does not enable those who are lazy. Please give me wisdom and grace to deal with these kinds of situations that I find in my world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Stand Firm
Note from Jesus Dear Believer, Paul was confident that he taught the truth I wanted the Thessalonians to know. He claimed the authority of an apostle, an emissary sent by Me, yet he ministered with the loving touch of a tender parent (1 Thessalonians 2:4-12) and a protective shepherd. Paul was aware that there were many who would steer these new disciples astray with false teaching or use persecution to try to intimidate these new believers so that they would abandon their faith. The Thessalonians faced both of these forms of the evil one’s opposition to their faith, yet there were still faithful disciples there! Paul lived in the same world as these disciples did. He also faced bitter opposition from false teachers, and he endured persecution from opponents to My message. So while he was confident in his authority as an apostle and teacher, he also recognized his own need for the prayer support of these new believers. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians a second time, the intensity of every issue was turned up a notch or two compared to when he wrote his first letter to them. Persecution was worse. False teaching was more apparent. Laziness and idleness among believers were worse. Paul’s authority and motives were more deeply questioned. Questions about My coming in glory still remained. But Paul carried his loving and supportive tone throughout his second letter. His confidence was in Our — Father, Son, and Spirit’s — work among these new believers. Paul was quick to affirm the good things these new disciples were doing even as he acknowledged the difficult things they were facing and the hurtful things they had done. Underneath Paul’s message, he pointed to three things he trusted: His confidence in the message he preached and taught: “[A]ll you need to do now is stand firm and hold tight to the line of teachings we have passed on to you, whether in person or in a letter.” His confidence in the Father’s work: “[T]he Lord is true to His promises; He will hold you up and guard you against the evil one. We do not doubt the Lord‘s intentions for you…” His confidence in these new believers: “[W]e are confident that you are carrying out, and will continue to carry out, the commands we are sending your way.” As you look at the challenges to faith in your time, what is the basis of your confidence? How are you going to help encourage the faith of those new disciples around you and those whose faith is weak or beginning to fail? I want you to do more than see what Paul did to bless these new disciples; I want you to be looking for new or struggling disciples to encourage and bless! Verses to Live Feel the love and the longing Paul has for these new believers as he writes them. Paul fills this letter with words of assurance, challenge, comfort, and confidence. We cannot help but thank God for you at all times, because from the beginning He handpicked you for salvation through the Spirit’s sanctifying work and your belief in the truth. He called you to this when we shared our good news with you. Now you can take part in the glory of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King. So, brothers and sisters, all you need to do now is stand firm and hold tight to the line of teachings we have passed on to you, whether in person or in a letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15) Brothers and sisters, having shared all this, let me ask you to pray for us. Pray that this message of the Lord will spread quickly and receive the praise and respect it deserves from others as it has with you. Pray also that we would all be rescued from the snares of harmful, wicked people — after all, not all people are believing. Still, the Lord is true to His promises; He will hold you up and guard you against the evil one. We do not doubt the Lord’s intentions for you; we are confident that you are carrying out, and will continue to carry out, the commands we are sending your way. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-4) Response in Prayer Father, I am touched by Paul’s way of speaking to these new believers. I am reminded of several new believers that I need to encourage and support as they seek to grow in Jesus. Open my eyes to see new or struggling believers You want me to encourage and bless. Spirit, please give me the right attitude and the right words and demeanor to help them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Prayer Power Unleashed
Note from Jesus Dear Precious Child of the Father, Today I want you to read the prayers of Paul for the new Christians in Thessalonica. Frequently your scholars break each of these letters into two parts: Paul’s love for and relationship with My Thessalonian disciples (1 Thessalonians chapters 1-3; 2 Thessalonians chapter 1). Paul’s practical teaching about morality to new Thessalonian Christians (1 Thessalonians chapters 4-5; 2 Thessalonians chapters 2-3). However, Paul’s letters to these Thessalonians are woven together around his prayers for them — the prayers in the Verses to Live section below. These prayers were central to his message just as prayer was essential in Paul’s ministry. Prayer held a place of central importance in the great apostle’s life, especially his ministry through his letters to the Thessalonians. Everything Paul said, did, and taught was surrounded and incubated in prayer. Paul was remarkable in so many ways. He was My messenger, especially to the Gentiles. He was a church planter among the nations in various cultures. In addition to these great attributes, Paul was extremely dedicated to prayer. To their own peril, some church leaders in every age have ignored the power of intercessory prayer. They have forgotten to pray with thanksgiving for beloved disciples in whom I AM doing My work. The leaders can be seduced by the devil to think that their plans and their power have accomplished the great things done among them. Paul did not do this. Prayer was his daily fuel! As you read his prayers below, remember that Paul prayed like this for all of the churches. In nearly all of his letters, he prayed for many people by name and indicated that he did so every day, for years. Feel the love in his prayer language. Recognize that Paul knew that he could take new disciples only so far in their growth. He knew they needed Our — Father, Son, and Spirit’s — presence, intervention, and grace to grow into the places they needed to be. Feel Paul’s affirmation in his thankfulness for these disciples. Take note of the themes he addressed in his teaching that were first addressed in prayer. Appreciate Paul’s affection in the emotional weight of the words he chose when he prayed. Paul’s prayer ministry with the Thessalonians was a vital part of his ministry with them, to them, and for them. Verses to Live Paul was formally a citizen of Rome. He was a citizen of Jerusalem during his rabbinic training. He was also a citizen of the world in his ministry. He knew multiple cultures and multiple languages. He knew how to travel over land and sea. He was trained as a Jewish rabbi, yet was called to reach the non-Jews of the ancient world. He was willing to be eternally damned if it meant the salvation of his own people — the Jews (Romans 9:3). He also risked his life repeatedly to take My gospel to Gentiles (2 Corinthians 6:3-5). Paul’s power to do all of this was rooted in his relationship with Me. His prayer life kept him connected to the Father through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. Read these prayers of Paul for the Thessalonian Christians several times and be blessed! We always thank God for all of you in our prayers. Your actions on behalf of the true faith, your tireless toil of love, and your unfailing, unwavering, unending hope in our Lord Jesus the Anointed before God our Father have put you consistently at the forefront of our thoughts. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) May God Himself, our Father, along with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, navigate our way to you. May the Lord flood you with an unending, undying love for one another and for all humanity, like our love for you, so that your hearts will be reinforced with His strength, held blameless and holy before God, our Father, when our Lord Jesus, the Anointed, the Liberating King, appears along with all His holy ones. Amen. (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13) So now, may the God of peace make you His own completely and set you apart from the rest. May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved, kept intact and wholly free from any sort of blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed. For the God Who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) Brothers and sisters, we cannot help but thank God for you, which is only appropriate because your faith is growing and expanding and because the love demonstrated by each and every one of you is overflowing for one another. (2 Thessalonians 1:3) All this is why we are constantly praying for you, so God will make you worthy of the great calling you have received from Him and will give you the power to accomplish every good intention and work of faith. Then the great name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified through your lives, and you will be glorified in Him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) Now may our Lord Jesus (the Anointed One Himself) and God our Father (Who has loved us, comforted us eternally, and given us a good hope by His grace) bring comfort to your hearts and strengthen your wills to accomplish every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) And now, dear friends, may the Lord of peace Himself grace you with peace always and in everything. May the Lord be present with all of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Response in Prayer Father, forgive me. As I read these prayers of Paul, I am convicted. I am convicted of trying to do too much on my own. I am convicted of not seeking Your grace and power. I am convicted of praying too little. I am convicted of not letting others know of the good things I am praying for
My Coming Again
Note from Jesus Dear Fellow Heir of Glory, As God’s child and as My younger sibling in the Father’s family of grace, you are an heir of glory. The glory that I enjoy with the Father will one day be yours also. My coming again is on your horizon. I will come again in the glory of My Father and the angels. This glorious day is your future. Glory awaits! Paul wanted the new believers in Thessalonica to realize that My “coming” in glory is their future. He wanted them to remember that they will celebrate Me as their “coming” King Who returns in heaven’s glory. They needed to be reminded that they will be reunited with all those who have followed Me as their Lord throughout all time, and they will be vindicated for their faith in Me. The Thessalonian disciples had several in their number who had died since Paul left. They weren’t worried about them experiencing heaven, but they were worried that their loved ones would miss My “coming” in glory — the big celebration when I return in My heavenly glory for all those who belong to Me. (The Greek word Paul chose to speak of My “coming” again was parousia, a word used in Paul’s time for the joyous return of a king from his victory. My “coming” is sometimes called “the rapture” in your day.) The first paragraph in the verses below focuses on the glorious reunion of all who belong to Me when I come again. Those who are still alive when I return will be changed and will join those whom I have raised and given glorious, immortal bodies, and both groups will join Me in My glory forever. (For more on immortal resurrection bodies, see 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.) While you grieve for those who have died, you don’t grieve like those who have no hope. Your being with Me and with all those who belong to Me — a great grand reunion of all those in My family — is certain. Glory is your destination. Joy is the language of My “coming” for you! These promises are very useful to encourage and comfort each other! In the second paragraph, Paul is talking about the same event, but from a totally different perspective. My “coming” is glorious for those who belong to Me, but the second paragraph looks at My “coming” again from the vantage point of those who are not ready. My “coming” should motivate you, My disciple, to live in ways that prepare you for My return. While you can’t know the time of My “coming,” you shouldn’t be surprised because you are purposely living for Me and awaiting that day with longing. You don’t take part in the works and the life of darkness because you are “all children of light.” These insights should also give you a firm basis for your own encouragement and comfort, as well as a foundation to encourage each other to faithfulness, vigilance, and holiness. The last paragraph is from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. Persecution, opposition, criticism, and false teaching had all intensified for this band of new disciples. They needed to be reminded that their suffering was worth the short-term pain for the eternal gain — victory when I return and the eternal glory they will share with Me. Paul wanted them to wake up and get themselves ready for the battles ahead, but to do so knowing their victory is assured, and their sacrifices are worthwhile because of their ultimate glory. I will bring justice and victory to them. I will also bring salvation in every sense of that concept, to them and to you. Verses to Live My “coming” in glory is much debated, sometimes feared, and often ignored. I hope none of these three reactions is your reaction. I want you to anticipate the great things that will be yours when I return in glory. I want you to find comfort in knowing that what you do for Me is never in vain. I want you to have a sense of urgency in living for Me because I am always ready to step back into history and return for those who are My own. So please read through these related, but distinctly different, teaching sections about My return. Know that I AM “coming” back for you and for those who love Me and live their lives for Me! Brothers and sisters, we want you to be fully informed about those who have fallen asleep in death so that you will not be overwhelmed with grief like those who live outside of the true hope. Here’s what we believe: since Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with Jesus all who have died through Him. For we can say all this to you confidently because it is the word of the Lord: we who are still alive and left behind when the Lord comes will not precede those who have fallen asleep in death. On that day, with a command that thunders into the world, with a voice of a chief heavenly messenger, and with a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven; and all those who died in the Anointed One, our Liberating King, will rise from the dead first. Then we who are alive and left behind will be snatched up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with Him forever. So comfort one another with this hope, and encourage one another with these words. Now, brothers and sisters, you don’t need further instruction from us or anyone else for that matter regarding how the seasons and times will play out. That’s because you know the truth well enough. The day of the Lord will race onto the scene and surprise us like a thief in the night. People will
Riot!
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Your world is filled with many influences that vie for the control of your heart and the practice of your faith. In the multi-cultural and pluralistic world that is open to all religions, be careful of the devil’s lies about freedom and openness. Some people don’t like the exclusive claim of the authentic Christian faith, and they work to silence My message and My disciples. The efforts of these people have never succeeded in stamping out My message and never will. My own words, along with the claims of My early disciples, didn’t sit well with some people in Paul’s day and they don’t sit well with some people in your day: Jesus: I am the path, the truth, and the energy of life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) Peter (filled with the Spirit): There is no one else [other than Jesus] who can rescue us, and there is no other name under heaven given to any human by whom we may be rescued. (Acts 4:12)These exclusive claims met with strong resistance as Paul shared My message with the multi-cultural people of Ephesus. However, I want you to notice in the verses below that it was when Paul’s preaching against idols began to have an economic impact that people were incited to become a riotous mob. Underneath much of the criticism that comes to My people and My message can be found two issues: The economic impact of My message on those who want to operate based upon greed and exploitation of others. The personal impact and loss of the freedom of choice related to morality — some people don’t want anyone telling them what is right and wrong. Paul and his mission team faced the first issue in Philippi with the freeing of the woman who had an “occult spirit” (Acts 16:16-24). The men who were profiting from her fortune-telling were furious that her liberation from demonic power meant they could no longer make money by exploiting her condition. Later Paul met both issues simultaneously — spiritual conflict and economic conflict — in the city of Ephesus. The clear-headed and legal approach the town clerk used in this volatile situation defused the emerging riot in Ephesus. Paul was blessed by the rule of law in both Philippi and Ephesus. Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and this citizenship entitled them to certain legal rights. Paul was not afraid — in Philippi or wherever he found himself — to insist on these legal rights (Acts 16:35-40; Acts 22:25-30; Acts 25:1-12). You cannot and must not submit to the coercion of political or religious authorities who oppose your efforts for Me. (I will share more on this principle when I guide you through the books of 1 Peter and Revelation.) When you have legal recourse to protect yourself and your rights, please know that you can and should avail yourself of these rights and privileges (Romans 13:1-7). Part of what made conditions “the right time” (Galatians 4:1-4 NLT) for My coming and for the launch of My message was the influence of Rome — the Romans had a system of laws, commerce routes, and the acceptance of one language as the language of commerce. As long as they could, My early disciples made use of all three of these conditions to help spread My message. Verses to Live The town clerk in the events described below in Ephesus was not My disciple, but he was a good and decent man who was concerned for order in his city. I have used, and will continue to use, such good people to help My disciples in every era. Don’t be afraid to make friends of such people, just as Paul did in his ministry (Acts 19:31). Eventually Paul felt he should move on again [from Ephesus]. The Holy Spirit confirmed that he should first travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then return to Jerusalem. Paul: I must eventually see Rome. So he sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed a while longer in Asia. It was during this time that a major incident occurred involving the Way. An idol maker named Demetrius had a profitable business, for himself and for others, making silver shrines for Artemis (also known as Diana by the Romans), one of the deities worshiped in Ephesus. Picture this: Demetrius calls a meeting of all the artisans who are similarly employed in idol making. Everyone in the idol industry comes together. Demetrius: Men, we are all colleagues in this fine line of work. We’re making a good living doing what we’re doing. But we’d better wake up, or we’re all going to go broke. You’ve heard about this fellow Paul. Here in Ephesus, he’s already convinced a large number of people to give up using idols. He tells them that our products are worthless. He’s been doing this same kind of thing almost everywhere in Asia. It’s bad enough that he is slandering our fine and honorable profession, but do you see where this will lead? If his lies catch on, the temple of Artemis itself will be called a fraud. The great goddess of our region, the majestic deity who is revered here in Asia and around the world, will be disgraced. The crowd goes wild with rage. They start chanting. Crowd: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Soon the whole city is filled with confusion, and a mob forms. They find Paul’s Macedonian travel companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and drag them to the theater. Paul wants to go confront the crowd and protect his friends, but the disciples hold him back. Even some provincial officials of Asia who are friendly to Paul send him an urgent message, warning him to stay away from the theater. Enraged voices are shouting on top of each other, some saying one thing, some saying something else. The
Living Your Dream
Are you living the dream God placed inside you? You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:13-16) This is an interesting time of year. Untold thousands of young people graduate from high schools, colleges, universities, and graduate programs this time of year. In fact, many have already left school for grander things. It’s an exciting time for them and their families. I know we’re thrilled and proud of our own daughter-in-law for completing her degree in Physical Therapy! (Way to go Mandy!) So now all of these graduates are off and on their way up. We want to tell them, “Go live your dream!” When I was not quite three years old, my dream in life was to be a garbage man. Now that may not sound like much of an ambition to you, but think about it a minute from the perspective of a three year old. You have a really big, noisy, moving truck with lots of knobs and levers. It goes by everybody’s house and they put stuff out for you to get. When you dump that stuff in the back of your truck, this big metal deal turns and the trash all disappears. Now how cool is that? Once while visiting my grandparents, I heard the garbage men. I went out to watch them. When they left my grandparent’s yard, I followed them to the next … and to the next … and across two streets … and … my mom realized I was gone and was terrified. They found me by listening to the sound of the garbage truck and realizing that is where I must be. I was following my dream! You have a dream. I’m pretty sure for most of you the dream isn’t to be a garbage man. If it is, well that’s cool. I’m with you on that dream! Let me tell you something about your dream no matter what it may be: it was placed in your heart by God himself. See the little guy in the picture? (Okay, if you get this via email you don’t see the picture, but it’s of a little baby twelve weeks after conception. His right leg looks like it’s kicking something or pressing the accelerator of a car.) He is so small no one knows he’s there — well no one knows except God. In Psalm 139:13-16, we are told that from our conception, God knows us, has a purpose for us, and has a plan for us to live that purpose. In other words, God has given us a dream! No matter whom your parents may be, no matter how you came to be, you are not an accident. God has known you all along and has a dream for your life that he has placed inside you! Your job in life is to go live that dream! Are you living your dream? I wanted to be a garbage man when I grew up. Guess what? I am … sorta. I help run Heartlight, which is a high tech kind of company. I love all the high tech devices because they are useful, they do cool things — cooler than all the noise, levers, knobs, and stuff the garbage truck did. In addition, I’m a minister. I get to help people take the garbage in their life and leave it at the curb and let God take it away. I’m getting to live the dream that God planted in me! Hope you are getting to do that, too! If you are, you already know what I’m about to say. If not, let me share a couple more things with you about that dream. I believe God wants you to understand some things about the dream God has placed in your heart. First, you will face obstacles, challenges, and distractions to keep you from living your dream. Satan opposes the work of God and he will oppose it in your life. It won’t be easy to stay focused on God’s dream he’s place in you. But you can and you must. Second, you must honor the Dream Giver with your dream. If you cannot live your dream and honor God, then it’s not really an honorable dream — it’s not your real dream. If you have to sacrifice your character, your integrity, or your faith for your dream, then it isn’t really a worthy dream. God, the great Dream Giver, gave you your dream. He will not give you a dream that does not bring honor to him. Third, don’t settle for less than the dream God placed in you. He made you for that dream. He made you for his purpose. Don’t settle for something less than God’s dream. It will be too little, too confining, and too costly in the long run. You may be like a lot of people who are not sure of the dream God has placed inside them. In addition to reading the New Testament, I recommend Bruce Wilkinson’s book, The Dream Giver. It will help you find, identify, and pursue your dream and the great Dream Giver who placed it in your heart. If you are a graduate, or a parent of a graduate, use this transition as the time when you re-commit to the dream God gave you. That way if people can’t find you, all they have to do is listen for the sound of your dream and know that this is where you will be! Image from Adobe Firely, generated with AI. Used
Kicked to the Curb? Good!
Holy ground — without brokenness, there would be no healing or hope or grace. So, thank you, Abba, for reserving a place for us, just for us, at the curb with you. MO is at Black Rifle Coffee. Beyond Black is in the cup, silence is on the playlist, and God has moved the room to the curb. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 — bold added to help us recognize why we were on the curb of broken “whatevers” before his grace found us!) What do you do with broken things? My dad would find a place in the garage and keep the broken “whatevers” in hopes of one day fixing them, or using the parts to fix something else — he loved restoring them — turning misfits into good-fits… don’t think he ever tossed anything, he even gave a new home to the broken stuff in the backlot at work. Lyn and I, on the other hand, put our broken things on the curb by the driveway, and like magic…within three hours they disappear. Over the last four decades lots of broken things have vanished: 5 chairs 3 recliners a trash compactor a washing machine three lawn edgers two lawn mowers a dot matrix printer a b/w laser printe two color printers one fax machine a 21 inch computer monitor 2 ceiling fans a rusted out radial arm saw two patio furniture sets three outdoor swings three TVs three outdoor gas grills two floor lamps three VHS players a tireless wheel barrow a vacuum three rotted railroad ties one barely used treadmill and one grab-bag full of broken odds and ends. All labeled “free to first one who stops.” They all disappeared by nightfall. So, unless it’s broken, we don’t leave anything by the curb. God on the other hand is like my dad. He collects broken things. He knows the curb well — He lives there. Only his collection is much more intriguing and compelling than my dad’s. He takes broken people, those who know they’re broken and those who are clueless — they are all treasures to Him — He mends them, comforts them. heals them, finds their lost pieces, and makes them whole. His magic only happens at the curb, the place where confession happens, when we admit our helplessness, where we own up to what’s going on behind what’s going on. And to be comforted, we have to experience His healing we have to leave our brokenness as the curb. Abba collects all kinds of brokenness — broken dreams, broken hearts, broken promises, broken futures, broken reputations, broken trust, and broken bodies. Then, our Abba does holy surgery. He restores, heals, transforms, and repurposes. Somehow, He makes us stronger in the broken places. The Spirit of God knows us better than we know ourselves; He knows we will fight Him — refuse to turn loose — we will try to hide our brokenness — to second-guess the curb. We don’t like admitting we are broken. The first miracle is that… He’s patient… He waits… He camps-out at the curb… The second miracle is that… He urges us to tell Him about it, to own it, to confess it, and turn loose of it. That’s when the curb becomes holy ground. Ah yes! Holy ground — without brokenness, there would be no healing or hope or grace. So, thank you, Abba, for reserving a place for us, just for us, at the curb with you. I can smile because God owns the curb. Real church happens there! About the author: Ron Rose has been a unique minister and friend, but he is also a noted author and leader of several ministries. Ron now makes himself available as a listener and friend as he spends time with people on the go and in coffee shops and shares grace and a listening ear connecting them with God who is always in the room!
Sharing in the Joy!
O God, please, will you let me see a little harvest… Please! Jesus is not in Israel — not Judah or Judea or even Galilee. He is in Samaria that often forbidden area where nothing and no one properly lived — at least from the perspective of a Good Jewish person of Jesus’ day. Jesus has just concluded a public conversation with a woman — ooh, that’s questionable! She was a Samaritan outcast of dubious sexual practices! Ouch, that was forbidden. Yet, Jesus has answered her searching and seeking questions and then led her to faith. She has gone to tell her own people — those who had cast her to the outer margins of their village life. But Jesus’ knows her, knows her faith is real, and that her testimony is about to change village life around her forever. Now, as so often happened, the LORD had to deal with the often “slow-to-get-it” apostles.”Why are you talking to a woman, and why are you not hungry?” they asked Him. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” (John 4:34-38 NLT) I imagine this scene as Jesus talks to His apostles and points to the villagers coming their way. Their white headpieces bobble along as they walk toward them, and Jesus says: “I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe [— the heads of grain are white —] ready for harvest.” There are different kinds of seasons in the life of a follower of Jesus who takes seriously the LORD’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8-10). We often find ourselves in the harder seasons. Some are in the planting seeds season, where we keep sowing and can’t see any harvestable results. Some of you have been trying to find good soil. Others have been planting seeds for what seems like a long time with few noticeable results. Others are in the watering and tending phase to see if there is any harvest in sight. Some of you are weary and not sure you can keep on looking for soil, planting seeds, bringing water, tending to the weeds, and waiting on any hint of the harvest. It is hard work getting to know the soil and cultivating relationships so you can sow in a cultural climate hostile to the seed you sow. It is discouraging not to see quick results from all of your labor, sweat, and prayers. This can be a season that leads many of us to doubt ourselves, our calling, and our mission: Did I mishear God’s call? Was I wrong in coming here? Is this what I’m supposed to be doing at this time in my life, and especially in my family’s life? What am I doing wrong? Is there any fruit in sight? O God, please, will you let me see a little harvest… Please! I’ve asked those questions, had those doubts in my patch of ministry dirt that Jesus sent me to prepare for harvest, and felt inept when others around me were harvesting. So, what word is there for the “no-or-slow” harvest seasons of our lives and ministries? Jesus reminds us of an essential truth: “What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’” And I believe the LORD’s promise is true! Jesus promises us that we will share in the joy of the harvest. It may not be now, or soon, or even on the horizon. However, the Chief Sower of seeds promises us we will share in the joy of His bountiful harvest. And if we are blessed with a surprise from God’s gracious love, we may experience a foretaste of this harvest when we least expect it. I am an old dude. My hands-on sowing is less frequent and more restricted. While I do get to hear about our house church planters’ successes and challenges, I don’t get to be there to get wet hugging the newly baptized or lifting my hands with them when they sing their first praises to Jesus. Oh, how I’ve missed that and longed for those experiences! So, imagine my surprise when we visited Rwanda Children Christian School, and I was asked to preside at the baptism of 188 people delivered from animism and incestuous living who were brought into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love. It was from a neighboring village that time had forgotten. The efforts of loving disciples took over a year of lessons on how to grow crops, training in hygiene, explanations of birth abnormalities because of incestuous inbreeding, health care that provided basic services, education for the children, and lots of love. God’s people did that consistently, beautifully, sacrificially, and hopefully. They planted the seed, watered it, removed the weeds, and then shared the Good News. These practices of gracious sowing, tending, and weeding had guided God’s people in their love for people in desperate need of grace. I was blessed to stand and welcome ninety-eight of those new family members into the fellowship of the saints as they rose from their new birth into God’s family. I got delightfully wet from high-fives, handshakes, and hugs. I rejoiced over them and cried with them. I saw old men and women with tears streaming down their cheeks for joy, many wearing their best clothes to be baptized. I saw pre-teens who were excited but unsure of the road