Anguish to Joy - March 10, 2019

Isaiah 53:11 - As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.

The birth of children is something truly remarkable to behold. I was privileged to watch the birth of all three of my natural children. Of course, childbirth for the father is much different than the suffering of the mother. I often reflect on this when I think how Jesus brought back the human race from spiritual death. Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection acted much like the womb of new birth as the Holy Spirit came along side as the mid-wife, ensuring success. The Father looked on, as many sons and daughters were restored to Him on that day. What a glorious moment it had to be! If only we could have heard the rejoicing in heaven when Jesus said, "It is finished" and later when the stone was rolled away. The joy of the Father was certainly inexpressible in our human capacity to understand it.

In his great wisdom given by God, Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 7:8 how "The end of a matter is better than its beginning." How Jesus must have known and believed this as He prepared for His death. We know from the word of God that Jesus was  certainly concerned about His upcoming demise. Some have speculated a variety of reasons for his angst regarding His crucifixion. Regardless the reason, we know He did not sin, but kept entrusting Himself to the One who would deliver Him (I Peter 2:23). As John relates the words of Jesus: “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour" (John 12:27). The hope of mankind's deliverance was the great motivator that revealed Christ's perfect love for humanity.

Isaiah tells us in our lead verse that "He will see it." I believe this is speaking about the Father when He witnessed His Son dying on the cross. He looked at the spilt blood of His Son and surely wept as sin's penalty was satisfied! However, with his weeping there was a joy breaking forth that no sadness could overwhelm. Isaiah 53:10 tells us Christ will see His offspring by offering Himself as a "guilt offering." Likewise, He would find satisfaction knowing He had brought many sons and daughters back to His Father through the "anguish of His soul." The pain the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit incurred to save us was incalculable. Conversely, as already mentioned, the joy likewise was indescribable regarding our deliverance.  Jesus prophetically tells His disciples in John 16:21 that  "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world."

Joy is often the direct outcome of pain. Our great gains in Christ are often recognized through His extraordinary loss. When we begin to really understand what it cost the Godhead to bring about our salvation, it should first pain us remarkably. However, if it is truly a God-given revelation, it should then give us joy inexpressible regarding what He has done. Are we walking in great joy today, beloved? If not, possibly we do not truly understand His great anguish which lead to His great joy. Ask God for this understanding. Cry out to Him that He would reveal the cost of Calvary. When we truly understand it, we will likewise know His anguish but also His great joy in bringing many sons and daughters to salvation.

Heavenly Father, may you grant us all wisdom to know what the cross of Christ cost. May we enter into the fellowship of Your sufferings that we might attain to the resurrection of the dead according to Your servant, Paul (Philippians 3:10-11). Show us Your heart, Lord, and Your great love for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

The Americanized Church - Cruising for a Bruising - March 3, 2019

For some time now, the Lord has been stirring my spirit with a prophetic message to our generation. It is a message of false comfort and reliance upon a paradigm of religion rather than seeking God’s face. For truly, there is a shift about to take place. For too long, the churches in America and westernized countries have sought his hand and provision without seeking His desire. We have built our programs and our institutions according to what our predecessors laid out. However, these are faulty towers of misplaced faith that will not withstand what is ahead.

Many churches today seek to cater to merely the needs of their congregates. But what about the desires of God? We have carefully laid out plans for our youth, young adults, divorced adults, singles, and a bevy of other groups. But where is God? In all of these endeavors, there are a few that are going on with God and even some being saved. But where is the true power of the Almighty? Have we as the church relied on perpetuating an old wine skin that cannot hold the new wine of what God wants to do?

God has shown me that the church in America is much like any number of luxury cruise liners departing from our coasts on a daily basis. In the summer of 2014, my family and I were expensed a trip on the then largest cruise ship in the world—the Oasis of the Seas. On every deck, there were activities of every sort. One could ice skate, zip line, wave surf, play basketball, take in a show, or just stroll the Promenade of shops or Central Park. These are just a few. Then there are the seemingly endless places to dine 24/7. There is never a shortage of food or entertainment because that is the intent. The senses and appetites of the guests must be continually satisfied. If not, then they will not return as a repeat customer but will end up with another cruise line that will better meet their expectations.

How much like our modern church is the cruise-line mentality!? It is all about me! Here are the expectations of most church goers today. If you don’t greet me at the door and tell me how great it is that I am in church today, then you don’t care about me. Unless my children have an awesome time in children’s church, then you don’t care about my kids. If teenage Johnny doesn’t connect with a group of his peers, then the kids at that church are cliquish. These are all superfluous to the real reason of being at church, and THAT IS TO ENCOUNTER THE ALMIGHTY GOD! This buffet mentality of the church has caused us to believe that if my needs are not met then there is something wrong with that church! This is the sin of idolatry and self-centeredness as much so as the children of Israel in their worship of a golden calf. The church in America does not have a golden calf. Instead, we worship the golden corral buffet that says I want to be comforted by excess rather than seeking God to see how I might comfort others through prayer and true acts of His love.

Historically, the S.S. America that is very much a metaphor for today’s church in the United States.  The America was built in 1939 and was a luxury cruise ship that was conscripted into the war effort during the early 1940s. At 24.9 knots per hour, she was a fast ship that ferried hundreds of thousands of troops back and forth from the shores of Europe. After World War II, she once again was put into service and faithfully cruised wealthy passengers between New York and Europe for the next 20 years. As the ship began to age, it went through a series of owners and restorations until finally it was shipwrecked off the African coast close to the Canary Islands. It is now a rusty wreck on the shores of the island Fuerenventura as the waves and salt spray continue to diminish the shipwreck. One day, there will be no trace of the once grand vestige of cruising as the hull will submerge below the waves.

Isn’t it true, much like the S.S. America, how the church pulls together during crisis? However, by then the enemy has usually come in and ravaged our land, our churches, and our culture. The America was a splendid vessel during wartime as it greatly helped the war effort by transporting nearly a million men and women to war torn Europe. My question to the church is the following: What are we transporting today in our local church bodies? It is quite remarkable to stand on a cruise ship dock and watch the hundreds if not thousands of pallets of food loaded for a single cruise. When will the church wake up and start transporting the souls of men and women rather than merely trying to fill the carnal lusts that will never fulfill? The only way this will happen is to take the time to hear what God is saying. It is time to fill our churches to pray rather than with programs to play. It is time to give ourselves to God’s desire rather than our own.

I am certain that one day the church in our great land will again wake up and serve humanity as it was designed. However, it will require judgment to make this happen. Isaiah revealed this grand plan of how God teaches us His ways through His Almighty hand: “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9)

Beloved of God, it is time to close the “all you can eat buffet lines” and begin to seek God for our generation. It is time to weep between the porch and the altar (Joel 2:17) rather than being entertained by false comfort. It is time to start ferrying men and women’s souls through prayer and intercession rather than trying to fill their carnal bellies with things that will never last. Bible teaching is good, fellowship with believers is good, but if they are leading us away from God and not to Him, then there is an iceberg ahead ready to sink the ship we have put our trust in. The icebergs are coming … are we ready? Have we committed ourselves to be Watchmen and Watchwomen to warn the church of the coming calamities? We will learn about God’s righteousness and mercy through His righteousness. However, how many of us will recognize the hand of God when we see it and His mercy in the midst of His dealings? I fear that too many on the fence will fall to the wrong side and continue to be swept into delusion. God help the church to open their eyes in this fateful hour.

For Consience Sake - February 24, 2019

Acts 24:16 - In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

Many of us can remember from early childhood the adage, "Let your conscience be your guide". Most children are taught from an early age what is the difference between right and wrong. Even those with little or no parental involvement inherently know when their behavior is acceptable or not. According to British researchers from a 2008 study, "children have an inbuilt sense of right and wrong". This is just one of many research groups that have found similar results during the past century. Scripture has long confirmed what to many of us is the obvious. The Apostle Paul explains that, like children, even those without someone to tell them what is right and wrong will invariably know the difference. He writes to the church at Rome, stating: Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them (Romans 2:14-15). Paul declared that no person is without excuse to obey the law. No matter if you are Jew or a Gentile, a religious person or pagan, no one can stand before God someday with a supposed alibi regarding their behavior. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And, if all are honest, they will admit to this truth on this side of eternity where there is ample time and opportunity for repentance.

During Paul's defense before the Roman governor Felix, the apostle was only too aware that both his Jewish accusers and his Roman imprisoners understood this law of conscience. Whether they wanted to admit it or not, he knew that every man's life either accuses or defends himself in his actions. Paul's rebuttal to those who sought his death in the twenty-fourth chapter of Acts was meant, first of all, to show the Jews he was bound by the commandments handed down by Moses. Secondly, and of greater importance, that he was restrained by a greater law -- the law of conscience that was dictated by love for God. In our lead verse, Paul states that he does his "best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." Of interest to our study, however, is the phrase "In view of this" which precedes his statement of conscionability. We must therefore retrieve "that" of which he speaks of previously. In verse 15, Paul states "that": ... having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. The apostle cleverly appealed to his Jewish accusers sensibilities by stating all men must live with conscience before God on a daily basis, ensuring their right-standing with the Father. In addition, he also spoke a stinging word of rebuke to his Roman captors regarding their garbled view of eternity. Ancient Romans held to many belief systems regarding an afterlife. Some believed that there would be a judgment at the river Styx when they either had eternal coinage to give to the boatman, Charon, or they didn't. If they did (which was symbolic of living a good life) then the ferryman would transport them to the Underworld to live for eternity. If not, they were left to wander the shores. Other viewpoints, depending on which Greek belief system they might have inherited, lived rather nihilistically and believed that this world was the end of their respective journeys (e.g. the Cynics, where our contemporary word derives).

In a brilliant defense, Paul recognized that he could never win by going on a punitive tirade against his accusers. Instead, he merely stated the facts of man's relationship with God. He told his audience that someday, on that last day, there would surely be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. Notice that he didn't say "the good and the bad". Paul would have known those to be much too relative terms to give this mixed group of listeners. Instead, he defined them as those who had either accepted the forgiveness of Jesus through "having a hope in God" or those who had shunned the Savior and His salvation for their lives. Through the Holy Spirit, Paul set them up to ask themselves the same question that he invariably asked himself on a daily basis, "Have I lived today with a good conscience before God and men?". He knew that the only answer they could honestly provide in their defense was "no". That is the case of any of us. If we do not know the Savior, there is no cleansing of our conscience before our God. If we have not accepted the blood of Jesus as the redeeming work in our life, then our consciences are "wicked" and not "righteous". Only through Christ is there the hope of salvation -- that we will be resurrected into newness of life. That is the reason why we look to Jesus for His power to cleanse our consciences and to make us stand in His presence, not by our own works, but by His death on Calvary (Hebrews 9:14).

At some level, we all know when we transgress God's ways. Paul elevated Jesus in himself to his accusers, stating that the only way he could stand before them blameless and with a clear conscience was by the redeeming life of the Son of God living within. Today, many know the righteous way to live, yet they deny the power to do so. They have rationalized God to the point, like the Romans, that they have adopted a conscience that is fitting for their lifestyles. Through their self-deception, they have prevented both themselves and possibly others from finding the Truth as outlined in the scriptures. Their consciences, as Paul states to Timothy, have become seared in the fire of their own lust to live separate from God (I Timothy 4:2). However, there is healing and restoration for all who would but humble themselves and submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Whether we have become religious "prudes" like the Pharisees, believing our own righteousness will save us, or we have dumbed down our consciences to the point of not believing anything, the Savior is there to resurrect any and all who would call upon His Name. Newness of life can begin, right now, when we receive Him into our life. May we all experience the resurrection from the dead through a blameless conscience, both now and on that final day.

Heavenly Lord, grant us the ability like your servant Paul to live blamelessly before You, everyday, with a conscience that is cleansed through the blood of Jesus Christ. Help us to live before You with hearts sprinkled clean by His redemption. And, help us, like Paul, to testify of Your goodness to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Living Words - February 17, 2019

John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life."

Peter revealed the profundity of the disciples position in this passage in the Gospel of John. They were quite literally between the proverbial "Rock and the hard place". On one hand, they saw their "Rock" - their Friend, Teacher, and eventual Savior alienating both common people along with the Pharisees and religious folks of the day. On the other, no one knew Jesus as they did. They understood that there was no one else who spoke or did the things of God as their loving teacher. They had put themselves in the position to follow Christ, no matter what He might do or say, simply because they understood that He possessed life giving words. Peter merely voiced what the other disciples felt in our lead verse. They had come to know their friend Jesus enough to trust that He would not lead them astray. Yet, at the same time, they understood little where they might be headed. Only after they themselves were indwelt by the Spirit of Christ post-Pentecost did they truly understand what it meant to possess words that could bring forth both life and death. For some, as those 3,000 souls on that fateful day discovered, there was life in the words of the Apostle Peter as he instrumentally snatched these persons from the bowels of hell. But what of the others who heard but did not yield? For these that did not repent on that day or any other, the same words sealed their fate for eternity.

Words carry the weight of our eternal fate. Depending on what we hear, and what we say, these will ultimately determine where we spend eternity. Jesus told us that we would give an account of every careless word that we speak (Matthew 12:36). Proverbs 18:21 tells us, Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Without exception, we will either confess Jesus Christ as Lord with humility on this side of eternity and be saved (Romans 10:9-10), or we will deny his existence by our abeyance to confess Him as Lord yet at the same time "idolizing" every worldly pleasure by our constant worldly chatter. It all depends on how we receive the words of eternal life. If we receive them implanted, then they are able to save our souls (James 1:21). If we, along with the fool, say there is no God (Psalm 14:1), then we have hardened the soil of our heart to the point where God's eternal seed can find no place to grow (Luke 8:5). The road is broad to destruction and many are on this super-highway to hell (Matthew 7:13). The exception will be those who yearn after righteousness and will not retreat from the path of life, no matter what. Peter and his cohorts understood this. The patriarch Job also understood that there was nothing in what his friends offered, no matter whether they had the best intentions in their misplaced sympathies. Job declared that even if God should slay him, he would continue to trust only Him and to put forth his case before his Maker and no other (Job 13:15). Beloved, have we come to that place in our respective walk with the Lord? Have we made a covenant with God that we shall not betray Him no matter what the cost? Friends may say that our faith is insanity, that we are trusting in archaic "fairy tales". Have we acknowledged that we too are between that "Rock and hard place" and desire no other?

Pentecost changed everything for the disciples. Likewise, God's indwelling in a manifest way will change ANY man, woman, or child. We merely have to want it and to wait for it until it comes. While God has most certainly given us all things including the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, the understanding and the actualization are often disconnected from the daily experience for many of us. That's why it is paramount to continue to pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation as outlined in Ephesians 1:17-19. Many of us are where Christ's disciples were in the sixth chapter of John when the Lord asked that probing question, ... You do not want to go away also, do you? (John 6:67). We must be honest and forthright at this juncture and say to the Lover of our souls, Lord reveal to me the words of eternal life that will truly make me free! Jesus did not tell us to become experts at quoting scripture or knowing the Bible, but to hear His voice and to be changed by its revelation (John 10:3, John 10:16). The more we hear His words and act upon them the more we will be changed according to His image, for faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of His testimony (Romans 10:17). From faith to faith we WILL be changed if we continue to cry out for wisdom and understanding of Christ. Then, we too will understand the power of Pentecost. The recipe is simple -- watching and waiting with humility, weeping and wailing for more wisdom and understanding, and witnessing the wonderful experience when He sheds His Spirit in us and through us to others.

Beloved of God, there is no greater joy that the Lord desires to give to us then to experience more of Him through His life-giving words. We must understand, however, that these are not given glibly or without meaning. When God gives Himself in full measure, it is because a man, woman, or child has emptied themselves of any possible retreat into the world. There is a determination in their souls that they will have more of God or else they will die trying. Just as God will not share His glory with another, neither should we share ourselves with anything less than eternal words -- words that will ultimately cause a finality of decisions to the hearers. It is our responsibility as Christ's ambassadors on this earth to live lives as nothing less than those that speak the language of heaven to a dying world. May we all cry out to our Heavenly Father for MORE revelation of who He is within us all in order to change this world around us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for Your words of eternal life. Teach us the language of angels and of Your heavenly abode, convincing some of Your love for them by Your supreme sacrifice. Allow all who hear Your words to be changed forever. In Your Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Longing for Redemption - February 10, 2019

II Timothy 4:8 - In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

In many ways, Paul's longing for his eternal home was foreign to Jewish sentiment. The Jewish culture has always been more in touch with the "here and now" rather than the the "sweet by and by."  Certainly, many who followed Pharisaic teachings believed in an afterlife. Diametric in belief were their counterparts, the Sadducees, who believed in only an earthly existence with no hope of a life after death (Acts 23:8). However, both groups and most Jewish people looked mainly for betterment of life here on earth. They believed their position as children of Abraham made them secure for whatever heaven would offer them. So, when Paul spoke of the heavenly realm as the reward of the believer, this was a paradigm shift, especially for Jewish believers. His Gentile audiences knew less about the Jewish sense of entitlement regarding birthright. Therefore, Paul's letter to Timothy was not one of special privilege regarding the aged apostle's heritage as a child of Abraham, but instead his right to be a child of God according to faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12).

Some of the Jews who followed Jesus undoubtedly grew angrier as He did not manifest the kingdom of God on earth. That is the only thing that interested many of them. They did not want to hear about a heavenly kingdom, but one where they would prosper socially, economically, and politically here on earth. Their arrogance as the "chosen people" made them blind to the paradoxical teaching of Jesus concerning a kingdom where the poor in spirit reigned (Matthew 5:3). Rather than fortify this earth, they were being told to abandon it and to prepare for a new heaven and a new earth. Instead of considering their country, position, social standing, or wealth, Jesus was telling them to forsake all and prepare for something infinitesimally superior. However, they could not have both. They would inevitably trust in one or the other, deciding which kingdom they chose to give their allegiance.

What is remarkable is how Paul -- a Pharisee of Pharisees -- threw off former preconceptions of Jewish acculturation and embraced the Messiah and His promise of the hope of Glory. Or, how Peter, Andrew, James, and John abandoned their families to follow Jesus! This was unheard of in ancient Palestine, for a son to walk away from his family. Our westernized mindset built on individualism really does not comprehend the closeness of Semitic families and what this meant.

Similarly, if we have truly loved Christ's appearing in our lives and hearts on the day of our salvation, we will be anticipating His return and not be seeking to preserve our earthly heritage. Consider King Hezekiah and how he begged God not to take him to heaven (II Kings 20:6). It can be argued that Hezekiah is the reason why the Babylonians later pillaged Jerusalem. If he had not been around to show the Babylonian emissaries Judah's wealth, they might not have bothered with this distant land (II Kings 20:12-19). However, the king was only interested in the "here and now." He did not understand how loving his earthly life would have ramifications for centuries.

How many of us would react similarly? How many of us love our comfortable lives here on earth and would be saddened to see Christ coming in the clouds? Like those of the Jewish nation, are we as Christians enraptured with our earthly lives? Have we become so busy with the temporal things that we do not long for the things of heaven? (Luke 14:18-20) So many of us loved His initial appearing in our lives when He saved us. Yet, now there might be some reservation regarding His second coming to snatch us away. We should all beware of loving the "here and now" and long for the "sweet by and by." If not, then have we truly loved His appearing?

Heavenly Father, may we long for Your Son's appearing. There is nothing this imperfect earth can give us that You have not already granted us if we will but trust in You. Help us to have great patience, forbearance, and wisdom, knowing Your return is soon. May we love Your appearing in all aspects of our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Why Does Revival Tarry? - February 3, 2019

James 5:16 (KJV) - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Certain scriptures seem unequivocal at face value. When we read promises such as Matthew 11:28, we can believe that if we come to Jesus then we will find rest. In this respect, personal application to the scripture is available to everyone. Through a relationship with Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity of gleaning this promise as well as hundreds of others regarding the good things the Lord has in store for us. Often, these promises will manifest themselves very quickly in a believer's life as they live humbly and obediently before their Lord. In some cases, other promises may take longer to realize. However, what about God's assurances He has made for communities or nations? Personally, I have been involved in prayer for revival for my city and nation for many years. I know of many people that I would consider men and women of God who have likewise earnestly been seeking God concerning revival for several decades. The combined effort of just these aforementioned people would undoubtedly equal hundreds of years in collective time praying for a great moving of God . We read throughout the Bible references concerning how peoples and nations repented and God sent revival to their land. (Jonah and the restoration of Nineveh to a Godly nation is only one example [Jonah 3:9-10].) While God's entreaties through His prophets were often disregarded with subsequent judgment, the promise of restoration was always there IF a nation would but humble themselves to God. Probably the greatest promise regarding restoration and revival is the familiar text in the second book of Chronicles. It reads like this in the King James Version:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - II Chronicles 7:14

As previously stated, I have seen much of what I would describe as calling upon God, humbling of the flesh through prayer and fasting, with a concerted effort to seek the Lord's face. Yet, regardless of all this activity, the western Church has muddled along without the desired results. Oh, but there is that other bit of instruction in Chronicles that is often an unpleasant topic to broach -- turning from sin! Does this necessarily mean that the whole nation must turn from iniquity before God hears and responds, or can it mean those who are earnestly seeking revival in proxy for the nation? Let's look at the possibilities.

James, the brother of Jesus our Lord, writes with one consideration. Using Elijah as an example, he compares the prophet as a man with a nature "like ours." He describes how the man of God prayed fervently and how the Lord used this man to control the weather, bringing a king and a kingdom to their proverbial knees (James 5:17-18). Through this grand meteorological disruption, Elijah was able to use this nation crippling catalyst to orchestrate one of the greatest showdowns of the Bible between himself and the priests of Baal (I Kings 18:20-21). Because of this encounter, the rule of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel was sorely weakened, allowing eventual reforms after the death of Ahab's son, Ahaziah (see II Kings 2). This national and spiritual revival would appear to be the direct result of Elijah's obedience to God. James' testimony about Elijah in his verses 17 and 18 actually serves as an example from the context of verse 16. James uses this verse as a segue from personal, bodily healing to the restoration of a nation. Interestingly, he implies that both types of healing are only possible through effective fervent prayers through righteous men. Is fervent praying lacking in our contemporary situation or is it righteous men, or both? Or, are we lacking God's impetus to raise up men and women such as Elijah to bring heaven once again to this earth? Is it because God cannot find a man such as Elijah? Or, rather that He has not YET raised one up (or many more) for this hour? The former would imply that the responsibility lies upon those select few to stand up in righteousness and to call down heaven in prayer. The latter suggests that the onus rests with God. I remonstrate that the truth is probably somewhere in the middle of these two postulations. We can assume that no one is more desirous of God's kingdom being manifest upon this earth through a revived Church then God Himself. However, we cannot presume we know why revival seems to not being addressed with earnest in the mind of God. The limited love that we possess for humanity and the desire to see them saved pales in comparison to God's heart for both his Church and the lost.

I would submit that the reality of our present situation is something that can't necessarily be reduced to a few scriptures regarding why God is not moving in a wholesale manner in the westernized Church. Many of us who are familiar with prayer for our nation know of 24 hour prayer rooms where night and day prayer for revival has been the agenda for many years. Are these folks who have given themselves to this noble life "unrighteous" or not "fervent" in their prayers? That is not mine or anyone's to judge. Possibly the Lord has some more refining to do before we truly see Him move in these last days. Without a doubt, He is preparing hearts for the day when He will move with more power than that of the first century Church. We might speculate that the time is not right, that He will move only as He sees fit. While this is definitely true, that God will only do His perfect will when He determines, it can also be equally true that He will move as men's and women's voices move His heart in prayer. This, of course, is the great conundrum whether God has moved these to prayer or whether hearts given to God have caused Him to move, or a combination of both. The answers to these questions will become clearer in time, or eternity. Regardless, we must continue to pray, seeking to order our lives righteously, doing all we know to align ourselves with the Father's will as we pray for His kingdom to come to this earth, even as it is in heaven. Do we need "Elijahs" in our present hour? Of this, there is little doubt. With this in mind, it will continue to be our place, as those seeking a revived church and nation, to seek the Lord to raise up many who might stand in the gap like the prophets of old. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified by men and women such as these whose hearts burn for a holy nation and a righteous land.

Heavenly Father, we know little regarding Your will for a revived nation other than You told us to humble ourselves, to seek Your face, to turn from our wicked ways, and then You would heal our land. We ask that You would purify us in this process of prayer, causing us to be righteous men and women, fervently praying Your will. Cause us to enter into the counsel of Your heart, accepting Your timing for these great events. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Obtaining the Witness - January 27, 2019

Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

Years ago, there was a saying that when a person felt smitten over someone special, that they were "taken" for that guy or gal. It is more a colloquialism, I suppose, from simpler days when a young man fell "head over heels" for a young woman, or vice versa. We may have heard it put like this: "I sure am taken with her!" The implication is an abandonment of all sense, that somehow the object of their affection has stolen their heart in a romantic sort of way. This might appear to happen unexpectedly and without design by either party. Or does it? Often, there is a drawing or a wooing that causes this sudden "taking" of emotions. The taken may feel like they are coaxed into this romantic interlude, having merely responded to the taker's attention. In a very real sense, the one being wooed has received the proverbial nod that they are pleasing to the other. The dynamics of our encounters on this earth are merely natural expressions of how God woos us to that place of communion and fellowship with Him. Like Enoch in our lead verse, it is possible while on this earth and living in sinful flesh to "obtain the witness" that we are pleasing to God. It would serve us well to look at the makeup of this man and others in the Bible of similar character to better understand how we might obtain a similar witness from our Heavenly Father.

The first mention of Enoch is in Genesis 5:18 where it states: Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and became the father of Enoch. The next three verses tell us seemingly little about this man of God, except that he becomes the father of Methuselah at the relatively young age of 65. Remarkably, however, verse 22 tells us that ... Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah. This simple statement of protracted worship by a mortal is not to be rivaled anywhere else in scripture. Even Noah, who lived hundreds of years like his predecessors, did not obtain a witness such as Enoch received. Did Enoch suddenly turn toward God after the birth of his son, or was he a committed follower of the Lord before? All the scripture tells us is that for 300 years after the birth of Methuselah, this man walked with God. To walk with his Maker in undisturbed fellowship for three centuries must have thrilled the heart of the Father. Only a few generations prior, God walked with the original couple in that garden called Eden. Before the Fall, God was taken with Adam and Eve as He fellowshipped with them continually. Now, He had found a man that desired a similar reciprocal relationship of unbroken love. They were quite literally taken with each other. However, there was a difference. The first couple were in that place of innocence as they trusted God as their Father. Enoch, on the other hand, was born of sinful flesh yet walked in humility and brokenness before the Lord. He undoubtedly knew that a Savior would come someday to redeem Him from the predicament of sin. However, the one thing this man of God had on his side was time. Three hundred sixty five years is a long time in our minds to live upon this earth, but maybe it seemed like nothing to Enoch and it certainly wasn't a factor for Yahweh. We know from reading verse 24 that a quite remarkable thing happened. It states that God quite literally took him! This is extraordinary if one considers the significance of this event. If the implication is not certain in the Genesis verse, that suddenly Enoch ... was not, for God took him, it becomes very clear by the text in Hebrews that the man of God disappeared because ... he was not found. How or why this happened, we can only speculate. Did Enoch receive a resurrected body? Quite possibly, since we know that no sinful flesh can dwell in God's presence. Regardless, the point the scripture makes here is that Enoch was pleasing to God and he obtained the witness of God's pleasure by God drawing him home to Glory.

Appropriately, the transliteration of Enoch's name in the original Aramaic text is "dedicated." We might say that this early descendent of the first man was only the first of many throughout the scriptures who likewise obtained the witness through their dedication to the Lord. While none walked in the manner of Enoch, we know that Noah (previously mentioned) along with Job and Daniel were witnessed to by God Himself as being upright men. In Ezekiel 14:14the Lord mentions through the prophet that these men were righteous before their Maker. Both Samson and Samuel were dedicated to the Lord as infants with a Nazirite vow, obtaining the witness of God's pleasure as judges of Israel (Judges 13:7; I Samuel 1:11). Of course, the greatest example of someone walking this earth with God and obtaining the witness was Jesus Christ Himself. As Peter declared to the house of Cornelius, all the prophets bore witness of the coming Messiah and the forgiveness of sins through His redemption (Acts 10:43). Remarkably, the Holy Spirit appears to have borne witness to the words that He was uttering through the apostle's mouth that He indwelt all those present as a result. They too, obtained the witness of the Father (John 5:37) and were taken by God to fulfill His purposes through the spreading of the Gospel to the "uttermost parts of the earth." Unlike the Old Testament saints, all believers in Jesus Christ had the opportunity to be taken for the purposes of God. There was nothing separating men and women from sharing in the presence of God except unbelief. The message to us through this chapter of Acts and the rest of the New Testament is that God desires to take as many as who would believe in His Son. Whoever would believe in the Son will share in the Holy Spirit and thereby obtain the witness.

Heaven looks on this very day to see what our response might be in regard to His wooing. There is loving relationship waiting to be born within us all by the One who created us. As that great "cloud of witnesses" surrounds us, urging us to commit to His care, may we allow Him to take us with abandon (Hebrews 12:1). Our only requirement is to walk with Him, even as Enoch walked with undeniable humility and understanding of our great need for Jesus Christ. And then, like Enoch, we can be taken by our God to live an extraordinary life. Are we smitten with God? Are we free to relinquish our life of unfulfilled desire and walk with Him forevermore? If so, don't be surprised how he takes you, for He most certainly will. It is the promise of obtaining the witness of His pleasure.

Lord, may we obtain the witness by obediently walking with You, day in and day out. May we believe that by the blood of Jesus we are worthy to receive Your Holy Spirit who bears witness of Your eternal love for us all. As we give ourselves more and more to You, everyday, may You draw us irresistibly to Your presence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick