BURDENED

“That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” Joel 2.12

I will never forget the first occasion I had the privilege of speaking to a congregation of people where the average age was over 16 years old. It was a Sunday night at the church I grew up in, Faith Assembly of God. I was terribly nervous because I was addressing the people that have seen me grow from a very immature and aimless teenager to a fairly immature and ambitious young adult. This was a sanctuary, partially, full of adults that I deeply respect, friends that I admire, and religious “old-timers” that have heard and seen it all.

Matter of fact I recall having a brief interaction with one of these said “old-timers” just before our service began. This feisty little old elderly lady gently took me by the hand and calmly gave me the most profound advice anyone has ever given me. She said, “If your message ain’t anointed, just say ‘Amen!’ and get off the stage. No one has time to listen to you ramble all night.”

At the time I didn’t feel her advice was very profound; it actually only made me more nervous and added a feeling of confusion like I was just blindsided by a Mike Tyson size punch. Quickly I reviewed my notes, prayed as hard as I knew how, and asked God to anoint me so this kind lady wouldn’t start a mass exodus in the middle of my message.

Anyhow, as vividly as I remember the events surrounding this special night of launching me into ministry; I remember my message. I was trying to communicate how important salvation is to the sinner (all of us). I recounted the story in Luke 7.36-50 when a sinful woman interrupted a dinner party hosted by Pharisees where Jesus was the guest of honor. The guests of the party scoffed at her interruption and were appalled when she went over and began touching Jesus saying to themselves, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

When this woman entered the room and saw Jesus she “knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” At this, Jesus was neither unpleased with the interruption nor disgusted by her touch.

I’m convinced this woman could feel the weight of her sins which Jesus said, “they are many”. It was this weight that brought her to her knees and caused her tears to flow in the presence of her Savior.

Day 4 of our fast I would like to call us to keep pressing in and turn our hearts toward God. As we fast, I would like for us to pray that God would burden us with the sins of those in our community, on our school campuses, and in our own families. Just as the above verse states let’s turn to God in this time and come to Him with weeping and mourning. Let’s come to God on behalf of students that are without a relationship with Christ. Let’s come kneeling before God like this sinful woman with tears feeling the weight of sin in the lives of students. Ask God to give you a burden for the lost and that burden would turn into a personal passion to lead others to salvation.

Our desire for DEVIATE this year is that we would see 50 students come to know Christ. We can’t accomplish this until we ourselves develop a burden for them.

THE PROMISE

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7.14 {nlt}

I don’t know about you but when I read this verse I can’t help but notice that there is a lot I have to do before I get to the promise. God asks that we first “humble ourselves”, which means we have to overcome our inward desire to control our life’s outcome. Then He asks us to “pray and seek” His face; an outward gesture of our dependence on our Father in heaven to steer our path.

Let’s pause for a moment and consider what this Father steering would look like. I would imagine that if God was in the driver seat of our life we wouldn’t be sitting in His lap as He safely navigated us through life. Nor do I think we would be sitting next to Him in the passenger seat cringing at every stop or turn made that didn’t agree with us. I believe in order for this to really happen the way God designed it to happen we would be in the backseat enjoying the ride. Fully confident in God’s ability to bring us to the place He wants us to be.

Moving on toward the promise God calls us to “turn” and this is where the rubber meets the road. Everything else that God requires us to do up until this point required only an inward commitment. Now God is asking that we take what He is doing to change our inward appearance to produce a change in our outward appearance. I’m reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 15.18 “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.” When we turn from our sin this is an outward proclamation of what God is doing in our own hearts. This last step is most important if we really desire to see the promise come to pass.

God knows that the steps He has laid out for us to take in order for us to take hold of the promise will not come without sacrifice. Consider what we are receiving in return and I’m not even talking about the promise. We are receiving greater intimacy with our Father who longs for us to long for Him.

As we turn to God today in the second day of our fast let’s spend some time confessing and repenting not only for our sins but for the sins of our communities, our campuses, our families, and our nation. Our relationship with God will be strengthened and our desire to grow the Kingdom will be fulfilled.

Heavenly Father, I confess my need for a Savior today. I’m a sinner in need of your grace and mercy. Please forgive me of my sins and allow me to rest in the power of your salvation. Restore the work of your salvation in my community and on my campus so that all may declare their love for you. In your powerful and holy name, AMEN!

SET APART

"That we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6.3 {nlt}

Last night at LAUNCH I had the priviledge of listening to one our DEVIATE staff challenge our students to discover God in their own lives. The point she eloquently made was that in order for us to discover God we must prepare our hearts. She stated that we must consecrate ourselves so that God would know we desire Him over all other things.

This process of being set apart is sometimes difficult because of what we may have to give up. However, if our focus is on what we receive rather than we lose the process can become much simpler. Knowing that God is and will always be all that we need can bring peace to our troubled hearts.

For the next 7 days the staff and students of DEVIATE are fasting and praying. We are consecrating ourselves so that God can use us to reach our community with His love. Our desire is that God use us to bring 50 new students to DEVIATE that have a life changing encounter with Him. We believe that as we press on towards God he will be faithful and respond just as the above verse promises.

Today is Day 1 of our fast and our focus is on praising God for all that He is doing and is going to do in our lives. Join us in praising God for how awesome He is and for the salvation He brings to all of us!

To learn more about our 7 day fast visit http://www.deviatesm.com/seven.htm and print out our 7 day prayer & fasting guide.

Speed the Light is partnering with Convoy of Hope and their desire to respond to the tragedy that has hit Haiti. On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 a 7.0 earthquake struck the country, leveling buildings, cutting off communications, and resulting in many people injured or dead. Convoy of Hope is establishing an emergency command center just outside the city of Port-au-Prince by which food, water, and supplies will be distributed to victims. They are also preparing for the massive recovery process that will be forthcoming. As part of this effort Convoy has requested two necessary vehicles. One will be used in transporting people and food, while the other will be used for both food and construction supplies. Total cost for these vehicles will be approximately $100,000.Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with many of its nearly 10 million residents living in abject poverty. This is an enormous opportunity for the students and parents of the Assemblies of God to arise and respond generously. What an incredible expression of the compassion of Jesus it would be for us to provide these vehicles immediately!

With students and parents from across the nation, we can meet this urgent need.