Prophetic Encouragement
Happy New Year! The New Year is a time for reflection, a time of anticipation, a time of setting goals, and a time for mapping out new priorities.
At this time of year, many of us focus on improving our health, our financial security, relational development, or attaining new levels of spiritual intimacy. However, seldom do I see, gathered into this collection of priorities, the quest for, and the priority of practicing "pure and simple religion."
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James, the brother of Jesus, laid out for us this very noble and achievable goal, which could well be incorporated into our set of resolutions for the New Year: "Caring for widows and orphans in their affliction and need." (James 1:27)
In 2008, there will be an ever-increasing move of God's hand on the hearts of His people with a growing expression of genuine acts of mercy to become "doers of the Word." His love will flood and capture our hearts in new ways. The hearts of His people will move in great number past the walls of the church and out into the open sewers of this world's neglected, destruction and carnage--it is here where the mysteries of the Kingdom will be revealed and the heart of the loving King exposed.
Devotional Teaching
In all of my years of attending church, I have yet to hear teaching on this text: "External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God and the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world." James 1:27 (the Amplified Bible)
My reflections leave me with two questions:
Why did James single out this specific group of individuals as being the object of pure and simple religion?
Why has this group of needy individuals been so overlooked by the Body of Christ?
Hundreds of millions of today's widows and orphans have become "invisible." They walk the streets and attend to the daily necessities of survival in virtual obscurity. They work, they beg, they scavenge for food, and they seek out the most menial of resources with the goal of living another day.
They own nothing, yet they are so exploited. They hurt nobody, yet they are so abused. They ask for so little, yet they are ignored and marginalized. I have never had an orphan ask me for a shirt, a pair of shoes or a bicycle. They will ask you for food or for a few dollars to pay for their school fees. Is this sufficient reason to forsake them in their distress?
Question: Why did James not mention other groups in need of attention? Why did he not single out the handicapped, senior citizens or the persecuted? I believe the answer to this question is found in the very nature and heart of God the Father.
What an "orphan" needs most is a Father. This is the longing of their heart. Is God not the "Father of the fatherless?" Will a true father not meet the most basic needs of His child? Is He not Provider, Protector and perfect Shepherd? Has He not put it in our hearts and exhorted us, through His Word, to do the same?
What a "widow" desires most is a Husband. Is Jesus not the pure Bridegroom? Is He not the perfect Lover? Is His heart not to cover, protect, nurture and provide for His beloved?
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These two attributes, Father and Bridegroom, are the two primary revelations of Who God is, revealed throughout His Word. As we enter into a deeper, personal revelation of His heart as our Father and our Bridegroom, our hearts will be moved to release this revelation to those in such obvious need of it: the widows and the orphans.
Let us walk in 2008 with an action plan to care for the widows and orphans in their affliction and need. No longer will their plight be ignored, no longer will their cries for help be muffled, and no longer will they be paid last--with the last of our giving, the last of our time, and the last of the crumbs from our table.
Jesus set this example in Isaiah 40:11, "He will feed the flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."
This is amazing love in action!
Ralph Bromley with Patricia King
Extreme Prophetic Ministries
Email: info@extremeprophetic.com
Scripture Meditation:
Week One: Isaiah 58
Week Two: Luke 4:14-19
Week Three: Matthew 25:31-46
Week Four: Proverbs 19:17; 21:13; 28:27; 29:7; Ezekiel 16:49; Micah 6:8
Jill Austin: Prayer for the New Year
Below is a prayer excerpt taken from Jill Austin's latest book, Dancing With Destiny: Awaken your Heart to Dream, to Love, to War which you can order from the ElijahList.
Let us all pray this prayer for our New Year:
"God, tenderize my heart again so that I desire to return to You as my first love. Wherever my heart has drifted or gotten lukewarm, return me back to You. God, I give You permission to do whatever it takes to make me wholly Yours. Set my heart on fire for You. Send a holy ambush of Your Spirit into my life to usher me out of the ruts that have hindered me from being a dreamer, a lover and a warrior.
Please forgive me for ___________ (here be as specific as you can be and take as long as you need). Thank You for Your total forgiveness of my sins. That is such a precious gift to me.
How I ache to know You more! Draw me close and speak tenderly to my heart. I want to develop a secret history with You, Lord. Captivate my heart with the gazes of Your eyes. I want to see You face-to-face and not through the lattice, as Your Word says. Put Your seal on my heart so I am fully Yours.
Now, Lord, I ask You to release the fiery whirlwind of Your presence with a fresh impartation of Your heart into my heart. I ask You to revolutionize my life from the inside out. Let an earthquake in my heart break up the fallow ground. Let the lightning of God strike me so that I become God-conscious instead of self-conscious.
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Jesus, I am ready to give up control of my life and put You in charge again. Forgive me for thinking that I know what is best for my life. It is hard for me to let go; the warfare has been so intense and the storms of life so great. But I can see that my way is not working. I am heartsick about my life. I want to run to You and not from You. Give me grace and humility to accept Your timing in my life.
Burn in me a holy desperation and craving for You. I need a profound touch from You, a fresh baptism of fire from the Holy Spirit. I want a force field of Your glory surrounding me so I am dangerous for God. Will You radiate Your love and power through my life so I can do exploits as You promised?
I want to be a carrier of Your glory and go outside the walls of the church, touching people in every arena of life. Lord, I want to know the times and seasons we live in.
Let me see people through Your eyes and not my own; help me feel Your heart for those around me. Break my heart for the lost. Cause revival to burn so deeply in my spirit that others cannot help but be changed by coming in contact with me.
I do not want business as usual, Jesus! I want a radical visitation from You. I must have a visitation. I want an open Heaven over my life. Will You help me to legislate Your mandates from Heaven, to bring them to earth so I see things from Your perspective and not my own? I am asking You for divine strategies so Your Kingdom will come.
Open my eyes so that I can see what is happening in the realm of the Spirit. How I need keen discernment for the days I live in. I want to get Your plans, Your blueprints so I do not build on the "land mines" the enemy has planned for me.
I want my heart to bless Your heart and give You the love that You deserve. Awaken my heart to worship You. I want to be one who desires You only.
Lord, I want to give You my life no matter what the cost. Even as You died for me, help me to be willing to die for You. You are worth everything I have. All I am--my past, present and future--is at the foot of the Cross. Take all of me.
Help me to be a big dreamer with You, dreamer God.
Help me to be an extravagant lover of You, my Bridegroom.
Help me to be a fierce warrior for You, my King. Amen."
May you and your family have a blessed New Year!
Jill Austin
Master Potter Ministries
Email: info@masterpotter.com
Patricia King:
January 17-19, 2008
The School of Deliverance
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites
1600 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa, AZ
Contact: 866-980-5464
Jill Austin:
January 17-19, 2008
Living in His Glory--The Secret Place Gathering
Grace Center
2420 Bethlehem Loop Rd. Franklin, TN
Contact: 615-599-5552 or email jeffrey@encountersnetwork.com
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