Elim Family Worship Centre

Selah List for February 15 2010 - The Look of Love

I’m sure you recall the song “The Look of Love is in Your Eyes”. I’ve been thinking about the look of love in the eyes of Jesus in the past few days, and  re-reading instances in the scripture where His look changed people, and even changed circumstances.

Mathew was a tax collector.  Tax collectors were not popular, as their purpose in life was to fleece the people. Jesus, however, made an appointment with him one day. We read in Luke 5, verse 27: “And after this Jesus went out and looked attentively at a tax collector named Levi (Mathew) sitting at the tax office; and He said to him. Join Me as a disciple and side with My party and accompany Me” We go on to read that Mathew gave everything up, there and then, and immediately became a disciple of Jesus.  In fact, he even threw a party for a large number of his tax collector friends so that they could meet Jesus as well.

One wonders what kind of look Jesus gave Mathew.  It must have been a wonderful, totally inspirational look of deep love that pierced through all of Mathew’s defences.  He knew that he was regarded as one of the hated ones of society. He must have felt a certain rejection from those around him. Yet that deep look of Jesus changed everything, so much so, that his choice of livelihood was given up, so that he could become a follower and disciple of the Lord.

Peter was another disciple who was totally changed by a joining of the eyes, between himself and the Lord. This occasion happened immediately after he had denied the Lord three times.  The Lord had told him that this would happen, when in bravado, Peter had declared his undying love for his master, and had even vehemently declared that he would even die for Him. Jesus walked through the courtyard, being led by His captors, just after Peter had denied Him the third time.  We cannot begin to imagine the intensity of that look.  One thing for sure it wasn’t a look of “See Peter I told you that this would happen, how could you do that to me?”   No it would have been more a look of “Don’t worry Peter, I haven’t denied you, I’m holding on to you, because I love you with a love that you haven’t even begun to experience yet, but you will”.  We read in that account that Peter wept deeply and bitterly, this was Peter’s sanctification time. This was the moment when he would really begin to come into deep union with the Lord.

Peter and John, after the day of Pentecost are on their way to the prayer meeting.  They meet a man, crippled from birth, begging at the gate ‘Beautiful”.  The first thing Peter says to the man is “Look at me”.  The man fixes his gaze on Peter, and the outcome is that he is totally healed.   The community gets freaked out. They all know this man. They are beside themselves with wonder at this sign.  It seems as we read this account in Acts, that this one occasion sparks multiplication of the church, because the number grows from 3,000 to 5,000, in a very short period.

I believe the Lord is saying to His church right now.  “Look at Me”.  I have a download of love for you, that is going to change you, your circumstances, and even your cities.  The fact is that as we look on Him, His look also becomes our look as we minister to others on His behalf.   The gospel of the kingdom is all about His love.  This is what we are to spread.  It’s all about the good news of the gospel.  Getting back to Mathew, his dinner party was full of what the Pharisees called pre-eminently sinful characters.  Yet these were the very ones that Jesus loved, and wanted to bring to Himself.

I don’t know about you, but I need to continually look on Him. I need that daily look of love, so that I can represent Him truthfully on the earth.  After all “God is love”

Think on these things

Blessings on you and your household

Janet.

Selah List for February 8 2010 - Half of My Kingdom

Some months ago, I felt the Lord brought to my attention the phrase: “I will give to you up to half of my kingdom”. I ended up speaking to our local church on that phrase.  This week, the same phrase came back to me, and so I decided to write this devotional on the subject.

There are two striking occasions when this phrase is used, one in the Old Testament, and one in the New. The one in the New Testament is when the daughter of Herodias dances before King Herod.  Herodias is actually the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod and Herodias seem to be on the same page, when it comes to disobeying the laws of God. Herodias in fact detests John the Baptist, because John was very vocal in pointing out to this couple their wrong doing.

What was, no doubt, a lewd dance, so pleases Herod that he makes this statement found in Mark 6, verse 23: “Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom”.  Herodias seizes the day, and tells her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist, whom she detests.

John the Baptist who carried the spirit of Elijah, and who came onto the stage of time to prepare the way of the Lord, is killed. Favour has been used wickedly to obstruct God’s purpose.

In the old testament, this same phrase is used by King Ahasuerus to Queen Esther, when she  is strategically  working out the plan to save the lives of all the Jews, who the wicked Haman has decided to annihilate. When Esther approaches the King, she finds favour, the sceptre is extended to her, and this phrase is used, found in Esther  5 verse 3.” What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom”

Two very different scenarios, with two very different outcomes.  One has an outcome of DEATH, and the other of LIFE.

There is an application here for us. We are living in such wonderful days of grace and favour.  We too have had His sceptre outstretched to us. We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus.  We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry out Abba. We are sons, He is our most personal Father.  However, due diligence must be given to how we use the favour given to us.  There is such a tendency in these days to cater to one’s own agenda, using God given kingdom authority to become famous, instead of making Him the Famous One.   The body of Christ may not be guilty of actually physically beheading a prophet, but certainly,  when self indulgence is promoted in the name of Jesus, the Head is in fact being decapitated. He must always be the Head of the church.

Esther used her favour for the good of her people.  She knew that she could be in a precarious position, but was ready to put her own life on the line, for the freedom of others.  Their wellbeing was her agenda.  If we are to walk in kingdom authority, which speaks of partnership with the Lord, doing what He says, going where He is going, praying what He is praying, then our agenda will become His agenda. This  agenda is for our own individual communities, Canada, and the nations of the world.  You know, Herodias and her daughter may have been able to bring John the Baptist’s earthly life to an end  that day, but the spirit of Elijah lives on, in and through us. If we are using our kingdom partnership with the Lord in a holy way, then we too are heralding His coming; we too are preparing even today the Way of the Lord.  There are multitudes still in the valley of decision, waiting to have their death sentence lifted off.  Let’s use our kingdom partnership wisely like Esther did.  These are days of favour and days of grace.  Let’s use our favour to see His name glorified and His kingdom to become extended.

Think on these things

Blessings on you and your household

Janet.