CONFESSIONS OF A MARANATHA PASTOR: PART II
CONFESSIONS OF A MARANATHA PASTOR: PART I
THORNS AND THRESHOLDS
In the middle of an intense moment of battle and desperation, God commanded Joshua to debilitate his armies. Why is it that God made them weak, instead of simply making them victorious? It serves us well to find the areas where we’re resisting being made meek and lowly—these are the exact areas God wants to put His glory on display in our lives.
SEEING THE SKY: PART V
THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, AND DEATH OF TRIBAL PARTISANSHIP
SEEING THE SKY: PART IV
THE EXCLUSIVITY OF JESUS
SEEING THE SKY: PART III
SEEING THE SKY: PART II
The Lord is urging us not to be voluntarily ignorant about His return. Not simply because He wants us to ace an eschatological pop quiz, but because our Father wants us to walk in light of His decrees. The nature of His return reveals to us more fully the nature of His character. This is about knowing Jesus better. Those who know Jesus don’t get cut to pieces when He comes back.
LOWLINESS AND LEGACY
Most of us won’t die as martyrs in the face of savage persecution. Most of us will go through our lives trying to stay faithful through bouts of disappointment, suffering, or day to day discouragement. Testimonies like this remind us it’s possible to not only endure, but to find and reflect His triumphant glory in this life. This person endured more suffering than most of us will ever even have to imagine, and came out brighter than most of us will ever shine.
SEEING THE SKY: PART I
Jesus, our Great Shepherd, clearly wants His disciples to discern the season of His return. And He surely does not want us to be led astray from what He is teaching. We are responsible before the Lord for how we steward this crucial subject. But how are we to do so if no one knows the day or hour except the Father?
A WHISPER AFTER FIRE
FOXES HAVE FOXHOLES
To engage in this age, to obey our Commander’s assignment, we must soberly reckon with this age. We must soberly reckon with the Man and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. And we must soberly reckon with the cost. Only cowards take their hands off the plow and turn around. We cannot be cowards. We must count the cost without cowardice.
LED BY WOMEN
Here’s a quick breakdown of what the Lord is doing in places where public expressions of Christianity result in persecution, excommunication, and death: Jesus is saving people. Many of those people are part of a disciple making group. Each person in a group is leading another group. Each of those people are being discipled and are obediently reproducing other groups of disciples that do likewise. And most of those people are women.
OUTWITTED
We’re here to bear one another’s burdens. To help shoulder the messy, weighty responsibility of restoring the person who sinned and coming alongside any other persons affected or involved. If the exposure of another person’s sin makes us feel superior because it’s not something we struggle with, we’re in deception, and we’re being of no use to the brother or sister in sin. We’re just playing into the slanderous symphony composed by the Accuser of the Brethren.
WHOLEHEARTED WEAKNESS
The intensity of the dynamics present on the earth leading up to the return of Jesus can often result in people feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. The magnitude of the disruption coming to planet earth is only going to increase in the years to come. We want to respond to Jesus with wholeheartedness to what He is saying and doing, but what do we do when we feel weak and disqualify ourselves from wholehearted pursuit?
CRYING HEAVEN DOWN TO EARTH
Do you know that God numbers your tears? He is touched by what touches us. May we be touched by what touches His heart. Let us implore Him to come to us. Let us cry day and night. May our tears be as incense rising to the throne. Cry out your tears in this fallen world, and let them have great intercessory meaning. When you are past words, intercede with your tears.
BLESSED ARE THE UNOFFENDED
John the baptizer's life was remarkable even from before he was conceived in the womb. Prophesied by Gabriel, and cousin to Jesus, this man had remarkable clarity on the purposes of God. Jesus Himself called John's life "great"—but he still died alone in a prison, ending with his head cut off. How do we square this up, and remain unoffended?
GRACE ABOUNDING
The Lord invites us in and washes us clean. All too quickly our pride tells us we know better and we set out on our own. But He is relentless in His love, pursuit, and commitment to us, even when we have forgotten our commitment to Him. “Grace Abounding” is a beautiful exploration through these truths. Read this stunning poem by Andrew Cowart, first published in our PILGRIM VOL. III 2020 Field Journal.