DARKNESS

What is it in the Scriptures that really grab your attention? Is it a passage, a book, a verse, a phrase, or even a single word?

It was dark from the 6th to the 9th hour!
I heard these words, and tears formed in my eyes, immediately. There was no mistake about the impact of these words. My heart was breaking, because of God’s amazing love. Hundreds of images flashed through my mind. There were images of people, and situations. More important, is the scenario associated with that particular darkness for three hours.
It is a period in time, specific to when Jesus was hung on a cross, for execution. Impaled was the Holy Son, of the living God. Condemned by a world filled with hate, greed, piety, selfishness, etc. Jesus surrenders his life and dies!!!

Darkness!! What does this represent?
- God the Father backing off from His creation.
- Three hours where the Devil had an unrestricted opportunity to reign.
- The sorrowful heart of God, expressed to the world.
- A world left to it’s own devices.
- The real burden that Jesus was carrying.
- The real state of the world with out God.

What does this darkness represent?

Luke 23:44
By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours— (Message)

DRY GROUND

Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (KJV)

A tender plant . . . out of dry ground.

Jesus the son of the living God, born of Mary, in a town called Bethlehem. How much more vulnerable can Deity become.

The world that Jesus entered was arid, in regard to personal man – God relationships. A real desert spiritually speaking, for the One and Only son of the living God, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Surely it was the abundance of love, grace, and truth, which was the sustaining influence that nurtured him to really on his Heavenly Father.

Lord, thank you for being a tender shoot in dry ground. Amen.

TENDER SHOOT

In the windows of the ‘Farming Studies’ classrooms that faced into a corridor there were specimen jars with seeds that had germinated, and were transforming into plants, in various stages of growth suspended in alcohol solution. As a teenage student at this Technical College the contents these windows and jars were always fascinating. Although not involved with farming studies, the different stages of growth on view stirred my interest when using that corridor.

To see the earth parting, and the green shoot of a germinated seed, pushing its way up to the sunlight is just an awesome sight. The tender, vulnerable shoots, pushing their way through the earth to the sun, with great strength.

I am reminded of another tender shoot, Jesus.



Isaiah 53:2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (KJV)

Lord, thank you for being a tender shoot in dry ground. Amen.

AS BEFORE

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. (NIV)

AS BEFORE!!!

I have always sat enthralled, as the adventures of the previous generations have been recounted. Whether they are from the history of the local Corps, or from the experiences of Officers’ involved in ministry. As the stories are retold, the amazing thing is the sense of joy, excitement, and passion about the times being shared. More often than not, many of the occasions have been victories through some really tough events and times.

Perhaps if there are people that have influenced, encouraged, and inspired you, an honour roll could be shared. Lord God, we give you praise for the saints who have been influential in our lives, and who are in glory with you, like, Toppie Whiteley, Ted & Lillian Nowell.

Many young people are seeking to do ministry today with the same enthusiasm that was evident in the pioneers. The Youth, are also seeking to be pioneers into new mission areas. This is really exciting!!!

Is this the same ‘as before’, or ‘back to the future’?



Lord, you have been the all sufficiency of those who have gone before; now refresh your people in this day. Amen.

Be GLAD! REJOICE!

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. (NIV)

Be Glad!!! Rejoice in the Lord!!!

What is there to be glad and rejoice about? You may have many situations in your own life that are specific to you, that will cause you to be glad and rejoice. If that were the case then this inhabitants’ of this world would like to know your story. Shout it from the rooftops, - oooh, well, in the shopping centres, in the work place, on the sporting field, in the family, in worship, etc…

Together, let us be glad and rejoice for the young people in The Salvation Army. The teenagers and young adults who have a deep hunger for the Word of God, and desire to be all that God wants them to be. A Royal Priesthood, and a Holy Nation, a people belonging to God, to declare the Praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His wonderful light.

This is an age where the young people are receiving an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Showers of blessing, for ministry to a world, that needs to know how to have a personal relationship with their Creator, and Saviour, Jesus.


Lord, continue the autumn and spring rains of righteousness on the young people, so they may be continually refreshed by your Holy Spirit in their spirit, soul, and body. Amen.

REFRESHMENT

Joel 2:23
Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. (NIV)

Our Nation is experiencing drought conditions, over a large area of the continent. Some talk about global warming, and the problems of greenhouse gas emissions, which will continue to inflict pain on the natural processes of nature, and continue to produce climate change with a negative effect.
There are areas that have coped with a lot over the last few months. Firstly the harshness of the drought next was savage bush fires, then floods. All in the same area

Thinking about the autumn rains, I am reminded that they are refreshing after the hot dry summer, and also the beginning of the restoration of our reservoir resources for the next hot dry period. This applies to the natural world, and also our spiritual life, where the surrounding elements can be harsh.

Lord, help us to receive the refreshment our spirit, soul, and body, require. Amen.

Let's protect the children!

"We haven't changed our policy in relation to land rights generally. But whatever is needed to be done in the process of establishing a safe society for indigenous children will be done. That is more important to me than anything else. It's more important than any doctrine or philosophy." (Prime Minister John Howard)

Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough likewise believes intervention of this kind only comes once in a generation. "Clearly, in domestic terms, it's the largest intervention I can recall ever in my lifetime," he says. "Can't think of anything else like it. It's the one opportunity to do what people have been crying out for - to repair the damage of years of failure."

I wonder about an unrighteous nation, trying to fix the unrighteous acts of their people.
We as a nation, stole their land, killed their people, raped their women, stole their children, disempowered their law, enslaved their freedom, ruined their culture, polluted their morals, and gave them addictions, etc.

Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

WHERE

Joel 2:17
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (KJV)

Where is their God? Here is a question that focuses on the very existence of the Lord God himself. The enquirer is not interested in ‘where’, as a particular place. In a sinister way, the emphasis is on the assertion, “He is not”
Sadly, when this question is raised today, ‘the Church’ (You and I), has to take responsibility for the lack of evidence of God’s working in, and around His people. Our failure to be a fruitful vine, whose harvest is a display of the Lord’s presence, has it’s own reward, both in, and around our lives.

Lord, forgive us for bringing dishonour to Your Kingdom. Amen.

WEEP

Joel 2:17
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (KJV)

On many occasions, the Lord has led his leaders to a place where they could sit, and view their city. This may be from a mountain, or raised area, where the physical landscape is visible. The view could also be from the leader’s favourite place for prayer, as a result of understanding the patterns and mosaics of society that building a picture, or spiritual map.

Lord, lead us to the place where we can weep in your presence! Amen.

HELP LORD

Joel 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (Message)

The Lord is requiring the leadership in The Church, to stand together before the Lord in common prayer for the people. This is the time for the whole Church to stand united, before the Lord. Seeking to follow the Lord with a unity of spirit, and purpose, dispelling all aspects of dysfunctional worldliness. Moving forward together, under the Holy leadership of the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings.

The Nation is largely unaware of The Church, only seeing isolated pockets, in denominational frameworks and structures. These frameworks, are identified by the world, rather than the glory and the majesty of the Lord.

Who in their right mind would live in an house, where only the framework has been assembled? Suffering in the elements, without a roof, floor, and walls, to shelter and protect. The world is ruling God's people, rather than God's people leading, and influencing the world to stand in awe of the Lord.

Lord, forgive our isolationist disunity. Reveal your plan to your Church, and heal the disease of disunity. Lord let your Glory shine!! Amen.

Prophets

Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! (KJV)