The other day I encountered a homeless man who was demon possessed.
How did I know? Well, when you know, you know. You know?
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There I am sitting in my car. Praying asking Abba, "How do I glorify your name?"
Trying not to make eye contact with the man who is at this point being what most would consider "belligerent."
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.
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How do I glorify your name in this situation Lord [feeling sort of pleased that I am SEEING things the Lord cares about! .... Right?.... right? ...........]
"Ask him if he wants to be free."
Uh. What? Abba how do I glorify your name from over here in the "safety" of my car?
"Ask him if he wants to be free."
Surely not, Abba. What if he is violent? What if I pray and nothing happens? Surely... You are sovereign! It will glorify your name if I am not involved and have my pride get in the way. I will pray for him now.
"Do you trust me?"
Yes?
"Ask him if he wants to be free."
.
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Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Lord, Help me not be such a coward. Lord, why am I such a miserable let down. [As I drive home.]
"You are my son but you do not trust me. I love you but you do not Trust Me."
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John 15 : 1-17
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He trims so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. The branch cannot itself produce fruit, unless it abides on the vine. Likewise, you cannot produce fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and is dried up. Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned.
7 “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 8 In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.”
9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you. Abide in My love! 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. [a] 13 No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
15 “I am no longer calling you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. Now I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I selected you so that you would go and produce fruit, and your fruit would remain. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
17 “These things I command you, so that you may love one another.”
Abba has chosen US.
He has and does Love US.
but fear and distrust come in between us and the master. Keeping us in the place outside the camp. Or if in the camp, in servanthood.
He has invited us in. Called us friend.
It is easy to pray to be apart of what God is doing. Hard to walk in the truth and lay down yourself for the betterment of others.
How selfish I was for not laying my fear down in the moment.
Here I sit, in freedom ( clearly not fully free as F E A R still controls me.... Onwards and Upwards. One step at a time....).
That man is lost. Literally demon possessed.
How could I NOT ask him if he wanted freedom... To meet the creator?
Fear was greater than Love in that moment.
Yet "Perfect Love casts out fear..."
I was not operating out of the Father's love in that moment. In my fear I drew back instead of drawing near to him.
Matthew 15:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Abba, Please forgive me for my fear. I am so sorry for not stepping out in faith and trusting you. I am so sorry for not Loving that man as I should. Help me. I repent of my fear. Help me, please.
Today, Cast off your fear.
Pray for someone you encounter.
Literally. Pray and ask Abba to bring someone to your attention that you may practice stepping out in BOLDNESS.
In the meantime, Pray for your community. Pray for your family. Pray for repentance for yourself and for others to be brought to repentance.
Only in Repentance can we truly be free.
Abba, I repent of my belief that I am not worthy. Not capable of love. That I am broken.
Abba, I repent of my fear of Death (thanks Chrissy...).
Abba, I repent of the fear of failure, when its your work I am apart of.
Abba, I repent of living like the servant who buried his talent given by the master in the ground...
...Extra Credit...
LORD I BELEIVE, PLEASE GOD HELP MY UNBELIEF.
A song to cry to...
{Not the best recording, it clips a bit. but still worth listening to.}