Seeking His Face: Daniel Nine

Why seek His Face?

Because of Who He is PLUS we are called to!

How? Desert Fathers did it. Mission trips might help. Deep devotional acts might be the way to go. But it is simple yet hard to do. There is a real pull from the World BUT...

I turned to the Lord…seek His Face and not His Hands.

Seek First the kingdom of God...

pleaded with Him

If it was stated that they would return in 70 years, why pray? Answer: It is our role/purpose/right/to do this.

in prayer and petition: Request or appeal for action from a higher power.

in fasting: abstention from all or certain types of food, especially as an act of religious observance. Draw attention to the real needs of the soul...not the body. Fast for one meal, one day--40 days, or over 70 days like the ‘Heavenly Man.’

in sackcloth and ashes. Clothes made from the type of coarse cloth usually used for sacks, which were worn as a sign of mourning or penitence. Visual, in the open, humble act, not seen much anymore… but a sign of complete humbleness. Worn for a season of time. This word was used 47 times in Bible:

First used in Gen 37:34 when Jacob tore his clothes and put this on and mourned for Joseph’s ‘death’. In 1 Kings 21:27, King Ahab put this on and fasted and went around meekly. Esther, Job, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, the two Witnesses in Rev 11 for 3.6 years or 180 weeks or 1,260 days---all use this as a sign/object of an inner sense of sadness or remorse.

I prayed and confessed--
Identified with the people-- “We” this “We” that ... used this form FOUR TIMES in this passage.

Verse 7: Drawn to look at Him
Your are righteous when you look at Him, you see His quality: you see His Character of being RIGHTEOUS! What does that enlist? Praise AND seeing yourself as you really are! but this day WE ARE COVERED WITH SHAME!

You have scattered us ... because of our unfaithfulness to You
We are covered with shame
BECAUSE we have sinned against You.

Your are Merciful Nehemiah 9:13 But in Your great mercy You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God.

You are Forgiving Ps 86:5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

even though we have rebelled against Him
We have not obeyed the Lord
or kept the Law He gave through His servants
ALL Israel has transgressed You Law

ALL Israel has turned away
ALL Israel has refused to obey

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

THEREFORE curses and sworn judgments
have been POURED out on us
because WE have sinned against YOU!

YOU have fulfilled the WORDS YOU spoke against US.

(even) yet, we have not sought Your FAVOR by turning from our sin WHY?
Selfishness on our part to the MAX!

(or to) give attention to YOUR TRUTH

...for the LORD our God is righteous in everything He does--yet we have not obeyed Him(!)

Please look with me at the passage in Luke 18:1-8. When we ask the question WHY did Daniel pray for such a long period on something he knew was going to happen, I believe this parable of Jesus will help us. There is an emphasize that “we should always pray and not give up.” His disciples most likely remembered and retold this story as they passed the hours, reeling from the trauma and the wonder of resent events and patiently anticipating His promise of another helper.

The teaching of that parable is what? Never give up.

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
"Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days--the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race." ~ Winston Churchill's famous "Never give in" speech of 1941 to the students at Harrow School.

Here we have Daniel, getting down on his knees for three weeks, passionately and with perseverance, in prayer, because he believed the strong promise of his God that He would do all this in 70 years. Still, after those three weeks, we still find him persevering in prayer.

He fasted.
He prayed.
He confess.
He identified with the sins of his nation.

Long in this spiritual warfare--trying not to change His mind nor that God is slow to act, but to lay hold of His highest willingness.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This kind of Power of Pray reverses the Fall, in which Adam pushed for his self-control of life. We fight this battle along with Daniel so that we too can say, “Not my will but Yours be done.”

We fight in Prayer with God to liberate enemy-occupied territory, all the time knowing the victory is certain but the length of the battle is not certain.

Some material for this sermon was found in Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig:
a GREAT book of the 24/7 Prayer Movement.

Next week: For Your Sake. Daniel 9:15-23
Next week is Father's Day. Plan to attend and help celebrate Dad-hood by wearing your best Hawaiian Shirt (or your most comfortable summer shirt). This is also the time for our monthly Covered Dish (Bring food to share with others). Next Sunday the service will start at 10:30 BUT the week after, the Worship Time will be at 10:00 AM...summer schedule!
See you there!

First Sunday

Today, we celebrate the Lord's Table.  Communion.  The last meal our Lord shared with His Followers before He went to the Cross.  In that upper room, Jesus gave a new meaning to the Passover.  He was to be the Passover Lamb.  He was to give Himself as the final sacrifice for sin.  And He said that as often as you drink of the cup and eat the bread, do this in memory of Me.

Three days later, this event happened.  You can find it in Luke 24:13-27. 

Luke 24:13-27 (The Message)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

[The Message at Navpress] [NavPress]

The Road to Emmaus

13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

17-18 He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

19-24 He said, "What has happened?"

They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

25-27 Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. 

They did not even see Him!  They had been with Jesus for over three years and this man who came along side them, they did not recognize Him.  They shared their pain with Him.  They shared their questions.  They shared their heart with this stranger.  And when they were finished, Jesus told them, FROM the SCRIPTURES ALL that was told of the Messiah.  It ALL pointed to this Jesus they had loved so!  From Moses on, Jesus gave them an on-the-road Bible School.  ALL the verses in the Bible!  It all pointed to Jesus.

Then, it looked like He was going to walk on so the two men asked Him to join them at the inn.  He said yes and sat with them at the table.  He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them.

THEN, their eyes were opened!  Then they saw it was Jesus!

                     And then He disappeared!

They responded: 

"Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

You see, if He just showed Himself to them on the road, we all would need to see Jesus that way.  "Here I am!  It is Me!  Now, look at the Scriptures!"  But Jesus did not do that.  Instead, He pointed to the Word of God.  "In the Bible, you will know of Me.  I am there!  Look for Me!  Find Me!  Believe in Me!"

You can understand now why the Bible is so important.  The Bible is the Love Letter FROM GOD to us.  It not only points the way, the Bible points The Only Way.  It is Jesus.  He is to known and understood by believing in the Word He provided for us to have.

And that is why people not so far from our little Fellowship carry Bibles undercover to bring God's Word to the many who do not have Bibles.  That is why they would risk going to prison and even torture so other's in their land could hold and read this Book.  

Because of the secret nature of what goes on with this ministry in bringing the Bible into closed lands, I cannot say any more.  But, you role...no your privilage is to hold these men and women from the closed countries and those from other lands who help bring the Living Word of God to them up in prayer.

Would you pray for the Underground Church in these closed countries?  They risk their very life to share this Message of Hope and forgiveness.  Would you pray for them?  Not that it becomes easier for them, but, at their request, that the West does not fold or underestimate the Power of Prayer.  They are going thru some hard times for the sake of the Gospel.  Hold them up in prayer.

As our speaker pointed out this morning, from Colossians 1:3-6 

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.  (NIV)

May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, now and forever more!  Amen!

Next week: Daniel 9.

Check out this site!

http://rjcnetwork.org/

I just was sent this address and wondered: "Why had I not thought of this before now!"  Thanks to an old time friend, Don Wright, RJC is reaching many Japanese who travel to the US for vacation, home stays, work related travel or study.  If you know of any Japanese who are going to the US or Canada, give this web site to them. There is also a Japanese section.  

Much thanks!

"Calling Home" Daniel's Prayers, Part 2

I remember the great family movie a while back dealing with an ET. He needed to call home. Daniel was a lot like him. He never forgot about wanting to go home.  

Back in 1872, Dwight L. Moody attended an early morning prayer meeting in a hay storage place in Ireland. During that time, he heard a man say something that made a deep impression on him. 

A number of years later, he was attending the church where Charles Spurgeon was preaching. He said the same thing in his message “The world has yet to see what God can do with, and for, and through, and in the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to God’s Will” and Moody bowed his head and prayed to be that kind of man. The rest is history. A great teacher/Bible preacher, founder of a Bible College in Chicago, Ill., Moody was never the same again. He, in a way, was wanting to go home too. This place was not his home. It was being prepared by His Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who said that He would prepare such a place for men and women who follow Him.  

Daniel most likely would not see his own home land again. He was taken as a prisoner of war into Babylon and there, he was to stay, live and work and die. But, he was forever aware of the facts from the Word of God, that after 70 years of captivity, Israel would be allowed to return to her beloved homeland - the City of David, Jerusalem.  

Daniel was well aware of the cost involved. In the New Testament, we find:  

1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

I believe Daniel understood that concept even when it had not been written yet. He was longing for the answer that was promised him and all of the exiled: Return Home. Enter your rest! 

It was promised yet he prayed for that return. He took his prayers before the Father of Heaven and interceded for himself and Israel. Both needed to be ready for that return. Three times a day, he stopped his work--a very busy government worker--and went to his room and bowed down facing Jerusalem and prayed to his God.

There has not been anyone in the world who was more busy as Daniel was. The pressures of working in the secular work place was more real for him than it is with us. His boss could terminate a worker simply because he did not like his face--or his family--or because he just wanted to kill someone. A real tough boss, that is for sure!

I wonder what kind of a prayer he spoke out three times a day. I wonder if he grew tired or if his mind wandered off into other things...events...topics. I wonder if he was distracted by the sounds of a pagan people worshipping their gods. I wonder if he grew tired of this three time a day routine. 

Wonder no longer.

 Daniel 6:10, we can hear what he said. 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

Would you have done the same? Hard to know now, but if he had heard what Moody heard, and if you remember what Charles Spurgeon repeated, would it help?

Daniel prayed and gave thanks to his God. And he was almost killed for that! Yet it did not stop him. When man tries to dictate what is right and what is wrong when it is contrary with what God says, what should be our response? In a fair world, that would not happen, but we are not living in a fair world! This world is not our home. We are just passing thru on our way to our real home...the home that is being prepared for us by our Father--to be with Him.  

 John 14:23, Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

We have the destiny to live with the God of the Universe! Jesus called it Our home. With Him. Think of that!

   Hebrews 11:35-39, we find this: 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.) because they were looking to another homeland…

One of results of these prayers of Daniel, even when prayer was against the Law of the land, was that Daniel would be arrested and placed into the lion’s den. 

  Daniel 16:11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?" 
      The king answered, "The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."

 13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

 15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."

 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" 

Things do not go easy for those who call on the Lord. He knows how much we can bare but in 

1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

That has to do with temptation... not pain..not heartache. Think of those people in the Hebrew passage, Daniel, even Jesus, Himself, God did not spare them the pain nor the grief. They walked thru it with His Grace and His Power, just like the Grace and Power Daniel prayed for in our talk last week. And for the same reason: To the Glory of God.

We are not to come to Jesus for the blessing. Not for the praise or prize. Not even for the answers. We come to Him so He is lifted up and praised. Same with us this morning. We tend to look to His Hands for the blessing but He is encouraging us to look to His Face - ALONE! 

Lord, I’m Yours...and whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I’m not here on earth to do my thing, or to seek my fulfillment or my glory. I’m not here to indulge in my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I’m somebody important, or to promote myself. I’m not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I’m here to please You. Amen. 

(That is the prayer of my heart, and I know that I have much to learn until it is really true.)

Prayer in Daniel

Much of Daniel deals with dreams, interpretation of dreams, visions and miraculous demonstrations of God’ Hand in the life of Daniel. Not only in his life but in the Jewish nation while in Exile in Babylon.

Daniel, we learn, was a son of a family of the Royal household or of nobility. He was from the privileged class--big deal, because he was a prisoner of war, taken from his home land and brought into a very pagan country. He was also a very good looking young man who was both strong and smart. Daniel 1:4 fills in the info on him. We do not know what family line he comes from except that he was from either Judah or Benjamin's family line as he was from the Southern Kingdom.

After three years of pampering and learning, he and his fellow exiles were to work for the King of Babylon. As you may remember, there was a problem about food and drink. Daniel and his three friends wished not to defile themselves with the foods offered to the pagan gods. An agreement was reached and the four Jewish boys ended up being stronger and wiser than the rest, thus advancing in the household of the King. It reads in Daniel 1:17…

The first recorded prayer in Daniel is found in Daniel 2:20. He was asking God for a very big answer to an almost impossible request--that is, impossible for men but not for God. Here is the problem. The king had a disturbing dream and he wanted his wise men to tell him the interpretation without telling them what the dream was. If they did not, he would have them all killed.

Daniel 2:10-11

The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."

Let’s read this prayer together.

Daniel 2:20-23

and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king."

Let’s look at these verses and find out just how Daniel prayed and what was it He was asking/proclaiming.

#1 Centered on Praise to the Name of God.

Daniel was addressing the ONE True Living God who was for all time, without end or beginning. This Personal God made Himself known to the people of Israel from the very start. Abraham knew Him as the One who just started to talk with him. He gave Abram such a blessing. Gen. 12:1-3. Melchizedek called Him “God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” (Gen. 14:19.) Moses was introduced to Him as “I AM THAT I AM”.

THIS IS THE SAME GOD DANIEL CALLED ON!
Daniel called upon this God Who was filled with Wisdom and Power.

That is a good place to start.
We read from the Psalms a great many verses concerning praise going to God.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the LORD Most High.

Ps 8:2 From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Ps 9:1 I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

Ps 18:3 I call to the LORD, Who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Ps 18:46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Ps 28:6 Praise be to the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

Ps 33:1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him.

That is only a few out of over 100 verses from Psalms concerning this praise issue. It is good that we praise our God. He is worthy of our praise, He is the center of our praise. He is to be praised! Jesus was asked to stop people from praising Him when He entered the City, that last time. He did not, He could not! The rocks would sing out IF people did not praise Him.

That is our place to praise Him. To seek His Face and not first to seek His hands. Seek first who He is and not what He can do for us.

We should seek Him because He is who He is. We should not seek Him for only what we can get out of Him. He is no dealer of things. No mere dishing out gifts to the first to call on Him.

We are to seek Him! Seek His Face.
And to seek His face in Praise for who He is!

Daniel recognized that his God was to be praised. He speaks of the things this God of his has: He has Wisdom and Power.

Wisdom is not the sort of thing one finds on a job resume nowadays. Too bad. I see old men working in the bank greeting visitors or at the market place, handing out baskets. At one time, these men were in positions of power and influence. I have talked to some of them and learned that they were very bilingual, well traveled, well placed in Industry. With their collective wisdom, whole corporations were formed. Such wisdom from these old men. Now, the young pass them by. They don’t learn from the years of experience they had lived out.

How much MORE wisdom the Lord of the Universe have than a score of these men. No one can match His Wisdom. Wisdom is more than a car trade name, wisdom is the whole of all knowledge. It is accumulated knowledge of life that has been gained through experience.

WHO has more experience than God? Think of the questions God asked Job.

Job 40: 2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who accuses God answer Him!"

9 Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like His?

Job 38:33-38 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? "Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind?

Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?

And Power. He did it all: the stars in the heavens, the fish in the sea, the birds of the air. This God had the power of the wind and oceans in the palm of His Hand. This whole universe and all that it beyond it is in His Control.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

#2 Deals with the Greatness of His Control

21 He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

His Control is beyond limit. As we could see so far, He was before there was time and He will last forever into Eternity. Put your head around that one! His God Daniel is serving in exile has the great Power to change not only people’s hearts toward Him but also He has the Power to change the times and seasons...at His will. It is a passing thing in this prayer but we have seen such things in biblical history and in our time. His Story of how He caused the seasons to change all over the world so that there are persist seasons for growing, for harvesting.

He did it all.

And He sets up leaders at His will and to bring certain other leaders to fall. We look at things in Europe and those of us who remember, the Wall coming down was a direct answer to the prayers of many in the world who wanted only the wall to fall. Certain governing forces lost their grip on the land and freedom blossomed.

This God of Daniel is able to give wisdom to those who ask for it!

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But certainly more than that!

Colossians 2:2-4 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

We started by saying that the FIRST recorded prayer is Daniel 2, but there must have been one before this as THIS prayer was one of thanksgiving to his God for answering his request so well.

“...He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of You, You have made known to us the dream of the king."

Now that God HAD indeed given Daniel the meaning of the dream, Daniel was free to express his thankfulness and to give his God all the praise due His Name. Daniel might have said: I thank and praise You...You gave me wisdom (something that was attributed to/with God) You made this mystery known to me--just what we asked for! He is God and He has done it!

Last weekend, about 200 people joined in prayer for Japan and to seek the face of God. The Global Day of Prayer’s theme verse (see web site: www.gdopjapan.com) was even sung in a Jewish song. It went like this:

2 Chron 7:14-15

“...if My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”

THIS is just what Daniel’s God was waiting for: a People or in this case, a person or group of people who have turned toward the Lord’s Face to seek His Good pleasure.

To seek His face. Not really His Hand, but it came that way because of the Grace of God.

To the Glory of God!

Community: What's in a Name? It Tells Your Story

Daniel had a story to tell.
His name said a mouth full! God is my Judge. Think of the power behind that name!

In fact, most of the children in the Bible were named by their father. One did not, Benjamin, Rachel’s and Jacob’s boy. His mother was dying giving birth to him and wanted to call him Ben-Oni. Meaning “son of my sorrow.” Dad said no, he intervenes and renames the boy child Benjamin--meaning “Son of my right hand.”

This was a very important move on Jacob’s part. The boy will not draw his identity from a dying mother or from her sorrow but from the father who needs his support. It was an active intervention. It had to be.

As with our lives, few of us were named by ourselves. You could change your name in a court of law. Ten Million: Baseball player from the 1910s. Moon Unit Zappa, Reverend Canaan Banana, first President of Zimbabwe. An American man changed his name to Trout Fishing in America. Will Power: Australian Champ Car driver. A daughter of a Texas Governor Hogg named Ima Hogg. What were they thinking?

What is your name and what does it mean?

As a Believer, we had been given a new name that is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Our name becomes, Christian, Believer, Chosen One, Dearly Beloved, My Child, Ransomed. Other?
Our Name is important for a few reasons:

1. It identifies us as to Who’s we are.

2. It gives us Hope.

3. It sets a future in our lives.

Jesus calls His Followers names as well.

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. 

This speaks of deep intimacy.  

All over the New Testament, you can read of people who were named: Simon, Agabus, Timothy, Bar-Jesus, Rhoda, Cornelius, Saul, Tabitha, Gamaliel, Lazarus, Nicodemus. Why? Names are important. Does God know your name?

When there is a gathering here at ICCS, like the covered dish, we have placed outside in the hallway, name tags for us to sign and put on so that people we do not know us and will learn our names. It is part of the getting to know you sort-of-thing.

IS that the depth of the knowing? Just our names? Do we really know each other that well? Are we even wanting to know people? 

Relationships are really hard to work with when one side does not bother to add to the relationship. It is a two-way street. Give and take. I tell you this and you tell me that. Should not be one-sided all the time, but there are times when one does more of the giving than the other. It is one way we make friends. 

Not everyone is at ease with putting on a name tag. Some have said to me, “I think they know who I am…” or “Don’t like them.”  Whatever. We will continue to use them for those who like them. Some need to SEE the name to remember it.

As far as our relationship with God, in the Person of Jesus, the Bible teaches us that there is not one way to build a relationship with Him, but several--... but only one way to KNOW Him. To come to Him with whatever you are dealing with--your pain, joy, hurt, problems, conflicts, sins, anger, frustrations, burdens, worries, hatred, whatever you have, but come to Him through Jesus alone.

Therein you will find forgiveness. There you will find peace. You will find His love. Become clean before Him. All the sin was washed away by the Blood He shed on the Cross. By His Strips we are healed. He took the punishment for our sins SO THAT we do not have to! He suffered on our behalf, so that once we place our Faith in Him, God, when He looks on us, only sees the Blood of His Dear Son covering us and declares us redeemed!

Once our sins are covered and the penalty is paid by Jesus, THEN community begins. We are given our new name: Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus. 1. This identifies us as to Who’s we are.

There was a story of a man in Alexander, the Great Army who fled from battle. He was brought before his king who was a fierce fighter and general. The king was told of his crime and became angry. He then asked the man what his name was. The man weakly said something under his breath. The king said “Louder!” The man fell back and sputtered out: “alexander, sir”. “What did you say?” “ALEXANDER!” Then, Alexander the Great said, “You either change your name OR change the way you walk!” 

In other words, live up to your name! Righteous Child of God!

2. Your name gives you HOPE. 

Once you are a member of God’s Family, one of the gifts He gives us is a deep sense of HOPE. Hope for eternal things. An eternal hope in His presence.

In Job, almost 20 times hope is expressed. 33 times in Psalms. Hope is a main benefit to the Believer. 

Psalm 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. 

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope. Or in 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 

Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

3. Our name also sets a future in our lives. 

It gives us purpose. The adventure of living a life for God gives the Believer a sure future. Our future is tied into the Blood of Jesus. While we eat the bread and drink of the cup today, we are remembering a past that speaks of our future. “I will come again!” “And when I return, I will call all men to Myself!” 

Rev. 2:17 To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Our community here today could be artificial--fake, even make believe. That is not what we come for. That is not what the Lord wants to see happen to us over the years! He is looking for a living community. How can you be sure?

Spring has been springing up here in Kotesashi much more fervently than we are used to seeing. The warmer air is causing the sweet smells of new life in the gardens and the sounds of birds in the parks to fill everyone here with hopes of a summer to come.

Some of that hope may be found to be false. We are seeing stories of food riots and shortages in nations around the world caused by the high price of gasoline and a weaker economy. It looks like this world - and our future - is not the secure place we'd like to think it is. We would like to think that we'd be safe and could avoid the effects of such a conflict. That is a naïve hope, however.

The only sure place to be in these days is in a vital relationship with God in Jesus Christ. People used to say things like that because they were preaching. Not any more; instead, that is a simple truth and a fact of life. 

It's not what you know; it's Who you know.

Now, we need to remember in an active way, what the Lord has shone us...what He’d want us to remember. 

Tell your story to someone you trust today. 

Day 4: Sunday, May 4: Preparing to pray beyond ourselves.

 Preparing to pray beyond ourselves.
Pour out your heart before God. Thank Him for what He has already done. Lift the burdens of others, allowing your heart to be moved to cry for the tremendous needs of your community and country.

Holy Spirit, our Comforter, help us in our weakness.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but You intercede for us with groans that words cannot express.

Reveal to us what You are praying for.

Teach us to become intercessors and to pray for others.

Open our eyes to see the need of the world around us.

Move and break our hearts with the things that break the heart of God.

Let us see the world through your eyes.

We are selfish by nature, but Jesus commanded us to love others as we love ourselves.

We submit to You our emotions and thoughts.

You are abounding in love and kindness.

You let the sun rise on both good and evil and let it rain on both just and unjust.

Teach us to pray without judging, to love without prejudice, to give without expecting anything back and to honor and respect every person because You value each one of them.

Fill our hearts with compassion for saints and sinners alike.

Help us to look beyond the surface to see the needs and suffering in our communities.

Help us to carry the burden of others before You in prayer and in practical ways. Let us understand the significance of standing in the gap before You, on behalf of our peoples and nations.

Amen