It Is Not About Us

Good day to you Mighty Warrior of the One True King! 

It is one of the greatest litmus test for your life and/or your ministry: where are you directing your focus? We do well to remember that the example left by one of the "greatest men who ever lived" (spoken by Jesus about John the Baptist, Matthew 11:11) is to get people to realize that it is not about us - it is all about Him, the King of Kings!

John spoke "Behold, the Lamb of God!". When you dig down and study the word "behold" it means "Don't miss this! It is an observable, objective fact!" This understanding now stresses that whatever follows the use of the word "behold" is to say that if you hear and/or get nothing else that I say - hear this. I can almost see it as one grabbing you by the shoulders and shaking you in a way to gain all of your attention. So what is the message that is being conveyed here?

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. - John 1:35-37

This is my prayer and I encourage it for you as well - may the message we bring and the words we speak cause others to follow Jesus all the way to the heart of the Father!

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No matter what issue, circumstance, situation, event, occasion, argument, concern, controversy, matter, problem, question, subject or topic remember this: Behold the Lamb of God and follow Jesus!

- created by Lane Mercer (twoarrowsministries@gmail.com to schedule for ministry to your group)

What Do You Trust In?

Good day to you Mighty Warrior of the One True King! 

One of the many things that are amazing when we look at parables that Jesus teaches us is that He can bring forth such amazing truth on multiple levels. Take for example the following parable that Jesus shares regarding the Pharisee and the tax collector. When we first look at it we can see that he is addressing this to "some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt." We can see at first reading, that Jesus gives a great example of a life influenced by having a religious spirit compared to a life influenced by having a relationship. One stakes his hopes and claims on what he has done and the other entirely on the mercy of God.

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 18:9-14

Now let's look again. What is another lesson that can be gleaned in addition to the first one? There is still hope - this is huge! Jesus did not say that due to his condition of the heart that there is never a chance that it can be changed. In fact, one of the most self-righteous Pharisees of all was saved by God’s mercy and went on to become the Apostle Paul. There has never been a heart too hard that God's mercy can not pierce.

One word of caution to you though - don't fall into the trap that you see yourself as one relying on God's mercy and then comparing yourself to the ones that do not, thinking that you are better than they. Remember how Jesus ended this parable, "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled..."

- created by Lane Mercer (twoarrowsministries@gmail.com to schedule for ministry to your group)

When The Storm Comes...

Good day to you Mighty Warrior of the One True King!

We can become so familiar with a section of the Word that we can miss what is being conveyed. For example, take the story of Jesus calming the storm - we know the ending that we can easily skip the start of the story. Look at this first part of the story: “They [diciples] took Him [Jesus], just as he was, in the boat.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” - Mark 4:36-40

Why does that part of the story matter? This actually is one of the biggest parts of this story - it is huge! To understand why look at the last section of this story: "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Did you catch it - Jesus had faith before the situation - just as He was. We need to learn to build up our faith before not during a situation!

The disciples were exercising fear rather than faith. Notice Jesus did not get onto them for coming to Him - it was because they were afraid! This is a great example that shows that fear cancels faith and faith cancels fear. We need to learn to build our faith up and not our fear.

How do we build up our faith? The following is not an all-inclusive list however it is a great starting place: 1) prayer, 2) study and 3) meditate on the Word. Fear will disappear as our faith grows!

- created by Lane Mercer (twoarrowsministries@gmail.com to schedule for ministry to your group)

The Greatest Command

Good day to you Mighty Warrior of the One True King!

There is a phrase that is used to describe the game of chess (It could be applied to a lot of applications I am sure) - the more I think about it though, I think it even better applies to being a follower of Jesus. It is the following: "Easy to learn: A lifetime to master"

It seems simple enough. Love God. Love people. Yet, when we look at this the way Jesus lays it out we see it is way more involved.

"'Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?' He [Jesus] said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.'" 

[Matthew 22:36-40]

I mean look at the way we are to do both, love God and love people. With all your heart, all your mind and all your soul! One thing that stands out to me is the amount we are to invest all of who we are. Have I arrived at hitting both at 100 %? Hardly the case for both let alone one. It is encouraging that once we get a grasp on this the Word will be opened to a whole different level. Look again at what Jesus says, "...All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands."

Don't be discouraged if you are not arriving at 100% either. Remember, Easy to learn: A lifetime to master.

- created by Lane Mercer (twoarrowsministries@gmail.com to schedule for ministry to your group)

Questions~

     Several things have come together to create this post.
     This morning in my study time I had a praise CD by Misty Edwards playing (I almost always have praise music playing, either a CD or the radio or streaming online). The lyrics that stood out to me were "people get ready He's coming".
     This last weekend was the Shekinah Glory conference at our church in KC, we weren't able to attend, but we did watch all that was available online. The last days message was that the glory will usher in the return of Jesus.
     Our Pastor was teaching that we, as the church, are the Bride that Jesus is returning for. And that as the church we are to be spending this time of waiting to prepare ourselves for His return! We shouldn't be waiting for Him to return and then expect Him to prepare us for heaven, but I believe that many people are waiting for just that.
     Many American believers have bought into the idea that there will be a rapture and that everyone that ever said the "sinner's prayer" will be zapped into heaven. But there are several verses that have over the years caused me to worry and now seem to be congealing with the last conference's teachings. There is the parable told of the men that had lived doing things like healing and casting out of evil spirits in Jesus's name, but at the end when they approached Jesus He told them to leave and that He had never known them. What a horrible shock that would be! And there's the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom, 5 have oil and 5 have run out of oil. When the bridegroom shows up the virgins without oil miss it because they had to go back and get the oil! Another horrible shock! All 10 of the virgins were waiting for the same event and believed and had faith, but 5 ran out of oil and missed it.
     Is it possible that everyone that has said the sinner's prayer is waiting for the bridegroom? What percent of  "sinner prayer" repeaters even know the bridegroom is returning? And how many people know who the Bridegroom is returning for? *Hint, His bride!* Okay, who is His bride? And then who are the virgins that run out of oil? So many questions! (In my life everyone says I'm the person with the most questions and I often find that nobody else has even considered half of the things I have questions about! Even my granddaughter told me that I have "a lot of questions!". (It's rare for a child to tell an adult that! I feel honored!!)).
     I have mostly focused on how to live after recognizing that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of my life, so I have many areas of the future days that I have not spent time studying. I do believe that if I live each day as Jesus wants me to, that He will take care of me and my future. However with all of that said I've recently developed a concern that a lot of people are living in a false sense of security just waiting for that day they get to cash in the "Rapture" ticket. So I'm tackling the part of the message that I've learned so far~
     Okay, back to the basics of what I have begun to understand ~ Jesus is the Bridegroom, He has promised to return for His bride, the church is His bride, the church is supposed to be growing more beautiful with it's growth as it waits for the return of the Bridegroom, and the bride should be waiting for the return of her groom with great love and expectation! Now the part that will probably shock a few people~ the church that is the bride is holy, set apart from the sins of the world, it is a corporate body, it should be growing in loveliness. If a person is not living a life dedicated to being the bride are they one of the virgins that runs out of oil? or are they one of the ones that Jesus said "leave Me, I never knew you"?  See, more questions to be prayed about~

Looking Forward by Looking Back

     It is amazing how fast time really is. Yes, I know it is about this time last year that it was this date. So, in that regard, time has not sped up nor slowed down. What I mean is, in looking back it is hard to believe a calendar year has come and gone.
     I think back to just a year ago I was finishing up the Christmas break and about to head back to a school of ministry in Kansas City, MO. Here I sit in central Wisconsin at our son's place - school no where on my mind nor even on the radar. In this past year we have traveled to different parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Wisconsin and a small bit into Illinois.

• We have lost a vehicle - gained one (lost as in not working and needing a new motor, so not likely to work!)
• We have had two offers to buy our house in Oklahoma - two offers withdrawn (one by us and one by them)
• We have been prayed for by different ones and have prayed for different ones
• We have been blessed financially and have been a blessing financially
• We have become more comfortable and excited with the leading of the Lord in our lives
• We have been to two professional sports games (one together and one each individually)
• We have gone to our first symphony, loved it and want to go again
• We have gone from having one job to having two jobs and then back to one
• We have seen prophetic words spoken over us and to us starting to take shape and happening
• One of them being a voice to the nations - being on radio that broadcast (at last count) to 24 nations and over 30 states in the USA
• Another one is becoming the hand that wields the sword - having a knowing when to leave the second job - which opened the door for the radio (one among many other examples)

     We started the year with a "chance" encounter with a datebook belonging to a Canadian and the sword was wielded to contact him about it - thus a journey with many links was created. Some highlights of the journey are:

• The Canadian man having a place to stay in Kansas City for a week, with us, resulting in us having a second vehicle for a few months while he was away to Africa on a mission trip
• The Canadian man becoming connected with a church in Kansas City where the pastor operates strongly in a deliverance and restorative ministry and thus this Canadian gaining more freedom and restoration
• The Canadian man, during a spiritual leadership forum (The Master's Word Shop) upon his return from Africa shares his experiences of what God was and is doing in Africa. During this time, a member of the audience was directed by the Lord to speak to the pastor from Kansas City that the Canadian had met and share that they want to personally finance bringing over a pastor from Africa that the Candian's testimony mentioned

  Only my King knows what else will come from that encounter with a datebook!

     I am quite sure I have left out many events, situations, circumstances, encounters, spoken words and so forth as I look back over 2012 - the goal here was not to list them all, it is to highlight that You, God are on the move in a mighty way! This is just a snapshot of You working in our lives - now take that and multiply that out to all of the followers of You, Jesus! Your word declares You are not a respecter of persons - if You do this with one, then it can and will be done for through all of Your children, thank You Lord!

     I am looking forward to what you have in store for us and Your body for 2013. I don't even pretend to know - looking back, how would I have ever put it together that You would do all of that through a lost and found datebook - even taking that out of the picture, what we have had happen and what we experienced, who could do that but you Lord - no one, that is who!

     I love You and I welcome You into my life, my family, my job, my finances, my housing, my transportation - everything and every area, come and have Your way, God! Come and have Your way, Jesus! Come and have Your way, Holy Spirit!

- Posted by Lane Mercer