Hello everyone.
You may have noticed I have not posted on here in a long while. This is because I have changed blogging locations. I have now moved to a new site http://jonathanpollard.wordpress.com
Please come to the new spot and check out the newest post. I think they will bless you. I have changed the direction of the content to more heart level things. The main focus being "hope".
Blessings.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Affliction. Does God send it, or allow it?
Over the last year my life has had ups and downs, unexpected twist that sometimes were more like whirl winds than a twist. See at this time last year I was laying in a hospital bed clinging for my life. My face was rendered useless, hardly able to utter words, I was unable to even blink, my whole body was numb and my joints felt like they were breaking. I had this sickness that attacked me out of the blue, it was called Guillain-Barré syndrome and it is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anybody. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection, my case was because of a sinus infection.
Growing up my father ran out on me before I was born. I grew up poor and in darkness, beaten by a step-father, left alone lots of time fending for myself, when I was about 9 years old, so many parties were going on in my house that I would have to hide food to be able to eat the next day, lots of times going hungry. At 13 I was dealing drugs, and being told I was worthless by yet another step-father. My whole life never hearing anything encouraging always being put down told that I was worthless. After I came to know Jesus all those lies from men in my life turned to how I thought God saw me, and I found myself trying to earn my way into His love. I moved away form home to a house of prayer in Kansas City, where I thought I would just pray all the time and get sent out with this great anointing, when I got there nothing seemed to go as planed never had the money to really plug in at all. No support outside of myself, working all the time trying to make ends meet, and having a hard time doing what I came to do. Time after time I would shoot to make it into the school or a internship and time after time the money did not come in and I would be stuck just working. Not that their is anything wrong with working, the market place is just not where I am called to be. But I would get so mad at God for these things. After a few years of being there someone pays for me to do the first year of FSM, then I get a scholarship and massive donation of about ten thousand dollars so that I can do school and be full time in the house of prayer. Allen Hood even wrote my support letter and sent it out. All seemed to be perfect. The Lord highlighted the issues of seeing Him as a angry God, and delivered me from my own hate against myself, and Him. Then after all of this, thinking that life is going to be smooth sailing from here on out. My ministry was starting to boom. My name was growing as a revivalist in our local community. All seemed to be well and then I get sick and I am stuck with a whole new object to face. Who do I believe Him to truly be?
When I was first hit with the sickness I was full of questions asking God why this was happening, I searching my heart for sin and offenses against God and found none. Not that I didn't have any but He didn't highlight anything He simply said "Jonathan trust me. I am watching after you, and will take away this affliction." David said in Psalm 119:71 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." I was on a path to learn His decrees that He is good and is in love with me and His bride.
After weeks in the hospital I was left without use of my feet, and extreme amounts of pain. Taking more than 50 pills a day, limited to a wheelchair, I went on a journey with God that would change the very lens that I view life through. See pain had become my worst enemy and my sweet companion, leading me on a path to a Man who has walked this road before me. I began to study about this man, Who is He really? Is He really as good as I once thought? Does He really will that all would be healed? Is sickness from the devil or is it from heaven? What does He really think about me? This was the start of story about a Father chasing the heart of a son.
Fighting through what I believed about Him. Having leaders in the body of Christ filling my room praying for me, and nothing happening I had to choose what I really believed. See their is no biblical evidence outside of the context of judgment on sin where God sends a sickness on His bride. I wasn't in sin, so this had to be an attack. (read the story of Job) The Lord allowed it so that I would become stronger in what I believed or that I would stop focusing so much on the vapor of things we call life and start looking at life in light of eternity. After months of this sickness and searching out my Father. I came to the conclusion that no matter what happened healing or not I would declare that He is good. the problems and trails that happens on the earth changes not His goodness. He is unchanging and His leadership is perfect. Never has He lead someone wrong. Hebrews 11 is full on men whom the world was not worthy of. These men lived in caves, ran for their lives, were cut into, skinned alive, stoned, beaten, yet in all of this they said "Lord you are good, and your mercy carries me through." I set in my heart that I would not speak ill against God, for this body is one that is fading, life is over tomorrow, and eternity begins. Those men lived life with a vision for eternity. I knew the Lord was using this sickness and hardship of life to open my eyes to view life like these men did. Seeing the kingdom of God they ran the race. When my heart was set on this, the Lord came to me and healed my body. The room erupts when I was not only stand up but begin running around the building as I am fully healed and really out of shape. :)
Thinking all was well yet again. I begin to loose supporter after supporter, my money just runs out, people stop sowing money into my life, everything began to fall apart once again it seemed, I knew that the testing was not over when this began to happen. My car breaks and is going to cost about a thousand dollars to fix. Once again I seem stuck. Praying to the Lord to take care of me as I do the things He has called me to do, someone shows up and buys me a truck, income tax comes in, seems that I am going to be okay for a while until I can get things back up, then one night I am driving down the road and a deer runs out right in-front of my truck. I smash the deer and my truck, and it takes all of my income tax to fix it. Once again I am stuck and as of now waiting on the breakthrough. I will spare you more horror stories, you should get the point by now that life is just hard sometimes.
Why am I sharing all of these bad experiences?
Am I asking for your money? Not at all. Am I looking for your pity? Not at all. Why then am I sharing this? This is why I am sharing it, it's because God is good, and His mercy endures forever. I know that their is so many out there who are going threw the same things that I am going threw, and I want to encourage them, God is truly good. Don't be down, don't look at what He has not yet done, look at what He can do! He holds the keys to everything in heaven and earth and wants to unlock to us the Kingdom's resources and for us to walk in His blessings, but as of now we are in seasons of testings and trails, not sent by God, but allowed by God. The Lord said "consider my servant Job He won't curse me." Job stood strong threw some of the most horrendous things. Then the Lord made Satan repay everything he had taken. Job was found faithful and was stronger at the end then he was at the beginning. Now just because your being tested doesn't mean one day on this side of eternity you will be a millionaire or life will be simple. It might be I do not know, but I do know in Revelation 21:4 it says "and God will wipe every tear away, their shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things are passed away." On those words I can truly say this life no matter the hardship will be so worth seeing that promise.
The Lord is making us unshakable. Making our spirits tender but as strong as iron. I encourage you look at the city of God have vision of eternity, Paul said "comfort one another with these words, Jesus is coming back." Take your eyes off of what God hasn't done, and put them on what He can do and is going to do. Look your storms in the eyes, and you will find wisdom looking back at you threw those dark clouds. I am looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looks back at me, that gaze tells me I am loved and suddenly I know my King has me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name. Who is this King?
Growing up my father ran out on me before I was born. I grew up poor and in darkness, beaten by a step-father, left alone lots of time fending for myself, when I was about 9 years old, so many parties were going on in my house that I would have to hide food to be able to eat the next day, lots of times going hungry. At 13 I was dealing drugs, and being told I was worthless by yet another step-father. My whole life never hearing anything encouraging always being put down told that I was worthless. After I came to know Jesus all those lies from men in my life turned to how I thought God saw me, and I found myself trying to earn my way into His love. I moved away form home to a house of prayer in Kansas City, where I thought I would just pray all the time and get sent out with this great anointing, when I got there nothing seemed to go as planed never had the money to really plug in at all. No support outside of myself, working all the time trying to make ends meet, and having a hard time doing what I came to do. Time after time I would shoot to make it into the school or a internship and time after time the money did not come in and I would be stuck just working. Not that their is anything wrong with working, the market place is just not where I am called to be. But I would get so mad at God for these things. After a few years of being there someone pays for me to do the first year of FSM, then I get a scholarship and massive donation of about ten thousand dollars so that I can do school and be full time in the house of prayer. Allen Hood even wrote my support letter and sent it out. All seemed to be perfect. The Lord highlighted the issues of seeing Him as a angry God, and delivered me from my own hate against myself, and Him. Then after all of this, thinking that life is going to be smooth sailing from here on out. My ministry was starting to boom. My name was growing as a revivalist in our local community. All seemed to be well and then I get sick and I am stuck with a whole new object to face. Who do I believe Him to truly be?
When I was first hit with the sickness I was full of questions asking God why this was happening, I searching my heart for sin and offenses against God and found none. Not that I didn't have any but He didn't highlight anything He simply said "Jonathan trust me. I am watching after you, and will take away this affliction." David said in Psalm 119:71 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." I was on a path to learn His decrees that He is good and is in love with me and His bride.
After weeks in the hospital I was left without use of my feet, and extreme amounts of pain. Taking more than 50 pills a day, limited to a wheelchair, I went on a journey with God that would change the very lens that I view life through. See pain had become my worst enemy and my sweet companion, leading me on a path to a Man who has walked this road before me. I began to study about this man, Who is He really? Is He really as good as I once thought? Does He really will that all would be healed? Is sickness from the devil or is it from heaven? What does He really think about me? This was the start of story about a Father chasing the heart of a son.
Fighting through what I believed about Him. Having leaders in the body of Christ filling my room praying for me, and nothing happening I had to choose what I really believed. See their is no biblical evidence outside of the context of judgment on sin where God sends a sickness on His bride. I wasn't in sin, so this had to be an attack. (read the story of Job) The Lord allowed it so that I would become stronger in what I believed or that I would stop focusing so much on the vapor of things we call life and start looking at life in light of eternity. After months of this sickness and searching out my Father. I came to the conclusion that no matter what happened healing or not I would declare that He is good. the problems and trails that happens on the earth changes not His goodness. He is unchanging and His leadership is perfect. Never has He lead someone wrong. Hebrews 11 is full on men whom the world was not worthy of. These men lived in caves, ran for their lives, were cut into, skinned alive, stoned, beaten, yet in all of this they said "Lord you are good, and your mercy carries me through." I set in my heart that I would not speak ill against God, for this body is one that is fading, life is over tomorrow, and eternity begins. Those men lived life with a vision for eternity. I knew the Lord was using this sickness and hardship of life to open my eyes to view life like these men did. Seeing the kingdom of God they ran the race. When my heart was set on this, the Lord came to me and healed my body. The room erupts when I was not only stand up but begin running around the building as I am fully healed and really out of shape. :)
Thinking all was well yet again. I begin to loose supporter after supporter, my money just runs out, people stop sowing money into my life, everything began to fall apart once again it seemed, I knew that the testing was not over when this began to happen. My car breaks and is going to cost about a thousand dollars to fix. Once again I seem stuck. Praying to the Lord to take care of me as I do the things He has called me to do, someone shows up and buys me a truck, income tax comes in, seems that I am going to be okay for a while until I can get things back up, then one night I am driving down the road and a deer runs out right in-front of my truck. I smash the deer and my truck, and it takes all of my income tax to fix it. Once again I am stuck and as of now waiting on the breakthrough. I will spare you more horror stories, you should get the point by now that life is just hard sometimes.
Why am I sharing all of these bad experiences?
Am I asking for your money? Not at all. Am I looking for your pity? Not at all. Why then am I sharing this? This is why I am sharing it, it's because God is good, and His mercy endures forever. I know that their is so many out there who are going threw the same things that I am going threw, and I want to encourage them, God is truly good. Don't be down, don't look at what He has not yet done, look at what He can do! He holds the keys to everything in heaven and earth and wants to unlock to us the Kingdom's resources and for us to walk in His blessings, but as of now we are in seasons of testings and trails, not sent by God, but allowed by God. The Lord said "consider my servant Job He won't curse me." Job stood strong threw some of the most horrendous things. Then the Lord made Satan repay everything he had taken. Job was found faithful and was stronger at the end then he was at the beginning. Now just because your being tested doesn't mean one day on this side of eternity you will be a millionaire or life will be simple. It might be I do not know, but I do know in Revelation 21:4 it says "and God will wipe every tear away, their shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things are passed away." On those words I can truly say this life no matter the hardship will be so worth seeing that promise.
The Lord is making us unshakable. Making our spirits tender but as strong as iron. I encourage you look at the city of God have vision of eternity, Paul said "comfort one another with these words, Jesus is coming back." Take your eyes off of what God hasn't done, and put them on what He can do and is going to do. Look your storms in the eyes, and you will find wisdom looking back at you threw those dark clouds. I am looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looks back at me, that gaze tells me I am loved and suddenly I know my King has me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name. Who is this King?
Jesus Christ - the Merciful Judge
The judgment of God is a sadly a taboo topic in the Western Church. Many dodge the subject, some over-emphasize, while others dismiss it altogether. More baffling than the wide spectrum of opinion is the idea that people instinctively understand what 'judgment' is.
My goal in this post is to wipe away the confusion of this topic and to highlight Jesus. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, we will "consider the goodness and severity of God". Knowing Him is the only way to ensure a correct understanding of His judgments. The only reliable path in knowing Jesus is through His Word, the Bible. Therefore, that will be the exclusive source I will quote from. No other book, transcript, movie or person is sufficient.
In approaching this theme, I will break down His 'judgment' into three categories, followed by a brief definition and will end with a more thorough Biblical definition of each.
What is judgment? Judgment is the method by which Jesus' cleanses and purifies the world in order to create a context for love and right living before God (righteousness) to abound.
Why does Jesus judge? Jesus judges because He is committed to love. Wickedness is essentially the opposite of love. Jesus removes wickedness to ensure love comes to its fruition.
How does He judge? Jesus judges in every way that removes wickedness from our lives, whether individually or corporately - no matter the cost at times.
I will write a separate note (blog post) concerning each point. However, in starting this series, I want to magnify Jesus and His tender heart as He mercifully cleanses the Earth of its filthy stain of sin.
A true judge must be dedicated to justice. This attribute is at the center of the heart of Jesus. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He desires that the orphan and the widow are taken care of and that the poor of the Earth would be provided for. He sets His face against the prideful and resists the oppressor. He is the premier example of what justice looks like. He is the model of human aid. He is love.
Peering deep into the heart of Jesus, we now turn our gaze towards the Bible. One of the most famous passages in the whole of Scripture is also one of the most misunderstood practically. About 3,400 years ago, Moses asked God a question that forever changed how humans understand Him. The prophet cried out from the depth of his heart, "Show me Your glory!" In remarkable humility, God quickly responded. In the midst of Israel's grumbling, complaining, and adultery, God gave His most descriptive and transparent self-discloser of Himself yet: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Most of us have been in a relationship before, or are currently in one. Do you remember the vulnerability you felt when you were about to tell your loved one the dearest and most intimate aspect of your life? You were sharing the most valuable pearl of yourself with them. It is so precious that only a few people are invited to partake in that knowledge. This analogy, although poorly, paints a picture that depicts the stirring emotions within God during these precious and history-making moments. Before this real day, mankind had not yet known His personal Name. The people of Israel knew Him as the God of their fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). This would be the same as knowing your father only as "Dad" instead of "Walt", for example. This was much more than a dry, emotionless and stoic conversation; God unveiled His very unique character to fallen men. We have to catch the reality and the emotion of Jesus revealed in the Bible!
Looking at His statement, we find ten unique aspects that describe who God is and what He is like. It is within knowing Him that we find clues that help us understand His judgments.
His personal name (Yahweh)
He is compassionate
Gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding in love
Abounding in faithfulness
Maintaining love to thousands
Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin
He does not leave the guilty unpunished
He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.
Look at your life as you read this stunning qualities about Jesus. He gave one of His most precious gems to a people who He knew would reject and scorn Him throughout history. Within that context, He remained compassionate to her. His heart was continually filled with grace towards her. When she ran and committed adultery with the 'gods' of other nations, He was slow to anger. While she hated Him, He abounded in love for her. While she was faithless, He remained faithful and proving this by maintaining love towards many. He is one who loves to forgive, and remove the filth of wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Most of us shelter and keep hidden the precious gems of our hearts, especially from people who we know would hurt us. In the midst of pain, most of us would respond in hurt and lash out. We quickly forget compassion. Instead of looking at the reach of weak love from our closest friends, our gaze can quickly switch into looking at what we can blame them for. We can despise giving grace. If we are cut off driving the road, many of us would respond in frustration, not patience. Do we see how different Jesus is than us? More than 'choosing the right' way to respond, this is Jesus. He is, the very definition, of love. This is His delight. This is His desire. It brings Him joy to suffer long with broken humanity. This is what makes Him the merciful judge!
Now - pretend your in a court room. Your case is being decided. Your were mugged and your car was stolen. The man who did it stood to your right. Giving the evidence, he is clearly guilty. The light shifts to his direction. He admits he beat you up and stole your car, but does not blush, show embarrassment, or consider it wrong. From his response, everyone can clearly discern the desire in him to continue doing wicked acts is thriving. The judge looks at the information given him. Tension builds in the room as the verdict is mere moments away. The case is clear: the man is obviously guilty and must be punished for his wrong doing; especially in his lack of sorrow. In deep expectation, the judge raises his mallet, looks to the defendant and says, "Guilty, but I will not see that you are punished." While slamming his wooden instrument on the table, he ends the meeting by shouting, "Court dismissed!"
This judge is no judge at all. By releasing this criminal back into society, he would continue wreaking havoc on future victims. The man should have been put behind bars, to ensure the safety of the public. If justice is, in part, ensuring the safety of the general public, this judge is the one who is guilty of crime.
Praise Jesus He is not like this corrupt judge! While being merciful beyond understanding, He desires that justice is played out in every sphere of live and in society. While forgiving sin and wrong towards those who turn to Him, to the unrepentant (meaning, to those who do not change their ways), He punishes them - for their own sake and for the sake of others.
The last character that Jesus revealed of Himself is difficult to initially understand 3,500 years estranged from its context. Let me illustrate: crime is more than rebellion against a law, but against God Himself. This is called sin. Sin is disobedience towards God. The reason why children are included in punishment is because of the effects of sin. Sin is not personal, it is corporate. Sin effects land (animals, even), entire gatherings, and your children. In the same way that some illnesses are passed down through family lines, so are common strings of sins, and their just due: punishment.
There is a reason why there were seven positive attributes and only two negative given. Jesus is highlighting His pleasure in being patient, slow to anger, and forgiving sin. There does come a point where an individual, or a group of people, come to a point in which they refuse Him and His ways. In that context, He, because He loves, removes them from the scene to protect others and to allow love to once again flourish.
This is an elementary look into the gentle heart of Jesus that burns with passion for justice.
My goal in this post is to wipe away the confusion of this topic and to highlight Jesus. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, we will "consider the goodness and severity of God". Knowing Him is the only way to ensure a correct understanding of His judgments. The only reliable path in knowing Jesus is through His Word, the Bible. Therefore, that will be the exclusive source I will quote from. No other book, transcript, movie or person is sufficient.
In approaching this theme, I will break down His 'judgment' into three categories, followed by a brief definition and will end with a more thorough Biblical definition of each.
What is judgment? Judgment is the method by which Jesus' cleanses and purifies the world in order to create a context for love and right living before God (righteousness) to abound.
Why does Jesus judge? Jesus judges because He is committed to love. Wickedness is essentially the opposite of love. Jesus removes wickedness to ensure love comes to its fruition.
How does He judge? Jesus judges in every way that removes wickedness from our lives, whether individually or corporately - no matter the cost at times.
I will write a separate note (blog post) concerning each point. However, in starting this series, I want to magnify Jesus and His tender heart as He mercifully cleanses the Earth of its filthy stain of sin.
A true judge must be dedicated to justice. This attribute is at the center of the heart of Jesus. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He desires that the orphan and the widow are taken care of and that the poor of the Earth would be provided for. He sets His face against the prideful and resists the oppressor. He is the premier example of what justice looks like. He is the model of human aid. He is love.
Peering deep into the heart of Jesus, we now turn our gaze towards the Bible. One of the most famous passages in the whole of Scripture is also one of the most misunderstood practically. About 3,400 years ago, Moses asked God a question that forever changed how humans understand Him. The prophet cried out from the depth of his heart, "Show me Your glory!" In remarkable humility, God quickly responded. In the midst of Israel's grumbling, complaining, and adultery, God gave His most descriptive and transparent self-discloser of Himself yet: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Most of us have been in a relationship before, or are currently in one. Do you remember the vulnerability you felt when you were about to tell your loved one the dearest and most intimate aspect of your life? You were sharing the most valuable pearl of yourself with them. It is so precious that only a few people are invited to partake in that knowledge. This analogy, although poorly, paints a picture that depicts the stirring emotions within God during these precious and history-making moments. Before this real day, mankind had not yet known His personal Name. The people of Israel knew Him as the God of their fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). This would be the same as knowing your father only as "Dad" instead of "Walt", for example. This was much more than a dry, emotionless and stoic conversation; God unveiled His very unique character to fallen men. We have to catch the reality and the emotion of Jesus revealed in the Bible!
Looking at His statement, we find ten unique aspects that describe who God is and what He is like. It is within knowing Him that we find clues that help us understand His judgments.
His personal name (Yahweh)
He is compassionate
Gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding in love
Abounding in faithfulness
Maintaining love to thousands
Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin
He does not leave the guilty unpunished
He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.
Look at your life as you read this stunning qualities about Jesus. He gave one of His most precious gems to a people who He knew would reject and scorn Him throughout history. Within that context, He remained compassionate to her. His heart was continually filled with grace towards her. When she ran and committed adultery with the 'gods' of other nations, He was slow to anger. While she hated Him, He abounded in love for her. While she was faithless, He remained faithful and proving this by maintaining love towards many. He is one who loves to forgive, and remove the filth of wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Most of us shelter and keep hidden the precious gems of our hearts, especially from people who we know would hurt us. In the midst of pain, most of us would respond in hurt and lash out. We quickly forget compassion. Instead of looking at the reach of weak love from our closest friends, our gaze can quickly switch into looking at what we can blame them for. We can despise giving grace. If we are cut off driving the road, many of us would respond in frustration, not patience. Do we see how different Jesus is than us? More than 'choosing the right' way to respond, this is Jesus. He is, the very definition, of love. This is His delight. This is His desire. It brings Him joy to suffer long with broken humanity. This is what makes Him the merciful judge!
Now - pretend your in a court room. Your case is being decided. Your were mugged and your car was stolen. The man who did it stood to your right. Giving the evidence, he is clearly guilty. The light shifts to his direction. He admits he beat you up and stole your car, but does not blush, show embarrassment, or consider it wrong. From his response, everyone can clearly discern the desire in him to continue doing wicked acts is thriving. The judge looks at the information given him. Tension builds in the room as the verdict is mere moments away. The case is clear: the man is obviously guilty and must be punished for his wrong doing; especially in his lack of sorrow. In deep expectation, the judge raises his mallet, looks to the defendant and says, "Guilty, but I will not see that you are punished." While slamming his wooden instrument on the table, he ends the meeting by shouting, "Court dismissed!"
This judge is no judge at all. By releasing this criminal back into society, he would continue wreaking havoc on future victims. The man should have been put behind bars, to ensure the safety of the public. If justice is, in part, ensuring the safety of the general public, this judge is the one who is guilty of crime.
Praise Jesus He is not like this corrupt judge! While being merciful beyond understanding, He desires that justice is played out in every sphere of live and in society. While forgiving sin and wrong towards those who turn to Him, to the unrepentant (meaning, to those who do not change their ways), He punishes them - for their own sake and for the sake of others.
The last character that Jesus revealed of Himself is difficult to initially understand 3,500 years estranged from its context. Let me illustrate: crime is more than rebellion against a law, but against God Himself. This is called sin. Sin is disobedience towards God. The reason why children are included in punishment is because of the effects of sin. Sin is not personal, it is corporate. Sin effects land (animals, even), entire gatherings, and your children. In the same way that some illnesses are passed down through family lines, so are common strings of sins, and their just due: punishment.
There is a reason why there were seven positive attributes and only two negative given. Jesus is highlighting His pleasure in being patient, slow to anger, and forgiving sin. There does come a point where an individual, or a group of people, come to a point in which they refuse Him and His ways. In that context, He, because He loves, removes them from the scene to protect others and to allow love to once again flourish.
This is an elementary look into the gentle heart of Jesus that burns with passion for justice.
My Story of Healing: By, Jonathan Pollard
Hello Everyone,
I know many people have been waiting on this story to come out, and I give you my apologies for taking so long. Well as you all know recently I had a encounter with the Lord where the Lord healed my body from Guillain-Barre syndrome, what GBS (Guillain-Barre syndrome) is, is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. GBS has killed many, and left many disabled for life. My cousin Gus Dean has had GBS for 8 years and still has not recover, and some recover fully in about a years time. But as you know Jesus healed me and here is my story.
"Suffering comes before glory, and a cross before a crown". This was my slogan and it couldn't be more true. In the midst of all the madness, I was looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looked back at me with that gaze tells me I am loved suddenly I knew my King had me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. So I looked into the middle of the storm and I found wisdom looking right back at me and was filled with joy and peace. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name.
I came down with this sickness around the first of March, I had a really bad cold for a little over a week, it was thee worst cold I have ever had in my life. But with out health insurance I was not about to go to the doctor so I just took normal cold meds drunk allot of water and slept allot. After a week of having this cold i noticed that I did not feel any better, in fact I was feeling worse. I noticed that I was starting to get a shape pain in my left knee, a few hours after noticing this the pain was sharpening and moving to my right knee, so i just took some Ibuprofen and went to sleep. The next morning when I woke up my feet felt like they where asleep, there was a tingling in both feet and pain in all my joints. I knew something was not write when it progressed all day up my legs, noticing my arms and legs were getting really weak, and my whole body was feeling cold I went to the ER. After sitting in the waiting room for about 6 hours, all they did was test my sugar and told me i could be having a reaction to my cold meds and sent me home. The next few days I just slept and drunk allot of water. Four days later my face was numb all over, i could not move my lips, I could hardly blink, and was in so much pain that I went four days without sleep. I chose to go to another Doctor, he ran allot of test and came up with nothing at all. He sent me to a neurologist at a local ER. Soon after I got there they told me that they were afraid for my life and i was going to be in the hospital for a long time. A few hours later they told me it was GBS, and my heart sunk. I knew how serious it was and how painful it was going to be.
That morning as i laid in the bed I felt the peace and comfort of God overshadow my bed and I slept for the first time in four days. When I woke up I could not feel any of my skin, and i could not out any pressure on my feet at all. But no fear hit my heart at all, I knew i was in the Lord's hands and that He had me. Little did i know He was going to use this event to change my whole life.
One of the leaders at the House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, had a encounter with the Lord where she was caught up into the heaven and saw the Lord working on the brides heart as she was laying on a hospital bed, the Lord said He was "reviving Her and getting the toxins out." I had no idea how much this would really be true in my life when I heard it, but just a month or so after it was spoken I found myself laying on a hospital bed about to go under the surgery of the Lord.
"Pain has been to me a sweet companion, leading me on a journey into the mystery of the Man who walked this road before me."
A few years after I had gotten saved, I was really hurt by the spirit of religion, my church was full of young people who had been set on fire for Jesus, and it was also full of elders who did not like us at all. After two years the pastor's falls into adultery the church cast them out, and runs their names into the ground then splits down the middle everyone talking about everyone, making up lies on one another. Rumors where flying around about me that I was in Kansas City backslidden and depressed. This put such a bad taste in my mouth against the church. I had little love in my heart for the bride of Christ.
So here I am for the first time in my life laying in a bed helpless. I could not do anything on my own, i couldn't use my lips to talk, all my words were mumbled and no one could really understand what I was saying, I couldn't walk, feel how hot or cold a room was, all my strength was gone, I couldn't even close my eye all the way, eating and drinking was a work out for me. People would come into my room see me and just start crying because of my condition. I felt useless. It was in that place when I was brought to the lowest of lows where the Lord began to work.
See suffering comes before Glory and a cross before a crown, if you want to follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your own abilities to do a,b, and c and learn to trust in who he is. I found myself the first night in the hospital feeling sorry for myself and wanting it all to be over and in the midst of that the Lord came and met me. The lights went off and I looked up and said "You are God, your leadership is perfect, you have never lead anyone wrong. You are in control of all things, here I am teach me what you will." I just began to think upon the divinity of Jesus, and as I began to think upon who He is the worry, fear, self-pity, false humility just began to fall right off of me. I came to grips with the suffering that I was in the midst of and I simply prayed "Jesus teach me what you will". As I began to look at Him I
could feel Him looking at her (His bride), and I am going "Jesus you are beautiful"
and Jesus is going "jonathan, not only am I beautiful look how beautiful and lovely my bride is." "Isn't she beautiful watch her love me." This would take me so off guard because I really did not believe that Jesus thought the church was beautiful right now. I thought He was mostly angry at her and He only really loved her because He had to, and at the end of the day He was going to send most of the people in the Church to hell. As this began to happen, nurse after nurse would come in and for some reason they were mostly spirit filled believers. They would just encourage me and pray over me, and as they did it just began to slowly soften my heart to the bride, my phone was ringing off the hook with churches full of people praying over me, believers from all over the nation started sending me emails, people whom I did not know were contacting me, and letting me know that they were praying, and Jesus was using them to show me that the Bride of Christ is beautiful and that in the midst of all the funk that is in her, He is moving and He is working and she is coming to life. Jesus broke my heart for the bride and brought me to repentance over the period of a few weeks and now I can truly say the bride of Christ though dark is being called lovely by her Husband and she is getting the water of the word poured on her and she is coming to life. Jesus is waking His bride up in this nation.
I know many people have been waiting on this story to come out, and I give you my apologies for taking so long. Well as you all know recently I had a encounter with the Lord where the Lord healed my body from Guillain-Barre syndrome, what GBS (Guillain-Barre syndrome) is, is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. GBS has killed many, and left many disabled for life. My cousin Gus Dean has had GBS for 8 years and still has not recover, and some recover fully in about a years time. But as you know Jesus healed me and here is my story.
"Suffering comes before glory, and a cross before a crown". This was my slogan and it couldn't be more true. In the midst of all the madness, I was looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looked back at me with that gaze tells me I am loved suddenly I knew my King had me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. So I looked into the middle of the storm and I found wisdom looking right back at me and was filled with joy and peace. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name.
I came down with this sickness around the first of March, I had a really bad cold for a little over a week, it was thee worst cold I have ever had in my life. But with out health insurance I was not about to go to the doctor so I just took normal cold meds drunk allot of water and slept allot. After a week of having this cold i noticed that I did not feel any better, in fact I was feeling worse. I noticed that I was starting to get a shape pain in my left knee, a few hours after noticing this the pain was sharpening and moving to my right knee, so i just took some Ibuprofen and went to sleep. The next morning when I woke up my feet felt like they where asleep, there was a tingling in both feet and pain in all my joints. I knew something was not write when it progressed all day up my legs, noticing my arms and legs were getting really weak, and my whole body was feeling cold I went to the ER. After sitting in the waiting room for about 6 hours, all they did was test my sugar and told me i could be having a reaction to my cold meds and sent me home. The next few days I just slept and drunk allot of water. Four days later my face was numb all over, i could not move my lips, I could hardly blink, and was in so much pain that I went four days without sleep. I chose to go to another Doctor, he ran allot of test and came up with nothing at all. He sent me to a neurologist at a local ER. Soon after I got there they told me that they were afraid for my life and i was going to be in the hospital for a long time. A few hours later they told me it was GBS, and my heart sunk. I knew how serious it was and how painful it was going to be.
That morning as i laid in the bed I felt the peace and comfort of God overshadow my bed and I slept for the first time in four days. When I woke up I could not feel any of my skin, and i could not out any pressure on my feet at all. But no fear hit my heart at all, I knew i was in the Lord's hands and that He had me. Little did i know He was going to use this event to change my whole life.
One of the leaders at the House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, had a encounter with the Lord where she was caught up into the heaven and saw the Lord working on the brides heart as she was laying on a hospital bed, the Lord said He was "reviving Her and getting the toxins out." I had no idea how much this would really be true in my life when I heard it, but just a month or so after it was spoken I found myself laying on a hospital bed about to go under the surgery of the Lord.
"Pain has been to me a sweet companion, leading me on a journey into the mystery of the Man who walked this road before me."
A few years after I had gotten saved, I was really hurt by the spirit of religion, my church was full of young people who had been set on fire for Jesus, and it was also full of elders who did not like us at all. After two years the pastor's falls into adultery the church cast them out, and runs their names into the ground then splits down the middle everyone talking about everyone, making up lies on one another. Rumors where flying around about me that I was in Kansas City backslidden and depressed. This put such a bad taste in my mouth against the church. I had little love in my heart for the bride of Christ.
So here I am for the first time in my life laying in a bed helpless. I could not do anything on my own, i couldn't use my lips to talk, all my words were mumbled and no one could really understand what I was saying, I couldn't walk, feel how hot or cold a room was, all my strength was gone, I couldn't even close my eye all the way, eating and drinking was a work out for me. People would come into my room see me and just start crying because of my condition. I felt useless. It was in that place when I was brought to the lowest of lows where the Lord began to work.
See suffering comes before Glory and a cross before a crown, if you want to follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your own abilities to do a,b, and c and learn to trust in who he is. I found myself the first night in the hospital feeling sorry for myself and wanting it all to be over and in the midst of that the Lord came and met me. The lights went off and I looked up and said "You are God, your leadership is perfect, you have never lead anyone wrong. You are in control of all things, here I am teach me what you will." I just began to think upon the divinity of Jesus, and as I began to think upon who He is the worry, fear, self-pity, false humility just began to fall right off of me. I came to grips with the suffering that I was in the midst of and I simply prayed "Jesus teach me what you will". As I began to look at Him I
could feel Him looking at her (His bride), and I am going "Jesus you are beautiful"
and Jesus is going "jonathan, not only am I beautiful look how beautiful and lovely my bride is." "Isn't she beautiful watch her love me." This would take me so off guard because I really did not believe that Jesus thought the church was beautiful right now. I thought He was mostly angry at her and He only really loved her because He had to, and at the end of the day He was going to send most of the people in the Church to hell. As this began to happen, nurse after nurse would come in and for some reason they were mostly spirit filled believers. They would just encourage me and pray over me, and as they did it just began to slowly soften my heart to the bride, my phone was ringing off the hook with churches full of people praying over me, believers from all over the nation started sending me emails, people whom I did not know were contacting me, and letting me know that they were praying, and Jesus was using them to show me that the Bride of Christ is beautiful and that in the midst of all the funk that is in her, He is moving and He is working and she is coming to life. Jesus broke my heart for the bride and brought me to repentance over the period of a few weeks and now I can truly say the bride of Christ though dark is being called lovely by her Husband and she is getting the water of the word poured on her and she is coming to life. Jesus is waking His bride up in this nation.
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