When we launched LGF Mobile this month, we gave people opportunity to submit their prayer requests on the go. When these prayer requests are submitted via a mobile device, they go directly and immediately to either me or Becky. Every request is personally prayed over by us and we send a response to each one. I’m excited to tell you that we received our first two prayer requests submitted through mobile devices yesterday!
This functionality extends our point of need ministry potential from 1 Billion people who have access to the Internet and our online prayer ministry to the 3 Billion people who have mobile devices. This is a great milestone for the worldwide ministry of LovingGodFellowship.org.
Our next move is providing the functionality that will enable people around the world to sign up to receive encouraging text messages from us on their mobile devices. The cost of adding this functionality is $19/month for each 100 phone numbers who sign up. As we are not endowed by any group or denomination and totally depending upon donations from those we minister to through technology, we can not add this functionality without financial commitment from those who desire to spread the Gospel of Christ around the world through the technology platform that God has given us in our day to reach more people for Jesus. We are still awaiting the first monthly commitment of $19/month that will enable us to begin to offer this much needed and anticipated point of need ministry that will give us the opportunity of reaching 3 more billion people with the Gospel of Christ. Will you invest $19/month in this ministry today at http://www.lovinggodfellowship.org/monthly_supporters ?
Thanks for partnering with us in spreading the Gospel of Christ around the world through technology!
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45 ESV)
What Jesus does in this paragraph of Scripture is startling to the people watching, but Jesus was not focused on the watching people. He was not interested in attracting crowds and that was not why He did the miracles that He did. He was focused on an individual who had lost his health, his dignity, his ability to earn income, his social status, his family and his friends. Jesus responded with a touch and the words “I will; be clean”. The crowds gasped when Jesus touched the leper, but the leper was filled with healing warmth that flooded His being as he was healed of leprosy and was made clean. It was love that moved Jesus to act to make this man’s life better. Jesus did not just feel sorry for him. Jesus helped him. Jesus responded with compassion – a love that compels one to act.
The first touch this man felt for probably many years was the touch of Jesus. He would never be the same. Why did Jesus touch him? He did not have to do so. In all of the recorded exorcisms, Jesus spoke a word and freed the individuals. He never once laid a hand on a demoniac. He would speak a word and the winds and waves would obey Him, so why did He touch this leper? Maybe, he touched the leper to be our example; a pattern for us to follow.
Who are the social outcasts of our day? Is it the diseased? Is it those living in poverty? Is it the homeless? Is it the incarcerated? Is it the shut-in? Is it those living alternate lifestyles? Is it those of a different race? Is it those of a different faith?
Who are the social outcasts in your city? Who in your city is financially and socially isolated? Who is shut-in? What would happen in your city if each person makes it a point every day to do an act of compassion, reaching out to touch one that is in need? I believe more people would realize the Kingdom of God and want to be a part of it.
Beloved, we live in a day where there is an overabundance of armchair theologians and armchair politicians. We don’t need any more of those. What we need in our day are people who will follow Jesus and get their hands dirty in point of need ministry revealing that in the Kingdom that Jesus is ruling over there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all.
Touch people beloved. Touch people. Be Jesus’ hand extended.
The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark closes with a startling paragraph of Scripture that displays both human despair and the love of God. Jesus comes into our world proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God that is established in Him. He victoriously combated evil and it’s captivity of people. Along the way, He left His followers a wonderful pattern; an example to follow. Let’s look at the last paragraph of Scripture in Mark chapter one.
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45 ESV)
Take a look at the one in need in this paragraph of Scripture. His name and past is not given, but his present situation is and it is not pleasant. This man has leprosy, an incurable disease. Leprosy is described in Leviticus chapter 13 of God’s Word. To have leprosy in the days of Jesus meant that you were separated from your friends and family. No longer could you be touched as your would be considered “unclean” under the Mosaic Law. You would be separated from family and friends being forced to live on the outskirts of the city with other lepers. When you walked through the city, you were to keep your upper lip covered and have to declare yourself unclean as you walked shouting “leper, leper, unclean.” You watched the crowds divide and stay far from you as you walk through. Being shunned by all, you were financially and socially isolated, unable to work and dependent on charity. That was the life of this leper.
I wonder what life was like for this man prior to being declared “unclean” with leprosy. Did he have a wife? If so, how long had it been since he felt her loving touch? How long had it been since her lips touched his?
Did He have children? How long had it been since he felt the loving embrace of his child’s arms around his neck? How long since he had held his children in his lap.
I’m sure that he longed once again to just be touched and to touch his family and his friends. He could no longer associate with them. Their touches were now just a part of his memory and he stayed secluded for their well being. He would never want any of them to go through what he was experiencing. He loved them too much.
Then one day, he heard about Jesus being in His city. He had heard of the exorcisms and miracles that were happening, but would Jesus be willing to associate with a social outcast who was “unclean” and incurable? In his total desperation, he goes to Jesus and says “if you will, you can make me clean.” This leper did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him. He doubted Jesus’ willingness to heal him.
Beloved, we know that Jesus can help us, but do we sometimes doubt His willingness? May we always remember that Jesus is not only able, but He is willing to help. His help may come when we least expect it and in ways that we never imagined, but He will help us. He will help us from earth to glory as we follow Him. It will be a wonderful and victorious journey.
Many in our day are suffering. Many are isolated socially and financially. Some are not able to earn income, and some are able but can not find employment. There are those who have been separated from family and friends. There are those who are fighting sickness and disease, struggling just to stay alive another day. In the midst of it all, I have hope. My hope is in Jesus. More and more suffering people must feel the touch of Jesus in our day.
Over the next several days I will be blogging on how more and more suffering people can feel the touch of Jesus in our day.
Beloved, there will be those times that you will need to get by yourself in a quiet place and just spend time with God. It’s there that you will refuel, refocus and receive endurance and direction for your journey. If you don’t take the time to pray, you will burn out, fizzle out and be used up. That is not God’s desire for you. He wants to spend time with you and impart Himself to you so that you can continue the point of need ministry of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
There’s a time for prayer and a time for action. As we follow Jesus, He will lead us in reaching our full potential in His Kingdom. Follow Jesus Beloved. Don’t expect Him to follow you. Follow Jesus. It’s an exciting journey full of love, grace, peace and freedom.
While many non-profits have went under during this great economic recession, Becky and I are still committed to live by faith and obey what God has placed on our heart for Loving God Fellowship (LGF) while steering it through these difficult times. Launching the LGF mobile site last week is testimony of this.
I'm excited about taking LGF mobile because it allows us to potentially reach 3 more billion people with the Gospel of Christ in support of our point of need ministry model. People will be able to listen to Christ Centric Bible Messages while they are on the go with their mobile devices. Our potential on the Internet is 1 billion people, so this now raises our potential to 4 billion out of 6 billion people in the world. I'm excited about this opportunity and feel that LGF needs to take full advantage of it.
Although our mobile site just has the basics now, more and better functionality will be provided as we go. Please take a look at http://mobile.lovinggodfellowship.org . If you like it, be sure and check the "like" button.
The next thing we need to add to LGF mobile is a signup for SMS texting. To provide this functionality will cost $19 per 100 users that sign up to receive text messages such as Be Encouraged! and notification of new Bible Messages on their mobile devices. Would you consider a monthly donation? A donation of $19 per month will enable us to reach 100 people around the world through their mobile device. If you desire to do more than that, each $19 will enable us to reach 100 people with the Gospel of Christ on their mobile devices.
Please know that all donations are an answer to prayer as we are not endowed by any group or denomination and we don't pass an offering plate in any church service. LGF functions only on what is donated by loving Christ followers from around the world who believe in what LGF is all about.
Beloved, Jesus does not follow us, we are to follow Him. There are those who, like Peter, expect Jesus to do it their way and in their timing. If Jesus doesn’t, they become hurt and discouraged allowing unbelief to rob them of what God has in store for them.
To be a good leader in the Kingdom of God, one must first follow Christ. It is Jesus that is ruling over His Kingdom. We are to always remember that we are to follow Him and He will make us into what He wants us to be in His timing and in His way. We are just simply to follow Him. He will do the rest and we will enter into our full potential in the Kingdom of God.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:35-39 ESV)
Prayer is priority in this paragraph of Scripture, but there is a deeper meaning than what appears on the surface that I would like to articulate to you.
First of all, notice that Simon (Peter) is beginning to take a leadership role as a follower of Christ. Notice also that Peter has the right heart. Peter sees all of these people in need of healing and in bondage to evil and he desires to see them healed and set free. Peter is beginning to get a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God is all about – love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. He still does not fully understand, but he is getting a glimpse of it and he desires that people experience the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. So Peter and others with him go looking for Jesus. They know that Jesus is the answer, but He has disappeared! What were they to do with all of these people that still needed healing and deliverance?
When Peter finds Jesus praying, He couldn’t believe it. The actual Greek here has tones of a sense of hostile pursuing. It was like Peter was saying “What are you doing here? Everyone is looking for you! Don’t you know that there is still work to be done? People are in need!”
Notice how Jesus responds to Peter. Jesus said "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." Jesus is showing through His words and actions that He was not following Peter. He was not doing it Peter’s way and He was not on Peter’s time schedule. Peter was called to follow Jesus. Jesus says here that His main focus is to preach the same sermon in every town - “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15).”
Peter would eventually learn to follow. It would not be an easy lesson, as it’s not an easy one for most of us, but he would learn to follow Christ. And when he does, he will reach his full potential in the Kingdom while using his words and actions to reveal the Kingdom to others.
Follow Jesus friends. Follow Jesus. Don't expect Him to follow you. If you do expect Him to follow you, you will be highly disappointed.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:35-39 ESV)
Prayer is a powerful privilege given to us by God. Prayer is the opportunity to communicate to Him all of our burdens and anxieties while receiving from Him strength, endurance and direction for the journey that He has in front of us. Preaching and ministering at the point of need are important, but they will become powerless and ineffective without prayer. Prayer must be a priority in every Christ follower. In fact, if we don’t pray, we are not following Christ because He prayed and left us that example to follow.
We can learn much from this paragraph of Scripture.
We learn that although the needs of people are great, we can not neglect prayer to minister.
We learn that there are times that we must get alone in a quiet place to pray.
We learn that there is a time to pray and a time to work.
We learn that prayer is a place to refuel and refocus.
We learn that prayer is a place to receive direction and confirmation.
On the first Sabbath of Jesus’ earthly ministry recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus ministers all day and late into the night. He performs an exorcism in the Synagogue (Mark 1:21-28), a healing in a house (Mark 1:29-31) and numerous healings and exorcisms in the streets of Capernaum (Mark 1:32-34). He has to be physically tired, as although He is the Son of God, He is ministering on earth in a human body as the Son of Man. As the Son of Man, Jesus gives us an example to follow. As the Son of God He reveals His Kingdom to us in words and actions as He heads towards the cross to take God’s judgment of our sins upon Himself. He has to be physically tired after such an eventful day so He gets off by Himself and prays.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mark 1:35-39 ESV)
You may have a heart for people and you may want to make a difference in our day, but please know that Jesus will not follow you on your journey. The faster you learn this, the faster you will enjoy life. Until you learn this, you will go through the motions and may even become religious, but you will lack the joy, grace, peace and freedom that Christ gives to those who follow Him.
Follow Jesus friends. Follow Jesus. Don't try to lead Him to where you want to go. Follow Him.
Beloved, we are to advance the Kingdom in our day. It has already been established in Jesus. He is now ruling over His Kingdom and has called us to follow Him and make His Kingdom known to the world through, not only words, but more importantly actions. In the Kingdom there is love, grace, peace and freedom with race, gender, health and economic equality for all. The need is the call. As we minister at the point of need, we are not only ministering as Jesus did, but we are also ministering as unto Jesus. Advance the Kingdom Beloved. Advance the Kingdom.
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