Yesterday (Wednesday, April 17, 2008)

Pastor Pablo Melgar graduated from his uncles Bible School 9 years ago and started a church that grew to about 120. Talking with him yesterday, he shared how his church split because he had been so hard and legalistic with his members. He now has about 25 people in attendance including his mom and dad. About half of them are ex-drug addicts and outcasts he’s brought to the Lord. A year ago he started a business, a body repair shop for cars, and he gives work to the men in his church that he’s helping to restore their lives. It’s one of the few shops in Guatemala that looks as clean and orderly as a professional shop in the States. He said he’d be interested in using INSTE to disciple leaders in his church and in his business. PTL!

In the evening I was in the home of a retired Army General who was a former Secretary of Defense (20 years ago during the Guatemalan civil war—He’ in his 70’s). He’s studying in INSTE and all the members of his group (except the leader) are members of his family: wife, 2 sons, daughter, and their spouses and one grandson who is also in the University. He made the comment, “This is the only way that Guatemala will be changed for the better—by Pastors discipleing their church members!”

1 Kings 19-21
19 – Here we find God’s remedy for depression as he revives his beloved friend Elijah: eat something, rest, exercise, get alone with God enough to pray – talk to Him about how we feel and listen for his voice in a personal encounter with Him. Elijah told God that he felt alone. Its amazing how He will let us hear His voice, replacing the lies in our heats about ourselves with His truth, and changing our perspective, when we take time to get quiet before Him during prayer, God will personally affirm us and we’ll receive from Him creative ideas for our family and work. This is inner healing prayer. God’s mission is caring for His own as well as making Himself know to the nations. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”
20 – Evil king Ahab went out to war against Syria that was threatening to destroy him. God gave Israel victory 2 years in a row – not because they pleased Him (they are in total apostasy), but because God’s mission is to make Himself known through His people, v.28 “Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” At the end of the battle God condemns Ahab to death. His purpose is fulfilled—He has made himself known. Knowing God’s mission and flowing with it gives a solid foundation for trusting in Him and growing in faith.
21 – A king commits murder in order to get a vegetable garden. God is defender of the poor and fatherless. This sin of the king sealed the eradication of his family line. The greatest thing a human being can do is finish life well, leaving a legacy of love and virtue in the hearts of those who knew him. The worst that can happen to a human being is that his life be wasted in doing nothing to help others toward a personal relationship with their Creator. Every true Christian is a missionary by nature, because heaven’s missionary lives in their heart – making Himself know to others.

Psalm 107 – The Hebrew Psalter was originally divided into five books. This is the first Psalm in Book Five (107-150)– The songs here focus on how God restores peoples lives. Here we are exhorted to observe God’s dealings with people – how when they leave Him, they suffer for it, and how he restores them when they cry out to Him. We can learn to walk with Him. v.43 “Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.”

Pro. 17 – This chapter has many references to family and friends. “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.”
“In Christ” by E. Stanley Jones

Week 34 THURSDAY
“LIGHT IN THE LORD”

This verse is luminous: “for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). This verse is penetratingly true—“once you were darkness”—not in darkness, but darkness itself. It is possible to live in darkness until the darkness penetrates you and you become darkness. The payoff is the person. You become what you habitually think and act upon. That is the punishment. It is automatic.

It is also true the other way round: “now you are light in the Lord.” You are not merely in the light—you are light as long as you stay in the Lord. That is one of the most important facts of being in Christ—you become what He is. Imperfectly, of course, and always finite, but as you live in the Light you become light. You speak and think the Truth so that you become truth. You think and act upon His purity until you become purity—a center of contagious purity. You live in His Love until you become love. When people think of you. they think of love—automatically.

If you step out of Christ into yourself you become darkness—sometimes gradually. There was a good man who gradually gathered ten thousand disciples around him. Then his ego instead of Christ became the center. He had visions and dreams and communications which told that he was greater than Luther, which sent him into assumed abasement but in secret pride: He was not to die; he was to be translated into heaven. He died. He was not to decay. His followers kept the body until they were compelled to bury it. It all turned into darkness and left his followers groping in disappointment and darkness. In the Lord he was light—in himself he was darkness.

“A saint is one who lets the light through.” He lets it through and becomes light.

Prayer Power
O Jesus, Lord, let me stand in Your Light until I become luminous with You. Let me walk as a child of light until I shall not only give the Light, I shall be the light. In You I am light, in myself darkness. Amen.

AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: As a son of light I will admit no dark spots in my character.
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