08-04-27 Sun 4:00a Guatemala City

2 Kings 20-25
Miracles are awesome! These six chapters show us spectacular miracles during two major “revivals” on a national level during the last 100 years of Judah’s history. But the story ends with Jerusalem’s total destruction. Her greatest miracles happened just before her downfall. Miracles are an awesome testimony of God’s presence and power, but when leaders lack the paradigm of God’s mission, the miracles can create a false sense of security. “I will defend this city, to save it (now) for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake (for the sake of my Word).” (2Ki.19:34). True revival involves a change of lifestyle, a return to life in God, letting Jesus be Lord of our thoughts, our actions and our feelings. God heals us in order to disciple us.

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit has been fundamental in the explosive numerical growth of the Church in Latin America. But many people have the idea that God blesses them arbitrarily — if He wants to He will, if He doesn’t, He wont. When we don’t grow in an adequate understanding of God’s mission, our arbitrary “Santa Claus faith” soon withers for lack of a solid foundation.

God is compassionate and never changes. He sustains the poor and the fatherless. But His mission is to make Himself known to the entire universe. When we flow with His mission, there is no end to our healthy progress. There’s few things more awesome than feeling a fever in your child disappear in the palm of your hand as you pray, or seeing God’s deep peace replace a broken heart, or an eye, a limb, an organ restored. God delights in lavishing us with his gracious power. But how can we keep from getting a false sense of security when we’ve been blessed so mightily? We seek His face, not just His hand!

Prayer Power…
Father, thank you for the honor of being placed strategically where I can help leaders better learn the ways of Your mission. I pray that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to know You and Your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 117 – Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! This is the entire Psalm! A Psalm of God’s mission.

Proverbs 27 – “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (v9). “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (v17).