2008-07-12 Sat 5:00a Guatemala City

Yesterday (Fri)

“The Lord has given me the the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” Is.50:4

Last night in home group, JJ and Amilcar lead us with soft guitar picking, into Jesus-centered worship (no noisy self-centered stuff). The Lord reciprocated and His presence enveloped us stronger and stronger, deeper and deeper, sweeter and sweeter, stimulating our passion for Him. It was easy to get lost in His waves of love.

JJ was visiting from West Palm Beach where he’s a youth leader in a Latin American church. He’s from Guatemala and his dad was an Elder in our church. The home group hadn’t seen this development in JJ since he’d moved away three years ago after graduating from the Christian Academy, the same one our kids, Anita and Tim graduated from.

I asked those present if they were surprised by the intensity of God’s presence and what they received from Him in worship. All of the 30s and over group acknowledge they had. I shared that, that kind of worship doesn’t come from a person whose goal is just to make good music. It comes from worshipping alone, on one’s knees, day after day, pouring out one’s heart in song to our Father.

Throughout the world, God is responding to “the millenniums” (those in the 15 to 30 year old generation). They’re desperate for the authentic life they see in the New Testament and haven’t seen much of it in the Church. They would prefer to be mentored by the older and wiser, but they’re going for it, with or without the cooperation of their forerunners.

In Isaiah 50, we find the prophet sharing how he learned the Way of the Lord. He sought Him early and interceded for the rebellious in the midst of the darkness and confusion of his society. When God drew near he responded to His call to pray and received His encouragement (v2-3).

The whole chapter is prophetic of Jesus. “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his Servant, while walking in darkness and having no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God. Those who light their own fires to see in the dark will be put to shame” (v10-11).

Are we paying the personal price to learn our Lord’s Way before the storm gets darker?

There’s no other way to learn it than the way Abraham, Isaiah, Jesus and the disciples learned it.

Those who pay that price will have His light when they need it.

Prayer Power …
Abba, thanks for being so near, even within us who have received You in Jesus. Our delight is to know You, worship You, and have Your love flow though us to others. You’re so awesome God! We kiss Your Son. Come reign in us that the lowly may see and find Your life in them.

“Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.” Psalm 43:4