Training for front-line workers engaged in the Jesus movement

Personal and social brokenness and chaos abound in our world, affecting all of us. If we want to effectively care for one another and address larger social problems we need to take the time to pursue our own holistic healing, practical training and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

In this course we will address areas of core wounding, presenting practical approaches to healing that integrate prayer and psychology. We will also explore the relationship between personal and social change, addressing some of the roots of authoritarianism, allegiance, passivity, racism, rebellion, and addiction.

Participants will learn:

• Psychologically-informed healing approaches to address issues like father & mother wounds, trauma, unhealthy attachment, addiction, rejection, and shame.
• Practical guidelines for accompanying people in need of psychological healing and spiritual freedom.
• Scripture-informed teaching on the relationship between personal and social change.

Each session will include guided prayer exercises.

When: Tuesdays (+ 1 Thursday), 12:00-1:00 PM (PDT). May 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23, 25, 30

• May 26: Becoming a healthy change agent: recovering our identity as a child of God
• June 2: Identifying and healing father wounds
• June 9: Healing of trauma and soul wounds
• June 16: Identifying and healing mother wounds
• June 23: Healthy resistance vs. reactive rebellion
• June 25: Healing from shame and rejection – Anthea McNeill
• June 30: Psychological & spiritual first aid – Heidi Basely

Instructors: Bob & Gracie Ekblad, Heidi Basely, & Anthea McNeill

Cost: $70.00

$20 of every purchase funds TPS trainings in Africa.

Some partial and full scholarships are available.

Write to "> for discount codes.

Apply here.

I regularly receive calls to prayer, and more often these days. Praying to God is so important, and I am personally involved in movements like 24/7 Prayer International (and others). I notice though that people often understand prayer mostly as one-way communication with God. While prayer certainly includes us speaking to God, it also includes God speaking to us! Spirit-guided action will also follow.

Is our prayer conversational in a way that actively includes paying attention to what God is saying to us and acting on it? According to Jesus, life-transforming prayer must include speaking and hearing, resulting in action.

In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus directly challenges people who both speak and listen to him, but don’t do what he says. Discerning what Jesus says then is essential– so we can receive instructions and direction for our lives and commitments.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Jesus asks.

Jesus then offers a simple comparison of two builders. One builds his house on a rock, and it withstands a flood. Another builds on the sand, and it collapses when hit by the torrent. His story invites us to decide which builder we want to be. And the right choice seems obvious.

This week I met up with Jason and Jessica, a couple from our Tierra Nueva community (pictured above). We met up in their driveway and read and discussed Luke 6:46-49 together. I saw some things I’d never noticed that really struck me. I hope these reflections inspire you.

Jesus’ teaching here is about prayer, which must include three essential steps if we are to build on a foundation that can withstand life’s storms. These include 1) Coming to Jesus, 2) Hearing his voice, and 3) Action in alignment with what he tells us.

 “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and acts on them, I will show you whom he/she is like: she/he is like a person building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

The first step is coming to Jesus: “everyone who comes to me…” A great crowd of disciples had come to hear Jesus, and to be healed of their diseases and freed from unclean spirits (Lk 6:18). Back then people could come to the physical Jesus. Now we come to him through prayer, worship, adoration, contemplation, and other spiritual practices like Communion. By the way, the Gospel accounts of people’s encounters with Jesus have a lot to teach us about prayer as back-and-forth communication with God.

The next step is hearing Jesus: “and hears my words…” This speaks directly of the other, lesser-known aspect of prayer— God’s communicating with us and us hearing/discerning God’s voice. We can hear Jesus’ words to us through the Holy Spirit’s work, listening prayer practices, and through reading Scripture and receiving teaching.

The final step is the most ignored: “and acts on them…” (though some more action-oriented people jump straight to it without first going to Jesus and hearing his instructions). This step speaks to our response to what Jesus tells us: changing our lives, going on a ‘mission,’ or doing whatever we hear him say.

Only the person who engages in all three of these actions is “like a person building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built” (Luke 6:47-48).

In contrast, the “person who built a house on the ground without any foundation” is like the “the one who has heard and has not acted” (Lk 6:49).

Jesus’ words assume the first action of coming to him—like those he mentions at the beginning who call him ‘Lord Lord.’ Next Jesus directly mentions the second aspect of prayer, hearing. “But the one who has heard.” The only difference between the successful and failed builder is acting or not acting in response to Jesus’ words.

The results of not acting on Jesus’ communication to us in conversational prayer are catastrophic. “And the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great” (Lk 6:29).

“Maybe it’s like if I have a car problem and I call a mechanic. I explain that my car is overheating and the check-engine light is on, indicating my car maybe needs more oil. That would be like praying to God, explaining a problem to him,” I explain to Jason and Jessica, trying to think of a relatable example.

“The mechanic tells me to be sure there’s antifreeze in the radiator, and to check the oil and top if off if necessary until he has time to check it out when his schedule is free. I agree– and this would be like the second step of prayer: listening,” I say.

“But then I keep driving my car without doing what he says. My engine freezes up and needs to be replaced. I’ve failed to follow the mechanic’s expert advice and now I’m suffering the consequences,” I conclude.  The example works and we’re each moved by how down-to-earth Jesus is.

Jason and Jessica have been experiencing this concretely over the past year, finding housing, work and flourishing as a family after seven years of being separated due to incarceration.

“We’re both growing in our relationship with God,” says Jessica. It’s easier to understand one another and deal with whatever issues that we have– rather than just letting our emotions take control. My gas tank is not always on empty…”

Jesus’ teaching shows how much he cares about us. Jesus wants us to build our lives on a solid foundation so we can withstand the storms of life, not being shaken by the torrents that come against us. Jesus wants us to come to him. He speaks to us and we can hear him. He gives us direction and messages that enhance our lives, helping us and others avoid destruction.

May we all remember to go to Jesus in prayer, listen to his counsel, and gladly act on what he tells us!

Check out our Guerrilla Webinars and online Certificate in Transformational at the Margins here.

Sign up for this Thursday’s (April 23rd) Guerrilla Bible Study “No one is an accident: We belong to God (Psalm 139 and other texts) here.

Discipleship and Jesus-movement building through Bible Studies

12-1pm PST on Thursdays, April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4

There’s a Jesus-movement underway in these uncertain times that grows as each of us learns to bear witness- sharing liberating messages we discover and pass on with the Spirit’s help.

Journeying alongside someone new to Christian faith is a joy and challenge. Where to begin? In this webinar course we will explore practical ways to help not-yet-believing people explore and experience God’s radical message of transforming love in Jesus. We will follow Jesus together through Scripture, identifying core teachings that help us grow into an understanding and practice of Christian faith that will appeal to people and bring personal and social change.

Participants will learn to:

1. Draw from Scripture to share core teachings regarding following Jesus with people new to Christian faith in ways that mobilize them as active witnesses.
2. Develop an incremental disciple-making approach that uses Scripture to help a person grow beginning from wherever they are in their faith journey into greater maturity.
3. Facilitate the discovery of a life-changing message using non-religious language through short, conversational Bible studies.
4. Think strategically about multiplying active carriers of liberating news (the Gospel).

Schedule

Six Thursdays 12-1pm (PST) April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4

April 30 Discipleship & Jesus-movement building intro. Discerning  God’s presence in the darkness (Gn 1 & Jn 1).
May 7 Meeting the good God who seeks (Lk 13 & 15).

May 14 Coming to believe without seeing (Jn 5 & Lk 7).

May 21 Discovering your true identity (Ps 139 & Lk 3).

May 28 Repentance and change (Luke 18 & Ephesians 2).

June 4 Responding to Jesus’ Call (Matthew 4 & 9)

This Webinar includes

– 6 hrs of live webinar teaching from Bob & Gracie Ekblad
– Access to video of live Bible study

– Chapter 1 “Facilitating Guerrilla Bible Studies” of Bob’s book Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 1, Surprising Encounters with God

– Ongoing access to all the webinar sessions

$60 registration fee. Discount coupons available from anyone needing a scholarship, from 100%, 50% to 20% off entry free. Contact to get coupons.

$20 of every $60 received will directly fund TPS trainings in Africa and other sites in the Global South, as well as Siberia.

This course is prerequisite for the next six-week continuation course (Course 2: “From Basic Training to Going out on Missions informed by Bible Study”), to be scheduled.

Please click here to register.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mjjkN7pCvw

This week I’ve managed several short Bible studies with people that have warmed my heart. I hope they will warm yours too.

Tuesday night I had scheduled a FaceTime Bible study with Tony, who was in his car when I called at 7pm.

“I thought we were going to meet up in person,” said Tony.

I thought I’d been clear that we were going to do this via FaceTime, but we’d also briefly discussed meeting in a sandy parking lot at a boat launch down by the Skagit River near to where we both live. We quickly agreed to meet in ten minutes, and I drove to the river.

I parked in the empty parking area where fishermen usually leave their boat trailers. Tony’s Honda appeared and slowly made its way towards me as he carefully avoided pot holes. He pulled up alongside my car. It looked like we were the recommended 6-10 feet apart as we lowered our windows.

Tony was sporting a black face mask, and with his long ponytail he looked like a hoodlum. I quickly put on my black face mask, and we laughed through our masks before quickly taking them off.

We checked in with each other, prayed and Tony shared a Scripture from Galatians 5:16-17 that had impacted him that day.

As the night was falling we opened our Bibles to John 3:1-8, Nicodemus’ breach of social distancing with Jesus by night. I laughed to think that from an outside perspective it looked like Tony and I were engaging in a drug deal. Rather, we were seeing and entering the Kingdom of God there together, despite the stay-at-home order.

The next day I do a twenty-minute video call with a man in the solitary confinement unit of our county jail. Justin (not his real name) appears with a huge grin on my phone screen. He tells me the good news that he’d been offered a deal: 68 months in prison. He says he was ready to sign, but waiting for his attorney to get off his quarantine. This beats the 200 months he originally thought he’d get.

“That means I’ve only got 27 months to go,” he says, happily– since he’s already been locked up 15 months fighting his case.

“Hey, do you want to look together at something I’ve been studying in the Bible?” I ask. “Yeah for sure, let’s do it!” he says.

I read John 18:1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he crossed with his disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which he entered with his disciples.”

I describe the ravine between the walled city of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives that we’d visited a few years back, a rugged place off the radar where Jesus hung out with his 12 disciple “homies.” So let’s check out what happens next, I suggest, reading the next verses.

“Now Judas also, who was betraying him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with his disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons” (18:2-3).

“So Jesus gets betrayed by one of his friends—and that leads to an arrest. Has anything like that ever happened to you, Justin?” I ask. “Have you ever been betrayed?”

“Yeah, like the night I got arrested and ended up here. The cops were tipped off to where I was. They came with guns drawn, and big lights. They surrounded my place, broke in and arrested me.”

“So what was that like for you?” I ask.

He surprised me by saying he felt relief, as he’d been on the run for so long. Now he could face the charges and get them dealt with.

“Well, that’s interesting that you see it that way. I am sure glad you didn’t get shot in the process, which happens too often these days, I say. “Let’s check out what happens next.”

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went out and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am he.” And Judas also, who was betraying him, was standing with them” (18:4-5).

So they had a warrant and were looking for Jesus the Nazarene,” I say. “And one of his very own was the rat who led them to his whereabouts,” I continue.

Jesus’ readiness to face those who were out to arrest him linked in nicely with Justin’s readiness to do his time. At this point I shared some relevant background.

I share how when Jesus identifies himself as “I am he,” this links up with the Angel of the Lord’s encounter with fugitive Moses in the burning bush in the desert (Exodus 3:1). Moses had killed an Egyptian crew boss and was on the run. The Angel of the Lord told Moses, I’ve heard the people’s cries, including yours Justin, I know his suffering… He calls Moses as a liberator. When Moses asks God’s name, he tells him “I am who I am.” The Greek equivalent of this is “I am he.” “Let’s see what happens next,” I suggest. I read John 18:6-7.

“So when he said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore he again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

“So here with these words, Jesus identifies himself as the God who hears the cries, sees the oppression and liberates the slaves,” I say. “Here Jesus presents himself, identifying himself to them and us as the God of liberation– to his very captors. What happens when he identifies himself?”

“They fall to the ground,” says Justin.

“Yeah, it’s like Jesus just tazed them, and they’re completely demobilized!” I say.

We laugh together, and then talk about how Jesus continues to ask them “who are you looking for?”

As I read the next verses, John 18:8-9, and I can see Justin is listening carefully.

“Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he; so if you seek me, let these (his disciples) go their way,” to fulfill the word which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me I lost not one.”

We talk together about how Jesus shows he has power, and when he reveals himself people can’t even stay standing. But Jesus’ concern is to protect his disciples. He wants to be sure the authorities take him and not them. Earlier in John 10:11 he said: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Let’s see what happens next,” I suggest, reading John 18:10.

“Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.”

Peter’s violence just hurts someone even more on the margins than himself—the slave of the high priest. Jesus responds to Simon Peter’s attempts to defend him with both firmness and humility. “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given me, shall I not drink it?”

Justin and I were moved by Jesus’ willingness to drink the cup of suffering that his Father had given him. We prayed together, and spent the last few seconds in silence before our 20 minutes video visit abruptly ended. My heart remains pierced as I think of Jesus’ arrest, and of Justin, back in his solitary confinement cell.

Join us for Thursday webinars “Best Practices for Facilitating Guerrilla Bible Studies: “Jesus, the liberator born among us (Matthew 1:18-25).” Sign up for April 16, 10-11am PST here, or 2-3pm PST here.

Today I’m struck by the urgency of walking in the light of Christ in such a way that the impending darkness of these days of pandemic do not overcome us.

I’ve been both moved and perplexed by John’s description of the Word            , which is clearly identified as both God’s communication and God. The Word translates logos in Greek, which means word, speech, message, and even event. Logos serves as a title for Jesus in John’s Gospel.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:1-3).

Every day as we are being bombarded by the bad news of the growing pandemic we must remember not to elevate the “crown” virus (corona is Latin for crown) above the One who is crowned Lord of all.

“In him was life, and the life was the Light of humanity.”

Up to this point in John’s Gospel this word is not capitalized, boldfaced or even named. Yet we are told that “in him” was life, not death—and that this “life was the light of people” (anthropos in Greek can be translated inclusively to include women and men).

What do you think this means for us today?

As we take stock of the rising death toll from this invisible virus, how do we contemplate the Word, who is God, Maker of heaven and earth, who brings life and light?

“Do any of you need to hear a Word from God that would bring life and light?” “Do you need wisdom for a difficult decision, or clarity regarding a question you now have?” I often ask people when leading a Bible study on this passage.

“Yes” is the obvious response. So where then do we go from here?

The next verse can be read as a declaration, an announcement or news flash, which should carry greater weight than any official declaration from heads of State, World Health Organization spokespersons, medical experts or anyone– since it comes from the Creator of the Universe.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

The terms darkness (skotia) or dark (skotos) do not refer to literal darkness in John’s Gospel, but rather to life lived without the illumination of the Word of God, the light of the world, who is fully embodied in Jesus himself.

“So we have the prophetic word made more sure,” writes Peter, “to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (1 Peter 2:15).

But before we are introduced to Jesus by the human herald, John the Baptist, John’s Gospel tells us that this word shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

Some of our Bible translations read “the darkness did not “comprehend” rather than “overcome” it. In fact, the Greek verb katalambano means both “to understand, to realize, to grasp, to comprehend” and “to overcome, to gain control over” (Louw-Nida). I believe that the word was likely meant to convey this double meaning.

This is certainly the best of news, that this life-light-word is powerful– not overcome by the darkness. And it is perplexing and a kind of warning that the darkness did not understand it. This life-shining-light-word was not recognized by the world or received by “his own” (John 1:10-11)—which suggests we must pray for the eyes of heart to be opened and intentionally welcome the Word.

“But those who received him, who believed in his name, he gave authority to become children of God… born of God” (John 1:12-13).

As the darkness encroaches around us, visible in fear, anxiety, insomnia, denial, rising death tolls and myriads of destructive responses, let us receive this Living Word and choose to believe. Let us de-legitimize the reign of death by removing the crown off this virus, and putting it on Jesus.

This does not mean ignoring best practices for protecting ourselves and our communities. To the contrary—we must fight this fight both naturally and spiritually. But let us remember to fix our hope firmly on the Light of this world.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12).

So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes” (John 12:35).

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).

Join us for an hour-long webinar training this Thursday, April 2 on how to facilitate transformational Bible studies that will focus on John 1:1-13. Sign up through the highlighted date/times for either Thursday, April 2 at 10-11am or Thursday, April 2 at 2-3pm PST. We will then send you instructions and a Zoom link.

Next Thursday, April 9, from 10-11am PST I will host a webinar on another Guerrilla Bible Study, “Seeing and entering the Kingdom of God,” which you can sign up for here.

For free downloadable resources for ministry from a distance, check out our website here.

Over the past week our normal ministry commitments have been radically reduced due to the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 epidemic here in Washington State and around the world.

The jail and prison have closed doors to ministry.  We’ve moved our weekly Tierra Nueva gatherings for worship online. Our April commitments to teach in Zambia, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland have all been postponed until the Fall due to corona-related border closures. Closures of health clubs, schools, recovery meetings, cinemas, restaurants are forcing people to do what’s recommended—to stay home.

What’s a follower of Jesus to do in these precarious times?

The only time Jesus’ disciples went home was after Jesus was crucified and buried, when they “as yet did not understand the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes” (Jn 20:9-10).

The Scripture that comes to mind as I contemplate these times is Acts 8:1, which describes that persecution that began after Stephen’s martyrdom, “and they were all scattered through the regions.” The gathered believers could no longer gather—and Philip went to Samaria, “proclaiming Christ to them” (Acts 8:4). This resulted in crowds attentively listening, witnessing signs like unclean spirits leaving, paralyzed and lame being healed and “much rejoicing in that city.” 

Now is an opportunity for those scattered from normal gathered communities to consider the Spirit’s clear guidance—wisely discerned.

Right now across the world, the homeless, those struggling with mental health disorders, and addictions, and others in active recovery people are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.  As churches, homeless shelters, restaurants, and casinos close their doors, these populations are in many cases feeling abandoned.

This past Wednesday we put a call out for people interested in ministry to gather at Tierra Nueva with a plan to walk the streets, seeking to find vulnerable people and share information about the virus and what they can do, and offer to pray.  We printed up hundreds of copies of a half-sheet flyer in English and in Spanish with the health department’s colorful poster outlining key recommendations on one side, and Psalm 91 and Luke 18:38 on the other. 

Six of us showed up, gathering outside our Tierra Nueva building in Burlington in a circle, keeping the minimal six feet distance. We sang a worship song, prayed together and then put on gloves, equipped ourselves with face masks and hand sanitizer before deciding together which areas of our valley we planned to cover for an hour of outreach.

Salvio and Victoria headed for Walmart to look for Spanish-speaking immigrants, who are especially in need of information and encouragement. Roger and Andrew made rounds, looking for, finding and praying for people under the freeway bridge and in the laundromat. Gracie and I drove around and prayed for the people of our valley—leaving off Spanish flyers at a Mexican carniceria (butcher).

Last night I went out by myself, on my way back from picking up a trailer full of composted manure for our garden. I was dressed in work clothes after having spent the afternoon putting in posts to protect this year’s garden from deer.

I’d had an 18-year-old homeless Native American man on my heart, who attends Tierra Nueva fairly regularly. Since he has no fixed domicile and no cell phone, I never know how to find him.  I decided to park in downtown Mt Vernon beside a boardwalk along the river where homeless people often frequent. There before me was Nathan (not his real name), walking along the boardwalk. I jumped out of my car and yelled towards him: “Nathan! I’ve been thinking about you.”

He stopped, looking surprised. I locked my car and joined him, walk with him for a mile or so towards the next town. He mostly responded to my questions. He didn’t know much about what was happening with the virus, didn’t know where he would camp that night. He told me he felt God was with him, but wasn’t able to explain how. We prayed together and he agreed to take flyers, handing them out to others he would run into. We agreed to touch base on Facebook messenger so we can meet up in a park for a Bible study.  

As the sun was about to go down I headed back down the boardwalk until, approaching an older homeless man who looked cold and miserable. I stopped more than ten feet from him as he began to sneeze into his arm.

“How are you sir?” I asked. “Terrible,” he said. “I’m homeless.”

I asked him if he’d like a flyer with Psalm 91, and information on the coronavirus. He seemed eager for some kind of connection and gladly received. I asked him if I could pray for him and he looked surprised, saying he did.

I raised a hand towards him and declared Jesus’ love over him. I blessed him with God’s love, peace, freedom from fear, protection, healing and whatever else I could think of. His face became calm and radiant, and he suddenly burst out: “Look at the light!” The sun was just setting through the trees above the river bank on the opposite side of the river, illuminating our faces as I turned. He thanked me and I moved on down the boardwalk.

I could see another group of three homeless people gathered around a bicycle. As I got closer I saw a middle-aged woman and two men, talking quietly. I approached them, offering them the flyer with Psalm 91 and the virus info.

They gladly received the flyers, telling me they were starting to get more worried. One of the men knew about Psalm 91, mentioning the pestilence, which he pronounced “pentilence”- a strange combo word that perhaps prophetically put together penitence and pestilence.

I offered to pray for them and they gladly received my blessings from a distance. I continued on, offering my flyer to a Mexican couple, and some Spanish-speaking young people. As night descended I returned down the board walk towards my car, walking past the three homeless people. One of the men called me over, asking if I knew where he could get a coat. He had just been released from jail and only had a thin long sleeve shirt—hardly enough to protect him from these cold nights.

I was able to help him out with a coat, heading home with a warm heart- loving that I was able to share in Jesus’ joy in ministering in a time of need.

May God richly bless and inspire you as you refuse anxiety, seeking first Jesus’ Kingdom in these dangerous times. Below I’ve included a suggested statement that might inspire you are you reach out, with care and courage.

“Hi, I’m _________ from the Christian church/es, and this is ­­­_________ ­­­­­­. We are out praying and raising awareness tonight about the coronavirus. We’re in a critical time where lives can be saved. We’re especially concerned about the most vulnerable—the homeless, people struggling with addictions, and the elderly. We believe God especially cares about all these people—and we do too. 

We ourselves may be carriers of the virus, which is why we’re going to keep our distance from you. Anyone can be a carrier—you yourself. Even if you don’t have symptoms. Here’s a powerful Psalm, Psalm 91 and another prayer that you can read or pray. On the back there’s some info about how you can keep safe and healthy so our community won’t be hit too hard. We’d love to be able to pray for you right now if you’d like—for God’s protection, healing, anything you want.”

Check out our weekly and daily podcasts and devotionals here.

The Bible tells the story of God’s pursuit, liberation, and recruitment of human beings as agents of blessing for the world. God calls people throughout Scripture, launching them as announcers and change agents to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Lately I’ve been despairing as I read the news. Here in the United States we’ve been through a tumultuous season, with hostile, divisive battles raging between politicians and parties that have people divided like I’ve never seen. We are now deep into an election year that promises even more distracting battles. Cruel attacks, denials, boastful claims, and empty promises abound—with lots of money flowing to win over the electorate. What does it look like to bear witness to Jesus, the Lamb of God in these perilous times?

I’m struck by the news of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who now flee fighting in Idlib, Syria, of Central American asylum seekers along the US-Mexican border, preyed on by kidnappers as they await their hearings. My thoughts go to the inmates I visit in solitary confinement in our local jail, who are locked up alone 23 hours daily. I see widespread homelessness, and have direct and regular contact with people in our community ravaged by the opioid and meth epidemics. Certainly we must respond.

We are barraged by news that the rich and powerful are getting away with their plans and even crimes, while the number of vulnerable and impoverished people are increasing. Proclaiming and living out the good news of Jesus and the Kingdom of God in these dark times sometimes feels like engaging in a losing battle. Where is the victory of Jesus, the Lamb of God? Where do you see it?

I have been compelled to read the book of Revelation, and have worked my way through it several times— seeking and finding a broader, spiritually-informed perspective on our times that has brought some clarity and hope.

The first thing I notice is that John, the writer of Revelation, writes from the island of Patmos, where he was banished “because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Proclaiming this Word of God and bearing witness to Jesus got John into trouble, and leads to martyrdom and eventual victory as the vision unfolds.

The Word of God and testimony of Jesus are concretized though John’s powerful prophetic messages to the angels of seven different churches—calling each to more faithful witness and resistance to the powers of that time. I wonder what the Word and testimony of Jesus have to say to us in our lives and contexts now?

John offers precise messages that come from God’s revelation to him for each community. Jesus invites John to come up through a door in heaven to get informed from above. From the throne room he shows him “what must take place” (4:1-2). I think we need revelation from above now to navigate in these confusing times.

John’s apocalyptic vision portrays a world in escalating conflict—like we see in our country and in many places around the world now. The accuser, dragon, beast and other antagonists relentlessly assail the victorious Lamb of God’s humble followers, through violence and deceit. The powers of darkness attack, and God’s victory in Jesus advances victorious, as if by defeat.

This advance by defeat actually gives me hope—as this matches on the ground realities we experience regularly. I’m also reminded that new life is God’s gift, coming miraculously in the midst of faithful witness, which involves surrender to Jesus and his mission to the point of death, with the hope of resurrection. In a world where money and power (might) makes right, I think we need to be reminded of the way of Jesus over and over.

John the Baptist points his disciples to Jesus: “Behold the lamb of God!” (Jn 1:36). The one who is described as worthy of worship and praise in Revelation is the slain lamb— not rich and powerful politicians or parties. Sacred scenes of heavenly worship of this slain lamb, now forever alive, happen throughout the book. This regular worship is an essential reminder of the reality of Christ’s victory, which must be celebrated in the face of chaos and death.

It is this Lamb of God, the crucified and risen Jesus alone, who is worthy to open the sealed book that outlines the impending justice-oriented judgment, and final victory.

“Worthy are you to take the book and to break its seals; for you [Jesus] were slain, and [you] purchased for God with your blood, people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev 5:9-10).

This is our truest identity as followers of Jesus. We are invited to embrace our status as purchased by Jesus for God, and to step fully into our vocation as priests in Jesus’ Kingdom. I love this and feel called to recruit others into this movement.  Does this look like a more compelling alternative to the divisive status quo?

The accuser who was cast out of heaven by Jesus’ victory, is now overcome on earth (as in heaven) by the resistance practices by Jesus’ followers.  How can we step into this resistance now.

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (12:10-11).

Overcoming the accuser is accomplished through “the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony” (testimony = marturia in Greek). Victory is accomplished through engaging in Jesus-like resistance—to the point of death if necessary.

Those “slain because of the Word of God and the testimony which they had maintained” are given white robes and told to rest until “the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also” (6:9-11).

So we are not looking at a triumphalistic “taking the high places” approach, but rather a faithful life of suffering love in the heart of the world, aligned with Jesus’ earthly life visible in the Gospels.

The enemy antagonists include a dragon, who installs the beast, who appears both highly popular and all-powerful—in contrast to the vulnerable, martyred ones associated with the slain lamb.

“They worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him” (13:4-5).  Where do we see such posturing in our day?

Today people are assailed by a barrage of arrogant words and blasphemies, in the form of tweets, denials, outright lies and intimidating attacks. We witness an increasingly brazen authority to rule as autocratic—even despotic governing is on the rise around the world.

The beast makes war on the saints and overcomes them (13:7), and it seems this is also happening now in different places—through a combination of propaganda and intimidation.  Revelation presents the opposition to Jesus’ kingdom of priests as formidable. How does it appear to you?

“He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men” (13:14). What might equivalents of this be today?

Thankfully, an angel from heaven declares the defeat of the earthly realms of power and domination, embodied in a power called Babylon. But when will this happen?

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit…. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality” (18:1-3). 

Where might Babylon be most visible today? To what extent are you enmeshed with this power?

God’s people are called to separate themselves: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (18:4-5). 

Babylon’s fate is sealed. It will be judged and completely destroyed. In contrast, God’s people are adorned as a bride and invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:9).  They have divested, differentiated themselves from the world’s ideologies and means, to fully identify with the one they worship and await.

Jesus is returning. “His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems… He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God…. And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords’” (19:11ff).

The New Jerusalem comes down from heaven (21:10). This new kingdom does not come through political power moves—but through the Word of their (our) testimony.  How can we more fully step into alignment with this Word and testimony now?

I feel inspired to depart Babylon, beginning with a renewal of my mind in alignment with God’s revelation rather than news media and political thinking. Contemplating and worshipping Jesus, the Lamb who was slain will certainly help us become re-oriented into his liberation movement.

May we re-discover the power of the blood of the Lamb, and the Word of testimony, joining the company of the kingdom of priests who await his return (and not some elected official), so we can offer true hope in a time of political illusions.

It is easy to miss the real Jesus these days– with all the media attention noting Christians and evangelicals supporting this or that candidate, issue, or past war or oppressive colonization. I myself have felt dismayed and ashamed of the widespread current and historic abuse of authority in the name of Jesus. I understand how people come to distance themselves from the oppressive side of a Christian heritage, or shelve their tainted faith altogether.

Yet there’s a loving presence and true spiritual authority that the world needs—humble, authentic, true. Jesus embodied this and exercised this authority in his earthly life, overcoming the oppressor ruler(s) of this world by defeating death through the cross. However Jesus’ overcoming authority is not obvious or even apparent at first glance. It’s not the presence and authority of a law-enforcement officer, MMA champion fighter or star scientist or athlete.

John’s Gospel alerts us early on that humility and rejection are normative for God. Jesus himself experienced rejection throughout his life, especially at the end.

“He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Lk 17:25).

It is all too common for those who follow Jesus to also experience being unseen, ignored or outright rejected. Jesus prepared his followers for this, identifying people’s acceptance or rejection of us with their acceptance or rejection of him, and of his Father.

“The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me; and he who rejects me rejects the One who sent me” (Lk 10:16).

Our own experiences of being marginalized, invisible or rejected bring us into the widespread experience of many of the world’s sufferers– the imprisoned, elderly, homeless, lonely. A uniquely inclusive solidarity becomes possible, from which we can learn to exercise a distinct, liberating authority. This authority begins when we know ourselves to be born of God, children of the Father as our primary identity marker that outranks all other identifiers (national identity, ethnicity, party or religious affiliation, social class, education…).

John’s Gospel shows clearly how when God takes on human flesh in his son Jesus, he limits his visibility in the world to Jesus, in whom he is fully present.

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (Jn 1:18).

Yet this “only begotten one,” identified first as the logos, translated “Word,” is the Creator God in full splendor. This Word is present from the beginning, with God and himself God, through whom all things came into being—life, light for all people, shining in the darkness, but not comprehended (v. 5).

“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him” (Jn 1:10-11).

John’s Gospel shows that resisting this tendency to not recognize and reject the living Word revealed in Jesus is the doorway into God-given authority.

“But as many as received him, to them he gave the right [literally authority or status] to become [or be] children of God, even to those who believe in his name” (Jn 1:12).

When we receive and believe in the name of the un-recognized and rejected Jesus, God gives us authority to be [and become] children of God. This status comes through adoption and not through birthright, willpower, or any kind of merit system.

”Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (Jn 1:13).

Our authority given at this new birth sets us on a journey of “becoming,” or growing into our heavenly child-of-God status and authority that looks like Jesus.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).

Looking to Jesus we see that the unique authority given to us by the Father does not look like worldly power and authority— identified with wealth and other kinds of visible success, influence, political power, etc. It does include ministering healing, liberation and confronting injustices in the power of the Spirit, as the Apostle Paul describes.

“I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor 2:3-4).

As we are born of God and grow into our heavenly status, we can expect to look increasingly like Jesus, both “full of grace and truth” and “a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (1 Peter 2:4).

In John’s later Epistle this connection between Jesus’ humble, covert presence is made explicit:

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know [recognize] us, because it did not know [recognize] him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when he appears, we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 Jn 3:1-3).

May the Spirit help us recognize the Word—life, light of the world, only begotten Son of the Father. May we come to know Jesus more and more fully, receiving him again and again. May each of us enter into our heavenly identity as a child of the Father, choosing this above all other identifiers. May we fully accept our adoptive status, authority, and empowerment by the Spirit, so as to fully participate in the liberation movement called the Kingdom of God here in the midst of the old, crumbling, increasingly authoritarian regimes.

Let us turn away from all false ways we lean on for security, authority and power, fixing our hope on Jesus. May we purify ourselves as he himself is pure—so that we may enter the blessed status: “blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8).

See Guerrilla Bible Studies, Volume 1, Surprising Encounters with God, for a tried-and-tested Bible study on John 1, available here.