V-MAIL TO THE FRONTLINE

PART 42

PRAYER III: THE REVELATION OF LOVE

“Though I speak with the tongues (languages) of men and of angels, and have not charity (Agape love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (annoying noise). And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I give all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing. Charity suffers long and is kind; charity does not envy; charity vaunteth not itself (does not push itself forward) and is not puffed up. Love does not behave unseemly or seek her own, is not easily provoked, and never thinks evil. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:1- 8)

The definition of revelation is; God’s disclosure to man of Himself and His will. His Word is divine knowledge but unless it becomes an “enlightened wisdom” within our conscience – it will remain just ink and paper to us. If the memorization of facts can be compared to “tasting” information, then understanding knowledge is the digesting process. When we receive a revelation from God, it is a gift of wisdom that is quickened and anointed from His Holy Spirit through our spirit and into the fertile, plowed soil of our conscience. It is the revelation that has the power to transform our mind, but enlightenment does not come like gathering walnuts from the ground; it must be desired and pursued like following a map and digging for buried treasure. Those who seriously study God’s Word are like state workers; one digs while the rest stand and watch. And most church goers are perfectly satisfied with listening to someone else share about what they have found instead of doing the digging themselves. (It is much easier to eat at a free buffet and go home, than to cook it and clean it up). The tragedy with not studying or praying individually is that it is like trying to know someone personally while never actually talking to them or listening to them. Most Christians can tell you some bits and pieces about what they have heard but they cannot tell you why they believe their views. Many people have such strong carnal opinions about life and when they mix in some theology they end up with confusion and heresy. Sadly, the reason why many who profess have never had a personal revelation from God is because they do not really want it. I know it sounds odd but humans generally do not like the idea of dealing with someone as intimidating as God Almighty. The image of a God that dwells in the Holy of Holies and who sits on a throne in heaven causes many to be afraid that coming to Him will completely change their life – and they do not want that! Why do you think that in most church environments, when the leadership needs them to help, fast, pray, give or whatever, the ninety percent are willing to let the ten percent do it all?

I have been with large crowds of people and have watched what happens when someone announces there is going to be a prayer spoken over the food. You can feel the atmosphere immediately change and people become nervous and fidgety with anxiety. This comes from the carnal human nature because the flesh hates anything that is associated with God and will instantly set up a defense system against spiritual involvement. The flesh does everything it can to avoid spiritual truth like playing dumb and trying not to think about God. People try to find distractions to take their thoughts away from Jesus like using drugs, alcohol or porn to dull their conscience, or just using television, internet or music to hide from their shame. They live in a fantasy world with their imaginary reality to escape God’s true reality. Some people discover that not thinking about truth is almost the same as not knowing the truth, which in their mind releases them from the guilt of accountability and responsibility. People do not want to know more because – more will be required of them! This false sense of security is a dangerous deception that can steal a life and ultimately steal a soul. Anyone can have all of God they want but many just seek the required amount to make it to heaven. The danger with this attitude is that without Agape love – (according to God’s Word) there will be no heaven for them.

If a poll was taken and every Christian was asked if they would desire that America be a Christian nation, it would be an overwhelming yes. If they were asked if they would like to see a global revival of God’s Word with many souls being saved they would again check yes. But if you told them this was actually possible based on the fervency of THEIR prayers, they would look at you with a blank stare on their face. Many would walk away discouraged, grimacing in pain from an internal agony as they emotionally wave the white flag of defeat. Why? Because they know they will not do it! There is a dangerous reason why God’s people do not do what they know they should. They do not have a revelation of love! They are building on sand. Selah.

You would think that if a Christian invented a vaccine that could save the soul, they would make 6 billion doses and inoculate everyone with a dose of Holy Ghost. Isn’t the gospel of Christ the only medicine that has the power to forgive sin, change a heart, renew a mind and transform a spirit? I thought that allowing Jesus to be seen in our life along with telling everyone about Christ and His Word was supposed to be our highest priority – right? This is basic Christianity! You know, “go tell it on the mountain” and “this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”? The church should already know the vaccine IS God’s Word and His super-natural plan to inject everyone – is the dynamo of love and prayer, but it seems we just cannot find the time to do it! “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang ALL the law and the prophets”. (Mathew 22: 37-40) We say that we believe God’s Word and desire to obey, but our actions speak louder than our words. We say we want to see people changed but without the burden of love, the cure for being lost will remain packed in boxes and left on the shelf! If the church loses its focus on Jesus and becomes entangled with the hectic, selfish lifestyle of materialism – the world will continue sliding into the abyss. It is not God’s will for this to happen because He said He was willing that none perish, but without our love, prayers and witnessing, how will anyone meet Him? What are we giving to God that He can use? We are convicted – but not condemned.

Have you ever shed tears over a lost person because you knew if they passed away they would spend eternity without God? The definition of burden is; a very heavy load that is hard to bear. Jesus carried the heavy cross as an illustration of how heavy the weight of our sin was, yet He was willing to do it because He loved us so much. The cross that He now requires for us to bear is the burden of love and prayer. It is a spiritual sense of compassion that goes far beyond the understanding of human emotion. Our new spirit weeps with the same feelings of our Lord Jesus, we groan in urgency as we plead with Him to send mercy and protection, along with the sadness and brokenness of knowing that a soul may miss their destiny. Not being able to reach someone is like your family boarding a helicopter before your street explodes in flames but your brother turns around and goes back into the house after the family dog. The pilots can wait no longer and take off and as everything on the ground gets smaller you can barely see him helplessly standing on the front porch. A burden for a soul is an agony, a suffering and a sacrifice of pain that is just a glimpse of love that God feels every second. Have you been walking in a crowded mall or event and looked into the faces of strangers and wondered if they know Jesus? Each day thousands of people launch out into eternity and many of them have never known Christ. Prayers are like throwing out life preservers.

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and He said unto the disciples, sit here, while I go and pray over there. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy (downhearted). Then He said unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here and watch with me. And He went a little farther and fell on His face and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And He cometh unto the disciples and found them asleep and said unto Peter, what, could you not watch with me one hour? WATCH AND PRAY THAT YOU ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK”. (Mathew 26:36-41) Christians are to be the watchmen on the walls. Like air traffic controllers, a 911 operator or those who stand watch on enemy lines, there are no excuses for falling asleep! The determination to stay awake is decided in the courtroom of our freewill. We will never be the disciple Jesus died for us to be, until Agape love fills our heart – and it overflows with prayer.

Dear Father, we are so desperately needy for You to open the eyes of our heart. Teach us how to pray. Forgive us for our lack of compassion, concern and obedience. Please give us the revelation of love and a burden to pray for others. Give us courage to make the bold decision to stand in the gap for those you lay on our heart. Give us determination and strength to overcome our old nature. Convict us of our selfishness. Put a guard on our mouth that we may not speak negatively. We ask You to clothe us in Your humility and the reverential fear and holiness of Your presence, in Jesus Name, amen. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”. (Mathew 5:8)