A Declaration of Dependence

"So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed."
(John 8:36)
Saturday, July 4th, is America's 233rd birthday, an annual celebration and commemoration of our country's "Independence Day".

While I am grateful for the blessings and privileges that have resulted from my American citizenship, I am not heralding my country's independence in this post. Instead, I am proclaiming complete and total dependence ... on the Lord Jesus Christ. The liberty that interests me is the freedom found in Him.

Our earthly homes and temporal circumstances are just that: earthly and temporal. Yet, where we live and what we face are neither random nor insignificant. Acts 17:24-28 reveals the purposeful eternal kingdom plan of God: "The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.' For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.' "

There's a fine line but an imperative distinction between independence and freedom. As my associate pastor illustrated in his message this past Sunday, independence implies self-sufficiency--the ability to stand alone and the exemption from reliance on or control by others. Freedom, in contrast, intimates a deliverance from bondage and oppression, including full and unrestricted access to accompanying rights and privileges. Just consider: those who proclaim Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are His heirs (reference, among others, Acts 3:25; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29, 4:7). Therefore, we have every legal right and freedom to His full and gracious inheritance (reference, among others, Ephesians 1:13-23; Colossians 1:12, 3:24; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:4)!

An individual who--and a nation which--attempts to live independently of the Lord Jesus Christ is choosing a proverbial hard row to hoe, risking current freedom in Him as well as eternal freedom with Him. Why would we choose self-sufficiency when His grace is sufficient (reference 2 Corinthians 12:9)? Why would we choose independence when our salvation and honor depend upon Him (reference Psalm 62:7)?

"This is what the LORD says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.' " (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

That principle applies to nations as well as to inviduals. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD ... no king is saved by the size of his army," extols Psalm 33:12, 16.

Dependence is defined as "the state of relying upon someone or something". The Someone on Whom every nation and all of creation must rely is the Lord Jesus Christ. Job 8 recounts: "Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? ... Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold." (verses 3, 11-15). Now in this particular passage of Scripture, Bildad, in attempt to explain Job's suffering, wrongly accuses him. However, the generalization of Bildad's words ring true: those who forget (or outright reject) God are deceived and will eventually find themselves groundless.

Precious ones, time is short. Independence is inconsequential. What matters is freedom, eternal liberty in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our glorious inheritance in Him hinges upon our humble dependence on Him. Let's declare it.

Precious Father, thank You for being our depender and our defender (reference Psalm 68:5)! Thank You for the freedom You provide through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, forgive us for failing to depend upon You. Forgive us for striving in self-sufficiency when You have promised to provide our every need (reference Philippians 4:19). Forgive us for remaining in self-inflicted bondage when You have set us free (reference Psalm 81:6, 119:32, 146:7; Romans 6:18-22; Galatians 5:1). Forgive us for preferring to stay in our little corner of the world when You have given us the keys to the kingdom (reference Matthew 16:19)! We depend upon You. We declare it, Lord, and we ask for boldness as we share it. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, My Savior, and "Heir of all things" (reference Hebrews 1:2). Amen.

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks
that they must turn to God in repentance
and have faith in our Lord Jesus."
(Acts 20:21)
For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Don't Forget to Remember"
• "There's a Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On"
• "In God We Trust"
• "The Great Depression"
• "Blessed is the Nation ..."

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

Prayer (in the Name of Jesus Christ) ... America's Hope

"May Your unfailing love
rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in You."
(Psalm 33:22)
Today is the 58th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. This year's theme is "Prayer ... America's Hope", and it is based upon the above Scripture from Psalm 33:22.

In 1775, the Continental Congress first called the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, and the call to prayer has continued throughout American history. President George Washington first proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving on February 19, 1795. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863. President John Adams declared May 9, 1798 as "a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer," during which citizens were asked to pray "that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it". In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Harry Truman, officially established an annual National Day of Prayer, and, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed an amended law, which permanently designated the first Thursday in May to be the annual National Day of Prayer. Since the birth of our country, many other US presidents have publicly called for national prayer and repentance. This year, the White House will not publicly participate in the National Day of Prayer.

Regardless, for Christians, the time for mere observance is over. It's time to act. It's time to wake up, rise up, and speak up. It's time to cry out to the One and Only Most High God ... in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Let's not be generic in our prayers, privately or publicly. I intend absolutely no dishonor or irreverence to my Holy God, Yahweh, as I note that people of different faiths with different beliefs can conveniently convince themselves that my God is the equivalent of their god, whomever or whatever that might be.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, as you faithfully pray--today and every day--make sure to invoke the Name of the One Who is unmistakable: the One Who divides, the One Who reigns, the One Who saves ... the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Through Jesus, therefore,
let us continually offer to God
a sacrifice of praise—
the fruit of lips that confess His name.
(Hebrews 13:15)
For more information on the National Day of Prayer, please visit the NDoP official website. For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "T.G.I.F. (Do You Know Him?)"
  
• "The Power of Prayer"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

Rising Waters

"I tell you,
now is the time of God's favor,
now is the day of salvation."
(2 Corinthians 6:2b)
Beloved, I've missed you! Those precious few of you who regularly stoke "Fan into Flame" know that the posts here are often irregular. I don't write daily or weekly but only when prompted by the Holy Spirit ... only when the Lord gives me something to say. Sometimes, it flows like a flood! Sometimes ... {insert sound of chirping crickets here} ... it doesn't.

The times of stillness are a glorious gift from the Lord. Be assured that He is graciously and wondrously speaking. I'm just listening to Him. And learning from Him. And leaning on Him. And loving Him. I pray that you are, too, during this Harvest journey.

In the three weeks since Good Friday, I've been watching. Observing. Listening. Grieving. Rejoicing.

I am an alien and stranger here on earth (reference Psalms 39:12; Hebrews 11:13; 1 Peter 2:11), but, as time passes, I acutely feel even more alienated ... and stranger than ever before! I discern in my spirit--and witness in my flesh--waves of deception washing over the earth. They once were fewer and farther apart, but, like the labor pains immediately preceding childbirth, they are greater, faster, and unrelenting. The shock is drowning some, who haven't accepted the Lord's safe harbor. The turbulence is neutralizing some, who haven't learned to navigate enemy waters. The impact is knocking some to their spiritual senses, all glory to God! And the tumult is bringing some to the surface, who stand amidst the storm, rising confidently and firmly in the power of the Lord.

Beloved, the side effects of polluted waters abound. I don't need to list them here. There's neither time nor space to exhaust the list of ills weakening our country and our world. They make me sick. I know they make you sick, too. And, you know I'm not talking about swine flu.

Let's just call a spade a spade here. Let's address the cause beyond the symptoms. The common denominator behind every perversion of the Lord's goodness, holiness, and righteousness is the enemy of the one and only Most High God. He is a counterfeiter and a liar, and those who don't recognize that truth are, sadly, floating in the filthy waters of his deception.

"... Jesus ... said, 'I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.' The Pharisees challenged Him, 'Here You are, appearing as Your own witness; Your testimony is not valid.' Jesus answered, 'Even if I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, Who sent Me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am One Who testifies for Myself; My other witness is the Father, Who sent Me.' Then they asked Him, 'Where is Your Father?' 'You do not know Me or My Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.' ... 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.' 'Who are you?' they asked. 'Just what I have been claiming all along,' Jesus replied. 'I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent Me is reliable, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.' They did not understand that He was telling them about His Father. So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the One I claim to be and that I do nothing on My Own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.' Even as He spoke, many put their faith in Him. To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the Truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill Me, because you have no room for My Word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.' 'Abraham is our father,' they answered. 'If you were Abraham's children,' said Jesus, 'then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill Me, a man Who has told you the Truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.' 'We are not illegitimate children,' they protested. 'The only Father we have is God Himself.' Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on My own; but He sent Me. Why is My language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the Truth, you do not believe Me! Can any of you prove Me guilty of sin? If I am telling the Truth, why don't you believe Me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.' "
(John 8:12-47)
Beloved, this post is not what I intended it to be today. It never is. All thanks and glory to God! I planned an exhortation about the freedom, power, and authority you have in Christ. Perhaps that's another post (or series of posts!) for another day.

In the meantime, know that the waters of deception will continue heighten. They just will. Godlessness will continue to increase. It just will.

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)
But, most of all, precious ones, know this: The enemy's days are numbered--they are! Jesus Christ reigns--He does! He's returning--He is! And, when He does, He will replace the seas of sickness with the River of Life (reference Revelation 22). He will. He just will. And we who know Him will dwell with Him in the house of the Lord ... forever.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire. 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
(Psalm 46)
Precious Father, how wondrous it is to live in the embrace of Your grace! You sit enthroned over the flood (reference Psalm 29:10). All glory to You! Thank You for strengthening Your children during the storm; thank You for the protection of Your peace in the midst of the turbulence. Your Living Water refreshes us, sustains us, and keeps us afloat. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ--Your perfect Son and my precious Savior. Amen.

"Therefore let everyone who is godly
pray to You
while You may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him."
(Psalm 32:6)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Believer or Deceiver"
• "There's a Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On"
  
• "Resolute in Absolute Truth"
• "The Great Depression"
• "In God We Trust"
• "No Flood is Greater Than His Blood"
• "A Storm is Coming ..."
• "The Battle Rages"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2009. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.

T.G.I.F. --Thank God It's Friday! (Do You Know Him?)

"... 'Look, the Lamb of God,
Who takes away
the sin of the world!' "
(John 1:29)
Thank God it's Friday! Thank God it's GOOD Friday!

Words fail to adequately express the significance of this day. On this very good Friday, we remember an unimaginable offering. A self-inflicted sacrifice. A Divinely designed death. A triumphant trial over sin and evil.

We remember the perfect Son of God, purposefully made flesh to dwell among us. Deliberately sacrificed to save us from eternal separation from the one living God.

And, in the darkness of this Friday, we anticipate SONday ... the celebration of His glorious resurrection and victory over death.

Do you know Him?


(Please note that there is a 20-second delay before the video's audio begins. If you're receiving the post via e-mail, click over to the website to view/hear the video/audio.)

" 'Now this is eternal life:
that they may know You,
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ,
Whom You have sent.' "
(John 17:3)
For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "Once and For All"
• "The Cost of Priceless Love"
• "Time is Short"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!