Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Focus 2018 - Post 8

In yesterday's post I wrote on the passion of God revealed in Isaiah 58 to break all forms of bondage and captivity through the anointing of the Spirit as referenced by Isaiah in chapter 61. Just like Jesus, the Spirit of Lord is upon believers with an anointing to do what He did, destroying the works of the devil around us in other people's lives. It may be to heal the sick around us, cast out their demons, prophesy over them God's favorable plans or something as simple as "dividing our bread" with them, sharing our resources to meet their obvious need with love in the Name of Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out ahead of Him to various places He would be coming to, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). This would be the evidence that "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (v 7). It takes the rule of God as it is in Heaven to truly break bondages and yokes in people's lives. And giving away what you receive is the hallmark of those of us who carry the power of the Kingdom to change someone else's life.

We see in Acts 4 & 5 how this worked in the early church after the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. "And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them... For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need... At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people... and all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number" (Acts 4:32-35, 5:12-14).

When God's people are walking in the anointing of God that "breaks the yoke" off people, they will see people in their bondages with different eyes. And they will see themselves as powerful against the captivity that Satan has brought people into. This sense of Holy Spirit power and anointing releases a generosity and freedom to give to others with faith/expectation for a flow of heaven to bring even more resource and supply without end. "Give and it will be given unto you, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing into your lap" Jesus said (Luke 6:38). And you enter into a level of joy and freedom yourself as you divide your bread with others and clothe the naked, satisfying their need.

One of the ways Margie and I have found opportunity to do this in a simple and practical way has happened when we go out to eat. I have been a waiter/server in a restaurant myself trying to feed my family off the tips I receive above my minimum wage earnings. We try to see the server through those eyes in our interactions with the server during the meal and when we are deciding how large a tip to leave. We all are more generous naturally with exceptional service and food. But what if the food and/or service was not only lacking but awful? It has been our joy to use our love, compassion and power of generosity to make that server's day by "shocking" them with a tip and written encouraging word that they would never have expected, but really needed. Most of the time we really can not afford to give like this but we know where our supply comes from. We love the thought that whatever Satan may be working in that server's life to bring hopelessness and fear just got hit with an anointed and strategic sledge hammer from heaven! Let's do this!

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