JRMITCH85 Uncategorized

I Have Sent Them Into The World

Prayer, in its most profound sense, serves as the vital conduit for deepening our relationship with God, fostering a cohesive unity among believers, and empowering us to fulfill our sacred mission of disseminating His truth throughout the world. It is far more than a ritualistic utterance; it is a serious and intimate act, a sacred dialogue that draws us closer to the divine. One of the most intimate moments we could ever be privy to is the private prayer and discussion between God and someone in the midst of mourning and pain. Through prayer, we not only communicate our deepest longings, gratitude, and supplications but also open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts and minds. This intimate connection, nurtured by sincere prayer, becomes the bedrock upon which a vibrant faith is built, enabling us to understand and embrace our purpose.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 17:1–26.

The journey of faith is intrinsically linked to the intimacy we cultivate with God through prayer. Jesus Himself exemplified and emphasized the paramount importance of this personal and heartfelt communication with the Father. He often withdrew to solitary places to pray, demonstrating that such moments of quiet communion are essential for spiritual sustenance and clarity. By consistently engaging in prayer, we seek not only to speak to God but also to listen, allowing His wisdom to shape our perspectives and His peace to calm our spirits. This ongoing dialogue is crucial for understanding and aligning ourselves with His divine will, ensuring that our actions are rooted in a genuine connection with Him and are reflective of Jesus’ teachings, thereby equipping us to effectively carry out our mission in the world.

Furthermore, prayer acts as a powerful unifying force among believers. As individuals draw closer to God through their personal prayer lives, they simultaneously foster a collective spiritual intimacy. This shared pursuit of holiness and understanding, rooted in common faith and devotion, transcends social, political, and personal differences. When believers unite in prayer, they create a spiritual synergy that reflects the love and holiness of Jesus Christ. This unity is not merely an abstract ideal but a tangible demonstration of the Church’s collective faith and intimacy with the Father. It is this harmonious witness that powerfully testifies to the world of Jesus’ transformative power and love, becoming an essential element in effectively demonstrating His message and fulfilling His mission amidst the myriad challenges of the world.

The imperative to spread God’s truth is a mission that finds its strength and direction in prayer. To authentically fulfill this divine mandate, we must consciously align ourselves with the teachings of Jesus, embracing His example of love, compassion, and unwavering obedience to the Father’s will. Prayer provides the spiritual fortitude to act according to God’s plan, even when it requires stepping outside our comfort zones or confronting societal norms. It is through a life steeped in prayer that faith and love become the driving forces behind our actions, compelling us to engage in His mission with conviction and a commitment to personal sanctification. This dedication to reflecting His holiness in both word and deed is paramount to genuinely following Jesus.

Prayer is the indispensable thread that weaves together a profound personal relationship with God, a resilient unity among His followers, and the impactful fulfillment of our shared mission. It is through the serious and intimate act of prayer that we deepen our connection with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, gain clarity on our purpose, and find the strength to align with God’s will. As believers, when we collectively embrace prayer, we not only draw nearer to God but also to one another, creating a unified front that powerfully reflects Christ’s holiness and love to a world in need. Therefore, a commitment to fervent and consistent prayer is essential if we are to authentically live out our faith and effectively spread His enduring truth.

JRMITCH85 Uncategorized

Becoming A Church That Builds

As God established the church, the primary objective was to share with the people the loving and saving message of Jesus with the world. However the salvation narrative was never to stop with the individual, but was intended to continue to be shared with the world. In our eyes, we see people like Billy Graham as the successful builders, as he headed out on his crusades to share the message of Jesus with the world. While God certainly used Billy Graham as a great messenger of the Gospel, the power of the Gospel seeks to get all the people involved in building the various parts of the kingdom. 

What starts with the evangelists is necessarily intended to create an effect that dominoes to the rest of the community and births a movement of building in the community. The community around us needs building, with division, poverty, and a sense of disconnect that drains the community of energy. In areas where community could be the the the source of energy in spite of circumstance, now have seen their walls fall into disrepair and they don’t have the energy or understanding of how to build up community. God formed the church to become a church that builds community in communities. Thus when the people have no idea of how to build, the church starts by building using the tools bestowed upon them by God. This is how the Church grew from a sect out of Jerusalem to a Gospel community throughout the world. Nehemiah exemplifies this, because while he spoke a message of rebuilding to the people, it wasn’t his hands that picked up the tools to start the work, but those that heard him and knew what work needed to be done.

1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. 

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. 

6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters. 

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. 

14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 

15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner.25  Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. 

28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired. 

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ne 3:1–32.

It begins with leadership; in response to Nehemiah, the high priest rises and begins the building. The first responders to God’s call for Jerusalem were the High Priest and their brothers. They could understand uniquely the call that God had for this place, and began working. Those in contact with their relationship with the Lord understand that they are the first ones that are vital to the building, because God places a specific and special calling on their hearts. With a connection to the Holy Spirit, the people of God must be the first to pick up the tools, even if they do not know what to do, they must show a willingness to respond to God’s call for the community. We as the church, need to hear the words of Nehemiah, and look at all the examples of the people raising to do the work, and respond to the work of leadership and begin the process of building. God has given us a connection through the Holy Spirit that allows us to move in response to the call, which in turn will start a chain reaction that will inspire others to follow suit.

Skilled labor was unnecessary because they relied upon God and not their abilities. The people came from various professions to join together in building the wall, but few of them had any experience in building. However, through the power of God moving in the people the walls and gates were built back up. God imbues the people with abilities far beyond their native talents. This reminds us that we require our hearts to lean on God for the strength to build, which requires our hands to become willing to do God’s work right in this community at this time. There will be excuses and reasons for us to doubt that we are the right people for the job. Just as there were some leaders that refused to join with the builders. However, God asks that you step up and make yourself willing to work for God’s purpose right here. God doesn’t need you to have total training, but rather God requires your willing heart.

The purpose of the people’s building is not that the church or city become praiseworthy but that all praise be directed to God. As the priests finished their work, they didn’t hold a ceremony to pat themselves on the back, but rather they consecrated the work for the Lord, because they did not do this so that the praise would be heaped upon the people, but that it be directed to God. Pride is a dangerous thing. There is a desire to admire the work we have done once we accomplish something. Whether it be something we have done at work, or completing a project around the house, we want to sit and admire it. However, we learn to hand it over to God from the builders in this narrative, as that is what helps continue the building process. With a firm understanding that God’s glory is to be sought and not our humanity, we can place a trust in the outcome that is not merely dependent upon what we can do, but on something that God has established within us. This maintains our connection with God, and guides our hands in the continuing work of the Kingdom building.

In the pattern of the Jerusalemites, God calls out to the church right here in the Antelope Valley to be a church that builds up the Kingdom of God. To become this, we need to look toward our leaders and become leaders ourselves as we stand up to enlist ourselves to the work of the Lord. We will need to set aside our excuses and reasons for not participating, because God guides and leads us to become the church that leans into the power of the Holy Spirit to provide us with the necessary skills and tools to do the work. At some point, we might want to step back and admire the work we have done, but we must continuously remind ourselves that we are citizens of Heaven, and need to direct our praise and others’ praise to God Almighty. God is working to produce in us a spirit of building, which starts with listening and responding to God’s purposes. 

JRMITCH85 advent, Hope

Waiting, Hoping, and Wishing

The Advent season begins with great intentions, plans, and new music playing everywhere. Excitement grows as lights and inflatables begin popping up, creating an atmosphere designed to get us in the mood to celebrate. As a child, I recall the anticipation of waiting to see what was under the tree. As I grew older, that anticipation turned to an eager expectation to see the giant smiles of my children opening their gifts and a wish that they would be able to share that with loved ones and children of their own someday. All of this sets the tone that Advent sets for us to connect to the waiting for the coming of Jesus who established Hope for the world through coming to free us from the bondage of sin. My wish for the church is that we don’t fall asleep waiting but remain awake and active in sharing the Gospel, and bring God’s Hope to our communities.

The Gospel Writer Mark invites us to look at Jesus’ words about the Hope we have during Advent and how we are called to “Stay Awake.”

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” 

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 13:24–37.

Advent celebrates the coming of Christ. As discussed by Jesus, we may see signs, but we do not know the day or the hour. Therefore, there is a lot of waiting that is required. However, waiting is not just a passive activity; remaining vigilant and attentive is stressed, which aligns with a fundamental call of Advent, urging us to be receptive and prepared to discern. Just like a partner wanting to get a “list” from their spouse or friend, you can passively wait or discern and actively engage in selecting a gift that will have significant meaning to them. Similarly, we can look at our communities and ask them what they want from their local church, or we can truly give them HOPE by looking at where there is a need and share the HOPE actively with our neighbors. Thus, waiting for Jesus to come becomes a dynamic and meaningful endeavor, interwoven with the active pursuit of God’s mission and the dissemination of hope to enrich the lives of those we encounter on our journey.

The HOPE offered by the church mustn’t look like the hope offered by the various systems of the world. The unparalleled nature of our hope in Christ Jesus underscores the inadequacy of relying on hope in others. A distinctive and unwavering hope sets Christ apart as human connections and self-reliance may falter. People are fallible, and trust in them can be misplaced, but our hope in Jesus remains steadfast and unshakable. God’s hope transcends the worldly understanding of hope, making it imperative to center our focus on fulfilling God’s calling. This involves carrying out the divine purpose designated for us and actively sharing with those around us the extraordinary hope that emanates from our faith in Christ. In recognizing the unique and enduring nature of God’s hope, our commitment to embodying His calling becomes vital to both personal fulfillment and the uplifting of others.

Each Advent has a magical aspect where we wait in hope and share our wish for God to come right now. Through God’s power, we can carry out God’s sanctifying mission in our community. The anticipation of Christ’s return instills in us the imperative to distinguish between our personal wishes and the profound hope anchored in our faith, urging us to engage in God’s work while waiting actively. Despite harboring long wish lists, particularly as devoted followers of God, we may not see all our desires materialize, be it a bustling church community or flourishing ministries. It is during this season of hope that we are prompted to express our wishes, yet we are reminded by the scriptures to discern between these wishes and the enduring hope vested in Christ’s imminent return. Our ultimate hope rests in anticipating Christ’s coming, prompting us, as we await, to actively participate in God’s work and disseminate His hope. Through prayer and the reassurance that Christ will return, we find solace and purpose in contributing to God’s mission, recognizing that our true hope lies in the promise of His return.

While parents and bosses, being human, are susceptible to shortcomings and may occasionally let us down, the reassuring truth lies in the unwavering nature of Jesus’ presence, which transcends the limitations of earthly relationships. By their very nature, human beings are fallible and subject to imperfections, and disappointments may inevitably arise in various facets of life, including familial and professional spheres. However, in stark contrast, the divine essence of Jesus encompasses the extraordinary and the unimaginable. His presence is not bound by the constraints of human frailty, and His reliability remains constant even when others may falter. This profound reality serves as a source of comfort and resilience, reminding us that amidst the inherent limitations of human connections, Jesus dwells in the realm of the extraordinary and the miraculous, offering a steadfast source of support and solace that extends beyond the shortcomings of earthly relationships.