We shouldn't fear man. We shouldn't be afraid of what man can do to us. God is on our side. We shouldn't be afraid of evil spirits or demons because they tremble at the God that lives inside of us. The church is the most dangerous force for good in this entire world. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit has given us so much power and authority. God has given authority to overcome all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19) There is POWER in the name of Jesus. Jesus tells us we are going to do greater things then Him in this world. (John 14:12)
This past week here at YWAM we talked about Missions and Justice. We read through the book of Acts the first few days and my mind was blown by what these men and women of faith did...but the thing that really got me is that I can do that too! It wasn't that it was power and authority given just to them but ALL believers! We all have the power to be used by God to do miracles. God will use us to heal people, to speak to people, to save people, and even bring people back from death. God will and can use us to do miracles like having the blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear and lame walk! I want to be use by God to do those kind of things. I want to heal people in Jesus' name! I want to be used in whatever way God wants to use me.
We also talked about Justice and how God is both a God of righteousness/love/caring but also a God of Justice and He is mad that 27 MILLION of women and children get hurt on a daily basis in a $42 billion industry. Those statistics are so messed up. $42 billion every year goes into hurting women and children. Soon sex trafficking will bypass drugs as the number one crime in the world. Our speaker, Daniel Walker- author of God in a Brothel, told us of this picture he has of God. There is the picture of Jesus welcoming all children to Him but there is also the picture of Jesus in front of women and children saying No, you will not hurt them. They are mine, they are precious and they are loved. They are not a commodity. You will not use them any more!
Jesus came to set the captives free. He came to rescue the oppressed and hurting.
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. -Luke 4:16-21
That was Jesus' mission to set people free, to bring Justice to this world. The church must come together and form the body, the bride of Christ. We shouldn't be separated because of small issues, we are the bride of Christ. We are the church and we are the most dangerous force for good because we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We don't have to be afraid of what we do/where we go/who we meet because Greater is He that is in Me, that is in us then he/what is in the world. OUR GOD IS SO MUCH BIGGER!!! The enemy has no authority, has no power if we take it back. The Holy Spirit is the invader of the darkest places. God is there. God is there. God is here. God is everywhere and He will be with us no matter where we go, including into those dark and scary places to free those who have been enslaved. God is there. God is with us. We have God within us. We have all of the Holy Spirit.
I also just read the book "Sex and Money: A Global Search for Human Worth" and these are a few of the quotes that really hit me as I was reading the stories and seeing the pictures of women, children and men affected by all of this.
"Why are we, lovers of justice, not flying across nations and oceans to be with you? Do those men value you more, because they are willing to spend their time and money? Shouldn't we have more of a passion to pursue you?"
"Chains of poverty, fear, and lack of education bind them to their shacks. In the same moment, I realize that there are people from my country who are bound to their three-bedroom, two- and a half bath homes. Cords like passivity, apprehension, and lack of awareness keep them from addressing the visible symptoms of a hurting world."
"The power of change resides not with a nation's chief executive but in the resolve of ordinary people to act in ordinary ways."
"Many small people, who in many small places, do many small things, can alter the fate of the world."I pray that we be dangerous, that we walk in the light of God. That we aren't afraid to go to the dark places to shine the light. I pray that even if we stay in our home country that we aren't comfortable. That we are uncomfortable and do all that we can from where we are to fight injustice. Sex trafficking is in every part of the world. In every city, including my hometown of Chicago where 60-70,000 women are trafficked every year. I pray that we don't turn the other cheek but we stand up and raise our voice for the voiceless. That we come together as the body, as the church to fight this. Criminals can work across international borders, why can't we? I pray that bride of Christ comes together to end sex trafficking and that we would go boldly to proclaim the truth and to bring the light to the dark places because if our God is for us, then who or what can stand against us?
