“We discovered the Akha knew very little about the Holy Spirit, even though the Gospel had been presented to them some 25 years before we arrived. I was soon confronted with this. A simple analogy began to help the Akha understand and come to know the Holy Spirit as their Guide and Helper.”
Read More“Encounters with God at places like the Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel have created boundary events for human history. The same is true with the Jewish Feast of Passover. Names mean something in Jewish culture. Oftentimes they are a descriptive reality of a God encounter. The Passover represented the breaking-in of God as our Judge and Savior.”
Read More“Symbols are important in every culture. They can assist powerfully in communicating the Gospel and other spiritual truths. Pay attention to the symbols among your people and where you live. Consider the meaning of symbols and what God might be speaking through them.”
Read More“Jesus Himself is our great escape from sin. When we repent, Jesus as our scapegoat takes our sin upon Himself, carries it away by His life, and releases us from all its effects. The scapegoat ritual highlights the power of forgiveness and the exchanged life for all followers of Jesus.”
Read More“Sometimes the deepest truths are the simplest and most obvious. Family is God's idea, beginning in Genesis and continuing until the end of time. Family is the common denominator of all nations or peoples. Family is God's strategy to spread His glory to all the earth. It is the incarnational way of the Kingdom.”
Read More“Spiritual discernment is key. Not just for identifying what is bad, but also for what is good. When we affirm that which is good and true among a people, we tap into the evidence of "Melchizedek" among them. The Melchizedek factor derives from the encounter Abram had with Melchizedek in Genesis 14:17-24. There was evidence that God was already there when Abram entered the land of promise.”
Read More“The cleansing of the temple was a wake up call to the purpose and expression of the Kingdom of God. True spiritual authority shifted from the temple to the person of Jesus, where it will forever remain. This is the revelation of God's new temple, His body.”
Read More“The idea of transformation is like that of metamorphosis, when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. The earthbound creature changes with striking beauty and the ability to fly. This story of Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration was the breaking of the cocoon -- the transition from the Old Testament (OT) to the New.”
Read More“Sometimes words themselves are not enough. A familiar saying in English is "shine a little light upon the subject." In this devotion, we highlighted that rainbows are location-specific. This means rainbows are not seen everywhere at once. Similarly, analogies and metaphors within cultures can "shine a little light" and help bring revelation and understanding of the Gospel.”
Read More“In Habakkuk's vision, he saw a time when the glory of God would fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. As we apply the whole of Scripture to our view of the end times, Habakkuk's vision informs our understanding that first the Gospel will be preached to all nations, and some percentage within every people group will receive Jesus.”
“God can speak His truth through unexpected and unlikely sources. Both dreams and the interpretation of dreams are gifts of God. But, not all dreams are from God, so discernment is key. We must actively seek and pray for discernment to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. This reality is important to consider in our lives and those around us.”
Read More“A part-Jewish friend wanted to travel with me to the Akeu village to observe the Village Gate ritual. I explained to him why I thought it was a significant event for both the Akha and Akeu. My friend commented that what you are describing is like a "cultural cross." I sensed the Holy Spirit highlight that word to me, and I've used it since that time.”
Read More“It's especially important how we view suffering. To the follower of Christ, suffering is a catalyst for spiritual formation. Many have treated the Christian journey like a passport or an entry visa. The end goal of the Christian life, however, is Christlikeness.”
Read More“When we join God in what He’s already doing, it's important for us to understand we are not on a scavenger hunt, but rather a treasure hunt with Him. Traditionally, Jesus has been presented as the hidden treasure in the field. Songs have been written about this. But, taking a closer look, Matthew 13:44 becomes a prophetic parable of the mission of God.”
Read More“Each people group will carry a unique expression of the glory of God and will bring honor to the Creator, both now and in the New Jerusalem. This will be an unmatched glorious day as time will stand still.”
Read More“The Lord promises to go before us, to prepare the way for His coming (Eph. 3:4-6). In Devotional 4, we saw how God had prepared the Sawi of Papua New Guinea to receive Jesus through their ‘peace child ritual.’ Similarly, we witnessed how the ancient legend of the ‘buffalo skin’ had prepared the Akeu to better understand and receive the Gospel.”
Read More“In the books of Revelation and Daniel, God is presented with white hair -- a clear reference to His overflowing wisdom deposited among all nations! His wisdom is a hidden mystery that awaits its time of unveiling.”
Read More“From the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood and the Tower of Babel, to the plagues of Egypt and the crucifixion of Christ, God's intervention at significant times in human history have included both His judgment and blessing simultaneously. It's important we remember this when engaging other peoples and considering what God has done and is doing among them.”
Read More“There is a way to keep from missing Jesus. It's through humility. Even if we do miss him, through humility our vision can be restored. When we humble ourselves, our eyes are opened to see from God's perspective.”
Read More“Jesus is at work all around you. Do you see Him? He's ready to be encountered within your context, right where you are. His presence, when encountered, in any location creates a crossroad of decision. There, genuine followers become worshipers of Jesus who cause the glory of God to fill the earth!”
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