Mark 16:15-20 – “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹ So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I had a keen sense of urgency!  I truly believe we are in the midnight hour of the Last Days. When we think of “Soon,” we realize that with God, “soon” can seem like an eternity to man, but the “soon” I sense is likely “soon” with God and man.

We have a mission and a commission as revealed in Mark 16:15-20.   All of us are witnesses, and some are called to be watchmen.   Some watchmen are local, regional, national, and worldwide. The assignment and appointment are not self-determined; it is a call of God.  The watchmen are accountable for speaking and for silence. But all are witnesses All.  

In Ezekiel 34, God’s anger toward false shepherds is exemplified.   Why the anger toward self-serving shepherds?  It is because they are assigned the responsibility of discipling, equipping, and nurturing the sheep.  It is because they are to lead the sheep to the places of nourishment and protection.  Sheep have to have shepherds to survive and thrive.   What shepherds tend to forget is that they, too, are sheep.

The commission is to take the gospel (good news) to Everyone!  The signs that follow are not simply signs that follow preaching.    It is, “and these signs will accompany those who believe…”    WHO?  Believers!   Let me ask a harsh and challenging question: “What if there are no signs following us?”

The signs listed are casting out demons, speaking with new tongues (how do we talk and think), unharmed by serpents (natural or spiritual), and poison (natural or spiritual) will harm them.

Are Signs Following Our Lives?   If not, why not?   Do we believe?   Is our belief theoretical or experiential and literally filled with expectation?   Don’t tell me we don’t need signs and miracles anymore.   When did Jesus change? (Hebrews 13:8)

If we are in the Last Days, then more than ever, we need Signs to Follow us so that we can manifest Jesus and win the lost!   This life is not about us! Our purpose is not us! We have an assignment – The Good News!

LORD, help us to feel the urgency of the hour!

1 Corinthians 4:15-17 – “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”  NKJV

Today is Father’s Day, and I reflect on my own earthly father and am so thankful for his influence in my life, as well as my earthly grandfathers and how they helped shape my character through words, discipline, and their lives.  They gave me an image of an earthly father that has proven invaluable in both the raising of my children and mentoring spiritual children.  Today, I salute all Fathers who are fathering their children, earthly or spiritual.  God bless you!

Producing offspring does not make one a father but provides the opportunity to father.  There are those who father children who have never produced a single offspring naturally, but they invested themselves in the lives of those children and provided them with a male role model, disciplined, taught, and gave oversight to those lives, nurturing them into adulthood and able to assume their place in society.  Those men deserve high praise!

When I think about this nation and our Founding Fathers, I suggest that if one studies their writings and examines their contributions to the founding of this nation, it could be argued that they truly fathered generations.  Today, they are under assault by those who would rewrite history. 

When I think about my own spiritual father(s) and their invaluable contribution in my life, helping to shape, teach, train, nurture, discipline, and guide me, they gave me a standard to live up to and a goal to strive for spiritually, and they are to be praised.  Most of us have been fathered by someone or more than one, and today is a day to remember their contribution in our lives.

Yet there is one Father who deserves recognition above all others, and that is our Heavenly Father!  Without His love, we would not know the joy of salvation or have the promise of eternal life.  He so deeply loves us that He gave His only begotten Son that we could have our sins forgiven.  He so deeply loves us that He refused to leave us comfortless and dispatched the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  He so loves us that a place is being prepared for us, where He is, and where we can also be for eternity.  Thank you, Father, for your love!

So, on this special day set aside to honor fathers, I encourage you to pay tribute to your own earthly father if he is still with you, and, if he has gone on to the other side, pause to remember his contribution to your life.  On this day, I would encourage you to pay tribute to your spiritual father(s) if they are still on this side of eternity, and if not, then reflect on their contribution in your life.  If you are a father, I urge you to take a moment to reflect on your privilege, duty, and responsibility as a father, take your children in your arms (if possible), and let them know you love them. 

So, as you celebrate Father’s Day, I pray that God makes it a joyous day for you and your family. 

Blessings to one and all on this special day!

Ezekiel 22:30 – “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, the importance of “One” filled my thoughts.  We tend to think of One as a minority, insignificant, and limited.  God considers One in light of Himself.   

• With One word, He transforms lives.
• With One person, He saves multitudes.
• With One intercessor, judgment is averted, and the portal to God’s supply is opened.

Ezekiel 22:30 reminds us of the power of One.   Mark 12:29-31 is another reminder that God is One! 

In Mark 8, the disciples were part of the 2nd miraculous feeding of a multitude.  Bread is symbolic of the Word of God.   Seven loaves speak to fullness.   Sitting in groups speaks to order.   The disciples serving as waiters represent being sent with the word to feed the masses.   The people, after eating, were sent out, full of the Word (bread). They had been set in right order, fed, and then sent.

In that chapter, “One” resurfaces.  They only had One loaf of bread.  Natural thinking is a hindrance to spiritual fulfillment and revelation.   Unless we get our focus right and on the right thing, we will see One as little, but if we See the King and Kingdom, we will see the power of One and become fearless vessels in God’s hand.

Little is much when God is in it, and One with God becomes a majority!

Psalm 6:6 – “I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.”

This would be a great day to cast off all hindering shackles and walk into a state of total 100% surrender and expectation!   As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, several things gripped my heart.  In Ezekiel 9:4, we see how important it is to be grieved over sin (ours and others).   Sin should keep us awake at night, lamenting it!

In Ezekiel 8:12, God showed the prophet something relatable to our day. The elders (leaders, pastors, teachers, prophets) were hiding sin. Their public persona was not who they were in their hearts.  This refers to hidden idolatry!  What is an idol of the heart? It could include a divided heart, a passion for fame, fortune, or pleasure.  Any heart, especially if an elder’s is not 100% submitted, is a breeding ground for idolatry.

That even includes the need to be up front and be “the man.”  I’ve seen people launch ministries not because of need or the directive of God, but because they could find no other way to be the focal point.  Some did not even realize that was their motive. Why we do something is always the key!

Remember the account of the two groups standing in judgment.  One group was blessed and commended because of their heart, serving with no thought of self and serving others, not even realizing that their efforts were serving Jesus. The other group did exploits, but for the wrong reason, and failed.  God’s works done in God’s way will receive God’s provision.

Mark 4:36 (NASB) makes a strange statement.  Jesus instructed the disciples to go to the other side.  It says, “And leaving the multitude, they took Him (Jesus) along with them, JUST AS HE WAS, in the boat…”  Just as He was?

That stirred two thoughts in my heart.  Do we see and receive Him “just as He is” or as we want Him to be?  Do we make Jesus fit our religious, traditional, or ideological picture, or do we receive Him “just as He is?”

Remember His question, “Whom do you say that I AM?”   Who is He, and how is He to us?   He is loving but also just.   He is tender but also firm.  He is merciful but also holy. He is not our buddy; He is our God!

Think about the multitude of sick people in Mark 6:56. They wanted to touch His garments, and as they did, Healing came! Touching Jesus brings the touch of Jesus. We want Him to touch us, but are we pressing in to touch Him?

The world needs the purging fire of God to cleanse, heal, and restore it. That won’t happen until the church has been cleansed. That won’t happen until the leaders are restored to righteousness. A cleansed church will challenge an unrighteous world and reap a harvest! But we all have to die to ourselves and make it all about Him! Any smidgen of self-serving is leaven and will be purged. Otherwise, we may find ourselves standing before Him, hearing depart!  Let’s give our all to Jesus! Let’s be the glorious church! Let’s be His representatives on the Earth.

This would be a great day to become who He says we are supposed to be!

LORD, help us to become so troubled by sin that it keeps us awake and out of the clutches of sin.   Help us to see You as You are!

Lamentations 3:21-23 – “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. ²² The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  ²³ They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, two words kept reverberating in my heart and mind – Hope & Heart.  In Lamentations 3:21-23, the thought of Hope filled my spirit.  In a time of stress and distress, the prophet was encouraged by Hope. He recalled, rehearsed, and revisited some truth anchors of his heart, giving him Hope. 

God’s lovingkindness never ceases.  God’s compassion never fails.  In fact, he reminds himself that they are new every morning.  That’s a great reason to meet God early!  Begin the day in the fresh long-suffering and compassion of God!

In Mark 2:21-22, we find the revelation of Jesus through the practical domestic practice of patching clothes and the care of wine.  Many make this wholly about structure or a new religious order.  It contrasts the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Yet, it is more about the heart than organizations.

The preceding discussion was about fasting.  Fasting is to allow the body to step down and the eyes of the heart to turn fully from the natural to the spiritual.  God does not focus on structure but on the heart.  If our hearts are open to His Spirit, Hope will naturally be the fruit.

The heart of Jesus is the heart we desire and require. Jesus’ heart can be seen in many ways, but let me suggest one of the great examples is in Matthew 26:53.   I doubt you have asked this question, but maybe you have. Jesus said that He could ask to be delivered, and the Father would immediately send more than 12 legions of angels.

Think about that.  That was an incredible expression of love to resist doing that.  He knew what was coming.   Who would want to endure that?  But what would have happened to humanity had Jesus made that request?  Love said No, I will endure the Cross because I love!

He had Hope for Humanity, and His Heart was filled with love.   He was fully surrendered to the Father’s Will.   Because His Heart was fully surrendered, the Hope of humanity was realized.

We must never lose Hope!  If we surrender our hearts fully, God will make us new Wineskins and fill us with new wine.  Hope will spring eternal in our souls, enabling us to endure anything.

LORD, help us to be filled with Hope in our Hearts!