Isn’t it time we saw freedom and release in our lives and loved ones!?! All of us have seen people chained up for years. We feel sorry for them and angry at the enemy about it. Here’s some insight from the good book 🙂 . . .

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Captives – captives are chained up because of attacks against them – decisions others have made. They’ve been kidnapped – taken from their home in God – exiled, because they believe lies and deception about themselves.

Prisoners – prisoners are locked up because of decisions they’ve made. In other words, a prisoner likes their sin or their unforgiveness enough to be hanging on to it. Notice in the Scripture that a prisoner requires a release from darkness – there’s a further step here than with the captives. This is someone who can’t forgive themself and is believing lies about who they are instead of agreeing with God’s amazing and majestic truth.

Freedom for captives

1. Agree with who God says we are, what He says about us.
2. Join in prayer of agreement with someone else in Jesus name.
3. Replace those horrible thoughts with the outrageously good thoughts God has about you.

Release from darkness for prisoners

1. Agree to become obedient to God’s plan first, before we start winning. –> It’s like this, we can want healing from liver disease all we want, and we could even get healing from liver disease through prayer, but if we don’t stop eating/drinking things that destroy our liver – it’s going to come back worse – we’re a prisoner of our own choices. In other words, a prisoner has to want to be done with the sin issue in order to get free. The most common sin issue that locks up prisoners is unforgiveness – we have to wrap those people in love and blessing every time they enter our mind – every time. No exception.

2. Join in prayer of agreement with someone else in Jesus name.
3. Replace the darkness with the outrageously good thoughts God has about you.

An important question is being raised in this election season once again – can we legislate morality? The popular opinion among our news media, cultural pundits and lawyers is that it is impossible to legislate morality. But hold the phone a second – what is legislation? What are laws? … think about it … wait for it … you got this … there it is – All laws legislate morality. Boom. That’s precisely and only why laws exist in our world. Those who say that we can’t legislate morality say this because they are pushing an agenda to alter the morality of our nation.

Now, I fully understand the limitations of law in creating moral individuals. Ultimately, if morality is not being learned outside of the external constraints that laws provide legislation will not flip that switch for people. However, through laws a matrix develops on which cultural morality can develop.

It was 1963, a culture where abortion was still murder, the “right” to sex without consequences was unthinkable, the divorce rate was 9%, and prayer was still allowed in public schools. Martin Luther King boldly declared, “The church must be … the conscience of the state.” Our role has not diminished, and our prophetic voice has to be heard again – our nation must pass laws that honor God.

Truth . . .

1. Yes, we legislate morality.
2. Who’s morality should we legislate? Not mine, not yours – God’s morality – Romans 2:14 When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. ¹⁵ They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them.
3. We need a revival in the church in order to create moral individuals. Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:5 NIV)
4. The church must still be the conscience of the state. 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. We are the prophetic voice in our world.

How did the people of Antioch get called ‘Christians’ or “Little Christs” by their world? (Acts 11:26) Did they all wear matching purple sashes, with special Christian fish sandals, highly groomed beards (even the girls – ha), sport a serious but inviting grin, and have sparkling blue eyes (not a lot of blue-eyed, full blooded Jews – just sayin’).

Ok, in all seriousness what did the non-believing people of the town know about Jesus. Most of them had never met Jesus (since Antioch was 300 miles or a 15 day walk from Judea where Jesus ministered) – they only knew what they heard from rumors. These are what they very likely had heard about Jesus 1. They knew He said things that helped people 2. They knew He healed people miraculously 3. They knew He was crucified because of a weird Jewish squabble.

So how did they watch these people and see Jesus Christ (Savior, healer)? Just look at what was said about Barnabas, one of the longtime leaders of the Antioch church 1. He’s an encourager (11:23) 2. He was a good man 3. He was fully of Holy Spirit & faith (11:24).

In other words, the people of Antioch (following Barnabas’ lead) 1. said things that helped people (like Jesus) 2. did miracles (like Jesus), and 3. each of them were willing to be beaten and killed (many of them were, just like Jesus).

This raises the question – are we Christians (little Christs) to our world? If we didn’t already have that label culturally, would people find reason to stick it on us? We have the opportunity everyday to make someone turn and say, “Now, that’s a Christian.” In other words, we can bring healing with our words, see miracles, and be willing to lay everything down for Jesus. They’re watching, it’s time to practice becoming what we say we are.

Being honest there are times that I run into my time with God, like I’m being followed by a pack of rabid dogs, and when I get there I’m like a man in a rubber room, rocking on the floor, trying to sort through reality – because I’m desperate for help. Not that that’s a wrong way to come into your time with God – because that should happen too sometimes. But it’s easy to let that tragedy view become our frame for our time with God – then we only run to Him when something overwhelming happens and we only can ever receive – being pulled from the brink of insanity from our time with God.

What if our time with God needs a reframing? What if we ran into that place like it’s our reward for doing well at something – like – if you get all A’s, I’ll take you to a trampoline park (i.e. to spend time with God). I have never seen my kids move so fast as when we’re offering that type of reward. What if we were excited and jazzed about meeting with Him? Because we know that joy and delight is there, and hope, purpose and life will be restored. What if we reframed our time with God? What if we ran into our time with God like it’s our reward for being awesome?

• Next time you run to a time with God remember that it doesn’t have to be escape from rabid dogs, it can be the trampoline park reward.

• David knew this . . . “I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.” (Ps. 16:11 NET)

Name calling on the playground is bad – right? Yep . . . unless it’s not. There are names that are worth being called by, names that are joy-filled and life-giving. Of all the nicknames I got throughout my growing up – Jar-head, J-Rock, Stepper, Steppy, Strep, Jair-man, Jair-bear,  J-Rod (None of them stuck … yet, haha) I can’t think of any that beat my actual name – Jared Stepp. Why? Because my parents and family are a wonderful blessing and have a good reputation – I’m happy to be a part of my family and share their name. That’s why this Scripture blows me away . . .

1 John 3:1 See what outrageous love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called [named] children of God! And that is what we are! (1 Jn. 3:1)

So, a name is only a few letters strung together to make a sound. But a family name can mean we are accepted, blessed, we belong and have a good reputation. In this case, behind God’s family name is all those things plus supernatural power, authority, salvation, and get this, outrageous and lavish love!

Truth – God’s love is so outrageous and lavish that He would name us His children.

So whatever your family name means to you good, bad or indifferent – get excited about one thing – you’ve been called by a new name – Child of God.

Standing high up on one of the Austrian Alps, looking down on clouds, the air was thin, we could see all the way to Germany. Time seemed to stand still as a couple of my college friends and I broke into spontaneous praise for a God who would create that kind of majesty. Then the thought that turned to a prayer, “Lord, bring one of those clouds to our mountain.” Within 5 minutes we were covered in cloud, getting on all fours, being blown off the mountain by the wind. So we scurried to hike back on the edge of the cliff, through the snow, as the hail pelted us, in the middle of a white out (for real!). Our joy, however, was even stronger since we knew that God was with us!

Joy, true joy, is a fruit of Holy Spirit working through human spirit, (Gal 5) a highest good, a life-giving substance. We don’t get more joyful simply by willing ourselves to be more joyful – when we concentrate, we stink (like Po, in “Kung Fu Panda”). Joy comes through the gateways of . . .

1. Solitude
2. Peace with God
3. Training our mind to peruse our world constantly in Gratitude
4. Giving that gratitude for God away in encouragement to others
5. Delight in God’s presence and smile

 That is when we begin to soar in our spirit with Holy Spirit, and joy becomes the fruit of our life. That is when joy becomes strength (Neh 8:10). Joy is such a highly prized commodity in heaven that Jesus endured the cross with that prize in mind (Heb 12:2). The storm, the wind, the hail, the white out, the snow, anything the world can throw at us becomes irrelevant when we are soaring in the joy of our Father.

We made it out off the mountain alive, with lots of intercessors praying us to safety. But the 3 of us literally had zero concern for our safety – we were still soaring above the clouds – joy gives you wings (take that, Red Bull). Start to fly with His joy today!

“What must I do to be saved?” Now that’s a fun question – haha! When that one randomly comes up in conversation, I start pinching myself in excitement to see if it’s a dream! It’s just as exciting every time to lead someone into life-giving relationship with Jesus!

Our question as committed Christ-followers then becomes, “What does it mean to be saved?” The answer flows along two different trains of thought 1. Saved from 2. Saved for. We are saved from hell, eternal death, the devil, sin, and shame (Rom 10:9-11), but what are we saved for? In fact, that’s the bigger question. What a committed believer is saved from is actually irrelevant except for in gratitude. The Old Testament exclusively focuses on what we could be saved from, where the New Testament takes on the freshness of being saved for heaven, eternal life, the presence of God, right living and these things . .

• For life now – Mk 3:4, Lk 6:9, John 10:9-10 (to the full)
• For physical healing – Matt 9:21-22, Mk 5:23, 28, 34; 6:56, Mk 10:52, Lk 7:50; 8:48, 50; 17:19, 18:42, Acts 4:9; 14:9,
• For joy – Acts 16:31-34
• For the power of God – 1 Cor 1:18
• For being seated with Christ, His grace, His kindness – Eph 2:5-7
• For truth – 1 Tim 2:4
• For purpose and a holy life – 2 Tim 1:9

Do yourself a favor this week – focus and meditate on the saved for list and Scriptures – you’ll start thinking more like Jesus intended in a hurry :-).

The temple was in ruin. Worship of Yahweh was underground. Temples, shrines, and idols dotted the landscape and captured the attention of so many Jews in 632 BC. 16-year-old King Josiah began seeking God. The renovation had begun. 2 Chron. 34 and 2 Kings 22 outline a restoration of the worship of God in Judah unlike any nation had seen before or since. This is the kind of restoration America needs, that each of us need many times.

Here are some principles from Josiah, from construction, and for us . . .

• Renovation requires some different tools, and definitively different techniques than construction. Principle – How we built our spiritual life will not look the same as how we restore it.
• Renovation requires tear down, removal and scrubbing that constructing does not.
• Renovation requires the almost redundant recommitment to persevering in right thoughts and actions.

Tools for spiritual renovation . . .

1. Focus on the solution. We don’t get dirt clean by scrubbing with more dirt, we get it clean by scrubbing with the solution. Therefore . . .
2. The washing water of the Word of God renovates us.
3. Thinking on and confessing who God’s created us to be in the future renovates us.
4. Picturing God’s majesty being formed in our character continually renovates us.
5. Enjoying the delight of God’s smile renovates us.
6. Thanking God daily for winning in us renovates us.
7. Speaking God’s majesty that we see in others renovates us.

These are tools that with continual use build us into power-houses for God who can’t not become God’s best picture for us over time. It’s time for a renovation!

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? Every kid knows the correct answer is, “Who cares? I’m eatin’ a tootsie pop!” (Or approx. 364 according to a Purdue University study – people actually got a college degree for that – Whaaaa?)

Offense is like a tootsie pop (stay with me here – haha). We have to get to the heart of the matter to win over this. What is at the heart of offense? Rejection – we’ve experienced it before, and we assume that whatever we’re experiencing now is simply a déjà vu. We have placed in our soul a picture that we are easily rejectable, and therefore simple matters take us to that spiral.

Here’s the win. You are accepted. The deepest part of God’s being stands behind this promise, “My soul will not reject you.” (Lev 26:11 NASB) Paul declared to Roman believers, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Rom. 15:7 NIV) If Christ has accepted you, you can’t be easily rejectable.

Say this about yourself right now, “I am accepted by Christ, therefore, I accept others.” That’s the first lick. Now envision yourself accepting others. That’s lick number 2.

Then repeat. How long? The answer’s not 364, or even 70 times 7 (see Matt 18:22). So how many licks does it take to get to the core of offense and win? The correct answer is “Who cares? I’m eatin’ a tootsie pop” = Until the rejection and offense melts completely (i.e. as long as it takes :-)). Here’s the fun part – every lick is sweet. Enjoy the journey. You’re accepted.

Looking up at the ceiling last night trying to tell my body and mind to shut off I watched the familiar shadows that swayed in consistent patterns and angels, and then wondered, “Where’s the light coming from?”  Every shadow is created by a beautiful symphony of tiny lights from an alarm clock, a charging phone, a window that’s not completely covered, etc – and it’s almost impossible to trace the source.

King David was retired from active combat by his men, with the reasoning, “That the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”  (2 Sam. 21:17)  David was the light, as the spiritual and military leader of that nation.  In the very next chapter David himself praises God with this statement, “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”  (2 Sam. 22:29)  So… God is David’s light.  David is Israel’s light.  Israel is the world’s light.. Where’s the light coming from again?  Or more accurately – Who’s the light?

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” (Jn 8:12, 9:5) and then “You are the light of the world.”  (Matt 5:14)  So again, who’s the light?  The answer is yes, we each are.  Jesus is the light, God is light, God’s people are the light, we reflect His light, and we produce our own light – ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

Truth…

• There is a symphony of light in the Spirit that comes from every source and refraction, to crush darkness and create beauty.  Let that picture color your bedtime musings  :-).
• God turns darkness into light.  In what areas is it time to let Him transform your thinking from darkness to light?  Color your musings with light – it’s gonna get better.