In December of 2020 our little House of Prayer finished a year of “Seeking the Lord’s Face” – more than 3500 hours of corporate prayer. At the same time, for the first time in my life, I contracted pneumonia. As the cough persisted I went to see our family doctor. She was not certain, but from the MRI and X-rays she recommended I see a pulmonologist. In January (2021) the pulmonologist diagnosed me with lung cancer. We lived with that pronouncement 2 months. A second pulmonologist, a specialist in infectious diseases saw my report in March and re-diagnosed me. I didn’t have cancer. I had a rare respiratory disease that presents itself like cancer but is peculiar to the Phoenix area (Arizona accounts for 85% of all cases in the U.S.). I was put on a regimen of an anti-fungal medication and was pronounced cured in August. Bizarre.

This past summer (2021) we released the book about our 2020 prayer-journey with the Lord entitled “Seek My Face”. Our House of Prayer also began a 3-month campaign of praying through the book of Jeremiah.

In October I began to feel a pain in my lower abdomen. (In 1991 I was delivered from a demonic curse that had gained access to my person as I did research on evangelizing people from a unique form of the occult. After two years of buffeting, the result was a deliverance session with C. Peter Wagner’s wife, Doris Wagner, and then an emergency appendectomy and the removal of 8 inches of my small intestine 7 days later.) Until this past fall, I had not felt pain in that region of my body for 30 years.

On November 1 (my birthday) my doctor informed me that my PSA was extremely high. (It had almost doubled in 12 months.) I went to the urologist for a biopsy. On December 8 (my father’s birthday) Kathy and I learned that cancer had infected 15% of my prostate. Our urologist recommended that my prostate be removed. (I didn’t know that was even possible…) The prognosis (long life) for success with this type of procedure is very good – 95%. We were able to schedule the surgery for January 5.

During these two months the Lord graciously gave us a word about what He was promising through this season. You can find that word here: “Fear On Every Side“. Through long nights and tedious days, we clung to these words like “life-breath”.

We also enlisted a number of close, believing friends who lovingly prayed and walked with us through the the difficult days of questions, fears, tension, promises and physical weakness. These faithful intercessors helped us tremendously, and helped us identify patterns of attack, fear and lies.

In December our oldest son underwent a very complicated foot reconstruction surgery. And our daughter in Washington D.C. began to have a series of mysterious respiratory and heart episodes that landed her in the emergency room on three occasions. Four of our children and grandchildren contracted COVID.

Furthermore, between November and January our House of Prayer was hit with three more assaults. A local leader illegally attempted to wrest us from our mortgage financing; a third-party non-profit group sought to deceive us re: a contractual insurance agreement; and a hand-full of friends deceitfully engaged in a campaign to condemn our involvement with the House of Prayer in Kansas City – just days before my surgery!

Add to this string of events: Guests in our housing complex being assaulted with nightmares and panic attacks. My experiencing severe complications from the January 5 surgery, twice being rushed to the Emergency room; once air-evacuated to a hospital in Phoenix. Our surgeon (who was excellent) twice failing to show up to give us the pathology report. And my own terror: my wife Kathy had already watched her previous husband die while she was present. And my two daughters had already lost one parent – their mother – fifteen years ago. How could I not feel the angst of Kathy, Caris and Christi having to endure more deep pain? The trepidation in me too often felt like a blanket of terror.

By mid-January the evidence was clear: our household was under intense assault from the enemy. Through a process of daily praying, observing, commanding and declaring scripture we deduced that we were being cursed by both occult and demonic entities. Today, when friends ask me about this last season I bluntly tell them: “The Lord has delivered us from a spirit of cancer and and spirit of affliction.” I now know too much – and the evidence has only grown stronger the more we intentionally respond to the Lord and engage in spiritual warfare through these prayers, commands and scriptures.

Note: A significant part of the learning curve has been my own discovery of how I (Jon) left myself, my family and our household open to the power of the curse – especially as I have not dealt with my personal enmity with others – particularly in the body of Christ. Confessing my sin and reaching out with forgiveness and repentance has been key to being released from the bonds of the curse. Bless and do not curse… (Romans 12:14) Letting the Holy Spirit examine my heart for “any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:24) so that I can both receive and give forgiveness is now an integral part of my daily prayer at All Nations.

During the month of January, on 12 distinct occasions the Lord also graciously saturated me with His brilliant healing light. It was warm, bright and palpable. I’ve tried. I cannot make it come upon me by my own will. Although I thank Him for it daily, it is His to sovereignly release over me. This sovereignty has actually become a wonderful kiss of His close, healing Presence.

Other forms of great consolation during this season included several prophetic words that praying friends shared with us. I can’t describe how much these words, in conjunction with the Words of the Lord Himself, are yet sustaining Kathy and I. Here are three examples:

Jon & Kathy, I was praying for you two, your house of prayer, and the churches in your surrounding area, last week. This is what I heard the Lord say “Don’t be dismayed, I’m sending warm rays, They’ll come in like waves. The door I am opening is the light of my countenance. No one can stop Me.  It’s already in motion… Praying you would all be strengthened in the Lord with much patience and faith.  Much love, JM

God doesn’t want to make life easier, but to make us more.  This is good news.  We don’t need life to be less challenging if God is our strength more and more. This is the defeat He desires for His enemy: to hear our praise, confident of the victory, before anything has changed.  To see our uncertainty washed away in the certainty of His word, His character, and His power. Over and over I am hearing “now is the time” or “the time has come” or “the time is now.” I believe the season is shifting and this news is right on time.  Watching for a season of advance and rest… Overflow in to the purpose of God.  Hebrews 4.  I believe we will see more accomplished in the rest of God than in all our seasons of striving combined. Praying for a great overflow of His grace to carry you guys through this the end of this battle and into what is next. TS

Grace, grace, grace to every mountain of opposition and obliteration to every lie of the enemy.  You are already victors as you cling to Jesus and surrender in trust to the the Trustworthy One! We bless what the Lord is teaching you through this season. We look forward to it! We continue to pray, stand and bless you Jon and Kathy. We are one with you and are honored to labor and love with you. With love and prayers!  D and MB

On January 20 Kathy heard the word “Forward“ from the Holy Spirit as she was praying through Hosea 6. The Lord was encouraging her that the most difficult portion of this season lay behind us and it was time for us to press forward in warfare and the increase of our assignment in the House of Prayer.
Come, let’s return to the Lord. For He has , but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let’s learn, let’s press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, as the spring rain waters the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

As the Lord trained us in this spiritual combat we also experienced great victories: I, personally have recently felt a sudden lifting (like overnight) of inexplicable nerve pain that was so persistent I loathed having to go to sleep at night. Nearly all stomach and groin pain associated with the surgery has evaporated. The abdomen pain that I felt from the 1991 affliction has completely disappeared. In addition to this, All Nations has experienced a significant increase in financial giving over the past 3 months (including several Cyrus supporters); new relationships of trust and partnership among local church leaders have developed; Kathy and I feel all the more deeply honored, clear and zealous about the unique assignment the Lord has entrusted to us for this hour.

Jesus is faithfully teaching us how to close doors, fight for our lives, our family, our household and our assignment. What are the lessons the Lord is strengthening us with during this season? I’m sure these will evolve in the weeks ahead but right now, here are five:

1. As we give ourselves to the Lord’s purposes in this hour expect that the enemy will mount a counter-assault against you, your family and your assignment. Take this seriously. Also take seriously the fact that the Lord Himself intends to train you and strengthen you through these assaults. “The devil is always the Lord’s devil.” (Martin Luther)
2. Learn the power of declaring scripture. Fill your mind and heart with the certain Word of God and declare it over yourself, your family and your work of ministry.
3. Live in love and peace with one another. As much as we are able, it is critically and integrally vital that we pay attention to the ways that we allow the power of the curse to reside within us – either through our critical, accusatory words aimed at others, or allowing unforgiveness toward others to take shelter in our hearts. Unresolved animosity is the breath of hell.
4. Aim at the Lord’s glory. Focus on the increase of the Lord’s manifest Presence in your life, family and assignment. This requires great faith to press through all the anxiety and fear that weighs so heavily upon us in our affliction. The truth is, when the Mighty One of Jacob is Present so is the “ark of His strength” AND all the solutions to our woes.
5. Let the Holy Spirit make you a fully-empowered disciple of Jesus Christ, filled with all the commission and authority that the New Testament indicates we should prioritize and walk in: Heal the sick. Convict sinners with His Words of life. Cast out demons. Prophesy. Pray for His tangible Presence. Be His friend in this world.

On Monday, February 14, fifteen years to the day that we learned that my late wife had inoperable stomach cancer, I was praying in the Prayer Room and I heard the Lord telling me, “I’m about to rewrite your family story. I’m about to disconnect you and your family from the curse that’s afflicting you, and establish the blessing of My promise within you and your children.” His Words felt like the bright healing light that He had been showering over me. This time His Words were washing me of fear and infusing me with faith. The next day we finally received the pathology report from our local urologist: “no cancer was detected outside of the prostate”. Halleluia for the faithful compassion of the Father.

(I) drew near to the gates of death. Then (I) cried out to the Lord in (my) trouble, and He saved (me) out of (my) distresses. He sent His Word and He healed (me), and delivered (me) from (my) destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:18-21)

This is the final prayer that we now pray daily over our lives and our work at All Nations:
Father, thank You that You are leading me, my family and this house forward with the increased manifestation of Your glorious Presence (Exodus 40:34-38). I also thank You for Your healing light that is perpetually healing us of all disease and unrighteousness. Thank You Father that You’ve made all this available at the expense of Your own Son. My house and I say “yes” to Your assignment for us to live as a “House of Prayer”, a “house of healing hope and deliverance” and a “house of Your Presence” in this hour, unto the preparation of the Bride and the increase of Your glory! We love You, Father! 

The Father’s gathering glory to each of you friends. Though it brings with it strong resistance from the enemy, the strength that our Lord wants to exhibit toward us is vastly greater still.

____________________
Jon and Kathy Boegl • February 2022

1. Prophetic Words Need to Be Married to Intercession
Of the three prophetic words (I know there’s three) the Lord has released through our House of Prayer over the last two years, they have been tied to nearly 4500 hours of corporate prayer and intercession. I’m not saying this to boast about the number of hours of prayer. (The joy of engaging the Lord in prayer is the reward…) :) I’m saying it for the sake of contrast and perspective. Prophetic words that are not attached to a life of much intercession (before during and after) usually sound like it, feel like it and almost always bear no supernatural grace for the audience’s hearing and doing. Prophecy flows from a life of intercession for the Church. And all prophecy flows from the heart of the One Who “ever lives to make intercession” for the Church. (Hebrews 7:25) The object of prophecy isn’t correct analysis. It’s correct response to the Word of the Lord. And correct response to the Word of the Lord will only happen through intercession and the audiences’ receptivity to the grace of the Lord.

2. Prophetic Words Are About “Us”
We are much more corporate than we American realize. We are much more tied to our fathers and our sons and each other than our individualistic, post-enlightenment culture acknowledges. Our sin and our blessings are much more encouraged, stimulated and a part of each other than we know. There is one Body. And if we’re ministering in the prophetic it is therefore implied that we are speaking FROM the Body – TO the Body; which means we’re also always speaking to ourselves. Jesus is our example for the prophetic. If He, in His holy state, was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12) then we should assume no more elevated degree of separation. Humility and “identifying WITH the people of God” was also the lot for Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel and other prophets. Making prophetic words about “those people over there” devalues the Lord’s great passion that redeemed humanity “may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.” (John 17:21)

3. Prophetic Words Pass Through the Cross of Jesus
In October, the Lord abruptly interrupted 6 months of praying through the book of Jeremiah by highlighting Psalm 22; David’s prophetic (and grisly) description of the Messiah’s death on the cross. I will never be the same. EVERY prophetic word of judgment and punishment against any segment of humanity (the Church or the world) ultimately was visited upon the Body of our Lord on the cross. Every single one. He willingly received the stripes for every indictment of lukewarmness. Every charge of hypocrisy. And every intimation of idolatry and unfaithfulness. It is impossible that a prophetic word be released from us in the Name of the Lord of glory without us understanding that what we are “calling out” first fell as wounds on His holy back. This should be the sober strainer through which ALL of our prophetic and pastoral words of correction flows.

4. Prophetic Words are Always, Always Redemptive
There exists no prophetic word from the Lord that isn’t attached to the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus Christ. All of our prophetic words must be attached to instructions for redemption and healing intimacy with the Lord. All prophecy is a part of the redemptive work of God. Words that only condemn and do not offer hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and our participation in the cross should be disregarded. Period.

5. Prophetic Words are Always About Lifting Jesus Up
“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) If Jesus isn’t at the center, front and end of the prophetic word something (from immaturity to diseased neglect) is amiss. The end of all prophecy is that created humanity would be brought into agreement with the Father’s selection of Jesus as the anointed Ruler of this earth. The exaltation and worship of the historical, Jewish, resurrected God/Man, Jesus of Nazareth as Lord is the deep sea of glory into which all the prophetic streams flow.

____________________
JSB • December, 2021

Jesus lays out more than 55 distinct ways of righteousness in His Sermon on the Mount. As we transition from this age to the next, He is zealous that His Bride learn these ways of His heart. This is called “the Church making herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). It is also letting Jesus wash out every spot, wrinkle and blemish (of unrighteousness) from His Bride. (Ephesians 5:27)

“O Lord, when Your judgments are on the earth we, Your people, learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9)

The judgments of the Lord (which are currently on the earth) are designed “to train the Church to walk in the righteous ways of the Lord”.

A. We will not give ourselves to the rigors of having to learn these ways without the increased pressure in our lives that only the judgments of the Lord can provide.

B. We need to hold the trouble that the judgments produce in our hearts before the open flame of the Word of God, in order to behold and embrace the revelation of Jesus and His ways.

C. We need spirits that are both humble and yielded to be crucified and conformed to His ways.

D. We need a dialoguing relationship with the living Spirit of God Who will speak and fashion these dynamic realities of Jesus into our souls.

E. We will not embrace the ways of our King without being a part of an honest, humble fellowship of believers who are living out lifestyles of corporate prayer together.

We need all of these elements in dynamic operation in our daily/weekly lives in order to become people who are vibrantly alive to our Lord in the last days.

There are undoubtably more, but here are 30 dynamics (1 for each day of the month) I see the Lord is specifically developing in the heart of His Bride through the trouble/judgments of COVID:

1. Are we learning how to pray in prophetic agreement with the Spirit of the Lord re: His judgments on the earth?

2. Are we learning to join the Lord in releasing supernatural relief, healing, deliverance and salvation upon the earth in the midst of His judgments?

3. Are we cultivating faith in, and testimonies of His protection/provision?

4. Are we cultivating the primacy of corporate lifestyles of prayer together?

5. Are we cultivating a spirit of the fear of the Lord?

6. Are we cultivating a hunger for our Lord to rule the nations?

7. Are we cultivating a spirit that refuses to determine its own way?

8. Are we cultivating spirits that yield our identity to God?

9. Are we cultivating spirits that refuse to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil so that we remain intimately and daily dependent upon the wisdom and direction of the Father?

10. Are we cultivating spirits that revel in exalting and giving the mercy of God?

11. Are we cultivating hearts that celebrate the Father’s vision for race and ethnos?

12. Are we cultivating lifestyles that champion the Father’s purposes for Israel?

13. Are we cultivating first-commandment love for the Lord and His ways?

14. Are we learning the way of humility and meekness?

15. Are we learning the way of compassion and mourning?

16. Will we forgive and even bless our enemies?

17. Are we cultivating spirits that crave purity?

18. Will we put away the curse that so easily infests our thinking and speaking and learn to bless?

19. Will we give ourselves to the daily rigors of repentance?

20. Will we learn to fuel our hearts and minds with the exhilarating nourishment of exalting, praising and kissing the Son?

21. Are we letting the Spirit of the Lord bring down the idols in our lives and culture, so the way of the Lord can be made smooth and unhindered?

22. Are we living the way of the cross?

23. Are we learning how to hear and receive the Word of the Lord through dynamic dialogue with the Holy Spirit of God?

24. Will we let the Lord cultivate a spirit within us that is vigilant to that which is antiChrist?

25. Are we learning how to exalt Jesus in all things?

26. Are we learning to detach our hearts from the demonic contentions of this world and live with unoffended hearts?

27. Are we learning to embrace the uniquely precious nature of the judgments of the Lord?

28. Are we learning how to test all things and hold fast to that which is good? (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

29. Are we learning the Lord’s definition of righteousness?

30. Are we binding ourselves to others who are committed to “learning and celebrating these ways of righteousness” ?

What else would you add to this list?

____________________
JSB • November, 2021

One of the wisest endeavors we believers could engage in right now is to take the 55 injunctions in the Sermon on the Mount and pray them into our lives. At the end of our book, “Seek My Face” is a prayer guide to help you and your fellowship do just that. Blessings.

“Seek My Face: A Guide to Praying Through the Judgments of the Lord” by Jonathan Boegl

The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

In Jeremiah 20 a man named “Magor-Missabib” captures and imprisons the prophet Jeremiah. The name Magor-Missabib actually means “fear on every side” in Hebrew. Jeremiah isn’t in prison for very long before the Lord quickly brings him out of the chains and then strengthens him to prophesy against Magor-Missabib / Fear on every side.

“Fear on every side” is no match for the Word of the Lord.

If we look at Jeremiah’s life as an allegory, we can identify that there are many many “Magor-Missabibs” in this hour that want to bind up the people of the Lord.

Over the last several years the level of fear in our world, and our own nation has jumped significantly. Here are a list of some of the new and/or heightened fears in our lives:
A. Fear of world-wide plague.
B. Fear of not knowing where it came from, why it’s here, how to respond to its presence.
C. Fear of not being able to avoid its troubling and destructive effects.
D. Fear of social disorder.
E. Fear of injustice.
F. Fear of nefarious forces purposefully creating chaos in our nation.
G. Fear of the “greater evil” that leads us to cut deals with “lesser evil”.
H. Fear that we cannot see or predict the Father’s narrative clearly.
I. Fear of disunity in the body of Christ.
J. Fear of nefarious forces subterfuging our democratic order.
K. Fear of ceding ground/liberty/narrative to a world antiChrist system.
L. Fear of severe economic destabilization.

A couple of observations about these fear-factors:

1. These fear-factors have put increased pressure on our soul, our relationships, and our relationship with God. (This can be a good thing.)

2. Some of these fear-factors have specifically been released by God. Others are the result of our own small faith response to other fear factors.

3. The Lord isn’t necessarily interested in removing the fear-factors and the fear that they engender as He is in building a tower of strength in our lives (individually and collectively) that will be stronger than the “fear that’s on every side of us”.

4. The fear-factors on the earth are only going to increase in the days and years ahead. The “thlipsis” (greek for “trouble”) must come to the earth as the Lord transitions us from this present evil age to the age of the Lord’s reign. It must. There is no other way. Any other escape scenario is a fantasy. If we want to be faithful and “made ready” (filled with first-commandment love and the beatitudes of the heart) for the return of our Bridegroom King we will experience increased “trouble” AND, by inference, increased circumstances that will heighten “fear” all around us.

“We must, through much tribulation, enter into the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

5. The Lord is actually using the increased “trouble” (even fear) to align our hearts and minds to His way of thinking, relating and living. This is why both “trouble” and “strength” are such prominent themes in Psalm 27.

After intimately teaching and praying through this Psalm for several years now, here are 4 important, premises I’ve come to:
a.) There is more trouble/fear arrayed against us than we’ve acknowledged.
b.) We’ve overestimated our ability to “handle” the little trouble/fear that we do see.
c.) We see the trouble/fear in our world imperfectly. (This is why we need “the Lord to be our light” [Psalm 27:1])
d.) The Lord has far far more emotional, relational and strength of soul for us to appropriate in our lives than we have yet seen (This goes for ALL of us.)

6. The Lord Himself is the “strength” that He wants increased in our lives. The manifestation of Who He is is the strength that will prevail against the “fear on every side”. He Himself is meant to be our strong tower (Psalm 18:10) and the stronghold (Psalm 18:2).

7. Existential truth needs to become experienced truth. The Lord wants to build sufficient, holy fortresses in our heart and mind that have the ability to “take every fearful and dissuading thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) to the truth of His glory. These are the “thoughts” that will prevail against the daily onslaught of fear-factors that are increasing in our world. These thoughts and visions will not magically manifest themselves in our attitudes and ways. They must be cultivated through lifestyles built on DOING Psalm 27:4. “One thing”.

Psalm 27 tells us, when we give ourselves to this “One (singular) thing“, the Lord gives to us His multidimensional strength: “In the time of trouble HE (the Lord) SHALL hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle HE SHALL hide me; HE SHALL set me high upon a rock. And my head SHALL be lifted up above my enemies all around me.” (Psalm 27:5-6)

This is why it is so essential for the body of Christ to emphasize, learn how to become “households of prayer” in this hour.

These households of prayer are where we experience what David yearned for in Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired. That will I seek. That I may dwell in Your tabernacle all the days of my life; to gaze upon You in Your beauty; inquiring in Your temple.” 

These are some of the prophetic Words of unparalleled strength that many are hearing as we engage Him in this hour of unprecedented threat and fear:

Although the fear-filled opposition arrayed against you has made you want to withhold the testimony that I have given to you, I am choosing to intensify My Words in you. I am refining them through an eternal fire in your bones, so that you have supernatural power to be My witnesses in this unique hour of human history. I am not removing the fear from all around you. I’m giving you something much greater than the fear. I’m giving you My own Word – which is greater than the sum of all fears – to speak in the middle of the fear. My Word doesn’t remove the fear. It displays My superior strength and increases your strength to stand through an hour of increasing fear on the earth. 

(Can you see the difference beloved?)

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One Who is (by His Word) able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

As great as the calamity is all around you: COVID, threat of national collapse, anarchy, loss of civility, loss of freedoms and rights, loss of righteous order, vulnerability to evil forces etc. it is not My primary intent to remove these evils from your midst. It is My primary intent to give you a vision of Myself that is, in all respects, superior to the evils in your midst. What you mostly have need of is not “liberty from the evil” but “an increased understanding of Who I Am in the midst of an evil generation”. Give yourselves to the increase of these revelations; in prayer and long hours of meditation; and beholding Me. Establish a lifestyle of cultivating the revelations of My superior strength. Cultivate that strength now so you don’t have to suddenly cultivate something abnormal to your lifestyle in the midst of more terrible realities.

“For I heard many mocking: ‘Fear on every side!’ But the Lord is as a mighty, awesome One. The persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed. They will not prosper. Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For His power to deliver is greater than the hand of evildoers.” (Jeremiah 20:11 and 13)

I am judging you; testing you; refining you; and tempering you for your increased strength now, for the future of what is coming, AND as a witness to those who do not yet know the depth of the strength I can give.

“The Lord of hosts, You test the righteous, and see the mind and heart.” (Jeremiah 20:12)

Both your heart AND your mind have great need of being strengthened. Your strength will only increase as you and I converse over the difficulties and mounting pressures that are coming into your life. I know your ways. You will not engage in the deep-level conversations that you will need in a less “threatening” context. I am committed to producing gold in you. And in order for it to come forth, you must go through fire.

(See Revelation 3:18 and Hebrews 12:29)

I am strengthening you with My Son for my Son, so that you stand with Him in His might as His like-minded and like-hearted Bride. You are being brought from strength to strength as you yield to My Word, and daily revelations of My Son. It’s essential that you deeply give yourself to this process. Let Me saturate your mind and your heart with these realities. Do not allow “fear on every side” to divert your focus from My Son. 

Come into My tabernacle and behold My zeal to equip you with My strength, beloved. 

____________________
JSB • November, 2021

TERROR is not too strong of a word for chapter 21 of Jeremiah.

(It’s taken me a few days to measure the level of physical trembling in my own spirit as I read these words. In that space, I’ve also thought about asking the Lord to lift me out of continuing to pray through Jeremiah. It’s too intense. Too severe.)

Imagine that the Lord of glory is speaking this word against YOUR CHURCH! Is it within your theological realm of possibility that the Lord would speak these type of “terrible” words to any portion of His covenant people today?
“I’m against you.”
“In Wrath. Anger. Fury.”
“I will not spare.”
“I will not pity or show mercy.”
“My Face is against you for adversity.”
“I’m executing judgment.”
“My fury is going forth like fire.”
“Because of your evil.”
“I will punish you.”

Is it even kosher or healthy to consider whether the Lord would speak these words against us today?

I believe considering this question is not only prudent, it’s vital.

From a historical perspective, this is the comprehension that Daniel had to wrestle with as he read Jeremiah in (Daniel 9:2).

This is also the reality of the Lord’s relationship with all 7.4 billion inhabitants of planet earth.

Before we excuse ourselves from this company, let me say: I also believe this terrible reality is what the people of God, the redeemed of the Lord, the body of Christ needs to grapple with in this hour.

The fact of the matter is this IS our reality before the holy God. He is just and right and true to decree these terrible words over all of us – with zero exemption.
Wrath.
No pity.
Fury.
Judgment.
Anger.
Against us.
Punishment.

…EXCEPT FOR ONE PURE FACT: God Himself stepped in a received the full impact of these terrible terrible terrible realities upon His own Person through the death of His Son, Jesus, the Messiah on the cross.

He was wounded on behalf of our (evil) transgressions. He was bruised (in the wrath and fury of God) for our iniquities. The chastisement (from the Lord) for our peace (fell) upon Him. (He took our) stripes and we are healed. The Lord (set His Face against Him and) laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)

This is the larger storyline. The Lord not only looks at our evil ways and pronounces judgment – He then steps in and receives the complete penalty for our evil, unfaithful, conniving, conspiring, twisted, destructive ways UPON HIMSELF!

We cannot read Jeremiah and the wrath of God against His own covenant people and NOT connect it to the wrath He poured out upon His own Son on the cross.

This is why we 21c Christians MUST engage the message of Jeremiah and not relegate it to Old Testament history. To fail to hear God’s heart in Jeremiah is to short-change our whole storyline; to short-change our God’s commitment to mercy-giving and the depth of the gift of His own Son.

In a season when the body Christian is filled with enflamed calls to all manner of “righteousness”, it is vital that we remember that we are fundamentally, first and always people who have been shown great great mercy. THIS is where all our prayers, our worship, our evangelism, our calls to repentance, our social justice, our conformity to His image, and our eschatology MUST remain rooted.

The incredible mercy that He has extended to us, our God is zealous to extend to others…

WHAT. IS. THIS. GOD/MAN. WORTH. BELOVED?

____________________
JSB • November, 2021

The degree to which the issue of racial injustice/sin animates our family is Holy Spirit (Psalm 27:4) fascinating… There is no other topic that seems to generate more strong objections, tears or deep, silent hope…This truth should tell us how important the matter of racial relationships is to the Lord, the One Father of us all. As long as we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not let us be at peace communicating with His Father’s heart. (Psalm 66:18)

Beloved. There is SUCH A GREAT REWARD in store for us in responding to Jesus’ judgment/analysis of our heart re: this issue and entering into the Father’s heart for bonafide, humble, compassionate unity through the reign of Christ! I’ve seen it here and there over 40 years when races engage in repentance, humility and celebration with each other. For years I’ve suspected that racial reconciliation is one of the Father’s BIG KEYS in unlocking revival in a region. The enemy fears this mercy-filled unity like nobody’s business!!!

I learned this years ago in several multi-racial incidents.

One of the most profound was in 1990 when I was serving as a teaching assistant with C.Peter Wagner at Fuller in Pasadena. He had gathered a hundred pastors from various countries into a class on evangelism and discipleship.

Throughout the two-week intensive course some of the Korean pastors were being offended by some of the statements being made by several of the Japanese pastors. After one particularly contentious afternoon session Peter wisely called for a break.

During the break the South Korean pastors gathered in the corner of the room and wept openly – and loudly. The rest of the class could hear them echoing through the garden that surrounded the classroom.

At some point two of the Japanese pastors re-entered the room (before the next session) and approached the Korean pastors. The two of them knelt down before their brothers and asked them to forgive them and their fathers and their father’s fathers for the long, racial hatred, murder and subjugation the Japanese people had inflicted upon the Korean people. When the rest of the class returned, we found the group of Japanese pastors huddled together with the group of Korean pastors all weeping together. (One of the most powerful spiritual encounters I’ve ever witnessed.)

How do you start a new session like that???

Peter again wisely asked if anyone could lead a time of worship. A beautiful pastor’s wife from Cameroon stood up WITH A GUITAR she had just purchased down the street at a nearby music shop and led the 100+ gathering into a ocean of praise.

After 15 minutes of streaming tears, the glory of the Lord filled the room, women and men were on their faces in the floor… overhead three of the large lights/chandeliers exploded nearly all at the same time raining glass and florescent powder down on the group…

Peter observed, “The enemy obviously doesn’t like what’s going on here…” And then he said with a wry smile: “Let’s keep exalting Jesus.

“Truth-be-told, the world has yet to face the greatest of all racial conflicts – and it will take the stage – front and center – at the end of the age the whole world will be confronted with the reality that the Savior of all 195 nations on the face of the earth is a resurrected Jewish God/Man. We haven’t yet seen the depth of offense that this racial reality will ignite both in the people of God and in the rest of the world.It behooves us today to enter into the chambers of the Father’s heart and discover the magnificently glorious vision He has for the diversity of “ta ethnos”. But buckle-up. It’s sure to be a rocky endeavor.

____________________
JSB • October, 2021