What about foot washing?

I have a question to ask?  Is foot washing for today?  Or is it merely a custom found in the Bible, or a strange ceremony practiced by certain religious sects, but not relevant to today’s society?  And IF by chance, it IS relevant and for today, then what would it look like?

How does one wash another’s feet?

 Our text for this ‘ceremony’ or custom is found in John 13:1-15. (Jesus got up from the Passover table and washed his disciple’s feet.)

Jesus physically washed their feet, but how would we do this in today's vernacular?  And should we?

Let’s look at two other examples of foot washing found in Luke 7:37-38 and also John 12:3.

John 12:1-3  So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him. Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Luke 7:37-38  And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume). And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet [affectionately] and anointed them with the ointment (perfume).

Do we wet the feet of Jesus with our tears of gratitude, appreciation, for Who He is, let alone for what He has done for us, or do we only cry over our own trials and sorrows?  Do we ever wet his feet, weeping as He did over Jerusalem, or for the lost souls of this world?

Do we wash others feet in prayer for them, or in service to the poor and those who cannot repay us in any earthly manner?  Do we strive to make better the world around us, not for our own recognition and applause, but because it is the right thing to do, and is within our power to do so? 
 

Are we willing to forbear with those who despitefully use us, serving in love and meekness, not in railing and protestation of their poor treatment of us, because we deserve better?  Instead do we become a voice for those who have no voice and  truly become their advocate?

  

Psalm 82:3 (BBE)  Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights.

To participate in a physical foot washing is both humbling and exhilarating. It can be life changing, empowering and revelatory.  It can be an act of repentance and reconciliation between people. It is often a healing experience, bringing healing and restoration to the inner man when there have been untold hurts and wounds.

 
Whether it is an actual physical foot washing, or a spiritual one through outward acts of kindness, ect. it must be done with the right heart attitude.

Hebrews 4:12(AMP)  For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Weymouth New Testament puts it this way:

…and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Sometimes, we need to be confronted with things in our lives, and in our hearts that we have not yet recognized as being there.  This is why the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, correction and reproof and training in righteousness! 2Timothy 3:16.   The Word holds up a mirror before us and begs us to look deeper than the surface of “appearances.”

When we wash another’s feet, we must be careful to check our heart attitude. Why are we doing it?  Is it for self-gratification?  To “feel” good about one’s self?  Is it so you can “show” the others how “holy” and “humble” you are?  I do not ask these questions with criticism in my heart, but as one to whom the Lord has also asked these questions of!  We must be careful that in our very acts of piety (worship to the Lord through outward service to others) that we do not put forth any airs or attitudes that would further degrade those to whom we are sent, rather than lifting them up, as Jesus always did.  Jesus never dwelt on what people currently “were,” (except for the religious leaders who thought they had it all together, and were sorely self-deluded. Which serves as a warning to all who would be leaders!)  But rather He pointed them towards what they could be, what HE saw them as being!

For example, let’s look at the account of the woman taken in adultery. 

He asked where were her accusers, after he had dealt with the hearts of those doing the accusing.  He then said, neither do I condemn you, ‘go’ (a command for a lifestyle) and sin no more.  In other words He was telling her, “you have a new lifestyle to live now and you CAN live it.”

By the way, He gave the same command to the 500 who watched Him ascend into heaven, which transfers/translates down the ages to you and me: “Go ye” ( into all the world and preach the G0spel…)[Go live out a different lifestyle, preaching the Good News in words and deeds that the Kingdom of God has come near.  In other words; that I, Jesus came and opened the way for them to have access to all that Father God intended for them to have from the very beginning! Which, is a life full of God’s goodness and intimate relationship with Him.]

  

So, the question is, “are we modeling this lifestyle that Jesus COMMANDED us to live?”  And don’t cop out and say, “but I am not perfect, so I ‘can’t’ do that!”  Jesus told us to do it, so it IS possible and we should be ‘going’ and ‘doing’ it every day! It is a journey, one that we will be on all the days of our lives.  So we have lots of time to ‘practice’ living this wonderful lifestyle He has made possible for us; a lifestyle of intimacy with Him and loving service to others, washing  people’ s feet all along the way. So, get ‘going!’

Yes, foot washing is for today!

Pioneer, Go Forth!

Pioneers are remarkable people.  They face unknowns, push past their fears and go where they have never been before.  My trusty dictionary gives this definition:

Pioneer- one of those who first enter or settle a region (realm) thus opening it up.  One of a body of foot soldiers detailed (assigned) to make roads... to advance the main body.  To open or prepare a way.  ( Do you see the spiritual applications?)

We are where we are today because of the sacrifice and willingness of others to go before us.  (This also works in reverse, with negative choices people can make.)  We stand on their shoulders and reach upward and outward.  We begin from the ground that they gained for us.  And those who come behind us, will walk in the areas we have forged through our prayers and tears and hard work...

Back in Genesis it is recorded that God spoke and He said, "LIGHT BE!"  And
it was and still is and is ever expanding outward engulfing the darkness and overpowering it!

As we face the darkness around us, (and with in our own lives) and bring HIS light into it, we advance the Kingdom- both within ourselves and without.  What darkness, you may ask.  Fear is a darkness.  Uncertainty, confusion, poverty, sickness, shame, inferiority, ridicule, bullying, prejudice, bigotry, bitterness, lying, hatred... and the list goes on.  These are ALL the work of darkness, Some are with in that we struggle to overcome, others are without that we struggle to subdue and overcome for the good of all.

Johnny Appleseed planted apple seeds everywhere he went, trusting that others would come behind him and tend to and benefit by the trees that grew from those little seeds.  Kindness is a little seed too, but can grow some powerful results... 

Who will come behind you?  What benefit will they find? Where will your pathway that you have forged, lead them? 

Abraham did not know where his path would take him, he simply trusted the One who called him out from among those around him, that HE would lead and guide him through the Wildereness that lay ahead of him.

So, where will the path that you are blazing take you?  And those who come after you?  Only the Father knows, but He is watching as you struggle to go and smiles as you trust Him and continue to grow.

Your frontier awaits you. It may not look like much to others, but to you it is a huge step. It is you own pathway through the wilderness, a highway of Holiness, a journey of progress and a Fellowship of the Spirit.  No one else can walk it for you, it is yours alone to travel.  But others will follow, as you make HIM known.

The song from Honeytree for the coming revival in Croatia.
Pjesma "Pioneer" za probuđenje u Hrvatskoj

Transforming our World

I was tired the other night and sat down to rest a minute and clicked on the TV and began to watch mindlessly a kids cartoon.  It had a story plot, of sorts and was filled with these creative robotic type creatures that could change into a different thing or shape as was needed for the situation.  Seemed pretty void of any spiritual meaning, and I scolded myself for "wasting time."  

But then the Spirit began to unfold similarities and apply them.  

The Bad guys had these radiating green gemstones called "death crystals" or something. (reminded me of kryptonite for those of you who are superman fans.) (Also a good name for illegal drugs that so many get hooked on!)  

I thought of how satan throws his death darts at us loaded for the kill and all wrapped in fear(false evidence appearing real.) The negative thoughts that bombard our minds, the situations that present themselves and look hopeless, as well as the negative words that are spoken in our ears by the media, and people who feel the need to speak what is actually in their own hearts eating away at them.  (The enemy comes but for to steal, kill and destroy...)

I took note of how the main character was an "older" robot who had attempted to confront the enemy in his earlier years, but lacked the fortitude and inner character as of yet, and so ran out on a bunch of folks. He carried around a huge secret guilt and shame at his "failure."  Now here he was facing with this monster enemy again in his old age!  Hmm, shall I just say, all of life is a classroom? And some tests are repeat tests!

A couple of his friends were annoying and comical at the same time.  One was a young robot that talked non stop so fast and repeated himself constantly.  I think he liked to just hear himself speak! At one point the elder had to say, "Be quiet I NEED to hear!"  And so it is with us.  There will be those who attach themselves to us, and some that God gives us ( good to know the difference!) who are young and have not learned how to listen with ears and heart.   They will drain you if you do not set aside time to be alone and listen!

The other creature looked like a dinosaur and he demanded to be explained to all the time.  He did not try to figure anything out on his own, he always wanted someone to feed him all the answers.  There will be those who look to the anointing in your life, and your walk with God, to solve all their problems.
  
They will constantly ask you for prayer, for advice, for answers, but rarely seek them for themselves.  And when you give them, and many times they will not even bother to use what you took time to pray and get for them!

The elder robot, did eventually face his enemy, and won the victory over him with the help of his unlikely friends! And he was able to go back to those that he had run out on and make it up to them.  ( If when you stand to pray at the altar and remember that  your brother have aught against you, leave your gift at the altar and be reconciled with your brother...)

So the kids story had a happy ending. Yaa!  

But can our lives? Yes, they may not turn out the way WE planned for them to turn out,  but they can have a happy ending, when we are walking hand in hand with God.

We can allow God to transform our lives and the world around us through the Power of the Cross.  Through the Blood of The Lamb.  Through our words, our testimony, the speaking of the Word of God. Through the laying down of our lives.

This is what is spoken of in Revelation 12: 11 (AMP)  And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]. 

Too many quote that great verse and they leave off the third part of it, " and they loved not their lives unto the death." KJV  Acts 1:8 tells us that we shall be witnesses unto him: Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
That word "witness" means MARTYR.  

It used to be that in America, UK, and Germany one did not have to worry about being killed for their faith.  But more and more there is elements of the anti-christ showing through in society, people that want to be free from the yoke and harness and of any reference to religion that would conflict with their stance against God, Jesus Christ and the moral rectitude that such beliefs embrace!  There are also growing sects and religions whose main goal is to wipe out Christianity and Jews alike.   These are no longer relegated to so called "third world" countries. There have been many killings in UK by muslims and even here in America some have lost their lives to "honor killings under the islamic "sharia law" that says if one becomes a Christian they must be put to death! 

How strong is your faith?  Will you live and die for Jesus? Multitudes around the world already have. You may never be a martyr, but will you die to self and Live for Him fully?  

Many years ago, I preached a message in a church based on John 9:4 (NLV )"We must keep on doing the work of Him Who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no man can work."  The word "day" has the meaning and connotation of " a gentler day."  Paul warned Timothy that "perilous times were coming."  I would say that our gentler days are getting fewer.  It is time to be all about the Father's business of proclaiming the Good News and winning the lost to Christ!

It is time to transform our world, even as Jesus told the disciples that the gates of hell would NOT prevail against the church.  So it is TIME for the CHURCH to stand up, to shake of the lethargy, to wipe the sleep out of our eyes and get busy for the kingdom!  It is time to do as the Prophet Isaiah spoke: "Arise SHINE, for Your Light HAS come! And the GLORY of the LORD IS risen upon thee!" ( Isa. 60:1)

That Glory will seek out and destroy what is ungodly. That Glory will purify and bring Righteousness to the forefront. That Glory will cause an amazing display of God's Goodness and Righteousness and His Beauty to be poured out in magnificent quantities.  And just where will this be seen?  In, on, and through God's set apart ones. Those who have washed in the Blood and have allowed Him to cleanse and purify and do an inner work in their hearts and lives. That inner work will now be seen as He can flow unhindered through them!  The Glorious Church will dazzle with the brilliance of White hot Love burning in pure desire for her Lord. 

Rom 12:1(AMP)  I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. 

AMEN. SELAH!