City View Ministries International

Just prior to His crucifixion as the Lord was speaking to the disciples, He made an interesting comment in verse 37; “. . .For the things concerning Me have an end.”  I believe He was referencing the pain and suffering that He was about to encounter not only on the cross but also during the mockery of a trial, the scourging, the crown of thorns and the walk to Golgotha.

He was able to endure all that pain, knowing things have an end.

You may presently be going through a very painful, even excruciating circumstance.  But I have good news for you, they too “have an end”.

Perhaps its a lifetime nightmare or haunting fear.  It has END!

Angelic ministry was part of what sustained the Lord until the “end” and we can rest knowing that angelic ministry will sustain us as well until the “end” of things that harass, bewilder, weigh down, confuse, malign or hurt.

Remember, things have an end – but there is no end to His grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, compassion, deliverance and salvation – for YOU!

The number 12 speaks scripturally about government, a perfected government of the Kingdom of God.  It also speaks of divine authority and appointment.

12 is found 187 times in scripture, 22 in Revelation.

The Lord has impressed on me that 2012 is going to be a year where His government, established by His authority and those who function in those rolls are appointed by Him.

The Lord desires to establish His government on earth so that His will can be done.

This is true for local congregations, but goes beyond local settings.   Over the last number of years we’ve seen offices of God’s government being reintroduced, refined and purified.  That process is not complete and will be an ongoing process.  There has been little tension when we refer to the offices of pastor, evangelist or teacher; yet when the offices of prophet and apostle began to emerge over the past 20+ years, tension is a benevolent term describing all too often deeply polarizing positions.

Recently however, there has been a broader acceptance or less tension when the terms “prophet and apostle” have been used by many Kingdom minded leaders.   Terms are often substituted, but it isn’t the title that is as important as the function.

The Father’s desire is for His government to be established on the earth through the 5 fold offices to function in collaboration to see His kingdom come so that His will can be accomplished.

Essentially, His government is His kingdom.

The heart of the Father is to have His Kingdom manifest on the earth so that His presence can be displayed resulting in an increase of the miraculous occur, not just in congregational meetings/services, but through the Church deployed into the culture.

The Culture of the Kingdom is redemptive.

The Currency of the Kingdom is honor.

The Climate of the Kingdom is compassion/mercy.

For the government/kingdom of God to come, it is crucial for us to have “an ear to hear what the Spirit” says to us on a daily basis.

The hearing ear is foundational as He has given us “ears to hear” so that we can be faithful to do what we’ve heard by giving words in season to those who are weary.  Isa. 50:4

Emmanuel is one of the names of Jesus that we most often associate with this Season, Christmas, celebrating His birth.  Most of us know that means – “God with us”.

Reading Luke’s account of the conception by the Holy Spirit with Mary, a couple of things jumped out that are still true for us today.  Provided we embrace Emmanuel.

Mary was troubled at the angel’s greeting, to which the immediate response was “don’t be afraid for you’ve been favored”. When the angel arrived he declared that the favor was a result of the Lord being “with you”.

One of the evidences of God’s favor to us is that He chooses to be “with” us.  When He’s “with” us, there is a release of favor.  Favor with a purpose.  For Mary, Emmanuel came to birth Messiah.  A prophetic hope to which Israel had held on to for centuries.  And at a time that seemed to be growing darker and darker, the messenger comes to announce that the redemptive purpose of God was about to be realized, being birthed in Mary and to be delivered by Mary not only to and for Israel; but to the world.

Emmanuel, God with us, comes to each of us with favor.  Favor, similarly as for Mary – to birth His redemptive purposes through our lives to culture in desperate need of Him.

Don’t abort that which has been birthed in you.  Allow the full term of His purposes grow and be nurtured within you for His redemptive strategy for mankind.

Emmanuel, God with YOU!

Luke pens for us the scene the shepherd’s came upon as the heeded the angelic directive.  “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:16)

What did they see?  A stall that likely hosted not just humans and diety; but animals, straw and odors. 

What they saw was THE Son of God brought into the earth realm in the context of a FAMILY. 

Make room for Him during this busy, too often hectice season, be sure to have not just time, but QUALITY TIME  with family.   Remember thats how He came!

Ever come through a storm and immediately find yourself in the midst of a greater storm? 

That’s what happened to the disciples after landing their boat after the storm on Galilee where boisterous waves had nearly capsized the boat and their faith.  Now a raging, lunatic, demon possessed man come running out to greet them that no one could handle, chains wouldn’t even hold him back. (Mark 5)

Yet this man saw Someone that could, might possibly have the answer to his seemingly eternal nightmare – Jesus!  Keep in mind it wasn’t the man who spoke first, it was the demonic leader, Legion, who queried the Lord as to His intent.   Jesus, speaking to Legion (not the man), orders him “out”.  Why Jesus asked the name is still open to debate, could it be though He sensed this was a greater issue than what others had thought? At any rate, the Lord gave “them” leave to enter pigs that eventually self-destructed.  Again, they were “unclean” animals that were not to be around an Orthodox Jew, so what was the harm?  Yet, the town’s people were more concerned about violating The Law than seeing a man set free from Legion and living a purpose filled life.  It always amazes me that people are more comfortable to have demonic presence around than the Author of peace. 

This man was one of the first true evangelists, as he walked out the commission given by the Lord – by telling everyone in the Decapolis what Jesus had done. 

Remember when you come out of one storm and enter a greater one, there are redemptive purposes if we’ll allow the ministry of Jesus to take the lead and not our fear, doubt or unbelief.

Jairus was battling a storm, for his daughter’s health, only to have the Great Physician delayed.  During this delay, news arrives that his daughter is now dead, don’t bother the Healer.  As this scene is being played out a woman in an “unclean” status, presses through the crowd to merely touch the Lord and finds healing and total restoration.  Jairus didn’t have the learning opportunity the disciples had just experienced, so the Lord says “don’t fear; only believe.”  The storm of grave illnesses is always inadequate preparation for a greater storm,death.  Jesus went with Jairus to his home, released the scoffers and doubters to not “heal” but “resurrect” the girl to life. 

Remember when you come out of one storm, even when delay prompts an greater storm; life is about to spring forth.  

Most of us are familiar with the Latin phrase “carpe diem” or “diem occupare”, meaning “seize the day”.

Each day is a gift from God and when we seize each day, incredible things can happen that not only benefit and bless us, but others around us and beyond our immediate sphere of influence and generation.

Andy Andrews’ book “The Butterfly Effect” graphically illustrates this point, which I would encourage you to get.  It is well worth the investment.

Andy’s book reminds us to not only seize the day, but to seize even the impossible for an opportunity.  Think of the 4 men who brought their friend to the house where Jesus was.  What about when Peter stepped out of the boat?  Recall the disciples were encouraged to cast their nets on the other side?

Jairus is one of my favorites as he comes to Jesus, only to be delayed and then hears the report his little girl has died.  What about the lady who caused the delay, by crawling through the crowd to touch the hem of the Lord’s garment?

In each of these, there was a choice to not only seize the day, but seize the impossible.

Mary listened to the angel tell of what was about to occur, that would not only benefit and bless her, but “effect” us today; she made a querie as how this would happen.  Not a question of doubt, but an honest question.   God isn’t upset with honest questions, even tough ones!

The angel responds “with God all things are possible”, even the impossible.  As with Mary, the disciples, the unclean woman, Jairus; we too need to seize the impossible.  

The impossible will never happen if there are not those who will “rapere possunt” – seize the impossible.

The second time Jesus states “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” is a response to legalism of the Pharisees as they observed the disciples walking through the grain fields, eating on the grain as they walked through the fields.  What were they doing in the fields on a Sabbath Day anyway?  The Sabbath was created for man, not the other way around.

Legalism, like it’s cousin judgmentalism, doesn’t operate on the basis of mercy – rather on self preservation.  A donkey in their economy was more valuable than a man’s withered hand.  Similar to the culture of today, animal life had a higher value than human life; i.e. abortion vs. save the whales, or whatever other animal.  A person can be charged criminally for wounding or killing a pet, yet a someone who kills a human being in the womb has simply made a “choice”.  A choice for death.

If legalism can’t intimidate, the next strategy is to bring accusation against the target.  They accused the Lord of being a minion of Satan.  Jesus rather than reacting to the accusation decimates their argument from the basis of truth.  A “house” that is divided would bring self destruction, and Satan isn’t about to do that.  He’ll ultimately be destroyed, but not because he fought against himself, God will bring that about.

The concluding strategy observed in this chapter the Pharisees implemented was that of proving yourself.  The strategy goes something like this, “if you are who you say you are then . . . . .(you fill in the blank)”.  This strategy is what appears to rile the Lord more than the previous two.  This strategy impugns not only Himself, but His Father and the Holy Spirit.  He then says to follow close enough that when I die, you’ll witness something that hasn’t happened like it since Jonah, in fact it will parallel Jonah – RESURRECTION triumphing over death.

As Jesus did with the initial temptation in the wilderness, He responds with the truth.  Truth triumphs every time!

After healing and giving forgiveness to the paralytic brought by his friends to Jesus, the religious leaders winced at Jesus being able to do so.  The Master then went to a “sinner’s” home to party.  They jumped on this occasion to attempt to discredit the Lord.  However Jesus responds with an interesting phrase that He repeats at two more times.  Matt. 9:13 “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”

Jesus was the consummate teacher, ever using real life events to impart to His students.  Later in this chapter we observe two blind men have a Christ Encounter, appealing to Him on the basis of “mercy” to restore vision.  They already “believed”, but they appealed on the basis of mercy and Jesus responded by bringing total recovery of their vision. 

As this chapter closes, Jesus sees the multitudes and was “moved with compassion” which resulted in more than mere sentiment.  He makes an appeal that He still makes today, pray for “laborers” for the harvest.  What kind of laborers?  Laborers that are motivated with COMPASSION and not judgmentalism. 

Mercy and compassion trump judgmentalism every time when we deal with people that are encumbered with the maladies of life.  Whether that is lack of vision (without which people perish) or lack of genuine care and concern (which is a consequence of lack of loving authority). 

We’re blessed when we are merciful and walk with compassion as our motivation.  The results, people are drawn to the One Who is the originator of both – Jesus!

How powerful is your worship?  What is the potential does your worship? 

Paul & Silas discovered the power of worship and praise as they sang in the jail.  Not only were their “bonds” released, but all those in their immediate area. 

Recall when Jehoshaphat sent the praisers to go before those who were armed with the sword?  A great victory was attained, because of worship.

John while on the Isle of Patmos was given a revelation of things to come.  In chapter 15 he sees and hears angels and likely saints as well sing the song of Moses.  There are a number of songs recorded in John’s revelatory vision and several of them make direct reference to Moses’ songs. 

What captured my attention during this reading was the content of verse 5: “After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.”  Note – the tabernacle, the location of God’s manifest presence, was opened.  His testimony came forth. 

When the enemy begins to judge or condemn, release the song of the Lord; and God’s testimony is released on your behalf in the court of the heavenlies.  The Psalmist declares in 149:9 “. . .This honor have all His saints.” 

Your worship has the potential to open God’s testimony for you. 

Let your  worship ascend to the heavens and be judged righteous, healed, restored, established, saved and secure.

Mary was told by the angel “with God all things are possible.”  With all the things going on in the culture, for the saint that is “with God” there are great blessings.

Rev. 17:14 “. . . .and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”  I realize this is a prophetic declaration about future saints, however there’s a note of encouragement for present day saints as well.

Note John declares that those who are “with Him” or “with God” three blessings:

1. They are called - they are appointed.  Like Esther, when we’re “with Him”, we are here “for such a time as this”.  Friend you are APPOINTED.

2. They are chosen - they have favor.  The word literally means those “with Him” are His favorites.  He didn’t get “stuck” with you, He chose you.

3. They are faithful - they are trusted.  Keep in mind that He calls them “faithful”, it’s not a term that is descriptive of behavior; rather it’s a name given by the Lord Himself.  He declares those “with Him” are faithful, trusted.  He’s entrusted to us our culture and generation.

Not only are “all things possible” when we’re “with God”, but we’re called, chosen & faithful.