Z Finger … This is my decision to follow Christ

Then Jesus said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  _Luke 9:23-24

A stocky inmate came up to me after the worship service, held up his hand and said, “This is my decision to follow Christ.”  I looked at his hand and his little finger was visibly mangled in unnatural directions.  I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I asked him to tell me more.

He explained in short sentences, “I was running a dorm for them at state (The Mexican Mafia).  Then, I decided to follow Jesus.”

“I told them that I wasn’t going to do that anymore, because I had decided to follow Jesus.”

“At first they came at me.  I told them again that I was not going to do that anymore.  I was going to follow Jesus.”

“So they did this to me.” He s slowly turned his hand to show me the twisted, Z-looking finger from different angles.  “It still hurts, but it reminds me that I decided to follow Jesus.”

I smiled at him, and praised God for his changed life and courage as a new believer.

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can truly change a hardened heart.  Z Finger (My nickname for him.) was serving time at a California State Prison.  At the prison, he was an enforcer for the Mexican Mafia.  In prison, he heard the gospel and decided to follow Jesus.  Following Jesus was in conflict with his responsibilities to the mafia, and they didn’t want to let him go.  So they beat him up several times.  At one of the beatings, they left him with a mangled finger that looks like a Z.  We met in jail, while he was going through the court system to have more time added to his sentence, for crimes committed while serving the mafia in prison.

Z Finger changed roles from being the one who inflicted pain on those who would not follow evil, to willingly accepting physical abuse for following Jesus Christ.  Praise God!

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Intercessory Prayer

Scripture to reflect on when praying for others

Pray for everyone to be saved and to know the truth

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.    I Timothy 2:1-4

Pray for boldness to be a good soldier and share the Gospel

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.   Ephesians 6:17-19

Pray for mercy on the sinner, while hating their sin.

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.    Jude 1:20-23

 Pray for God’s mercy and patience to give more people time to repent

23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them,
Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,
To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.  Psalms 106:23

 Thank God that He is able to save the worst of the worst

25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.  Hebrews 7:25

Pray for more people to pray for the lost

30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.  Ezekiel 22:30-31

Pray to earnestly seek God’s compassion on sinners

7 And there is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;
For You have hidden Your face from us,
And have consumed us because of our iniquities.  Isaiah 64:7

 Pray that God would save the lost for His own Glory

16 He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;  Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.  Isaiah 59:16

Praise God that He is powerful and can do what we can’t

17 “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.  Jeremiah 32:17

Pray with confidence that our Savior hears and cares

7 Therefore I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.   Micah 7:7

 Pray that we would make choices that God rewards

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

 Pray  that our confidence would grow, based on God’s promises

20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,  Romans 4:20-23

Pray that we would have confidence that what we do pleases God

23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

Pray for those things that God would be glad to do to bring glory to Jesus

13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.   John 14:13,14

Pray for what you need to obey His commands in your life

24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.   Mark 11:24

Praise God for His mighty power

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power    Ephesians 1:19

Pray to know God’s plans for you and those around you

7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets    Amos 3:7

 Pray to recognize and listen to God’s voice

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.   John 10:3,4

Pray to hate the things God hates

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.   Proverbs 8:13

Pray for those in authority that they would bring godliness, reverence and peace

2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.   1 Timothy 2:2

Pray for peace in our city for the sake of our neighbors

7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.   Jeremiah 29:7

Pray for God’s blessing and to not cause harm

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.  1 Chronicles 4:10

Pray that we would be bold in tearing down lies that are against the truth of God

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.   2 Corinthians 10:3-6

 Pray that their eyes would be opened to see the glory of Jesus Christ

4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.   2 Corinthians 4:4

Pray that we would want to imitate Jesus Christ

19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.   John 5:19

Pray for the destruction of Satan’s influence in people’s lives

 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.   John 12:31

 Pray that we will discern the difference between God’s Kingdom and Satan’s kingdom

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.   John 14:30

 Pray for righteous discernment

11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.   John 16:11

Pray for alertness to Satan’s schemes to devour us

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   1 Peter 5:8

Praise God that He has and will punish Satan for harming nations

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!   Isaiah 14:12

Praise God because He has already won

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.   Revelation 20:10

Pray for alertness

1 He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort!

Watch the road!
Strengthen your flanks!
Fortify your power mightily.   Nahum 2:1

Thank God for His power and the He is in control

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.    Ephesians 1: 19-23

 

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Pray for them to be reconciled to Christ

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.      Colossians 1:15-20

Pray for humility and patience

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Philippians 2:5-11

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The Ultimate Answer

The Problem:
God is holy and He is just.
Sin must be punished, it’s a must.
God judges us guilty for our sin.
We deserve hell, we can’t win.

The Solution:
Jesus is God in human skin,
Son of David, born of Jewish kin.
As a boy, He learned the law,
Then He worked with hammer and saw,
He ate and drank like a normal man,
But there was much more to the plan.

They whipped His back and spit in His face:
Stripped of His clothes, it was a disgrace.
He hung on the cross for all to see,
He paid the price for you and me.
(I am guilty, He died in my place,
But not just for me, the whole human race.)
For three days He was dead in the ground,
Then He arose with a mighty sound,
Jesus is Lord over sin and the grave,
All those who call, He will save.

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The Gospel According to Leah

In a crowd and no one cares, but God sees and loves me.

 In America, we are taught to focus on the main character of the movie.  We are taught to focus on his goals, ambitions, overcoming his obstacles and watching him become the hero of the day.  The Bible is different.  There are many people’s lives that are recorded for a reason.  Often we read Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and focus on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  It is easy to miss the story of Leah.  The story of Leah is recorded to show God’s love to the unloved.  Look at Leah’s life from her view.

Like most young girls, Leah probably had hopes and dreams of being loved by her husband.  She had childhood dreams of dressing up on her wedding day and people looking on her and calling her beautiful.

Leah was unloved by her father, Laban.  She wasn’t attractive and her dad couldn’t find someone to take her.  With all her father’s wealth, the best he could do was trick someone into marrying her.

Leah was the wallflower at her own wedding.  Her sister got to dress up and be the star of the show.

Leah’s sister, Rachel, had been dating Leah’s future husband for seven years.  Jacob loved Rachel and thought he was going to marry Rachel the whole time.

On the night that Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel, Laban switched Rachel for Leah on the way to the honeymoon tent.  Leah obeyed her father in the hopes of being loved by someone.

Leah was rejected by her husband the first morning of the honeymoon.  Jacob, her husband, wanted to disown her.  Laban, her father, had to bribe the groom to wait a week, before ignoring her.  The bribe was that Jacob would get to marry Rachel in a week, if Jacob was kind to Leah for a week.  Leah’s husband was with her, but thinking about another woman.  Her husband was eagerly anticipating having sex with someone else.

Leah hoped that she would gain the love of her husband by giving him children.  She planned to bring honor to him by having children.  She would have sons that Jacob would be proud of so she might get appreciation and love in return.

Rachel, the other woman in her husband’s life, was jealous of Leah’s ability to have children. Rachel convinced Leah’s husband to sleep with another woman to have children.  Rachel arranged for Jacob to have sex with Bilhah and call the child Rachel’s.

Leah tried hard to get her husband to sleep with her.  She even had to bribe her sister to let her husband sleep with her.

Leah had six sons and a daughter for her husband and still felt unloved.

So far, we have only heard half the story.  It sounds like Leah was just a baby making machine and no one cared about her.

The rest of the story is that God loved Leah and took care of her.  In spite of Leah’s rejection from people, God honored her. God comforted her and gave her hope.  God even gave her the legacy of being the mother of half of the Jewish nation.  Half of the Israelites came from her.

Even though Leah never knew, God chose to bless her children above the others.  The children of her son Levi became the priests and judges of the nation.  The enduring line of kings, including David and Solomon, came from her son Judah.  And the greatest heritage of all, Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, was one of her descendants.

The Gospel According to Leah is that God loves the unlovely.  God cares about those who feel neglected.  Leah put her faith in God, and she was not ashamed.  God was her source of comfort and hope.  And, God honored her and called her His own.  All nations and peoples were blessed through her.

Get the rest of the details by reading Genesis 29 and 30.

When we feel unloved and rejected, we can know that God sees and cares.  He surrounds us with His love and affection.  He can turn our shame into something good.

 

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