Behold, I am making all things new!
I’d like to open with a quote from our “The Victor and the Prize” journey that we’ve been on since Easter Sunday. In this week’s entry, we read that “New Creation describes God’s great restoration project – the Kingdom of God realized . . . All creation will not simply end with utter destruction, nor will human life evolve itself to ultimate perfection. Rather, God’s world will be renewed, restored, set right-side-up again and be filled with the presence, glory, and joy of God!” Today we’re honing in on one key verse, Revelation 21:5. As we read this, consider that this is what Jesus is saying to us. He is inviting us to join with Him in what He’s doing. Before I read that verse let’s remember the amazing reality that Jesus, God-with-us, is making possible something that was completely impossible! I think this is why Jesus starts off with an attention-grabbing word. Let’s read the verse:
Revelation 21:5 (ESV) – “Behold, I am making all things new”
Let’s break that apart, starting with the second part, “I am making all things new.”
We’re in our new space today – He’s making this new, He’s made our friend who was in ICU for months new, He’s making you and me new!
“I am making all things new.” What do you think about that? I don’t know about you, but I tend to have two buckets in my mind – things I believe God is making new, and things I’m not quite so sure about. To be honest, the first bucket isn’t always as full as the second one. Some of the things in my second bucket are huge things like societal problems that affect millions of people. Some of them are individual people who do not in my limited view seem to be softening towards God’s love. I am repenting as I’m confessing these areas of unbelief in my heart. Let’s ask ourselves – What are the things – situations, issues, people, circumstances – that I’m having trouble believing God is making new? Over what or whom have I despaired? Who or what have I given up on? Where do I need a fresh injection of faith and confidence that God is working today?
As pastor Zac has spoken of several times in this series, we know that in Christ we die to our former selves. In Christ we have God’s limitless power working in us – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20, NLT). All things are changed if we are changed. They are the same old things, but now, in Christ, we can see them in a new light, we can see how they can be used for new purposes. Imagine someone who has been blind for their entire life suddenly regaining their sight – the whole world is instantly changed! Surely the colors, variations, shades, play of light and shadow, and all the beauties of physical vision are unimaginable before they are experienced. That is a little of what it’s like for us – being in Christ changes the world completely for us! The way we see the world now is totally different! Jesus is the hope of the world! We have no need to despair now, even if we’ve tried and been defeated hundreds of times. It makes no sense to give up because God is able and He is with us! Victory is possible because yes, Jesus is the hope of the world – He is your hope and my hope.
Now back to the first part of our key verse. What do you behold? The word “behold” comes from the Greek word “horao” which has various shades of meaning – see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, see with the mind, attend to. Consider: Where have you beheld? We may need to slow down and pay attention more to notice what we’re noticing. I remember in childhood thinking that everyone else noticed the same things I noticed. It took me awhile to realize that this simply isn’t true. We all have unique perspectives and personalities and ways of looking at things. If you’re not convinced, a few of you tell me – What did you notice on your way to church this morning? You may be one of the few, or possibly the only one in your arena of influence who notices something. God is inviting you to partner with Him to bring Kingdom transformation in that arena. As Beverly said earlier at the beginning of worship, pay attention to “What is your dream?” God is inviting us today to behold and then fully engage in the arenas of influence that He’s given us. Now in some ways we are all the same. Part of what it means to be created in the image of God is that He has wired all of us to behold Him, to be able to know and love Him and be known and be loved by Him. But He’s also wired each of us quite uniquely to behold people and places and situations and injustices. We don’t all notice the same things. We don’t all respond the same way to the same circumstances. We don’t all get upset by the same injustices. We don’t all get excited about the same adventures. God wants us to pay attention to those things that we behold and then do something about them.
We’re going to take a look at 6 arenas of influence today, one for each letter in the word “BEHOLD.” We’ll hear about a hero of the faith in each arena and touch on some ways to pray related to that arena of influence. I want you to pay attention to how the Holy Spirit is moving in you – what catches your attention? I invite you today to pay attention to what you’re paying attention to! God is calling us to participate with Him as intercessors and ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. Those are fancy words that mean simply, “pray and go.”
B – belief
Samuel Lamb was one of the most impactful pastors of the Chinese house church movement. He experienced Communist oppression and spent more than 21 years in prison, including 15 years mining coal in harsh Chinese labor camps because he tried to make a copy of the New Testament. But he also experienced God’s response to the suffering of the Church – the amazing growth of the church in China, now estimated at between 80 and 200 million believers. Samuel lead a house church which blossomed into a large network, and refused to merge with the government-sanctioned church, the Three Self Patriotic Movement, because that movement places itself at the head of the church and tries to restrict, control, and twist biblical Christianity. Samuel Lamb summarized his life in what he called the one holy principle of “more persecution, more growth,” referring to both numerical growth and each individual’s spiritual growth. He repeatedly warned his congregation, “We must be prepared to suffer . . . You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Today the authorities are not bothering us. But tomorrow things may be different. I pray that we will receive the strength to stand firm.” Through Lamb’s network, hundreds of thousands of pieces of Christian literature were distributed to Chinese believers. Vernon Brewer, the first graduate of Liberty University and founder of World Help, said of our hero upon hearing of his passing last year at age 88, “I was blessed to call Pastor Lamb my friend. He endured more persecution than anyone I have ever known. He was beaten and tortured for his faith—and yet he never wavered. Every time I was with him, he has a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He was God’s gift to the underground church in China. And his legacy will live on in the hearts of Chinese believers for years to come . . . a testimony of a life well lived, of a race well-run, of a fight well-fought.”
How is God stirring you to influence others to believe in our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ? Remember that God created us for relationship, not religion. You don’t have to be a pastor to influence others in the area of belief. Pray for opportunities to share the truth, Jesus Christ, with others, that they would come to know Him and be set free to love and be loved and to live for Him! Like young James read out earlier, think about what is true.
Pray & go triggers: Christ-followers, those seeking truth, symbols of religion, special clothing, places of worship, unreached people groups
E – education
John Bosco, also known as Don (Father) Bosco, was an Italian priest, educator, and writer who lived in the 19th century. He dedicated his life to the betterment and education of disadvantaged youth in an era of much war and famine in Italy. He cared for many street children and juvenile delinquents. He founded an organization to care for poor youth, and called his followers “Salesians.” He began mission bases dedicated to the education of girls and the education of the poor. When he was 9 years old he had a series of dreams that profoundly influenced the course of his life. In his first dream, he saw a multitude of poor boys who were playing and blaspheming, and a man of majestic appearance told him, “You will have to win these friends of yours not with blows, but with gentleness and kindness. So begin right now to show them that sin is ugly and virtue beautiful.” He developed what became known as the “Preventive System of Education” based on love instead of punishment, which was a revolutionary idea! He believed that education was a “matter of the heart” and said that people needed to not only be loved, but also to know that they are loved. He used reason, Bible, kindness, music, and games in his teaching methods. A tireless worker, he was known as a man of action, a man of prayer, and a man of poverty. Today there are more than 15,000 Salesians serving young people in 2000 institutions around the world.
How is God stirring you to influence others to seek truth through study & learning? Pray that those who teach and those who study would deal in truth and love. Pray for God to raise up voices of truth within the body of Christ who can teach & impart the truth of God’s Word with great love and wisdom.
Pray & go triggers: students, teachers, places of learning, controversial issues of our day
H – home
Lillian Trasher was born in Florida in 1887, raised in Brunswick, GA. She founded the first orphanage in Egypt As a young girl, she knelt by a log in the woods one day, and prayed, “Lord, if ever I can do anything for You, just let me know and I’ll do it.” In her early 20s she met a woman who ran an orphanage near her home in Georgia who invited Lillian to come work with her. Little did Lillian know that this is where she would get her training for her entire life’s work. She became engaged to a pastor but laid down her marriage plans when she discovered that her future husband did not share the same call from God to serve Him across the world. Soon after she moved to Egypt with her sister and less than $100 in her pocket, she visited a dying woman to care for her in her final days. When the woman passed away, the grandmother wanted to throw the malnourished baby into the Nile River. Lillian, appalled at the idea, took the baby in, and her orphanage began. She trusted that God would provide for all of their needs, which He faithfully did! Within three years eight orphans were in her care, and she began a school and Bible program. Within four more years she cared for 50 orphans and 8 widows. Over a period of 50 years, approximately 10,000 children lived in “Mother Trasher’s” orphanage. The orphanage and widow’s dormitory is still operating today and currently cares for 650 orphans and widows.
How is God stirring you to influence homes, families, widows, and orphans? Pray for the Kingdom of God to come in every home, and give Kingdom strategies to welcome God’s transforming power and presence and conquer the many social issues of our day.
Pray & go triggers: homes in your neighborhood & surrounding area, people in the grocery store, issues in the news & media, someone who is lonely, a child you sponsor
O – occupation
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in the 1860s. He had whooping cough as a young child so couldn’t do the hard work that the other slaves did. He ended up helping in the family garden and home. He taught himself to read and at age 12 began school in a one-room schoolhouse with 1 teacher and 75 children. He was rejected from colleges because he was black, but at age 30 a college in Iowa finally accepted him to study botany. He went on to become one of the most prominent scientists and inventors of his time, as well as a professor and head of department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Carver was a gifted speaker and loved telling this story: “I asked God, ‘Why did you make the universe, Lord?’ ‘Ask for something more in proportion to that little mind of yours,’ replied God. ‘Why did you make the earth, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Your little mind still wants to know far too much. Ask for something more in proportion to that little mind of yours,’ replied God. ‘Why did you make man, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Far too much. Far too much. Ask again,’ replied God. ‘Explain to me why you made plants, Lord,’ I asked. ‘Your little mind still wants to know far too much.’ ‘The peanut?’ I asked meekly. ‘Yes! For your modest proportions I will grant you the mystery of the peanut. Take it inside your laboratory and separate it into water, fats, oils, gums, resins, sugars, starches and amino acids. Then recombine these under my three laws of compatibility, temperature and pressure. Then you will know why I made the peanut.’” George Washington Carver discovered over 100 uses for the humble peanut as well as many others for sweet potatoes, soybeans, and pecans; his research and work in areas such as crop rotation and alternative cash crops to cotton contributed directly to much greater economic stability among the poor in the South, especially African Americans. He also advised Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi on matters of agriculture and nutrition. George Washington Carver said that the truly successful person was the one who had learned to serve others. He was well known for his faith in God.
How is God stirring you to influence others through your job? Pray that we would each worship God by using our gifts, talents, and resources for Him, and that each one would discover the things God has wired you to do best.
Pray & go triggers: businesses, workers you interact with, places of training, unemployed people, your job
L – law
Anthony Benezet was an 18th century French-born American abolitionist, teacher, and writer. He joined the Quakers and worked to convince others that owning slaves violated Christian teachings. In his early life he concentrated on teaching, starting the first public girls’ school in America, black schools, and special programs for deaf and disabled students. In his 40s he focused on becoming an avid opponent of slavery. He said, “To live in ease and plenty by the toil of those whom violence and cruelty have put in our power, is neither consistent with Christianity nor common justice.” He started the first American anti-slavery society, “Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage.” Although he lived in America, he also traveled to Britain to denounce slavery there, and had a great impact on the British abolitionist movement. He wrote and published, at his own expense, a number of anti-slavery tracts and pamphlets. He wrote letters to people of influence, including Queen Charlotte. His writings influenced John Wesley and Granville Sharp and were instrumental in persuading Thomas Clarkson to embark on his abolitionist career. Anthony Benezet did not live to see slavery completely abolished 81 years after his death. But even after his death, Benezet continued to help slaves be educated and liberated. He left some money in his will for his wife & family, some for individual slaves that he knew, and left the bulk of his estate to the “Free School for the Black People of Philadelphia.”
How is God stirring you to use your influence to bring about justice for individuals and in systems? Pray for God’s righteousness and justice to be done, and for the courage to do something about the injustices that we notice and know about.
Pray & go triggers: reading the news, leaders, people on the fringes of society, refugees
D – diversions
Keith Green, born in 1953, was a controversial hippie singer, I mean contemporary Christian musician whose life was cut short at only 28 when he died in a plane crash that also took the lives of his two oldest children. Keith Green was known for his passion, devotion, and confrontational messages urging others to follow Jesus with no compromise and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. He had a Jewish background, but had a misspent youth dabbling in drugs and Eastern mysticism and other aspects of hippie culture. He and his wife married at age 19, hungry and seeking for truth. They were radically changed when they surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ at age 21. They were involved with the Vineyard movement in California in its early days. As soon as they opened their hearts to Jesus they began opening their home to the homeless, recovering drug addicts or whoever needed a place to stay, later launching their ministry, Last Days Ministries, in Tyler, Texas. In seven short years of knowing Jesus, the Lord took Keith from performing concerts for a small group in a living room to 12,000 in a stadium. His recordings topped the charts, and he gave them away for whatever people could afford. During his concerts he would often exhort his listeners to repent and commit themselves more wholly to following Christ. He would say, “If you praise and worship Jesus with your mouth, and your life does not praise and worship him, there’s something wrong!” A theme of his life and preaching was a radical commitment to live wholeheartedly for God, holding nothing back. Many thousands of people around the world committed their lives to Christ as a result of Keith Green’s life and ministry. He left a legacy behind in his many songs, writings, family, and ministry.
How is God stirring you to influence others through the arts, media, music, sports, games, movies, storytelling, drama, dance, entertainment, . . . the list goes on! Pray that God would stir creativity and excellence in ways that reflect the glory of our Creator.
Pray & go triggers: centers of artistic endeavors, popular heroes, places of entertainment, performance, or competition
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What do you behold? What do you notice? Did you pay attention to what you were paying attention to? I’d like to invite you to pray about one of these six arenas of influence. If more than one grabbed your attention, choose the one that stood out the most to you. Try and pay attention to where God is stirring your heart today, for this season in your life.
Revelation 21:5 (ESV) – “Behold, I am making all things new”
I encourage you to let this BEHOLD acronym serve as a reminder to pray and go as you behold . . . pay attention to prayer triggers, things you see or hear or experience that make you notice something. See what God wants you to see and then ask Him what He wants you to do about it. Ask God what He is doing. Ask Him what He wants you to do. It’s ok if you don’t know all the answers! Just pray what you notice.
Lord Jesus, we want to see what you want us to see, to pay attention to what you want us to pay attention to. Help us to behold You more fully, to know and love you and be known and loved by You. But also help us to behold the people and places and situations and injustices that You want us to work with You to set right, whether in the arena of beliefs, education, homes, occupations, law, or diversions. We consecrate ourselves to You today and ask that You would use us however You choose, for Your great glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Use us to reveal to others who You are and that You are Immanuel, God-with-us.
