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Summer Greetings,

 

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been reading through Luke & Acts with a group of friends which has been inspiring, encouraging and challenging! In the book of Luke, the Holy Spirit particularly highlighted the Parable of the Persistent Widow to me. It’s found in chapter 18:1-8… “One day Jesus taught the apostles to keep praying and never stop or lose hope. He shared with them this illustration: “In a certain town there was a judge, a thick-skinned and godless man who had no fear of others’ opinions. And in the same town there was a poor widow who kept pleading with the judge, ‘Grant me justice and protect me from my oppressor!’ “He ignored her pleas for quite some time, but she kept asking. Eventually he said to himself, ‘This widow keeps annoying me, demanding her rights, and I’m tired of listening to her. Even though I’m not a religious man, and I don’t care about the opinions of others, I’ll get her off my back by answering her claims for justice and I’ll rule in her favor. Then she’ll leave me alone.’ “Jesus continued, “Did you hear what the godless judge said—that he would answer her persistent request? Don’t you know that God, the true judge, will grant justice to all his chosen ones who cry out to him night and day? He will pour out his Spirit upon them. He will not delay to answer you and give you what you ask for. God will give swift justice to those who don’t give up. So be ever praying, ever expecting, in the same way as the widow. Even so, when the Son of Man comes back, will he find this kind of undying faith on earth?”” Luke 18:1-8 TPT As people of prayer, many needs and circumstances surround us daily and it can feel overwhelming at times, like a whirlwind of pressure. However, it’s vital we maintain our faith and persistence in prayer before the Lord, the True Judge who gives justice to His people as we cry out to Him night & day…Yes! Night and Day! Let’s be those who persevere because there is a reward…“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV And if we lack in any way, we just need to tell our Heavenly Father and He will help us!…“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15 NIV Our Father wants us to flourish in this world both for His glory & our good… How WONDERFUL He is! ““So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 NIV Persistence, Persistence, Persistence is our essential position! We can daily be encouraged as we remember and recount the immensity of our Heavenly Father’s goodness expressed in so many ways. He sees us, hears us and knows us better than we know ourselves. We are here on this earth to love Him, ourselves and one another. We need one another! We were made for community and relationship with each other. We see this from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden and He is making all things new! …“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NIV Let’s embrace the commandment to love God and one another as we “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you (we) will fulfill the law of Christ…Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:2, 9 NIV May this resounding encouragement to not give up echo within us! As the days ahead increase in intensity, the promise of fruitfulness and harvest is greater as we advance in the love, grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. We see this kind of beauty lived out in Acts among the early church and it’s a good example for us today! Let’s look at the following scriptural references that emphasize this… “Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them. Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.” Acts 2:42-47 TPT “All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. The apostles gave powerful testimonies about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great measures of grace rested upon them all. Some who owned houses or land sold them and brought the proceeds before the apostles to distribute to those without. Not a single person among them was needy.” Acts 4:32-35 TPT “The apostles performed many signs, wonders, and miracles among the people. And the believers were wonderfully united as they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon’s Porch. No one dared harm them, for everyone held them in high regard. Continually more and more people believed in the Lord and were added to their number—great crowds of both men and women.” Acts 5:12-14 TPT Throughout Acts, there are many accounts of persecution, challenges and difficulties which the apostles and followers of Jesus experienced. However, they did not lose momentum or become discouraged. Instead, they embraced these as part of the natural process of living for Christ and fulfilling His commission, “…Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20 NIV They took confidence that the LORD was with them at ALL times & they counted it an honor to suffer for the Name… “The apostles left there rejoicing, thrilled that God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And nothing stopped them! They kept preaching every day in the temple courts and went from house to house, preaching the gospel of Jesus, God’s Anointed One!” Acts 5:41-42 TPT Personally, I’m inspired by their single focus and passion. Their lives were all about Jesus all day & every day…being led by His Spirit, preaching, teaching, singing, praising, praying, fasting, ministering, serving and releasing the Kingdom of God in powerful demonstrations of the Spirit. Furthermore, I’m encouraged to see the harvest they reaped because they obeyed the Lord! And finally, I’m challenged because I long to be more fully surrendered no matter the cost…I long for all my brothers and sisters in Christ to be fully surrendered to Him so we can be transformed into the image of Jesus in every area of our lives! I know the Acts of the Apostles are beautiful, but the Lord has something special and more for us. I don’t know what that looks like entirely, but it’s unlike anything we’ve seen or known before…“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—”. 1Corinthians 2:9 NIV And I’m confident that the Lord will accomplish in us what is pleasing to Him as we yield to Him, taking up our crosses and following Him… “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus… And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:6; 9-11 NIV In Heaven Here, Josh Adkins encourages us that in the midst of challenges, our God is “…coaching and encouraging us that we can grow – run faster, lift heavier, and become stronger overall in His kingdom… the Lord’s intent is that we develop character able to embrace His fullness and sustain greater levels of His glory. Ultimately, to become like Him!” (Pg. 238) “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver… You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10, 12 NIV “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!”John 10:10 TPT Dear Ones, let’s position ourselves to receive from our Lord the abundance He died to provide, more than we expect-fullness of life until we overflow! Our world is in need of a holy deluge bringing cleansing, healing and a new beginning. Let’s persistently & fervently pray, united with one another until our Prince of Peace returns!

 

Advancing with Him,

Veronica Leach