Nobody Cries (Part I)

Cross-posted at http://fenwaychurch.org/blog/?p=54.

Jesus wept. [1] Two words, one verse. To weep. To shed tears. [2]

He wept. [3] He mourned, lamented, bewailed. He wept as one who mourns for the dead. He wept as a sign of the pain and grief of things yet to come. [4]

He wept for the oppressed, the helpless, the children, the mothers and their babies. He wept for the dead. He wept anticipating the judgment that was to come. He wept because of their unbelief. He wept because he was human. He wept because he was God.

It has been said that when angels cry it rains. What happens when God cries?

What takes place in heaven as they watch the Son of God weep. What happens when the divine and human collide. When God’s tears mix with the salt of the earth. When Abba’s son shakes and wails. When his eyes redden and his brow contours. WHAT HAPPENS? WHO HEARS? When heaven cries?

The agony of death, the ravages of evil men, the darkened wombs of raped women, the silent whimpers of molested children, the groans of modern slaves, the cries of widowed mothers, the screams of tortured captives, and the wails of the unjustly bereaved. And yet:

4 No one calls for justice; they conceive
trouble and give birth to evil.
5 They hatch the eggs of
vipers and spin a spider’s
web… Their deeds are evil
deeds, and acts of violence are in their
hands.
7 Their feet rush into sin;
they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their
thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and
destruction mark their ways.
8 The way of peace they do not
know; there is no justice in their
paths… no one who walks in them will know
peace.
9 So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us. We look
for light, but all is darkness; for
brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
10 Like the blind we grope
along the wall, feeling our way like men
without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it
were twilight; among the strong, we are like
the dead.
11 We all growl like
bears; we moan mournfully like
doves. We look for justice, but find
none; for deliverance, but it is far
away.
Our offenses are ever with
us:
13 Turning our backs on our
God, fomenting oppression and
revolt.
14 So justice is driven
back, and righteousness stands at a
distance…
15 Truth is nowhere to be
found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a
prey. [5]

When the innocent ones, those who knew not evil become the prey. When the blood of the unborn cries from the ground. When the blood of the Iraqi children reach the ear of heaven. When the Son of Man hears the muffled cries of the crack baby and child prostitute. When the very heart of God is moved. Then his plan of redemption is set forth. The justice of a righteous God is readied to flow like a river. All of heaven converges. AND yet God pauses… Heaven gasps. Angels murmur. They stand appalled. And why? Shockingly because:

There is no one to intervene… (Isa. 59:16)

Jesus, nobody cries any more. Daddy, release a great weeping in our midst. Holy Spirit, pour fire in our hearts. Burn the love of God within us. Show us what it means to cry again. Reveal your heart. Let injustice awaken us, let sin provoke us, let love compel us. Loose the captive and reveal our darkness, liberate the oppressed and show us our sin, destroy complacency and sharpen our conscience, teach us to cry like you did, Jesus.

[1] John 11:35
[2] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1145
[3] Luke 19:41
[4] http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2799
[5] Isaiah 59:4-16

Moving Blogs Once Again

With our recent church launch, I have switched blogs once again. I may occasionally post revival/movement oriented thoughts here, but my main blogging will now take place at: http://blog.fenwaychurch.org

Introducing Erik Fish - "Foolish Preachers"

Student CPx'ers (simple church training for college student this summer),

I was thinking of you and praying for you this morning! I wanted to share a couple thoughts.

"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe." (I Corinthians 1:21)

Sometimes it's easy to get tripped up thinking about how clever we need to be to lead people to Christ and make disciples. It's sometimes possible to get confused over strategy and trying to get every step right in order to multiply churches, etc. It can be deflating. I just wanted to encourage you that - next to simply loving God and being loved by Him - really the main task God has given us is pretty simple: "Preach foolishly about Jesus."

Sound too difficult? Can you be dorky for Jesus? Can you communicate the story of the cross and resurrection of Jesus with only average charisma? Can you get people to laugh at you and think you're ridiculous for what you believe? If so, you're in good company with the Apostle Paul. Paul was possibly the greatest disciple maker and church planter in history, yet he gives us great insight into his ongoing strategy for what really produced good fruit in the midst of his seeming "failures."

"I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God." (I Cor 2:1-5)

It seems to me that Paul made a conscientious choice NOT to use clever and persuasive speeches. Using this tactic opened a door for people to experience an encounter with God and freed Paul from the naggingly unsatisfying insecurity that comes when you rely on your own ability, preaching skills, and "coolness" (or whatever) in trying to lead people to Jesus. Our one simple responsibility, next to loving God and loving others, is to simply be willing to be a foolish preacher when it comes to speaking openly and honestly about who Jesus is to people.

"It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom." (I Cor. 1:22)

Paul knew what it was like to be rejected on two fronts: By those who's callous, self-righteous hearts had hardened them to the reality of the coming of their Messiah, and those who were intellectually arrogant and were only impressed with the latest philosophy and rhetoric. In the midst of this rejection, he embraced a simple, reassuring truth: we don't have to make ourselves impressive to people for God's power to move upon their hearts. We only need to be willing to be a foolish preacher and speak simply about what Jesus did, who he is, and the good gift he offers to all who will receive Him.

I was so convicted recently when I encountered a fifty-year-old man who was telling me his story. He went to UCLA years ago. In spite of there being a strong presence of campus ministries, he told me he never even heard the gospel until he was thirty-five years old. Among other possibly deeper explanations, there is one simple reason the gospel doesn't spread on certain campuses: Christians don't preach the gospel to non-Christians and invite them into a new relationship with their Creator. Are you willing to do so?

Please let your heart be convicted to preach the gospel to those who don't yet know Christ! This is where the miracles happen: When you're willing to be foolish enough to take the story of Jesus to the those who don't know Him. It's the method God uses to bring people to salvation: "He has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe." The world calls it foolish. God calls it brilliant. I am believing we will reach a time together on our college campuses when not one person will get through college without at least hearing the message of Jesus communicated to them. We must all be willing to be "foolish" preachers to see it happen.

Please share any prayer requests with each other as well as stories that may be of encouragement to the rest of us as you foolishly preach the gospel this semester. :)

Love,

Erik

efish@studentchurch.org

785.423.3272

Invitation for the Glory of God in New England

The Glory of God in New England:
Invitation to the New England Solemn Assembly
Saturday, October 4, 2-6 pm

Harvest Ministries of New England
East Weymouth, MA

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; let them say, 'Spare your people, O Lord, and do not give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' Then the Lord will be zealous for His land. Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, and you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nation." (Joel 2:15-19)

Dear pastors, ministry leaders, intercessors, and brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are pastors and leaders from various denominational and theological backgrounds and various locations in New England. We share a common vision and desire to see the Glory of God in our midst and the subsequent outbreak of revival in our communities. This vision, along with our beliefs, is articulated in the following website: http://www.newenglandalliance.us/

We are writing to you because the Lord has stirred our hearts with a burden for New England, the place where God has sovereignly positioned all of us at this time. As you know, the Bible speaks of "the sons of Issachar, who understood their times, and knew what Israel ought to do" (1 Chr. 12:32). Also, the Lord Jesus taught us to discern the times, and He rebuked the Pharisees for not doing so: "You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times" (Matt 16:2).

We collectively share the conviction that we, the church, currently live in a condition similar to that of Israel during the time of its Babylonian captivity. The body of Christ today is in a fragmented, weakened state, lacking the authority that comes from the manifest presence of God among His people. This is because of our own weakness, compromise, and lack of unity.

As you well know, when the Glory of God is upon His people, even the heathens recognize who God is. An example of that is Rahab who told Joshua and Caleb: "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (Joshua 2: 10, 11).

In contrast, when the glory of God lifted off Samson, "the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes.They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison" (Jud 16:21). Similarly, when the glory of God lifted off Israel because of its sin, Israel went into the Babylonian captivity. "By the river of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion." (Psalm 137:1). "Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" (Joel 2:17).

In essence, what the world is telling the church today is, "Where is your God?" We are mocked and trampled upon like Samson was, because of the lack of the glory and manifest presence of God in our midst. We are in a state of spiritual Babylonian captivity, resembling the ruined walls of Jerusalem. "And they said to me, 'the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire'" (Neh 1:3).

However, the Lord has stirred our hearts. We believe He is calling us and all His pastors and leaders across New England to come together in corporate unity, humility, and repentance in the spirit of Daniel 9 and Nehemiah, in order for His glory and manifest presence to dwell among us. We believe this will lead us out of this weakened state of spiritual Babylonian captivity.

So, in essence, our call and invitation to you is this: "Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem together, that we may no longer be a reproach" (Neh 2:17).

The Lord has stirred us to call pastors, ministry leaders, and intercessors across New England, to come together in a Solemn Assembly on October 4th, from 2-6 pm, at Harvest Ministries International in East Weymouth, MA (details and poster). This will be a time of corporate repentance, intercession, worship, renewal of covenant, and united action.
We will stand in the gap together for New England, crying out collectively for what we currently lack: the presence and the glory of God among us, and the subsequent outbreak of revival.

We believe this is one critical step on the journey that the Lord has stirred us to embark on together with Him. We share the conviction, that as we respond to the Lord's call, we will corporately enter a time of Isaiah 60:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise over you, and His Glory will be seen upon you"
(Isaiah 60:2).

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this, please feel free to contact one of us below.
Please register for the Solemn Assembly. Registration is free and not required, but it helps us to plan.

May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and continue to cause his face to shine upon you.

Signed by,

Josiah Armstrong, Youthstorm (Windham NH)
Craig and Deb Bensen, Cambridge United Church (Cambridge VT)
Steve Boyce, New Life Worship Center (Smithfield RI)
Richard Brink, Eastgate Apostolic Center (Oakland ME)
John Eckhardt, Stauron Ministries (Topsham ME)
Jonathan Friz, Ten Days of Prayer (S Hamilton MA)
Dick Germaine, Barnabas Ministries (Hopkinton MA)
David Hill, Abundant Grace Church (Brighton MA)
Paul Jehle, New Testament Church of Cedarville (Plymouth MA)
Dick Kiernan, Alpha New England (Manchester NH)
Elijah Kim, Emmanuel Gospel Center (Boston MA)
Mike Kriesel, Community Bible Church (S Burlington VT)
Barbara Lachance, Connecticut House of Prayer (Mystic CT)
Jeff Marks, New England Concerts of Prayer (Beverly MA)
Keith Marsh, Grace Children's Home (Grantham NH)
Kris Mineau, Massachusetts Family Institute (Woburn MA)
David McCahon, Ten Days of Prayer (Deerfield MA)
Audrey Church McIntyre, Connecticut House of Prayer (Hartford CT)
Roberto Miranda, Congregacion Leon de Juda (Boston MA)
Raffoul Najem, Community Christian Fellowship (Lowell MA)
Edson Porto, Joshua Project (Wellesley MA)
Mamdouh Riad, The Glory of God on Cape Cod (Dennis MA)
David Rosen, Partners in Transformation (S Burlington VT)
Rob Shepitka, Northeast House of Prayer (Albany NY)
Colleen Sherman, Emmanuel Gospel Center (Boston MA)
Al and Diane Shimer, Christian Renewal Church (Topsfield MA)
Brian Simmons, Gateway Christian Fellowship (East Haven CT)
Bethany Temple, Justice House of Prayer, Boston (Cambridge MA)
Gail Thomas, Institute for Hebraic-Christian Studies - New England
(Woburn MA)

Saturday Schedule

The prayers continue into the night but I don't know for how much longer. A few of us are heading to bed here at church. Here is the schedule for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday
6am - noon
3-6pm
7-11pm or possibly later especially if the Brazilian church comes to pray again!!!

Sunday
8am-9:30am Pre-service prayer
10-noon Worship service

48 hour - Campout Details

See this previous post for how this is a part of 40 days of prayer and fasting culminating in a New England wide assembly.

We felt led to take 48 hours as 200,000+ students come into Boston to prepare the way for Jesus by seeking HIM through prayer, fasting and worship. We are trying to keep the church open the whole time (and we definitely will through Saturday 8am). We will update this blog as soon as we know the details for Saturday.

The scheduled events so far are:
Friday Multi-church prayer 7:30-9pm
Extended prayer & worship 9:30-11pm
Sunday Pre-service prayer 8-9:30am
Worship Service 10-noon

The rest of the time we will likely rotate between times of worship, prayer, prophecy, exhortation, personal devotions, and even rest. If you come, bring an instrument to help facilitate worship (if there is an opportunity) or even some bedding if you want to stay for an extended period and want to rest in some of the side rooms. You can text me on my cell phone if you have any questions. My whole family will be here for Friday night!

David W.
857.540.9487

"There is a grace for prayer and fasting"

God has been speaking this to me all morning. This call is not about striving. If it seems burdensome, don't do it yet. I really believe God is releasing a supernatural grace and peace to pray and fast. The result is we will quickly be encountering the very real presence of God.