We all might get put on house arrest eventually.
Let’s not waste it.
Paul didn’t waste his house arrest for 2 years in Italy.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! ~Acts 28
I tell my disciples, “If you get put in prison, make sure you preach.”
Paul shows us how.
He preached.
He wrote letters.
He encouraged the church.
Joseph didn’t waste his imprisonment either.
He decided to soar where-ever God placed Him. (Gen 39)
Interpreting dreams for prisoners.
Getting promoted IN PRISON.
I believe God is allowing all of us to be put on house arrest during the Coronavirus to address our idols. Christians and non-Christians. Americans and Chinese. Republicans and Democrats.
Whether we admit it or not we tend to grasp false idols that give us a false sense of security.
How do i know that? Watch how a nation responds to any one of the three being taken away in one week.
1. Health
2. Wealth
3. Busy-ness
and the most recent one I keep hearing is “at least we have internet for connection.” That could be #4. We’re holding tightly to that one.
A few nights back, I went to sleep and it was like the Lord was prompting me “What if I take the internet too?”
Will He be enough?
He assured me the next morning He is my best connection. That I need to keep praying, keep believing, keep interceding and speaking out. (3/19/20)
Yesterday (3/21/20) I wanted to reach out to someone SO BAD to talk about a sitch. He told me not to and that He was enough. He wants our whole heart.
How does the persecuted church do it in solitary confinement? They press in….to the only ONE that we NEVER LOSE A CONNECTION WITH. Internet or none. People or none. Virus causing distancing or none.
He is always there. That’s why I still got dibs on Emmanuel being my favorite name of God.
I won’t waste my house arrest. The things we cling to are being stripped away and God is the only true God that emerges…..if we will allow ourselves to not numb ourselves to reality.
Ways we numb at home, are mindless scrolling, Netflix bing watching, returning to old sin patterns, wearing out the path to the refrigerator, and drugs/alcohol use to name a few.
TT wants to go knocking on doors and back up 6 feet to share the gospel.
I hiked the AT with Alissa yesterday and got to pray with people from Ethiopia, China, Australia and Americans in a matter of hours. I didn’t lay hands on the two Ethiopians I prayed healing for….you know “distancing”….
But today, I was reading in Luke where Jesus laid hands on a man with an advanced case of leprosy to heal him. Coincidence that I read that the next morning? Nah. After that, it says”….report of His power spread even faster...” That’s what I want to spread…His power. It’s contagious. The man was told not to speak about it. But I get it, it’s hard to hold in good news.
The AT reminded me of the Camino. I was in love. And this was in Georgia. The next thought was “Okay, I will hike the AT then and just share the gospel til this subsides.”
I have a lot of desires, but for me I sense the Lord really making sure I ABIDE in Him in this time. Jesus only did what the Father told Him to do. Catch me listening.
Why do we need to listen? Well, we should always be about that John 15 lyfe. But, in the Bible we have quarantine laws and we have Jesus touching the leper. Both are from God. We need to know His instructions, His way, His timing….
Because I see this “pause” as the ultimate Holy Spirit “pause.”
Maybe, in the pause, He will have me do just that. Pack a bag and take Racers with me to hike the AT. Maybe He will have me on lock down writing the 2nd draft of my book. Maybe I will start the documentary for the book? Maybe I will buy my house?
For sure I will keep up mentoring WR America and B squad!
Either way, it’s a pause. And I want to hear and obey promptly.
We need to take time to reflect. God says it best through Isaiah:
Welcome to prison ministry.
