Bono and Eugene Peterson

If you know me - you know I am a big fan of the band U2.  I have been listening to them since 1985 or so.  A friend of mine posted this video with Bono and Eugene Peterson who translated the Bible called The Message.  This is a link to a short movie about their meeting.

In the movie, Bono says something like this:  The psalmist is brutally honest... why isn't church music more like that?  I am talking dishonesty that I find in Christian art and I think it is a shame.  Because these are people who are valuable to God in a good way.  I would love it if this conversation would inspire people who are writing these beautiful voices and beautiful Gospel song to write songs about their bad marriage.  Write a song about how they are pissed off at the government because that's what God wants from you, the truth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l40S5e90KY

Joy and Fullness

In Acts 13 we read that amazing account of Paul and Barnabas first missionary journey and God is doing some great things in the city of Antioch.  Just about the whole city comes out to hear Paul and Barnabas speak.  Many people believe the message and then the Jewish leaders get jealous and stir up trouble: 

Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.  So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.  And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 13:50-52 NLT)

In the midst of conflict and persecution - the believers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.  

Our JOY and our FULLNESS of the Holy Spirit is not dependent on our circumstances!  

Fulfill Your Purpose

When Paul was speaking to the Jews in Antioch and was trying to convince them that Jesus was the Messiah he used the story of King David as an example and was trying to show that a prophesy about Jesus was not talking about David as many Jews thought.  And he said these words about David: 

"after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed." Acts 13:36

David was a great man who was known as a man who was after the heart of God!  

David did the will of God in his own generation!

After my life here on earth is done, those would be two great ways to be remembered - 1. Dale chased after the heart of God and 2. Dale did the will of the Lord in his generation.  

If those would be our goals - how do we live daily to get to our goals? 

God's Mission for Your Life

We find recorded in Acts 13 that Paul and Barnabas began their first missionary journey to travel around and tell as many people about the Good News of Jesus as possible.  Here is how it started: 
Acts 13:1-3 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

The church was worshiping together - giving themselves to God through singing, praying, and studying the scriptures.  Joining their hearts with the heart of God as a group of believers!  

The church was fasting together - giving up food for a period of time to seek the Lord will improve our worship and will improve our ability to hear the Lord speak to us.  If you haven't felt a hunger for the Lord for a while, try fasting!  

The church heard the voice of the Holy Spirit that send Paul and Barnabas on a mission from God.  If we want to know the mission of God in our lives we need to hear clearly from God!  He is not trying to hide or play games with our lives but instead He wants to clearly lead us!

After more fasting and prayer they laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them on their mission.  We, the Body of Christ, must understand that we are a sending body!  The worship, prayer, fasting and praying is all good, but the purpose of it is to hear from God clearly so we know where to MOVE!  Whenever worship, fasting, and prayer becomes about us and how we feel inside the church, we can know we are in trouble.  The 12 disciples tried to stay in Jerusalem when God clearly gave them a mission to the world, and when they didn't MOVE, God rose ups Paul and Barnabas.  God brought persecution so they would have to MOVE.