Kerry* stopped by Oceans Retreat Center last week to ask for money to get some breakfast. I had met him some months earlier when we were feeding the homeless at the beginning of lock down. Kerry has a warm smile and a gentle spirit so it was hard for me to say, “no.” But instead I felt prompted to ask him what his drug of choice was? Instead of walking away he paused looked me in the eye and responded, “alcohol, sometimes tic (which is crystal meth), and gambling.”

It was as if a dam broke within Kerry’s soul and he opened up about his constant battle with addictions.  He went on to say that if I would have given him money there would have been a strong possibility he may have found himself at the liquor store looking for a cheap bottle of wine. He said, “the Holy Spirit tells me not to-but most of the time I can’t resist.”

He shared how he has been on the streets for 4 years here in South Africa and that addictions destroyed his marriage and burned bridges. His father died when he was a teenager and drugs were how he dealt with the pain and he has been turning to it ever since.

In the course of our conversation I asked Kerry if he knew the Lord’s Prayer?  He nodded yes. I went on to explain how every thing he needed for recovery & healing is found in this short, yet powerful prayer. Yes, he looked a little perplexed as he has tried drug support groups and other programs but nothing seemed to help. I challenged him to heart fully start praying this prayer Jesus gave His disciples.

I know this sounds rather simplistic for such deep seated roots that strangle people in addiction. However I truly believe in this short prayer there is healing power to break the satanic strongholds that keep on many people in bondage.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray they saw in Jesus something they could not explain. A whole man, not trapped by the lies of power, materialism, peoples’ opinions, legalistic religion, and fleeting worldly pleasures-but a man who walked in a secure love from another world. They sensed the source of Jesus’ radical new way of living came from His relationship to His Father in prayer and they wanted what He had.

Next week I will share more about a book that God has been forming in my heart for years-teaching me about the transforming power of the Lord’s Prayer. I believe if Kerry prays this incredible prayer Jesus taught and applies the truths revealed He can encounter the healing power of the Spirit of Jesus.

Maybe you are going through your own battles at this very moment. I challenge you to stop what you are doing and slowly ponder and pray this gift Jesus has given to His children:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

“Pastor Tim, turn on your TV now!” It was just after 7 AM in Redlands California when I received the call from a troubled member of the church. Her voice still reverberates in my memory bank 19 years later. I’m sure-if you were old enough-you too can recall the exact place and time you heard about the  two planes hitting the World Trade Center on 9/11.

The following hours at church were hectic as there was flurry of phone calls and people stopped by the office in order to process this unthinkable calamity. Even the local radio station called wanting my thoughts and details about a prayer meeting planned in response to the tragedy.

For the next few months there was a tangible spiritual fervor awakened within the community. Visitors poured into the church seeking answers and with a deep hunger for the truths of God. Their sense of security was shaken, they were searching for a strong foundation to stand upon.

Similar responses reverberated throughout the country. Yet, most spiritual leaders would also tell you that it was a short lived reaction. As the shock wore off and things calmed down the spiritual climate echoed such sentiments. People returned to their “other” passions and the 100’s of gods worshipped.

And here we are today awakened by another calamity. However, this one touches every square inch of the globe. It has left in its wake countless deaths, economic destruction, and a spirit of demonic fear unleashing insecurity and building strongholds of hate.

How are followers of Christ to respond? “Return!”  In scripture God used plagues, calamities, and military attacks to call His children to turn away from all their false gods and return to Him in a spirit of true repentance (see Deuteronomy 28-30). 9/11 was a wake up call for the US and 19 years later the trumpets sound again calling us to wake up from our slumbering sleep and Return with broken humble hearts to the one true God.

On September 26 there will be a global prayer meeting called the “Return” in Washington DC. This all day event will call God’s people to live into 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

This event will be streamed live so you can join from places all over the world. Oceans will host this event in Zeeland, Michigan at Haven Church, Fish Hoek, South Africa at Oceans Retreat Center, Aurora, Colorado at the home of the Brock’s. For other locations and more information on the “Return” go to: https://thereturn.org/live-event/#speakers.

I encourage you to to pray about being apart of the “Return” and heeding God’s prophetic voice calling His people back to Him to find true mercy and grace. 19 years ago we got a wake up call and few truly returned. Today the trumpets are sounding even louder, will we wake up, hear, and Return before it is too late?

“Now return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi  3:7