We as the body of Christ are called to stand. In the mist of defeat we stand. In victory we stand. In conflict we stand. We carry the standard for our nation. It is we who set the bar. We have been mandated to represent the father’s heart to the whole earth. So much of who Christ is to the world is manifest through our words and actions. We have an opportunity in every situation to demonstrate the love of God in everything that we do…
So often, we let the circumstances of life decide what we will represent to the world. I can’t tell you how many times in the last few days I have heard someone say “Obamma is the Antichrist” or “ things are going to be bad.” Every time I hear these words, pain shoots through my heart. It is the Church, the BODY of CHRIST who has been sent to BUILD up the WORLD. Romans 2:4 says “ the goodness of God LEADS us to REPENTANCE!!!” As ambassador’s of Christ, how can we tear down the leaders of our nation and expect the kindness of God to invade their life? When we curse the leaders of our nation with our words, we are destroying the very thing we have been charged to build up. If you truly believe that your words create, then every curse that is spoken out of your mouth has a destructive effect in the world we are working so hard to preserve.
Change happens when we represent the Father heart of God everywhere we go. In order to be in places of influence and power, we must put on the mind of Christ and let compassion rule our tongue and actions.
Take a look at Daniel in the Bible. When trapped in an evil empire, ruled by a wicked king, Daniel put on compassion like a cloak and served Nebuchadnezzar with the heart of Jesus. Nebuchadnezzar received a dream from the Lord telling him that he was going to be torn down to nothing. Nebuchadnezzar did not understand the meaning of the dream so he called Daniel in to interpret it for him. Upon hearing the dream, Daniel became terribly troubled and replied, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! Daniel was heartbroken at the word of the Lord because of his deep love for Nebuchadnezzar (the wicked king). What troubles me is that most of the church would think this is the time for great rejoicing– God has judged Nebuchadnezzar! We would be saying, “This is what he deserves, he got what was coming”.
Have you ever had to discipline your children? Have you looked them in the eyes and let them know how their actions have torn deep into your heart? I can’t imagine their brothers and sisters saying, “This is what you deserve, that’s what you get”. This is what we are doing every time we rejoice in someone’s pain. God says to mourn with those who mourn, to weep with those who weep. It does not say to weep with those who did nothing wrong, He says to mourn with THOSE who mourn. Why? When we take time to mourn with those who mourn, we will also take the time to love them into health and restoration. When you love someone in their hardest season of life, you have now sewn seeds towards the prosperity of their soul.
Daniel’s heart for his king planted seeds of love into his life and because of this, Nebuchadnezzar surrendered himself over to the love of God. I will say it again, change happens when we represent the Father heart of God everywhere we go… If you believe that Obama needs God, then shine the love of God his way.
It is not our job to send destruction with our words, to hate those in leadership, or to curse Gods children. We do not overcome hate with hate. There is no fear in love and no peace in accusation. We have been hand selected, placed here to shine our light into the darkness, making it whole. The love of God is the only thing that breaks down the walls of death and destruction; it is the only tool that wins over the heart of a wicked king…
We are salt and light. We must learn how to guard our hearts and mind, for we know that salt and light belong in the dark and hard places of the world. The power that we draw from in these trying times comes out of our love, compassion, and honor for those we are preserving. When we fail to love, respect, and honor those who God has called us to, we violate our authority and misrepresent the Father, ultimately tearing down the very thing we are called to preserve. Put on the full armor of God. Guard your heart and mind with his truth. Wrap yourself in pure love and shine to the world the heart of our Father…
Jason Vallotton
Jason, I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve shared here. This is where I’ve been for months now, and I’m just really very thankful.
What amazed me this Tuesday/Wednesday is that when Prop 8 passed, lawsuits were filed the same day against its supporters; much of the Church has responded like you’ve mentioned in your blog after the presidential elections, rather than changing its strategy–love the man to Christ. Sadly, it seems like the world understands the battlefield of the spirit (”Spirit Wars,” as Kris calls them) really well; I just hope we do too in these coming years.
Thanks for your love and compassion.
Sharine @-x—-
Comment by Sharine — November 7, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
hmmmmmmm, very interesting to me as I’ve been asking the Lord to speak to me as I’m hungry for HIS interpretation(as in:everybody has an interpretation of everything!) of this past Tuesday’s election, I’ve been lead again and again to the ’salt and light’ passage…so finding your insights posted here, Jason, have blessed me…thank you!
Comment by Janet — November 7, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
This is good. Oh how we need to get this in our spirits! God is LOVE and that is Who we are to re-present to the world, Love. I especially like your reminder about the love Daniel had for Nebuchadnezzar even though Neb made unrighteous decisions. Thank you for sharing this timely message!
Comment by Amazing Grace — November 9, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Jason thank you for this word. The day after the election I asked the lord how to pray concerning the unborn. I felt urged to pray that Daniels would be placed in the heart of the white house as Obama builds his Cabinet. Your words here have encouraged me to that end. Thanks for the reminder of our purpose as representatives of His heart.
Comment by Connie tidwell — November 10, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Again, AMEN, Kris. This is what I told my church yesterday, “There will be those who feel that their cause is SO just, , SO right that it grants them the right to be disrespectful and dishonoring. I say we should ennoble our cause by honoring those in authority who respresent the contrary. Shine the light of honor on and through your political opinions so that those on the contrary side might better see what truth lies within.” Before Queen Esther went in to the king’s presence, she took a bath and applied her best perfume…..the church in America better start filling the bath-tub because too many of us just stink right now. THANK YOU KRIS, FOR THE CLARITY OF YOUR ANOINTING.
Pastor Randy Dean, Living Word Chapel Forest, WI
Comment by Randy Dean — November 10, 2008 @ 9:36 am
Sorry Jason! I guess I recognize the spiritual DNA!
Pastor Randy
Comment by Randy Dean — November 10, 2008 @ 9:38 am
I love your heart- and I believe it is close to Father’s. Thanks for sharing this.
Comment by Jennie-Joy — November 10, 2008 @ 10:53 am
[...] of Our Father Published November 11, 2008 Uncategorized Heart of Our Father by Kris [...]
Pingback by Heart of Our Father « Malachi 4.5.6. — November 11, 2008 @ 10:05 am
Just listened to Great & Glorious – Amazing Word. Thank you for once again putting into words God’s heart of grace and mercy and offering us correct perspective to lead powerfully in this next season.
Comment by Jodi Rice — November 11, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Hi Jason,
I like what you’ve written, and agree with it. The Lord has had me in Daniel at exactly the same passage. I am convicted to love and pray for Barak as if he were a lost son (which he is). The miracle has been done in my heart to be able to pray this way… Our God is an AMAZING GOD!
I have one question though,,, What about Hitler? Was it wrong to be praying the way Rees Howells and other were praying in England at the time? Rees saw Hitler as an anti-christ, saw him as satan in fact as stated in book: Rees Howells intercessor. Your Comments are appreciated. /Blessings Celine
Comment by Celine Baker — November 12, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
[...] link to Kris Vallotton’s Blog [...]
Pingback by The Tabernacle » Praying for leadership — November 12, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Thanks for the fresh insight, because that’s all I have been hearing is that Barak is the ant-christ. I am going to e-mail your comments to them. Because I know it is wrong to talk about one of God’s Child in a deragatory manner.I feel that I can go on and know that it is in God’s will to keep praying for him as Daniel had done. Blessings to you……..Maranatha!
Comment by Deborah — November 13, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
Kris referred to Abraham Lincoln in his recent “Great and Glorious” (11/10/08) sermon, citing that Lincoln was not a Christian when he entered office, but had a life-changing experience after. When Barack Obama was elected, the Holy Spirit highlighted a quality to my heart that the Father likes about the man – being, he is willing to change his mind even when colleagues and the media put him in a dimmer light for having done so. But a man willing to change his mind in the face of accusation or misunderstanding is a man with courage and flexibility. The same man went on to tackle the most divisive “life” issue of our history – slavery.
Did anyone see the headline this morning on Fox News’ website:
“Obama’s ‘Team of Rivals’ Approach Could Mirror That of Abraham Lincoln” subline was “President-elect Barack Obama, in reaching out to former rivals, may take the same approach as Abraham Lincoln.”
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/16/obamas-team-rivals-approach-mirrors-abraham-lincon/
Sounds like even the world is prophesying it! Go Kris!!!
Comment by GrammaTink — November 16, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Ok, so it just dawned on me that Barak is a Hebrew name in the Bible. And, guess who he was connected to… DEBORAH!
Comment by Sharine — November 17, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
(Let’s try that again…)
Ok, so it just dawned on me that Barak is a Hebrew name in the Bible. (Maybe I’m the last to know it…but I was pretty excited!) And, guess who he was connected to…DEBORAH! Pray, Church, PRAY!
Barak’s story is told in Judges 4. He and Deborah sang a song of victory when they defeated Israel’s enemies in Judges 5. He is listed in the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11:31-33. And, he is believed to be of the tribe of Issachar–the sons of Israel known to have prophetic insight. Can not God raise up another Barak in our day? I believe He can and would love to do it! Pray, Church, PRAY!
For more on Barak in the Hebrew scriptures, check out this website: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=B&artid=267
Comment by Sharine — November 17, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
Not trying to be a blog hog. (Sorry…) But I just created a prayer group for the president through MySpace and anyone who wants to join is welcome. Not about the numbers, but the effectiveness of prayer.
Ok. Thanks… Carry on… =0)
http://groups.myspace.com/prayforobama
Comment by Sharine — November 20, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
I was blessed by this blog by Jason and the message by Kris. Standing firm in our faith – simple concept but one that we pass over too often as settled in our lives. But then we get rocked by the waves of life and can’t understand why. God bless you guys!
Comment by Matthew Legere — December 9, 2008 @ 5:49 am
Thanks and praise be to God for your loving and insightful blog. Even though morally and spiritually I had to vote for the sanctity of life, the Lord “told” me a couple of months before the election that Obama would be president. Along with prayers of conversion, protection, and direction for our president we need to pray that our politicians and citizens (even non-believers) will be willing to make the necessary sacrifices it’s going to take to recover as a country and as a people. We have been a pig headed and selfish lot in this country, with a vanity complex to get over to boot. Praise God for shaking this country to bring it back to Him. “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is therein.”—sorry to be so late in responding to your beautiful and bold blog…didn’t know you were here…
Comment by Cheryl Taylor — January 13, 2009 @ 12:06 am
Jason,
Thank you SO MUCH for what you’ve written here. I recently written a post on my blog expressing similar thoughts (you can read it at http://intostillwaters.com/2009/01/20/biblical-politics/) and it’s so wonderful to see someone else echoing these thoughts. God bless you!
Comment by Rina — January 24, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
I agree with your comments but I also see in chapter 4 that the king after the interpretation of the second dream is made a mad man for seven years to humble him.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as anothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
God will do his will in the Heaven and earth and though we are to love them that would hate and despitefully use us as the bankers and politicians we know they will be brought low if they don’t eventually aknowledge Gods all powerful control in all things.
Love can not fail and our God is Love. Bless his holy name.
Comment by Randy Cain — March 23, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
We are salt and light. We must learn how to guard our hearts and mind[s] – Jason Vallotton
To achieve this, Isaac the Syrian, the Seventh Century Bishop, observed we must give attention first to “purification of the consciousness and concentration of thoughts.”
“By such phrases he refers primarily to the daily regimen of what we read and how we pray (as well as fasting and repentance) towards the goal of overcoming the passions. Only someone who is not himself ruled by the passions is ready to safely guide someone else beyond those same rocks. Anger and condemnation, pride and superiority are marks of the passions and cannot read the Scriptures and the Traditions rightly, nor offer them to others without doing harm. The same can be said about most argumentation.” – Father Stephen Freeman [Eastern Orthodox]
No. This is missing the point of HOW the HOLY Spirit works with us as we read Scripture. We need to be clear about this, Joseph and Isaac the Syrian were exactly like us….and incidentaly, so was Elijah, very like us.
James 5:17a Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are…
God was not in the passions of Earthquake, Wind and Fire but in that Still Small Voice, that quiet Whisper:
“the purification of the consciousness and the concentration of the thoughts”- the purification of our hearts or our spiritual understanding [Greek: ‘noesis’ ] and the concentration of our thoughts, that act of focus [Greek: ‘nepsis’- vigilant watchfulness], is in an act of Discernment [Greek:‘diakrisis’] – it is the ability to hear – both – the Earthquake, Wind and Fire and that Still Small Voice and THEN to discern the difference.
1 Kings 19:11-12
11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
“Only someone who himself confesses to daily struggling with the very same the passions is ready to safely guide someone else beyond those same rocks and to die daily to himself.”
1 Corinthians 15:13 I die every day [I die daily] –I mean that, brothers– just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And Paul said, “I die daily”….in guarding his heart and mind, which is ultimately an act of Discernment – this is how you learn to guard our hearts and mind and become changed into salt and light.
Comment by Mark Downham — August 1, 2009 @ 2:31 am