From the Executive Director’s Heart

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SETTING CAPTIVES FREE 

BINDING UP THE BROKENHEARTED

There is a portion of Scripture that describes well Greater Hope’s purpose as an extension of Christ’s Body. It is found in Isaiah 61:1-3: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

This scripture is truly evident in the lives being touched and changed through our counseling services and ministry groups! As I write this we are mid-way through CROSSCURRENT, our 8-week healing and support group. Along with seven other leaders (wounded healers), I am honored to be used by God to bind up the broken hearts of these twelve men and women. They have come seeking greater depths of hope and healing found only through God’s unfailing love and mercy!

RELEASING THE PRISONERS

Though most CROSSCURRENT participants struggle against some expression of sexual or relational brokenness, they often find this is merely a symptom of some deeper root issues. For instance, a distorted view of God/others/self, insecurity, unforgiveness, shame, fear, unbelief, and pride can all hinder us from true intimacy with our Father. These old poisoned patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving can be hard to break free from. The enemy of our soul wants to hold us captive through condemnation, deception and confusion. The battle for our very lives can be intense at times, both in the heavenlies and on the earth. We must be willing to resist the enemy, flee from him and into the arms of our loving Savior.

Once we’ve joined together with Jesus in resurrection life, we can still bear the effects of our old “poisoned patterns” of relating. His perfect love reveals the counterfeit loves we have sought and used to secure and define us. Jesus calls us forth like Lazarus from our tombs of fear, loneliness and death with the all-too-familiar grave clothes still clinging to us. Then He does an amazing thing: He tells others (the Body) to “take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  James 5.15-16 says, ^“Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven--healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” (The Message)

HIS GARMENT OF PRAISE

 Jesus is the only One able to totally identify with our brokenness and temptations…“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He can relate to us no matter what we are facing or have been through. He can set us free when we surrender our all to Him. Furthermore, He is the only One qualified to bear our sins and wounds on the Cross. Jesus’ complete, radical obedience to the Father has provided the only way to cancel the power of sin in our lives.

There is Holy exchange happening here, and we are all privileged to participate in it. As we behold the Christ and press our wounds into His, a blood transfusion is taking place. In II Corinthians 5:21, it says, "For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins.  Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us." Where once the shroud of shame provided a false covering, Jesus comes with His robe of righteousness to clothe us. Where we once labored to receive affection and significance, Jesus offers to simply love us for who we are. His love and truth fill our hearts afresh. He purifies, enlivens and reclaims our souls.

Following this weeks lesson we were invited to literally surround a ten foot cross and allow the Lord to bestow His crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. During that time of the Holy Spirit’s deep, powerful presence the song, “Jesus Paid It All” was playing. Some of the words are as follows:

I hear the Savior say,

"Thy strength indeed is small!

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all."

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe,

Sin had left a crimson stain -

He washed it white as snow.

WALKING IN THE LORD’S FAVOR

 Just as Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb, from death to life, he calls us forth to Himself and His Body.  As we obey God’s high calling to be His image-bearers on the earth, we must die daily to our own agendas, forsaking the sins that can so easily entangle us and instead walking in right relationship with others. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9   The ever-flowing, life-giving blood of Jesus cleanses us, defines us, and sets us free to be wholly His. <><

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