ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL & MEGIDDO/VALLEY OF ARMAGEDDON

One elderly former pastor from our church recently sent me the sweetest letter after he read my book in which he wrote: "Thank you for taking me on my long-desired journey to the Holy Land! Memorable Moments in the Holy Land is a spiritually-moving blend of awesome visual encounter, rich fellowship with fellow believers, worship, and thanksgiving. It allows me to "see" many of the places that previously I have only "seen" through the reading of scripture. Many of the members of our church are being blessed by your sharing of family experiences, devotional thoughts, and comments on our worship experiences. Please, keep writing...again, thank you for writing the book, As I said earlier, it is my Holy Land trip. For years I've had an inner ear condition that rules out flying, so I'm enjoying the sights and lessons from the Holy Land through your writings."

Elijah on Mount Carmel & Megiddo/Valley of Armageddon

           During each Holy Land Pilgrimage our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shared with us the biblical and historical significance of Elijah on Mount Carmel & Megiddo/Valley of Armageddon from First Kings 18:1-2, 17-46 and Revelation 16:12-21; 22:1-7, 20.

          Elijah on Mount Carmel—First Kings 18:1-2  When Elijah stood on this mountain to face down wicked King Ahab, Ahab was the king in Northern Israel. The people worshipped false gods and followed false prophets, so God sent the prophet Elijah to tell them to repent. At the time, there was a drought in the land. Elijah used that as an opportunity to show God’s power over all creation and His superiority over the false gods. The god who could prove his power by sending fire would be acknowledged as the one true God. The false prophets cried out to Baal, who remained silent. Then Elijah made two moves that were counterintuitive given the drought. He poured gallons of water on the ground—water they needed. Then he called for a fire—something they’d want to avoid in a drought.
          God sent a scorching fire; it burned the offering, the stones, and the dust! Afterward God brought the rain Elijah prayed for! Elijah knew God would answer that prayer with a yes because God had promised rain before Elijah ever met with King Ahab. Elijah’s faith was in the on true God, Maker of heaven and earth, Commander of fire and rain.
          At the showdown at Mount Carmel, Elijah pitted the Baal gods against the Lord God, and no matter what the 450 prophets of Baal did—dance wildly, cut themselves, and shout for hours for Baal to answer—there was “no reply, no voice, no answer” (v. 29). But when Elijah placed himself before the Lord and did what God showed him to do by rebuilding the altar and praying, God heard and answered in a mighty way. He revealed himself by sending fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice and everything surrounding it, even the water. And the people returned to him. Our God is not a “God at a distance” as a popular song and modern culture often depicts him. He is not like the impotent false gods who had no reply, no voice, and no answer. The Lord is a God who not only hears and speaks but who answers and acts on behalf of those who seek him.
          LORD, you are the one true God and I praise you! Thank you for going to such great lengths to demonstrate your power and to bring people back to you. Those great lengths led your only Son to the cross because of your love for those who are blind to your glory and power. Show yourself powerful in my life. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
          Megiddo/Valley of Armageddon—Revelation 16:12-21; 22:1-7, 20. This valley is widely known as the Valley of Armageddon, described in the book of Revelation as the site of a major battle and a turning point in the story of God’s redemption. For many people, the book of Revelation sounds terrifying because they fear the end times, the final days. But it’s a book that tells us about Jesus’ return to earth, and it promises the redemption of all things. Cities that were once destroyed will have trees that bear fruit all year long. Nothing will be accursed. And Jesus will reign forever from His throne in the middle of the city!
          While the end is near, the end is good news for believers in Jesus. When we forget this, we focus on the short-term, where fear is nothing but a distraction stealing our hope and joy. Through all the pain and trials, we wait for the Lord’s return. His nearness will be our healing and our joy. So we believe His words, “Surely I am coming soon,” and we echo the cry of the saints, “Come Lord Jesus.”
          Lord Jesus, I can’t imagine what it will be like to see your light fully for the first time and bask in the light of your glory. Your light has changed my life, given me wisdom, and helped me find my way out of dark places. It has illuminated your Word and comforted me and taught me. What will it be like one day to walk in a city where the Lamb is the light! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
          Look Up—meditate on Revelation 22…pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Revelation 22…pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Revelation 22…pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

* If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

 

Video of Lakes Church 2023 Holy Land Pilgramage

MIRACULOUS HEALING AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA

 

One elderly former pastor from our church recently sent me the sweetest letter after he read my book in which he wrote: "Thank you for taking me on my long-desired journey to the Holy Land! Memorable Moments in the Holy Land is a spiritually-moving blend of awesome visual encounter, rich fellowship with fellow believers, worship, and thanksgiving. It allows me to "see" many of the places that previously I have only "seen" through the reading of scripture. Many of the members of our church are being blessed by your sharing of family experiences, devotional thoughts, and comments on our worship experiences. Please, keep writing...again, thank you for writing the book, As I said earlier, it is my Holy Land trip. For years I've had an inner ear condition that rules out flying, so I'm enjoying the sights and lessons from the Holy Land through your writings."

MIRACULOUS HEALING AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA     

          Each year during his Holy Land Pilgrimage our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shares with us the biblical and historical significance of the miraculous healing at The Pool of Bethesda, which was “in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate” (John 5:2), which places it north of the temple, near Fort Antonia. John gives the additional detail that the pool was “surrounded by five covered colonnades.” During Jesus’ time, the Pool of Bethesda lay outside the city walls. It was at this pool that Jesus performed a miracle showing that He is greater than any human malady and that superstition and religious folklore are foolish and feeble substitutes for faith in God.
          Have you ever wanted something that always evaded you? The lame man by the Pool of Bethesda knew what that feels like. He had been sitting by these “healing” pools for 38 years—that’s 13,870 days—longing for something, and maybe even watching others get what he longed for. But he was helpless. Prolonged trials have a way of isolating you, and by this point, the man had no one who cared for him enough to help him. He was alone. He may have even fallen into despair.
          When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he didn’t even say yes. Instead, he replied with reasons why healing seemed impossible for him. Jesus cared about what this man wanted—his heart and his desires. And He leaned into the man’s despair with hope and healing. Then, after the man was healed, do you know where he went first? To the temple. He went to draw near to the presence of God. He’d never been allowed to go to the temple before because of his lameness, and he didn’t have a way to get there even if he was allowed. But now, healed and hopeful, he walked—walked!—to the temple to worship God. The Pool of Bethesda was used in ancient times to provide water for the temple. The mention of the “Upper Pool” in 2 Kings 18:17 may be a reference to the Pool of Bethesda. The name of the pool, “Bethesda,” is Aramaic. It means “House of Mercy.” John tells us that “a great number of disabled people used to lie [there]—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3). The covered colonnades would have provided shade for the disabled who gathered there, but there was another reason for the popularity of the Pool of Bethesda. Legend had it that an angel would come down into the pool and “stir up the water.”
          On the day that Jesus visited the Pool of Bethesda, there was a man there who “had been an invalid for thirty-eight years” (John 5:5). Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed. The man replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me” (verse 7). Obviously, the man believed the urban legend about the stirring of the water. He blamed the fact that he was never healed on his tardiness in getting into the water. Jesus swept aside all superstition and bypassed altogether the need for magic water with one command: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8). The man was instantly cured, and “he picked up his mat and walked” (verse 9). The man did not need quicker reflexes or beneficent angels or enchanted water. The man needed Jesus. Amazingly, not everyone was happy about the man’s miraculous healing.
          The day Jesus healed the man at the poolside happened to be a Sabbath. As the man left Bethesda, the Jewish leaders saw him carrying his mat, and they stopped him: “It is the Sabbath,” they said. “The law forbids you to carry your mat” (John 5:10). The man told them that he was simply obeying orders: “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’” (verse 11). The Jews inquired who would so brazenly promote Law-breaking, but “the man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd” (verse 13). The reaction of the Jewish leaders shows that, no matter how much proof God provides, there will be some people who refuse to see the truth. Jesus was a bona fide Miracle Worker, but the religious leaders couldn’t see the miracle. All they could see was that someone had violated a rule. The issue was not the breaking of God’s command, for Jesus fulfilled the Law and was completely subject to it (Matthew 5:17). The only thing being broken was a pharisaical interpretation of one of God’s laws. So, a blessing meant to increase faith only increased the blindness of those who refused to acknowledge the blessing. The postscript to the story reveals that the man who was physically healed still needed some spiritual healing. “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you’” (John 5:14). Jesus’ words are a rebuke of an unnamed sin—the man was living contrary to God’s will somehow—and a warning of “something worse.” What could be worse than thirty-eight years of paralysis? How about an eternity in hell (see Mark 9:47)?
          Now that the man knew who Jesus was, he returned to the Jewish leaders and told them “it was Jesus who had made him well” (John 5:15). It is likely that the man did this in praise of Jesus, to magnify the glory due His name, and also from a sense of obligation—he had been asked a question and felt he should respond with the answer, once he had it. Little did he anticipate the reaction the leaders would have: “So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him” (verse 16). The Pool of Bethesda was the focus of a local legend about healing, but Jesus showed that faith in legends and superstition is misplaced. In contrast, faith in Jesus Christ—the One who can heal with a simple word, the Savior who can forgive any sin, the true Master of the “House of Mercy”—is never misplaced.
          Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your law is my delight.—Psalm 119:76-77
          When we pray, Lord, may your unfailing love comfort those who need it today. Surround them with your tender mercies. And may they feel and experience and believe the love you have toward them, it is a powerful prayer that God delights to answer, for he is the God of all comfort. He is full of loving-kindness and tender mercies. Do you know someone who is in the midst of a trial, someone who is sick, heartbroken, alone, or in distress and needs to be comforted by the Lord’s unfailing love today? What friends or family members need to be surrounded with God’s tender mercies? As you pray for your friends and loved ones, you can be confident that there is no pain or suffering too deep for the love and mercy of God to reach.
          LORD, you are the God of all comfort. How grateful I am. I pray that your unfailing love will comfort my loved ones and that your tender mercies will surround them. These dear ones need your Spirit’s tenderness today. May they experience you in the midst of their pain, and please touch them with healing today. Lord, it is such a comfort to know that your eyes watch over me and my loved ones, that your ears hear our cries for help. Thank you for hearing our cries, for rescuing us when we are crushed in spirit. You are always close to the brokenhearted, to those who are in dire straits. I praise you for the hope and courage your promises give us when we are face-to-face with the most difficult of circumstances. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
          Look Up—meditate on Psalm 119:76-77…pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Psalm 119:76-77…pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Psalm 119:76-77…pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

* If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

Video of Lakes Church 2023 Holy Land Pilgramage

TEMPLE MOUNT, MOUNT MORIAH, & THE THRESHING FLOOR IN JERUSALEM

 

One elderly former pastor from our church recently sent me the sweetest letter after he read my book in which he wrote: "Thank you for taking me on my long-desired journey to the Holy Land! Memorable Moments in the Holy Land is a spiritually-moving blend of awesome visual encounter, rich fellowship with fellow believers, worship, and thanksgiving. It allows me to "see" many of the places that previously I have only "seen" through the reading of scripture. Many of the members of our church are being blessed by your sharing of family experiences, devotional thoughts, and comments on our worship experiences. Please, keep writing...again, thank you for writing the book, As I said earlier, it is my Holy Land trip. For years I've had an inner ear condition that rules out flying, so I'm enjoying the sights and lessons from the Holy Land through your writings."

Temple Mount, Mount Moriah, & the Threshing Floor in Jerusalem’s Old City       

          During each Holy Land Pilgrimage our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shared with us the biblical and historical significance of The Temple Mount, Mount Moriah, & the Threshing Floor, which are deeply intertwined sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, representing the same sacred hilltop. The Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine sits directly atop this rocky summit, which holds foundational significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The connection between these locations unfolds through history. According to the Bible, Mount Moriah is the mountain where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22). It is the geographic peak where the First and Second Jewish Temples were later built. Centuries after Abraham, King David purchased this Threshing Floor, an elevated bedrock from Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar and halt a plague (2 Samuel 24). Threshing floors were historically positioned on high, exposed surfaces so natural winds could separate grain from chaff. Abraham saw the acreage. David bought the lot. Solomon built the house. Nebuchadnezzar tore it town. Zerubbabel rebuilt it. Herod the Great expanded it. Titus flattened it. Before these temples stood on Mount Moriah, it was nothing but a hill used for threshing wheat. Hardly worth noticing. But today, the Temple Mount remains the most precious piece of real estate in the world. And the golden shrine that graces its crest has become the icon for the Holy City of Jerusalem itself.
          How did this ordinary hill become holy? Not through battles or land bartering or by popular vote. God chose it. It’s the same with us. The site of the Temple Mount first appeared on the scene when God told Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice Isaac there (Genesis 22:2). The “Binding of Isaac” climaxed with the Lord providing a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in the place of his only son. “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” One millennium after Abraham, King David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite as a site to offer sacrifices after David’s sin with the census (2 Samuel 24:18-25). In the same area where Abraham came to offer Isaac, and on the very hill where David offered burnt offerings for his sin, Solomon began to build the First Temple on Mount Moriah in 966 BC (1 Kings 6:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1). Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. —2 Chronicles 3:1 The original size of the Temple Mount was smaller than the outline we see today, which is Herodian. The Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar tore down the First Temple on in 586 BC. It had stood for 380 years. The exiled Jews returned to their land after 70 years when Cyrus the Great allowed them to rebuild the Temple. The structure Zerubbabel erected seemed modest in comparison to Solomon’s magnificent edifice. Following the first Maccabean triumphs, the Jews improved it even more. 
             The most elaborate reconstruction and renovation occurred when Herod the Great began his extensive building project that would crown the Second Temple. This was the Temple Jesus knew, whose destruction He predicted (Matthew 24:1-2). The Southern Steps of the Temple Mount where pilgrims walk today would have felt Jesus’ sandals too. In AD 70 Titus rolled in his Roman legions and destroyed in a matter of days what had taken decades to construct (see Daniel 9:26). Stones from the Second Temple still lay in the first-century street where archaeologists found them. The Muslim ruler Abd el-Malik built the shrine called the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount between AD 688-691. Its golden veneer is a 20^th-century addition. The Holy Land and the Holy City owe their designations to a hill where the Holy of Holies resided for centuries. The Temple Mount remains the most photographed spot in Jerusalem and the goal of many pilgrimages. It’s amazing that the most important religious site in the world was for centuries a mere elevated hill north of Jebus where farmers threshed wheat.

          The ordinary was made holy because God chose it. Just like all who follow Him. Solomon understood that the Temple he would construct could not house the Lord. Even the great Solomon understood that the best he could offer God was worship. When Jesus told the Samaritan woman that worship would no longer be confined to the Jerusalem Temple, He taught her “the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23–24). Because of God’s holiness and grace through offering His only Son, what can we really offer Him in return but absolute worship? That is what He seeks. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.—Psalm 84:1-2. Only the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year, and always with blood, which he offers to God to cover his own sins and the sins the people have committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the Most Holy Place was not open to the people.—Hebrews 9:7-8. Because we can worship God anyplace and anytime, we might fail to understand the psalmist’s longing. 
            In Old Testament times a person made a pilgrimage to worship God. It was a yearly event and often involved a lengthy journey. That is why the psalmist sang of a dwelling place where he could be in the presence of the Lord. It’s why he expressed a desire to be even a lowly gatekeeper in God’s house (v. 10) so that he could worship God every single day! We have available to us what the psalmist could only hope for. When Christ hung on the cross, the heavy veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple ripped from top to bottom. This symbolic act shouted to the world that believers were no longer required to stand at a distance. We can walk into God’s presence and commune with him by name. Today many religions continue to require a pilgrimage to worship their gods. Christ made a way for you by making a pilgrimage of his own—the long, lonely walk to the cross—so that you could praise him wherever you are. In the Old Testament, people couldn’t just walk into the Holy Place to ask for God’s help or mercy. The priests ministered there daily, but only the High Priest—and only on the Day of Atonement—could go into God’s presence in the Most Holy Place, to offer a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people’s sins and intercede for them. Even then, he had a rope tied around his foot so that if God struck him dead, the other priests could pull his body out.
          When Jesus was crucified, he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by shedding his own blood as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. When he died, the thick veil separating the people from the Most Holy Place was torn. Think of it! Because of Jesus, we have unlimited access to the Lord. We don’t have to wait for a once-a-year meeting with God. We don’t have to ask someone else to go to the Lord on our behalf. We can enter his throne room anytime night or day. Go freely into God’s presence and thank him for his great gift of Jesus and this wonderful accessibility through prayer.

          JESUS, I am thankful that I can worship you right where I am. I will enter your courts with thanksgiving. I will kneel at the mercy seat and find forgiveness. I will call out your name in praise. Lord, I pray for those who do not have intimacy with the living God. You have already made the pilgrimage for them. Open their eyes to see that they can find you right here, right now. With all my heart I thank you, Jesus, for being the perfect sacrifice for my sins and the sins of the whole world. When your blood was presented on the heavenly mercy seat and you offered up your Spirit, the veil of the temple was forever rent, providing me access into the very presence of the Father. How I thank you, Lord. In Your Precious Name we pray, amen.
          Look Up—meditate on Hebrews 9:7-8…pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Hebrews 9:7-8…pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Hebrews 9:7-8…pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

* If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

BEIT SHE’AN CROSSROADS NEAR NAZARETH

 

One elderly former pastor from our church recently sent me the sweetest letter after he read my book in which he wrote: "Thank you for taking me on my long-desired journey to the Holy Land! Memorable Moments in the Holy Land is a spiritually-moving blend of awesome visual encounter, rich fellowship with fellow believers, worship, and thanksgiving. It allows me to "see" many of the places that previously I have only "seen" through the reading of scripture. Many of the members of our church are being blessed by your sharing of family experiences, devotional thoughts, and comments on our worship experiences. Please, keep writing...again, thank you for writing the book, As I said earlier, it is my Holy Land trip. For years I've had an inner ear condition that rules out flying, so I'm enjoying the sights and lessons from the Holy Land through your writings."

Video of Lakes Church Lead Pastor Aaron Burgner sharing a message at Beit She'an

One hour south of Beit She’an are the Qumran Caves and Masada—two famous historical sites near the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert. Qumran is where the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Masada is an ancient mountain fortress with royal palaces and a dramatic last stand history.

Qumran Caves

Located on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea.

Famous for the discovery sites of the Dead Sea Scrolls, found in nearby caves between 1947 and 1956.

Home to ruins of an ancient settlement linked to the Essene Jewish community.

Yielded biblical and sectarian manuscripts that changed biblical history.

Masada

Located on a high rock plateau about 30 miles south of Qumran.

Built as a luxury fortress by King Herod the Great.

Served as the final stronghold for Jewish rebels during the revolt against Rome, ending in mass tragedy in 73 CE.

Excavations also uncovered scroll fragments matching texts found at Qumran.

Qumran Caves

Masada

Masada

Masada

Masada

Beit She’an Crossroads near nazareth

          During each Holy Land Pilgrimage our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shared with us the biblical and historical significance of Beit She’an, both in the life of King Saul from 1 Samuel and in the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from John 15.
          Beit She'an, also known as Beisan, or Beth-shean, is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Beit She'an is believed to be one of the oldest cities in the region. It’s located in the center of several main crossroads between the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley. Around 1050 BC, the Philistines ruled the city for a time because they hung King Saul's body on its walls after defeating Israel's armies in the Battle of Gilboa. When King David reigned (1010–970 BC), he conquered Beit She'an, making it part of Israel’s territories. In 63 BC, the Romans conquered the City. It became one of the Decapolis, a group of cities with a Hellenistic-Roman cultural character. Beit She'an was one of the key cities of the Roman Empire in this area south of Galilee. Beit She'an was not far from Nazareth, and it’s possible that Jesus, as a young man, worked here with His father as a builder. Undoubtedly, Christ walked by it regularly.

          The death of King Saul: In 1 Samuel 31, we see that the problem with sinful humanity is that we all want to be king. Adam and Eve were rulers in God‘s kingdom but wanted to be kings themselves. The nation of Israel had no king but wanted to be like other nations, so they asked and pleaded for a king. In spite of God’s warnings, he gave them King Saul. So the story of King Saul is a picture that there is only one true king. He is the greater king, King Jesus. King Saul only shows us how earthly kings will not live up to God‘s righteous standard and ultimately be destroyed. In 1 Samuel 28 Saul seeks after the witch of Endor. In 1 Samuel 31 Saul and his three sons are killed in battle against the Philistines at Gilboa, and then his body is stretched out and nailed to the walls of Beit She'an.
          Jesus vs. Saul:  The Spirit of God left King Saul, but the Bible says that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus Christ. King Saul talks with a witch, while Jesus constantly talks to his father about his will. King Saul would die in his humiliation at the hands of God’s greatest enemies. But Christ would die and be exalted at the hands of his enemies as well. King Saul’s head was removed, but in Christ death Satan‘s head was crushed. In King Saul’s death the enemies of God declared the good news or gospel to all of their minions. But in Christ death, the gospel is proclaimed to all the weak throughout the earth that salvation has come. In Saul’s death, he was stretched out and nailed up for all to see, then carried away by his friends but then burned with fire. In Christ’s death, he too was stretched out and nailed up for all to see, but then carried away by friends but exalted to live life everlasting.
          Conclusion: Christ must be king of our life so that we can enjoy his life that he provides through his living spirit. In John 15, we must remain in the vine and let his word purge us. Being king of your own life in any area, even your private thoughts and actions, will only lead to destruction and death. Perhaps even the destruction and death of the ones closest to you. Saul cared more about what people thought of him than what God thought of him. He made big decisions without consulting the Lord. Saul always had an excuse for his sin and disobedience. We must realize that obedience delights God more than asking forgiveness. Rebellion & arrogance are the same as witchcraft because both attitudes fail to obey God and instead seek their own will and pleasure. Saul presumed upon God’s grace. In other words, he believed he could disobey God, that God would forgive him, and that there would be no consequences. This attitude proved to be both dangerous and sinful, ultimately costing him his life and ministry. Are we committed to submitting to God, or do we set ourselves up as our own authority like Saul?
          Christians of times past felt that prayer found its greatest inspiration in the Lord himself, and they had a term called “pleading God’s attributes,” in which they would recount particular attributes of God’s character to him and then ask him to answer their prayer on the basis of those attributes: “Lord, you are merciful and gracious, so have mercy on me.” “Lord, you are full of unfailing love. Show us your love in this situation.” “Lord, you delivered your servant Daniel; I pray for your deliverance in my life.” “You revealed your character and deeds to Moses and your people. Likewise, please reveal yourself to me!” Since God’s attributes are numerous throughout Scripture, they provide a never-ending source of inspiration for our prayer life. Praying God’s attributes renews our faith and confidence and reminds us of his greatness and his ability to save. Choose one of the attributes of God from this psalm to “plead” as you pray today.

          LORD, you are merciful, gracious, full of unfailing love. I ask you to reveal this in my life today. Thank you for revealing your wondrous attributes to us in your Word. As I read it, continually open my eyes to who you really are so that my prayers will rest on the solid foundation of your character. May my prayers have power because they are based on the truth about you. Thank You, Father, for the promises in your word. May they be incentives for me to continue in prayer so that your will may be accomplished and your kingdom will come in my life, family, nation, and world. Holy Spirit, thank you for dwelling within me and for filling me with your power. Let my prayers be pleasing to you, Father, as your Spirit leads me in praying in light of your promises. Father, no matter how difficult the words of the Bible seem to be, help me to make decisions that are in accordance with your Word. Help me, Holy Spirit, to understand how your Word applies to every aspect of my life so that I will not be tempted to turn away as others have done. Remind me daily that you alone have the words that give eternal life. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
          Look Up—meditate on John 15 …pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on John 15 …pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on John 15…pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

* If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

Video of Lakes Church 2023 Holy Land Pilgramage

BETHLEHEM—THE SHEPHERDS’ FIELD

One elderly former pastor from our church recently sent me the sweetest letter after he read my book in which he wrote: "Thank you for taking me on my long-desired journey to the Holy Land! Memorable Moments in the Holy Land is a spiritually-moving blend of awesome visual encounter, rich fellowship with fellow believers, worship, and thanksgiving. It allows me to "see" many of the places that previously I have only "seen" through the reading of scripture. Many of the members of our church are being blessed by your sharing of family experiences, devotional thoughts, and comments on our worship experiences. Please, keep writing...again, thank you for writing the book, As I said earlier, it is my Holy Land trip. For years I've had an inner ear condition that rules out flying, so I'm enjoying the sights and lessons from the Holy Land through your writings."

Video of Lakes Church Pastor Aaron Burgner sharing the Christmas Story

Our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shared with us a moving message from Luke 2:1-20 about the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from a cave adjacent to The Shepherds' Field in Bethlehem, where our church members sang a heart-felt chorus of "Silent Night."

The Shepherds’ Field adjacent to a cave, "kataluma," in Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM—THE SHEPHERDS’ FIELD

          During each Holy Land Pilgrimage our Lakes Church Lead Pastor Dr. Aaron D. Burgner shared with us a moving message from Luke 2:1-20 about the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from a cave adjacent to The Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem, where our church members sang a heart-felt chorus of “Silent Night.”
          “Kataluma” is the Greek word for the place where Jesus was born. Many homes were built on top of caves, and this word refers to the cave basement area that served as a holding pen for livestock at night. During the winter months, people often lit a fire in the doorway at night to keep the animals warm and prevent them from escaping. Jesus was likely born in a kataluma like this, and probably laid in a stone manger, because that’s what most mangers were made of at the time. 

        As our Israeli tour bus drove toward Bethlehem, I began to wonder, what would it have been like for Joseph and Mary as they approached Bethlehem 20 centuries ago? Was the five-mile stretch of road from Jerusalem as bustling as it is today? What did they see? What did they hear?

        As we approach the town, we notice all the terraced olive groves, which march up the dry hills like steps leading to a temple. And then, suddenly, there it is: Bethlehem, the ancient "House of Bread"--clinging to a ridge as if clinging to history itself. O, little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

        Naturally, no one can be sure exactly where Jesus' birth occurred in Bethlehem, but you just know that, wherever the exact spot, it couldn't have been far away. That thought alone pierces through all the touristy glitz and fairly takes your breath away in anticipation.

        Standing in the city of Bethlehem, looking out on the Shepherd's Fields I can just imagine the heavens opening up and the angels descending and shouting, Glory to God in the highest, unto to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. When the shepherds in the field were surprised by the appearances of the angel and the heavenly host, their initial terror quickly turned to joy. Just as the angel had said, they found the baby, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. For these simple men with open hearts, it was a process of surprise, shock, fear, disbelief, hope, trust, confirmation, and finally indescribable joy! Joy at seeing the Christ child. Joy at having been singled out for the unique honor of being present at the very moment in history when God came near. Joy at having witnessed the one birth that gives meaning to all other births.

        When Mary heard those first cries of divine life wrapped in human flesh, any thought of disappointment must surely have turned into immeasurable peace and joy!  Even His name, Emmanuel, "El" means "God," the rest of the word means"with us," the "with us God." He created us to be with us. He gave each of us a longing for Him by creating every single human being with a "with" need. While the world carried on unconcerned, the infant Emmanuel cooed and kicked and toddled His way to His feet. God, the Immortal Invisible, walked among His people, Israel, as they sojourned through the wilderness. But not until now did His invisible feet sink into the sand, shod with skin, making visible prints. And God was with us. Emmanuel.

        What do we learn from the unlikely circumstances of Jesus' birth, but that our God is a God of surprises. How He delights in bringing us unexpected joy! How many times have we seen God most clearly in the middle of a crisis? How many times have we discovered the miraculous in the midst of the mundane?

        Meanwhile in a nearby field, angels appeared to the shepherds telling them the Messiah had been born. Fear not…I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.—Luke 2:10-11

          Shepherds were nomads, men of ill repute, known as thieves. Mary and Joseph have nothing, they are peasants, even in their hometown. But God uses His angels and then a bunch of crooked shepherds to announce His grace. Shepherds are the worst type of people you can imagine. This is who God is burdened for and appeared to. God’s team is built by incompetent sinners. God calls the weak and the broken so that He would be qualified. That’s why you can’t come to Christ until you’re broken. Hell is full of nothing but once-proud people. So, if you’re a proud person today just know your end will not be a problem, but rather humiliating death. But if you come broken to Christ, he will be glorified and you will be made new. We are shepherds, the first preachers in the Bible, the first evangelists are thieves who have been given good news in the midst of their thievery. Shepherds remind us that the good shepherd has come. The Old Testament refers metaphorically to God as the “shepherd of Israel.” Christ knows you completely, Christ gave himself for you, Christ called you and brought you to himself, Christ owns you and will never abandon you, Christ gives you eternal life, Christ guards you and keeps you forever. Like the shepherds we too will respond. With proclaiming? With worship? Peace on earth! Peace with God, Peace with your past, Peace for today, resting in Christ. God’s peace does not depend on circumstances.   

          Getting a glimpse of Jesus can light up our lives as well, just like the shepherds. We can take him for granted and miss the blessing of his presence or be distracted by other things in the world. But if we eagerly look for Christ in our everyday goings and comings, draw close to him through prayer in our families, our work, our difficulties and trials, we, too, will get a new glimpse of God. Our hearts will be renewed, and others will come to know him through us.

          Heavenly Father, thank you for letting me see the Savior! I rejoice as the shepherds did long ago. Jesus is alive, he has come and is coming again! Lord Jesus, thank you for being a light to reveal God to the nations so that more people can know and worship our Father. Thank you for bringing us out of darkness and into your marvelous light. I want to shine your light everywhere I go so that everyone around me will be drawn to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

          Look Up—meditate on Luke 2:1-20 …pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
          Look In—as you meditate on Luke 2:1-20 …pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
          Look Out—as you meditate on Luke 2:1-20…pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.

* If you liked this post, you will LOVE this new book: "Memorable Moments in the Holy Land," available on Amazon at this link:  https://a.co/d/06G79jQm

Video of Lakes Church 2023 Holy Land Pilgramage