This past month has been very special.
Recently, we became close with a short term missions team that has a heart for Guatemala and knows what it means to develop long term relationships. They really poured into us long-termers. They provided so much support in prayer, worship, encouragement, etc. It was also a great opportunity from God for me to give a teaching to all 40 or so of them about freedom. Some of the teaching was taken from John Piper’s talk about freedom. Here are some of the highlights:
“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free!” -Psalms 118:5
Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” -John 8:36
What is it like to be free indeed??!! I really want to know!
Well, to be “free indeed”, we must have the following:
- Freedom of opportunity – you need this to be truly free – Jesus died and rose from the grave for us!
- Freedom of ability – having capabilities and training – Jesus gave us the gift of faith!
- Freedom of desire – not feeling paralyzed with fear or in bondage to dutifully doing things but loving what you are doing – Jesus gave us a new heart with new desires and new loves!
- Freedom of no regrets – if you are facing death right in the face, you have no regrets – because you have Jesus Christ!
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” -Romans 8:2
We have victory through Christ, and a new life in the Spirit. We have a right standing with God, being united with Christ; peace with God. And this peace is freedom. Evidence that provides believers are in Christ is that the power of sin has been broken in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit, because God’s son paid the full penalty.
I think we can all agree that we desire happiness, and we are not alone in this desire for happiness. We may all search for it in different ways, and try hard to reach the same goal – JOY. But deeper than all felt needs is the real need – GOD OUR FATHER.
“You made us for Yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in You. This peace is profound happiness. He who is happy possesses God, not because of health, wealth, prosperity, but because God is our soul’s joyful resting place. This is real freedom. And only believers in Jesus have this kind of freedom.”
“Freedom is to be so much in love with God and His ways that the very experience of choice is transcended.” -St. Augustine
This means that you are living under the continual sway of sovereign joy in God; that His ways become our ways and we are left with nothing but to obey Him in all things. This is where discernment and delight unite in perfect harmony of what is infinitely delightful, and that is God. He is our Creator and knows us better than we know ourselves – He knows what is best for us.
The Christian life is a relentless quest for the fullest joy in God. And prayer is the pathway to this fullest joy. So let it be that we pray for more of a thirst and hunger for God.
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” -John 16:24
One Saturday morning a couple of us were up bright and early. We headed to Casa Aleluya Orphanage to help with a block party to share Jesus with just one of many slum communities on the outside of the Guatemala City dump. Here is a two minute video that portrays the reason for so many slum villages around the dump: https://www.athentikos.com/reparando/.
A handful of the older kids from Casa Aleluya serve at these events, and we help disciple them. We learn so much from them and all of the village kids who come to the block parties! These parties consist of moon bounces, cotton candy, face paint, nail polish, temporary tattoos, super hero costumes, music, pizza, and of course the central message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, that He can live in our hearts if we accept Him through the gift of faith from God. This was all taught with pictures, costumes, and music. One of the songs was Jesus You Are My “Superhero” by Hillsong Kids, in Spanish.
The Guatemala City dump is over 40 acres and receives about 500 tons of waste per day. Families create their homes here out of tin roofing and other items, making up entire communities from another person’s trash. They work hard daily collecting materials that can be resold.
There were so many kids! Suddenly all of us were surrounded by young girls and boys and a few mothers. Quicker than I could put on a temporary tattoo, there would be several other little ones waiting, all in bare feet and big smiles.
I learned a whole different side of sharing the love of the Lord with children and their community leaders. These kids and especially the leaders were in awe of the event. The leaders gave praise to God for His display of love in this event:
One of the women in the community gave a testimony of how her daughter was taken from her, she confessed how she had no hope in the future and was bitter and angry at God, but in this event, The Father changed everything in her heart. She was in tears and expressed the joy and happiness that the Lord gave her through this event.
We then prayed for these leaders. The whole community was encouraged and thankful for everything the Lord did in this time. This work of God strengthened their community and gave them hope for the future, which they are not forgotten.
