Day 201 Love Costs

 

7/20/2025

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud 

of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking

unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set 

before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down 

at the right hand of the throne of God." 

 Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Last night at Angel Stadium Harvest Ministries hosted their annual Harvest Crusade with 45,000 in attendance. This is Pastor Greg's 35th year of holding these crusades, but this year they had to turn people away, as the stadium was already filled to capacity! This morning we learned that 6500 made decisions for Christ. This included in person and those viewing online. At Angel Stadium there were so many people coming forward that the Fire Marshal had to stop the crowd. This is also a first, Pastor Greg shared. This should be exciting news in a world where there is such bad news daily; however, later today fellow Californian, Sean Feucht, a young worship leader, who founded the ministry Let Us Worship during the pandemic, sent a message saying that there have been disparaging comments posted by social media  regarding the Harvest Crusade. Sean has been holding his own meetings in every state and in certain countries in the world. He's excited about what God has been doing in California, as many have been praying for a great end time revival, but he is growing tired of the rude, judgmental comments of others, especially those who are in the body of Christ. Sean is not a stranger to criticism, but it never seems to stop his momentum, his zeal for the Lord. Still, his concern is well understood and well-said, as the Word of God is very clear about criticism made against His anointed. Life and death are indeed in the power of the tongue. 

The mission statement of Harvest Ministries is "To Know Jesus and Make Him Known." The crusade will be followed by baptisms at Pirate's Cove on August 16. Pirate's Cove is the site of the Jesus Movement baptisms and the location of the movie Jesus Revolution, detailing this movement in the 70's. This gathering for baptism at Pirate's Cove will be the 3rd Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism, where thousands of people will flock to take their next step of faith in their walk with Jesus. During the filming of Jesus Revolution, many spectators who were sitting on the rocks watching the baptism scene, and many who were in the crowd observing came forward to be baptized themselves. There have been other groups baptized at Pirate's Cove, and I have heard similar reports. It is amazing to watch what God is doing in the hearts of many today, mostly the youth. May the fire continue to fall!

Harvest's message this morning was entitled "Now What?: Being a Disciple & Making Disciples." We are ending our study of the book of Jonah, where the nation of Ninevah witnessed a mass revival in response to the reluctant prophet Jonah's call for repentance or destruction. Ninevah was a brutal nation, and they were given 40 days to change their ways. I believe that America has been given another chance to change our ways, but many do not seem to notice or pay attention to the many signs God is sending us. In my writings I have mentioned many times the increasing advance of the prophetic time clock as relayed by scripture. They are not my words, rather those spoken by God Himself in the Bible, God's written word. Jesus said many, even the very elect, would turn away from the truth, and I must say that I am witnessing that happen with increasing alarm. Jesus said many times in scripture that things hidden would be revealed, and they are. 

The early church formed by the disciples of Jesus, after He resurrection and ascension, was said to set the world on fire. The book of Acts describes the devotion of the early believers and their growth as they went out and fulfilled Jesus' last words found in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." But following Christ came with a huge cost, as the religious leaders and others did not receive the message, as they did not while Jesus was on earth. All the disciples, except John, gave their lives for the Gospel. Although the enemy tried to kill John the Apostle many times, once by boiling him in oil, he was unsuccessful. John was eventually exiled on the island of Patmos where he authored Revelation - the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Jonathan, Western Heights Baptist Church, continuing in our study of the gospel of Mark, spoke Sunday on The Cost of Compassion. The text is found in Mark 1:4-45, where it relayed the message of Jesus' encounter with a leper, who was supposed to remain a safe distance from others, and not to be seen in public. Leprosy was an incurable disease that presented with whitish or yellowish spots on the skin, then spread over the body. As the condition advanced it would literally eat up the tissues and bones causing extensive disfiguring and loss of finger, toes, and other parts of the body and face. Because it was highly infectious, the ill had to be quarantined. One location where lepers were isolated was the island of Molokai, an island of Hawaii. Pastor Jonathan mentioned Father Damien, the priest who served the lepers on this island, the priest I mentioned yesterday in my post on My Heroes of the Faith. His story is quite remarkable, and his life was one of selfless devotion to the most vulnerable of his time. After contracting the disease himself, he chose to remain on the island serving the people he loved, rather than leave for treatment. He died among those who loved him and whom he loved. His one request over the years he was on Molokai was for nuns to come and assist him. Prior to his death his dream was realized.

The cost of discipleship is indeed very high. There are many ways to serve, as not all can go to the mission field, and not all are willing to put themselves in harms way. I learned also this morning that Pastor Khaled Mezher of Good Shepherd Evangelical Church in Suwayda, Syria and his family and others were brutally murdered in church, during a proposed cease fire. Pastor Khaled had been converted from the Druze faith to Christianity for several years and was well loved. Over one hundred others have been murdered by this tyrannical regime now in power in the country of Syria, and in spite of the cease fire, the murders continue. This is one modern day example of the cost of living for Jesus. The author Tertullian said "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church."

Silence in the face of such brutality has been the normal response. I make every attempt to post current news, but honestly, it comes so fast, from every country, every direction, that my head swims. It literally makes me sick knowing such brutality exists in this world. A world that has so much to be grateful for, yet it is never enough. The thirst for power is so great and so corrupt. I have said many time that there will come a time when a line has to be drawn in the sand. Jesus is coming back. The time to draw the line is now!