ABANDONMENT

John 6:66-67 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

2 Tim 4:9-11 Timothy, be diligent to come see me soon 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and Only Luke has stayed and supported me.

   A close observation may shock you. In the end of the greatest Apostle and pastor in the New Testament was forsaken by everyone except Timothy and Luke.  Demas has forsaken me. We have always interpreted Demas forsaking God when we read this verse. However, Demas actually forsook Paul.

   Shocking is that the church members of Crete left the church of Crete pastored by Titus and moved over to Galatia church. Look at a scary verse: Titus left to Dalmatia: his home. Titus, the great pastor and spiritual son of Paul quit pastoring and went home because the saints of Create left and went to Galatia. We read this and interpret it as the first church Abandonment.

   During Jesus ministry, the real 666 “Mark of the Beast” was Abandonment: “many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus” (John 6:66). To make matters worse, Jesus knew in his heart that the twelve disciples were even thinking of leaving also.

   The Post World War II generation of fathers and husbands spent 8 years overseas away from their wives and children. They lived 8 years with the “guys.” They came home to spend every evening with the guys at the bars. This produced a generation of father and husband Abandonment.

   Abandonment escalated in the 60’s. Children were abandoning their parents, their schools and their laws. The law no longer was important. No longer were loyalties important. The 60’s youth were no longer loyal to their school, traditions, church or their faith.

   The 60’s produced the Baby Boom generation who became parents that abandoned their children, their marriages, their jobs and their morality. Fatherless children are now out numbering the two parent children. Over 50% of children born today are born to single parent homes without a father. US Correctional institute numbers reveal that 87% of all American prisoners grew up without a father.  We are living in a Generation that is Lost because of Abandonment.

   What if Abraham Lincoln left America because of the division among our own people?  Would there be an America today?  Was it right that young men abandoned America during the Viet Nam War just because they didn’t believe in the politics?  Was it morally right for a soldier to abandon his fellow soldiers in their bunker just because they didn’t want to fight anymore?  Any soldier who leaves his country, his platoon, his fellow soldiers in war or peace time is considered AWOL – Absent With Out Leave. 

   Abandonment is not the answer to a nation just because you disagree with some politicians.  Abandonment is not the answer for a man who just had a child simply because he doesn’t want to take responsibility.  Abandonment is not the answer to a husband who doesn’t feel romantically attracted to his wife anymore.  Jesus is asking believers all across America, “Will ye also go away?” 

Ó 2012 Dr Tim McClure

ONE PRAYER

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after (Ps 27:4). 

 

“If you had only ONE PRAYER that could be answered, what would it be?”

   I understand that we could over spiritualize this and say; “My one prayer would be that the whole would be saved.”  Now that would also be my SINGLE most important prayer. Let us all agree that seeing Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas saved would be the ultimate answer to our One Prayer.

    But apart from such a monstrosity of a prayer, on a more PERSONAL intimate note, what would be your ONE PRAYER you would pray if you could get the answer to it.  If you knew you would get your ONE PRAYER answered, what would that One Prayer be?

   For some, it would be that “My husband or wife be saved. To another it would be that my son or daughter come to Christ. While others, it would be that my brother, friend, or family member be delivered from addiction, bondage, or depression.  Some would pray that they be healed from a horrible disease or sickness. Others would pray for finances to allow them to take care of their babies, family or be free from the debt pressure that is sucking the life out of them. What ONE PRAYER would you pray?

   Stop for 30 seconds and think about that right now.  What One Prayer would you  pray – if you knew you would get the answer? 

   Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus, a successful, wealthy family. Truth is, Bartimaeus had a very known, affluent family tree. Bartimaeus had everything he could dream of in way of family, prestige, money, connections and admiration. However, there was one thing Bartimaeus did not have – his eye sight. One day, Jesus asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And Bartimaeus said, That I might see” (Mark 10:51).

   There was a man who had a home, job, family and means to meet every need, except one thing, his son was mentally ill- he was a lunatic.  When Jesus asked what One Prayer he could answer, the man said, “that my son be healed” (Mark 9:22).  When Jesus asked the man full of leprosy what One Thing he could do for him, the leper said, “Will you make me clean?” 

   I could site a dozen more scriptures like these. Even a few more shady ones: John and James asked an egotistic request; “Grant that we may sit one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37).  Andrew and John asked Jesus, “Where do you live?” (John 1:38).

   Listen, yes, it is possible to get your ONE PRAYER answered.  Some don’t get their one answer because they DO NOT ASK (James 4:2).  While Others don’t get answers because they pray WRONG” (James 4:3). WHY? Because they “pray to consume it upon their own lust” (James 4:3).

   KEY: To Pray the ONE PRAYER and get your answer you must pray beyond you self.  The only way to get saved is to SAVE OTHERS (Matt 27:42).  The only way to get healed is to HEAL OTHERS (Matt 10:8). And the only way to receive is to Give (Luke 6:38).  In just about every case in Scripture, those who received their One Prayer answered, prayed beyond self indulgence alone (to be continued).

© 2012 by Dr Tim McClure