The Sun Will Rise...

After over 6 months in the making, today I'm very excited to announce the launch of a redesigned, reorganized www.joshuahawkins.com!

This is more than just a cosmetic facelift. I have also:

• Uploaded new resources from various IHOP-KC teachers and others, including some hard-to-find teachings.
• Made all of the resources easier to find by series, by category, by scripture reference, and by date.  
• Made it easier to share your favorite articles, teachings, and blogs with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
• Updated my list of recommended resources to help you live a life worthy of Jesus and His cross. 

Earlier I was reading this article on Voice of the Martyr’s persecution.com, a website dedicated to assisting the worldwide persecuted church. The article briefly described how a 30-year old Indian Christian was deported from the Maldives simply for possessing a Bible in his home.

Upon reading more articles from the site, I was struck afresh with the normalcy of suffering to the Christian life. The circumstantial ease of the West has contributed to a false understanding of suffering, persecution, and martyrdom for the sake of Jesus. Because of a lack of persecution, we often have the notion that saying “yes” to Jesus means a steady incline of favor or blessing in personal and domestic affairs. One brief look at the book of Acts or the book of Hebrews shows that this idea is completely foreign to Scripture.

One of the highest expressions of God’s love is His meekness and servanthood. As the glory of God is seen plainly and perfectly in the face of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6), we are beckoned in to see God’s meekness, humility, and servanthood throughout every moment of His life. Jesus was fully satisfied in taking on flesh and emptying Himself of so great an exaltation (Philippians 2:5-8). It was not something He resentfully or grudgingly achieved. He never had nor will ever have regrets about becoming poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). From the most mundane of days to the climax of His death on the cross, out of Him proceeds the raging torrent of God as a servant.

One of the lesser spoken of but most stunning acts of Jesus in His life overflowing with humility is found in John 13:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.””
(John 13:1-8 NKJV)

Yesterday, September 19, 2010, the International House of Prayer in Kansas City celebrated 11 years straight of non-stop worship and prayer. The prayer meeting that began on September 19, 1999 has never stopped. In our day and age of religious pluralism, cultural convenience, and informational overload, it is an absolute miracle that this prayer meeting, mostly fueled by young adults, has continued this long. But ceaseless worship and prayer is not just a phenomenon going on in Kansas City. All over the United States and the world, prayer rooms are springing up without any coordinated effort or organization. This is something unprecedented that human history has never seen before, and is monumental in its significance. I wanted to take some time today to think again about why it is so significant, and I figured it would be beneficial for you as well. So, I’ll share!

The twenty-four seven prayer and worship movement that the Holy Spirit is raising up today is a sign of several very noteworthy things.

First, it is a sign of the coming Day where all wrong is made right. Night and day intercession is a sign of a never-ending objection of the way life is now without Jesus here with us leading the planet in righteousness. Though some see night and day prayer as a tool for man’s comfort and peace in this age, perpetual intercession actually draws attention to the hope of the age to come when the Bible speaks of the law of true justice going forth from Zion, all wrong things made right, and Jesus reigning as King of kings in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 8:1-8; Luke 18:7-8; Acts 17:31)