True Liberation 3: Reaching Men
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Snyder Bible Home Spiritual: “This Little Light of Mine” About Harry Denman
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Jeremiah 16:14.
"Therefore,
behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh,
16. "Behold, I am sending for many fishers, says Yahweh, and they shall catch them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. 17. For my eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes. 18. And I will doubly recompense their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations." 19. O Yahweh, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: "Our fathers have inherited naught but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. 20. Can man make for himself gods? Such are no gods!" 21. "Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is Yahweh."
Psalms 13:1. How long, Yahweh, will you forget me? Forever? How long will you turn away your face from me? 2. How long must I nurse rebellion in my soul, sorrow in my heart day and night? How long is the enemy to domineer over me? 3. Look down, answer me, Yahweh my Elohim! Give light to my eyes or I shall fall into the sleep of death. 4. Or my foe will boast, "I have overpowered him," and my enemy have the joy of seeing me stumble. 5. As for me, I trust in your faithful love, Yahweh. Let my heart delight in your saving help, 6. let me sing to Yahweh for his generosity to me, let me sing to the name of Yahweh the Most High!
Matthew 4:17.
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 18. As he walked by the
Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew
his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19.
And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men." 20. Immediately they left their nets
and followed him.
The words of this ditty, based on Yahshua’s Sermon on the Mount, aren’t simply those of an old slave song or Sunday School top ten – they have a significant validity for your life as a Believer right now. Beloved, you must
Let your light shine so before MEN,
Men Penetrating the Rusty Locks of IdeologiesMen: Does not the light of your faith shine brightly all about? the sparkle of your morality assuring the survival of your entire community? the twinkling of your generosity contributing to the brightness of the poor in spirit? the glorious sheen of your patience and endurance showing your family what it means to be sanctified? and does not your faith thus enlighten your whole house in godliness and perfection? Yes? Or am I exaggerating? If I exaggerate, it’s because, like you, I comprehend just how much the church and the world need this kind of light, this glorious testimony of brightness; and I, like you, desire to see it manifested as brilliantly and intensely as the sun illuminates and warms a summer day! Yet how deeply we’re required to commit ourselves to bring forth “light into the house,” so that the full splendor of the Shekinah Glory’s reflection may be realized in every single space we inhabit! How essential it is that we reproduce in ourselves, even in this mortal flesh, the warm glow of our Savior’s devotion to the Father for his extraordinary gift: the salvation of the whole world, in which we participate and from which we benefit. I want to speak especially to men, because many men of faith are so painfully shy of showing their godly glory in the public domain – in society or workplace – in family or faith-community. O, dare we insist that Christian men be active and ready to demonstrate their Savior’s glory to their world? Dare we strongly encourage men of faith to testify to the great things the Savior has done in their lives, and persuade men of faith to go forth in their doings in the apostolic fashion – blessing everything they touch– and redeeming all profane materials, making them into sanctified stuff? If men would only step out in greater faith, charity and apostolic works, liberally applying the name of Yahshua to all their doings, couldn’t the Church, OUR CHURCH, penetrate the keyhole of our crusty community like machine oil penetrates the cogs of a rusty old lock? And through the witness of the truth by godly men, could not the key in our society’s lock of ideologies so alien to the Spirit of the Good News be turned and the hearts of the people in our sphere of influence be opened?
Men through MenThis brings me to asking you as a body of Believers – ¿How do we reach the men in our society whom the Father wants to desperately to incorporate into his everlasting Kingdom; Men, who are so often involved in and absorbed by their earthly responsibilities, worries, weaknesses or pleasures, who neglect or forget or ignore the religious or spiritual dimension of their lives – aspects of their personhood that must be addressed – essential components in their self-unity? How do we reach men? Is it not that we may only reach MEN through MEN, so similar to them, and just as busy? The “fisher” category of man seeks the things above and worships Yahweh unceasingly, following and serving the wonderful One who’s saved their souls. Hoe rare you are! How can we not hope and fervently pray that here in our fellowship, everywhere in our community – and all over the world – MEN who are true worshipers, of every social condition, with duties and responsibilities at every level, will attend to the work of APOSTLES, integrating themselves both in parish and society, seeking out thorough training that will help prepare them to share testimony in the Spirit of Love sufficient to draw other needy men to the only means and person who can SAVE them from this crooked age? Yahshua spoke to no special selection of men when he offered the universal Christian vocation: “MEN, I will make YOU fishers of MEN, if you follow me.” I will make you fishers of men, Fishers of men, fishers of men. I will make you fishers of men, If you’ll follow me! Not For Men OnlyThe occupation that Yahshua offers – that of fisherman – is usually considered a MAN’S job. Fortunately, we live in an equal opportunity society. Unlike in some backward nations, women here can not only speak up about what they feel, but they can take on vocations traditionally assigned to men. WOMEN – you can be fishers of WOMEN. Isn’t that wonderful – the Wisdom of Yahweh will make you fishers of women, if you follow her. Letting your Shekinah light shine before the world is kind of like putting bait in a hook – except that they didn’t fish that way in the olden days – they used nets. NETS are a lot more like LIGHTS – the light illuminates anything in its path, and light rays never move in a straight line. Same with nets – they’re cast out, and whatever’s there – comes under the power of the net – snared (save the ones that get away). We went trout fishing one time and there were so many trout that they were teaming by the thousands, yet not one would take our bait on a hook. Somebody said, “IF WE ONLY HAD A FLASHLIGHT AND A NET, WE COULD CATCH ‘EM ALL!” Indeed: Matthew 13:47. “The kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. 48. When it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use. 49. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright, 50. to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” If you’ve
really met the Savior, the son of Yahweh – then you
If you’ve met him, live in him, have confidence in him, and are saved by him, then proclaim him in the first person as a genuine testimony: say, “I’m not afraid to share the name Yahshua. I’m not some old scardy-cat; I’m going to light my light shine by saying his NAME right out loud: Yes, my life is hidden in Yahshua of Nazareth, my Savior. I’m not afraid to speak of him, to pronounce his name, because he saved me, and now LIVES ARE AT STAKE: THE FURNACE IS ALREADY ABLAZE!”
For Real MenTake it from a man who was once bound by fear of saying the name of his Savior aloud. I was ashamed of knowing him, ashamed of him rescuing me, ashamed of being a Christian. Yet I learned, with heavenly help, that speaking his name in public is one of the most liberating, freeing, exhilarating experiences I ever could enjoy. That’s partly because I was always so afraid that MEN might think me a religious sissy – or some fanatic. But I came to realize the gravity of this generation – that THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE – and I can be useful in saving them. Yes, sir: I hope to have saved some lives in my life. If the devil has your testimony bound up in your throat – if it’s never been easy for you to come right out and speak of your Savior in first-person terms – you need to be a man about it. IT TAKES A REAL MAN to speak out for Yahshua of Nazareth, to SAY HIS NAME aloud in your fishbowl. Hell has plenty of bad men, but Heaven only needs a few good ones. This is truly MANS’ LIB -- true liberation: to proclaim Yahshua / Jesus free of fear, as present with you, as having transformed you, as having made you new. Certainly, if your doctor had cured your hemorrhoids, you’d discreetly pass on the name of your doctor. Or if you’d discovered a new dentist that made your teeth sparkling white and your breath as fresh as a mountain breeze, you’d want to recommend the dentist by name. Consider the work of Yahshua of Nazareth – MEN – ¿isn’t his work among you more life enhancing than a hemorrhoidectomy or a cure for halitosis? Sure! Then let people know his name.
Do you want your own online bookstore? Harry Denman – A Man Have you ever
heard of
(the late)
Harry Denman
(d. 1976)?
I’ve heard stories from people who
One biographer writes these words of Harry Denman: The impact of his spiritual and physical presence is not easily forgotten. He moved tirelessly, confidently, dedicated to one objective: to witness for Yahweh, Jesus Christ. When he was part of a group, whether with colleagues or strangers, businessmen or politicians, the conversation was shifted by Harry to the Bible, prayer, and the Risen Lord whom he sought continually to serve. He commanded attention by his dedication and singleness of purpose. He was a person who never accepted ‘no’ as final. He sought to try that which others thought could not be done, and he succeeded.” Now from that, you might imagine that Harry was steeped in evangelism techniques, had alkaline batteries in his flashlight, dipped his worms in honey before he speared them on the hook. But actually, Denman had five words that led men to the Savior’s. Those words were, “Will you pray for me?” After he’d asked, he just let the Holy Spirit light up the whole room time after time. (Oh, he had another four words. He’d even ask a stranger, “Where’re you preaching at?” That question would always lead to a reaction.)
Power in the NameWhy, instead, do our testimonies sometimes seem to be in vain? Because we present Jesus with fear – fear dispels the full seductive power of his person, fear inhibits the revelation of the treasure of his sublime ideal we follow; and fear dampens the living fire of conviction, and cheapens the extraordinary value of the cause we serve. Yet all the shortcomings of fear could be overcome by a small act of not-so-incredible courage; that is, speaking his name aloud – “Yahshua our Savior.” There’s power in that name; supernatural, spiritual power, that goes beyond anything we do – power that completely overcomes our fears and makes our ministry viable no matter how we feel about it. That’s why I disdain using false titles like “the LORD” or “GOD” – any heathen can talk about “the man upstairs” or pray to GENERIC GOD Almighty. Yet I’ll prefer the name Yahshua, or Yahweh, or the title Elohim, or even the corrupted forms “Jesus” or “Jehovah” rather than those generic, pagan titles, lacking in power and anointing. Yahweh is the Sacred name, explosive and powerful – and divisive. Matthew 10:34. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth, warned Yahshua of Nazareth. “It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword.” The sword of his name is divisive, MEN: it’ll cut precisely between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, unlike attempts at witnessing using silly titles like “the man upstairs” or “the big guy.” In fact, those titles, along with a hundred others, are downright offensive. And by this time, we certainly know better. Jeremiah 16:14. 21. "Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is Yahweh (and no other)."
What We AreOne of the most important things for MEN to see in themselves is that Yahweh has recreated them to be living examples of his son Yahshua, who came AS A MAN. Men therefore are to be dispensers of the mysteries of faith and credible, reputable and ready witnesses of Yahshua’s name and his presence in the world. You, man, are a priest of your home – priest of your family – priest of your community. Are you ashamed of that? Heaven forbid you be ashamed of being honored by the memorial name! In church, we often repeat that Yahweh, when he calls us to this life, asks for not only one part but for all our personhood and all our vital energies – in whatever we are or do – so that we may announce to MEN the security, joy and peace of a new life in Jesus, and guide them to a rendezvous with him. So, men, let it be our first concern to seek the face of the Savior and closely observe where and how he lives by abiding in his presence all the day. Let the entirety of your life be a "sacrifice of praise." For only through fervent, abiding prayer – the type known as “supplication” – the trusting conversation and companionship with Yahweh our spiritual Father, we can discern better where our strengths and weaknesses lie, because it’s especially in those intimate times that the Spirit comes to our aid. Yes, the same Spirit that raised Yahshua from the dead speaks to us now; then slowly, over many years of our lives, immerses us in the divine mysteries, in Yahweh's design and plan for humanity, which becomes real and realized through our obedience to it. So much invisible matter becomes REAL as we move from being a carpenter or an engineer or a preacher or a forester, to becoming Missionaries of the Kingship of Yahshua Messiah first. As a vocation, we need not be ashamed of the title or the name; no other occupation or calling is any more sublime or essential or important! To bring Messiah into your world, to live the Way of Yahweh, to proclaim it to those thirsting for truth, and to bear witness of its force and newness, to snatch lives out of the furnace: that is to be your ideal and Yahweh’s plan for your life! Be happy to be more than butcher, baker, candlestick maker; you are to be Apostles of the King of love and peace, purveyors of justice and holiness – and you do your job anywhere and everywhere you go! The respect you rightly deserve comes to you from angels if not men. May their spotlights always be upon you! And may you reflect them manward:
"Let your
light shine so before men,
Mission CriticalMEN, your apostolic mission is all the more critical today, at the beginning of the twentieth-first century; there are few men who haven’t made an accurate diagnosis of the ills of our time. For despite the formidable advances in science and technology from which we’ve benefited, there’s an alarming sense of dis-ease and insecurity. Minds are muffled in religious and ideological confusion, and so the realm of spirit is denied entirely, or relegated to a vague, emotional mysticism. The dismissal of things we can’t always see is one of the greatest blunders of the humanity of our age, and will result in our downfall when Yahweh takes away his stabilizing hand. It makes sense today to speak of a radical crisis of values, leading to a regrettably tense situation of social unrest and educational uncertainty; of impatience, fear, violence, depression and neurosis. In this situation, Yahshua addresses your fears, reminding you men and Apostles again and again:
Do not fear those who kill the body,
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