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We have all been there. Your spouse asks you to do something right when you’re in the middle of something. A neighbor is moving on a Saturday when we just want to lay on the couch. Everything in us screams, “NOT NOW!” Why does a need always arise at the most inconvenient times?

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Romans 15:1-2

As romantic as it sounds, if we want to emulate the heart of Christ and be a true image-bearer, we must see inconveniences as opportunities rather than annoyances. This is not easy for our flesh, which seems to fold at the smallest infringement upon our comforts and rights.

You see, it’s when we are most inconvenienced that we most display the charity and love of our Heavenly Father.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When we help others in times of need, which never come in times of convenience, we are fulfilling the law of Christ. When you obey the law, you are reflecting the character of God and glorifying him.

Our maturity is revealed through times of inconvenience. As C.S. Lewis put it, “Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.”

When there are needs that need to be met, and you don’t want to meet them. When things come up out of nowhere, or when you are called upon to serve outside of your giftings, these are the moments when we can make a great impact for the kingdom. Not through our skill but through our love expressed in the midst of inconvenience. This is when it counts.

Jesus wants us to count the cost of our commitment. It’s a privilege and an honor to “pay the price.” Following Jesus is supposed to cost us something. In the West, we have fewer opportunities to do so with our very lives, but we can live with our lives laid down to serve. Are you truly surrendered?

Jesus often warned us away from a romantic view of following him. He understands that when we volunteer to go anywhere at any time, our romanticism will wither when our commitment becomes inconvenient — or when it collides with the true cost of discipleship.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Discipleship means we give up any thought that there will be bits and pieces of our lives that can remain unaffected by our relationship with Jesus. We can’t say “yes” to Jesus and expect to hold onto our independence. He really demands it all.

As CRI Responders, we get to answer the call when no one else is looking and often when no one else is going. Disaster frequently happens when the money and time are tight, your boss is in a bad mood, and sometimes when you’re planning that perfect holiday.

As Christ-followers, we lay down our right to serve only when and where it is convenient for us. When inconvenience is the backdrop to your willingness to show love, the character of Christ shines brightest through you, and it will come with great reward.

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25: 37-40

This last year has had many unique pressures; social, political, economic, and physical. We have all have been impacted in one way or another. How is your heart in the midst of all you have been through? Are you still growing in love?

The two greatest commandments are for us to love God and others. The second, “loving others as ourselves,” is a call to treat others in the highest regard, giving preference and making them first. This can only be done out of the overflow of our union with Him. God measures our love for Him based on how we love others and obey. Love is not optional and, in it’s highest form, unconditional.

It’s easy to show love to those in the midst of a crisis; we desire the same compassion.  What about people who think and act differently or even mistreat us? How will we carry our hearts when things intensify severely? How will we endure it? Will we still love?

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14 ESV

“Endurance” is so much more than gritting your teeth and biting your tongue. This will only get you so far. We need the nature of Jesus to grow in us in such a way that we are abounding in love. Overflowing with goodness and permeating all we do. In the days ahead, as Jesus followers and CRI Responders, we need a deep burning love for Jesus AND others in the framework of the Great Commission.

The apostle under house-arrest in Rome saw his mistreatment as a missional opportunity to advance the Kingdom (“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Php 1:12).

Paul saw persecution as an opportunity for the gospel, and a means for the gospel to go forth. Notice his preceding words to the church in Phillipi. He encourages them to steward their hearts in the same way that they, too, would bear the nature of the resurrected Christ in all circumstances.

“I continue to pray for your love to grow and increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things. This will enable you to choose the most excellent way of all—becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ. And you will be filled completely with the fruits of righteousness that are found in Jesus, the Anointed One—bringing great praise and glory to God!” Php 1:9-11 TPT

When we put our hardships and mistreatment into a missional context, for those abounding in love, we will see an opportunity for the Kingdom of God to expand and the nature of Christ to shine.

We have all been through a lot, and beloved, even greater challenges are on their way. Paul indicates we can remain without offense and retain purity of heart until the return of the Lord. It’s not so much how we “get around the challenges” but endure them with our hearts ever-expanding in love.

2021 will bring even greater and more unique challenges. Whatever comes next, especially when we are mistreated and things do not go our way, let us view every situation as an opportunity to respond with Christ’s love and advance His Kingdom. Let’s choose a more excellent way.

Holy Spirit, I ask you right now to help me refocus. Please take my numbness, my outrage, and every lie that is contending for my attention and turn it into burning hot love for Jesus and others once again. I choose a “more excellent way” today instead of the narrative my enemy would like to enforce upon me. Help me to grow in love for God and practical love for those around me. Help me hold my tongue where I need to but also speak the truth in love. Help me to be more like Jesus. Amen

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Perspective for Our Troubled Times

As I write, the 27th named storm of 2020 is approaching Louisiana, making it the third Hurricane in a row to hit the same region. Injustice and racial wounds are being exploited, causing looting and unrest to boil again. Governors have reduced law enforcement in the most crime-ridden cities in our nation. Just days away from the most contested election in history, our country is as polarized as the North Pole is from the South. Meanwhile, pandemic cases are spiking around the world.

What is more alarming is the outright suppression of freedoms and truth. Growing trends of censorship are becoming norms as a battle ensues over the narrative of the day. How do we come back from this?

My point is not to fatigue you further, but rather to give you hope. In actuality… this is just the beginning.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Matthew 24: 6-8

As crisis and conflict increase upon the earth, both sin and righteousness will come into full maturity. In the midst of this, we must understand that we yet have work to do. We have to see beyond the headlines of the day and our present fog of war. This is about a great harvest that we all must play a part.

… “The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘” Matthew 24: 13-30

Be encouraged.

A global harvest is coming. The enemy and those aligned with him will do anything to stop it! Deception is at levels we have never seen, and the compromised are buying in.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:19-20

The masses are doubling down in lawlessness as they give themselves over to strong delusion. We must understand as we look around that we war not against flesh and blood, but it is a spirit. It’s territorial, and you better believe it is political.

There is a concerted effort to root out all forms of Godliness in the public square – legislating wickedness as The Prince of This World “white knuckles” his grasp on power.

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” Psalm 2: 1-3

In this hour, my prayer is that deep corruption is exposed, our constitution is defended and we have sweeping reformation of immoral laws. We need to become “one nation under God” again. We need to stand for this, pray for this, and yes, we need to vote for this. Our nation is on the brink.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2: 1-4

If our nation slips over the cliff, then so does the nations of the earth.

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

As followers of Jesus, we have to elect and support leaders who will defend faith, family, the rule of law, life itself, and our constitution. It is expedient for us to do so, or we will see our nation spin out of control. Right now, we have an opportunity to reel in the thread of morality that has been slowly unwound in our democracy for decades. We are in desperate need of reformation and revival.

As John Adams once said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

As much as we all want peace right now, our hope is not anchored in America or anything temporal. Everything that can be shaken… will be shaken.

… “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,… Hebrews 12:27-28

Two kingdoms are colliding, and the intensity is escalating. King Jesus eventually comes and crushes his foes and gains the entire world as His inheritance, reaping the rewards of His sufferings just as His Father promised Him. However, there is much to unfold between then and now.

Let me remind you. As much as global stability hinges on America, we are not the “center stage” for end-time events. Israel is. At some point, the world will endure global chaos and crisis before Jesus is enthroned in Jerusalem.

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:4-12

Again I stress, the drama is just beginning. Although the Lord allows Satan to achieve specific goals – God will use measured discipline for those who will not concede any other way before He metes out final punishment upon His adversaries.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Timothy 2:1-12

We must go deep, so we can endure what is coming.

Both Matthew 13 and 24 give strong warning that many will fall away during a time of persecution upon the earth.

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. Matthew 13:20-21

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:9-12

Even if a time of temporary peace comes to America, even greater trouble is just around the corner. There are leaders and policymakers right now in the U.S. If they had their way, we would see an all-out onslaught against The Church and religious freedoms. This election is critical. We must get ourselves rooted and grounded in God’s love and His word.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:11-15

I know we are all fatigued and ache for leadership that will make our troubles go away. However, we have great need of endurance and keep our eyes on the ball. We must stay engaged with the works of the Kingdom no matter what the enemy throws our way. Many have endured set-back after set-back against trial after trial. My friend, stay steadfast. You will reap the reward in due time.

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24: 13-14

Did you hear that?

The bible is clear that the greatest and most politically controversial message will go forth before the coming of the Lord. This is not a message about “mice and men,” nor about a democracy and a republic. It is also more than the message of salvation (as great as that is).

In the time of greatest upheaval and persecution, the message of the coming theocracy of King Jesus’s and His righteous rule and reign from Jerusalem will go to the ends of the earth as a witness to all mankind. As a matter of fact, the rage of the rebellious in response to the threat of the Jewish God-man Jesus will draw the nations into the fiercest conflict we ever knew. This is a deeply political statement.

We will partner with the great and final harvest.

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords is coming back not as a lamb but as a lion. He will exact justice to every people, tongue, and tribe. For the righteous, we will rule with Him and join into the greatest rebuilding phase the earth has ever seen.

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing — grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord . Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God? ’”

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Joel 2:12-17,28-29

The key phrase is ‘ And afterward’. We must embrace “the work of God” in our lives at this time. Perhaps as we turn to Him and walk in 100% obedience that He does not leave a great blessing upon our nation. Many have sensed that we are heading into an season of revival and awakening before COVID-19 even began. I would go as far to say that the shaking of this hour is prepping the heart of this nation for the greatest move of evangelism and missions the earth has ever seen!

Be encouraged and seek the Lord today!

Learn how to navigate these times. Catch the Mission Possible event. It will inspire you to bring God’s love and demonstrate His Kingdom and navigate the unique challenges of the Covid-19 outbreak and beyond.

Mission:Possible Virtual Event Info [Read more…] about So What Comes After This?

It was a “burning bush” experience!

In August 2018, I walked the 85-acre camp for the first time. I knew right away that it was ours. Later that day, I called a CRI Board member to ask him to call the listing real estate agent, Mr. Boush, to make an offer. At that very moment, I saw a real burning bush; on fire in front of me. I was stunned by the drama of the Lord!

In Exodus 3, God presented the “Burning Bush” to Moses as a sign that the ground was Holy, and the people’s cry had reached His ears; the promised land would be a place of deliverance and would alleviate suffering. He promised that it would flow with milk and honey, and the people would come to that mountain to worship.

A year ago today, we moved onto the Blue Ridge property. There is amazing significance to this! Watch how this ties into the Super Bowl Prophecy in the video below. We are incredibly grateful for the blood, sweat, and tears of those who have partnered with us to make this possible.

On this first anniversary of our move to the camp, our third ARC Mission School on base is beginning. We look forward to the many amazing events and conferences that will happen this year. Most importantly, we look forward to the seeing all the hearts that will be touched by God’s love and mercy, as we deploy from this place to alleviate suffering.

As spring’s arrival grows closer, we would love to plant a more extensive garden and fruit trees. We feel we are to raise sheep and keep bees as well. We believe this land will, quite literally, flow with milk and honey!

We also feel the importance of finishing the Hope building so we can host more prayer meetings on the base to cover all our operations in prayer.

However, these advancements will take financial support and additional staff. We ask that you would pray about becoming a monthly partner with CRI or sowing a seed into the soil of God’s work on our base today.

May you be blessed abundantly!
Sean Malone

The Super Bowl & The Blue Ridge Procession

• The Bob Jones Super Bowl Word
• Billy Graham and the Sending Center
• The ARC Procession to Blue Ridge
• Paul Cain and Stadium Christianity
• Positioned for a Jesus Movement
• A Dream About the Coronavirus

In 1727 the Moravians started a prayer watch 2×2, hour by hour, to cover their missionaries in the field with prayer.

That prayer meeting lasted 100 years and was focused on the baptism of the Spirit and the ‘assurance of salvation’. It influenced the first Great Awakening and birthed modern-day missions. What if we stood watch again?

On the last Friday of every month, we have established an all-night watch on the CRI Base to seek the Lord for awakening, direction and provide air-cover for our entire mission and operations.

The meeting begins with a love-feast meal and a special time of teaching and ministry. (More worship leaders needed!)

Join us on 2/28 for the next all-night watch!

Learn More About The Watch