"God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son..." (Jn. 3:16)
"Through Him (Jesus) God chose to reconcile the whole universe to Himself, making peace through the shedding of His blood upon the cross - to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, through Him alone." (Col. 1:20)
The Father loved His created universe to such a degree that He gave His only Son for its reconciliation. The whole of the universe was thrown, it would seem, into disarray when Adam sinned against God. God cursed the ground. Thorns and thistles began to grow -pure seed was defiled. Paul tells us in Romans 8 "all creation anticipates the day when it will be liberated from its bondage of decay". Just as believers in Christ who have fallen asleep in Jesus await a resurrection body, so all of creation awaits the promised new heaven and new earth. The blood of Christ Jesus was shed, for humans - to be sure, and for the rest of creation as well.
The blood of innocent Abel cries out - the blood of innocents through the generations that follow, do as well. Their blood cries out for justice: "How long, sovereign Lord, holy and true, must it be before You will vindicate us and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"
In Western Kansas, the innocent blood of Native Americans, can be heard. Treaties of Peace were broken. Massacres took place. The buffalo were slaughtered so the Indians would starve. The land was defiled. Can you hear the cry of innocent blood?
The Church of Kansas has heard and responded to the cry of innocent blood. This past weekend a reconciliation summit was held at Gateway Fellowship to respond to the innocent blood shed in western Kansas. Apostle Jay Swallow from Oklahoma, along with Sandy Newman and DeeAnn Ward of Destiny Ministries, joined together with like-minded believers to repent, reconcile and believe God for transformation of hearts and transformation of the land.
The reconciliation service was powerful, moving and emotional. Repentance and forgiveness flowed. Gifts were exchanged. Prophetic decrees were made. The cry for vengeance and judgment has been satisfied; mercy triumphs over judgment! The retained sins have been remitted.
I believe our land in Western Kansas will respond with new fruitfulness and prosperity due to the new found freedom from a deep wound of affliction. There is an open heaven over us. How awesome is this place; this is none other than the gate of heaven."
Amen!
PrairieParson
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1 comment:
Thank you. I am a native American from Hays, Kansas. Although I've never lived on the reservation, I've served missions there and my heart and my call is there. My great-great Grandmother and my great grandmother walked the trail of tears to Oklahoma, in fact. Things that were done a century or more ago still affect me today. Thank you for acknowledging this.
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