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Life Around "The Fire"
Life Around "The Fire"
Where Jesus Really Hangs Out Will Challenge Everything You Believe
Where do you find Jesus? Not where you might expect. The second statement Jesus made from the cross—"Today you will be with me in paradise"—reveals something profound about God's character and kingdom values.
While hanging between two thieves, Jesus demonstrated that He's unashamed to associate with society's outcasts. Rather than seeking the company of the powerful or influential, He chose to spend His final hours with condemned criminals. This reveals the upside-down nature of God's kingdom, where the first become last, the weak are strong, and the poor are rich.
Many of us struggle to enter difficult spaces or connect with those in desperate situations. We worry about what to say or how we'll be perceived. But when born again, we receive new spiritual eyes that see value where the world sees none. Jesus shows that a single soul is worth everything to God—so valuable that if that thief had been the only person who would ever believe, Christ would have endured the cross for him alone.
We're experiencing an unprecedented spiritual awakening across the earth, more than revival—a sovereign demonstration of God that's intensifying. He's calling believers not to comfort but to challenging places: prisons, homeless shelters, areas of exploitation and poverty. Why? Because that's where Jesus already is. If you want to experience His presence and glory, go where others won't go.
The Lord has no problem attracting crowds, but making disciples involves a refining process that makes us moldable for His purposes in uncommon places. His love doesn't overlook anyone, focusing not just on multitudes but on individuals. When we realize we're personally seen by Christ, it's overwhelming. He's setting the record straight about who He is—not through talk but by showing Himself to a world in desperate need.
Have questions or thoughts to share? Connect with us at lifearoundthefire@gmail.com or visit our website. Join us as we follow Jesus to the places where His healing presence is needed most.
Loving Yeshua/Jesus, Loving people... Come as you are and you will be loved!
Feel free to check out our website by typing in lifearoundthefire.com or Life Around The Fire ... We think you'll find some beneficial stuff to look at and apply to your life.
Shalom to you and your home.
We've been taking the past several podcast episodes to focus in on Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Speaker 1:Really, the central theme in all scriptures really is the revelation of Jesus in all scriptures really is the revelation of Jesus, who he is, why he came, what he accomplished, what he's accomplishing and what he's going to accomplish. Really, if you want to find out really what is the Bible all about? Well, it's really about Jesus. He is the center of the scriptures and he is the center of all creation, and so we've been focusing in on that particular portion of his ministry, of his purpose and that being the cross being crucified, literally on our behalf, so that we could have a relationship with God. Amazing, a demonstration of love that's so profound that casually looking at it doesn't really make sense. But when you're drawn in, and especially when Holy Spirit draws you in and he begins to unfold things, it's amazing. The Apostle Paul said at one point in his public ministry that he only knew one thing and that was Jesus Christ and him crucified, meaning it was central to everything that he said because it was that important and it is that important. And in focusing in on Jesus Christ and him crucified, we've been looking at the seven statements that he made while he hung on the cross, and you can really I mean you, stop and think about it. You can really find out a lot about a person when their back is against the wall, when their skin is on the line whether or not they're going to live up to what they've been saying or whether they kind kind of fold like a cheap suitcase. Jesus spoke seven things while he was hanging on the cross, and we looked at the first one and the first thing that he said while he was hanging on the cross, concerning the people that were literally responsible for putting him there, or at least on a human level. They were the ones that were the vehicles being used, and that were the Romans and the Jewish leaders. He said, father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They don't know what they're doing and he, of all things, had it within himself to ask for the forgiveness of those who were tormenting him. That's really living up to what he had proclaimed publicly concerning the fact that he was the way, the truth and life, that no one could come to the Father except through him, and he was making that way possible right there. The second thing that he said was I tell you the truth today you'll be with me in paradise. And he is speaking that to a man who was sentenced to death because of being a thief. In fact, jesus hung between two thieves. One of them joined in with the other people and mocked him and basically said if you can do it, save yourself and save us. And the other person, who was a thief, said be quiet, don't you really know who you're talking to? And then he asked Jesus to remember him. And Jesus counted right there on, right there, at that very moment, he considered that to be enough and he said I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise.
Speaker 1:What a profound statement, again, of all the things that he could say or not say while hanging on the cross. I mean, some of us go to great lengths to make sure that we are seen talking to the right people. You know what I mean being seen talking to those that are popular or those that have power or those that have some sort of inside information, and it's important to be seen talking to them because it looks like you're in the know. And here Jesus literally being king of the Jews, king of kings, actually Lord of lords God in the flesh hanging on the cross. Talk about having rank and holding court. Jesus was holding court with two thieves. If he was looking to be seen with the right people, court with two thieves, if he was looking to be seen with the right people, he would have come down off the cross and he'd have been spending time with the Romans and with the Jewish leaders, because that would have been the right people to be seen, with right people to be seen with. But Jesus was there with men who were on death row.
Speaker 1:Interesting where you find Jesus. There's a statement that Jesus made or it was part of a teaching that he said when I was naked, you clothed me, and when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was in prison, you came to me. When I was sick, you came to me to visit me. And the question's like, lord, when did we ever see that condition? And he said when you do things like that to the least of these, you do it to me. It's the same as you doing it to me. And I thought about that one time time and I heard in my heart the Lord say you know, if you want to find me in my presence, go to places like that. Go to places like that and you'll find me. That's where I hang out, that's where I spend time. I spend time where other people don't, because in my kingdom things are different. The first they'll be last and the last they'll be first. The weak are strong. The poor are rich. The rich the wise in their own eyes, they become foolish. Interesting Jesus is not ashamed to be seen with people that are in difficult situations.
Speaker 1:Difficult situations. Unlike many of us at times, myself included, I have a hard time, or I've had a hard time. Things have changed in my life, but there was a point in my life where I had a very hard time associating with people that were struggling in life Because, first of all, I didn't know what to say and, secondly, I didn't want people to think that that's what I was like. I wanted people to think that that's what I was like. I wanted people to think more of me than that. Now I see things differently because I've been given a different set of eyes. Isn't it interesting what takes place when we are born again, when we receive the very life of God? It's not as though we have a new set of eyes to see with. We do have a new set of eyes to see with and a new set of ears to hear with. We are spiritually alive, previously dead. Spiritually alive Now.
Speaker 1:Jesus gives the ultimate example of being willing to go to a great length to see one person come into the kingdom of God, and that is how valuable one soul, one person's life, is worth. How can you place value upon a person's life, a person's soul? It's invaluable. You can't place enough value on it. If that man on the cross would have been the only one who would have come to a place of relationship with God, to a place of relationship with God, jesus would have gone to the cross for that man. I mean, it's amazing to think about how far he's gone to reach you, to reach me. He had to reach into the very place of desperation, a type of skid row, a hopeless alcoholic and heavy drug user. But he, associated with me, reached in and said David, I forgive you, I love you, I receive you, I'm going to show you who my father is and I'm going to make you a citizen of my kingdom and give you my life In exchange for yours. Do we have a covenant? Yes, we do. Today is the day of salvation.
Speaker 1:For some of you, this might be the moment, like it was for that thief on the cross, where, in your heart, you've been wooed by the spirit of God to place your faith, your trust, your belief in who Jesus is, what he's done and what he is doing for you right now, and that he is God, the Son, your Savior, and that you have been convinced that you need him and you believe that he is who he said he is who he said he is. And at that moment, at that moment, you enter into a whole new realm, a whole new existence. You see, does it really take place in a moment? Yes, it really does take place in the moment. Now, it's lived out over a lifetime, but the change takes place in a moment, just like in a moment you were in your mother's womb and then, eventually, that moment, you were out of your mother's womb. Now, the process granted, just like there's a process coming to know the Lord. But in a moment things change and they change by faith in the Son of God, who loves you and gave his life for you, and now he calls us and gave his life for you and now he calls us to go into some of those difficult places? Oh, yes, he does.
Speaker 1:Two reasons One is because that's where people live. Two reasons One is because that's where people live and Jesus said it's not the people that are well who need a physician. And some people can openly say I'm not doing so good, whereas other people hide it and say, no, I'm not doing so good, whereas other people hide it and say, no, I'm good, I got this, I got this, I got this. Well, if that's you, you're not ready yet. But if that has been you or that is you where you say I need, I'm in need and I need more than just human help, I need divine intervention, well then, enter Jesus. But he calls us then to be his hands and his feet, his body, doing what he did, so that we can see people on death row come to know the Lord.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, isn't that just jailhouse religion? Yeah, I guess it can be, but then again, not everything that happens in the jailhouse is religion. Some of it's real. Some of you were born again as a result of your incarceration. It took that to bring you to your place of need, you recognizing you have a need. But it was there that Jesus met you, either through the testimony of another person, the word that came out of their mouth, or by him supernaturally revealing himself to you himself, to you, but nonetheless he calls us into places that are difficult, where people are sick, not feeling well, where people are imprisoned right, where people are naked, they literally don't have clothing or they're starving, they're hungry. Jesus is there, and that's the other reason why we go there is because Jesus is there, and that's the other reason why we go there is because Jesus is there. If you want to feel and know his presence, spend some time in a homeless shelter, not because you're homeless per se, but because you're there to be an ambassador of the kingdom of God, bringing good news.
Speaker 1:There's something going on on planet Earth right now that is unprecedented and it's more than a revival. It's a sovereign demonstration of God and it's been happening for centuries, but it's happening on a very pronounced, graduated level right now. And it's happening on a very pronounced, graduated level right now and it's intensifying and it's going to continue to intensify, it's going to continue to grow, and he is calling some of you, some of us, to be flung out into the nations, to the far regions. Some of you are hearing this and something's burning inside of you, because God has called you to reach the unreached. He's called you to reach those who are in prison, those who are captives, those who are bound in the sex slave industry, those who are starving, those that don't have mothers, don't have fathers, those who are widows. He's called you into places that aren't easy. But because he's there, it changes everything Moses said.
Speaker 1:Moses said that he would not lead Israel one step further unless God, his presence, would go with him. Not an angel, not some superpowers, but God himself. Well, that's where we're at and that's what God is saying. Also, he might not be visiting your church building. He might be saying I want you to go here and that's where I'll be and that's where I will manifest my glory. Someone's maybe waiting for it to happen in the wrong places. Say God, I want to have your glory come in my easy chair. And he's like that's a little too easy. I want you to go where people are struggling. There. I'll manifest my glory, I will show my glory. I will show my glory, I will show my power, I will reveal the dynamics of my kingdom. I will back up my word with signs and wonders. The Lord has no problem getting fish in the net, he has no problem attracting crowds.
Speaker 1:Now, making disciples is another thing, and sometimes that involves a refining process, oftentimes leaving a remnant behind for a period of time. But then the expansion takes place because when we're refined we become moldable, we become liquid gold and then we can be formed and fashioned into different things in oftentimes different places. Sometimes the Lord withholds his glory because he wants to cause people to leave where they're at and go somewhere else, not necessarily to another group of people who are comfortable, but to go to places that are uncomfortable. That might be the reason for some of the rearranging going on. God has a plan and it's unfolding. It's not just something that's been unfolded and now we just kind of review what he's already done, but we're living in an unfolding of his plan and his purposes. His ways are becoming known, and his purposes, his ways, are becoming known by virtue of revelation, because it's time it wasn't time before, but it's time now and for some of us it's time to move locations, but again, not so we can go start another comfortable thing down the block, but where we can go into some of the more remote places, some of the more challenging places.
Speaker 1:Jesus went to the cross. Now, granted, he accomplished much more than the salvation of that one man, but he did accomplish the salvation of that one man. His love certainly did not overlook him. Jesus didn't have his eyes just set on the multitudes. He had them set on that one man and for that moment that was the only one that was in the sight line of Jesus. Sometimes you're the only one that's in the sight line of Jesus. You know that can almost feel daunting when you realize, ah, I'm not just in a crowd and he's looking at the crowd, he's looking at me. I remember when that really happened to me, I was undone when Jesus centered his attention and his eyes on me and he said I did this for you and I felt it, I heard it. He made himself real. He's making himself real across the nations and it's going to continue to grow and grow and grow and grow and grow, because God is very committed to relationship and he is setting the record straight. It's not talk about who he is. It's him showing us who he is. It's him showing us who he is.
Speaker 1:Jesus is not ashamed to associate with people who have needs. May that same who have needs, may that same mind, be within us. Let's pray, father. I so thank you for molding us and shaping us, for refining us, for purifying us. Jesus, your forgiveness is unmatched is unmatched, and Holy Spirit, your wisdom, is a supreme acquisition. After you, impart to us the mind of Christ so that we could function like him and go to places that he sends us, regardless of the condition. Father, we love you, we worship you and we stand here in the name of our Lord and our Savior, jesus Christ, and we say so be it. Amen, amen, amen, amen. All right, folks, I love you. If you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, please feel free to drop us a line at lifearoundthefire, at gmailcom, or type in lifearoundthefire and look us up on the web. We would love to hear from you In the meantime. God bless you. Adios amigos.