Jason Lee Jones

The Twilight of Day, A Wedding, and Burning Lamps

In the twilight of the day, the atmosphere intoxicates with romance. The bride and groom dressed in all their glory. The onlookers gaze at the wonder of two becoming one. The pockets of conversations, families reminiscing, the clatter of forks and spoons, and outbursts of laughter score this momentous occasion.

I smile.

Life in motion.

Simply beautiful.

A quiet hush stills the night. Everyone congregates in the front lawn. Engulfed with dancing flames of fire, the most extravagant display of white lanterns set ablaze. Filling with heat from the flame, these luminaries ascend and cast light over the dark of the night. The burning lamps catch the momentum of the wind, soaring to new heights. Suddenly, the sky is filled with FIRE. WHOA!

Jesus’ first miracle was performed at a wedding. I believe this speaks volumes to us, as it was the beginning of His miracles. (John 2:1-11) Of which, His first was not raising the dead, opening deaf ears, etc. It was turning water to wine, and where did it happen?  It was at a wedding, a celebration of covenant.

From the very beginning this was and still is the desire of God, to live in covenant relationship with us. Jesus displays this so beautifully in John 17:21 when He prays, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE IN US, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Jesus is after our hearts with a Holy desire. He is after intimacy in the deepest sense of the word, to become one in Him and burn with a Holy Flame of Love.

This resounded in my spirit so strong, as I officiated this wedding. Before my very eyes, I witnessed the miracle of two becoming one. The exclamation point was the luminaries as they ascended, fueled by the flame, and guided by the wind.

Jesus Himself declares in John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”.  It is a Holy Romance! The word “to know” here is the most intimate form of knowledge. It goes deeper than church attendance; it goes beyond quoting of scripture; it literally speaks of the way a man knows his wife. Thus the wedding!

As I witnessed these burning lamps ascend from the wedding, I couldn’t help but think of the glorious church, celebrating covenant and catching aflame with the Fire of His love, being guided by the wind of the Spirit, and becoming a light in the deepest darkest places.

In His Fire and Love,

JLJ

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A Transvestite, the Human Condition, and A High Priest

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

Sitting outside a restaurant in a small city in the Amazon at two in the morning, exhausted from leaving it all on the altar, my heart still raw from the intense meeting. At our table the atmosphere around us richly filled with laughter and testimonies from the night. In true Brazilian fashion, we sat, celebrating life and enjoying each other’s company, abruptly though, the conversation ceased.

Turning to see the cause of this interruption, my eyes settled on a young man speaking…no pleading- desperately…hopelessly pleading with the pastor.

His hair matted and face warn, my heart shattered. Garbed in a bikini top and women’s shorts, his face painted in make-up and sweat oozing from every pore, he obviously needed a fix…

Often lost in translation, I’ve learned from my travels to read situations, not sure what was being asked, but quickly realizing he was asking for money. Looking on further, the pastor offered him some food and an invitation to dine at a nearby table.

Not sitting well with the restaurant owner, he asked the man to leave. Sneering and pointing at our table, as if to throw in his face, “They told me I could sit here!”

Little did we know, earlier, he spat and sneered at patrons refusing his plea for food or money. The locals knew he was a drug addict and a male prostitute…later we found out he would trade money, food, and even sex in exchange for drugs…

Having been asked on numerous occasions to leave, he continued to refuse. Shortly after, two extremely large, plain-clothed policemen arrived and demanded he leave. Vile exchanges infringing upon the patrons forced all to continue to spectate. Pushing this young man to leave, he screeched and fought the whole way out, pointing at our table. “They invited me here!”

The following memory, deeply etched in my mind, still plays vividly over and over in my head…

Fist meets face…Hatred is released…

The young man fell, his face forced hard into the dirt and rock covered asphalt. I literally felt as if I had been punched in the gut! One of the policemen had stopped and punched him right in the face!

Attempting to get back on his feet, his shrill voice filled the air, while blood and dirt clung to his face. They punched him again, as well as kicked him repeatedly. It all happened so fast, and there was nothing we could do- these were the police!

This scene honestly could have played out in any city in the world. Unfortunately, it’s a clear picture of the state of sin and the human condition. It goes without saying, this young man was in the wrong and absolutely needs MUCH help. The owner even had just cause to have him thrown out, as he was protecting his business and patrons from being harassed. Likewise, the police had to do their job and escort him out of the restaurant.

But what was so heart-wrenching about this situation? Why was I so gripped? You see, recently, I began praying, “Father enlarge my capacity to identify with the hurting…let me see with Your eyes.” This has become a dangerously eye-opening prayer!

In witnessing these events, I couldn’t help but ask what horrible things have been done to this young man and how many others, including Christians, have looked at him with hatred just like this policeman?  In reality, though, how many times would we look at people like this and write them off or turn our noses up at them, because we see them as vile and perverted?

However, instead of merely seeing a cross-dressing junky, I saw a young man who had, along his way, lost his identity and was enslaved to sin, medicating his pain with sex and drugs.

I also saw the hatred and disgust in the policeman’s eyes, as he struck this guy. Why would there be such hatred in a man’s heart? What atrocious things has he had to endure that has made his heart so callous?

Tossing and turning, night after night, thinking about the incident, I continue to rehearse all of these questions in my heart, so maybe just for a moment I can identify.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

It has taken me some time to wrap language around it, and even now, I don’t know that I am fully communicating my heart. Obviously in both situations, there are deeper spiritual conditions at play. There are natural things and choices that cause open doors, and in some cases, there is no explanation for actions and atrocities committed.  However, there is always a root.

I am by no means justifying any sin, nor am I saying he shouldn’t pay for his crimes, but I am speaking of the state of the heart and human condition. I am merely attempting to challenge us, as believers and in light of recent events, to not so quickly make enemies out of the lost, but rather allow ourselves to see through the eyes of Jesus.

I’m reminded of the lady caught in adultery. Jesus showed her kindness and grace, yet still dealt with the sin. It’s God’s kindness and love that leads us to repentance… Romans 2:4 There is a way to release the love of God and still deal with sin and injustice.

The fact is we expect the lost to live as believers, but they don’t believe yet. And the fact is Jesus died for the transvestite, the junkie, the murderer, and even the most hateful person you know!

“For God so loved the WORLD He gave….” John 3:16

Jesus died loving us all. Are we willing to lay down our lives daily for the unlovable?

Just a simple question to ask ourselves.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

In His Fire,

JLJ

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A Demon, A Sound, and A Sword

Outside in the middle of the sweltering Amazon, little creature comforts around, I found myself standing amidst a multitude of hungry Brazilians, all gathering for Dancando no Fogo” (Dancing on Fire). The smell of sweat seemingly being sucked in with every breath, void of any personal space, I began praying for what ended up being at least 1,400 people that night.

My hands moved forward to touch a woman’s forehead. All the while, her screams horrifyingly echoed a sound of hatred, a sound of evil, a sound of disgust, one personally never heard before. Suddenly, chaos erupted! With one vengeant leap, both of her hands flew toward my throat, accompanied by the shrilling threat, “Eu vou te matar!” (I’m going to kill you).

Completely overwhelmed with the love of God, I immediately and instinctively looked back at her and replied, “No you won’t…now come out of her in the Name of Jesus!” Surprised at my response, I absolutely was not afraid!  This precious woman needed to be free. She, personally, was not trying to kill me, but a torturing force within her wanted me dead.

Staying with her until we felt she was free, we then moved on to countless other people manifesting demons. One beautiful young lady looked at me with a blank, desolate stare and declared, “Eu nao gostu perder!” (I don’t like to lose!). Placing my hands on her forehead with altar workers gathered around, we cast the demon right out of her! Seeing each and every one of those precious people set free was positively breathtaking!

Time after time, along our journey this past year, we’ve experienced many instances, where things like this literally take place in our meetings.  Last July, in Sao Luis, Brazil, we began to sing the “Sound of Awakening”. The Pastor told me as we began, to release this sound.  With great intensity the Glory came, people began to be delivered, throwing themselves on the ground, etc…and getting up free, all during worship, just as we released the sound! And last week, as we began to worship, people from the street ran to the front door of the church and began kicking, screaming, and cursing the Pastor.  Even home in the USA, although usually more hidden, we continue to experience major deliverances as well.

We are called to release a sound, a sound of awakening. Throughout the Old Testament, the Sound of God confronted darkness (2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 149, Psalms 89:14-15, Isaiah 42:13). Repeatedly God used the worshipers to defeat the enemy.  In I Samuel 18:10, David played and an evil spirit left King Saul.

In the New Testament, Jesus’ mere presence provoked the enemy. It confronted the religious and eradicated darkness! He was the Word of God made flesh (John 1), and He became the Sound of Heaven in the earth!  People came to His meetings to hear and be healed. In Luke 8: 26-39, Jesus confronted the mad man of the Gadarenes and cast a legion of demons into a group of swine!  This sound of Jesus brings a sword. In Matthew 10:34, He Himself states that He came to bring a sword.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword!

We are called to be a sound, His Sound, The Sound of Awakening! Every time we sing of the knowledge of God and minster on our instruments from a place of revelation, the Sword of the Word of God releases and brings about great manifestations of healing, deliverance, and salvation! Thank God that this happens! We are releasing the Government of Heaven on the earth, and that is what it’s all about!

In His Fire,

JLJ

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