Finding Community

If you find yourself enamored with the idea of starting community, you'll inevitably control it and stifle it.  But if you merely love the people God puts in front of you, soon enough you'll find yourself in the midst of community without even trying.  Let Him take are of community - He knows we need it and it will happen.  If we lose yourselves, it is there that we find Him and we are cared for.

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. -Matt 5 MSG

Freedom for others to journey themselves

I'm fresh off a visit with a friend who is going through a transition in life and, quite frankly, considering some pretty bizarre things. I'm not quite sure how to handle it, but it is reminding me of how we need to give one another freedom to have our own journey.

If anyone had the right to demand conformity and obedience, it was Jesus. He had his band of misfits and never once demanded anything of their person. He walked along side them, in all their faults and misgivings. He wanted people to follow Him out of conviction of their heart and conscience, not because he was able to effectively threaten or manipulate them. Love wins. Jesus modeled that the joy of participating in the Father's family was far more life-giving than strict obedience and conformity.

This is what won over the woman who was facing being stoned (John 8). "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." The only one who was without sin, the only one to remain, did not throw a stone. "Vengeance is mine says the Lord." For some reason, this provided some sort of solace for me - like God would nuke my enemies as long as I could keep my cool! What if vengeance is His, and He chooses not to unleash it? This was the case with that woman - by the law, she deserved the punishment. Maybe our view of Him and His wrath is scewed? Anyway, the point here is that Jesus didn't condemn, but gave her the freedom to be won over by love.

Paul demonstrated this as well. "We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God."(2 Cor 4:2) Ephesians 5:21, Paul tells us to "submit one to another."

By letting others have their own journey, we can be honest with ourselves and with others in how we see things differently. We can allow our conscience to lead us. We can love, even when we don't agree. This is part of submitting ourselves one to another.

Ethiopia: One Anothering

Our trip to Ethiopia made an impact on me in so many ways. One of the biggest things that struck me about the people in Ethiopia was that they seemed to have a genuine care for one another and really enjoyed each other.

Someone from Ethiopia said that we (Americans) measure a day by how much we get done, but in Ethiopia they measure a day by how many people they get to talk to and how many lives they touch. This was evident throughout our stay there. They understand the art of "one anothering". I realize there is a balance, but all too often we in America fall prey to the to-do list and forsake relating to one another.

I recently finished reading the book "Authentic Relationships, The Lost Art of One-Anothering" by Wayne Jacobsen. It is an absolute must-read in my opinion, but an Ethiopian would probably be completely befuddled as to why someone would write such books, especially in "Christiandom", about how to make time for relating to people. We in America have allowed productivity to eclipse relationship, and the church is sadly no different in many cases. Church is not a task, not an array of programs, not a meeting, nor a place. We are the church. A group of folks walking along side one another in a journey. This was just another opportunity along the journey for Him to show me more of what that looks like.

The first day, as our friends prepared a feast to celebrate our arrival, they invited the taxi driver to share the meal. He stayed and ate as if he was just another member of the family. We spent 2 days visiting some of our sponsored children with Children's HopeChest. During our travels with them, the driver was out along side us, spending time with the children as well. At one place, our child didn't speak Amharic but spoke some other dialect, but our driver was right there with us and able to translate for us!

We had an issue on what was supposed to be our last night. Our flight was canceled, but since we had a late checkout of 6pm, we opted to spend the day as planned and ask the hotel when we returned to just give us another night. But when we returned late that afternoon, we were told that the hotel was overbooked and we would need to get out. With news that we were to get out of the hotel in an hour, our new friend of just 24 hours took it upon himself to go out with the driver and find a place for us to stay. He told us, "Just relax, this is Ethiopia - there are plenty of places to stay." Those words burned in my ears - just relax? But that is what has been reiterated over, and over, and over to me in the last year - just relax. Relax into a life lived loved with our Father in heaven. Over the next hour, it was one of the finest examples of "carrying one anothers burdens" that I had ever experienced, as our friend tried finding us a place to stay.

God was showing me in such small ways how He orchestrates things and makes things work out. My wife and I noticed a woman on our flight headed to Africa wearing an adoption t-shirt on the flight - and lo and behold that woman and her husband just happen to be at the guest house we ended up at that final night. Or I met a woman at the money exchange counter at the airport, and we met again on the flight home. They may have simply been coincidence as it seemed nothing of great significance came as a result of these encounters, but what struck me was that even in the midst of the busy-ness of a city of 6 million people, He is at work orchestrating things if we just slow down enough to make time for one another and to see His hand at work in our lives.

He is amazing! In such a brief trip, it was overwhelming all the things He was showing us. The purpose was to meet our little guy we're adopting, but it was so much more. We enjoyed conversation. We made some new friends. We got to know those around us - I hope we can retain that back here in the states!

Sin Is Its Own Punishment

Sin is its own punishment! I used to think that by going through a "sanctification process", I was setting myself apart from the world for God. Wow, what a Pharisee I had become! Here is the problem with this stance and a portion of the evangelical church.

Many believe the best form of evangelism is to talk about Hell and eternal condemnation. But if someone comes to the Lord through those means, do they really come to know the Lord? The begining of wisdom is the fear of God. I believe begining because He draws us into relationship. And it is relationship with Him - not through fear of hell. The fear of hell should not be the motivation - pefect love casts out fear. If He is love, how can we come to know Him truly if we are afraid of incurring His wrath? It also breeds this "in" and "out" mentality. This is often how "movements" start, and churches...

A few years ago, I was talking to a man about Godly living, the world, and sanctification. He told me, "If I just lived by what I wanted, I'd be a part of an orgy every night with 40 or more women. I don't, because I serve God." Hmm. Really? The reality is, He gives us free will, and the freedom to fail - to try things and find that when we come to the end of ourselves, He's right there waiting for us. We should not want to take part of an orgy because it isn't what is best for us. It is to our benefit to avoid for the sake of our physical bodies, our spiritual bodies, our spouse, family, etc. The word says to obstain from such an activity, not for the sake of following some law in drudgery, but because that is what is best for our well-being. The bible says, "Thou shalt not steal." I don't steal from my neighbor because of a love for him as a fellow man and how he'd feel if I stole from him. When we view sin as the fun stuff the world gets to do that we aren't allowed to indulge in, this breeds the "in/out" mentality and gives us something to boast in. It also gives us some sort of twisted solace knowing people will be punished for the wicked things I'm forsaking as service to God. "I've followed the whole law since I was young" as the rich young ruler said. We get to define our own morality and spirituality by twisting scripture to justify our theology and actions. This is how we maintain superiority over "sinners." This doesn't sound like freedom! A life lived loved with our Father realizes that sin is its own worst punishment, and life in Him offers true freedom. The wages of sin is death. To the world, they are enslaved to this because they don't know any differently - but a Father in heaven loves them and wants to free them from the bondage of their own sin.

Judgement Coming?

There has been much talk surrounding Japan, and with the flood of prophesies surrounding Japan, and now California, there seems to be this underlying message that these things are occurring or going to occur because of judgement. For one, I find it in poor taste to push out prophetic words, saying "God's judgement," in their greatest time of need. I also find it odd that we're going to say California is next because God hates gays, Hollywood, the tech sector, and porn. Is that only in California? So New York is fine, the financial capital of the world? Or is love of money just more socially acceptable? What about Arkansas? They house the headquarters of a company forcing thousands of children into slave labor. They don't get judgement? Oh wait, cheaper clothes, groceries, etc. is more financially responsible so we can tithe more...is that it? Is that why they're safe?

Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. (Ez 16:49-50 NIV)

I'm on a Message Bible kick as of late, so I'll include that here, too.

The sin of your sister Sodom was this: She lived with her daughters in the lap of luxury—proud, gluttonous, and lazy. They ignored the oppressed and the poor. They put on airs and lived obscene lives. And you know what happened: I did away with them. (Ez 16:49-50 MSG)

So while many Hollywood actors have concern for social justice issues and are actually caring for the widow and orphan, we're going to fill a pew and cast judgement. Way to be salt and light! I'm really frustrated with how we can't seem to find the positive and look for God's hand at work in the earth. Praise God we live in a nation that cares for its own through social programs - should the church being doing that? Sure. But is it? Somewhat. Instead of complaining about who is doing this wrong, or that group doesn't do this - let's look at ourselves. Are we loving Father with all our heart? I'm done with firing missiles at others who aren't measuring up to our standards, all the while we aren't doing much of anything ourselves...ugh!

Doctrine and Relationships: Part II

I heard a cartoon recently that basically went something like this:

Frame #1: A man turns to his friend and says, "I'm going to get closer to God." His friend says, "How are you going to do that?"
Frame #2: The man grabs a ladder and stands it up.
Frame #3: The man climbs the ladder as someone else is holding the ladder. A crowd begins to assemble and asking, "What is this man doing?" His friend says, "He's trying to get closer to God!"
Frame #4: Someone from the crowd asks the man holding the ladder, "Who are you?" He answers simply, "God."

I know I have been guilty of this. There was this drive to "do something for God" when He is simply desiring to be in relationship with Him. He began showing me some of my heart.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:15, 21 NIV)

I believe I've had a true relationship with the Father throughout what I believe to be my salvation. I muddied the waters a bit with striving, religion, and other junk, but there was true relationship. And throughout my walk, I have drawn conclusions from my experiences with Him and from the Word. I would call that "theology" or "doctrine." My doctrine was derived from relationship, not as a means to arriving at relationship. But for some reason, I found myself trying to teach that doctrine as if it would help people arrive at relationship, then getting frustrated when others weren't having the same results. It recently hit me (yeah, stupid me!), that maybe what Jesus was saying "your love for me is evident by you obeying what I command", not "if you obey me, you'll do these things and it proves you love me." I believed the former for myself, but applied the latter to others. Wow! What a pharisee I had become!!!

But as I pondered this, Father was showing me what was behind this. If I receive a revelation, derive doctrine from it and teach it to others, I could captivate an audience, probably build a following, and look pretty darn good, holy and righteous in the process. And in that process, I'd be putting my yoke of religious duty around His people...and it is better for me to have a millstone around my neck at that point. Ouch! That's building something...but I think He made it clear - He builds the house!

I was talking to someone recently who was talking about organizational structure and how Jesus had this sort of structure to His ministry. He had the 3 beloved disciples, then the other 9, then the 70 he sent out, then the multitudes that followed Him. First problem is, from the time of the miracles with the bread, to the day of pentecost, what happened to the multitudes? I'm thinking they were following Jesus the man because of 'the show', what was in it for them, or their comfort, and not true relationship. Could I be on to something? What was my motivation? Another problem in the same vain is, Jesus spent much of his time telling these people to engage the Father. John 14:7 says, "Had you known me, you would know my Father." He was pointing people to the Father and to have relationship with Him. How much am I doing that? Most of what I wanted was "Follow me as I follow Christ." Yuck!

And I arrive here at this place as a close friend deals with the emotions of being told "he's not walking with the Father because he's not part of 'this new thing' God is doing." Huh? I think I've been guilty of that a time, or two, too. The funny thing is, I think God has been trying to do 'this new thing' for 2000 years, but we keep getting in the way. It isn't anything new. If it were, and I'm a part of it, I must be somebody or something special. It isn't about homechurch/cell groups/home groups/organic growth/blah/blah/blah, how long we worship, or how long we pray, or who is prophesying, or any of that stuff - not that stuff is all bad in and of itself. God doesn't seem to be about form. He shows up where He wants to, we just need to yield to that. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you...I think I'm finally learning to rest in that!

Doctrine and Relationship: Part I

I'm enjoying a season of new found freedom in the love of the Father. The simple truth of the commands "Loving God" and "Loving my neighbor" has taken on new meaning, and in doing so, revelation has come - what is true relationship, and why do I keep trying to build something?

"Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127:1a)

So what does it mean to allow the Lord to build His house? I used to get really into this sort of thing - what does the last-day church look like? where does the 5-fold ministry fit into that? where are the signs and wonders? what is His plan for my life? All this analyzing, striving, and anxiety over what to do and how to get there. Why was I so focused on the form? It has been some time that I've come to the understanding of the form not being all that important. I used to lead the parade of banner wavers for home church, but that seemed to be just religion in the home...I was disillusioned...so what was I to do?

Now I'm understanding this a little better. I am to live in a life lived loved by my Father, and seize opportunities that He gives to love "my neighbor." What a concept! I've slowed down life enough to see His presence in engaging with people I wouldn't have chosen left to myself. Places I would never expect, either - Lowe's, the beach, the lake, in my cube at work, etc. And it took no force or manipulation, no need to drive the conversation one way or another...all this, and it didn't happen in a church building, during a meeting, or at a 'home group.' Could this be how He's building His church? Taking a group of nobodies with no agenda and allowing Him to arrange appointments, meetings, encounters, etc. for when and what we need? I always thought I needed to find a group of "likeminded people" so we could "fellowship" on things we agreed on...hmm...maybe I was struggling with a complex of wanting to be accepted...hmm...

The most freeing part of this journey for me now is this - Jesus said when you pray, pray like this, "give us this day our daily bread." I was always looking to the future, and today was only relevant in how it applied to how I was getting to my destination. The destination was basically how I was to build a ministry for Him. So with my attention focused so much on "my destiny and purpose", I was missing out on the today...the people He had right in front of me who He wanted to use to touch me, and He wanted me to sew into. This wasn't about me ministering down to people and gaining a following, as though I was an authority on something...that's not very humbling...He didn't want me to arrive at that place, and by His grace I don't think I'm there. But now I don't need to worry about the future. Jesus said today has enough worry of its own. If by His grace He reveals something down the road, my flesh wants to fill the gaps and arrive at the destination without Him...so now I find myself at rest, living out each day with Him. What a freedom!

More on this later...

The Danger of Defining Form

I've heard a lot of discussions regarding 'church' and what constitutes 'church' as of late. I've heard about "new moves" that are coming, that are happening now, and how God is going to build the church.

I found this along the journey on the internet:
http://www.lifestream.org/bodylife.php?blid=32

I'm finding that whether in the church, doing homechurch, attending cell groups, etc., it is a matter of the heart. Are we loving the Father? Are we loving our neighbor? I used to be a banner waver for home church/fellowships, only to realize I was just advocating "bringing the religion home." Yuck! "Church" is where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name.

I also found this:
http://lifestream.org/blog/2008/02/29/live-in-love-a-message-from-the-sudan/

It definitely gives some perspective. Why do I waste all this energy and time? Who am I to know the form of God and His church!?! Who can fathom Him and His ways? Don't I only see in part?

Sojourners of Faith

I felt the Lord taking me through Hebrews 10-12 to highlight some important things in our walk with Him. The Lord is calling use to a higher place of faith and trust in Him.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Without faith, it is impossible to please God! In our western culture, faith is stifled by our persuit of the "American Dream" of 'independence' and 'freedom.' Actually, what our 'freedom' really is, is the freedom to persue control over our own lives and choices - to exist in a controlled environment - safe job, nice home, good food, modern conveniences, reliable transportation, etc., leaving very little need for faith. Faith can be very inconvenient with all that waiting...

"and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:34b, 38-39)

By faith, we are to advance the Kingdom. Jesus said to gain life, we must lose ours first. To those who "joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] goods," they didn't have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom - they were sold out! Where are we truly putting our hope and faith? The Lord continually shows me where my heart is...and I most definitely have not arrived. Just this week, I had a chunk of money I thought was coming in that was taken away. "But that's not just!" The Lord quickly showed me the offense in my heart, the lack of joy, and revealed where my trust was...it can't be in this job, that client, this check, etc. - but in the Lord!

Verses 9, 13, 16, and 38 describe the "all-stars of faith" as those who were sojourners, strangers, foreigners and aliens in the land. Our faith will make us look weird - at least it should. Faith is the "evidence of things not seen" (v1), so to the natural man it will seem peculiar.

"They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:38)

Wanderers...doesn't sound like fun. Nor does it sound "inclusive" or "culturally relevant." We need to break the lie of "looking like world" and start looking like we're 'not of this world'.

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them." (Hebrews 11:24-28)

Entitlement is a killer in our western culture, and in the church. Moses chose to suffer affliction - forsaking the riches of this world, opting for greater riches in Christ. He was entitled to a 'better life' - but he chose Christ. He feared the invisible more than the visible. We must do the same.

"And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise" (Hebrews 11:39)

They "did not receive the promise." We must become eternally minded - we will not receive all that is promised to us in this life - if Heaven is our home, this life is but a vapor, passing away quickly. We may sew what others will reap - we're not entitled - it's His works and not our own!

"For he (Abraham) waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:10,16)

Heaven was home. God was not ashamed to be called "God" by Abraham. Does the same hold true for us? Wow...this was quite hard for me to swallow. I want to be counted as one who "God is not ashamed to be called their God." Building on the previous post, I feel like the Lord is saying strengthen that which remains, that which is worth remaining - and that which is dying and not worth living - let it die. I think much of our "affliction" is kicking against the goads...

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebews 12:1-2,7)

It is time to have greater focus. The day of His return is closer than ever! Endurance builds peaceable fruit!

The Orchard

In the Spirit, was taken by a man who performed the husbandry of the trees in this orchard. It was at night, just about the turn of the season from winter to spring. He took me through the trees and as we went along, he showed me the condition of the trees and which ones needed attention. Some of the trees were long overdue for some pruning. Others were uprooted because of storms through the winter, still others were diseased and needing to be cut down. There were also trees that didn't seem to belong in the orchard - dogwoods, maples, and others. There was something about the dogwood tree - I commented on the dogwood, and the man said that it needed to be cut down. Although it was pretty, it had no place in the orchard since it produced no fruit. The master was after the fruit. Many of the trees seemed crowded and overgrown. Unkept fruit trees are a scary site. These trees were no different. The man continued to lead me through the orchard, taking me to the very back. Up on a slight hill stood six trees in three rows of two. They were well pruned and well spaced. I could see that in the daylight, these trees received ample sunlight on all sides. I was fixated on these trees. I asked about why these trees were here. The man replied, "These trees are more fruitful, these 6, than all the other trees in the orchard combined." At that, the vision waned.

A few days later, I was driving along side an orchard. The trees had been recently pruned. I heard the Lord say, "They don't look like much, do they?" The trees were cut back to just a few main branches. The Lord was showing me we are to become "nobodies" - much like Jesus, not doing anything to draw attention to ourselves, just do the will of the Lord.

The Lord continued over the next few weeks, showing me about the mess in the orchard symbolizing much of the church - a lot of "stuff" that wasn't amounting to much fruit. He also showed me the six trees were significant, representing relationships within the body that we each need in order to push us along in our walk and our purpose - we won't achieve these purposes without identifying and surrounding ourselves with these "6 trees".

The Lord also prompted me during prayer to "name the branches". He was saying to identify ministries I am to focus on, and not let any distraction come in to steer me away from His purposes, being faithful in the "little things."

I share this because, although it had immense personal meaning to me, I believe it is a message for the body.

Example of the Functioning Church

This is a lengthy passage, but I feel that it shows us some patterns to follow in the church and the body of Christ. I believe this passage is a reflection of how we are to operate. Because of the length, I have broken the passage up - the following is taken from 1 Chronicles 20:1-30:

It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

A vast army was coming against Judah. Looking back to Genesis, Ammon and Moab represent some perverted sin:

So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (Genesis 19:36-37)

The men of Mount Seir (Horites, Esauites, and Edomites) made their homes by chipping away at rocks (Deut 2:12) in the mountainside, then the Ammonites and Moabites would come in and inhabit those openings. The same thing is happening to us today - the enemy is coming against us, trying to chip away at the rock of our salvation (bitterness, unforgiveness, pride), then trying to inhabit those areas with perversion, lust, envy, and whatever other sin that can come in.

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Here Jehoshaphat acknowledges who he is, and who God is. Truth is reality - their reality was they were doomed. So are we. Without Him, we can do nothing. We must come to Him as a child - it is His good pleasure to be our salvation! Just as Judah humbled themselves, we must humble ourselves and pray. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (1 Chron 7:14)

Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”

They all met together and sought the Lord. I find it interesting the author noted "the little ones" - this is an aside, but there is a place for togetherness with family before the Lord. As they sought the Lord, the prophet spoke, giving a word of faith for victory. We have overcome - by faith we believe and hope for that which is unseen.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.

After receiving the word of the Lord, the Levites lead the people in worship. They praised Him as if victory was already at hand! What overcoming faith!!! They didn't get bogged down or overwhelmed, they blessed Him and worshipped Him in the midst of their trial.

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

They believed in what the prophet spoke. We need the prophetic ministry in our churches. I believe a time is coming when our very lives will be at stake - we must believe in the prophetic, we must desire to move in it, and we must trust in it. We are to "test all things." That doesn't mean discount all things. We need the prophetic ministry in these last days. The Lord is shaking us now to prepare us and perfect our gifts.

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever.”
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Jehoshaphat selected a worship team. They entered the people into intercessory worship, and the enemy fell. Worship is a strategy for warfare. The Lord went before them and turned the enemies on one another.

So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

As with seemingly all of the victories of His people, there was a great spoil. I don't believe we're going to go around killing people, but I do believe we are going to see spoils coming into the church as we begin to overcome in our spiritual warfare. The wealth of the gentiles is coming. They had watched until no one was left from the enemies camp - that is where we need to be - no toleration for anything not of the Lord. And as they enjoyed their victory, God gave them rest all around. That is His desire for us - let Him go before us, and as long as we are walking with Him, we will enjoy His rest and peace upon us.

Tabernacle and the Meeting

To follow up on my previous post, I want to explore more fully the tabernacle and how it applies to our walk, the church, and the Sunday morning meeting.

As part of Old Covenant daily worship, there were two types of sacrifices: the sacrifice of animals on the altar of burnt sacrifices, and the offering of incense on the altar of incense. The burnt sacrifices occurred just inside the gate. The gate symbolizes our confession of Christ. Once inside the gate, we confess our sins on the altar of burnt sacrifices.

When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)

Just beyond the altar of Burnt Sacrifice was the Laver. This is where the ceremonial washings took place. Today we'd say that is done as part of a water baptism. Once beyond the Laver, there was a tent which was divided into two parts: the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place contained the Altar of Incense. This is where as we enter into worship, we offer up praise to Him on the altar of incense. THe Table of ShewBread and the Seven-branched Candlestick was located here as well. The Altar of Incense was located in front of the veil. Here we see in the Holy Place, we walk in the Light, Jesus being the light of the world and the light unto our feet; and Jesus being the Bread of Life. But the veil was rented so we could enter in. As we are washed, sanctified, and filled with His spirit, and then the incense of our prayers are burning on the altar of worship in Spirit and Truth, it is then that we can enter in.

Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. Leviticus 9:22-24

Fire came down from heaven! We say that we want to see fire, or that we want to be on fire, or whatever, but if we all could corporately follow this pattern, the fire would fall just as it did for Moses and the Israelites! Now that is a meeting!!! This should be the goal for the meeting - for the fire to fall from heaven - to enter into God's presense beyond the veil! This is what John experienced in patmos - what the prophets of old longed and yearned for but couldn't enter in. We have that access, if we're willing to press in. But note here, fire fell because they followed the instruction of the Law in which God had given them - that's the tall order for us - we must press in and live by the Spirit.

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3)

Here we see what happens when man tries to do it by his own way. By our natural reasonings, we try to enter in through soulish stirrings or entertainment, only to miss out on what God truly desires. Spiritually a part of us dies if we do it enough - if we habitually sin, and disobedience is a sin, we'll miss His voice of correcting, and we'll enter into death.

I believe the Lord is returning us to simpler things. We've become too rigid in our traditions and too "adult-like" in our thinking and reasoning. If we truly walk in the light, confess our sins one to another, break bread and seek His face continually through prayer and worship, then the fire will go before us just as Joel prophesied about the army coming in that great and dreadful day. Let's return to His house being the House of Prayer and Worship in Spirit and Truth!

Changes in the Church

There has been much talk of "the meeting," what Sunday morning should look like, and how the church should operate. Many of us look at the book of Acts as what the church needs to return to in order to be effective once again. Although I would agree with that statement, I also believe there is much more. Many of us know that changes are coming to the church, but I really believe "church" is going to look nothing even remotely like what we're doing now. Those changes are already starting:

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17)

Just as in the days when Jesus came the first time, I believe He is begining to "turn the tables" in the church:

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" (Mark 11:15-17)

If prayer is to be what His house is to represent - are we succeeding at this? Are we moving in this? Would anyone call His house a house of prayer at this time? We have quite a bit of work to do! So we see that is part of the ingredients to the meeting - prayer!

And He found in the temple those who sold cattle, sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!" (John 2:14-17)

It is interesting to note what they were selling in that day. Seems as though we are repeating exactly what the church in that day did. We come to church, basically to consume a "service" of worship songs and a teaching. To passify ourselves and our consciences, we put a little money in the offering plate. In essence, we are "paying our dues" to be a member of the club (the sheep), and using that money in order to "buy" us peace (dove). Now the cattle symbolism is a little trickier. In order to get a handle on what "the meeting" should look like, we should go back to Levitical laws to see what they had to do under the old covenant in order to come into His presence - after all, that should be the point of the meeting - experiencing an encounter with the Living God!

The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. (Hebrews 9:13)

The cattle were sacrificed and placed as a burnt offering for atonement of sin - purification and sanctification. That is the third thing we are "buying" and "consuming" as part of the "service" on Sunday morning. We need to move beyond the religious experience and into an experience with Jesus because, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" which He did for us to be with Him. Another facet of this, too, is as "members" of the club, we have demoted ourselves to merely paying spectators of the "show" put on by the priests and pastors - we don't truly believe we can and should move in ministries of our own.

This is all about to change.

I will be following up with an exploration of the Tabernacle and how it relates to "the meeting" for todays church.

The Army

a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was of old
nor ever will be in ages to come.

Before them fire devours,
behind them a flame blazes.
Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,
behind them, a desert waste—
nothing escapes them.

They have the appearance of horses;
they gallop along like cavalry.

With a noise like that of chariots
they leap over the mountaintops,
like a crackling fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;
every face turns pale.

They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,
not swerving from their course.

They do not jostle each other;
each marches straight ahead.
They plunge through defenses
without breaking ranks.

They rush upon the city;
they run along the wall.
They climb into the houses;
like thieves they enter through the windows.

Before them the earth shakes,
the sky trembles,
the sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.

The LORD thunders
at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number,
and mighty are those who obey his command.
The day of the LORD is great;
it is dreadful.
Who can endure it? (Joel 2:2-11)

This has been one of my favorite passages as of late. Here we see army that is coming - like one the world has never seen before.

A fire goes before them - the presence of the Lord is with them. They are continually in the presence of the Lord. It is here - in the Holy of holies - we get recharged for our healing ministry, or workings of miracles, or prophetic giftings or whatever it may be - those who press in to this degree - the garden of Eden is before them, and they will miss no opportunity for ministry and to touch peoples lives - no fear of man or failure will prevent them from doing the work of the Lord.

This army will walk in unison - the body of Christ will be knitted together and content in their roles! No breaking ranks because of authority issues or discontentment with our place in the body. Our intercessions will be effective and precise - we'll rush on the walls and break into homes - binding strongmen and overtaking the enemy.

It seems as though the world will receive judgement from the Lord through this army - could it be? The shaking has come to the church so that we can begin to train and enlist in this army to come.

Preparation Time - Embrace It!!!

The Lord has brought the shaking to the earth - to the household of faith, we are to embrace the shaking. Our idols in babylon are falling (Isaiah 21/Amos 7) - man will try to prolong the inevitable, but it is falling. It is actually His mercy that He is doing this for us. We must embrace the trials as they are perfecting our faith. Our high places where we have sought refuge in the past are coming to ruin. He is our strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). Even the "good things" must be brought to ruin. We are seeking the "all these things that will be added unto you" and not first His kingdom and His righteousness. This will change. It is also interesting to note that passage in context - Jesus followed by saying to not worry! There is plenty to worry about in the natural, but we are to be at peace in these troubled times by the Spirit. We must recognize the season in which we are in - this is the final hour. Luke 21:34 says to be watchful that our hearts are not weighted down by the anxieties of this life - we must walk "above" the trials by walking out in the spirit when the natural world seems to be falling apart. In doing so, we will become like that plumb wall - straight and true with the Father. Jesus was crucified at Golgotha (the place of the skull). The skull houses the natural mind - we must take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. The natural mind will see despair, but in the Spirit we'll see opportunity. Just as God parted the Red Sea, fed the Israelites in the desert, had ravens feed Elijah and so and and so forth, His provision at times won't make any sense to the natural mind and at times will come miraculously - the point being our eyes will be taken off of our circumstances and on to Him as we walk out in the Spirit and learn to trust Him more fully. This time is not only preparation for us individually, but also as a body.

He is also shaping the body - we need each other! Proverbs 18:9 tells us of the need for each other - he who is slack in his work will destroy many. We must labor not only for ourselves, but for the very welfare of others. We must get plugged in - though the church is still blemished, it is partly blemished because it is missing those who are either offended and on the sidelines or ill-equipped for their purposed job. Either way, as a result, they are slack and we all suffer.

In recent weeks, we've been hearing the word "interfaces". To Perry and I, an interface has meaning for us (him in telecommunications and myself in software) in that an interface point is a point of connection in which information transfers from one interface to another. We are to be "interfaces" for the connecting of the body - i believe that was a word not for Perry and myself, but for all believers as He begins to shape the "city-wide" church. To follow up on the word about "interfaces", Matthew 13:47-52 talks about the kingdom of heaven being like a net - the kingdom is the connecting up or the interfacing of us in preparation for the end time harvest. As we walk these things out, we will walk into the "greater works" - the raising of the dead, healings, and miracles should and will become common place. Now is the time!