Lessons From the Trenches: Nothing is Wasted in Him

In the midst of the trials of adoptive parenting, God has been revealing little nuggets of truth along the way.  I write mostly for my own benefit, but if someone else can glean something from my babble, then by all means read.  Here is the first of what I hope to be a number of installments about what I've learned in the beginning stages of this journey.


Exodus 32 says that the Israelites came before Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us."  They didn't know what "came of Moses," so instead of waiting, they decided it would be best to make their own god.  The story goes on as they melted their gold and fashioned a golden calf to worship.  Interesting to note here - there desire was for a god to go before them, but they were tired of waiting on Moses, whom was talking to the one true God.  The story continues with Moses returning and God quite angry with what has come of His people.  Moses returns, asks who is on the Lord's side, and says, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’”  So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.  Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”


Fast forward several thousand years.  Acts 2 it says three thousand were added to their number on that day of Pentecost.  They waited around after Jesus had left.  They persevered in waiting.  Jesus had promised a helper to go before them (and us) - the Holy Spirit.  Another thing that caught my eye in this passage in Exodus - Moses' instructions were to "go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp" and to kill his 'brother.'  The 'going' throughout the camp, that's what it takes to bind the strong man.  Jesus mentioned cleaning the house.  We must clean the house first - so many falsified structures built on lies in these children.  So many false beliefs.  Jesus said something about following him at the expense of natural family members.  Full devotion.  All in.  This is a FULL-TIME job, requiring full devotion and no care to who is looking at you and what they think.


What does all this mean?  Not exactly sure.  The Israelites had an honest hearts desire - a desire for a god to go before them.  They just went ahead of God in striving in their flesh to make this god.  It isn't too far off from their desire for a king.  Jesus was the coming King.  The Israelites wanted a king, but they couldn't wait so they got Saul.  Maybe 3,000 perished in Exodus 32, but not in vain.  But maybe it was just merely punishment and God redeemed it thousands of years later.  I'm certainly not diminishing God's holiness or any such notion condoning the behavior of Aaron and the people making an idol.  But I am pondering this same notion of His ways are certainly not our ways.  Sometimes things happen that are much bigger than our lifetime.  It is hard to get that perspective of eternity, especially while in the trenches.  But also, too, what if we didn't look at the Israelites as a group of morons making their own god out of metal, but acting on a misguided hearts desire for something that was indeed Godly?  Maybe their heart desired the right thing, but in execution it failed miserably?  Or maybe they had a desire in their heart, but had expectation of their own desired outcome and missed out.  They just didn't wait and endure.  Reminds me of a blog entry a few years ago I posted about Peter -  Peter fell asleep 3 times while failing to wait and keep watch, later denying Christ 3 times.  Could that be applied to us?  Maybe in our parenting?  Maybe our children deserve more grace - their defiance may in fact be in a hearts desire to do something good....but just comes out really, really wrong.  Maybe things that we've instituted as discipline that makes them seemingly miserable is just days away from a breakthrough, if we're willing to patiently wait.  Discipline is an expression of love...we know that all too well these days...

My wife read me something this morning that equated parenting to putting a jigsaw puzzle together.  But with these children, the puzzle doesn't come with the border pieces, somehow about 15 pieces from another puzzle was thrown in, and we lost 10 of the original pieces.  And as you try to piece things together, you realize the box was left out in the rain and the picture is unrecognizable.  In the midst of the battle, it is hard to see the destination when you can't see a picture of what redemption looks like.  I guess that's what faith is all about.  That's where the Israelites failed.  That's one of the most trying parts of this adoptive parenting stuff - where are we going?  What does the destiny of redemption even look like?

How many times have I had a true desire for something, only to sabotage the initiative by not waiting?  Or maybe as it relates to our situation, I can't dictate the outcome, but God may be using this to do a work in me.  No matter the outcome - good or bad - what is He doing in me?  I don't want to miss out, being too overly focused on the outcome I'm not getting and how uncomfortable and fruitless this process seems to be.  Thankfully, God is in the business of redemption!

Perspectives

I had a dream recently. I don't often have dreams of any kind, so if I have something, especially not pertaining to something that I'm emersed in, I tend to pay attention.

In the dream, it was as if I was watching a movie in first-person. I saw the reel begin with the countdown of 3-2-1 in black and white, and then the title, "Perspectives". I watched as a man, whom I did not recognize, was sitting in his living room looking out the window across the street at a neighbor's house. He turned toward the direction of another room and yelled to his wife, "Can you believe the neighbors? It's June already and he doesn't even have his crops in! Gosh - and his yard is such a mess!!!" The man was obviously annoyed and distraught by his neighbor's inability to maintain his yard and found it completely ridiculous that he couldn't even get his crops in. It was June - too late to plant crops.
The scene faded out, and then faded in. The setting was the same. This unknown man was looking out the window again. This time he turned toward his wife in the other room and said, "Honey, have you seen the neighbor's house? He needs help - it's June and his crops aren't even in. The least we can do is mow his yard for him." As it faded out, I heard a voice over, a narrator I guess, say "It's a matter of perspectives".

It is amazing what a change in our perspective will do. This was the same exact situation, but because of perspectives - one outcome was a man to extend help and bless his neighbor, the other of judgement and anger. Which am I? The other point I think in this was - I didn't know what was the deal with the neighbor and why he wasn't able to keep up - but does that matter? So often I find myself ascribing motive to my "neighbor" and miss out on opportunity to bless. This is a situation where we are not to be the judge. If we'll be watchful, it is amazing how many times the Father is giving us opportunity to help our "neighbor" if we just pay attention...

Strengthen What Remains

"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you." (Revelation 3:1b-3)

What needs to be strengthened? What remains but is ready to die? We felt like the Lord was exhorting us to strengthen the little that remains that needs to be redeemed. I believe that is for us personally in our lives, but also for our brethren - what are we doing to be effective for the Kingdom? We do a lot of "stuff" to stay busy, but what is truly about our Father's business? I believe part of this is prayer - strengthen prayer and watchfulness in our lives and in our churches - it feels like it is about to die. It is something for all of us to evaluate continually in our lives.

Moving the Mountains

I felt like the Lord gave me revelation through the scripture about 'moving the mountains' which would be encouraging to all those who are standing and praying for His bride.

And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and 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!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:14-17)

I wrote about this account, using Mark 11, in another post entitled Changes in the Church. Much of the church today has this similar issue - we are buying our peace (doves) by throwing money in an offering plate or purchasing books or chasing conferences, rather than going to the Source - our Father. I'm not saying these things are bad, but when they eclipse our devotion to or our recognition of the source, this is a problem. The Spririt will guide us into all truth - He will do it, not man. But I don't want to get off track here - I want to look at this passage in context - why the withered fig tree beforehand? What does moving mountains have to do with figs? What does overthrowing the tables have to do with all of this?

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. (Mark 11:11)

This was curious to me - He went in looking (watchfulness), but the hour was late and left. To me, Jesus himself went in to survey the scene - to see the state of the then present reality of the temple. This is where we are today - many of us see the state of the church and see all of its dysfunction, missteps, misgivings, and pitfalls. We've surveyed the seen, but now what? The dry bones know they're dry. We must not fall into judgement and grumbling, but what can we do?

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. (Mark 11:12-14)

What what does the fig tree have to do with all of this? He cursed the fig tree along the way, and it was out of season....why?

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2)

He's looking for fruit, in and out of season. Whether the church is in right order or not, we must be in right order with Him individually, both in and out of season. It isn't the church's fault we're not moving in all that we are called to. The other aspect of this is this instruction doesn't sound very glorious nor fun, but this is our charge - with longsuffering!

Then we see Jesus going into the temple and taking action, overthrowing the tables. He quoted Isaiah 56, but I want to give that passage some context here.

“ Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:6,7)

His house shall be called a "house of prayer" - this speaks of the house for today because he speaks of the "foreigners" - that is us as gentiles who are grafted in. These ones He will "bring to My holy mountain." The temple in that day did not resemble a house of prayer, nor did it look like a holy people.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:20-26)

Jesus entered the temple to partake of fruit and found none. To the people who inhabitted the mountain, He spoke to the mountain and said for it to be rooted up - He overturned the tables and chased the money changers away! The temple was defiled - He identified the root and spoke to the mountain. We, too, must uphold a standard of His holiness, but without standing in judgement and falling into spiritual pride, believing we are "holier" than that of those still left in the church. We've been given grace, we must show grace. We must forgive and be longsuffering - this is why I believe Jesus followed the teaching on standing in faith with a word about forgiveness of others. For fear of extending this into the length of a book, I'll finish with this: we need our brothers, we need to invest in discipleship, and not leave others behind...we need each other in order to fulfill the callings and purpose on our lives - even Jesus submitted to the ministry of John the Baptist.

We must stand on His word, He is returning for a pure and spotless bride. He is looking to us to stand in faith, and move the mountains!

Prevailing Prayer

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2428&forum=34

I thought I'd pass this along - I was really blessed by the account of the power of prevailing prayer, and their desire to gather the 2's and 3's...

Vision of a Joker - seeking interpretation

As we were in our nightwatch last Friday night, I saw in the spirit what looked to be the face of a joker. The joker looked evil, with white and red makeup, blushed cheeks and bright red eyes. It's hair was curly and out of control. Out of its hair came what looked to be either 6 horns or 6 spikes of a crown. At the top of each horn was a circular jewel. I prayed and asked the Lord what it meant, but I only seem to have part of the revelation. It seemed to be a message for the body. The hair represents the storms and trials that are ahead - the hair was like the waves of the see. The horns represent either 6 years of trials - each trial had a name. I don't have all of the names, but I do have some. If this speaks to anyone, please leave some comments! I believe it is a word of warning to prepare for the shaking that is coming (and is already beginning) for the household of faith - He is perfecting our faith and making us ready for the end time harvest.

More Thoughts on Prayer

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8

I just finished jotting down some notes on peace. In doing so, it became more and more apparent how our peace relates to our faith. When we are operating in His peace, our faith increases to believe for greater and mightier things. Our faith increases as we pray. As we cry out day and night, He will see that we get justice quickly against the adversary! As we gain victory, we can believe for greater things. We must continue to press in - not for the removing of our circumstances, but the moving through our circumstances to see the salvation of the Lord! It is there that His glory is revealed and we are made overcomers. It is also in this place where the Lord will find faith on the earth.

We must press in, not only for ourselves and our present situations, but also stand in the gap for our communities and cities. As I was studying peace, I noticed Jesus speaking about individuals in Luke 10:5-7, but then he followed up in verses 8-15 with this:

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. "

"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths."

He was referring to whole towns/cities, and how cities would receive us as we came in to pray, minister, etc. He followed by acknowledging whole cities and how He viewed them and referred to them. As our faith increases in and through prayer, we can come before the righteous judge and ask for judgement to come against the adversary that stands against our cities, and judgement will come quickly to those who pray day and night.

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." Luke 2:25

When Simeon prayed and stood in the gap for Israel, the messiah came! The prayers of a righteous man avails much. Whether Jesus came because of Simeon's prayer isn't clear, but Ezekiel 22:30 says, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it..."

Let us, too, stand in the gap and pray for the salvation of the Lord to come to our cities and state!

Strategy for Battle for Our Cities

There seems to be a stirring in the body of Christ. We are begining to thirst for more of the Lord and desiring to be in His presence more and more. As part of that, we are begining to press in more to heavenly places to discover what is keeping us from that open line of communication with the Father.

2 Chronicles 20:1-20 shows us a battle that was about to ensue against Judah. "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." The people of Mount Seir made their homes by chiseling away at the rock in the mountain sides, and then the people of Moab would make their homes their. The Ammonites and the Moabites represent sin and perversion. They originated from Lot's daughters who conceived their children with their father while he was drunk. The same thing is happening today - there are so many things that try to chip away at our rock of salvation, and then tempt us or distract us. Once we are distracted, sin sets in. We live in a day where many things chip away at our rock - TV, magazines, work, entertainment, activities, even church. It is coming at us from all sides it seems, but I believe the Lord is allowing this to give us spiritual eyes to see the battle at hand, and to teach us to fight. We see in verse 2 that "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)." They were keeping watch and saw the enemy coming. The watchman were on the walls and awake to see the vast army coming. We, too, need to watch, but also heed to others as they watch and share what they are seeing in the spirit. Jesus said,

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what day or hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Matthew 24:42-44 NKJV

We must be watching for the Lord and ultimately keep our eyes on Him, but we must also know the battle that lies before us.

"How can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house." Matthew 12: 29 NKLV

We must keep watch and pray in order to identify and bind the strong man. We see in 2 Chronicles 20:3, this is what Jehoshaphat did - he inquired of the Lord and proclaimed a fast. Through this, "the people came together from every town to seek him" (verse 4). There was a coming together of the body - they recognized the reality of the onslaught of the enemy, and realized the only victory over this vast army was through God giving the enemy over to them. These were overcomers - Jesus said we are more than conquorers in Him, and we are overcomers through Him. After they prayed (verses 6-12), it says all stood before the Lord - children included. I don't want to veer too much here, but children were included in this as well - our children have the same Holy Spirit as we do - they need to be included in prayer, worship, and the like. In verse 15, a Levite (worship leader) stood before the group and prophesied not to be afraid or discouraged, but that the vast army would be defeated at the hand of the Lord! He said to stand firm and to take up their positions, but that the battle was the Lord's, and the Lord would deliver them. Even in the midst of the battle, we must be steadfast in our faith. It is by our faith that we overcome. As they set out for the battle the next day, they stood and worshipped the Lord with Thanksgiving as if the battle was already won! For many reasons, I see too many intercessors downtrodded and beaten up. I, too, was feeling like I was in a bunker for many months, even years - never advancing; feeling like everything around me was falling apart or blowing up. We must never lose focus on Him - many times we focus on the battle, or our wounds, or our circumstance or any number of things that distract our focus from Him. After they gave thanks and praised the Lord, the Lord sent confusion into the enemies' camp (v22) and they destroyed one another. "When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it." This is amazing! We will see and are begining to see this plunder. Obviously today we aren't doing this by natural means, but rather in the heavenlies through our prayer, intercession, and worship. As we begin to win these battles, we too are going to see a plunder. Paul said we are to "wrestle principalities", but as we gain victory, needed resources will be released into the church for the good of His people. It also says that "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." People will see the Lord in us and see our peace in the midst of trials, and see the fear of God as we fight. It goes on to say, "Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around." I could go on and on about the "rest of the Lord", but I'll just say this - we are coming to an age where we will have to battle to find rest - we will no longer be able to continue to avoid battles to find a counterfeit peace - the peace will elude us unless we take the yoke of the Lord and overcome. It is through the overcoming life that we will move from victory to victory, and rest in Him.

In summary, we see here a picture of what the church should look like in these last days. As the vast spiritual army comes on all sides, the Lord will reveal strategies to overcome. He will reveal Himself through however He chooses - we must be in tune with the Father to see what he is saying and doing. Jesus said He only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing. As we do that, we will see the enemy brought down as the "God of peace will soon crush satan under our feet." Not only do we need to be in tune with the Father, but we need one another in the body of Christ. As we see in this story, the Lord used many people to reveal what He was doing for His people. Likewise, in these last days, we will be laboring together, building upon one another's work rather than doing seperate works or our own thing or treading over the same ground over and over again. This collaboration will be necessary in order to forcefully advance the kingdom of God. Keep soldiering on!

Importance of the Watch

I was studying in the Word about "Watching" and found something interesting that is worth sharing. I want to look at the account of Peter's denial, but first let me start by laying some foundations. Looking at the account of creation, we see God's establishment of the first day and how the day was comprised:

"Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." Genesis 1:3-5 NKJV

We see in this passage that the day started in the evening. This is how the Hebrews and the Jews recognized the day. This is a different mindset and approach to the day. The first watch, in the evening, lays the groundwork for the upcoming day, before bedtime. We are all to watch over ourselves, our families, and our "gardens" - our sphere of influence where we labor for and in the kingdom.

Next, looking at the account of the fall (Gen 3), one could say that by Adam not watching, he was deceived and fell. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field..." (Gen 3:1) - our enemy comes to deceive us and lead us into sin - to distract us from tending to our "garden" or place of dominion. 1 Peter 4:8 exhorts us to be self controlled and alert (watchful) because the adversary is like a roaring lion looking for something to devour. Peter then urges us after being alert (watchful), to resist him. We see here in Genesis that Adam did not resist, rather entertained the serpent's proposition and ultimately fell. He essentially fell asleep spiritually on the watch.

Now we zoom forward to the second Adam - Jesus - as he watched in another garden:

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”Matthew 26:36-50 NKJV

Jesus was watching over his calling and ultimate purpose (His garden/dominion). It is interesting to note that as He watched, he checked on the disciples, only to find them sleeping 3 times. Now remember this number 3 - it is important in what comes next. Jesus was victorious here in what was to come - He understood the need to "watch and pray" and stayed awake, and ultimately prevailed in the greatest victory. But Peter did not stay awake and watch, we see Jesus found him sleeping three times.

As we see in the following passage, the denial by Peter accounts him denying Christ 3 times:

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matt 26:69-75 NKJV)

Peter denied Christ the same number of times that he fell asleep on the watch with Jesus. Would Peter have denied Jesus those 3 times had he not fallen asleep on the watch? I think we can learn from Peter's denial, and learn from what Peter said in 1 Peter 4 and watch over ourselves, our calling, the Lord, and the wiles of the enemy.