Pillars

Isa 6:1-4(1) In the year that King Uzziah died I then saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.(2) Above it stood the seraphs; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.(3) And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of Hosts; the whole earth full of His glory.(4) And the doorposts moved at the voice of the one who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

In this temple vision that Isaiah had, he sees the glory of God filling the temple. He describes great grandeur; the whole earth is filled with His glory!

Then there's a subtle little statement... the doorposts moved. Some translations say the foundations - others say 'the pillars'. The temple pillars moved at the sound of His voice.

Every congregation has pillars. We discussed these just the other night - the 5-fold ministry as given in Ephesians chapter 4. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists are the pillars of the church. They NEED to shake and be moved at the sound of His voice.

Perspective

Can we have wrong-minded faith? Have we ever heard this statement… or perhaps even said it: I just KNEW he/she was the one for me! God told me He would provide and he/she was that provision! I just knew it!

Abraham ‘thought’ that Ishmael was the answer to God’s promise of an heir. He ‘knew’ it. He was sure of it, after all, he was 99 years old and all was well. Then God comes along and says “I’m about to make good on my word.” Abraham falls out. This does not negate the fact that Abraham had faith – and had believed God – that God had answered his prayer for an heir and had given him just such an heir, Ishmael. His faith was there, but he was wrong. However the faith of Abraham was attributed unto him as righteousness.

Abraham bargains with God for the fate of Sodom – for his nephew Lot lived there. God agreed that if even 10 righteous were found, He would spare the city. The next day, Abraham watches from a distance as smoke rises from Sodom. Abraham did not have the luxury of the scriptures to know the fate of his nephew. What was Abraham’s view of God’s mercy at that point? Not even 10.

Burned

Once upon a time there was a powerful judge who was very unhappy at home. One day he was on official business out of town and decided to make a stop at the home of a prostitute, even though prostitution was illegal. The prostitute's price was not a sum of money, but rather a small used car. The judge was unprepared to pay the price, naturally, but promised that in return for her services he would have the car sent. She agreed only if the judge would leave some colateral, for which he left his driver's license and credit card (judges aren't always that smart). The judge tries to have the car sent to the prostitute in order to retrieve his driver's license and credit card, but the prostitute is gone.

A few weeks later, the very same unwed woman shows up in the judge's court, pregnant, being accused of prostitution. The judge does not recognize the woman at all but sentences her to death. At this point, the woman produces the credit card and drivers license and announces that the owner is also the father.

Burned.

This exact scenario took place in scripture. It happened to Judah, the son of Israel from whom the Messiah would emerge. The story is in Genesis 38 and it describes Judah being framed by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, whom he should be giving to his son in marriage. However, Judah doesn't like her at all and wont give her the go-ahead to marry. So Tamar sees Judah preparing to go out of town and she dresses up like a prostitute, seduces him for the price of a goat (there's a joke there, I know it...) and takes his signet, cord, and staff as colateral. When Tamar showed up pregnant, Judah very quickly suggests she be burned to death - which solves his marriage problem. But, Tamar produces the staff and signet...

Judah was not smart. He trades one form of immorality (unlawfully denying Tamar the right to his son) with another kind of immorality (sleeping with her) with yet another - extreme hypocrisy. It's called sin management, and it doesn't work.

God said this: Luk 12:2-3(2) For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor anything hidden that shall not be known.(3) Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Despising Your Birthright

Gen 25:34(34) Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up and went his way. And Esau despised his birthright.

Most of us know the story. If you are fuzzy on it, read Genesis 25. Esau traded what was rightly his for the immediate satisfaction of a perceived need.

Gen 25:32(32) And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying, and what profit shall this birthright be to me?

If Esau had really been on his deathbed, there would have been no argument over food. Jacob would have given him something to eat. But the fact of the matter was, Esau wasn't dying, as tired and hungry as he was. Impatient, however - he was. To that end, he really did not esteem what his father had to give with any regard at all.

A birthright, by definition, is the right to possess something (unearned) passed down by your father. It could be land, material wealth, governmental position.

Our Father has adopted us as heirs, agreeing to pass on ALL that is his. Yet we sometimes forfeit what He has to give, qualifying our decision by chasing a perceived 'need'. For instance:
My wife hasn't been paying me much attention, so I had to go sow a few wild oats for my own well-being. It's lentils.

Or...

I've been so tired lately, I just haven't had the energy to go to church. Saturday is the family day and I've just got to have some down-time.

Beans.

Scripture also records the average 'Christian' response, too.
Gen 27:36(36) And he said, It is because his name is called Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me?

Victimized. That didn't get very far with Esau's father. How far will it get us with ours?

Little Mermaid Bathmats

I'm in my bathroom today and notice a Little Mermaid (copyright Walt Disney 19xx) Bathmat. Yes... my life has changed. Now there was a day when I would have looked upon something like that with TOTAL disdain. Maybe a sneer... maybe a grimace, but at the very best - indifference. But now I look upon that silly object with fondness because my daughters like the Little Mermaid (copyright Walt Disney 19xx). I don't want it to get dirty, I don't want it torn, I don't want it moved or stolen or misplaced. I want it there - for their enjoyment.

I'm serious, serious, dead serious, too.

So when I take a step back and look at that, I think of all the things that I get pleasure from that my Father in Heaven protects. Maybe it's the late-night walk in the neighborhood. Maybe it's that old truck I drive, or the bike trail, or chocolate chip cookies, or... you name it. It's entirely possible that the ONLY reason certain parts of Beaver Lake haven't been blown away by the enemy is that my Father knows I love to go there.

Do you know what you Father protects for you? Do you know what He has preserved simply because He knows how much you delight in... whatever it is? It's like this... you plant a little tiny tree in your yard. You hire a lawn service to come in and mow, but you give them specific instructions to mow AROUND that tree, or there will be hell toupe'. I hear the enemy mowing, but I strongly suspect my tree is safe.

Testing - Who Benefits?

When God wishes to teach us a lesson, He may test us. That seems backwards because typically (or hopefully) we've learned the lesson before the test. Humanity is a stiff-necked group, however, and sometimes the test is the means of the lesson.

But what about Job? He walked carefully so as to avoid that kind of testing, and he was tested like none other! It seems unavoidable, doesn't it. Walk carelessly, invite testing... walk carefully, invite testing.

But God is really into one thing - faith building. He wants to build our faith.

The Message says this:1Pe 1:7 Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.

I've heard many use this passage to say that God tests us so He can find out if our faith is genuine. That's really a silly notion. God already knows if our faith is genuine. God tests us in order to prove to ourselves that our faith is genuine. After all, it's our own faith that moves the mountain. It's faith in who we are in God that permits the miraculous.

The Unimagined Promises of God

My daughters LOVE to sit in my lap when they play. They are just over 1 year old but when given an opportunity, they would rather look at a book than to play with toys.

This gives me so much joy. It's hard to describe why... but their curiosity is so attractive, and they receive much happiness from looking at pictures. My spirit rejoices within me because I know this is the start of a love affair between my daughters and the word of God.

As a result, I have promised to them in my own heart to give them all the books they wish to consume, and that they should never be without a word to feed their spirits. It's a promise from me to them that they have no concept of. It's unimagined by them.

How many promises has our Heavenly Father made us because He takes joy in what (or whom) we are pursuing?

John 16:22-24(22) And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.(23) And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.(24) Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

So Jesus says that the more we sit in the lap of the Father, and the more we read His face, it will be so that we ask those things that we know He delights to give us - just as my own daughters are learning to do.

This scripture says that God gives us the answers to our prayers in order to make our joy 'full'. When we ask Him to give us things we already possess... we rob ourselves of the joy of receiving. Instead, we replace this miraculous, joyful experience with the boring task of grocery-list prayer... and perceive we've received nothing. That's a different blog... or a past one... or something...

I want my girls to be full of joy when they are in my presence. I wish to give them all they long for... yet I don't concentrate too much on providing more of what they are already holding in their hands. Nor are they asking.

A New Thing

Mar 6:45-50(45) And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away.(46) And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray.(47) And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.(48) And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:(49) but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;(50) for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

It's really not news anymore that Jesus is willing to do a new thing. It's not only about what He has done, it's what He is doing and what He will do. Viewed in that light, does it not seem silly to only celebrate past moves of God?

The disciples were perhaps the greatest Christians to ever live - by our standards. They walked with him, literally. They knew His teachings, they watched the miracles, and they were used to many of His ways. Then Jesus shows up walking on the water - doing a new thing. They freaked. They were not used to it, and they were highly uncomfortable.

There's the lesson. It was His voice, though, that rang out reassurance. They knew His voice. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice." Even if God decides to do something different in our midst, we can still be reassured by His voice. Maybe that's why so many congregations refuse a new thing. They aren't His sheep, and they do not recognize the voice.

Letting Yourself Go

So you finally meet the girl of your dreams. (I'm a guy, this will be from my perspective.) She is gorgeous. Perfect features, great smile, charming, witty, good natured, and just dumb enough to fall for you. Life is great! Then something happens. She shaves her head, stops brushing her teeth, stops eating veggies and adopts cake, and you discover the charm and wit have been replaced with a vile attitude. Apparently, she used all of these things to get to a place of comfort - her goal all along - and then just let it all go.
That strikes a scary chord with many Christians and their 'faith'. They've found faith useful for getting into the family of God and checking salvation off of their list of life's to-do's. The scripture does speak of this.
1Co 3:12-15
(12) And if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw,
(13) the work of each will be revealed; for the Day will make it known, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire will prove the work of each, what sort it is.
(14) If the work of anyone which he built remains, he will receive a reward.
(15) If the work of anyone shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss; but he will be saved, but so as through fire.

I dare say that this is good enough for many. They want to secure their spot in eternity but would rather live like the world until then. What a sad and dangerous place to be. Faith is the key to eternal life, yes, but it is also the water our physical boat floats on. We are to live by faith. It is impossible to please God without faith. Why do we spend so much time and energy trying to take the 'risk' of faith out of our daily lives? The answer is not polite.

Certain Inalienable Rights

There comes a point in the Christian walk when it is helpful to do a 'state of the union address', or a personal assessment of exactly what it means to be a child of the King. Very few Christians do this, and I know it's true because if they did their behaviors and attitudes would be completely different. A child of the King... what would anyone think of anyone else whose father was the king? Spoiled? Rich? Power-hungry perhaps? Out of touch?
Being a child of the King of Kings, I have certain inalienable rights. To be honest, I've never done such an assessment, so I may miss a few that haven't even occurred to me.

I have the right to be joyful despite any circumstance. Watch the news at 6:00 and tell me that right isn't worth much.
I have the right to healing that the most gifted physicians in the world can only dream of, AND, I have the right to share it.
I have the right to speak to mountains and move them if they're in my way. That's silly, you say. Ignorance is everywhere, just watch out for moving mountains.
I have the right to the cattle on your hill. I am content to let you keep them until it's my turn.
I have the right to speak to a short list of storms. That list is growing.
I have the right to command powers and dignitaries in high places. They greatly fear my lineage.
I have a right to a certain white horse, in a certain stable, attached to a certain house that is prepared for me.
I have a right to speak life or death to others - I always speak life.

So am I spoiled? I wouldn't disagree. Rich? Without a doubt. Power-hungry? Probably not in a way that would satisfy Merriam-Webster. Out of touch? Only with certain things. I'm trying to change the way I think. It's not to create an air of loftiness, but it's to foster what God has intended for me all along. Know who I am. Know who you are. Why give the enemy ground for free?

Beating the Spiritual Dead Horse

Most boredom in the Christian life where it pertains to prayer comes from praying for things we already possess.

It is really true. How much time have I spent asking for necessities... health, home, food, money, etc...?

My daughters still cannot talk. Yet to this point, they still have not gone without food in their bellies or a roof over their head. In fact, they have more toys than they can play with in a day. When they are able to talk, I'm fairly certain I do NOT want them asking me daily to 'please give me food today'. Or 'dad, please do not let anyone come in a hurt us today!' I'm their dad... and that stuff is a given. I'd be a bit hurt if I thought they had so little faith in me that they continually had to ask that.

How much time do I spend in prayer going down my 'list' of the same old stuff that God has already ordained for me as 'a given'? It's time to change the way we think about prayer. It's time to bring 'all kinds of requests and petitions' to Him.

Dried Up From The Roots

Mar 11:12-14
(12) And on the next day, they going out of Bethany, He was hungry.
(13) And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went to it, if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs.
(14) And Jesus answered and said to it, No one shall eat fruit of you forever. And His disciples heard.

This is somewhat a puzzling story on the surface. Why would Jesus curse something for not producing out of season? The answer lies in appearances. The tree had leaves - which drew Jesus from a distance. The leaves were a clue that the tree was bearing - only it bore no fruit.

Interjected in this count is the story of Jesus entering the temple, only to find money-changers at work greedily making a profit for themselves. Once again, the temple appeared to be a place of God... only it was not. In the case of the temple, it was cleansed by Jesus as He chased out the profiteers. On the way out, however, the disciples noticed the tree had whithered from the roots up.

What appearances do we give when Christ passes by? Do we acknowledge we don't have it all together? Are we so used to the ditch that we accept it as normality and just don't realize we are sadly lacking? If we cannot find a place in our lives to be honest - to show our real vulnerabilities, ineptitudes, failures - emptiness... then how do we reach a spot where we can cry out to God? If Christ comes in, He can cleanse us - with whips made of cords if need be. But if He doesn't come in, we whither away from the roots up.