A Kingdom Picture

Jdg 7:19-21 ESV
(19) So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands.
(20) Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
(21) Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled.

Again, I love the hidden pictures in scripture. This one speaks to me as a Kingdom picture. There are eschatological overtones all through this chapter, but as the Kingdom progresses in power we see everything ties in to the last days move of God in His people.

The jars are us - this isn't really a stretch. Jars in that day were made of clay, as we are. We have the light of the Word in us - it should burn as a torch. The trumpet is the voice of God (Rev 4:1). In these last days as the people of God wake up, we begin to live more in the Spirit than ever before. When we live in the Spirit as a people, the clay jars will shatter and the torches of the Word will explode in brightness. The world will be able to hear - loud and clear - the voice of God. This will be a time when the enemies of God flee, and those who were in bondage are set free.

The Posture to Partake

Judges 7:4-7 LITV
(4) And Jehovah said to Gideon, The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will refine them for you there. And it shall be, he of whom I say to you, this one shall go with you, he shall go with you. And any of whom I shall say to you, This one shall not go with you, he shall not go.
(5) And he brought the people down to the water. And Jehovah said to Gideon, Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set him apart. And everyone who bows on his knees to drink, set apart.
(6) And the number of those lapping with their hand to their mouth was three hundred men. And all the rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink water.
(7) And Jehovah said to Gideon, I will deliver you by the three hundred men who lapped, and shall give Midian into your hand. And all the people shall go, each to his place.

Many of us learned this story in Sunday school at one point in our lives. This is a great story, but I'll share what it says to me now.

The water is still the Holy Spirit. There are those who partake of Him only when fatigued. They are tired... they lay down and dip their head in. When times are good, they forget who holds the umbrella above them. Then there are those who pursue God at all times good and bad. These know how to reach for Him. Their posture is not one of concession, but of vigilance.

Vigilance vs. Concession: watching for what God will do vs. hoping God does something. This is faith vs. desperation - a case where faith tends to win every time. The resources of heaven are at our disposal. Faith is our checkbook. Anything else is praying for a handout.

A True Intercessor

In order to be a true intercessor between God and man, heaven and earth, one must be as relevant on earth as you are in heaven. I'm going to illustrate this - think it through carefully. It seems like a 'duh' example... but it's profound to me.

Matthew 14:29-31 MKJV
(29) And He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
(30) But seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me!
(31) And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him; and said to him, Little-faith! Why did you doubt?

For Peter, the only Truth he cared about when he stepped out of the boat was Jesus. Jesus was his hero. Jesus was someone he trusted. Jesus told him to get out of the boat. Peter did. When Peter did that, he was doing NOTHING in the flesh. He was walking a spiritual walk which - by default - has dominion over all earthly rules. The key to this walk for Peter - was Jesus.

Then Peter looked away. He utters perhaps the shorted prayer in the Bible. HELP! Jesus reached down and grabbed his arm. For Peter, his walk at that moment failed. He went immediately from walking in the Spirit to walking in the flesh. How did he survive this? Jesus! Jesus is the answer in both situations. Jesus is the answer when the Spiritual walk is thriving, and He is the answer when it fails.

Hebrews 1:3a
(3) God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.

By His word, He can hold you together between your two worlds - the world of the flesh and the world of His Spirit. It is His perfect power that makes Him the perfect intercessor. As we become more like Him, our power of intercession for others also grows. We think more like he thinks - staying above the waves and helping others stay up, too.

Our Backwards Kingdom

Act 3:6-7 ESV
(6) But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
(7) And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

In the Kingdom, things 'appear' backwards. The least is the greatest. The way to the top is down. In order to get ahead, you must work to make others successful. To see, you must first believe. In order to live, we must die to flesh. You only get to keep what you give away.

This healing is a picture of the Kingdom. It demonstrates Kingdom rules. First the man was raised up, and then his ankles were made strong.

What is the goal you are currently trying to achieve? Does this give any clarity on how you might achieve it?

Leaves of Healing

In Acts, people were being brought before Peter's path in order to be healed by his shadow as it passed. If we wish to walk in the miraculous, we need to understand. It's not about our shadow - it's about the One who overshadows us. Quit paying attention to the shadow. We are being moved to a place where we are not impressed either with the miracle or the result.

Joh 7:38 MKJV
(38) He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

If there is a river coming out of your belly, you have no need to worry if your surroundings are getting wet. They will. We tend to stand around amazed that the atmosphere changes whenever a river issues forth. Silliness.

In order to be about His business, we must be focused on our instruction and obedience to it. Our awareness should be a Kingdom awareness, triggered by faith and compassion, but not out of need alone. The door to the miraculous in the Kingdom is not unlocked by need. The woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment had a need - but 'that' is not why she was healed. She was healed because of her 'faith'. This is not something we detect by looking around - we can only detect faith by looking up.

When Jesus walked around the pool of Bethesda, there was a man there that was healed. However, there were a number of people there who were 'not' healed. We question this continually. Didn't Jesus care about the suffering of the others? The answer lies in what He detected in His Kingdom, not about what He detected in ours. Need alone will not trigger the miraculous. Faith by itself - will. Are there other triggers besides faith? Love, compassion, kindness... now we start to look at the types of fruit the Spirit bears. But notice below... the fruit wasn't for the healing. The leaf was.

Eze 47:12 MKJV
(12) And all trees for food shall go up by the torrent, on its bank on this side, and on that side. Its leaf shall not fade, nor its fruit fail. It will bear by its months, because its waters come out from the sanctuary. And its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for healing.

So then how do we bear fruit AND leaves for the healing of others?

Psa 1:2-3 MKJV
(2) But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night.
(3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.

Faith is like a green leaf.

Pro 11:28 ESV
(28) Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Beware of leaves without fruit. This just might be a counterfeit (Mark 11:13). If we wish to see, we must first believe. There is no other way.

Living for Manifestation

Christians in certain circles and with certain backgrounds get a bad rap for seeking the 'manifest' Presence of God. You might hear things like: they just want a sign. Or, they're just thriving on emotionalism!

God's Presence is amazing in all the uncountable ways He may choose to reveal Himself to us. His Presence is something to desire - whether physically manifested or not! But we should not be living for His physical manifestation. We should not allow ourselves to get into a funk whenever He chooses not to blow us away in some manner or another. It just might be that our tendency to fall into depression prevents Him from doing what He would otherwise do.

The problem that I see from most of the critics is that they live lives devoid of the Presence of God, so they attempt to explain away - in any way they can - the power they don't see. Mockery is a typical cover-up. My guess is Elijah experienced some of that.

Picture this: Elijah is weary. He has had a full day. He called fire down from heaven. Then he put to death 400 priests of Baal. He has run up and down Mt. Carmel a few times in a supernatural fervor... and has called in rain upon a parched land. As he slowly walks down the street towards home, some clueless individual yells something like: "Hey Eli! Have you 'seen GOD' lately?" *chuckle chuckle snicker snicker*

Raining on the Just

The scripture says it rains on the just and the unjust alike. Christians use that verse as a crutch to explain away a lot of areas in life that we - as Christians - were responsible for protecting. We fail to act or pray for this or that and as a result, when calamity claims a victim, we just say that it rains on the just and the unjust alike. In the words of Col. Potter, H-O-R-S-E H-O-C-K-E-Y.

There is a reason why that scripture was worded the way it was.
When I was just a baby, I went through some severe storms. My dad kept me safe under a roof, while other babies in our fair city got wet, because their fathers' didn't care enough to provide them shelter. It rains on the just, and the unjust. That's true. But there is still the Father-factor.

Our nation has rejected God, socially and governmentally. As a result, we experience the fallen world without a roof over our heads. It rains on the just, and the unjust. Don't confuse our exposure to the elements with judgment - that is still coming at the end of the age. It is what it is. We're getting wet as a nation. But as a person - I'm dry. My Father shields me from the elements. My house is covered by Him - even if my nation is not. Does that mean bad things don't happen? What it means is that nothing happens that He hasn't already made provision for.

Zealous for God

Num 25:1 MKJV
(1) And Israel lived in Shittim, and the people began to fornicate with the daughters of Moab.
(3) And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
(5) And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal-peor.
(6) And behold! One of the sons of Israel came and brought to his brothers a woman of Midian, before the eyes of Moses, and before all the congregation of the sons of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(7) And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a spear in his hand.
(8) And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman, through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the sons of Israel.
(9) And those that died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
(10) And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
(11) Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the sons of Israel while he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

This is an incredible story. It's a story about open rebellion of a people before God. It's a story about God's patience with uncovered sin: not much! It's a story about ZEAL for righteousness.

After reading the passage, I really only wish to point out two things.
1) Before sin was atoned for, we see that God's judgment is severe. But scripture says that when Jesus paid the world's price for sin, God's judgment of it was poured out - totally - upon Him. Sin's price is paid. This was not always so. The 'grace' part of this equation today is that we can go through life without accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. Judgment again comes - after death (Heb 9:27-28).

2) This is how God defines zeal. Phinehas pinned a man and woman to the turf with a spear. This is an act that most people would find absolutely repulsive. Even the strongest, most determined among us would have great difficulty in doing such a thing. God said it was the right thing. He called it justice. He called it ZEAL. How many of us who have called ourselves zealous Christians really possess the quality that God defines here? Zealous? Really? Are you - really? This isn't about killing people for God! This is about possessing the attitude that God's opinion is the ONLY one that matters. Apply that any way you wish. That's zeal.

Getting Comfortable In The Boat

In scripture, any time you see boat, think also of throne. Think about a boat for a second. It's allows one to be totally isolated - untouchable by everyone else. This is one reason that Jesus found it to be a handy teaching platform. Ephesians tells us that we are seated with God in heavenly places. We also sit with Him on His throne! Only... we aren't comfortable there. Remember the disciples during the storm? They were freaking out while Jesus was sleeping. As children of the King, we need to get comfortable with the throne perspective.

In the Old Testament, what was the word for boat? Noah built one: ark. Then in Exodus, Moses was told to build a box - and it was called the 'Ark'. And upon that ark was a 'mercy seat'. It was were God came down to sit and converse with His priests! Do you see the similarities between the boat and the throne? In case you think this a stretch, many thrones of that day were fashioned in much the same way as the ark - complete with Cherubs! The High Priest was on an island away from the rest of humanity - just like Noah in the flood. The throne is a physical picture of sanctification.

Mat 13:2 ESV
(2) And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.

Rev 4:6 ESV
(6) and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind...

What a great teaching platform... a boat! A throne! There are some things that we will NEVER be able to show the world without a heart-knowledge that we sit upon a throne with God.

Eph 2:4-6 ESV
(4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
(5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
(6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

So we are seated with Jesus - on the throne. But also remember that Jesus didn't 'need' the boat. He walked on water! Jesus used that perspective as a tool to reach the lost. We are sanctified, not to lord ourselves over others, but to draw others into a relationship with the One who sanctified us! Think differently!

Opening A Scary Door

It has been in my spirit, lately, to comment on some traps that are very easy to fall into. The last post was about self-promotion. Today let us consider criticism. When someone has fallen, it's incredibly easy to criticize them or demean them in some way.

Paul wrote:
1Co 10:12 MKJV
(12) So let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

The insinuation is that it's our natural inclination to judge in this way - which is typically 'not' out of love. We assume that we are strong enough or wise enough to overcome that particular spiritual attack when in many instances we have earned no credentials to justify such a claim. The result is that we open a door to be tempted by the same spirit by which our comrade fell. It's then that we find out that withstanding that kind of attack is not as easy as we thought.

I'm not implying that constructive criticism does not have a place. Within the body of Christ, however, all should be done out of love with restoration in mind.

Climbing the Wrong Ladder

If you are stepping on others in order to climb a ladder of self-promotion, then you are forfeiting grace as it would otherwise apply to you in that area of your life. We know that scripture says the Lord promotes a person:

Psa 75:6-7 MKJV
(6) For lifting up comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
(7) But God is the judge; He puts down one and sets up another.

If you climb into a prominent position by illegitimate means, you have not done so by circumventing God's will. You have done so by His allowance, and by your chosen path have removed yourself from the safety net of His grace.

This might be akin to jettisoning the parachute on your dragster in order to lighten your load and to win the race. You cross the finish line first, but then crash and burn because you have no means to stop. Rely on God for promotion - His discretion - His timing - His will.

Room For Expansion

God does not give us all we can handle in most situations. He evaluates our strength, and then gives us a measure of what we can multiply. Here's the example:

Mat 25:15 ESV
(15) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

In this parable, the master gave a certain amount of money to each of his servants. He didn't give each all they could be trusted with. That's a misconception. He gave to each knowing that they 'should' multiply what they were given. The fact is, the master knew that they should be able to be trusted with 'much more' than they currently had.

You don't give an irresponsible teenager a broken down muscle car and a book on car repair. The teenager would not be able to handle the 'profit' of rebuilding a corvette. It might kill him.

We are each given a measure to invest in the Kingdom. In every case, we are expected to multiply - profit - expand. It's those of us who do nothing (bury our talents) that fail the test. There's a scary end to that servant - he loses everything. The master calls one like this 'wicked'.

Opportunities May Knock

Pro 4:3-5 ESV
(3) When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
(4) he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
(5) Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Who wrote this passage? Solomon. Is it ironic that David instructed Solomon in his youth to pursue wisdom? Solomon was prepared, should the opportunity ever arise, to make a wise choice. God gave him the opportunity because he was prepared for it.

Prepare yourself for the opportunities you'd like to see come your way. If you're prepared for nothing, expect to see it.

Abundant Life

Joh 10:10 MKJV
(10) The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

People seeking the abundant life might be under the impression that once you receive Jesus, that life never has difficulties, or trials, or fill in the blank, because now you have received the 'abundant' life. The truth of the matter is quite the opposite. You still have the same trials and tribulations. However, the abundant life affords you the answer before the problem ever presents itself. God will never send you into a battle that you are not equipped to win.

The Prince of Peace

You're in a war. There are bombs exploding around you. People are dying. The screams of anguish are piercing your heart and it is all you can do to keep from panicking and running. And people are... they are running. They are losing hope.

Then you look up and your general is standing there. He's unshaken. His gaze is determined, despite the bullets whizzing past his head. He looks at you and motions for you to follow him. Who do you follow? Those who are screaming madly and heading for the hills? Or do you set out after the one who seems to have a plan?

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace in scripture. I've always thought that was a reference to the peace He would institute once His reign became manifested on earth. That's true enough.

However, Jesus was unflappable. He slept through the storms. There was not one HINT of panic in the man, even to the point of execution. He had peace. That's why He is the general. That's why if we carry the Holy Spirit as He did, we, too, can have peace in the storm. He is the Prince of Peace!

A Generation Without Fear

Many people do not mind war as long as it's not on their own doorstep. This applies to spiritual warfare, too. With greater anointing comes greater attacks. God is looking for a people who do not care when or where the enemy comes. They don't fear. They simply take care of business.

Remember, the key to dealing with the enemy is realizing that he is already a defeated foe. All he does is done out of desperation. Do not make him bigger than he is. If you are a spirit-filled Christian, there is no power greater than the power within you. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. We all can wield this. The enemy is yet to find a defense against it.

The final generation - the Elijah generation that sees in the return of Jesus - is a generation that calls fire down, destroys the flesh, and all in the 400-fold presence of the enemy. Fear will not prevail over them.

Knowing God

Joh 21:25 MKJV
(25) And there are also many things, whatever Jesus did, which, if they should be written singly, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Many walk around and claim to know God, but all they have is a hefty head-knowledge of the Bible. Remember the Pharisees and teachers of the law - they knew the scriptures by heart, yet Jesus told them if they knew the Father, they'd know Him, too! For this they tried to kill him on many occasions.

The Bible is a great book, and is the Word of God. It's authored by Him and preserved by Him. However, the Bible's purpose is to get you into a relationship with the Author.

So you've memorized the Bible. Awesome. How does it feel to know that the world can't hold enough books to describe all that Jesus did in 3.5 years of ministry? I'm not trying to discourage memorizing scripture, but if this is your thermometer for 'knowing God', you're still cold.

You must know Him at a personal level. You must live by His Spirit. This is the only way to live a relevant life.

Light

Gen 1:16-17 MKJV
(16) And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the smaller light to rule the night, and the stars also.
(17) And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth,

When God created the heavens and the earth, He set over the earth two great lights - the sun and the moon. He did this to set rulership over day and night, and to cause division between day and night.

Notice - two lights have dominion over light and darkness. The sun has dominion over the day, while the moon has dominion over the night.

The greater light does not rule over the lesser light. They co-labor - together. Together, they rule over light and darkness.

Mat 4:16 The people who sat in darkness saw a great Light; and Light has sprung up to those who sat in the region and shadow of death."

Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness come upon you. For he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes.

In scripture, the moon is symbolic of the Church. The Church is the lesser light, but one that co-labors in dominion of light and darkness. The Church should be simply a reflection of the Son.

Are you getting this? Can you see the genius of the Creator here? Have you ever seen both the sun and the moon in the same sky? Yes, of course! How long does that last? Maybe a few minutes? How long did Jesus stay with His newly formed Church? Maybe a few minutes in the broad scheme of things?

Before He left, He told His disciples:
Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.

The sun has gone down, but the moon is out! There is enough light to walk, but you have to walk a little more carefully. For those of you who have an interest in the eschatological, read carefully:

Mat 24:29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Mar 13:24 MKJV
(24) But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Yes, there is coming a time when neither the light of the Son or the light of the Church will be seen, because both will be hidden. I'll let you all draw your own conclusions about that.

What Are You Known For?

My pastor says we must be known by our fruit, not our intentions. Do you know people who always mean well, but...? When taking inventory, have we been fruit producers? Jesus said the world would know us by the fruit we produce.

Matthew 12:33 MKJV
(33) Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.

What does inventory reveal? Is there 'anything' growing? Blooms? If there is fruit, is it the good kind, or the corrupt kind? You can always tell when people around you leave feeling a little more full, or a little sicker. Good fruit draws a crowd. Bad fruit draws flies.