Exo 12:41-42 ESV (41)At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
(42)It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
Mat 26:38 ESV (38)Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me."
Mat 26:41 ESV (41)Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Jesus stayed up and watched… but it did Him no good.He was not delivered.The death angel did not pass Him by.
Those who slept… they were delivered.We should probably never mention the word ‘fair’ to Jesus as we go down our complaint list.
The Kingdom of Heaven was exemplified in the Garden of Eden. Adam's job was to maintain the garden and have dominion over all of it. But Adam was also commanded to have children. Pretty soon... that garden was going to get crowded. That's because the intent of God was that the garden would fill the earth. In the book of Numbers, God told Moses:
Num 14:21 MKJV (21) But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah.
Know that this was the plan from the very first. God will fill the earth with His glory. How? Through the spreading of His Kingdom.
Our goal as Kingdom subjects - kings, heirs, brothers, children, are to be expansionistic. Adam was commanded to go forth and multiply. What were we commanded?
Mar 16:15 MKJV (15) And He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation.
Expand! In order to expand, you have to possess where you are now. Start small. Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." As you know, Joshua was responsible for leading a nation into new territory - the Promised Land. But he 'started' in his own house. God's instruction to him was first to possess and occupy, and expand with growth. For that reason, God did not give Israel the entirety of the land all at once, but allowed enemies to possess it until Joshua was ready to take possession.
This is the parable of the talents. In Matthew 25, we see on man given 5 talents of gold, one 2, and one 1, each according to their ability. The man with 5 made 5 more. The man with 2 made 2 more, but the man with 1 buried it in order to preserve it. This is illegal in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is expansionistic - remember!
The weight of making a statement - "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" is not light. If you are the leader of your home and you can't start spreading the Kingdom there, then you are burying your talent.
Whatever the Age to Come looks like, it will not be static. It will resemble in some form the Garden, where the goal is to push the boundary out.
Isa 9:7 MKJV (7) There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will do this.
Like most Christians, I have pondered the mysteries of Heaven and what it means to live there. Most of us have heard stories of people who have visited Heaven. While some may not be credible, it would be be unwise based on scripture to totally discount the testimonies of those who claimed to make a heavenly visit and return to tell of it. In nearly every one of these accounts, there are children in Heaven - doing what kids do. This is certainly one of the mysteries I'm talking about. If Heaven is outside of time, then what constitutes growth in Heaven?
I believe the Spirit has given me the answer to this one. It is the very same thing that facilitates spiritual growth here, and it has nothing to do with time. It has everything to do with investment from spiritual fathers and mothers.
Am I saying that there is a lack of spiritual nourishment in Heaven? No, naturally not. But at the same time, while time here on earth creates physical growth (whether we like it or not), God in His infinite kindness and wisdom might choose to preserve the honor for a child in His realm to be raised by the child's parents who may not yet be present. Conjecture... yes... but comforting at the same time. Nevertheless, it is easy to see why we have so many spiritual infants here on earth who biologically are in their late adult years. It isn't a matter of time or physical maturity - it's a matter of spiritual parenting and submission on our part, as children.
The season has not been a dry season. That's what I call it when I cannot figure out what to write - a dry season. I've been focusing on my book - which I do hope to complete soon. We are also about to begin the Adullam School for Warriors, which is leading me down some different paths of thought. What does it mean to be a 'warrior' in the Kingdom?
Yes we know the verses of Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 10:4 - the enemy we fight is spiritual. But there is something else. There is also the precept of casting stumbling blocks before others (1 Cor 8:9). I think that is a fairly easy concept: do not do anything that might create a reason for others to question God's goodness or that might lead them down a path of spiritual compromise. Where it gets difficult is when you tackle the tendency to throw stumbling blocks in front of yourself.
We do it all the time. In the battle against our own fleshly tendencies, we set ourselves up to fail - on purpose. If our battle is gluttony, why do we find ourselves at the all-you-can-eat restaurant? If the war is against lust, how is it that we have every adult cable channel available in our cable subscription? For some, the conflict is against isolation - and yet every effort is made to remain alone.
What can you war against today? It probably isn't against the principality controlling hurricane Irene, or the dark forces embedded in government positions. Most-likely, it's the demonic tendencies we embrace that keep us feeling powerless, weak, and condemned. Battle these, first. When they are beaten, then we look for a bigger giant.
Are you going through a dark time? Take comfort - it will not always be this way. Life is about seasons. Seasons of darkness can be very painful and otherwise unpleasant. But realize that God has a plan for you to prosper 'while' you are traveling through.
Isa 45:3 MKJV (3) And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am Jehovah, who calls you by your name, the God of Israel.
Darkness is where treasures lay. Gold and diamonds are rarely found laying out in broad daylight. To obtain that which really has value, you have to be willing to brave the dark places. If you have been curled up in the fetal position waiting for the dawn, I would encourage you to straighten up, grab a lamp and a shovel, and make the most of where you are. For me personally, I am still living off the interest of the treasures I found in the darkest times of my life.
If a foreigner were to land in America today for the first time, he or she might discover that we love sports. We love American Idol and we talk a lot about politics. Our world is largely work, sports, and recreation with an emphasis on sports and recreation especially when the weekend rolls around. For some, church plays a part, but to the casual observer Sunday morning looks just like Saturday morning. Most cars are still parked in the driveway and the sound of lawn mowers are heard everywhere.
In other nations it is much the same. In the third world, it's a struggle to survive every day for many. No day stands out. Holidays are non-existent. Dictatorships impose a type of king-worship that is strictly enforced. If you want an interesting read, check out what the internet has to say about life in North Korea.
When our traveler lands in China, or Russia, or Brazil, or New Zealand, or you fill in the blank, how much time will elapse before they hear the name of Jesus, and before they realize that He is the King?
There comes a time - and it will be soon - when everything will revolve around the name of Jesus. All commerce will be done in His name. All trips will be planned around His festivals. All Sabbaths will be celebrated to honor Him, and sports will only be done to exalt Him. All talent contests will serve not to reveal our skills and make us famous, but to glorify the One who gifted us. All promotions we earn will be for the sole purpose of throwing our new crown at His feet. There will not be a news cast given that will not mention Him. There will not be a weather forecast broadcast that will not acknowledge the One who gives rain, sunshine, or snow. The issues we have today may or may not exist, but instead of bickering over drilling for oil, or not, we will bring it first before the One who knows why He created oil, and for the purposes it should be used. All things will be done with Him in mind, and for His glory, and for the expanse of His Kingdom which will never stop expanding. Every first fruit will be brought into the King's house - for His table. Every first pressing of the olive will be His. Every fine vintage of wine will His servants carry. Yes - it will ALL be about Him. And I am His son...
There is a lot of nervousness in the world today. Uncertainty is a word that is used often. People strive to protect investments, retirements... you know, all the stuff that the Bible says not to worry about. The heat is increasing. How come?
For one, the end of the age is drawing near. We were given signs to watch for, and these are obviously transpiring in our days. But there is another reason that the pressure must be increased. It is so that those who are unaffected by it might stand out. The writer of Hebrews says that everything must be shaken in order to reveal that which cannot be shaken. That 'should' be us, Church.
God is not waiting on evil to hit a number on the evil scale. That is not taught in scripture about our day. Rather, God waits on a bride to prepare herself (Rev 19). The day which Jesus appears for His Bride will be just like the days of Noah, where God was not waiting on a fulfillment of evil, but a boat to be constructed. Are we pressing the Kingdom, or waiting for the sky to fall?
Mar 1:16-17 MKJV (16) And walking along beside the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. (17) And Jesus said to them, Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus said these words immediately after He was baptized by John, and then came out of the desert from being tempted by Satan. Luke records that when Jesus left the desert, He "returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee". It is good to notice the sequence of events. First Jesus hears what His Father says when the dove descends: You are MY Son. Next, that word is tested by Satan: IF you are the Son of God... And finally, Jesus emerges from all of this IN POWER. No, Jesus did not have this kind of power as a boy who sat in the Temple. But now... He did.
And then Jesus walks along the shores of the sea calling His disciples. Why do you suppose He didn't just walk out to them (if they were in the boat) or approach them from the water? I would think recruiting teenage boys might have been much easier had Jesus just skipped on out to the boats and said, "Hey guys, do you want to be like me?"
He walked along beside the sea of Galilee. God established rules on earth. Rules such as gravity, weather patterns, harvest cycles, sowing and reaping - were rules that Jesus did not come to shatter just for the sake of being "one who could". Miracles are tools of the Kingdom to be used only when LIFE can be imposed where before death had a grip. Yes, it's all about life. It's not even about good or bad... it's about LIFE. If there is any question about this, refer to the garden of Eden, where there were multiple trees to choose from. Don't try to figure out good and bad - just eat from the tree of life! Joshua said... choose life! Life comes from seed.
This raises a question. When Jesus did walk on the water, how was He imposing life? You could ask this to the disciples who at that time were in a vice of terror over that storm. Remember, not all of the disciples were fishermen. Some were accountants and politicians. What they learned from that miracle was that the One in which they had placed their faith was capable - even above the power of death and the abyss. There were seeds sown during that episode that bloomed into every sign and wonder that those young men performed later. Life!
This word was given by Napoleon Dezaldivar on November 14, 2007.
My favorite word...
Revolution
Just stop and feel the heat on that word for a second.
You are part of a revolution. A revolution that causes disruption. And you guys are the great disrupters :).
There is an explosion that is happening in the earth to where small hidden community churches are seeing healings, signs, and wonders come to life. Diseases are confronted and eliminated.
There is a revolution that is to lead a a reformation. There is to be a reordering of things that comes as a result from this revolution.
Do you want a revolution?
To have a revolution, you have to be willing to overthrow a government. You have to be willing to overthrow a social order. One that has become normal and comfortable, and established.
The goal is that we lead to a reformation. There is not an elimination of an institution but a reordering, a restructuring of what we have known as church and what we have known about Christianity. The whole point is to see daily life in the church become different. Change must come. We can't just dress up our everyday cows(its more than just changing our brochures and re-doing our buildings).
Men and women must come into their destiny in Jesus.
We need radical, cultural experiences. Everyone must be free, from adults to babies.
Everyone must be empowered. The freedom of heaven's government must be employed in the workplace and marketplace. We don't have control over people, we don't need control over people.
If we preach power, freedom, joy, and life and don't provide it, then we just sound ridiculous.
Our relationship with the Lord is more than just praying a prayer and "working out our salvation." Jesus said, "it is finished!" We now have instant access to the kingdom of heaven. Our relationship is now restored to now where we can approach the throne of grace and mercy.
God's will is not for us to provide good arguments in defense of the Word, but to live a life of freedom in this world. Practice the presence of God where ever you are at and you will bring freedom into the environment.
2Ki 5:1 MKJV (1) And Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and exalted man with his master, because Jehovah had given deliverance to Syria by him. He was also a mighty man, but a leper.
The King James Version says Naaman was a mighty man of valor, but a leper. To be mighty, or valorous, is to have great strength of will, resource, and fortitude. Naaman was a physical force to be reckoned with. But he had a problem. He had leprosy. Leprosy was a degenerative skin disease of which there was no cure. Naaman, though strong, was rotting away.
There are many spiritual giants that walk among us. They have great strength and resource. They are gifted and wealthy in ability, but they have this one hinderance. They are lepers. A spiritual leper is one who has open wounds. These wounds never seem to heal, and as sure as one finally appears to be healing, another opens. They are infectious. They tend to be bitter and carry unforgiveness and are often driven by these. Anyone who is around this type very much realizes that they, too, are beginning to feel wounds of the past. Leprosy is contagious!
What we know of Naaman, beyond his might, was that he was short-tempered and had a decided impression of how others should treat him. He was upset that Elisha sent his servant with instructions to wash in the Jordan river. Naaman had a chip on his shoulder, as most with leprosy do. Spiritual lepers tend to be angry people.
In the end, Naaman followed the advice of Elisha and was cleansed. His cure was to humble himself to the instruction of someone who did not even show him the respect he thought he deserved. He humbled himself to the advice of his own servant girl, as well. The cure for spiritual leprosy is humility. Place yourself in under the submission of a spiritual elder.
If you can identify someone with spiritual leprosy, the best thing you can do is to serve them as the servant girl did. She guided him to a place of spiritual authority where he had a decision to make. It was her love for her master that 'cleansed the leper'.
Honor is almost extinct in the day we live. Recently as I watched a little of the Royal wedding, I began to think what a waste of time and money. In my heart I was being cynical about the entire extravaganza. At that moment the Lord spoke to me and said, “Your culture no longer values honor”. It really caught me off guard. As I contemplated that word, I realized how true it was. Most of our culture is based upon dishonor. Most news programs and talk radio is mostly about dishonoring someone else. We have come to the place where we actually honor dishonor. The Bible is very clear about the importance of honor. In the NKJ the word honor is used 178 times. We are called to honor all people not just the ones we agree with. The Bible says, “give honor to whom honor is due”.
I want to see honor restored to the sons and daughters of God. I want the church to be a community of honor that creates a culture of honor. Honor is not merely being nice to one another. Has to do with value. Honor is showing value to another. Honor elevates the status of others. If you give honor, you will receive honor.
Honor carries with it great rewards. Honor is the key to either full or partial reward.
Honor is the essential key to receiving from God.
Honor or dishonor can be displayed in thought, deed or word, but all honor originates in the heart.
A king had two sons: a wise son and a wicked son. When people encountered the wicked son, he would abuse them and carry on in a manner unbefitting the prince. People would remark, "Is this how the king raises his son? Is this the kind of man the king is?" Yet when people encountered the wise son, he would treat them courteously and provide them all manner of service as befits a prince among his people. Then they would say, "What a fine king we have over us who has raised such a fine son. Truly he is worthy of his throne."
In the Kingdom, your success is measured by your response. Jesus told multiple parables to demonstrate this. One was about a sower who threw seed onto all types of ground. Some ground responded and produced greatly. Other ground rejected the seed and nothing grew at all.
In another parable, a master gave his servants a sum of money to steward for him. The man who took risks in order to increase the money was not only successful, but he was given more. The man who was afraid and buried the money ended up with only what he was given... and 'that' was taken away (and given to the man who had much).
Mat 13:12 MKJV (12) For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whoever does not have, from him shall be taken away even that which he has.
This is not a popular view in our present society. The oval office believes that he who has much should have much taken away and given to those who do not have much. If you want to walk in a level of success beyond what that office would dictate, ignore that viewpoint. When you walk in the Kingdom and operate - truly operate - within its laws, then it matters not what sort of legislation comes against you through worldly systems.
In the Kingdom, risk is rewarded. No risk not only gets you nothing... it gets you stripped naked of what you do have. You only get to keep what you give away. He who clings to his own life in order to save it - will lose it. What is your response?
In the Church, we throw around the word 'body' quite often. That's because we are 'the Body' of Christ here on earth, but what does it mean to be a part of a body?
Our body is made up of a trillion little tiny cells. They are constantly dying and being created. While a cell is living and productive, it constantly gives and receives. If the cell does more giving than receiving, its life if shortened. If it only receives and never gives, it is equally as unhealthy. In order for a cell to be healthy, it must give and receive. It MUST!
Note, cells that only destroy and tear down other healthy cells are cancerous. But, beware cancer cells! A healthy body will eradicate you!
Not all cells are designated to the same tasks and purposes. Not all cells are 'supposed' to communicate with all other cells. I do hope we can see the church application in all of this. And then we have the cross-shaped protein, laminin, that holds everything together (see Tomlin's "How Great Is Our God" DVD).
Mar 6:11 MKJV (11) And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.
What a confusing custom! I've read this verse many times, but today, I 'landed' on it. Does that happen to you? For some reason, all of a sudden I'm suspicious of a verse. It screams of mysterious significance. My first inclination was to start Googling the verse in attempt to find some rabbinic explanation. I really found nothing. The closest I got was 'some rabbis suggest...', or 'apparently this meant...'.
First of all, the Jews used to shake the dust off of their sandals when leaving gentile lands. From that, the custom morphed. Jesus told His followers to do it when they (and their message) were not received by a city.
Praying should always be our first resource. I am still learning that.
Dust is humanity. Man was made of dust. More exactly, dust represents a nation of children of faith (Gen 13:16).
Old Testament prophets were warned that to neglect delivering God's word to a people would result in having the blood of that people upon the prophet's head. But if the word was delivered - whether it was received or not - there would be no guilt on the head of the prophet (Ezekiel 33:6). To shake the dust off one's sandals means that the message has been delivered, and that the messenger does not 'carry' the burden of the people. If the dust of a city resides upon the shoes of the messenger, there is still work to do for that messenger because he still carries the burden of that city.
Shaking the dust off today is very much a stewardship issue. We are given so much time and resource for use in Kingdom work. The Holy Spirit guides us in how much time to spend on a certain person or group before we move on to someone who is receptive. The problem arises when we - in our impatient or judgmental humanity - decide to shake the dust off our sandals when God has not given up yet. We cannot be like Jonah, ministering with a very short (or non-existent) fuse.
Here’s a principle to consider—the Lord would usually rather us grow in faith and in wisdom than to need prophetic revelation for every thing we do. If He had to send us an angel to tell us specifically to move somewhere, it may not have had anything to do with the importance of our move as much as it did with the dullness of our hearing. If it takes another angel to get us to move from there when our time is up, it could be because we’re still dull.
If we are wise, we will guard against thinking that because He did something one way, or spoke to us in a certain way, that we can expect the same again. I think we would be much better off to understand that “He is new every morning” (see Lamentations 3:23). This does not mean that He ever changes, but that there is so much more to Him that we cannot reduce Him down to our own narrow-minded concepts. In a relationship when we become too set in our ways, it will become boring and lukewarm. Our God is so awesome that those who stay close to Him will never be bored!
1 Samuel 17:4-5 MKJV (4) And a champion named Goliath came out of the Philistines camp; he was from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span. (5) And a bronze helmet was on his head, and he was armed with scaled armor. And the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
Most Christians learn the story of Goliath in Sunday school. There are some very profound things to note about the description of Goliath, particularly the 6's that describe various parts of his equipment. I would like to point out his armor. It was scale armor. This devil-man was armed like a serpent.
Genesis 3:15 MKJV (15) And I will put enmity between you (serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
The Seed of the woman is Jesus, our Rock. He was polished smooth in the stream of the Holy Spirit. We are His brothers, still waiting in the pouch for our chance to fell the next giant.
2Ti 3:1 KJV (1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
When we think of the last days, we think of perilous times. Do you know what I think of? Earthquakes, famines, diseases, all sorts of disasters which would qualify as 'apocalyptic'. Do you want to know what God says about perilous times?
2Ti 3:2-5 MKJV (2) For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, (4) traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.
The hearts of men define our times as being perilous. Of all the adjectives that describe these men listed above, look at the last two. They have a form of godliness, but deny that what they possess has any power.
I spent the weekend with 80+ gentlemen last week who, for many, learned that they could possess God Himself. They learned that a powerless life was an option, not a law, and that a life of power was also an option. Again, the heart is the key. A good description of heaven on earth would be this:
(2) For men will be lovers, humble, reverent, obedient to parents, thankful, holy, (3) with natural affection, yielding, honest, temperate, civil, lovers of good, (4) loyal, careful, approachable, lovers of God, (5) demonstrators of Godliness, embracing His power;
When Moses led several million children of Israel through the Red Sea and the sea closed behind them, they saw the bodies of their enemies washing ashore. Do you realize that had Moses parted the sea once again, Israel would have been able to waltz into a defenseless Egypt and conquer it? There was nothing stopping them at that point - other than the sea. Pharaoh was dead. He had been both god and king to the Egyptians. Without him, there was no repelling a surprise attack from their former slaves. Why didn't God think of that?
There are so many people who come to salvation in Jesus that spend their strength trying to tame their old flesh. The old man is not to be mastered, he is to be dead and buried! It's not about the ability to harness the old... it's all about stepping into the new! God has told us that He cannot put new wine in old skins without destroying the old skins. That's all so informative... but not very practical for someone who doesn't know how to step into the new.
Have you ever heard of 'meal replacement'? It's something athletes and dieters do. You replace a regular meal with something else that is known to be good for you. The result is - hopefully - that you're so full of carrots and protein that you have no hunger for Twinkies. Or even IF YOU ARE hungry for Twinkies, you are so full of good stuff that there is simply no room for anything else. Friends, this is the victorious Christian life. The world has a lot of nice things. Instead of trying to convince yourself that they really aren't nice (good luck with that), just try replacing them with God and His Kingdom business. You will discover that the worldly temptations fade, your strength will grow, and your hunger for God will grow as well.
Growing up, I often heard "Thank goodness we aren't under the Law!" That made sense to me. I didn't like the rules, and I REALLY didn't like the punishments for breaking them. But now that I understand grace a little more, I'm not as sure. Grace demands much. Don't get me wrong. Grace is wonderful and I really would not want to be under the Law. Also... for those who are thinking that grace was always present - even under the Law - I concur. But for the sake of differentiation, I'll refer to the time before Jesus' sacrifice as the 'Law' and the time since then as 'Grace'.
Under the Law, a man was forbidden to commit adultery. He was not, however, prevented from 'mall-watching'. You know.. sitting at the mall and watching all the fine ladies walk by. As a kid... I really liked that, to be honest. It was harmless, right? Yes, under the Law. But not so much under Grace.
See, there was no higher standard to meet under the Law. No touch, no foul. Except that's really not so. God was unable to instill a 'perfecting' into His people under that system. The result? Those poor mall-watching Israelites in their Sinai camp spent 40 years just reaching their Promised Land (13 miles away). Nor did they learn how to worship with fervor until King David, hundreds of years later! Progress is slow when all you do is meet requirements (just examine your latest job performance review).
Grace is an accelerator. It prods us to "be perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48) As we are perfected, we are entrusted. We are moved to greater heights of stewardship and responsibility in the Kingdom. Have you reached 'perfect' yet? Me either! But that's the beauty of grace! Failure doesn't disqualify us from pressing on! Perfection is a process... not simply a state of being.
Yesterday I had the tithe on my heart. I spoke about the devourer... and how real he is! I also spoke briefly of honor - honoring salvation delivered. But there is another aspect of this.
Mar 12:41-44 MKJV (41) And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus watched how the people threw copper coins into the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much. (42) And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two lepta, which is a kodrantes. (43) And He called His disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury. (44) For all cast in from their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has cast in all that she had, all her livelihood.
It's interesting, isn't it, that Jesus did not one time mention the uselessness of giving to an ineffective ministry. He didn't complain that the widow's stewardship was obviously lacking... having given to a corrupt priesthood (and it surely was). Nor did He marvel that the widow didn't ask first where her money was going!
Again, this is what I hear the most from "mature" Christians who struggle with the tithe.
"Well, I just want to give it where it's being used for the right thing." "I don't like the direction the church is headed." "If I can't dictate what it's being spent on, I'm just going to hang on to it."
Jesus sat and watched those who were giving. His interest was in one thing. Who is really HONORING God? Who has faith? Those are still His questions.
I'm still amazed at how many times I hear people complain about tithing. In one breath, they will say they despise religion (that is... the legalistic ideals that are tired and powerless) and in the next they will say that tithing is a requirement of the Law (done away with, I suppose). As one scholar put it... the tithe was to be brought to the temple storehouse. As we have no temple today, this rule is null and void.
This fuels the fire for all those who hate the "rules", unless of course one of them apparently works in favor of their wallet. The real problem with this is that the precept is based in ignorance. It also reveals a stronghold within.
Tithing was initiated before the "Law" was ever given. We're never told that God instructed Abraham to tithe... but he did it. Abraham honored God. All who live by faith are children of Abraham, therefore our honor is due as well. Yes, but we're not under the Law! No, we're under grace, and grace requires MUCH more than the Law ever required. You aren't making a payment on lay-away salvation any more. You're honoring Salvation delivered! Salvation has been delivered to you! Man up! Quit complaining about how preachers only want your money and start putting your money somewhere that Congress isn't going to waste it!
Mal 3:10-11 MKJV (10) Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. And test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, to see if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you, and pour out a blessing for you, until there is not enough room. (11) And I will rebuke your devourer, and he shall not decay the fruit of your ground against you; nor shall your vine miscarry against you in the field, says Jehovah of Hosts.
No... we don't have a literal temple. No... we don't have a literal storehouse. But there is STILL a literal devourer. What exactly is your plan to thwart him?
When Moses was instructed to throw down his staff before Pharaoh, it became a snake for a moment. The magicians also threw down their staves, which also became snakes.
This is a picture of Jesus, One 'thrown down' by God onto the earth to become a snake (sin) - but only for a moment! The snake of Moses quickly consumed the snakes of the magicians. This should remind us that there is no sin that is superior in weight or scope to the sin the Jesus became for us on the cross.
2Co 5:21 MKJV (21) For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
I must point out... small snakes are deadly. If we believe that our sin is unforgivable to the point where we do not seek forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus, well, there is no cure for this bite. Your sin is covered... as assuredly as Moses' snake consumed the others. Accept the gift.
When Abraham sent his servant, Eliezer, to find a suitable bride for his son, he sent along a small caravan of camels. There were ten, to be exact (Gen 24:10). These were laden with gifts for the bride-to-be, Rebekah.
(Gen 24:53 MKJV) And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
This is where it gets tasty. You see, Eliezer is a picture of the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit that wins the bride for the Father. It's the Holy Spirit that is the comforter (the meaning of Eliezer). I suggest to you that Eliezer rode on the first camel, leaving nine camels bearing gifts. Yes, that's right... If you get the Holy Spirit, you receive gifts.
1Co 12:7-11 MKJV (7) But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. (8) For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; (9) and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (10) and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He desires.
Listed, these are:
The Word of Knowledge
The Word of Wisdom
The Gift of Prophecy
The Gift of Faith
The Gifts of Healing
The Working of Miracles
The Discerning of Spirits
Different Kinds of Tongues
The Interpretation of Tongues
There are 9 camels worth of gifts. If you have never experienced any of these in your spiritual walk, it is cause to question whether or not Eliezer has ever visited your house. Notice that all of these were for the bride. Some of the bride's family received precious things as well. How were they used? We are not told... but ultimately we know that Laban's house wasn't the most respectable of houses. Yes, gifts can be abused. Some can even be employed by those who are not the Bride. Is this cause enough to send a few camels back where they came from? Is this cause enough despise some of the gifts?
In the Torah, a person with a skin affliction that was not healing was considered unclean. The key was - healing. A wound that was healing was fine. It was monitored and cared for... but of no huge concern. However, there was no remedy for wounds that did not heal. The solution was separation. The poor soul was banished to live outside of camp, away from family, friends, and country. Basically, your only friends were the other wounded.
Priests who had this affliction were disqualified. Priests still are.
We are called to be priests of God in this world just as Jesus is. We are His representatives. But if one thing "disqualifies" us, it's unhealed wounds. It alienates us. It removes us from the community of people we are called to serve. Before long, our only friends are others who are like us. Hurting... and unwilling to receive healing. Yes, these are the ones who sap the strength out of everyone else. Instead of trying to get better, they become sympathy magnets. It's known as the 'victim' mentality.
As followers of Jesus, we must realize that we are blessed if we are persecuted for His namesake. Jesus told His disciples that such attacks were not against them - personally - but against Him. Wounds such as these are badges of honor - credentials to prove our Kingdom efforts are genuine! Such wounds are not excuses to whine, or quit, or to hold grudges against others. A wound that does not heal is an indicator that we do not hold close proximity to the Healer. Change it. The alternative is a life of being an ineffective outcast.
Heb 12:27-28 MKJV (27) And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,
I posted this passage yesterday. Yet once more... we are reminded that sometimes things are allowed to shake so that that which cannot be shaken remains, and is visible, and can provide shelter. I declare that the Church in Japan stands like a beacon of hope. I declare that sons of God in Japan be revealed, and that healing and peace are their standard - leading thousands to Jesus. Our prayers are with the precious Japanese people and their country.
For years denominations have warred with each other over end-times subjects. Some teach that the world will grow darker and darker. This is true! They teach that the church will become weaker and weaker. This is not true, for the 'real' church. Some teach that the greatest revival the world has ever known will be in the last days, which goes directly against the beliefs of others who believe God is done and is winding it up. He's about to push the eject button on the last believing remnant.
The truth is that there is a little truth in all of this. Maybe very little... Yes, the world is getting darker and darker. That MUST happen in order for the light to shine brighter and brighter. Neutrality is NOT God's desire. However, there is a part of the church that is luke-warm. Jesus did not have good things to say about this. God is shaking the world right now. Have you noticed?
Heb 12:27-28 MKJV (27) And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,
Yes... He is doing a lot of this on purpose! Malachi said this: Mal 3:18 MKJV (18) Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him.
God is destroying neutrality - to the best of His ability (without destroying our free will). What does this have to do with revival? When the latter rain comes and God's Spirit is being poured out in these end times (yes, it's happening NOW), we will see the church grow in power like the world has never known. People who like comfortable church are going to grow more and more uncomfortable during these days. Again. This is NOT by accident. Get off the fence. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve - and figure out exactly what that means!
Revival does not necessarily mean 'numbers'. Yes, the church will grow tremendously during these days. The body of Christ will become proportional to her precious Head. That revival is here and is building in scope. It's now. The greater things are beginning to happen - NOW. Will the world be won? Not according to scripture - not on this side of Armageddon. But that does not negate the unbelievable power of the Church or the power she will wield before the trumpet blows. Hell will take a tremendous battering and its gates will not prevail against what is taking place. Yes, time is winding down, but it's not out.
2Pe 3:8 MKJV (8) But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
It's easy to get bogged down with time. Our mistakes seem to cost us time more than anything else. Set-backs... at least in our minds. The enemy magnifies our mistakes, too, making them seem insurmountable. But examining the verse above might lead to an interesting discovery:
God gives us less than a day to live in the physical. He gives us less than a few hours to make decisions that are eternal in scope. What have you done in your life that you have never forgiven yourself for? Why let guilt ruin the only day you have? This is not of God! I do not keep a running total of all the times I must yell "NO" to my children during the course of a day. Nor do I remember them.
Php 3:13-14 MKJV (13) My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Well, you may be aware that Zondervan (who holds the copyright of the NIV translation) and the Committee on Bible Translation (formed in 1965 for the creation and revision of the NIV) released the TNIV in 2001/2005 which was made more gender-neutral. Many evangelicals (and other less liberal believers) rejected the TNIV. [ Lifeway even opposed it and refuses to carry it. ]
Zondervan and the CBT have gone back to the drawing board. They are now releasing what is referred to as NIV 2010 or NIV 2011. (The previous edition was NIV 1984). Rather than erasing the drawing board before trying another run at it, they used the TNIV as their starting point and have kept much of the TNIV’s gender-neutrality. They are not giving this translation a new name (like they did TNIV) but it will simply be the NIV. Any future NIV that you purchase will be different from your older NIV bibles.
NIV(1984)Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
TNIV(2005)Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.
NIV(2011)Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
1Co 1:26 MKJV (26) For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men according to the flesh are called, not many mighty, not many noble.
Paul spoke of the 'foolish things of God' as being greater than the strong things of men. Have you noticed there aren't a lot of tremendous minds in the Kingdom? Oh, yes there are some! But with knowledge comes pride that wars against the Revelation of Jesus. The wonderful thing about the Gospel of the Kingdom is that it is for the unlearned and learned alike. It's for everyone! Anyone who can accept the news can also propagate it.
1Co 1:29 MKJV (29) so that no flesh should glory in His presence.
We want... we desire... we strive... to know 'about' God - often for the wrong reasons. But to know God with a son's heart is to realize the Glory of the Father, which automatically places us in the proper perspective. The flesh cannot even begin to stand up to the weightier manifestations of His Spirit! It will shake... cry... collapse... even lose consciousness at times...
We could ask another question that might begin with "Then, how could Satan...?" The answer is the devil is not flesh, nor has he ever had the heart of a son. Every realization of his existence has been out of a prideful heart. In truth, this may never change, but his knee will bow nonetheless. This is who he is. How many people will follow his way? Jesus answered that question with this word: agonize.
I thank God for those who have taught me some of the deeper things of God. God has hidden much for those of us who love to dig, and He invites us to don our shovels. But knowledge of Him is for walking a little further with Him alone, and blowing oxygen on the smoldering spiritual fires of our brethren. It's not for hanging a diploma on the walls of our hearts.
A discussion forum for Christian views on scriptures and current events relating to the Word of God. If you would like to be a contributor to this blog, contact me at spjohns@cox.net.
