Earth is to be a mirror Image of Heaven

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.

From the very first verse in the Bible we see a principle so profound that most people will read right over it and never ponder long enough to think what it really says.

God created the heavens – the spiritual world – and then He created the Earth – the physical world. Why is this so important. Heaven or the spiritual world was set as the standard and earth was created to reflect that in the natural. Sharing this principle at a men’s meeting one morning the obvious question came up.

Do you have scriptural proof for what you are saying?

I am going to try and establish this principle because it profoundly effects us and our walk with God. It defines some of the “Why” we are here. First we all agree that the Spirit world existed long before the natural. Now I am no scientist but I do know that God has existed long before He created anything physical. The Spirit world can and does exist without the need of the physical. John 4 says that God is a Spirit. He is self sufficient and does not need anything to sustain himself. He is the very sufficiency of his existence.

The natural or the physical world was created after the spiritual world. The physical does not exist without the Spiritual world. Planets and earth could be millions or even billions of years old, but it was still created after the spiritual world. When God created the world as we know it, it was created with the purpose to be a reflection or a mirror image of what is in the spiritual world. The rest of Genesis shows us God’s intend. What we see is that the original world was destroyed and God recreates the Earth in six days to be in a perfect state again.  As a matter of fact, after the six days God declares all or everything to be very good. What does it look like to be an mirror image of heaven?

Proof #1

Gen 1:26 And God said: Let us make man in our image….

Earth is restored and there is a man in His image to rule, reign and subdue it. There is a man ready to represent God but what is striking is that this man is in His Image. A mirror image of God to represent God to his creation. When God created he looked at a source to reproduce something it can sustain. He looked at the earth and called forth the trees and the plants. Earth would reproduce plants and would be the one to be its source. If you remove a plant or a tree from the ground it dies. It you remove it from its source that brought it forth it withers and dies. When God wanted to find someone to represent Him and be a mirror image of Him, He looked at Himself and he became the origin and source, the sustainer of the one that would represent Him. Adam was created in His image. Adam was a mirror image of God before the fall. God was his source. When sin separated God and man, Man withered and died. Man could no longer reflect God or Heaven.

Proof #2

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power

Jesus is the image of the Father. This mens he was an exact replica. The first Adam failed, the Last Adam came to become the mirror of God in the earth. Jesus clearly states that if we have seen him we have seen the father – John 6:46. Jesus came to declare the Father. The word “declare” in the original means: To lead or declare from the source. Jesus did not come to make a name for himself. He did not come to do his own thing. HE came to reveal the Father perfectly. He lived from the source and out of the source. “Of my own self I can do nothing”  What a perfect mirror image of the father.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Proof #3

Ex 25:8-9 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

When God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, God commanded that it be build exactly like the Tabernacle in Heaven. Moses and the Priesthood would serve the earthly Tabernacle while Jesus as the Priest after the order of Melchizedek, from the tribe of Judah and not from the Tribe of Levi, would serve the Heavenly Tabernacle. While the High Priest would bring the blood of the sacrifice to the Mercy seat in the Tabernacle to make Atonement, Jesus would bring His blood to the Mercy seat that was in the Heavenly tabernacle to make Atonement for all our sins. Hebrews Chapter 7-10 deals with all of this. The point is that there was something in the earth that was a mirror image of a greater reality that was in the Heavens.

Proof #4

Teach us to pray, the disciples asked Jesus. Jesus who knew the perfect will of the Father, had a complete grasp of what his mission was that he would fulfill, would obvious pray in a way that would line up with Gods plan and purpose for the earth. This is what He prays:

Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done ON earth as it is IN Heaven.

Jesus is asking that everything in earth would reflect and be a mirror image of what is in Heaven.

In Matthew 14 when they needed bread to feed the multitude, Jesus looked UP into heaven and prayed. There is no shortage in Heaven. All he did was duplicating what was there and Earth reflected that in abundance to feed five thousand people.The same thing happens when he raised Lazarus from the dead. He looks UP into Heaven and prays. Heaven is coming to Earth.

Proof #5

Rom 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

What is the purpose of God? We are called to it according to Paul. Here is the purpose. We are to be conformed to His image. We are to be a mirror of Christ in the earth. Is that too profound. He will be the firstborn among many brothers. Before His death and resurrection Jesus is the Only begotten son of God. After his death and resurrection, he is referred too as the firstborn amongst many brethren. HE will have brothers and sisters that will be like Him. God planned that the earth would be filled with sons and daughters that reflect his image.

There are many more examples like the story where God commanded Moses to take the mirrors from all the woman and make the Laver of Brass from it. That would become a mirror the priest would look at as they washed their hands after the sacrifice. The blood that they washed off would stain the water and they would no longer see themselves but they would see the blood. What used to reflect them now reflected the price that was paid for their transgressions. Not seeing themselves but seeing what God provided.

Paul talks about the law that is written in our hearts and how we are an Epistle, a book for all to read. The Spirit writes the Law on our hearts and that is life giving to people. Then he commands us to behold Christ. Only if we see Him we are changed from one degree of Gory to the next degree of Glory. Look at what he says:

2 Cor 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Christ became the perfect mirror image of Heaven. We have no other to look at. As we behold him we are changed so that we can become a mirror of heaven in the earth.

Lastly we see the New Heaven and the New Earth. Everything restored back to its original intend. The Heavens filled with His glory but also the Earth. 

Num. 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Hab. 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

Finally - the Earth is the mirror image of the Heavenly.

Water into Wine

Water into Wine.

This week I want to look at John Chapter 2 and the miracle where Jesus turned water into wine. It was a wedding and the wine run out. Mary, Jesus’ mother tells them to do just what Jesus tells them. There were six water pots that could hold 20 gallons of water each. After they fill it up Jesus commands them to serve it to the master of the wedding seremony. He was surprised because what was water is now wine, and better wine than they had before. What a great story.

John 2: 11 This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and he manifested forth his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

This miracle was not just to show the fathers ability to do a miracle through Jesus, but to also show forth his glory. Why is that so important to understand? The power of God reveals his ability. His glory reveals his character.

To understand the glory of God you must understand what happened here. It is God’s glory to meet a need. It is God’s glory to manifest a miracle that will change the current circumstances and show man that He is able and willing to do something about their needs. But there are so much more to this story:

Look at what Jesus says in chapter seven of John.

John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried with a loud voice saying: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believe on me, as the scripture have said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This he spoke of the Holy Spirit, that they that believed on him should receive.

One of the symbols for the Holy Spirit is water. Living water. Jesus said that all those that believe on him would receive this Holy Spirit and that same spirit will be like a river inside of them. Everyone that accepts Jesus receives the Holy Spirit as an indwelling river. Water has so many great qualities. It quenches our thirst and it is one of the things nobody can live without. You can stay without food for 40 days or longer but not without water. We cannot survive without the Holy Spirit.  

How do we know that he gives this Holy Spirit? In John 20:22 it states that:

And Jesus blew on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. From here on they had Him. This was their born again experience as you can not take the Holy Spirit out of the born again experience. He now dwells in them as their guide and teacher. The children of God are led by the Spirit of God.

Before we go any further we have to see that not only did he give them the Spirit but he asked them to do something very specific.

Luke 24:49 Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

Look at this again. He imparts the Holy Spirit, the river of living water, but then ask them to wait until they receive the impartation of power by the same Spirit. We know that Jesus appeared unto them for 40 days before he ascended into heaven. They had to go and wait in Jerusalem for ten more days in prayer until the day of Pentecost. What happened in the Upper room when the Holy Spirit was poured out in power and what happened before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

They were praying and waiting on the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:1-4  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

As you read this passage you see that they were all filled, received the empowerment of the Spirit and spoke with other tongues. Tongues of fire was on all of them. What is strange is that the people observing this all happening did not comment on the fire and the tongues, but they do say that it looked like they all were full of new wine.

Acts 2:12-13 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What does this mean? Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine.

What happened here? Let me help you see what I see. They received the Holy Spirit when Jesus blew on them but on the day of Pentecost that water (Holy Spirit) was turned into wine. We do not read anything about them after Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit except that they stayed together and prayed and waited. You can drink all the water you want but you will not be influenced. Water does not have the ability to put you under the influence. I believe that there are many Christian men and woman that have received the Holy Spirit in Water form but they are still powerless and carries no influence in their churches or neighborhoods. What they need is for that water to be turned into wine. You drink a few glasses of wine and you are under the influence. How did this water turn into wine?

At the marriage Jesus performed a miracle, but what I see in Acts 2 is not a miracle but water that turns into wine through a process. What is that process?

Prayer and waiting on God. They were constantly in prayer praying and waiting on God. We have lost prayer in our churches. We have a lot of wet Christians but we need a lot of Christians under the influence. We need people that have been through the process of praying and waiting on God. Why is the very thing that Jesus commands his disciples to do before they would receive power not on the radar of the Church today? Why are we not waiting and praying like they did in the book of Acts?

Wine has great qualities. It was used to disinfect wounds and treat illnesses. The world are broken and wounded. They need people that have the wine of the Holy Spirit. How does this water turn into wine?

Look at just a few scriptures in Acts:

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Acts 2:42   And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 3:1   Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Through prayer God took what was in them and made it to be seen by people around them. What is in you that are still water when God wants to make it wine through prayer and waiting?

His character, his glory is to change things. Everything should be in his plan and purpose. Jesus revealed the fathers glory when he did the miracle. God wants to reveal his glory through you by empowering you with the Holy Spirit and power.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power and he went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed by the devil.

Focus is pivotal!

Focus is Pivotal

There is a lot of darkness that is going on, but there is also a lot of light that is pushing against it. Light and darkness has always been present. From creation we see God separating light and darkness. The purpose of darkness is to hide and the purpose of light is to expose. Darkness facilitate bondage while light facilitate freedom.

What do we do, and how do we respond with what is being put in front of us everyday? The news media thrives and revolves around bad news. Their job is to focus on the worst scenarios. Bad news sells. The human race is indoctrinated by what they have seen for years. The hidden agenda on both sides of the isle is to try and make you think in a specific way.

The gospel of Hollywood is and has been for years: Do what you feel is right. Challenge everything you hear and claim freedom to speak what you want, shut down anyone that disagrees. Celebrities with perverse life styles have become the messiahs of our time with a message of superiority. Celebrity worship through magazines and media is at an all time high. They are the trend setters and have a right to say and do what they want.

The culture of the alternative left and right is to put you into a box of bigotry and racism. A generation has lived and raised the next generation that believe that freedom is what I want. They have no understanding that freedom without restraint is a bigger bondage than they can handle. We see freedom expressed through their bodies but their minds and spirits are in bondage. It is my body and I will use it as I see fit. Common sense had to give way to a generation that are mindless and will do anything to be popular. They don’t care who gets hurt in the process, as long as we had a great time.

It truly is dark out there. Paul says that men will be lovers of themselves instead of being lovers of God. Peter says it in this way.

2Pet. 3:3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

But there is great news. Joel says that in those same days God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Again Peter quotes the Joel in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:17  And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

None of this is out of God’s control. He really is God of all or not God at all. Darkness has never been able to overcome light. Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness has no substance or strength against light. Have you ever switched on a light and watch darkness fight the light? It is no fight. Light always overcome darkness.

Do we live in denial? Absolutely not. I already acknowledged the fact that darkness is a present reality, but never a greater reality than light. The problem has never been the darkness but what we have focused on. You become what you behold.

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

It is dark and Mary is out there at the tomb. Yet she saw the stone was rolled away. She didn’t run back to the disciples to tell them how dark it was when she got there. She didn’t see darkness; she saw the miracle. We all have a choice what we want to see. Focus is pivotal in this time we live in.

How do we help others see the light when darkness seems to be so great?

What we have failed at is: We stopped setting expectations because we were scared we would offend. We allowed our piers to set the standard through the entertainment industry and we allowed our children to watch what they wanted to watch without setting boundaries. Boundaries does not limit people; it sets them up for success. Freedom without boundaries is not freedom at all, it is a recipe for disaster. No one will give their car keys to a five-year-old, yet they allow them to watch movies and play video games that are damaging to their minds. Parents didn’t want the responsibility of raising children and keeping them entertained is a great way to let me do my own thing while the kids are busy.

We are seeing a fatherless generation. Don’t blame the millennial generation and call them “snow flakes” when parents were flaky in their duty in raising them. The buck stops with us not them. We are the fathers and mothers that caused all this. This happened on our watch.

Are we focusing on the wrong thing.? Will we talk about the problem or will we find the solution? We have a promise. He will pour His Spirit out on all flesh. Not flesh that is in church or flesh that is in a bible study.

All flesh. Everyone qualifies. Snow flakes and millenials. Conservatives and liberals. Presbyterians and Pentecostals. The focus is not what we all have done, but what God can do with all of us.

Dying reproduces Life!

As I have pondered this concept over the last few weeks I have learned so much. This has been a journey of self discovery that has led me down the path of repentance often.

This week I want to look at the scripture in John 12.

John 12:20-25   Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

There are a few things that stands out in this scripture.

1.         We see that it is the Greeks that are asking the question – Can we see Jesus? Why did they come to ask Jesus a question? The Greeks were the philosophers of their time. These were the people that invented gods like Zeus and Apollo’s and so on. In their mythology these gods exist and the only physical manifestation of these gods were the statutes and idols they had of them. Now there is a visible God in their midst. What does a God look like? I wonder if they heard Jesus say that he is the son of God. Maybe someone told them about Jesus’ claim. They wanted to see what a son of God looks like. So they come to ask Phillip and Andrew. In turn the disciples asked Jesus. “There are some Greeks here that wants to see you Jesus!

2.         Jesus response: A seed must die to reproduce. What is he saying? We all reproduce when we die. Death is instrumental in multiplication. They wanted to see one son, He wanted them to see many. He did not come to present a new way of living; he came to empower many to live in a new way of living. They wanted to see one son, he wanted them to see there will be many sons.

3.         Laying down your life is a choice we all have. This is one of those statements Jesus makes that makes our flesh feel uncomfortable. Are we not supposed to love life? What he is asking is: Do we love the world more than we love our life.

Resurrection life is impossible without a death first. God wants us to be able to live by the resurrected life of Christ. As long as the flesh is alive, the real life that is eternal waits. That is what Paul states in Gal 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me. The life I now live I live by the faith OF the Son of God.

I am dead. I have received the resurrected life of Christ. My life for his life. Then he makes the ultimate statement. Now I live by the Faith OF the Son od God. No longer my faith, His faith.

In dying I have gained everything. His Life, His Faith. Now when people see us they see the sons of God.

What do you choose this day?

Focus

Col. 3:1   If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. 

Seek those things that are above! What a great call for us to do things different. So many times our first action or response to something is to look at the lack or the need. God has been challenging me this past week about what I focus on. There is so much going on in our country right now. There are a lot of things that is stealing our focus of what is really important. 

 Do I think that politics is unimportant? Absolutely not. We must let our voice be heard. There is however a difference between a need and a necessity. 

Jesus was never driven by need. The five thousand needed food but it was not the driving force behind his miracle. The wine run out at the wedding and they needed more wine. The need was not the reason he did the miracle of changing water into wine. Look at what John 2:11 says:

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. 

They needed to see the ability of his provision more than they needed more wine. Jesus just used the wine as a means to show them God's ability.

We must develop the understanding to see what people need or what people have to experience. When we minister to the racers we can easily focus on the need but is it more important for them to encounter the one that can use their need to reveal himself?

I believe this is what Paul is asking us. Look at the things above and not at the things on the earth. In God you will find all you need, but your need becomes a place and channel where he reveals his goodness to you.

Seek those things that are above! You are a dispenser of the things of God.

God is predictable

We all have experienced times in our life's where we wonder why God is so quiet. If he would only speak and I can know what he wants me to do.

I have had times in my life where I faced major decisions and found that God was quiet. What do we do when he is quiet?

The first thing I have learned about God is that he never changes. Hebrew 13:8 says that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Malachi 3:6 says that he is God and that he does not change. The obvious question to ask would be: What about God never changes?

When it comes to his essence and his character he is unchangeable. As a matter of fact his character is predictable. God is love and that can and will never change. The way he loved me when I was still a sinner is the same way he loves me now that I am a son. His ability to be gracious and kind, his ability to redeem and save never changes. In his essence he is unchangeable and totally predictable. I know that if I sin he will still love me. I know if I make a mistake he will make it work towards my own good.

The second thing I learned about God is that even though he is predictable in his character, he is totally unpredictable in the way he will do things. God tells Joshua to make the people walk around Jericho for seven days and they will win the victory. Nobody could predict that. Moses will deliver three million slaves with a stick. No one could predict that. God overcomes death and sin by having his own son killed. If the enemy knew what God would do through Jesus he would not have killed Jesus. He could not predict that God would do that. In his acts God is completely unpredictable.

What have we done in Church? We have created the opposite of what God is and does. God is predictable in his character but unpredictable in his acts. The Church is filled with people that have created a predictable service(worship, a sermon and then prayer) and have become unpredictable in their character. How many times do we hear people say that the church is full of hypocrites. Imagine what kind of impact we can have on the world if sinners come to church and find a people that is predictable in character, they love well and they extend grace well, and they are okay when God shows up and change their program.

So why is God silent? In times when I need him most to speak he chooses to be silent because he wants me to learn that I can trust his character even if I don't hear from him. When he is quiet, I get to trust his word. I trust that he will step up and direct me when I make the wrong decision. Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Holy Spirit prevented them. As mature sons and daughters we learn that we can trust him to direct us when we need it.

Do I ask God to speak into everything I want to do or decide. That would be a sign of immaturity. Most people only ask not because they have faith but because it can give them a predictable outcome. You learn to put your trust in circumstances instead of trusting in his character and who he really is.

Snooze button christianity. Most people will push the snooze button without ever wondering if the alarm will go off again in ten minutes. The snooze button on their alarm clock has gotten them to completely trust it. Why do we struggle to trust God and his character? The second temptation Jesus faced was satan testing to see if God would keep his word. The enemy wants us to question God's integrity. If God's integrity is questionable then so is our salvation. Let me clearly state that God's integrity has never been questionable. He is unchanging in his character. Maybe we should develop some snooze button christianity where we trust that he will alarm us when we need to be alarmed. From here on out I totally trust who he is, no matter how he chooses to do it.

Obedience -2

This week we want to continue looking at obedience. Last week we saw that agreement and obedience is paradoxical. As a foundation for obedience we saw that it is vital for me to agree with the Word of God. That is not all I need to do. I can agree but still disobey. Obedience is key to walk in authority and especially the authority of God.

Satan's sin was disobedience against God that resulted in rebellion. When satan sinned against God he did not sin against God’s holiness. He never said, “I want to be as holy as God.” Satan never sinned against God’s righteousness or even God’s glory. He never said “I want to be as righteous or have the glory of God.” When satan sinned, he sinned against God’s authority by disobeying God's rule and command. 

Adam and Eve was deceived in the same way. The enemy needed them to disobey God's command and eat from the Tree that was not good for them. When they disobeyed God's command they stepped into the same rebellion as the enemy. 

God commanded them to rule and reign, subdue and fill the earth. They had delegated authority from God to rule the earth. When they disobeyed God they lost the ability to rule by God's authority. Disobedience will disqualify you to be in a place of authority. Why is this so important?

Jesus not only walked in complete agreement with God and His Word, he walked in obedience as well. If disobedience disqualifies you to be in authority, obedience will qualify you to increase in authority. That is why it is vital that we both agree with God's word and obey it. 

Jesus and his obedience to God.

Heb 5:8 Though he was the son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.

When I look at the life of Jesus I see two things. First I see that he lived in complete agreement with God. He says in his own words hat he only did what he saw the father do and he only said what he heard the Father say. Nothing in Jesus’ life was out of agreement with the Father. When they questioned him about his mission and his assignment he was a straight shooter. I am going to Jerusalem to die. No “If’s” or “Butts.” One time when Peter tried to oppose his mission he called Peter out and rebuked him for it. Nothing could distract him from being in agreement with God. So the obvious question is then “Why did he have to learn obedience?”

Secondly I see that Jesus lived in obedience to the Father.

When two people agree there is no room for disagreement or rebellion. When Adam sinned and disobeyed God it was looked on as rebellion. Only when you are required to obey do you have an opportunity to rebel or to disobey. Jesus’ agreement with the Father, did not deal with the rebellion that led man to sin. Jesus had to be submitted to the temptation of disagreeing with God so that he could deal with the rebellion of man or the flesh. People are shocked to know that Jesus could have failed as a man. Remember he laid down all his divinity. He was tempted in every way just like you and me.

Paul states in the book of Romans that the flesh is enmity against God. If Jesus never faced rebellion or the opportunity to disobey God, he could not and would not have been tempted in every way as we are as men.  

So Jesus was given the opportunity to learn obedience to God. This is a great revelation for us. If Jesus disobeyed and rebelled against God, we would forever have been under the yoke of rebellion against God. This obedience that he learned was obedience unto death. Philippians 2:8 says that he emptied himself and became obedient unto death. In the Garden of Gethsemane we see him praying that if it was possible for God to let this cup pass from him. The key is what he says as the second part of this prayer: Not my will be done but yours.  In essence he is saying that his flesh wants out, but he is willing to obey even if it kills him.

The two things together qualified Jesus to have a Name above all names. He now has all authority in Heaven and in earth. This kind of authority comes when we live in agreement as well as in obedience to God.

Obedience - 1

This last week God has been speaking to me about obedience. It started when we took a weekend away to the mountains and I was getting up early to meditate on some scripture. Hebrews 5:8 Even though he was the son he learned obedience through the things he suffered. If Christ only did what God showed him to do and only said what God told him to say, why then did he need to learn obedience? Does God place a premium on obedience even if you agree with Him.

Obedience is not a phrase we hear in Church anymore. The whole concept of obedience has fallen by the wayside. Independence is promoted and children are left at their own accord to make and do as they please. As parents we no longer model obedience the way we need too. If the parents speak up they are considered to be old school and too conservative. How did we come this far and how does this affect us bringing the kingdom to the world?

Let me start by laying a foundation for this concept of obedience. We will take a few weeks to look at this concept.

1. Agreement is greater than obedience:

I have always believed that agreement is greater than obedience. Matt 18:18-20 says that where two agree anything is possible. I believe God wants us to agree with him instead of just obeying him. This does not negate the fact that we also need to obey him. When I agree with Him my will aligns with his will and I shut the door on disobedience and rebellion. Many people agree with God but still walk in disobedience.

if you ask someone to do something they have a choice whether to obey or to rebel. They can do what you ask but might still not be wanting to do it from the heart. Thus obedience can be a fertile ground for rebellion. That is why I start with agreement before we talk about obedience.

What is agreement? If Rynette and I both agree to go to the movies, nobody is going against their will. If we disagree about going to the movies, it would always end with one getting his way and the other one submitting to the other person’s desire. So lets say we go to the movies but all the while I wanted to go fishing. I submit and we do what she wants us to do. I can go to the movies with her but in my heart I am at the lake fishing. Though I am with her I can walk with disagreement or rebellion in my heart. If we both wanted to go to the movies, our agreement shuts the door on rebellion. 

Agreement and obedience are paradoxical. These are two truths that are opposite of each other yet carries the same importance. I can live in complete agreement but not be in obedience. It is possible for me to agree with the Word but not live in obedience to it. I agree that we must love our enemies and pray for them, but when was the last time we have done that. When was the last time you walked the second mile or forgave seven times? We all agree with it but we are not doing it. This is really important to understand as agreement makes all things possible but you can still miss it because of disobedience you will lack the authority to walk it out.

We have to look at authority first. The one that has authority has the ability to demand or expect obedience. In our country the law is the authority and we are expected to obey the law.

God has all authority. He is the creator of authority and the delegator of authority. All of the universe and creation functions under that authority. Hebrews 1:1-2 says that He upholds all of creation by his word. With his ability to create by his words, everything that exists or ever will exist is by his design and plan and purpose. He can demand obedience to his Word but he would rather us agree with his Word first and allow Him to show us how to walk in obedience.

Next week we will look at the original sin and what rebellion looks like.

Dying to self!

I just want to share with you some of the things I have been meditating on. Jesus' life has always fascinated me. I want to start by looking at "How He came" I believe this can really speak to us.

Adam is in survival mode. We fight to preserve our rights and our life. We know how to survive better than we know how to die. How does this line up with Jesus' mission and how he came?

Jesus is in reckless abandonment! HE came with a mission to give his all.

Phil 2:5-8 states: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  

When Jesus came into the world he did not come with an inkling of self preservation. As a matter of fact He laid it all down. Further more He came to give his life as a ransom for many. In short we can say that He came to die. 

This mindset played into everything he did and said. He didn't come to preserve the curse and sin, He came to kill sin and the curse. Only once do we see his temptation to preserve himself while praying in the garden. "If it is possible let this cup pass me by." Yet he submits to God's will and lay down his self preservation for the will of God to be done. 

How much are we still trying to save our skin. Jesus made it clear when he called the disciples to follow him. "If you are not willing to give it all up, you are not worthy to follow me." 

The mandate of Jesus and the Church is the same: We have no right to self preservation! In the kingdom we die to live and live to die. 

We lead by example. How do we lead when they ask for our tunic. Do we walk the second mile, do we turn the cheek or do we fight to survive. 

Jesus said: "Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it can not bear any fruit." He came without self preservation and he left without any self preservation. This is the key to LIFE.

Lets lay it all down in reckless abandonment and be like the one we follow.

Bob Mudd gave me the devotional and I am not big on devotionals. As a matter of fact this is my confession: This is my first devotional I ever owned. Then it looks like this guy is reading my mind. E Stanley Jones talk about dying to self in this way:

E Stanley Jones:(Paraphrased) The disciples struggled to make the shift to the kingdom mindset that is dying to self. We see their struggle in their everyday life. Here are some examples.

1. First we see the disciples struggled with and for position. They are arguing about who is the greatest amongst them and who will sit on what side of Jesus. They were looking to rule instead of being ruled by the Spirit. They were self seekers instead of God seekers. Still too much flesh.

2. They showed resentment against those that were different. "Should we call fire down like Elijah?" How dare people not receive us when we are with the Messiah. They used religion to cloak their resentment. Still too much flesh.

3. They were full of pride. Peter basically stated that he is too good to deny Jesus. "I will never do that and I will even die for you Jesus."When Jesus announced that one of them will deny him they all asked "who" it was when in essence they all had the potential to deny him, and did as they all fled and left Him. Still too much flesh.

4. They were spiritually impotent to cast out a demon from a boy. The boy had a better case of demon possession than they had of Spirit possession. What was outside still looked greater than what was inside of them. They were using God while not yet at a place where God could use them. Still too much flesh.

5. They were gripped by fear. They were hiding even after experiencing seeing Jesus after the resurrection. Intellectually they were convinced but emotionally they were held by fear. How can an external threat be bigger than the experience of the resurrection? Still too much flesh.

6. They were held by pre-christian notions. "Lord when will you come and establish the kingdom?"They were trying to fit His universal kingdom into their narrow nationalistic view. Deliver the Jews when all nations waited to be delivered from sin and the curse. Still too much flesh.

Jesus had them to go and wait in Jerusalem until they were ready to surrender all that was left of them. If you want to see how much flesh you still have, just go and pray. Pray for ten days and see what dies in you.At the end of themselves were the beginning of God.

God can give blessings, but he gives the Holy Spirit when we give ourselves unconditionally and fully surrendered.

May we all come to the place of being fully surrendered so that a generation might see God in us.

Jesus said that the Kingdom is like leaven – Matt 13:33.

Paul states that a little leaven effects the whole lump – 1 Cor 5:6.

The attributes of leaven are to influence. The kingdom has a purpose and that is to influence and to effect the whole person. Leaven or the kingdom are like a divine virus!

The first thing I see when we look at viruses, we see a few things that is applicable to us. If I take an Ebola virus and injects that into myself, my fate is sealed. The outcome is determined because the Ebola virus has one purpose and that is to consume its host and kill it. I don’t die the moment I receive it, but my fate is sealed. That virus will grow and multiply and eventually do its job.

The seed that God plants in us does not immediately kill my flesh or my old man. It doesn’t mean I am dead (we should be) the minute I received the Kingdom, it does mean that my fate is sealed. That seed of the kingdom will stay its course and eventually my flesh has to submit to the purpose of the Kingdom. Just like my body slowly submits to a virus so does my flesh submit to the divine virus, the kingdom. As the virus is doing its job, I am slowly dying day after day until the life of the virus is stronger than the life of my body. Finally, the life in me submits to the life in the virus. The kingdom is no different. Daily we die as our life is overtaken by the life of the kingdom. Paul states the following: “I die daily” – 1 Cor 15:31.

The second thing I see about viruses are: If I take that same Ebola virus and kill it, and then inject it into your body, it is now an inoculation that is happening. When that virus lost its life it no longer threatens my existence but helps my body build up an immune system against the very thing that came to kill me. What were supposed to kill my flesh now gives life to the flesh.

Why do people struggle so much with the flesh? Why do we struggle so much to kill the flesh? Why has the divine virus become an inoculation instead of a purposeful threat to the existence of my flesh?

Matt 15:6 Your traditions have made the word of God of no effect. Jesus says that the words he speaks are Spirit and life. We were born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed. The seed is the word. The word is Jesus. He is the divine virus that God plants in us to kill our flesh.

Our traditions have neutralized the life and what was meant to kill us now inoculates us. The church has lost its life and is now a system that inoculates the world against the kingdom or the divine virus of God. Once we get the life of God back and stop to substitute his life with rituals and religious paraphernalia like title’s and man made ministries, we will be able to overcome not just our own flesh but also the things of the world.

The good news is that his life can never be killed. It might be rendered ineffective for a season but it is still there. Get back to your first love and start to pursue Him again. The life that he gives will eventually overcome.

As I walk this out, daily I can see where his life has consumed my life. I am also honest enough to recognize where I have substituted his divine encounter with my flesh, with some of my own traditions. I have run after things instead of after him. I am scared to die sometimes. I still need to surrender some stuff.

Can I invite you into this process with me? The outcome is sure. Only when we die can we experience resurrection life. You cannot raise something that is not dead. You remember when you were driving somewhere with the family, the question you kept on hearing from the backseat. “Are we there yet?”

The divine life is asking us this day: “Are we there yet, are we dead yet?”

Authority of the believer!

The authority of the believer.

Growing up in church I have had the privilege of experiencing a lot of stuff in my life. I have also had the privilege to sit under some of the best teachers of the Bible. Some of the things I was taught are not negotiable like His birth, death resurrection and his return. Some things I was taught are negotiable such as the end times and a few other things. I understood the people who taught me the Word did not know the full truth. What they taught me was great. Better still is the fact that introduced me to the Holy Spirit who is the teacher we all need to be able to understand the word of God.

As I was growing up, I always had a desire to serve a God that is present and real. I do not worship an idol that is dead. I prayed for the sick believing God would show up and I would know He is real. The reality was and still is that I did not see everyone healed that I prayed for. Jesus says to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover or be healed. I had to struggle with this question for years. If I do what he commands then why doesn’t healing manifest? I had to get that question answered for myself.

So I ended up trying harder. I tried positive confession and memorizing scripture and prayer and fasting. This led to limited results. What was going on? Why no power and miracles. I had to come to the realization that I was doing all these things instead of doing what was needed, work on my connectivity and relationship with God. Being out of sync with His heart and not understanding his desire and will I reverted to making things happen in His name. What was I doing?

When we are out of relationship we tend to revert to commanding the devil or sickness to leave. We use the name of Jesus because in his name every knee will bow. Or so I thought. What did I miss? Whether I prayer or commanded my results didn’t change a lot. Then after years of asking the question “what am I missing” I had a time to meditate on John 1:12 and a whole new world opened up for me. The problem was not scripture or God but the problem was I. Yes you are right, I was not using authority the way God intended me to use it. What does the word authority mean?

John 1:12 All who have accepted Him He gave the power(Authority) to become the sons of God.

The word “power” is “dunamis” in the Greek but that is not the Greek word that is use here. The word “Exousia” authority is used here in John 1:12.

Dunamis means power. That is where we get the English word dynamite from.  Power is what we get after we are baptized by the Holy Spirit like in Acts 1:8. Lets see what exousia (authority) means when it is taken to it’s root meaning:

1849. ejxousi÷a exousia, ex-oo-see´-ah; from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: — authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

1832. e¶xesti exesti, ex´-es-tee; third person singular present indicative of a compound of 1537 and 1510;

1537. ejk ek, ek; or

            ejx ex, ex; a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote)

1510. eijmi÷ eimi, i-mee´; the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic)

Authority: Out of (origin - God) I exist.

Who is our origin? Where do we come from? We were created from and through God! He has given us the ability to live out of or from the “I Am.” We are from Him and we live from his ability or authority. All authority is from God. Jesus made this clear after his death when he said: “All authority has been given to me.” So the next question we need to ask is – what do I do with this authority that is from Him?

The problem when authority is abused.

When it comes to authority we must understand that any authority used outside of the source, which is God, is manipulation. Satan has no authority and so he manipulates people to believe his lies.  Sin cuts us off from the source so if we have sin in our lives it affects the way we exercise our authority. This leads to people using authority as a scepter. They swing it and command stuff to happen but see no results or very limited results. The danger in this is what we see in Matt 7:21-23.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These are people that have done great things in the name of the Lord but lived disconnected from the source. There is power in the name of Jesus and it will get you results but if you are disconnected from the source authority is being abused no matter what the results. Authority was never intended to be used outside of close relationship with the one that empowers you to walk in that authority.

A different way to use authority is not as a scepter but as a source.

Jesus states in Luke 10:19.

Behold, I give unto you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

What does it look like when you are connected to the source? What did it look like in Jesus life? First of all Jesus states that he does nothing aside from the Father. “I only do what I see Him do and say what I hear Him say.” Can you see how he stayed connected to the source.? He never had to manipulate anyone. He simply spoke and every demon knew he had authority. Because he never sinned he was never disconnected from the source.

The first way you know someone is connected to the source is when he or she acknowledges his or her dependence on God. We can do nothing and we will be nothing without Him.  In him we live and move and have our being.

The second way to know someone is connected to the source is that his or her sole purpose is to glorify the Father. It is not about them or their ministries, it is about God and the Kingdom that is at hand. Their heart is the same as God’s. They are for restoration and salvation. They want to see everyone come to know the Father.

The third way to recognize if someone is connected to the source is to look at the results. Jesus never had to beg or plead for results. The enemy knew he was connected and he was ministering from a place of abundance. The effective ministry of someone that is connected to God will be evident.

This was where I had to do a heart check. I realized that anytime I was disconnected with God I struggled to see breakthrough. When I stayed connected to the source ministry was easy and effective.

Are you using authority as a scepter because you are disconnected, or do you live from the source. I am checking myself to make sure I stay connected to Him.

Two things I learned about God.

We all have experienced times in our life's where we wonder why God is so quiet. If he would only speak and I can know what he wants me to do. 

I have had times in my life where I faced major decisions and found that God was quiet. What do we do when he is quiet?

The first thing I have learned about God is that he never changes. Hebrew 13:8 says that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Malachi 3:6 says that he is God and that he does not change. The obvious question would be to ask: What about God never changes?

When it comes to his essence and his character he is unchangeable. As a matter of fact his character is predictable. God is love and that can and will never change. The way he loved me when I was still a sinner is the same way he loves me now that I am a son. His ability to be gracious and kind, his ability to redeem and save never changes. In his essence he is unchangeable and totally predictable. I know that if I sin he will still love me. I know if I make a mistake he will make it work towards my own good. 

The second thing I learned about God is that even though he is predictable in his character, he is totally unpredictable in the way he will do things. God tells Joshua to make the people walk around Jericho for seven days and they will win the victory. Nobody could predict that. Moses will deliver three million slaves with a stick and a stutter. No one could predict that. God overcomes death and sin by having his own son killed. If the enemy knew what God would do through Jesus he would not have killed Jesus. He could not predict that God would do that. In his acts he is completely unpredictable.

What have we done in Church? We have created the opposite of what God is and does. God is predictable in his character but unpredictable in his acts. The Church is filled with people that have a created a predictable service(worship, a sermon and then prayer) and have become unpredictable in their character. How many times do we hear people say that the church is full of hypocrites. What kind of impact would we have on the world if sinners come to church and find a people that is predictable in character, they love well and they extend grace well, and they are okay when God shows up and change their program.

So why is God silent? In times when I need him most to speak he chooses to be silent because he wants me to learn that I can trust his character even if I don't hear from him. When he is quiet I get to trust his word. I trust that he will step up and direct me when I make the wrong decision. Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Holy Spirit prevented them. As mature sons and daughters we learn that we can trust him to direct us when we need it. 

Do I ask God to speak into everything I want to do or decide. That would be a sign of immaturity. Most people only ask not because they have faith but because it can give them a predictable outcome. You learn to put your trust in circumstances instead of trusting in his character and who he really is. 

Snooze button christianity. Most people will push the snooze button without ever wondering if it will alarm them again in ten minutes. The snooze button on their alarm clock has gotten them to completely trust it. Why do we struggle to trust God and his character? The second temptation Jesus faced was satan testing to see if God would keep his word. The enemy wants us to question God's integrity. If God's integrity is questionable then so is our salvation. Let me clearly state that God's integrity has never been questionable. He is unchanging in his character. Maybe we should develop some snooze button christianity where we trust that he will alarm us when we need to be alarmed. 

Spiritual Warfare - 3

Priests worship. What does this have to do with spiritual warfare? Lets first look at these scriptures.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The priests in the bible were the ones that ministered to God. They had the job of representing the people to God, ministering unto God as well as ministering back to the people. They had to stand in the gap and stay in worship and prayer. They were all from one tribe and they were not permitted to do anything else. They were focused on God and what he wanted. We are priest of God not according to an old priesthood but in a new priesthood of which Jesus is our High Priest. The only thing that changed between what they were expected to do and what we are expected to do, is where they had to sacrifice for the sins of the people and minister to God; we no longer have to do that because Jesus became our sacrifice. We still minister unto God and unto his people.

These priests would stay in the tabernacle and not be distracted from their duty. They would stay focused through worship and sacrifice. Their whole day were filled by being focused on one thing – God.

One of the greatest weapons against the enemy is worship. Worship has the ability to focus you, focus you on God and not the enemy. God is looking for those that will worship him in Spirit and in truth. When you worship you are on God’s radar screen. The enemy knows better than to mess with someone who has God’s eyes on them. Worship is a tool to engage God instead of engaging the enemy. HE is battle wise and we do not have the ability to tackle him by ourselves.

The enemy loves to distract and intimidate. We are not ignorant about the way he works.

2 Cor 2:11 Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

When we allow him to distract us he gains an advantage. All he has to do is have you take your eyes away from God and he will be a voice and a power in your life. He has no authority and he knows that. All authority has been given to Jesus. Through agreement and permission he gains access and power to your life. We empower him and he piggyback off the authority we carry because he uses us to speak words of fear and doubt. It is a spiritual law that operates in the light as well as in the darkness. Life and death is in the power of the tongue.

In Genesis one the Spirit is present on the face of the deep. There is chaos and destruction. Why did nothing happen with just the Spirit present? He was waiting for the word to be spoken. “Then God said: Let there be light and there was light.” The spirit comes upon the word. This is a spiritual law. When we speak words of fear and doubt God refuses to come on those words but the enemy would gladly take what you say and make it happen. That is why curses work. It is a person that empowers the enemy through agreement and permission.

If it is true in the negative just imagine what power it carries in the positive or light. Light is stronger than darkness. God is more powerful than the enemy. His Spirit on the tongue of the redeemed can brake the power and the stronghold of satan. They overcame him by the power of the blood and the word of their testimony – Rev 12:11.

Priests worship. A priest intercedes. Priests declare the will of God. We are kings and priests unto our God. In this next story Joshua is about to face Jericho. It was a strong city and God have him the plan to conquer it. Place the priest up front with the armed men and let them blow the trumpets and worship. Worship is warfare. Watch as God comes through and defeat your stronghold for you.

Josh. 6:12-13 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

The people followed after the priests and men of war. They didn’t say a word for seven days. All they had to do was to follow the worship and when the time finally came they shouted with a loud voice of victory and God gave them the city.

When you face the stronghold or the enemy, find the worship and follow that. Find the priestly anointing that rests on you and start worshipping. Forget about how big the city is. Forget how strong the city is. Focus on God and worship. Don’t be distracted and don’t empower the enemy by talking like him. Speak words of worship and deliverance. Overcome him by the blood and the word of your testimony.

Spiritual Warfare - 2

This time let’s look at the spiritual battle itself. Are you called into battle with the enemy? What is our modus oporandi when we are challenged to a battle in our lives?

James 4:7 Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.

There is a distinct order in this. We are called to submit to God first. Our calling is to engage God before we ever try to engage the enemy. Submit to God. The word submit means 'to be under' or 'to stand under'. When you submit to someone or something, you are under that person's authority. Submitting to God means you are under His authority. Whoever has the authority over you gets the final say in the matters concerning you.

Most Christians live like they are autonomous. They live without submitting themselves to God and then when the battle ensues they stand without any authority and try to overcome the enemy. What does it look like when we are under authority?

Matt. 8:5-10   And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Jesus was under authority and He understood how authority worked. When the centurion comes to Jesus asking for the healing of his servant, he recognized the authority that Jesus had and the authority He was under. He didn’t want Jesus to come to his house but asked Him to only speak a word. “I am a man under authority and I can see that you are as well, Jesus." The statement Jesus makes after he says this is of great importance.

“I have not found such great faith in Israel.”

Jesus calls him recognizing the authority on his life - faith. This opens a whole new realm of power and understanding for us as Christians. Let me help you to understand this. In the realm of faith, authority operates. Faith is the realm of power and authority. When we walk by faith and not sight, we walk in authority. Faith pleases God and faith is the connection for us to the power of God. The centurion had faith when he asked Jesus to heal his servant. Faith was the pathway to release the authority of God over the sickness and over his servant.

Faith will always release authority. If you have faith in the negative or the demonic it will release that kind of authority over your life. You choose what you want to believe and that places you under the authority of the one that rules in that realm. That is why we submit to God first. We first position ourselves for the breakthrough from heaven.

Psa. 91:1-7   He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

What does it look like to be under His authority? David tells us in this Psalm. When you are under God you won’t have to fear anything. Before you fight, run to Him. Before you try and overcome, find His secret place and stay. Spiritual battles are won when we submit to God. There are some things you need to learn in the secret place before you can be effective in the market place.

For most people the real battle is not the enemy but staying out of the flesh. The carnal mind and the carnal lifestyle is at enmity with God. When you live carnally you will lack the power and the authority of God in your life. What you submit to will have the power in your life. The real battle is being spiritual or living in and by the spirit of God. We are natural and in the natural we want to be satisfied. Paul says it in such a powerful way....Crucify the flesh. He also says, “I die daily.” That is the battle. Your flesh empowers the enemy and gives him power in the natural. When we refuse to live by carnal desires but surrender and live by spiritual principals we will see more battles won in our lives.

Submit to God. That is what we always do first. Then we resist the devil. Submitting to God makes the battle only a resisting experience. It is not a battle anymore.

Spiritual Warfare - 1

Spiritual warfare - 1

This horse has been beaten to death. We need some fresh perspective on spiritual warfare. I have been to many conferences and have heard so many sermons on how to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and how to stand and fight. I have great news for all of us. The battle has been won. Jesus was victorious and He is sitting on the right hand of God waiting until all His enemies are made His footstool. This statement does not negate the fact that we are daily engaged in a battle. We just need some fresh perspective on the subject.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high place. Don’t worry, I am not taking your warfare away, I am going to show you how to fight and win. Jesus didn’t promise us “no” fight; He promised us we would win. Overcomers all receive a reward, so do those that have been faithful.

Most people struggle to overcome the smallest of sins in their lives. but yet they are ready to take on spiritual warfare. They can’t overcome the flesh, but they are ready to do spiritual battle. In the book of Romans we find Paul making a statement that needs some attention.

Romans 8:5-9 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We see that Paul is trying to get us to think in a spiritual way about things. If we are trying to figure it out with our natural mind we will only produce death. When you think in a natural way you cannot be subject to the spiritual laws of God. The laws of God are life and peace. When you are in the spirit you are subject to experiencing life and peace. So how do we make something that is natural and fleshly, and see it spiritually?

Rom. 12:1-2   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom. 6:11-13 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Daily we choose to live by the spirit and not to be directed by our bodies. For us the battle is carnality. The enemy has been defeated and has no spiritual power or authority but he knows he can get his evil deeds displayed by people who are weak in the flesh. He is looking for people that can demonstrate his power in the flesh because then they would believe he has power as a spirit being.

Jesus won both the flesh and the spiritual battles he faced. What would you think if I tell you that it is your responsibility to overcome the flesh, but it is His responsibility to fight the spiritual battles for you? Jesus can change who you are but you change what you do!

Ephesians clearly states that we must put on the whole armor of God. The thought starts with telling us whom we are fighting against. Powers, principalities and spiritual wickedness in high place. That sounds like some big enemies right?

Eph. 6:10-17   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

What is very clear out of this passage of scripture is that the reason to put on the armor is that you might be able to stand, not fight. What you have to see is the fact that the armor of God is the garment that you put on so that you can engage God, not the enemy. I know we were told just the opposite. You are to stand before God and withstand the enemy. The priest in the old covenant had to be dressed in a specific way to minister unto God and to be able to stand in his presence. Paul is giving us the priestly garments to be able to minister to God and be able to stand in His presence. The enemy has been kicked out of God’s presence so when we stand before God, he has no power or voice. We are invited to come boldly into the presence of God.

Elijah says: “The God before whom I stand.” Moses stood in front of God on the mountain while God spoke to him. We are called to stand in God’s presence.

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

If we stand and allow God to fight for us, then our responsibility is to engage God and not the enemy. You will win more spiritual battles engaging God than you will fighting the enemy.

2 Chron 20:17-18 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.  And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.

Let me close this first thought on spiritual warfare. Let’s be clear on this. We have a battle. The flesh is our responsibility. Jesus showed us it is possible to overcome the flesh and its desires. When it comes to the spirit we are called to engage God. The armor of God is to be clothed for intimacy not a battle. There is no war in the bedroom. The bedroom is a place for intimacy. Are you ready to engage God?

In our next blog we will address the warfare part in more detail.

Grace to become.

This seems to be a buzzword in our time. Everywhere you go you hear it. Like so many other things it has been compromised and bent to fit people's lifestyles. I would like to bring some understanding to this word and what God has shown me.

I asked a lot of people just to test and see if what I heard was correct. What does the word “Grace” mean to you when you hear it?  “Grace is not getting what you deserve,” is the major way they explain it. They make it sound like you got away with something. Now, it is true that we didn’t get the punishment we deserved, but Jesus did. So grace does not mean getting away with something. If nobody got the punishment for sin then this statement would be true. You see grace does not ignore sin. It actually pays for sin. This understanding of getting away with something has permeated the church and has created a people that live to get away with something. They walk around with a misconception and an understanding of what Jesus did and makes His offer for our sins cheap. Does it really strike them how severely the punishment was that Jesus took for our sins?

Not getting what you deserve is called mercy. The prophet cries out: “In wrath remember mercy.” Mercy is more a description of us being set free and not getting the punishment we deserve. Mercy is God’s favor towards us to release us from the responsibility of our choices and actions. I would like to add a piece that a friend of mine wrote about grace.

“Beware the concept of "grace" that appears to say, "I'm a big mess but God loves me anyway. He sees me with rose colored glasses." No. He sees perfectly who and what you are and the passion He has for you is based upon who you were in His purpose before you were created. That passion is why He gave His Son, and the work of the cross isn't about a Band-Aid or cover up. Redemption is about transformation.” – Dr Don Lynch

So what is grace about? Grace is about transformation. Grace cannot be separated from the message of redemption. Did God give grace so that we can stay the way we are? Was grace a tool to save but not to transform?

Grace is the power that God gives us to be changed after we are saved. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord – Gen 6:8. Why did he find grace? He needed the empowerment to build the ark. Grace empowers us. Grace empowered us to believe to be saved. We could not do it by ourselves. Grace is God’s power released to us to become what He created us to be from the beginning. He has predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. You can never achieve that by what you have. It will take divine grace and empowerment to step into your destiny.

In the book of Luke we read the story of the prodigal son. In this story we see grace and how it works. Here are five things I see in this story that Jesus told to demonstrate the heart of God and grace.

1. Grace is activated by a heart for change.

Luke 15:11-12  And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living

Luke 15:18-19 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants

When the son left the house he wanted something. When he came back he wanted to be someone. What releases grace over our lives? There is a big difference between “Give me” and “Make me.” We are called to become someone. All who have excepted Him, He gave the power to become the children of God. We don’t serve God for what we can get, that is a prodigal mindset, we serve because of what we can become.  When we shift our need from wanting to becoming, grace is released for the transformation that needs to take place. This son knew that he had to become someone, “You can make me like one of your hired servants?” instead of just wanting something. A slave was better than a prodigal. The father had better things in mind but he had to wait until the son was ready for transformation. What you desire won’t change you as much as what your emptiness will change in you. When he had all he needed he did not think about being transformed. With all of his stuff he didn’t need grace. He could take care of himself. When he had nothing he was qualified for the father's grace. Are you feeling empty? Have you tried it all and have come up short? Don’t ask for more, ask for transformation.

2. Grace will see you before you see the father.

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

His father saw him first. I can just imagine what he looked like walking back home. Looking down and full of shame. He must have been thinking about what his father would do. Maybe send him back. What would he do then? This was his only hope. As he is walking he hears someone running. Still he doesn’t look up. Maybe it is one of his father’s servants going to get something. The next minute someone grabs him. He is startled back to reality as he looks up and his father kisses him. The wall breaks and he lets it all out. “I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry. I have sinned against you. Make me like one of your hired servants.”

Grace has the ability to see you before it sees your sin. What a truth. Grace is ready to surprise you. Grace is ready to kiss you. Have you been kissed by grace? Do you know what it is to be accepted instead of being rejected? That father was waiting all along for his return. Giving up was not an option. That father already knew that he wanted to see his son again. Nothing would be able to derail the love he had for his son. Grace sees you before you see it.

3. Grace will release mercy before it will release judgment.

Luke 15:21-24 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The most amazing thing is happening in this story. The son apologizes and the father looks like he is ignoring the son’s apology. We already saw that grace does not excuse sin but deals with it. This father shows us how God deals with our mistakes. God has a heart for restoration. The father in this story does not ignore the apology, he responds to the apology. When we repent God does not ignore our repentance but he responds to it. How does He do that?

Bring a robe, bring a ring, and bring some shoes. When a son encounters a father he looks different than when he first got there. When you encounter grace you will look different than you did before because grace empowers and restores. What proof do I have for this? I am not what I use to be. Mercy met me and grace empowered me. When mercy is released it deals with the judgment that was upon me. Now grace enables me to live in a way that with authenticate the mercy I received. If grace didn’t change me you would question why I received mercy.

 4. Grace does not demand admittance to mistakes.

I heard so many sermons about making restitution. I heard sermons on generational sins and having to go back and confess the wrongs from the past. Let me just say that I am unable to remember all the things I have done wrong, much less what my father did wrong, and even much less what his father did wrong. When this son confessed, I don’t see the father demanding a confession of all the things he did wrong. “Now tell me son what did you do with the money I gave you and how did you waste it and on who did you waste it?” This father does not try to identify the wrong that was committed. If you remember, then ask forgiveness, but please don’t waste your time trying to find the sin. God knows what we are capable of and He is ready to forgive even before we ask. What about un-confessed sin? There you have it. Just ask God to forgive all un-confessed sins. This son was sin conscious while the father was righteousness conscious. We need to see ourselves like God sees us. Sin consciousness will not empower you to change. Grace empowers you to change.

 5. Grace restores without charging.

The father kills the fatted calf. I love it because grace gives without charging. The father didn’t ask his CPA to take note and send him a bill. Grace does not charge even if you have spent all you had before. The brother was not too happy with the father’s decision. He didn’t like to share what was left. Again we see grace in action. “All I have is yours.” Grace is our source into the father’s blessings. Have we charged people for what we thought was a waste of God’s provision? What about the beggar on the street that wants some money? “ I don’t want to give because I know he is going to buy liquor with it.” That is an older brother complex that has it all but does not want to use it. This older brother had it all but never used it to find his younger brother. All those resources available but hording it all up. All that grace available but refusing to spend it on the lost and broken.

I don’t know what is worse. Having it and spending it or having it and not spending it. Both of them were prodigals. Both needed an intervention of grace.

 6. Grace empowers.

Grace empowers us to become something. Grace is more than we can understand; it must be experienced to gain true value for it. Beware of grace that does not expect change. Here is another snippet from Dr Don Lynch.

“Beware the limited definition of redemption and atonement that covers what should be cleansed, ignores what should be revealed, and excuses what should be removed. Atonement is reconciliation, but the basis of this reconciliation isn't Divine blindness but redemptive light. If we walk in that noonday Sun of revealing, we have true koinonia with Father and the Blood of His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Beware the idea that the sin remains fully functional but Father is an Expert at ignoring what is destroying us and our destinies.

Jesus has no sympathy for anything that is standing between us and the fullness of our created destiny and fulfillment of our kingdom calling. He did what was necessary in Atonement so we could be everything we were created to be and do everything we are called to do.

Beware the concept of redemption that carries the same limitations as the old covenant: Animal blood is not able to cleanse and continual applications are needed. Beware the concept of "grace" that appears to say, "I'm a big mess but God loves me anyway. He sees me with rose colored glasses."

No. He sees perfectly who and what you are and the passion He has for you is based upon who you were in His purpose before you were created. That passion is why He gave His Son, and the work of the Cross isn't about a band-aid or cover up. Redemption is about transformation.“

The Narrow Place - 2

Last week we looked at Balaam and what happened when he wanted to go and curse Israel. He ended up in a narrow place where he had an encounter with God. This week I want to look at another scripture about a narrow place.

Is. 49:18-22   Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.  For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.  The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too narrow for me: give place to me that I may dwell.  Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?  Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

As we saw last week the narrow place is a place of testing and trial. As it is described in this passage it is even a place of destruction and it is a desolate place. It is a place that the prophet describes as a place of death and loss. It is a place where you feel like a captive. Have you been through the mill? Are you feeling like destruction has come and wasted your potential and your hard work? Parents raise their children only to see them turn their backs on God and run after the pleasures of the world. They feel like they've wasted all those years. Do you feel like you have lost the ones dearest to you? Do you feel like you are left alone to battle this war?

So often when we meet with our racers on the field they say the following: “I feel like God has stopped talking to me and I feel like I am alone.” They experience the reality of abandonment. They learn to abandon the safety of church and family and venture out into the world to find the kingdom in action. They see things they have never seen before. They see the destruction of sin on people and what it can do to generations of woman that have no choice but to end up in slavery to a pimp.

There is good news though. God is a redeemer and a restorer of people. Just like Balaam encountered God in the narrow place, God still shows up today to encounter people. What the enemy meant for bad, God has and can turn into good. Look at the passage again. Even in this narrow place there is an abundance that breaks forth with the very thing that was lost. Children are coming back. The very thing that swallowed you up is removed far away and increase and abundance is coming back to your house. You will not know how it happened because you will not do it. God will do it for you.

Jesus was in a narrow place in Gethsemane. He was under pressure to the point where his sweat became blood. The word Gethsemane means: “A wine press.” The book of Hebrews says that he endured the cross, the narrow place, for the joy that was set before him. What joy was in the cross?

Is. 53:10   Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Heb. 2:10   For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

In his narrow place he saw children. Many people from all over the world that would become children of God. Abundance in the place of his destruction and waste. He was left alone to the point he cried out: “My God, My God why have thou forsaken me?” He could not do it by himself. God raised him up and caused abundance to spring forth.

I want to give you hope. Don’t look at where you are at and how wasted it seems to look right now. There is abundance being released to you today. God is about to show up in a marvelous way and change your whole life around. The day of your narrow places are coming to an end.

The Narrow Place

I was reading a FB posting from a friend this morning and she was very verbal about how someone encouraged her. She had been going through a difficult time and felt the pressure of life. We all know what that feels like. We all have been there. Sort of “been there done that” T-shirt moments we know so well.

We have been under pressure and we have been through some stuff the last few years. People feel that it is not safe to share about these things. I am not sharing because I want to focus on my difficulties but because we have seen God come through in a tremendous way in some of these circumstances. Currently we have friends that are in a narrow place with their business. We have friends that are in a narrow place with their children. We have friends that are in a narrow place with their finances and their health. We all feel the press of the moment.

Num 22:22-31 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

This is the story of Balaam the prophet that wanted to curse Israel for money. Twice the donkey turned out of the way because of the Angel of the Lord standing in the way. Both times he smote the donkey because the donkey turned away from the way Balaam wanted to go. What a picture. This donkey had more insight into what was happening than a prophet blinded by greed. Greed has put more people in a narrow place than any other reason. Greed drives political parties, wars, and religion. Greed is the sickness of our age that has blinded the people from the ways of God. That is why the kingdom is challenging us to give rather than to receive.

Balaam should have been aware something was going on when the donkey spoke to him. Instead he argued with the donkey. He was so set in his ways that when something supernatural happened, he completely missed it. What would you do if when you get home your cat starts speaking to you? Would you think something is going on? The second time the donkey left the path he went trough a vineyard. There he crushed Balaam’s foot against a wall. Your foot speaks of the way you walk. God was trying to get his attention about his ways. Still he didn’t get it.

Then the Lord went and stood in the narrow place. This time the donkey had no way to turn. No left way nor right way to go, only forward. God brought Balaam to a place of decision. Again Balaam struck the donkey. The very thing that brought him to an encounter with God, so that God could speak to him, now became the outlet for his frustration. How many times have we beaten or criticized the very thing that brought us to an encounter with God. The circumstances and the difficulties we encountered were all vehicles that God uses to encounter us. I am not saying that sickness is of God. I am not saying losing your business is of God. What I am saying is that God can use all those things to encounter you with healing and blessings. What the enemy meant for bad God can use for good.

The narrow places limit our options. Balaam had no way to turn. Do you feel like you have run out of options? You have tried everything else. The woman with an issue tried everything else until she encountered Jesus. When Jesus asked them “who touched me?” they said that the crowd was pressing in on him. She was in a narrow place when she encountered healing for her body.

When a mother gives birth the baby goes through the birth canal or narrow place. The reason is so that the fluids can be pressed or pushed from its lungs. That guarantees that the baby will be able to breath when it is born. The narrow place has a purpose. The meaning for the word narrow in Hebrew means to be in distress or to cramp. We see this when a mother gives birth. Cramps or contractions mean something is about to be born. On the other side of pain is joy. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Jesus said: Broad is the way that leads to destruction but narrow is the way that leads to life. Few people stay on this path because it is uncomfortable. We try to choose the easy way out. The problem is that it doesn’t produce what is needed to birth the kingdom. In the kingdom you will experience attacks, persecution, and the narrow places that God has ordained. Are you willing to pay the price for it? Can you put your hand to the plow and not look back?

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Monday Morning the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said: “The bedroom is not a battle field.”

This was significant because as I was meditating on this I realized that what we do is we bring the battle into the place of intimacy. Intimacy speaks of total surrender. You don’t fight during intimacy. As Christians we fight the devil, fight sin, and fight to overcome and then think we can bring the fight into our intimate time with God. You leave feeling like God didn’t show up; He didn’t hear your prayer and He is not present. The battle is fought outside but when you come into the house you find rest and peace.

2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Do you know what the fellowship of the Holy Spirit means? The word for fellowship includes three different meanings.

1.     Companionship.

What does companionship look like? When I met my wife I would drive 30 hours over a weekend just to go and see her. I longed to get to know her better. She captivated me so much that all those hours on the road seemed like nothing. I wanted to do it just to be able to spend some time with her.

What are we willing to do to spend time with the Holy Spirit? What is preventing us from companionship with the Holy Spirit? In my time with my wife we have learned about each other. The other day someone asked us to go and see a movie with them. She doesn’t like movies with blood and war and people dying in it. She likes the romantic movies where they get together in the end and live happily ever after. So as soon as they asked us she looked over at me. Without even saying a word I could write three pages about what that look she gave me was saying. I politely declined and remembered we had to do something. How do I know her so well? We have been companions for twenty-seven years.

2.     Partnership

If I have a medical practice and I am a doctor, and a pilot wants to be part of my medical practice, it would simply not work. As a pilot he would not have what it takes to diagnose the sickness correctly. He is a professional in every way but just not qualified to do the job. Neither would we get on a plane if we knew the pilot made a partnership with the doctor and now the doctor is flying the plane you are in. Think about it. When we partner with the Holy Spirit we need to be on the same page.  We ask the Holy Spirit to bless what we are doing instead of asking what He is doing and making ourselves available to help him.

We are in partnership with the Holy Spirit as he empowers us to do the ministry he has called us to do. I cannot do my own thing. I partner with him and together we minister in the power He supplies for ministry.

3.     Intimacy

In-to-me-see. Do you get it? It says vulnerability. Without being vulnerable you can never be intimate. You need to allow someone see you completely naked. You need to get real with the Holy Spirit. He already knows you better than you know yourself. Stop pretending things are okay when they are not. Being real creates the place where intimacy happens. The product from intimacy is bearing fruit. As children of God we are expected to bear fruit. Without being intimate with the Holy Spirit we stay barren and unfruitful. The fruit of your life proves what kind of intimacy you are living. Reading the word and waiting on God, meditating on his word are intimate times with God. Do you want to be more fruitful?

Here are a list of things you can do to be more intimate:

-       Know that it is what God wants for you

-       Overcome your fear of being vulnerable

-       Study the word, meditate on it day and night

-       Trust the Holy Spirit with your heart and your feelings

-       Make time to be alone with Him

These are a few keys to remember.

The price for His presence is time!

The purpose for His presence is change!

The product of His presence is power.

Do you really want this? Be ready to be changed. Be ready to see the power of God manifest in your life!

Mirrors in your life

The mirrors in your life.

2 Corintians 2:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This past week I was sharing at Project Searchlight about identity. I have talked about this topic so many times in the past. As I was meditating about what to share, I saw something I have not seen before. We all form our identity by what we look at. We have make believe mirrors that we trust with our whole heart.

We all have mirrors in our lives. In every bathroom, and even in bedrooms, we have mirrors. We look into those mirrors everyday. Before we leave the house we want to see if we are presentable. Mirrors have the ability to reflect what is in front of them. Some people spend hours trying to make themselves acceptable by looking at that mirror. So here are a few things about mirrors.

Mirrors don’t lie. What you see in that mirror is a perfect representation of what is in front of that mirror.

Mirrors help us to beautify ourselves. Mirrors have the cunning ability to change people.   

Mirrors only reflect, they don’t produce an image by themselves.

Ex. 38:8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

In the Bible we read about mirrors. In the book of Exodus, when Moses was commanded to build the Tabernacle, one of he things he had to make was a laver for the Tabernacle he build. The laver was constructed from the mirrors of the woman in the camp. At that time, they didn’t have mirrors, as we know them today. Their mirrors were polished brass. It still reflected what was in front of that mirror. So Moses took the mirrors to build the laver. The laver was a rounded tub that could hold water so that the priest could wash their hands in it after they killed the sacrifice. I want you to see the picture. As the priest would bend over that laver filled with clean water, they would see their reflection in the water. It was a mirror for the priests. As they continued washing the blood off of their hands, the blood would color the water and the priest would no longer see his image but would see the bloody water. The blood changed what they were seeing. What a great picture of how the blood of Jesus takes away the reflection and only his blood is visible. The laver lost its ability to reflect the priest's image and only showed proof of the sacrifice that just took place.

We have all allowed the opinion of men to be a mirror in our life. We have allowed all kinds of things and expectations to be a mirror in our lives. Can you think of anything that does not reflect Christ? That is a false mirror. You believe what you see in the mirror. Can you understand the power a false mirror will have in your life? When something is a lie it will influence you as long as you look into it. Why have you struggled with overcoming some issues in your life? What are you looking at? Men struggle to get deliverance from pornography but won’t stop looking at it. It is a mirror in your life. Woman struggle with their bodies but won’t stop looking at skinny models in magazines. It is a false mirror in your life.

We all have to give up the mirrors in our lives so that God can do something with them. We have all looked at ourselves and have seen the wrong thing. We can never improve ourselves unless we come to the blood of Jesus. We have made the opinions of men our mirror. We have made the world our mirror. We have all set up mirrors in our lives that do not represent what God has in mind for us. The scripture says that as we behold Jesus, the only mirror God ever wanted us to have, we are changed. Jesus is the perfect reflection or mirror image of God.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Mirrors don’t reproduce their own image. When we look into the mirror of God, he reflects the Christ that He sees in us. That represents the change that we are to make to fully reflect Christ. Christ in us is the hope of glory. Jesus is the only one that can accurately reflect you. He became sin for us, reflecting our old nature. Now He is interceding for us, reflecting our new man before the Father. You are a new creation. Allow Him to be the mirror you look into. As you do change happens. Don’t see sin. See his righteousness. What you behold is what you become.

Sync with heaven - 3

Sync with heaven – 3

To sync with something you need to be in coordination with what you are trying to sync with. In synchronized swimming they all move exactly the same way at the same time. It requires active pursuit and effort to get in sync and to stay in sync. A great example would be when you tune a guitar. The e-string vibrates at a certain speed. The string vibrating and hitting the molecules in the air actually give of the sound. To get the same sound out of another string you have to put the same tension on that string so that it would vibrate at the same speed. Once they both have the same tension and make the same sound they are in sync. There are definite things we can do to sync with God. Just to mention a few we can look at:

1.    Worship

2.    Word

3.    Meditation

4.    Faith

5.    Love

In the book of Revelation we see a glimpse of what is going on in heaven. There is worship going on around the clock. Nonstop they worship God. Angels worship Him. The twenty-four elders are worshiping Him. Looking at that we see a standard of what needs to happen when you are in God’s presence. For us to even experience His presence we cannot change what God has already put in place. Heaven will not sync with us. We need to sync with heaven. Worship creates a conductive atmosphere with heaven. Worship syncs you with heaven and helps you give to up your own agenda.

In our lives things don’t just happen. If it did it would have happened. Most of the time we look at something and we see how circumstances started to line up and eventually it ended in something big. Similarly, you will find that in the spirit things don’t just happen. It happens when we start to discern and start to line up with what God is doing. When Jesus told them to wait to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, they had to line up with what he was going to do. They had to be in the right place at the right time to experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. If they were at the Sea of Galilee fishing instead of waiting, they would have missed it because they didn’t sync with His request in their actions.

The power of God does not rest on a personality. It rested on the person of Jesus but He declares that He is the way, the truth and the life. The power of God rests on a truth. Truth is a person. When the bible says that no word of God would return empty, it is simply telling us that the truth of the word has the power to do what that word declares. When God says that He will heal you, in that word is all the power needed to accomplish what God declared. His power rests on His word. This is a phenomenal truth we need to understand and grab a hold of. When God told Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, there was enough of the power of God on that command to bring them all into the promised land.

Ex 3:2-4 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Sometimes the power of God is present but His voice is silent. In this story Moses saw the bush burning. That was God’s power on display. What amazes me is that Moses turned to look what was going on. Moses was used to magic and seeing things that were strange. He grew up in Pharaoh's house. Those magicians copied Moses when he went to Pharaoh the first time. He was used to seeing magic tricks. Maybe he was thinking it was a magic trick again. Even though it was God manifesting Himself, Moses had no discernment that it was God. His only reference was Egypt. Without God speaking when His power is present we will not have a paradigm shift towards truth. We will still interpret what God is doing from our past or faulty understanding or even with the lies we believed.

So God speaks to Moses. This one statement clarifies who is present. His presence is greater than his power. His voice makes his power personal.  They constantly attacked Jesus authority. “By whose authority are you doing these miracles?” They didn’t have a problem with the power they saw in the miracles, they had a problem with who was claiming this power. As a nation they were used to seeing God’s power but they still had a problem wanting to hear his voice. “You go and talk to God Moses, we cannot bear to stand his voice” they said at Mount Sinai. They wanted the power without the presence. They even tried to ascribe what Jesus was doing as the devil doing it. Jesus constantly told them that the Father was doing it. He was trying to make them see that God was speaking to them but they kept on missing the point.

Moses turned aside to see. We have to change our course if we want to have an encounter with God. God will use His power to get our attention but we have to redirect our pursuit of God. We need to seek His face more than we seek His hand. His power is great but His presence is better. The devil is a copycat. He can copycat the power of God. The magicians did some of the same signs that Moses did. They can copy the power of God to some extent. One thing they can never copy or imitate is the presence of God. When you look at the power of God there is always a man involved. Moses had to do something. We have to lay hands on the sick. A man is always involved. When it comes to the glory of God, only God is involved. God is looking for someone that can sync with heaven and when we do His power shows up. Then when we are ready, His presence manifests to make sure we follow after his voice.