Friday, February 19, 2010

Well Pleased

So I'm half-asleep in the middle of the night and I start to get this feeling (vision?) of heaven, with Satan and Jesus standing next to God. Satan is laying out all my garbage before the Lord. I don't know exactly what he's saying, but I get an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach because I know who I am. A heavy weight starts to descend upon me.

Then Christ stands in front of God (who I can't see but I know is there) and says something to the effect of "Look at him through Me." And God responds in the same words as He did when Jesus was baptized: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Needless to say it felt as if this giant weight was lifted from my chest. That's how He sees me. Through the body of Christ. It was so thrilling to realize that Christ stands in front of me.

I don't care if it was just a dream or if God gave me a vision. It's the truth.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Blaming the Fire

Exodus 32:24 "So I told them, 'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!"

My cat Calvin killed Bob. Bob was our pet hamster, we loved him as much as you could love a hamster (which isn't much). But I really couldn't get mad at Calvin. That's what cats do. They kill rodents. And cats will do what cats will do.

We have a tendency to blame the things that will only do what they are, by nature, designed to do. When Aaron was confronted by Moses after creating the golden calf, he blamed the fire! Fire will do what fire will do. It's not the fault of the fire that our precious jewels become idols.

If you continue to throw the "temple of God," which is your body, into the world, don't blame the world when you become a useless idol. The world will do what the world will do, and it can only do this with what you put into it. Your gold and your intentions with that gold, mixed in with the fire of the world, will produce what you are designing it to produce.

I think it's time some of the younger generation starts to step away from the flames, stops blaming the circumstances for their failures, and begins the process of holy consecration unto the Lord. There's only so long that you can continue to blame the world for your stumblings, for your idols, until you begin to sound as foolish as Aaron did in this situation. The fire of the world is not the problem. The fact that you intentionally throw your gold into it is the problem. It's insulting to claim otherwise.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Firing All the Chambers

I just finished reading Oswald Chambers for this morning and I was really touched by this passage. It was perfect timing, because to be honest - I'm exhausted. Physically and spiritually. So this was a good word:

"Exhaustion means that our vital energies are completely worn out and spent. Spiritual exhaustion is never the result of sin, but of service. Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them ( John 21:17 ). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him."

I agree with this, and am encouraged. Until people learn to feed off Christ it may be necessary for them to feed off of us as we lead them to Him. Obviously it can be extremely draining. But it is a great work. A meaningful and eternal work.

I am reminded that if I am to be this source for them, then I need to make sure I am feeding off my Source so that I can have something to offer. This releases me to "fire all the chambers" - be broken and poured out for others, holding nothing back. Christ will fill me, He will give me what I need for the hurting. Every day that I open the jar, there will be oil for the day.

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Real Promise

Cars and houses. Health and wealth. Bigger churches and multiplying ministries. These are the promises that are held out to believers. But as I read the Bible it becomes clear that this is not what God holds out to us. What He says, over and over, is this: The one thing I will promise you is My presence. Nothing more, nothing less. Is that enough?

Some examples:

Genesis 28:15 "Then the Lord said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your and your relatives, and I will be with you."

Exodus 1:11,12 "Moses said to God, 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?' And God said, "I will be with you."

Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Even in the Great Commission - He ends it in Matthew 28:20 by saying, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The most heart-breaking chapter in Scripture is Ezekiel 10, when God removes His presence from the Temple. He hovers over it and stops (v. 18) above the cherubim. The feeling is intense - like one look back before leaving. He knows what it means - His presence means everything. Once it's gone, there's nothing left of any value in the Temple. It's just a shell.

So that's the promise. Is that enough for you? Because seriously, I don't think it is for many Christians. They want the peripherals. The stuff. But the true saints understood. Moses fought for His presence, at the risk of all else. David understood that it was the difference between him and Saul. Elijah drew a line in the sand on Mt. Carmel and declared it to be the only thing that mattered. It allows you to live away from the spotlight, to be poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice, never to be seen again. You can let a brother have the upper hand without fighting for your rights. Praying for the "competing" church down the street won't be a problem.

I can honestly say, that for me, I have come to the place where it is enough.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Authority - A New Message

Do you honestly believe that change can occur in your life? In the lives of those around you? I think we speak one thing but really, if we're honest, live out something completely different.

Mark 1:27 "The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching - and with authority."

When Christ began His ministry - things actually started to happen in the lives of people. Blind people could see, the lame walked . . . you know the story. Lives actually changed, physically and spiritually. Because of this, it seemed like a "new teaching." I tend to think that if we lived a life of faith and our life changed radically, along with those around us, it would seem like a "new teaching" in this culture as well. Why? Because I don't believe we really believe our own message!

When did Christ ever do nothing? Only in two situations: among the hypocritical leaders and in the towns that didn't believe.

Mark 6:5,6 "He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. And He was amazed at their lack of faith."

We need more childlike faith. My kids actually believe that I can do what I tell them I'm going to do. When they ask if we can do something and I say, "Maybe" they cheer! They even have great expectations on a "maybe." Think about that! We don't even have expectations on our Father's "Will."

A prayer I like to recite each morning is Psalm 5:1-3:
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."

I love this. Instead of "raising" our prayers to Him, we "raise" our expectations to Him, to His authority to accomplish change in our lives. This type of prayer will seem like a new message in this age of mediocrity and compromise.

Starting now I'm going to have a simpler faith - a faith that expects things to start happening in me and around me.