Thursday, March 25, 2010

Push Through to the Final Third

Lately, we've been having great Bible Studies at our house, things are happening at church in the sense that the Spirit is moving, powerful decisions are being made, and young men are being saved. And yet . . . I can't help but feel that my natural tendency to pull back at the sign of spiritual momentum and success is starting to take hold. I have a bad habit of shooting myself in the foot every time I get to the threshold of God's all-consuming fire. I really desire to push through this so that I can experience true healing and life-changing fruit. In my own life and in the lives of those around me.

I wrote a post recently about how we're missing the third element of the disciples - the element of authority. To push through to that is huge. I really believe it is where GOD resides in power.

In my Bible readings, I've noticed this trend recently - how important this third element is.

Hosea 6:1 - 4 "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him."

The third day is the day of healing and restoration. It is the day where we push through to the presence of God. Days one and two are the ripping apart. Many of us choose to dwell in these days. But it's day three, if we are willing to press on, where the healing takes place.

Isaiah 37:30, 31 (to Hezekiah, who has been devastated by the Assyrians): "This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyard and eat their fruit."

The third year is the year of fruit. Years one and two - recover, live off the mercy of the Lord. There's nothing wrong with taking a deep breath and gathering yourself back up. But the third year, if we can push through to it, is a year of life and healing and production.

Recently, in reading Daniel, I noticed that the world understands this principle. When Nebuchadnezzar grabbed the best of the young men from Jerusalem, this is what he instructed his court official:

Daniel 1:4 "He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service."

The Babylonians knew that if these young men were immersed for three years in their culture, then they had them. If they could push them through to the third year, then the ways of Israel would be erased and they would be useful for the king's service.

This principle holds true spiritually. We often grow weary - pushing up to the point of victory, then pulling back. Push through. Whatever is keeping you from the surrendered, abundant life, push through it. All the way to the Third Day - the day of the resurrection. Any man can have the first two days. Just like man killed Christ and had two days of "victory." But the third day belongs to God.

Friday, March 5, 2010

That's a Wrap

I have come to the final conclusion that this Christian walk cannot possibly succeed without God's people wrapped around me. As I look back in my life, I realize that every major spiritual growth spurt has occurred when I have entered into a community of believers that loved me and allowed me to ask and seek, push and pull, rise and fall, - ultimately drawing me deeper into God.

This lesson has been driven home sharply this week. One of the boys of my congregation was drawn away from his church family by a "friend" and into a community of hate and darkness. There was no love, no hope - nothing of value. How did it end? Let's just say that I am doing a funeral this Monday for a 15 year old boy who at this time last year was wrapped in the love of a small church.

I truly believe that he is now wrapped in the love of God - but that doesn't take away all the pain. When he was pulled away from our community, he was enveloped in darkness. Please - follow the directions of Scripture: "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:22) Do not try to do this alone.

Monday, March 1, 2010

A Failing Grade 66.7%

Mark 3:13 "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."

Two out of three ain't bad. Well, actually, yes it is.

I'm speaking of my own life, and by missing the third element, I'm feeling the failing. When Jesus called His apostles, there were three things He was putting into play:

1. That they would be with Him. I think, at least in my limited but growing faith, I have this. I desire to spend time with Him and I do, for the most part.

2. To preach. Check. I do this - most of us do this in life and words.

3. To have authority to drive out demons. Here's where I think most of us fall short. I'm not saying that we're constantly confronted by demon-possessed people, although we may be surprised to know the truth when the veil is lifted. What I am thinking is that we are spending time with Christ, telling others about Him, but completely lacking in the authority that changes lives, that brings healing to the oppressed, that knocks down the gates of hell.

By missing this third element, I think we're failing. Where I teach, 2 out of 3 is a failing grade. you need a 70% to pass. We need to push through to this third part, the authority and power of Christ in our own lives to "drive out demons" and the power of the Christ to enter into the lives of others and bring them out of the darkness and into the light.

It's not like there's an Activation Switch that suddenly turns on this power. It comes from faith - truly believing that the same power that raised Christ from the dead resides in us. The same authority that confronted demons and cast them out of people is upon us. The same Name that is above all other names is written on our foreheads. The fullness of God is within us.


I John 5:4 "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Step out today with the faith and the expectation that your life can be truly transformed, and the you can have authority to bring this life-changing Power into the lives of others.