Yesterday, I was listening to Bill Johnson and a sermon he was giving at a conference in Fort Worth, Texas. He made a pretty earth shattering statement that "Beware of any doctrine of the sovereignty of God that leaves you being merely a spectator."
Now, I subscribe (at least intellectually) to the belief that Dutch Sheets has laid out that "God does little in the earth except by or through the prayers of His people." In other words, God very often holds his hand until someone prays. He chooses to limit much of His conduct upon the earth to working through His people, the Church.
Bill Johnson went on to say that authority and power are evidenced in a picture of wind and sails. Essentially, power is what is being manifested when we raise our sails to the wind. God sends the wind, and we merely raise our sails to join Him in what He is doing. But authority, according to Bill, is when we release the wind.
It is easy to be passive as a believer. It seems so much safer to be passive than to take risks and to stick my neck out and risk looking stupid or worse. Yet, when Jesus gave His disciples "authority over unclean spirits, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and preach the Kingdom of God" He was delegating authority to them (read "us") to take steps of faith in Him. So we not only look to see what God is doing and join Him in that process (which I believe is obedience) but we also can step out boldly in faith and move into the unseen realms, trusting God is there because we have the mind of Christ.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Die Flesh Die!
I started a three day fast on Tuesday, not really a hard thing, considering it only involves the abstention of food after 3pm and until 7am, and the fasting from television and computer distractions during that time as well. But my flesh certainly rebelled, and rebelled hard against it. By 6:30pm on the drive to church, I found myself irritable, by the trip home I was not just irritable but edgy, short in my responses to my wife and trying to come to grips with how to pray.
Later that evening, Jennifer was cooking a meal for her employer (which she had to take to work with her the next day) and the air was filled the smell of italian food. Now my stomach was in overdrive, having skipped dinner for "more time with God" I found myself complaining and unhappy. So, I went to bed without telling anyone. Jennifer came to bed an hour later and I was still grumpy. When she asked if I wanted to pray, I mumbled out a "you pray, I'll agree with you." (translation: I don't want to!) My flesh was not going to give in without a major fight. The reason we had decided to do this three day fast was so that we could pray for our church and for decisions related to vision for the church as well as our own personal direction.
Finally, after an hour of sleeplessness, grumbling to God and trying to "give it to Him" I rolled over and apologized to Jennifer. Then we prayed. It wasn't earth-shattering prayer, but it was a victory. My prayer now is "Die Flesh, Die!" I don't like it when my flesh runs my life!
Later that evening, Jennifer was cooking a meal for her employer (which she had to take to work with her the next day) and the air was filled the smell of italian food. Now my stomach was in overdrive, having skipped dinner for "more time with God" I found myself complaining and unhappy. So, I went to bed without telling anyone. Jennifer came to bed an hour later and I was still grumpy. When she asked if I wanted to pray, I mumbled out a "you pray, I'll agree with you." (translation: I don't want to!) My flesh was not going to give in without a major fight. The reason we had decided to do this three day fast was so that we could pray for our church and for decisions related to vision for the church as well as our own personal direction.
Finally, after an hour of sleeplessness, grumbling to God and trying to "give it to Him" I rolled over and apologized to Jennifer. Then we prayed. It wasn't earth-shattering prayer, but it was a victory. My prayer now is "Die Flesh, Die!" I don't like it when my flesh runs my life!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Throne of God
Over the past week, I have had a series of Kairos moments that have led me to recognize that I need to understand and receive the "affirmation" of my Heavenly Father. I have come to realize I do not operate as a person who sees himself as a person who is completely loved and accepted by my Father. My critical spirit has led me to operate out of my wounding instead of my new identity in Christ. So my disicpleship group prayed that I would powerfully experience this "affirmation" of Abba Father.
Last night, I had a dream that moved me in a powerful way. I only recall the place, a man was speaking and preaching the Word of God, and I had walked into the room below where he was speaking. I found myself in a room that had a large domed ceiling. Inside this massive domed room, I encountered the Presence of God. This was a place of Divine Encounter. I was awed and humbled by the Presence, but do not recall my response other than my eyes were filled with tears of awe and joy.
Even as I am typing this, I revisit that experience in my dream, and my eyes well up in tears. It felt as if the Lord God, Father encountered me in my dreams last night. His holy and awesome love surrounded me. I honestly can say I felt His affirming love last night AND still feel and am experiencing His affirmation.
Last night, I had a dream that moved me in a powerful way. I only recall the place, a man was speaking and preaching the Word of God, and I had walked into the room below where he was speaking. I found myself in a room that had a large domed ceiling. Inside this massive domed room, I encountered the Presence of God. This was a place of Divine Encounter. I was awed and humbled by the Presence, but do not recall my response other than my eyes were filled with tears of awe and joy.
Even as I am typing this, I revisit that experience in my dream, and my eyes well up in tears. It felt as if the Lord God, Father encountered me in my dreams last night. His holy and awesome love surrounded me. I honestly can say I felt His affirming love last night AND still feel and am experiencing His affirmation.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Dreams are places to make your mistakes!
Last night I had a couple of dreams that really exposed my heart. In one of them, I was with a group of pastors eating a meal and a policewoman came up to our table and asked if any of us would be willing to conduct a wedding ceremony for the daughter of a congressman and her girlfriend. I answered, 'My doctrine won't permit me to do so."
When I awoke, I was ashamed of my cowardly answer! I could actually feel the "fear of man" in my bones as I awakened. As I prayed about it and the way it made me feel, I began to get downloads from God on the purpose of the dream and the way He would use it to train me.
Firstly, God made it clear to me that the place to make mistakes is in my dreams. It is often in our dreams that our hearts are revealed, our deepest fears are manifested, and the heart of God is communicated to a mind that might be resisting Him.
Second, God gave me a download, a revelation if you would, of what I should say or how I should respond to the very difficult question of "will you do my wedding ceremony?" I have had so many requests over my ministry, and have never had a "standard" for how to say yes or no to them. I have considered many approaches, all based upon externals like "church membership," "how long one has been divorced," "how long have they been engaged," to "are you sleeping together'" and a host of other potentially ambiguous and non-essentials. I have even polled other pastors as to their policies for conducting weddings, and have found the standards as far ranging as humanly possible. I have enacted policies for non-members that require a substantial fee compared to members, as well as requiring that the couples meet with me 4 to 6 times before the wedding. But those have not helped, nor have they been able to change the hearts of those who had come to me.
What I believe God showed me was to ask a simple but penetrating question. "How would my conducting your nuptials advance the Kingdom of God and promote His Glory?" The bottom line is that I would not conduct weddings unless they do both. While that might appear hard and callous, it belies a solid truth behind the standard that I believe God wants for His Church and His people. It really ought to be the standard for all of our life and conduct.
When I awoke, I was ashamed of my cowardly answer! I could actually feel the "fear of man" in my bones as I awakened. As I prayed about it and the way it made me feel, I began to get downloads from God on the purpose of the dream and the way He would use it to train me.
Firstly, God made it clear to me that the place to make mistakes is in my dreams. It is often in our dreams that our hearts are revealed, our deepest fears are manifested, and the heart of God is communicated to a mind that might be resisting Him.
Second, God gave me a download, a revelation if you would, of what I should say or how I should respond to the very difficult question of "will you do my wedding ceremony?" I have had so many requests over my ministry, and have never had a "standard" for how to say yes or no to them. I have considered many approaches, all based upon externals like "church membership," "how long one has been divorced," "how long have they been engaged," to "are you sleeping together'" and a host of other potentially ambiguous and non-essentials. I have even polled other pastors as to their policies for conducting weddings, and have found the standards as far ranging as humanly possible. I have enacted policies for non-members that require a substantial fee compared to members, as well as requiring that the couples meet with me 4 to 6 times before the wedding. But those have not helped, nor have they been able to change the hearts of those who had come to me.
What I believe God showed me was to ask a simple but penetrating question. "How would my conducting your nuptials advance the Kingdom of God and promote His Glory?" The bottom line is that I would not conduct weddings unless they do both. While that might appear hard and callous, it belies a solid truth behind the standard that I believe God wants for His Church and His people. It really ought to be the standard for all of our life and conduct.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Set Apart by John Mulinde
I am reading Pastor Mulinde's book and am beginning to see the hooks that the activities, hobbies, diversions and duties have in me. He describes their "cry for attention" as being what drowns out the call of God to draw near to Him, and inasmuch as we respond to their voice instead of God's voice, we institutionalize an idol in our hearts. These patterns of behavior and their network of activity draw us away from having a heart solely for God. No, they aren't "sinful" but are still sin, because they compete with God's sole possession of our hearts.
About 10 years ago, Pastor Mulinde says God had him list the diversions, the objects of his heart's affections, and he says he was shocked to find so many. God led him to a deep and lasting repentance which has resulted in a radical change in the way God used him.
As I reflect and pray about this, I recognize the awful truth that is here. Last year, when we fasted and prayed for 21 days, I saw the competing activities set aside as I made a conscious choice to give God my heart. This radical shift lasted for probably 2 months after the fast ended, and then I began to compromise on what I would spend time on. Before long, I found myself as deeply immersed in diversions as I was before.
What to do? I have agreed to begin a fast on September 18th which includes a fast from media (which comprises the bulk of my diversions and competition to giving God my time and attention) -- but the hard part remains...how to make it last. Stay tuned!
About 10 years ago, Pastor Mulinde says God had him list the diversions, the objects of his heart's affections, and he says he was shocked to find so many. God led him to a deep and lasting repentance which has resulted in a radical change in the way God used him.
As I reflect and pray about this, I recognize the awful truth that is here. Last year, when we fasted and prayed for 21 days, I saw the competing activities set aside as I made a conscious choice to give God my heart. This radical shift lasted for probably 2 months after the fast ended, and then I began to compromise on what I would spend time on. Before long, I found myself as deeply immersed in diversions as I was before.
What to do? I have agreed to begin a fast on September 18th which includes a fast from media (which comprises the bulk of my diversions and competition to giving God my time and attention) -- but the hard part remains...how to make it last. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Bee Healed
For the past 7 months, I have been in constant and withering pain from my right elbow, from a tendon that was injured while carrying firewood up the stairs in our home. We have prayed repeatedly for it, even seen a doctor who gave me a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, because of its severity. On Sunday evening, it was so painful, even Advil didn't seem to help much, so Jennifer prayed again over my elbow and arm. There was no immediate change.
On Monday, I wore my elbow brace while I worked cutting wood, and then weed-whacking the tall weeds along our stream. I was nearly done when I felt a burning pain on the inside of my elbow. I looked down and there was a double-sized BEE stinging me THROUGH the elbow brace, right above the location of my injury. I brushed him away and was astonished at the level of the pain of the sting. Later that day, the sting had a small hole in it, and was closing and scabbing over.
On Wednesday morning, my bee-sting still hurt, but not as bad. What was surprising was, that my elbow and the tendon was almost entirely pain free. No pain when I carry stuff, no pain when I bend it, and none when I straighten it. My only question was..."God, did you need to send a bee to heal me?" I heard in my spirit, "I can use mud to open a blind man's eyes, why not a bee to heal you?"
On Monday, I wore my elbow brace while I worked cutting wood, and then weed-whacking the tall weeds along our stream. I was nearly done when I felt a burning pain on the inside of my elbow. I looked down and there was a double-sized BEE stinging me THROUGH the elbow brace, right above the location of my injury. I brushed him away and was astonished at the level of the pain of the sting. Later that day, the sting had a small hole in it, and was closing and scabbing over.
On Wednesday morning, my bee-sting still hurt, but not as bad. What was surprising was, that my elbow and the tendon was almost entirely pain free. No pain when I carry stuff, no pain when I bend it, and none when I straighten it. My only question was..."God, did you need to send a bee to heal me?" I heard in my spirit, "I can use mud to open a blind man's eyes, why not a bee to heal you?"
Monday, August 8, 2011
Understanding Sovereignty
Today I had prayer with a new friend, Thomas Owens. When we concluded, we talked a bit about "judgment" and how disasters are an 'example' of judgment. I have come to the place in my understanding of God that I believe that God isn't "sending judgments" against the earth for sin in the form of every earthquake, flood, famine or hurricane. My rationale for this is that God's wrath against sin was spent upon His Son, that God punished sin in His Son, and us in Him. If anything, God is not sending judgment upon an unbelieving world (yet), but rather is in a sense "judging the household of faith." (1 Peter 4:17).
Consider this scenario. There are those who claim that God "sends" sickness and disasters upon people, and they rationalize that God's absolute sovereignty requires that He has the ultimate say in whether those events happen or not. I would argue, however, that while God holds the veto power over the devil who is the author of sickness, death, disease, disaster and comes to steal, kill and destroy, God has also subordinated HIS authority to His Church, through His Son, who came to "destroy the works of the devil." In a very real way, the Church's mission is to carry on Jesus' mission of bringing the Kingdom of God to bear "on earth as it is in heaven." So when disaster, disease, death, sickness, and the other works of the devil are manifested on the earth, it is evidence of the church's failure to believe and fulfill Christ's commandment to carry the "Gospel of the Kingdom" to the uttermost parts of the earth. What does the Kingdom look like? It is anywhere the Presence and Power of God reigns. It is supposed to reign in you and me.
Consider this scenario. There are those who claim that God "sends" sickness and disasters upon people, and they rationalize that God's absolute sovereignty requires that He has the ultimate say in whether those events happen or not. I would argue, however, that while God holds the veto power over the devil who is the author of sickness, death, disease, disaster and comes to steal, kill and destroy, God has also subordinated HIS authority to His Church, through His Son, who came to "destroy the works of the devil." In a very real way, the Church's mission is to carry on Jesus' mission of bringing the Kingdom of God to bear "on earth as it is in heaven." So when disaster, disease, death, sickness, and the other works of the devil are manifested on the earth, it is evidence of the church's failure to believe and fulfill Christ's commandment to carry the "Gospel of the Kingdom" to the uttermost parts of the earth. What does the Kingdom look like? It is anywhere the Presence and Power of God reigns. It is supposed to reign in you and me.
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