If a teacher fascinates with his doctrine, his teaching never came from God. The teacher sent from God is the one who clears the way to Jesus and keeps it clear; souls forget altogether about him because the vision of Jesus is the only abiding result. When people are attracted to Jesus Christ through you, see always that you stay on God all the time, and their hearts and affections will never stop at you.
What has crippled many a church, many a Sunday School class and Bible class, is that the pastor or teacher has won people to himself, and the result when they leave is enervating sentimentality. The true man or woman of God never leaves that behind, every remembrance of them makes you want to serve God all the more.
So beware of stealing the hearts of the people of God in your mind. (2 Samuel 15:6) If once you get the thought, ‘It is my winsome way of putting it, my presentation of the truth that attracts’—the only name for that is the ugly name of thief, stealing the hearts of the sheep of God who do not know why they stop at you.
Keep the mind stayed on God, and I defy anyone’s heart to stop at you, it will always go on to God. The peril comes when we forget that our duty is to present Jesus Christ and never get in the way in thought.” --Oswald Chambers
(Thanks Carol)
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Thursday, November 04, 2010
S.O.I.L. : School of Intimacy and Love internship
We're working hard at developing an initial internship for IHOP-LI that has depth, challenge and intimacy built into it's structure. It will be raw, immature and transparent but we believe that it will be worth every effort on our part and yours to "endeavor to persevere" (Chief Joseph and then "Outlaw Josey Wales").
You may ask yourself ....(And you may ask yourself How do I work this ?And you may ask yourself Where is that large automobile ?And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful house !And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful wife !Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down Letting the days go by/water flowing underground Into the blue again/after the money's gone Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground - Talking Heads) I DIGRESS - I know - I'm easily entertained. As I was saying.... You may ask yourself "Why would I do an internship" at a House of Prayer?" (Particularly this one...) Well, you shouldn't do the internship unless you speak to the Lord about it and together count the cost.
I'm not really speaking about finances (although that is part of it). Instead, I'm referring to a commitment of time and the reality of how hard it will be to sit still in the fire of God's Love in the Prayer Room. It will seriously stretch you as you allow the pain and perseverance of a season sitting before the Lord help you gain insight into His heart for the world and pray into the field of love He wants you to sow into. I'll be posting the curriculum and time frame soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd start the conversation in your soul for you by bringing the idea up in the first place. As you ponder whether you are able and willing to engage in this particular "endeavor", perhaps you'll find the following post somewhat inspirational.
"Why Story? by John Eldridge
The deepest convictions of our heart are formed by stories and reside there in the images and emotions of story. As a young boy, around the time my heart began to suspect that the world was a fearful place and I was on my own to find my way through it, I read the story of a Scottish discus thrower from the nineteenth century. He lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone, in the highlands of his native village. He even made his own iron discus from the description he read in a book. What he did not know was that the discus used in competition was made of wood with an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by his would-be challengers. This committed Scotsman marked out in his field the distance of the current record throw and trained day and night to be able to match it. For nearly a year, he labored under the self-imposed burden of the extra weight. But he became very, very good. He reached the point at which he could throw his iron discus the record distance, maybe farther. He was ready.
My Scotsman (I had begun to closely identify with him) traveled south to England for his first competition. When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official wooden discus-which he promptly threw like a tea saucer. He set a new record, a distance so far beyond those of his competitors that no one could touch him. He thus remained the uncontested champion for many years.
Something in my heart connected with this story. So, that's how you do it: Train under a great burden and you will be so far beyond the rest of the world you will be untouchable. It became a defining image for my life, formed in and from a story.
As Eugene Peterson said, "We live in narrative, we live in story. Existence has a story shape to it. We have a beginning and an end, we have a plot, we have characters." Story is the language of the heart. So if we're going to find the answer to the riddle of the earth-and of our own existence-we'll find it in story. "
(The Sacred Romance, 38-40)
You may ask yourself ....(And you may ask yourself How do I work this ?And you may ask yourself Where is that large automobile ?And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful house !And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful wife !Letting the days go by/let the water hold me down Letting the days go by/water flowing underground Into the blue again/after the money's gone Once in a lifetime/water flowing underground - Talking Heads) I DIGRESS - I know - I'm easily entertained. As I was saying.... You may ask yourself "Why would I do an internship" at a House of Prayer?" (Particularly this one...) Well, you shouldn't do the internship unless you speak to the Lord about it and together count the cost.
I'm not really speaking about finances (although that is part of it). Instead, I'm referring to a commitment of time and the reality of how hard it will be to sit still in the fire of God's Love in the Prayer Room. It will seriously stretch you as you allow the pain and perseverance of a season sitting before the Lord help you gain insight into His heart for the world and pray into the field of love He wants you to sow into. I'll be posting the curriculum and time frame soon. In the meantime, I thought I'd start the conversation in your soul for you by bringing the idea up in the first place. As you ponder whether you are able and willing to engage in this particular "endeavor", perhaps you'll find the following post somewhat inspirational.
"Why Story? by John Eldridge
The deepest convictions of our heart are formed by stories and reside there in the images and emotions of story. As a young boy, around the time my heart began to suspect that the world was a fearful place and I was on my own to find my way through it, I read the story of a Scottish discus thrower from the nineteenth century. He lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone, in the highlands of his native village. He even made his own iron discus from the description he read in a book. What he did not know was that the discus used in competition was made of wood with an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by his would-be challengers. This committed Scotsman marked out in his field the distance of the current record throw and trained day and night to be able to match it. For nearly a year, he labored under the self-imposed burden of the extra weight. But he became very, very good. He reached the point at which he could throw his iron discus the record distance, maybe farther. He was ready.
My Scotsman (I had begun to closely identify with him) traveled south to England for his first competition. When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official wooden discus-which he promptly threw like a tea saucer. He set a new record, a distance so far beyond those of his competitors that no one could touch him. He thus remained the uncontested champion for many years.
Something in my heart connected with this story. So, that's how you do it: Train under a great burden and you will be so far beyond the rest of the world you will be untouchable. It became a defining image for my life, formed in and from a story.
As Eugene Peterson said, "We live in narrative, we live in story. Existence has a story shape to it. We have a beginning and an end, we have a plot, we have characters." Story is the language of the heart. So if we're going to find the answer to the riddle of the earth-and of our own existence-we'll find it in story. "
(The Sacred Romance, 38-40)
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Musings on IHOP-LI/ The Burn & The Pearl of Great Price
This morning, Sherry Hawk posted an expansion of the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price. At first glance, it appeared simple. However, it began to ping pong off of all sorts of things inside me and it made me stop what I was doing to engage in it.
~ " The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price" ~ Author Unknown
As a jeweler by trade I'm always interested in the gemstones listed in the scriptures. As I was meditating on 'Matt 13' and the parable of the 'pearl of great price' I began to think of our Lord. Why did He come to claim a pearl? Why not a diamond?
Matt 13:45...' "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls."
'Matt 13:46' "When he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it." In the parable of the merchant, we see that he sold all he had and bought the single pearl.
It speaks to us of the tremendous price the Lord paid for our redemption. The God of glory, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords left the splendor of Heaven to claim a pearl, and gained the pearl through paying the price that was far more than any here could pay.
As a jeweler I would question the choice the Lord made choosing to leave the Father's side for a pearl instead of what we would think of as having greater significance, the girl's best friend, the much coveted diamond. You probably know that the diamond is graded in 'value' according to the 4 C's: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat-weight.
The answer to my pondering was right there! The diamond receives a substantial portion of its value from the way a person cuts it. The work of man's hand! The only natural gemstone that has more value when it is found than when men finish with it is the PEARL. Like the pearl, men can add nothing to the value of out salvation, through Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves -- it is the gift of God -- 'Eph 2:9' Not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The pearl is formed when a foreign object somehow enters the inside of the oyster, and instead of ejecting the object or irritant out, as most humans would try to do, the object is covered by the oyster with layer upon layer of a substance secreted from its own body. The object that came into the life of the oyster as an irritant, instead of being cast out is turned into something lovely within the oyster.
"We are all an irritant (through our sin) to God, but He accepts us, in spite of our sin. He covers our sin and brings us into His Holy kingdom.
Think about other details of the pearl. The longer the pearl stays in the oyster the more valuable it becomes. God is using our time now to conform us into a beautiful image of His dear Son. The pearl is formed in a Living Object! No dead rock is the pearl, it comes from life. The very life of the oyster is given to the pearl.
The true value of the pearl is not seen from the outside. To the world around it the pearl is just another barnacle covered nasty looking shell.... To see the true beauty of the pearl the oyster must die. The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed.
The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death, so that all who trust in Him will be able to see and be with Him in His beautiful Kingdom, for eternity....
***********************************
A friend … included as follows; A pearl comes from an "unclean" as per diet laws, item, an oyster; so the Lord was also emphasizing here that He had others that He was seeking, not just the house of Israel, but from the nations too.
In Acts He told Peter 3x via vision , to not regard as unclean what He declared clean re Cornelius and the Gentiles joining in in worship
Have a wonderful Saturday YOU GLOWING PEARLS!
♥ mucho Hugz ooooxoooo, Sherrry
I have always loved this parable – especially when I realized He was, in fact, talking about us in it. In the brilliance of God, He always offers a simple analogy that we are then delighted to find contains inexhaustible treasures to discover and ruminate upon - a little like the gum Violet Beauregarde eats in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - it changes flavor, adding more delight until one is transformed by it ... and then we're squeezed for the juice.
In this case, I began to ponder the many observations of those who participate in IHOP-LI/The Burn. At nearly every meeting I am challenged by the different ways, IHOP/The Burn succeeds or falls short or needs to do or be whatever. I have more people than I can recount come to me and say, "I'm all about this - I love it." and then they never show up again. Others who expect us to be a hot bed of activity and are disappointed with what appears to be pedantic, liberal, conservative, low-key, radical, un-balanced, religious, casualness that they simply don't understand or can't (for a hundred reasons) connect with or find the appeal to dig in and build a House that worships and prays night and day on Long Island.
Truthfully, there is nothing appealing about our meetings unless you understand the privilege and power of agreeing in Prayer with The Holy One of Israel- Who is even now making intercession for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). It's bogus unless you know there is an unseen impact upon the atmosphere and even upon your own soul as you wrestle with the Truth of God's thoughts, heart and words; coming through transformed as you pray blessing over your "opponents" and love for those who hurt you. It is ridiculous unless you like growing in transparency, vulnerability and the potential to be exposed in/for your weakness. It's a stupid waste of time unless you have the tenacity to hold out and stick with it until lives are changed and circumstances are shifted and you truly know the "thrill of victory as well as the agony of defeat". It is meaningless, folly and vanity unless you come to the conclusion that Jesus IS the House of Prayer and there is no One - ever - Who is as worthy of our absolute abandonment and worship and honor. Worship, prayer, biblical justice, power... all elements of the gospel of the King and His Kingdom.
Then, there is The Burn... a garage-band conglomerate of musicians who love to worship, play and lead but sometimes, the game is "king of the hill" rather than "tag". We sometimes overpower each other and the temptation is always there to quit and go home and not play with those kids any more - they're too rough. Truly, in something as simple as the Burn, we all still find offenses to trip over. A "rough play" or an "offensive" street kid has landed more people than I care to mention on my radar and I am regularly told or even thinking about who or what needs "fixing" (which truly most certainly includes me).
After some prayer through the night and then reading this little article, I realized that perhaps we do more harm than good when we judge other pearls as those who need correction of some sort. Perhaps we are encountering unseemly "shells" with rather obnoxious looking barnacles because of environment and prying open the shell will do tremendous harm; possibly marring the beauty that Father is cultivating. I'm beginning to see more and more that Father is the parent - not any of us. Fathers who represent our Heavenly Father really well are some of the rarest creatures on the planet. Although I remember that Paul said you have few fathers, Jesus said call NO ONE Father.(Matthew 23:9)
I realize that I have a responsibility to love and strengthen my brothers and sisters. Sometimes that requires uncomfortable conversations where we work through our growing pains together. However, I’m slowly learning that doing so needs to come from genuine love, care and especially well-timed cooperation with the Holy Spirit. He alone knows when something is ripe for the picking or pruning and when our ignorance will cause harm. Yay! I don't have to be the "sin-police". I get to be the sister that prays for my brothers and sisters, grows in love and hopefully in gentle patience. I'm beginning to think perhaps the "fruit of the spirit" are actually what Father wants to take place between siblings - rules for the play-pen.
True story - I'm tired of being a referee. Tolkien once said that children require justice while adults require mercy (because they know their need). I know my need. Honestly, I have two voices that compete for my heart's thoughts every time I engage in anything to do with IHOP/The Burn: 1.) Rejoicing over every drunk, stoned, broken, loud human being that walks through the door and still chooses to worship God and 2.) grieving over every fleshly, self-exalting, judgmental, religious, "holy ground" "where is the power and presence of God???" fiber of my screwed up humanity. Know what? Every time I look for the presence of God's Love and power there, it is surrounding the broken, unsightly addict of whatever sort; it is on every humble heart that steps out of the way of those who step on them and blesses them in the midst of it; it's on those who are coming with commitment to minister to the Lord and serendipitously Long Island/NYC at great cost to their time and energy. The truly shocking part is that eventually I discover this aspect in every single human being that walks in. The more mature Christians who lead and serve the body of Christ and the super duper broken types are all fatally beautiful because they all fall into the category of “The object of Jesus’ Affection,, i.e., the “pearl” surrounded by and transformed by Love”.
Those with whom I personally struggle with the most are those who are looking to step on IHOP/The Burn to fulfill their own journey to fame and recognition - the ones who so desperately want to present their talent, good works or their moral behavior to Father .... and then I am suddenly appalled because deep in their hearts I suddenly am shown their cry to be known and loved and once again I am confounded by the hidden glory, the pearl of great price because it is there …. that I see myself.
Years ago, I had a dream that I was standing at the mouth of a cave high in the mountains. Those who were caring for me were actually untrustworthy. A great eagle bound them and then, rather than escaping through the mouth of the cave I fell backwards into a deep pit. When I got my bearings, I saw a strange human-like creature beckon me. I discovered I was being led into a deep, deep cave with hidden treasures. Suddenly, I saw Jesus (three of Him to be exact). He was dressed in three different garments/robes. I was told I was going to be introduced to three aspects of His personality: The Hebrew Priest, the Feminine Aspect and the Bar Room Jesus. I didn’t understand that until now. You see, this ministry is ALL about the “Hebrew Priesthood” and the LONG preparation for it has challenged me to search out the “feminine” nurturing aspect of God like no other aspect of my life. Ah, but now the Bar Room Jesus…
We were instructed very early on to not seek out the Church but the broken, bar room and college musicians/intercessors. However, I have consistently wobbled in that arena because I welcome those that fit that description but I know more “churched” musicians and for whatever unknown reason, I have found myself appealing to the Church community to lead worship to God in the House and it is the most arduous task I have ever engaged in. May God help me frequent more bars!
If we readjust and stick well to the master plan, there will never be a day when broken, addicted, disenfranchised human beings are turned away as sincere ministers to the Lord. In fact I will always advocate for them to be part of the worshiping intercessors called IHOP-LI. Immersion in the Presence of God is a far better rehab then the Betty Ford Clinic will ever be - although I honor their work there. These saints are pearls of great price and I have found that Father is never ashamed to be the God of those who come to Him in sincere love or need. He is not appalled or infuriated by broken, irritating, fragile human beings who know their weakness and come to Him anyway - because they know His love and strength. They come boldly to the throne of Grace to find mercy and grace in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Who are we to trip them on the way with our assessments?
“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12) He is fully able and willing to help them (us) grow in their new identity in Christ. He is FATHER. His is a seed that is relentless in its reach for maturity. When we see something our siblings are doing that may be sin, our role isn’t to “tell on them” but to seek what Father is doing in their life. Maybe He is just fine with where they are at the moment. It is doubtful that we know each other and love each other intimately enough to know the motivations of their heart or what great battle they have just engaged in. Our job is listen to them and to Him, Who is the Great Physician; to prayerfully look for His wisdom and kindness to take the plank out of our own eye so we can see the splinter in our brother’s/sister’s eye and gently remove it, i.e. to restore gently so they/we can heal.
I suppose the reputation of IHOP-LI and all who associate with us is at stake. I suppose you all have to choose to associate with us or not. I realize now, though, that if we get this right, we will be a “highway/by-way” ministry (Matthew 22:9) and that may, in fact, turn out to be our greatest joy. Remember Jesus reclining at the table of the Pharisee's? It was the "sinful" woman who worshiped Him and kissed His feet, washing them with her tears. He never stopped her. He didn't even "fix" her or correct her for approaching Holiness in such decadence. Instead, He vindicated her and forgave her sins. She, as well as the Pharisee, were both His pearls of great price.
Luke 7:31ff
"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
~ " The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price" ~ Author Unknown
As a jeweler by trade I'm always interested in the gemstones listed in the scriptures. As I was meditating on 'Matt 13' and the parable of the 'pearl of great price' I began to think of our Lord. Why did He come to claim a pearl? Why not a diamond?
Matt 13:45...' "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls."
'Matt 13:46' "When he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it." In the parable of the merchant, we see that he sold all he had and bought the single pearl.
It speaks to us of the tremendous price the Lord paid for our redemption. The God of glory, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords left the splendor of Heaven to claim a pearl, and gained the pearl through paying the price that was far more than any here could pay.
As a jeweler I would question the choice the Lord made choosing to leave the Father's side for a pearl instead of what we would think of as having greater significance, the girl's best friend, the much coveted diamond. You probably know that the diamond is graded in 'value' according to the 4 C's: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat-weight.
The answer to my pondering was right there! The diamond receives a substantial portion of its value from the way a person cuts it. The work of man's hand! The only natural gemstone that has more value when it is found than when men finish with it is the PEARL. Like the pearl, men can add nothing to the value of out salvation, through Jesus Christ.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are we saved through faith; and that not of yourselves -- it is the gift of God -- 'Eph 2:9' Not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The pearl is formed when a foreign object somehow enters the inside of the oyster, and instead of ejecting the object or irritant out, as most humans would try to do, the object is covered by the oyster with layer upon layer of a substance secreted from its own body. The object that came into the life of the oyster as an irritant, instead of being cast out is turned into something lovely within the oyster.
"We are all an irritant (through our sin) to God, but He accepts us, in spite of our sin. He covers our sin and brings us into His Holy kingdom.
Think about other details of the pearl. The longer the pearl stays in the oyster the more valuable it becomes. God is using our time now to conform us into a beautiful image of His dear Son. The pearl is formed in a Living Object! No dead rock is the pearl, it comes from life. The very life of the oyster is given to the pearl.
The true value of the pearl is not seen from the outside. To the world around it the pearl is just another barnacle covered nasty looking shell.... To see the true beauty of the pearl the oyster must die. The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed.
The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death, so that all who trust in Him will be able to see and be with Him in His beautiful Kingdom, for eternity....
***********************************
A friend … included as follows; A pearl comes from an "unclean" as per diet laws, item, an oyster; so the Lord was also emphasizing here that He had others that He was seeking, not just the house of Israel, but from the nations too.
In Acts He told Peter 3x via vision , to not regard as unclean what He declared clean re Cornelius and the Gentiles joining in in worship
Have a wonderful Saturday YOU GLOWING PEARLS!
♥ mucho Hugz ooooxoooo, Sherrry
I have always loved this parable – especially when I realized He was, in fact, talking about us in it. In the brilliance of God, He always offers a simple analogy that we are then delighted to find contains inexhaustible treasures to discover and ruminate upon - a little like the gum Violet Beauregarde eats in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - it changes flavor, adding more delight until one is transformed by it ... and then we're squeezed for the juice.
In this case, I began to ponder the many observations of those who participate in IHOP-LI/The Burn. At nearly every meeting I am challenged by the different ways, IHOP/The Burn succeeds or falls short or needs to do or be whatever. I have more people than I can recount come to me and say, "I'm all about this - I love it." and then they never show up again. Others who expect us to be a hot bed of activity and are disappointed with what appears to be pedantic, liberal, conservative, low-key, radical, un-balanced, religious, casualness that they simply don't understand or can't (for a hundred reasons) connect with or find the appeal to dig in and build a House that worships and prays night and day on Long Island.
Truthfully, there is nothing appealing about our meetings unless you understand the privilege and power of agreeing in Prayer with The Holy One of Israel- Who is even now making intercession for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). It's bogus unless you know there is an unseen impact upon the atmosphere and even upon your own soul as you wrestle with the Truth of God's thoughts, heart and words; coming through transformed as you pray blessing over your "opponents" and love for those who hurt you. It is ridiculous unless you like growing in transparency, vulnerability and the potential to be exposed in/for your weakness. It's a stupid waste of time unless you have the tenacity to hold out and stick with it until lives are changed and circumstances are shifted and you truly know the "thrill of victory as well as the agony of defeat". It is meaningless, folly and vanity unless you come to the conclusion that Jesus IS the House of Prayer and there is no One - ever - Who is as worthy of our absolute abandonment and worship and honor. Worship, prayer, biblical justice, power... all elements of the gospel of the King and His Kingdom.
Then, there is The Burn... a garage-band conglomerate of musicians who love to worship, play and lead but sometimes, the game is "king of the hill" rather than "tag". We sometimes overpower each other and the temptation is always there to quit and go home and not play with those kids any more - they're too rough. Truly, in something as simple as the Burn, we all still find offenses to trip over. A "rough play" or an "offensive" street kid has landed more people than I care to mention on my radar and I am regularly told or even thinking about who or what needs "fixing" (which truly most certainly includes me).
After some prayer through the night and then reading this little article, I realized that perhaps we do more harm than good when we judge other pearls as those who need correction of some sort. Perhaps we are encountering unseemly "shells" with rather obnoxious looking barnacles because of environment and prying open the shell will do tremendous harm; possibly marring the beauty that Father is cultivating. I'm beginning to see more and more that Father is the parent - not any of us. Fathers who represent our Heavenly Father really well are some of the rarest creatures on the planet. Although I remember that Paul said you have few fathers, Jesus said call NO ONE Father.(Matthew 23:9)
I realize that I have a responsibility to love and strengthen my brothers and sisters. Sometimes that requires uncomfortable conversations where we work through our growing pains together. However, I’m slowly learning that doing so needs to come from genuine love, care and especially well-timed cooperation with the Holy Spirit. He alone knows when something is ripe for the picking or pruning and when our ignorance will cause harm. Yay! I don't have to be the "sin-police". I get to be the sister that prays for my brothers and sisters, grows in love and hopefully in gentle patience. I'm beginning to think perhaps the "fruit of the spirit" are actually what Father wants to take place between siblings - rules for the play-pen.
True story - I'm tired of being a referee. Tolkien once said that children require justice while adults require mercy (because they know their need). I know my need. Honestly, I have two voices that compete for my heart's thoughts every time I engage in anything to do with IHOP/The Burn: 1.) Rejoicing over every drunk, stoned, broken, loud human being that walks through the door and still chooses to worship God and 2.) grieving over every fleshly, self-exalting, judgmental, religious, "holy ground" "where is the power and presence of God???" fiber of my screwed up humanity. Know what? Every time I look for the presence of God's Love and power there, it is surrounding the broken, unsightly addict of whatever sort; it is on every humble heart that steps out of the way of those who step on them and blesses them in the midst of it; it's on those who are coming with commitment to minister to the Lord and serendipitously Long Island/NYC at great cost to their time and energy. The truly shocking part is that eventually I discover this aspect in every single human being that walks in. The more mature Christians who lead and serve the body of Christ and the super duper broken types are all fatally beautiful because they all fall into the category of “The object of Jesus’ Affection,, i.e., the “pearl” surrounded by and transformed by Love”.
Those with whom I personally struggle with the most are those who are looking to step on IHOP/The Burn to fulfill their own journey to fame and recognition - the ones who so desperately want to present their talent, good works or their moral behavior to Father .... and then I am suddenly appalled because deep in their hearts I suddenly am shown their cry to be known and loved and once again I am confounded by the hidden glory, the pearl of great price because it is there …. that I see myself.
Years ago, I had a dream that I was standing at the mouth of a cave high in the mountains. Those who were caring for me were actually untrustworthy. A great eagle bound them and then, rather than escaping through the mouth of the cave I fell backwards into a deep pit. When I got my bearings, I saw a strange human-like creature beckon me. I discovered I was being led into a deep, deep cave with hidden treasures. Suddenly, I saw Jesus (three of Him to be exact). He was dressed in three different garments/robes. I was told I was going to be introduced to three aspects of His personality: The Hebrew Priest, the Feminine Aspect and the Bar Room Jesus. I didn’t understand that until now. You see, this ministry is ALL about the “Hebrew Priesthood” and the LONG preparation for it has challenged me to search out the “feminine” nurturing aspect of God like no other aspect of my life. Ah, but now the Bar Room Jesus…
We were instructed very early on to not seek out the Church but the broken, bar room and college musicians/intercessors. However, I have consistently wobbled in that arena because I welcome those that fit that description but I know more “churched” musicians and for whatever unknown reason, I have found myself appealing to the Church community to lead worship to God in the House and it is the most arduous task I have ever engaged in. May God help me frequent more bars!
If we readjust and stick well to the master plan, there will never be a day when broken, addicted, disenfranchised human beings are turned away as sincere ministers to the Lord. In fact I will always advocate for them to be part of the worshiping intercessors called IHOP-LI. Immersion in the Presence of God is a far better rehab then the Betty Ford Clinic will ever be - although I honor their work there. These saints are pearls of great price and I have found that Father is never ashamed to be the God of those who come to Him in sincere love or need. He is not appalled or infuriated by broken, irritating, fragile human beings who know their weakness and come to Him anyway - because they know His love and strength. They come boldly to the throne of Grace to find mercy and grace in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Who are we to trip them on the way with our assessments?
“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12) He is fully able and willing to help them (us) grow in their new identity in Christ. He is FATHER. His is a seed that is relentless in its reach for maturity. When we see something our siblings are doing that may be sin, our role isn’t to “tell on them” but to seek what Father is doing in their life. Maybe He is just fine with where they are at the moment. It is doubtful that we know each other and love each other intimately enough to know the motivations of their heart or what great battle they have just engaged in. Our job is listen to them and to Him, Who is the Great Physician; to prayerfully look for His wisdom and kindness to take the plank out of our own eye so we can see the splinter in our brother’s/sister’s eye and gently remove it, i.e. to restore gently so they/we can heal.
I suppose the reputation of IHOP-LI and all who associate with us is at stake. I suppose you all have to choose to associate with us or not. I realize now, though, that if we get this right, we will be a “highway/by-way” ministry (Matthew 22:9) and that may, in fact, turn out to be our greatest joy. Remember Jesus reclining at the table of the Pharisee's? It was the "sinful" woman who worshiped Him and kissed His feet, washing them with her tears. He never stopped her. He didn't even "fix" her or correct her for approaching Holiness in such decadence. Instead, He vindicated her and forgave her sins. She, as well as the Pharisee, were both His pearls of great price.
Luke 7:31ff
"To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Honor and Confrontation by Danny Silk
Honor and Confrontation
Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:13 PM PDT
Have you ever wondered what a culture of honor really looks like? On Friday morning at the School of Transformation and Strategy in Anderson, CA, Danny Silk shared a key message to understanding and maintaining a lifestyle of honor.
“The heart of honor,” Danny said, “is to take the strength of my life and pour it into you.” We honor our children by giving them powerful choices; we honor our friends and spouses by helping them maximize their potential; we honor our leaders by supporting and strengthening them. It is all about empowering the people around us, whether man, woman, young, old, leader,
or follower. And we do all this because of love. When we honor, we’re protecting our connections with each other, not controlling each other. My relationship with you is more important than you doing what I want you to do. The result of a culture of honor is powerful people running together, all bound together by covenant relationships. Sound good? It is - in fact, it’s heavenly! But like everything in God’s kingdom, there’s a divine tension.
“Having a culture of honor is like having a whole stall full of Clydesdales!” Danny laughed. “Big butts and big shoulders… and it hurts when I step on you! There are messes everywhere!” When you give the people around you permission to be powerful and control themselves, there’s the definite possibility that they will use that freedom to excuse selfish behavior. Because of that, Danny pointed out that the skills of confrontation are indispensable.
For most people, confrontation of sin is very scary, possibly even disastrous in their experience! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Danny said, “Confrontation is strategically applied pressure to expose areas that need strength and grace.” When we confront someone,we’re letting them know, “When you do this, it scares me,” not, “Stop doing that, or else!” When we confront, the goal is to find the problem (if there is one), not to get a confession. Danny gave an example from his years of working at an auto shop: when a tire came in with a leak, he would hold the tire under water until he saw bubbles rising from the tire, showing him where the hole
was. Yelling at the tire, threatening to throw it into the fire, or dashing it into pieces was NOT going to help Danny find the problem. So what is the problem? Until we know the problem, the healing can’t start. So rather than using judgment or punishment to gain control of a mess, we
honor each other by “restoring gently” (Gal. 6:1). To dishonor someone is to say or imply, “I have all the power - you have no power.” Jesus doesn't use his power to control us, nor does he want to. “If you want to be a control freak, control YOU!” Danny said. When we confront, it must be motivated by love and a desire for the success of the other person, not a need for control of the situation.
A culture of honor will be messy at times, but ultimately exquisite in God’s sight, because we are valuing the power He’s put in each of His creations. Are we all about seeing the success of the person next to us, no matter who they are or where they’re at? What will honor look like
for you?
If you’d like more information about honor and confrontation, check out Danny’s messages, “Keys to Confrontation,” “Community of Believers,” and the “Honor Among Us” series. You can find them at the www.lovingonpurpose.com store.
Posted: 19 Oct 2010 11:13 PM PDT
Have you ever wondered what a culture of honor really looks like? On Friday morning at the School of Transformation and Strategy in Anderson, CA, Danny Silk shared a key message to understanding and maintaining a lifestyle of honor.
“The heart of honor,” Danny said, “is to take the strength of my life and pour it into you.” We honor our children by giving them powerful choices; we honor our friends and spouses by helping them maximize their potential; we honor our leaders by supporting and strengthening them. It is all about empowering the people around us, whether man, woman, young, old, leader,
or follower. And we do all this because of love. When we honor, we’re protecting our connections with each other, not controlling each other. My relationship with you is more important than you doing what I want you to do. The result of a culture of honor is powerful people running together, all bound together by covenant relationships. Sound good? It is - in fact, it’s heavenly! But like everything in God’s kingdom, there’s a divine tension.
“Having a culture of honor is like having a whole stall full of Clydesdales!” Danny laughed. “Big butts and big shoulders… and it hurts when I step on you! There are messes everywhere!” When you give the people around you permission to be powerful and control themselves, there’s the definite possibility that they will use that freedom to excuse selfish behavior. Because of that, Danny pointed out that the skills of confrontation are indispensable.
For most people, confrontation of sin is very scary, possibly even disastrous in their experience! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Danny said, “Confrontation is strategically applied pressure to expose areas that need strength and grace.” When we confront someone,we’re letting them know, “When you do this, it scares me,” not, “Stop doing that, or else!” When we confront, the goal is to find the problem (if there is one), not to get a confession. Danny gave an example from his years of working at an auto shop: when a tire came in with a leak, he would hold the tire under water until he saw bubbles rising from the tire, showing him where the hole
was. Yelling at the tire, threatening to throw it into the fire, or dashing it into pieces was NOT going to help Danny find the problem. So what is the problem? Until we know the problem, the healing can’t start. So rather than using judgment or punishment to gain control of a mess, we
honor each other by “restoring gently” (Gal. 6:1). To dishonor someone is to say or imply, “I have all the power - you have no power.” Jesus doesn't use his power to control us, nor does he want to. “If you want to be a control freak, control YOU!” Danny said. When we confront, it must be motivated by love and a desire for the success of the other person, not a need for control of the situation.
A culture of honor will be messy at times, but ultimately exquisite in God’s sight, because we are valuing the power He’s put in each of His creations. Are we all about seeing the success of the person next to us, no matter who they are or where they’re at? What will honor look like
for you?
If you’d like more information about honor and confrontation, check out Danny’s messages, “Keys to Confrontation,” “Community of Believers,” and the “Honor Among Us” series. You can find them at the www.lovingonpurpose.com store.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Still want to be a Leader by Ed Underwood
Still want to be a Leader? by Ed Underwood
I’m the first to admit that I’m not good at a lot of things.
I can barely hang a picture. Well, really I can’t hang a picture and stay in fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
I’m lousy at small talk. No, it’s worse than that. I suck at small talk. I marvel at people like our assimilation pastor, David Anderson, work a room and make everyone smile.
I have no idea how I made it through the general education science classes at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Maybe it had something to do with the braniac dude I chose as my lab partner. We fully admitted our codependence. He couldn’t tell a verb from an adjective, and I couldn’t find the spleen on that frog to save my life. “You do the experiments, Buddy. I’ll write ‘em up”
But when it comes to leadership, I just get it. Always have. From the fireline to the tank platoon to the local church, I’ve always been a leader.
So when I was preparing my sermon from 1 Peter 5:1-4, one of the classic leadership passages in the New Testament, the guys on staff asked me to “give my speech.”
“I don’t know. That’s a pretty in-your-face speech. May overload people a little.”
“Come on, Ed. This is an in-your-face paragraph. And so many church leaders don’t have a clue about leadership. They’re reading books and article written by people who have never led. It’s all theory.”
I had to admit that 1 Peter 5:1-4 is counter-culture to most church leaders’ expectations to leadership. So many church “leaders” view themselves as entrepreneurs, administrators, Bible teachers, or visionaries. What they never seem to get is that none of those terms describe a New Testament leader. Really, in my opinion, they don’t describe a leader in any arena. The problem with these words is that they all drip with an expectation that leadership is about getting other people to do what you want them to do, to follow your plan, to build your empire or church.
True leadership is about giving your life away to those you lead to release their giftedness and to guide them toward a common goal. It’s all about personal sacrifice and hardship to encourage, guide and release others.
This is why Peter chooses the verb “shepherd” to exhort the leaders of the church. “Shepherd the flock,” Peter says, “willingly, enthusiastically, and by example—because Jesus will reward faithful undershepherds when He comes” (1 Peter 5:1-4).
The more I studied the paragraph, the more comfortable I felt sharing the speech I give to every prospective leader at Church of the Open Door. So, if you’re a leader, buckle your seat belt, and hear me out:
•Don’t thwart the ministry of the Holy Spirit in these people’s lives.
•Have you counted the cost of discipleship—everything— in Luke 14:25-35?
•Do you trust grace enough to risk letting go of your dreams and plans for these people so that you can embrace God’s dreams and plans for these people?
•It’s never about you; it’s always about Jesus.
•It’s never about you; it’s always about team.
•It’s never about you; it’s always about the sheep.
•It’s never about your giftedness; it’s about releasing the giftedness of others.
•Finally, when it comes to the hard things—you go first. But when it comes to the good things—you come last.
Still want to be a leader?
http://edunderwood.com/2010/10/13/still-want-to-be-a-leader/
I’m the first to admit that I’m not good at a lot of things.
I can barely hang a picture. Well, really I can’t hang a picture and stay in fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
I’m lousy at small talk. No, it’s worse than that. I suck at small talk. I marvel at people like our assimilation pastor, David Anderson, work a room and make everyone smile.
I have no idea how I made it through the general education science classes at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Maybe it had something to do with the braniac dude I chose as my lab partner. We fully admitted our codependence. He couldn’t tell a verb from an adjective, and I couldn’t find the spleen on that frog to save my life. “You do the experiments, Buddy. I’ll write ‘em up”
But when it comes to leadership, I just get it. Always have. From the fireline to the tank platoon to the local church, I’ve always been a leader.
So when I was preparing my sermon from 1 Peter 5:1-4, one of the classic leadership passages in the New Testament, the guys on staff asked me to “give my speech.”
“I don’t know. That’s a pretty in-your-face speech. May overload people a little.”
“Come on, Ed. This is an in-your-face paragraph. And so many church leaders don’t have a clue about leadership. They’re reading books and article written by people who have never led. It’s all theory.”
I had to admit that 1 Peter 5:1-4 is counter-culture to most church leaders’ expectations to leadership. So many church “leaders” view themselves as entrepreneurs, administrators, Bible teachers, or visionaries. What they never seem to get is that none of those terms describe a New Testament leader. Really, in my opinion, they don’t describe a leader in any arena. The problem with these words is that they all drip with an expectation that leadership is about getting other people to do what you want them to do, to follow your plan, to build your empire or church.
True leadership is about giving your life away to those you lead to release their giftedness and to guide them toward a common goal. It’s all about personal sacrifice and hardship to encourage, guide and release others.
This is why Peter chooses the verb “shepherd” to exhort the leaders of the church. “Shepherd the flock,” Peter says, “willingly, enthusiastically, and by example—because Jesus will reward faithful undershepherds when He comes” (1 Peter 5:1-4).
The more I studied the paragraph, the more comfortable I felt sharing the speech I give to every prospective leader at Church of the Open Door. So, if you’re a leader, buckle your seat belt, and hear me out:
•Don’t thwart the ministry of the Holy Spirit in these people’s lives.
•Have you counted the cost of discipleship—everything— in Luke 14:25-35?
•Do you trust grace enough to risk letting go of your dreams and plans for these people so that you can embrace God’s dreams and plans for these people?
•It’s never about you; it’s always about Jesus.
•It’s never about you; it’s always about team.
•It’s never about you; it’s always about the sheep.
•It’s never about your giftedness; it’s about releasing the giftedness of others.
•Finally, when it comes to the hard things—you go first. But when it comes to the good things—you come last.
Still want to be a leader?
http://edunderwood.com/2010/10/13/still-want-to-be-a-leader/
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Rejoicing Increases Faith
Important Concept that must be put into action!!
REJOICING INCREASES FAITH
by Graham Cooke
Thanksgiving creates blessing. Continuous rejoicing opens us up to increase. Life is about possibilities not negatives. Jesus said, “All things are possible, only believe” (Mark 9:23).
Thanksgiving has a creative power to produce good. It is good for us to rejoice. It creates energy, enthusiasm and strength. We are expanded on the inside. Our eyes are bright, watchful for blessing, increase and favor. Goodness is drawn to us as we lift up Jesus in our hearts. We make ourselves attractive to favor and blessing. We are able to look at life and circumstances differently, therefore we see the good in everything.
Exercise produces endorphins which can escalate our sense of wellbeing making us fitter, sharper and more alive in ourselves. Rejoicing increases faith which is the spiritual equivalent of endorphins. Faith increases our focus and readiness to see God in everything and lean into Him. When we give thanks our ability to trust and believe increases dramatically, because praise produces power Rejoicing overcomes any inherent negativity and aligns our heart with the continuity of favor.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). The will God is always linked to His nature. All our main experiences of life, good or bad, should be connected to thanksgiving and rejoicing. When we rejoice as a lifestyle then life is less of a roller coaster. It flows. It is more stable and even. We experience more rest, more peace, more joyfulness and our capacity to believe cannot be diminished by events.
When we refuse thanksgiving as a lifestyle then we ensure that our lives are unprotected from doubt, fear and unbelief. We are susceptible to any negative from any source or direction. We can be brought low by people, circumstances and enemy activity. We are assailable; a sitting duck for all that is detrimental to life, faith and happiness. People can be so fearful that they become pessimistic. We can have an outlook on life that is so counteractive to simple trust that we can become cynical towards those who want to believe God for something.
Rejoicing is linked to God’s nature. He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever. Thanksgiving empowers us to rest in an attribute of God’s nature. What is God showing you about Himself at this time? Rejoice in that! Give thanks for who He is towards you. When I was learning peace and rest as a lifestyle attribute, all my rejoicing flowed in and out of those virtues. I was so restful, I lost the ability to worry. Rejoicing increased my peace and thoroughly diminished my anxiety. On difficult days I began to discern goodness around me. In adversity I saw favor standing over me. Whatever attribute God is declaring to you will be increased in you by thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is like a heat seeking missile. It hones in on a certain signature. It is drawn to connect with goodness, favor and faith. If that is true in one of a kind circumstances then it must have a greater power in multiple situations. My contention is that a lifestyle of rejoicing not only increases the power of favor over our circumstances; it also attracts favor to us from the future. We are present/future people because we are filled with the Spirit who discloses that which is to come [John 16:13]. It is absolutely possible for us to occupy a place in faith that increases our awareness of future possibilities in the heart of God towards us. “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” [Jeremiah 29:11].
Thanksgiving keeps us present to the moment with God and increases our expectation of the future. It creates a space around us that negativity cannot penetrate. In this context our prayer life is empowered. We pray in faith not desperation. There is nothing wrong in prayerful desperation, if that is where you are and all you have. However, it is the prayer of faith that produces life and health [James 5:15]. If prayer is surrounded by celebration [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18] then the will of God has to become abundantly clear, no matter what is happening around us. Confusion is simply not possible when we have a lifestyle of thanksgiving and rejoicing.
We are a people of identity and destiny, founded in Christ within, the expectation of glory. Our lives are always governed by something or someone. In Christ rejoicing increases His Presence within. In Christ, thanksgiving expands His power and influence upon all our situations. Our ability to discern God’s will and pray through it is dramatically expanded through thanksgiving. Rejoicing is a way of life. Without it, we are diminished in stature, power and enjoyment of God.
REJOICING INCREASES FAITH
by Graham Cooke
Thanksgiving creates blessing. Continuous rejoicing opens us up to increase. Life is about possibilities not negatives. Jesus said, “All things are possible, only believe” (Mark 9:23).
Thanksgiving has a creative power to produce good. It is good for us to rejoice. It creates energy, enthusiasm and strength. We are expanded on the inside. Our eyes are bright, watchful for blessing, increase and favor. Goodness is drawn to us as we lift up Jesus in our hearts. We make ourselves attractive to favor and blessing. We are able to look at life and circumstances differently, therefore we see the good in everything.
Exercise produces endorphins which can escalate our sense of wellbeing making us fitter, sharper and more alive in ourselves. Rejoicing increases faith which is the spiritual equivalent of endorphins. Faith increases our focus and readiness to see God in everything and lean into Him. When we give thanks our ability to trust and believe increases dramatically, because praise produces power Rejoicing overcomes any inherent negativity and aligns our heart with the continuity of favor.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). The will God is always linked to His nature. All our main experiences of life, good or bad, should be connected to thanksgiving and rejoicing. When we rejoice as a lifestyle then life is less of a roller coaster. It flows. It is more stable and even. We experience more rest, more peace, more joyfulness and our capacity to believe cannot be diminished by events.
When we refuse thanksgiving as a lifestyle then we ensure that our lives are unprotected from doubt, fear and unbelief. We are susceptible to any negative from any source or direction. We can be brought low by people, circumstances and enemy activity. We are assailable; a sitting duck for all that is detrimental to life, faith and happiness. People can be so fearful that they become pessimistic. We can have an outlook on life that is so counteractive to simple trust that we can become cynical towards those who want to believe God for something.
Rejoicing is linked to God’s nature. He is good. His lovingkindness endures forever. Thanksgiving empowers us to rest in an attribute of God’s nature. What is God showing you about Himself at this time? Rejoice in that! Give thanks for who He is towards you. When I was learning peace and rest as a lifestyle attribute, all my rejoicing flowed in and out of those virtues. I was so restful, I lost the ability to worry. Rejoicing increased my peace and thoroughly diminished my anxiety. On difficult days I began to discern goodness around me. In adversity I saw favor standing over me. Whatever attribute God is declaring to you will be increased in you by thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is like a heat seeking missile. It hones in on a certain signature. It is drawn to connect with goodness, favor and faith. If that is true in one of a kind circumstances then it must have a greater power in multiple situations. My contention is that a lifestyle of rejoicing not only increases the power of favor over our circumstances; it also attracts favor to us from the future. We are present/future people because we are filled with the Spirit who discloses that which is to come [John 16:13]. It is absolutely possible for us to occupy a place in faith that increases our awareness of future possibilities in the heart of God towards us. “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” [Jeremiah 29:11].
Thanksgiving keeps us present to the moment with God and increases our expectation of the future. It creates a space around us that negativity cannot penetrate. In this context our prayer life is empowered. We pray in faith not desperation. There is nothing wrong in prayerful desperation, if that is where you are and all you have. However, it is the prayer of faith that produces life and health [James 5:15]. If prayer is surrounded by celebration [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18] then the will of God has to become abundantly clear, no matter what is happening around us. Confusion is simply not possible when we have a lifestyle of thanksgiving and rejoicing.
We are a people of identity and destiny, founded in Christ within, the expectation of glory. Our lives are always governed by something or someone. In Christ rejoicing increases His Presence within. In Christ, thanksgiving expands His power and influence upon all our situations. Our ability to discern God’s will and pray through it is dramatically expanded through thanksgiving. Rejoicing is a way of life. Without it, we are diminished in stature, power and enjoyment of God.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
My ranting, raving love for Long Island & NYC
OK - I'm gonna vent a bit with deep appreciation for any and all of you who pray for Long Island and NYC. God love you and bless you for that. I know this may seem out of the blue but it is something that has been building up for me over the past few decades.
Today, I recieved a critique of the region's desperate need for prayer from someone I know has no real understanding of the region. Time after time, we have hosted or invited people who have a heart to minister here and they have been terrific, yet naive. Because of pre-conceived notions or a misreading of what they are encountering, they have often missed great opportunities because of an immature view of the region and her needs. We so appreciate the hearts of those who pray for this region - really we do. It's just that there's more than meets the eye and we so desperatly need you to have "eyes that see and ears that hear" in order to be a help, rather than a hindrance to the efforts of those who labor here.
I remember, back in 1990, taking a group of beautiful young believers out to Missouri for a youth conference. After a grueling 28 hour journey in a bus that was too small for the amount of people and luggage we had, a short stint sleeping together in one bedroom at a hotel we didn't have enough money for and junk food out the wazoo, we collapsed in the dorm hallway of the college we were going to be staying at - waiting for our room assignment. We were smelly, pierced, punk, tattooed and hungry for Jesus. Not a pretty picture at first glance but beautiful in God's eyes. A group of welll-dressed, clean cut, blond-haired, bible raised young people came up to us and said "Where are ally'all from?" We replied," Long Island and NYC." Their answer was honest but brutal. "New York?? I didn't think there were any Christians in New York!" That says it all..... They didn't mean harm but it stayed with all of us. Of course a few years later we got our revenge at that same conference when we named our volleyball team "Pray Naked" and then proceeded to win game after game - with our offensive name announced every morning as the winners - but that's another story....
ANYWAY....as someone who was born here, returned time after time after moving away to come back here and will most likely die here, I need to go on record as saying I LOVE LONG ISLAND, NYC and the TRI-State Region in the deepest places of my heart. I know her short-comings. I have died a million deaths and prayed a million prayers while sitting in hours of traffic on every parkway and expressway within 50 miles of here (which are never clear enough to truly be an "express way" -btw). I know just about every short cut to by-pass traffic, every decent Deli and Bagel place at least from Exit 68 on the LIE to the Queens Border (although I do know some from both the North and South Fork too) and some really great ones in and around the City. I know our weaknesses and I know our strengths. I know what kills us and what thrills us. I know what makes us appear ugly and I know what is truly beautiful. I know our aggression and I know our deep and powerful affection. There are truly no better huggers and deep lovers than the beautiful people of this region.
As some one who prays for this area regularly, I have seen and heard all sorts of ideas about how to best "save" this area as well as what is wrong with it, the many demonic strongholds, etc. and every time someone comes from outside of the region to do missions, I hear assessments of our need and the darkness over our area. Can I ask all of you to please take a step back, contact someone who labors over this area in prayer and LIVES here and ask them what is needed?? You can NOT effectively intercede for this region in any truth or with any power unless you love her enough to lay down your life for her. You MUST know and love this region in order to serve her with a right and humble heart. You MUST approach the skyline of Manhattan EVERY time and say "Blessings on the Beautiful City" or else you entirely miss God's Beautiful, Tremendous, Courageous love for the "City that Never Sleeps". She IS (among many places) The "Big Apple" of God's eye and He LOVES HER!! … Along with every one of the almost 19 million people who live in the Metro-plex of NYC/NEWARK and call her "Home".
There are literally HUNDREDS of Churches and Synagogues in this region that serve and bless her. (As an FYI... The Synagogues are part of the believing community! GOD LOVES THE JEWISH PEOPLE!!! Remember His promises??? Their time of awakening is coming!!! ) There are millions of lovers of Jesus Christ who express themselves in quirky, brilliantly unique, often self-centered and sometimes annoying ways in this region and YES, we need love, friendship, trust, unity and AWAKENING in a profoundly deep and powerful way - BUT ( and yes we often have big ones - butts that is) .... when that happens- look out because LOVE will be on the Loose and there are no lovers like those who hail from this Region. We are relentless, driven, unyielding and desperate for the King and His Kingdom. We all expectantly pray for and long for the Church to walk in mature love and bless the socks off of every living creature on the planet. When we are prayed for with life and love, we will be some of the most generous people on the planet and there is no end to the variations of food, music, missionaries and kisses that will flow from this region.
Please, don’t concentrate on all that is wrong with us… we already know!! Instead, please pray us into our Father's intended purpose for the area. Pray for prayer and worship to DRENCH the area by those who are indigenous and love her deeply. Pray us into life, love, generosity, peace, wisdom, blessings for governing the nations in true righteousness and justice, wisdom and responsibility regarding the eco-system of the planet, blessing and honor upon the First Nation Peoples here, care for the poor, the immigrant, the orphan and the widow. Pray that we would be a Waterfall of Love and Power to transform lives through the blessings of the Kingdom of God. Pray that our educational system would be fountains of ingenuity, creativity and mutual responsibility. Pray that our love for the nations would pour love INTO the nations. Pray that our media resources would champion truth, humility and kindness. These, my friends, are the gifts of Long Island & NYC that are meant to be called into fruition.
I have to add this....I recently had a friend who hails from out of state write a letter grieved that there were so few “bible-believing” churches in a certain area that they had visited here. They were, in particular, grieved that the same area is instead filled with Jewish and Catholic Communities. My friends, the fact that those neighborhoods are Catholic and Jewish is a beautiful thing. The truth is that both of these communities have been part of a large, long, deep history of birthing the believing culture here on LI/NYC. There is more here than meets the eye. The Jewish people are loved by God and are beautiful neighbors who we enjoy and bless. We have been praying deeply for our Jewish brothers because we trust that the Lord is faithful to His commitment to them. They are the “tree” we gentiles were grafted into, remember??? They are awaiting their Messiah. YAY – So are we.
The Catholic Church has sent up round the clock prayers for LI and NYC for a century and although many Catholics have some of their theology weighed down by doctrines that are man-made, they have birthed many, many people on Long Island into a deep faith and walk with Jesus. For many, they are the only ties they have to an active faith and I have met plenty of wonderful Catholic believers through the years who demonstrate God’s love in great beauty – not the least of which constitute a great many of the clergy who have honored roles in schools and hospitals in the region. (BTW - Many of these same schools and hospitals have either Jewish or Catholic Foundations!!)
In essence both of these communities are “mothers” to many of the followers of Jesus here in the region. We honor our "Fathers and Mothers" and in this case, both of those communities have been a source of blessing, not cursing for us. Not everything is as it may appear. If you want to pray for them, please pray that His love would overwhelm these communities and awaken them into a deep revelation of His beauty, grace and truth - that they would come alive in their faith and fulfill their original call in the Lord's heart and dream for them. If they have an awakening, they will be a powerful blessing and conduit of the Kingdom of God here on Long Island/NYC.
Alrighty then, Let’s get to it!! Love, grace and blessings on you. Pray Naked. love, t
Today, I recieved a critique of the region's desperate need for prayer from someone I know has no real understanding of the region. Time after time, we have hosted or invited people who have a heart to minister here and they have been terrific, yet naive. Because of pre-conceived notions or a misreading of what they are encountering, they have often missed great opportunities because of an immature view of the region and her needs. We so appreciate the hearts of those who pray for this region - really we do. It's just that there's more than meets the eye and we so desperatly need you to have "eyes that see and ears that hear" in order to be a help, rather than a hindrance to the efforts of those who labor here.
I remember, back in 1990, taking a group of beautiful young believers out to Missouri for a youth conference. After a grueling 28 hour journey in a bus that was too small for the amount of people and luggage we had, a short stint sleeping together in one bedroom at a hotel we didn't have enough money for and junk food out the wazoo, we collapsed in the dorm hallway of the college we were going to be staying at - waiting for our room assignment. We were smelly, pierced, punk, tattooed and hungry for Jesus. Not a pretty picture at first glance but beautiful in God's eyes. A group of welll-dressed, clean cut, blond-haired, bible raised young people came up to us and said "Where are ally'all from?" We replied," Long Island and NYC." Their answer was honest but brutal. "New York?? I didn't think there were any Christians in New York!" That says it all..... They didn't mean harm but it stayed with all of us. Of course a few years later we got our revenge at that same conference when we named our volleyball team "Pray Naked" and then proceeded to win game after game - with our offensive name announced every morning as the winners - but that's another story....
ANYWAY....as someone who was born here, returned time after time after moving away to come back here and will most likely die here, I need to go on record as saying I LOVE LONG ISLAND, NYC and the TRI-State Region in the deepest places of my heart. I know her short-comings. I have died a million deaths and prayed a million prayers while sitting in hours of traffic on every parkway and expressway within 50 miles of here (which are never clear enough to truly be an "express way" -btw). I know just about every short cut to by-pass traffic, every decent Deli and Bagel place at least from Exit 68 on the LIE to the Queens Border (although I do know some from both the North and South Fork too) and some really great ones in and around the City. I know our weaknesses and I know our strengths. I know what kills us and what thrills us. I know what makes us appear ugly and I know what is truly beautiful. I know our aggression and I know our deep and powerful affection. There are truly no better huggers and deep lovers than the beautiful people of this region.
As some one who prays for this area regularly, I have seen and heard all sorts of ideas about how to best "save" this area as well as what is wrong with it, the many demonic strongholds, etc. and every time someone comes from outside of the region to do missions, I hear assessments of our need and the darkness over our area. Can I ask all of you to please take a step back, contact someone who labors over this area in prayer and LIVES here and ask them what is needed?? You can NOT effectively intercede for this region in any truth or with any power unless you love her enough to lay down your life for her. You MUST know and love this region in order to serve her with a right and humble heart. You MUST approach the skyline of Manhattan EVERY time and say "Blessings on the Beautiful City" or else you entirely miss God's Beautiful, Tremendous, Courageous love for the "City that Never Sleeps". She IS (among many places) The "Big Apple" of God's eye and He LOVES HER!! … Along with every one of the almost 19 million people who live in the Metro-plex of NYC/NEWARK and call her "Home".
There are literally HUNDREDS of Churches and Synagogues in this region that serve and bless her. (As an FYI... The Synagogues are part of the believing community! GOD LOVES THE JEWISH PEOPLE!!! Remember His promises??? Their time of awakening is coming!!! ) There are millions of lovers of Jesus Christ who express themselves in quirky, brilliantly unique, often self-centered and sometimes annoying ways in this region and YES, we need love, friendship, trust, unity and AWAKENING in a profoundly deep and powerful way - BUT ( and yes we often have big ones - butts that is) .... when that happens- look out because LOVE will be on the Loose and there are no lovers like those who hail from this Region. We are relentless, driven, unyielding and desperate for the King and His Kingdom. We all expectantly pray for and long for the Church to walk in mature love and bless the socks off of every living creature on the planet. When we are prayed for with life and love, we will be some of the most generous people on the planet and there is no end to the variations of food, music, missionaries and kisses that will flow from this region.
Please, don’t concentrate on all that is wrong with us… we already know!! Instead, please pray us into our Father's intended purpose for the area. Pray for prayer and worship to DRENCH the area by those who are indigenous and love her deeply. Pray us into life, love, generosity, peace, wisdom, blessings for governing the nations in true righteousness and justice, wisdom and responsibility regarding the eco-system of the planet, blessing and honor upon the First Nation Peoples here, care for the poor, the immigrant, the orphan and the widow. Pray that we would be a Waterfall of Love and Power to transform lives through the blessings of the Kingdom of God. Pray that our educational system would be fountains of ingenuity, creativity and mutual responsibility. Pray that our love for the nations would pour love INTO the nations. Pray that our media resources would champion truth, humility and kindness. These, my friends, are the gifts of Long Island & NYC that are meant to be called into fruition.
I have to add this....I recently had a friend who hails from out of state write a letter grieved that there were so few “bible-believing” churches in a certain area that they had visited here. They were, in particular, grieved that the same area is instead filled with Jewish and Catholic Communities. My friends, the fact that those neighborhoods are Catholic and Jewish is a beautiful thing. The truth is that both of these communities have been part of a large, long, deep history of birthing the believing culture here on LI/NYC. There is more here than meets the eye. The Jewish people are loved by God and are beautiful neighbors who we enjoy and bless. We have been praying deeply for our Jewish brothers because we trust that the Lord is faithful to His commitment to them. They are the “tree” we gentiles were grafted into, remember??? They are awaiting their Messiah. YAY – So are we.
The Catholic Church has sent up round the clock prayers for LI and NYC for a century and although many Catholics have some of their theology weighed down by doctrines that are man-made, they have birthed many, many people on Long Island into a deep faith and walk with Jesus. For many, they are the only ties they have to an active faith and I have met plenty of wonderful Catholic believers through the years who demonstrate God’s love in great beauty – not the least of which constitute a great many of the clergy who have honored roles in schools and hospitals in the region. (BTW - Many of these same schools and hospitals have either Jewish or Catholic Foundations!!)
In essence both of these communities are “mothers” to many of the followers of Jesus here in the region. We honor our "Fathers and Mothers" and in this case, both of those communities have been a source of blessing, not cursing for us. Not everything is as it may appear. If you want to pray for them, please pray that His love would overwhelm these communities and awaken them into a deep revelation of His beauty, grace and truth - that they would come alive in their faith and fulfill their original call in the Lord's heart and dream for them. If they have an awakening, they will be a powerful blessing and conduit of the Kingdom of God here on Long Island/NYC.
Alrighty then, Let’s get to it!! Love, grace and blessings on you. Pray Naked. love, t
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Days of Noah ~ Corey Russell
When we first received the invitation to plant a House of Prayer, we received lots of "words" and references to Noah that we had little to no understanding of. I would say that's still the case. However, for what it's worth, it's one the reasons that Patti felt so strongly that we give IHOP-LI the secondary name of "The Ark House of Prayer" - that and because we believed it should be an Ark of Refuge as well as an Ark of His Presence. Corey Russell gives a greater articulation of this though in his article "The Days of Noah"
Days of Noah ~ Corey Russell
Jesus made it clear that “As the Days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37) He told us that in the same way God raised up a preacher to warn the earth for 100 years of a flood that would cover the earth by the building of an ark, so God would raise up a prophetic generation that would prophesy of an outpouring of the Spirit over all the globe and the return of Jesus Christ to the planet.
This is the generation that we believe will witness the greatest revival that the earth has ever witnessed and will also witness the rage of Satan, the sin of man, and the judgments of God. This will all culminate in the literal return of Jesus Christ and His establishment of His kingdom on the earth.
God is raising up and training an army to stand in these days that will come forth with power, authority, and intimacy with God. They will come from every tribe, tongue, and people to call the church and the earth to the knowledge of God. These people will know their God, they will be strong and they do will do great exploits. They will be a people of understanding that feed people on the knowledge and understanding of God Himself. They will feed people on what God is like, how God feels, what we look like to him, and what He is doing in this generation.
It’s with this conviction that my family and I have given our life to prepare ourselves and as many as the Lord will allow us to prepare for this glorious hour of human history. Jesus continued in Matthew 24 by stating that the ark or place of safety for our generation is call to growing and increasing in the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prayer. He commanded us to Watch and Pray! He commanded us to cultivate a watchful heart by the Spirit of Revelation and a faith-filled heart by the Spirit of Prayer.
http://www.coreyrussell.org/?page_id=4
Days of Noah ~ Corey Russell
Jesus made it clear that “As the Days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37) He told us that in the same way God raised up a preacher to warn the earth for 100 years of a flood that would cover the earth by the building of an ark, so God would raise up a prophetic generation that would prophesy of an outpouring of the Spirit over all the globe and the return of Jesus Christ to the planet.
This is the generation that we believe will witness the greatest revival that the earth has ever witnessed and will also witness the rage of Satan, the sin of man, and the judgments of God. This will all culminate in the literal return of Jesus Christ and His establishment of His kingdom on the earth.
God is raising up and training an army to stand in these days that will come forth with power, authority, and intimacy with God. They will come from every tribe, tongue, and people to call the church and the earth to the knowledge of God. These people will know their God, they will be strong and they do will do great exploits. They will be a people of understanding that feed people on the knowledge and understanding of God Himself. They will feed people on what God is like, how God feels, what we look like to him, and what He is doing in this generation.
It’s with this conviction that my family and I have given our life to prepare ourselves and as many as the Lord will allow us to prepare for this glorious hour of human history. Jesus continued in Matthew 24 by stating that the ark or place of safety for our generation is call to growing and increasing in the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prayer. He commanded us to Watch and Pray! He commanded us to cultivate a watchful heart by the Spirit of Revelation and a faith-filled heart by the Spirit of Prayer.
http://www.coreyrussell.org/?page_id=4
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A System of Guilt - John Eldridge
A System Of Guilt - John Eldridge
God speaks to Israel through the prophet Isaiah when she is surrounded by enemies and making every effort to appease them through diplomacy, gifts, treaties, and bribes, and says this to her:
"You went to Molech with olive oil
and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors far away;
you descended to the grave itself!
You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint" (Isa. 57:9-10).
God calls Israel to repent by admitting her weariness and fainting. Instead, she looks for ways to use her personal assets to redeem herself. Jesus spoke to the people about rest and thirst. The Pharisees demanded that they obey a constantly growing weight of religious laws and traditions, and chastised them for staggering under the load. They led people in the exact opposite direction from where their salvation lay-in admitting their weariness and fainting. As long as they hoped in their self-sufficiency, they would not call out to God and receive forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
So many of our contemporary churches operate on this same system of guilt. When our people are crying out for communion and rest, we ask them to teach another Sunday school class. When they falter under the load, we admonish them with Scriptures on serving others. One wonders what would happen if all activity motivated by this type of guilt were to cease for six months. Much of organized Christianity would collapse even as the Pharisees saw happen to their own religious system. As Jesus talked about thirst and rest, he brought people to the reality of their own heart.
(The Sacred Romance , 169 )
God speaks to Israel through the prophet Isaiah when she is surrounded by enemies and making every effort to appease them through diplomacy, gifts, treaties, and bribes, and says this to her:
"You went to Molech with olive oil
and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors far away;
you descended to the grave itself!
You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint" (Isa. 57:9-10).
God calls Israel to repent by admitting her weariness and fainting. Instead, she looks for ways to use her personal assets to redeem herself. Jesus spoke to the people about rest and thirst. The Pharisees demanded that they obey a constantly growing weight of religious laws and traditions, and chastised them for staggering under the load. They led people in the exact opposite direction from where their salvation lay-in admitting their weariness and fainting. As long as they hoped in their self-sufficiency, they would not call out to God and receive forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
So many of our contemporary churches operate on this same system of guilt. When our people are crying out for communion and rest, we ask them to teach another Sunday school class. When they falter under the load, we admonish them with Scriptures on serving others. One wonders what would happen if all activity motivated by this type of guilt were to cease for six months. Much of organized Christianity would collapse even as the Pharisees saw happen to their own religious system. As Jesus talked about thirst and rest, he brought people to the reality of their own heart.
(The Sacred Romance , 169 )
Effective Pre-election Prayer by Pastor David Harwood
Hello friends,
Here's a tender admonition from Pastor David Harwood on having a right posture before the Lord as we come to pray for the elections (and really at all times). I found this article to be so well written and theologically on target that I believe it should be mandatory reading for all of us as Papa's Children. Strong statement I know - but it's true. Of course, I am biased because it touches the roar in my heart for the priesthood of all believers to step into their identity and then, as we engage in that calling, for all of us to speak according to Our Father's Identity.
The article is really all about love and I want to steal a moment to update you on where we are at the House of Prayer so you will read this article with a clearer understanding of why I am endorsing it. (Not that my endorsement means anything, but I'm endorsing it none-the-less.)
At the House, we have been regularly praying that our leaders would know love. It is an overwhelming engagement of the heart and I can't shake it. In particular, we have been praying that our leaders would be surrounded by people who love them and are communicating love in every way. Most importantly, we are praying that they feel loved. I believe with all my heart that you think differently, speak differently and feel differently when you are deeply loved and you know it in your inner man. When you can't feel love, very little can contend with the emotional insecurity you are grappling with.
When President Obama, as a human being, is under a constant barrage of anger and criticism.... how much love do you suppose he feels? If he doesn't feel loved, how will his decisions reflect or model the God who IS love? So, we have been praying, "Love over you President Obama. We love you and honor you and we pray that there would be people all day long that tell you they love you and that help you feel loved." We're doing the same thing over The White House, his family, The Senate, The Supreme Court, etc.(As an FYI, we pray the same thing over YOU, Long Island, NYC, the State, The Nation, Israel and the Church)
At this last Tuesday's meeting, I shared that I was praying the evening before for the Holy Spirit to come pull us into more depth of encounter in our prayer meetings. I pointed out that in the middle of the night prior, I found myself (in my sleep) praying blessings over someone that I love dearly and have great brokenness in my heart over. I woke up doing that and then fell asleep and then woke up to an awareness that the Lord wanted to speak to me about that prayer time. He was letting me know with impressions, rather than words, that He was orchestrating the prayer I had prayed and that He was holding back the deeper encounter I had asked for regarding HIS depth of encounter at the House for Love's sake. I believe He wants us to understand the power of our love, our forgiveness and our tender prayers and words. He wants us to mature in them first before we pray for "power encounters". Not because one comes before the other but because one facilitates the values of His heart more than the other.
As I understand the impressions He left, if we are to respectfully honor the fire of His Presence we need to know that soft words over people's lives, meek and tender hearts, quick forgiveness and blessings are the only things that can live well in the environment of His "fire". We were cautioned to expose our hearts to the Lord's heart and light exhaustively in order to facilitate healing so we would not stumble with angry, critical or careless words regarding our brothers and sisters (i.e., humanity) or harbor cutting thoughts in our hearts that can often manifest in our attitudes toward others, regardless of how sweet our words may sound. If you don't want to be near someone, anyone, that's a pretty clear indicator that something needs to be resolved regardless of how your words come out (or don't but are still felt). Can you think of anyone's company that you are avoiding? That's the person the Lord will start with in your prayer life and the one that He will gladly walk through fire with you for .... so that you are reconciled in love.
People that are in a position of leadership are in extra need of this TLC - especially because they often are known of .....but not "known" with a commitment from others to be loved and I mean loved no matter how badly they screw up. It's so easy for us to criticize someone we don't know or love or commit to love... and that's the problem. However, the problem points to the solution... we grow in our Love as we hold them before the One who IS Love and we ask Him how we can pray for them. As soon as we enter His love and begin to pray, they are no longer a stranger and we care deeply about the outcome. That is at least one reason why Jesus admonished us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us... because once we do, they are no longer our enemies!
Anyway, we were gently warned that His desire is that we:
I could go on....
My point is that LOVE is very much at the forefront of Jesus' thoughts at all times and it is definitely on His lips in this hour. May it be on our hearts and lips as well. I care deeply about Father's dreams over all of you and I care about your true effectiveness in the arena of prayer.
Prayers in Love and true conflict resolution really are vital issues for our generation to grapple with and then teach. I honestly know the challenge that it can be to be sure to bring the pain you carry before the Lord in order to pray for those who you have hurt or been hurt by. I know it is not an easy process to sit before the Lord and let Him speak into your heart - often uprooting your perceived "rights to be right". I also know that it is the only way forward in following Jesus and there is no better answer to our pain. It is also the only way to be effective in prayer.
Thank you so much, David...You ROCK!!! love, t
Effective Pre-Election Prayer by Pastor David Harwood
Called to Pray:
and from Jesus (the Messiah) the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father… (Revelation 1:5-6a)
In Revelation 1:5 the Messiah Jesus is identified according to His authority. He is the faithful, resurrected witness, the ruler of the governments of this world. This glorious king is also a priest, our “great priest.” (Hebrews 10:21) According to His inherent power and authority, He has made us to be a kingdom of priests. (Revelation 1:6)
Apparently, the believing community has forgotten this primary calling. Generally speaking it is not considered a good thing if someone wakes up and cannot remember where they work or what they do. It is important for every believer to recover and live in this aspect of our identities. We really are priests. (1 Peter 2:5,9)
The Spirit of God, through the Scriptures, shows us our identity and reveals the nature of our Creator. As spiritual priests we know, and freshly discover, Who we worship through the Scriptures. Let us know and rediscover our intercessory priestly priorities as well. For direction in prayer, the first place we go to receive our assignments are the Scriptures. Since we are submitted to God through His Scriptures, let us be attentive to enscriptured apostolic guidance.
Paul gives a doxology in 1 Timothy 1:17 - To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
In the light of the reality that the Messiah Jesus is king, (five verses later) Paul prioritized prayer for governments. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
We are called to pray for the social and economic climate in which we find ourselves. We are called to pray for the structure of civil society to be amenable to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God through the church. To pray for the Kingdom’s purposes to advance in our nation we must identify with the King’s heart for those who govern. First, we must renounce wrath, rebellion and resentment.
Renounce Wrath, Rebellion and Resentment:
Here’s a principle offered by an apostle: Peter wrote that husbands must live “in an understanding way” with their wives “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7b) There is an analogy to be made concerning prayer for our government. We must make sure that our hearts are right with God before we can expect to be heard.
To wisely pray we must have hearts that are free from wrath and rebellion.
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (1 Timothy 2:8)
“Wrath” in this context has to do with being angry at the repressive Roman regime. The dissension spoken of in this verse is not referring to rebellion within the church. It is speaking directly to the priestly call to pray for those who ruled a godless, amoral, idolatrous, tyrannical empire. This follows the instruction of the Messiah Jesus. He told us that if we are to effectively pray we must have hearts that are free from resentment.
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
Anger, rebellion and rancor pollute the streams of our relationship with God and revelation from God. Let us rid ourselves of the deception that we will be enabled to maintain holy intercessory interaction while ignoring this important injunction.
Honoring God’s Heart:
We must diligently watch over our hearts.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
Many who read this may view President Obama and this administration as adversaries of important godly priorities. I am not contending with that perspective. However, let me ask us a question - what is it about loving our adversaries that we don’t understand? Jesus shed His blood for those who were adverse to God’s righteousness. He loved His enemies. He died for sinners. He expects us to reflect this love, even in the light of serious political oppression.
The degree of despotism experienced by Israel under Roman occupation and what we are enduring in our nation is not worthy of comparison. Yet, Jesus said this, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) What a test this verse provides for many of us in this current political climate. Look at this section of Scripture that follows:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)
How serious is the oppression we are enduring? In comparison to what believers suffer throughout the world, we are not suffering. If we cannot walk in love during this season, how can we hope to do so in a time of serious tribulation?
Here’s something else to consider for those seeking to fulfill their role as priests: Can we come before God, through the blood of Jesus with an attitude which is antithetical to the motive which caused this blood to be offered? Dare we come with a different spirit? His blood speaks love and cries out for forgiveness. If we are to effectively pray for our nation’s leaders we must have a similar spirit.
To pray effectively there must be a thorough, heartfelt, renunciation of anger and rebellion. To be heard in heaven, we must honor the heart of God by embracing His love for His enemies.
During this time before the elections, let us consider our ways, return to the Lord and pray that righteousness would be exalted.
Effective Pre-Election Prayer
http://voiceofrevolution.askdrbrown.org/2010/09/10/effective-pre-election-prayer/
Here's a tender admonition from Pastor David Harwood on having a right posture before the Lord as we come to pray for the elections (and really at all times). I found this article to be so well written and theologically on target that I believe it should be mandatory reading for all of us as Papa's Children. Strong statement I know - but it's true. Of course, I am biased because it touches the roar in my heart for the priesthood of all believers to step into their identity and then, as we engage in that calling, for all of us to speak according to Our Father's Identity.
The article is really all about love and I want to steal a moment to update you on where we are at the House of Prayer so you will read this article with a clearer understanding of why I am endorsing it. (Not that my endorsement means anything, but I'm endorsing it none-the-less.)
At the House, we have been regularly praying that our leaders would know love. It is an overwhelming engagement of the heart and I can't shake it. In particular, we have been praying that our leaders would be surrounded by people who love them and are communicating love in every way. Most importantly, we are praying that they feel loved. I believe with all my heart that you think differently, speak differently and feel differently when you are deeply loved and you know it in your inner man. When you can't feel love, very little can contend with the emotional insecurity you are grappling with.
When President Obama, as a human being, is under a constant barrage of anger and criticism.... how much love do you suppose he feels? If he doesn't feel loved, how will his decisions reflect or model the God who IS love? So, we have been praying, "Love over you President Obama. We love you and honor you and we pray that there would be people all day long that tell you they love you and that help you feel loved." We're doing the same thing over The White House, his family, The Senate, The Supreme Court, etc.(As an FYI, we pray the same thing over YOU, Long Island, NYC, the State, The Nation, Israel and the Church)
At this last Tuesday's meeting, I shared that I was praying the evening before for the Holy Spirit to come pull us into more depth of encounter in our prayer meetings. I pointed out that in the middle of the night prior, I found myself (in my sleep) praying blessings over someone that I love dearly and have great brokenness in my heart over. I woke up doing that and then fell asleep and then woke up to an awareness that the Lord wanted to speak to me about that prayer time. He was letting me know with impressions, rather than words, that He was orchestrating the prayer I had prayed and that He was holding back the deeper encounter I had asked for regarding HIS depth of encounter at the House for Love's sake. I believe He wants us to understand the power of our love, our forgiveness and our tender prayers and words. He wants us to mature in them first before we pray for "power encounters". Not because one comes before the other but because one facilitates the values of His heart more than the other.
As I understand the impressions He left, if we are to respectfully honor the fire of His Presence we need to know that soft words over people's lives, meek and tender hearts, quick forgiveness and blessings are the only things that can live well in the environment of His "fire". We were cautioned to expose our hearts to the Lord's heart and light exhaustively in order to facilitate healing so we would not stumble with angry, critical or careless words regarding our brothers and sisters (i.e., humanity) or harbor cutting thoughts in our hearts that can often manifest in our attitudes toward others, regardless of how sweet our words may sound. If you don't want to be near someone, anyone, that's a pretty clear indicator that something needs to be resolved regardless of how your words come out (or don't but are still felt). Can you think of anyone's company that you are avoiding? That's the person the Lord will start with in your prayer life and the one that He will gladly walk through fire with you for .... so that you are reconciled in love.
People that are in a position of leadership are in extra need of this TLC - especially because they often are known of .....but not "known" with a commitment from others to be loved and I mean loved no matter how badly they screw up. It's so easy for us to criticize someone we don't know or love or commit to love... and that's the problem. However, the problem points to the solution... we grow in our Love as we hold them before the One who IS Love and we ask Him how we can pray for them. As soon as we enter His love and begin to pray, they are no longer a stranger and we care deeply about the outcome. That is at least one reason why Jesus admonished us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us... because once we do, they are no longer our enemies!
Anyway, we were gently warned that His desire is that we:
- diligently guard our hearts in and with love
- reconcile quickly
- not refer to people or churches or leaders with sharp tongues or critical hearts
- know that it will hurt us as much as it would hurt those we spoke about and it certainly would not serve to communicate the love we profess and believe in.
I could go on....
My point is that LOVE is very much at the forefront of Jesus' thoughts at all times and it is definitely on His lips in this hour. May it be on our hearts and lips as well. I care deeply about Father's dreams over all of you and I care about your true effectiveness in the arena of prayer.
Prayers in Love and true conflict resolution really are vital issues for our generation to grapple with and then teach. I honestly know the challenge that it can be to be sure to bring the pain you carry before the Lord in order to pray for those who you have hurt or been hurt by. I know it is not an easy process to sit before the Lord and let Him speak into your heart - often uprooting your perceived "rights to be right". I also know that it is the only way forward in following Jesus and there is no better answer to our pain. It is also the only way to be effective in prayer.
Thank you so much, David...You ROCK!!! love, t
Effective Pre-Election Prayer by Pastor David Harwood
Called to Pray:
and from Jesus (the Messiah) the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father… (Revelation 1:5-6a)
In Revelation 1:5 the Messiah Jesus is identified according to His authority. He is the faithful, resurrected witness, the ruler of the governments of this world. This glorious king is also a priest, our “great priest.” (Hebrews 10:21) According to His inherent power and authority, He has made us to be a kingdom of priests. (Revelation 1:6)
Apparently, the believing community has forgotten this primary calling. Generally speaking it is not considered a good thing if someone wakes up and cannot remember where they work or what they do. It is important for every believer to recover and live in this aspect of our identities. We really are priests. (1 Peter 2:5,9)
The Spirit of God, through the Scriptures, shows us our identity and reveals the nature of our Creator. As spiritual priests we know, and freshly discover, Who we worship through the Scriptures. Let us know and rediscover our intercessory priestly priorities as well. For direction in prayer, the first place we go to receive our assignments are the Scriptures. Since we are submitted to God through His Scriptures, let us be attentive to enscriptured apostolic guidance.
Paul gives a doxology in 1 Timothy 1:17 - To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
In the light of the reality that the Messiah Jesus is king, (five verses later) Paul prioritized prayer for governments. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
We are called to pray for the social and economic climate in which we find ourselves. We are called to pray for the structure of civil society to be amenable to the manifestation of the Kingdom of God through the church. To pray for the Kingdom’s purposes to advance in our nation we must identify with the King’s heart for those who govern. First, we must renounce wrath, rebellion and resentment.
Renounce Wrath, Rebellion and Resentment:
Here’s a principle offered by an apostle: Peter wrote that husbands must live “in an understanding way” with their wives “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7b) There is an analogy to be made concerning prayer for our government. We must make sure that our hearts are right with God before we can expect to be heard.
To wisely pray we must have hearts that are free from wrath and rebellion.
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. (1 Timothy 2:8)
“Wrath” in this context has to do with being angry at the repressive Roman regime. The dissension spoken of in this verse is not referring to rebellion within the church. It is speaking directly to the priestly call to pray for those who ruled a godless, amoral, idolatrous, tyrannical empire. This follows the instruction of the Messiah Jesus. He told us that if we are to effectively pray we must have hearts that are free from resentment.
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
Anger, rebellion and rancor pollute the streams of our relationship with God and revelation from God. Let us rid ourselves of the deception that we will be enabled to maintain holy intercessory interaction while ignoring this important injunction.
Honoring God’s Heart:
We must diligently watch over our hearts.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
Many who read this may view President Obama and this administration as adversaries of important godly priorities. I am not contending with that perspective. However, let me ask us a question - what is it about loving our adversaries that we don’t understand? Jesus shed His blood for those who were adverse to God’s righteousness. He loved His enemies. He died for sinners. He expects us to reflect this love, even in the light of serious political oppression.
The degree of despotism experienced by Israel under Roman occupation and what we are enduring in our nation is not worthy of comparison. Yet, Jesus said this, “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) What a test this verse provides for many of us in this current political climate. Look at this section of Scripture that follows:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)
How serious is the oppression we are enduring? In comparison to what believers suffer throughout the world, we are not suffering. If we cannot walk in love during this season, how can we hope to do so in a time of serious tribulation?
Here’s something else to consider for those seeking to fulfill their role as priests: Can we come before God, through the blood of Jesus with an attitude which is antithetical to the motive which caused this blood to be offered? Dare we come with a different spirit? His blood speaks love and cries out for forgiveness. If we are to effectively pray for our nation’s leaders we must have a similar spirit.
To pray effectively there must be a thorough, heartfelt, renunciation of anger and rebellion. To be heard in heaven, we must honor the heart of God by embracing His love for His enemies.
During this time before the elections, let us consider our ways, return to the Lord and pray that righteousness would be exalted.
Effective Pre-Election Prayer
http://voiceofrevolution.askdrbrown.org/2010/09/10/effective-pre-election-prayer/
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Brian Simmons on Finney's Principles of Revival
“I WILL RELEASE AGAIN THE 10 PRINCIPLES OF REVIVAL TAUGHT BY CHARLES FINNEY!”
by Pastor Brian Simmons on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 6:59pm
Not many days ago I had an amazing encounter with the Lord that has left me trembling and awakened! The voice of the Lord came to me in power telling me that the Lord Himself was about to release AGAIN the revival that swept America during the days of Charles Finney— but in a MUCH GREATER dimension. Entire cities were shaken by the power of God and the anointing of revival that once poured out of a man. With Finney’s prayer partner, Father Nash, he would enter a city only after adequate prayer had saturated the ground and opened the heavens over a region. Many attribute those days of ‘heaven on earth’ to the prayers of Father Nash and his praying team.
The word of the Lord spoke and said to me:
“I WILL RELEASE AGAIN THE 10 PRINCIPLES of REVIVAL TAUGHT BY CHARLES FINNEY! I am releasing TWO of those PRINCIPLES to you NOW! The REMAINING 8 Principles YOU MUST ASK FOR AND SEEK TO RECEIVE!”
So I’ve found my spirit trembling many times since HE spoke those words to me. After hours of prayer and research, would you allow me share in brief what I’ve discovered about the 10 Principles of Revival? These are the truths that Finney taught in the winter of 1834-35 after seeing miracle conversions throughout New England and New York. During the peak of the revival outpouring, Charles Finney took these principles and taught them (more than once) to the awakened churches that received him. These revivals between 1824 and 1836 resulted in the largest number of conversions EVER, in the history of Christianity in America. Throughout the last one hundred and sixty years, revivals have occurred from the Holy Spirit’s anointing the practice of these principles. These are truths that I know GOD HIMSELF will restore to the holy awakeners who seek His face and are willing to run to the nations with a fire never before seen on the earth! These are the principles of Joel’s Army of Awakeners, and they are coming to a church near YOU! Here’s only a summary:
1. Principles of REPENTANCE!
This is what the Bible refers to as, “breaking up the fallow ground”, or laying our hearts exposed and naked before the eyes of glory to search and cleanse. Repentance always ALWAYS precedes revival outpouring. Is your repentance releasing the glory of God’s presence into your life and ministry? If nothing else breaks open a city, try breaking open your heart FOR your city! (Hosea 10:12)
2. Principles of PRAYER!
Every revival can be traced back to prayer! Even in the upper room in Acts 2, they were in a 10-day prayer meeting! This is not general prayer or simply soaking in prayer… this involves a direct confrontation with spiritual forces that are hindering and holding back the deluge of power that will awaken a city in a day. Prayer to the next level will bring glory to the next level! Maybe the way we’ve been praying lacks potency to unlock doors to revival. These prayer principles WILL be restored again, says the Lord! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
(Note: I believe these are the TWO PRINCIPLES that the Lord said He was releasing in this very hour: The Principles of Repentance and the Principles of Prayer. Expect to hear many of the prophets and preachers speak on these two themes – a deeper repentance and a higher level of intercession that is coming!)
3. Principles of HOLINESS!
Not only is God holy, He has made His holiness ‘absorbable’ – we can absorb this holiness that surrounds Him by lingering in His living glory. Much like Moses who stood before a burning bush until he became one! God ignited Moses’ soul because he was highly flammable! Moses absorbed a measure of the glory of God’s holiness in such a way that he released deliverance to a nation. I believe that ‘absorbable’ holiness will fill a generation of deliverers soon to be dispatched to the nations. Will you remain in the holy presence until you ‘catch’ it and become a burning one? (Isaiah 6:6-7)
4. Principles of POWER!
How we all seek for the power of God, often not knowing what we’re asking for! Imagine taking hold of 10 billion volts of power—would it change you as it lit up the sky? When we are willing to be changed by His power, not just ask for more power in our meetings, we will begin to see the nations electrified by God’s dunamis power. Get insulated in purity before seeking naively the power of God. The power of this coming awakening will radiate out for many miles when it falls upon a city! Many will be converted when the church is changed by the power of resurrection life! (Philippians 3:21)
5. Principles of FAITH!
Our preaching and ministries must now move into a greater dimension of faith in order to penetrate the darkness of our land. FAITH-- bold, raw, unrelenting, never-turning-back-faith is the key to revival glory! The authentic principles of faith will be released in a fresh and new way by those who carry the anointing of awakening! If revival depended on YOUR FAITH, how close are we to seeing cities bow before Christ and crown Him king? (Hebrews 11:1)
6. Principles of JOY in the Holy Spirit!
You have to understand how radical this message of joy would sound to a world being crushed and tested in the hands of God. JOY has a breaker quality, breaking open hearts and breaking open a city! Joy parties; alluring feasts of extravagant joy— even in the midst of difficulties will unlock a city! Expect to see the Holy Spirit release new JOY PRINCIPLES and restore us like in the days of Gideon’s victory! (Isaiah 9:3-4)
7. Principles of RIGHTEOUSNESS!
This is our breastplate that covers our hearts! The Christ-life is all our righteousness; we have none apart from Him! Without a living union every moment with this pure and holy Partner we will become defiled by selfishness and sin. What glorious protection is this righteousness that guards us in all our relationships and in our daily walk! Expect to hear about and see new levels of righteousness taught by our shepherds and lived out in our lives! (1Corinthians 1:30)
8. Principles of DISCIPLESHIP!
Rapidly releasing new converts will be crucial as nation after nation opens up their arms to receive more of this heavenly gift, Jesus Christ! We cannot plod along any longer insisting new converts remain ‘under our covering’ when they are ready to roll with revival! In the days of the Jesus Movement in the ‘70s we would see converts won in a day and by a month they were leading and charging forward with evangelism and Bible studies. God does not wait until we sprout wings and a halo before He uses us! Why keep in our ‘sheep pens’ those whom God will equip to shake nations? Jesus sent out 70 before He gave them the Holy Spirit! True discipleship means carrying the cross and going out in grace to reach a world! Discipleship must include releasing converts into the ripened harvest! Who let the sheep out? (Matthew 10:1-8)
9. Principles of PEACE
In days of great shaking and turmoil we will need to find the ‘eye of the storm’ with Jesus in our boat! We need greater revelations of peace to grip us instead of fear of calamity and doom. Peace is a weapon for warfare. Watch the GOD OF PEACE crush Satan soon and swiftly under your feet! (Romans 16:20)
10. Principles of LOVE
The greatest truth of all eternity is this: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so! You will never outgrow your need to receive and release the love of God. Everyone everywhere has a love deficit— so watch the Love of CHRIST change the world, starting with me and with you! More love means more power! More love means more of Jesus Christ given away to the world. You can have great faith for the harvest, but is it working through love in your life? Expect to see more broken-hearted-lovers filling our churches in these days of heaven on earth – the GLORY REVIVAL is upon us. Be ready my friend! “For all we need is faith working through love!” Galatians 5:6
Lord Jesus, RELEASE to the hungry and passionate ones these principles of revival! Empower your awakened Bride to run to the harvest with great faith and overflowing love! Amen!!
A man captured by God. An attorney who was born in Warren Connecticut led an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that shook a nation. Finney's revival times 10 is on the way! Give us the fear of the Lord!
by Pastor Brian Simmons on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 6:59pm
Not many days ago I had an amazing encounter with the Lord that has left me trembling and awakened! The voice of the Lord came to me in power telling me that the Lord Himself was about to release AGAIN the revival that swept America during the days of Charles Finney— but in a MUCH GREATER dimension. Entire cities were shaken by the power of God and the anointing of revival that once poured out of a man. With Finney’s prayer partner, Father Nash, he would enter a city only after adequate prayer had saturated the ground and opened the heavens over a region. Many attribute those days of ‘heaven on earth’ to the prayers of Father Nash and his praying team.
The word of the Lord spoke and said to me:
“I WILL RELEASE AGAIN THE 10 PRINCIPLES of REVIVAL TAUGHT BY CHARLES FINNEY! I am releasing TWO of those PRINCIPLES to you NOW! The REMAINING 8 Principles YOU MUST ASK FOR AND SEEK TO RECEIVE!”
So I’ve found my spirit trembling many times since HE spoke those words to me. After hours of prayer and research, would you allow me share in brief what I’ve discovered about the 10 Principles of Revival? These are the truths that Finney taught in the winter of 1834-35 after seeing miracle conversions throughout New England and New York. During the peak of the revival outpouring, Charles Finney took these principles and taught them (more than once) to the awakened churches that received him. These revivals between 1824 and 1836 resulted in the largest number of conversions EVER, in the history of Christianity in America. Throughout the last one hundred and sixty years, revivals have occurred from the Holy Spirit’s anointing the practice of these principles. These are truths that I know GOD HIMSELF will restore to the holy awakeners who seek His face and are willing to run to the nations with a fire never before seen on the earth! These are the principles of Joel’s Army of Awakeners, and they are coming to a church near YOU! Here’s only a summary:
1. Principles of REPENTANCE!
This is what the Bible refers to as, “breaking up the fallow ground”, or laying our hearts exposed and naked before the eyes of glory to search and cleanse. Repentance always ALWAYS precedes revival outpouring. Is your repentance releasing the glory of God’s presence into your life and ministry? If nothing else breaks open a city, try breaking open your heart FOR your city! (Hosea 10:12)
2. Principles of PRAYER!
Every revival can be traced back to prayer! Even in the upper room in Acts 2, they were in a 10-day prayer meeting! This is not general prayer or simply soaking in prayer… this involves a direct confrontation with spiritual forces that are hindering and holding back the deluge of power that will awaken a city in a day. Prayer to the next level will bring glory to the next level! Maybe the way we’ve been praying lacks potency to unlock doors to revival. These prayer principles WILL be restored again, says the Lord! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
(Note: I believe these are the TWO PRINCIPLES that the Lord said He was releasing in this very hour: The Principles of Repentance and the Principles of Prayer. Expect to hear many of the prophets and preachers speak on these two themes – a deeper repentance and a higher level of intercession that is coming!)
3. Principles of HOLINESS!
Not only is God holy, He has made His holiness ‘absorbable’ – we can absorb this holiness that surrounds Him by lingering in His living glory. Much like Moses who stood before a burning bush until he became one! God ignited Moses’ soul because he was highly flammable! Moses absorbed a measure of the glory of God’s holiness in such a way that he released deliverance to a nation. I believe that ‘absorbable’ holiness will fill a generation of deliverers soon to be dispatched to the nations. Will you remain in the holy presence until you ‘catch’ it and become a burning one? (Isaiah 6:6-7)
4. Principles of POWER!
How we all seek for the power of God, often not knowing what we’re asking for! Imagine taking hold of 10 billion volts of power—would it change you as it lit up the sky? When we are willing to be changed by His power, not just ask for more power in our meetings, we will begin to see the nations electrified by God’s dunamis power. Get insulated in purity before seeking naively the power of God. The power of this coming awakening will radiate out for many miles when it falls upon a city! Many will be converted when the church is changed by the power of resurrection life! (Philippians 3:21)
5. Principles of FAITH!
Our preaching and ministries must now move into a greater dimension of faith in order to penetrate the darkness of our land. FAITH-- bold, raw, unrelenting, never-turning-back-faith is the key to revival glory! The authentic principles of faith will be released in a fresh and new way by those who carry the anointing of awakening! If revival depended on YOUR FAITH, how close are we to seeing cities bow before Christ and crown Him king? (Hebrews 11:1)
6. Principles of JOY in the Holy Spirit!
You have to understand how radical this message of joy would sound to a world being crushed and tested in the hands of God. JOY has a breaker quality, breaking open hearts and breaking open a city! Joy parties; alluring feasts of extravagant joy— even in the midst of difficulties will unlock a city! Expect to see the Holy Spirit release new JOY PRINCIPLES and restore us like in the days of Gideon’s victory! (Isaiah 9:3-4)
7. Principles of RIGHTEOUSNESS!
This is our breastplate that covers our hearts! The Christ-life is all our righteousness; we have none apart from Him! Without a living union every moment with this pure and holy Partner we will become defiled by selfishness and sin. What glorious protection is this righteousness that guards us in all our relationships and in our daily walk! Expect to hear about and see new levels of righteousness taught by our shepherds and lived out in our lives! (1Corinthians 1:30)
8. Principles of DISCIPLESHIP!
Rapidly releasing new converts will be crucial as nation after nation opens up their arms to receive more of this heavenly gift, Jesus Christ! We cannot plod along any longer insisting new converts remain ‘under our covering’ when they are ready to roll with revival! In the days of the Jesus Movement in the ‘70s we would see converts won in a day and by a month they were leading and charging forward with evangelism and Bible studies. God does not wait until we sprout wings and a halo before He uses us! Why keep in our ‘sheep pens’ those whom God will equip to shake nations? Jesus sent out 70 before He gave them the Holy Spirit! True discipleship means carrying the cross and going out in grace to reach a world! Discipleship must include releasing converts into the ripened harvest! Who let the sheep out? (Matthew 10:1-8)
9. Principles of PEACE
In days of great shaking and turmoil we will need to find the ‘eye of the storm’ with Jesus in our boat! We need greater revelations of peace to grip us instead of fear of calamity and doom. Peace is a weapon for warfare. Watch the GOD OF PEACE crush Satan soon and swiftly under your feet! (Romans 16:20)
10. Principles of LOVE
The greatest truth of all eternity is this: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so! You will never outgrow your need to receive and release the love of God. Everyone everywhere has a love deficit— so watch the Love of CHRIST change the world, starting with me and with you! More love means more power! More love means more of Jesus Christ given away to the world. You can have great faith for the harvest, but is it working through love in your life? Expect to see more broken-hearted-lovers filling our churches in these days of heaven on earth – the GLORY REVIVAL is upon us. Be ready my friend! “For all we need is faith working through love!” Galatians 5:6
Lord Jesus, RELEASE to the hungry and passionate ones these principles of revival! Empower your awakened Bride to run to the harvest with great faith and overflowing love! Amen!!
A man captured by God. An attorney who was born in Warren Connecticut led an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that shook a nation. Finney's revival times 10 is on the way! Give us the fear of the Lord!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
James Ryle on Stewardship
“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
To review our past few posts, we have discussed the Beggar, the Digger, and the Steward. These are Life’s Three Options – and the choices you make each day on how you will spend your time, use your resources, and apply your talents will ultimately determine which of these three options defines who you become.
A Beggar does whatever is necessary to survive, only to spend most of his life in poverty; filled with bitterness. A Digger scrapes to become successful; his goal is prosperity, and upon attaining it he walks in pride. A Steward seeks significance; and he understands that generosity is the gateway to greatness. He walks in humility, and God makes all grace abound toward him.
In light of all this I’ve gotta believe that you want to be a Steward; otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this post. So, with you in mind, here is what you need to know.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). God is the Owner of all things. Our possession of things is but a loan, and we will give an account for how we handle His property. This means that everything we have provides us with the opportunity to become a steward. Inasmuch as we are guests in God’s House, so to speak, then every day we live and every decision we make is measured by the standard of Stewardship.
Here is where the Golden Rule comes into clearest focus – “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Care for that which belongs to another the same way you would want another to care for what belongs to you. In all things and at all times hold to this view of yourself – I am a steward. Whatever your occupation may be in the daily affairs of life – your vocation is one of stewardship.
Spend time in God’s Word to discover God’s will; learn what He wants you to do with that which belongs to Him. And in the final analysis you will be empowered in knowing that the one thing the Lord expects from you is faithfulness.
“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). The word faithful means “proving oneself worthy of trust.” God trusts you with His world, with His Word, and with His work. You don’t have to do more than you are able to do; nor should you settle for doing less. All that is required is that you be faithful is doing whatever it is He wants you to do – to the best of your ability.
After all, aren’t you longing for that Day when you will hear — “Well, done thou good and faithful servant (i.e., steward)?” Yeah; me, too.
To review our past few posts, we have discussed the Beggar, the Digger, and the Steward. These are Life’s Three Options – and the choices you make each day on how you will spend your time, use your resources, and apply your talents will ultimately determine which of these three options defines who you become.
A Beggar does whatever is necessary to survive, only to spend most of his life in poverty; filled with bitterness. A Digger scrapes to become successful; his goal is prosperity, and upon attaining it he walks in pride. A Steward seeks significance; and he understands that generosity is the gateway to greatness. He walks in humility, and God makes all grace abound toward him.
In light of all this I’ve gotta believe that you want to be a Steward; otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this post. So, with you in mind, here is what you need to know.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). God is the Owner of all things. Our possession of things is but a loan, and we will give an account for how we handle His property. This means that everything we have provides us with the opportunity to become a steward. Inasmuch as we are guests in God’s House, so to speak, then every day we live and every decision we make is measured by the standard of Stewardship.
Here is where the Golden Rule comes into clearest focus – “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Care for that which belongs to another the same way you would want another to care for what belongs to you. In all things and at all times hold to this view of yourself – I am a steward. Whatever your occupation may be in the daily affairs of life – your vocation is one of stewardship.
Spend time in God’s Word to discover God’s will; learn what He wants you to do with that which belongs to Him. And in the final analysis you will be empowered in knowing that the one thing the Lord expects from you is faithfulness.
“It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). The word faithful means “proving oneself worthy of trust.” God trusts you with His world, with His Word, and with His work. You don’t have to do more than you are able to do; nor should you settle for doing less. All that is required is that you be faithful is doing whatever it is He wants you to do – to the best of your ability.
After all, aren’t you longing for that Day when you will hear — “Well, done thou good and faithful servant (i.e., steward)?” Yeah; me, too.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Two Notes - Awakening
I am sharing two notes:
I received the first note from an IHOP in South Atlanta. I'm sending it - not for the purpose of highlighting IHOPs at all - but because I long for Long Island to be drenched in love. Our prayer is quite sincere, "Montauk to Manhattan: Every House a House of Prayer". The note below is a "word" of encouragement. Please join us in praying for the Body of Christ Long Island/NYC to be drenched in Awakening as a House of Prayer so that Jesus will have His inheritance - every tribe and tongue and nation.
The Second is in line with the first in that since I went to Atlanta (see prior posts) I have been praying for the "wine" of the Holy Spirit ( WHATEVER that is . . .) to be poured out upon this region. Two nights ago, I had a dream about wine being poured on my head. I can't help but think that God is giving us keys and urging us to step into OUR inheritance as His Sons and Daughters.
That being said, I'll be at the House of Prayer tonight 7:30-9:30 and then again from 10-6 on Thursday for the Collegiate Day of Prayer and Friday 10-10 for the Burn. The primary focus will be these two issues. Awakening/outpouring and beseeching the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into the Harvest. So . . . here's the two notes I promised . . . .
"This word was delivered by Ken Copeland and has direct bearing on the awakening that broke out at IHOP in Kansas City. It has since broken out in prayer related ministries all over the nation and around the world. It has recently broke out here in the Atlanta Area at IHOP-Atlanta. We have also seen it released at ASMHOP.
Let me encourage you, 2 Chronicles 20:20 says, "Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” If you cry out, the Lord wants to meet you where you are.
(Tongues) “This ‘Great Awakening’ that is hanging heavy over the United States even tonight. This ‘Great Awakening’ that’s hanging heavy around the nations of the world but most especially in this country and in Canada. This ‘Great Awakening’ that is hanging there, just hanging there to be realized and to be, to be flowed and released throughout this nation and throughout the nation of Canada, and then in turn throughout the rest of the world.
“The prayer, the prayer, the prayer, the prayer that’s gone forth. The prayer that is going forth, that’s where the power release is. That’s where the trigger to these things is, that’s the way you release them in your church. And thus saith the Lord thy God, “In this hour these churches that are teaching and training people to pray of which are on this list and many others also, those are the churches where the explosion and the Shekinah glory of God will be manifest first.
“The praying churches will walk in it first. And they’ll say, “My, revival broke out over there.’ No, answered prayer broke out over there.’ The ‘Awakening’ will come out of congregations. There is a hunger in this nation for holiness. Holiness—real truth, Bible purity before God—and people will run into houses of worship where the glory of God is residing and hanging heavy. And they’ll say, “Clean, clean, clean! Oh to be clean, to be clean.” And they’ll run into that atmosphere and My blood will cleanse them from the top of their head to the soles of their feet.
“And My Word will take root on the inside of them, and this nation is headed for a Holy Ghost wake-up call. It is on us now—you rejoice, for we’ll see it before many hours go by. Hallelujah.
_________________________________________
"Good poems are like good wine, you don't just gulp them down. You “TASTE” them, savor them, enjoy the moment, anything else is a waste! God’s presence is more like the finest wine, which the civilized know, you Taste, you savor, you enjoy, and you take your time with. Too many when they encounter God, rush through it like an amusement ride for the thrill, when they should be savoring it, tasting it, enjoying his love and presence. The interesting thing about “good wine” is the more you drink the more intoxicated you become, wine produces “joy” “merriment”. So too with the “wine” of God’s love, once tasted it produces Love, Joy, Peace, as we abandon ourselves to the effects of the wine of his love. We should take time to savor these effects and realize he does not give us wine, “HE IS the wine”. It is Him, we drink of, it is Him, we partake of, it is Him, who fills our souls with the new wine of his amazing love and intoxicates us with his affections.
To drink a “cheaper wine” would be unthinkable, this wine was the most expensive ever made and it cost God everything. He offers it to us freely and bids us “Drink up” to our fill, for there is always more of his love wine. The hurts of this life, are numbed by the strength of his love and we are quite too intoxicated to notice when he takes out those hurts with his divine surgery & replaces them with the oil of gladness in our hearts. The “ecstatic joy” he fills our hearts with, makes us impervious to what is going on as we are healed in his presence & his love fills us with ecstatic joy till we think we will die and we don’t care. Others, who have not “tasted” this divine wine, are aghast at our drunkenness and scandalous joy, but they just don’t understand, they have not tasted yet.
We become “possessed” by that which we give ourselves to and the effects of this wine of Bliss show. We do not live from hurt, we live from love. We do not live from anger, we live from Joy, and we do not live from worry and strife but from Peace that flows through our hearts like a river of wine, intoxicating all who drink from that river. We learn there is no higher calling in life than to drink from this river of God’s love wine that flows from his heart to ours; it is our destiny in life. And like all merry wino’s we wish to share our bottle of Joy with all who will partake, for there is always more where that came from the river of wine never runs dry.
Bring me into a house of wine; array love over me."
-Song of Solomon 2:4
r.k.
I received the first note from an IHOP in South Atlanta. I'm sending it - not for the purpose of highlighting IHOPs at all - but because I long for Long Island to be drenched in love. Our prayer is quite sincere, "Montauk to Manhattan: Every House a House of Prayer". The note below is a "word" of encouragement. Please join us in praying for the Body of Christ Long Island/NYC to be drenched in Awakening as a House of Prayer so that Jesus will have His inheritance - every tribe and tongue and nation.
The Second is in line with the first in that since I went to Atlanta (see prior posts) I have been praying for the "wine" of the Holy Spirit ( WHATEVER that is . . .) to be poured out upon this region. Two nights ago, I had a dream about wine being poured on my head. I can't help but think that God is giving us keys and urging us to step into OUR inheritance as His Sons and Daughters.
That being said, I'll be at the House of Prayer tonight 7:30-9:30 and then again from 10-6 on Thursday for the Collegiate Day of Prayer and Friday 10-10 for the Burn. The primary focus will be these two issues. Awakening/outpouring and beseeching the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into the Harvest. So . . . here's the two notes I promised . . . .
"This word was delivered by Ken Copeland and has direct bearing on the awakening that broke out at IHOP in Kansas City. It has since broken out in prayer related ministries all over the nation and around the world. It has recently broke out here in the Atlanta Area at IHOP-Atlanta. We have also seen it released at ASMHOP.
Let me encourage you, 2 Chronicles 20:20 says, "Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” If you cry out, the Lord wants to meet you where you are.
(Tongues) “This ‘Great Awakening’ that is hanging heavy over the United States even tonight. This ‘Great Awakening’ that’s hanging heavy around the nations of the world but most especially in this country and in Canada. This ‘Great Awakening’ that is hanging there, just hanging there to be realized and to be, to be flowed and released throughout this nation and throughout the nation of Canada, and then in turn throughout the rest of the world.
“The prayer, the prayer, the prayer, the prayer that’s gone forth. The prayer that is going forth, that’s where the power release is. That’s where the trigger to these things is, that’s the way you release them in your church. And thus saith the Lord thy God, “In this hour these churches that are teaching and training people to pray of which are on this list and many others also, those are the churches where the explosion and the Shekinah glory of God will be manifest first.
“The praying churches will walk in it first. And they’ll say, “My, revival broke out over there.’ No, answered prayer broke out over there.’ The ‘Awakening’ will come out of congregations. There is a hunger in this nation for holiness. Holiness—real truth, Bible purity before God—and people will run into houses of worship where the glory of God is residing and hanging heavy. And they’ll say, “Clean, clean, clean! Oh to be clean, to be clean.” And they’ll run into that atmosphere and My blood will cleanse them from the top of their head to the soles of their feet.
“And My Word will take root on the inside of them, and this nation is headed for a Holy Ghost wake-up call. It is on us now—you rejoice, for we’ll see it before many hours go by. Hallelujah.
_________________________________________
"Good poems are like good wine, you don't just gulp them down. You “TASTE” them, savor them, enjoy the moment, anything else is a waste! God’s presence is more like the finest wine, which the civilized know, you Taste, you savor, you enjoy, and you take your time with. Too many when they encounter God, rush through it like an amusement ride for the thrill, when they should be savoring it, tasting it, enjoying his love and presence. The interesting thing about “good wine” is the more you drink the more intoxicated you become, wine produces “joy” “merriment”. So too with the “wine” of God’s love, once tasted it produces Love, Joy, Peace, as we abandon ourselves to the effects of the wine of his love. We should take time to savor these effects and realize he does not give us wine, “HE IS the wine”. It is Him, we drink of, it is Him, we partake of, it is Him, who fills our souls with the new wine of his amazing love and intoxicates us with his affections.
To drink a “cheaper wine” would be unthinkable, this wine was the most expensive ever made and it cost God everything. He offers it to us freely and bids us “Drink up” to our fill, for there is always more of his love wine. The hurts of this life, are numbed by the strength of his love and we are quite too intoxicated to notice when he takes out those hurts with his divine surgery & replaces them with the oil of gladness in our hearts. The “ecstatic joy” he fills our hearts with, makes us impervious to what is going on as we are healed in his presence & his love fills us with ecstatic joy till we think we will die and we don’t care. Others, who have not “tasted” this divine wine, are aghast at our drunkenness and scandalous joy, but they just don’t understand, they have not tasted yet.
We become “possessed” by that which we give ourselves to and the effects of this wine of Bliss show. We do not live from hurt, we live from love. We do not live from anger, we live from Joy, and we do not live from worry and strife but from Peace that flows through our hearts like a river of wine, intoxicating all who drink from that river. We learn there is no higher calling in life than to drink from this river of God’s love wine that flows from his heart to ours; it is our destiny in life. And like all merry wino’s we wish to share our bottle of Joy with all who will partake, for there is always more where that came from the river of wine never runs dry.
Bring me into a house of wine; array love over me."
-Song of Solomon 2:4
r.k.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Richard Rohr on Scapegoating
THE SCAPEGOAT
Question of the Day:
Whom do I scapegoat?
On the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16:21-22) a goat was brought into the sanctuary. The high priest would lay his hands on the goat and all the sins and failures of the people from the last year were ceremonially laid on the goat, and the goat was sent out into the desert to die. The assumption here is that evil can be expelled elsewhere, and the goal of religion is personal “purity.”
What immediately follows from the scapegoat story (the “escaping” goat) of Leviticus 16 is what is called “The Law of Holiness” (Leviticus 17-27), which largely defines holiness as separation from evil—which is exactly what they had just ritualized. In general, this is the pattern of most first-stage religion.
Three thousand years later, human consciousness hasn’t moved a great deal beyond that, despite the message of the cross. Jesus does not define holiness as separation from evil as much as absorption and transformation of it, wherein I pay the price instead of always asking others to pay the price.
From the cross, Jesus is shouting to history, “No more scapegoats! Look how wrong you can be.”
THE SCAPEGOAT
Question of the Day:
How does dualistic thinking create violent people?
We Christians, who dare to worship the scapegoat, Jesus, became many times in history the primary scapegoaters ourselves—of Jews, heretics, sinners, witches, homosexuals, the poor, the natives in the New World, slaves, other denominations, and other religions. It’s rather hard to believe that we missed such a central message.
The pattern of exporting our evil elsewhere, and righteously hating it there, with impunity, is in the hardwiring of all peoples. After all, our religious task is to separate from evil, isn’t it? That is the well-disguised lie! Any exclusionary process of thinking, any exclusively dualistic thinking, will always create violent and hateful people on some level.
This I state as an absolute, and precisely because the cross revealed it to me. The crucifixion scene is our standing icon stating both the problem and the solution for all of history.
Adapted from Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, p. 143
Question of the Day:
Whom do I scapegoat?
On the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16:21-22) a goat was brought into the sanctuary. The high priest would lay his hands on the goat and all the sins and failures of the people from the last year were ceremonially laid on the goat, and the goat was sent out into the desert to die. The assumption here is that evil can be expelled elsewhere, and the goal of religion is personal “purity.”
What immediately follows from the scapegoat story (the “escaping” goat) of Leviticus 16 is what is called “The Law of Holiness” (Leviticus 17-27), which largely defines holiness as separation from evil—which is exactly what they had just ritualized. In general, this is the pattern of most first-stage religion.
Three thousand years later, human consciousness hasn’t moved a great deal beyond that, despite the message of the cross. Jesus does not define holiness as separation from evil as much as absorption and transformation of it, wherein I pay the price instead of always asking others to pay the price.
From the cross, Jesus is shouting to history, “No more scapegoats! Look how wrong you can be.”
THE SCAPEGOAT
Question of the Day:
How does dualistic thinking create violent people?
We Christians, who dare to worship the scapegoat, Jesus, became many times in history the primary scapegoaters ourselves—of Jews, heretics, sinners, witches, homosexuals, the poor, the natives in the New World, slaves, other denominations, and other religions. It’s rather hard to believe that we missed such a central message.
The pattern of exporting our evil elsewhere, and righteously hating it there, with impunity, is in the hardwiring of all peoples. After all, our religious task is to separate from evil, isn’t it? That is the well-disguised lie! Any exclusionary process of thinking, any exclusively dualistic thinking, will always create violent and hateful people on some level.
This I state as an absolute, and precisely because the cross revealed it to me. The crucifixion scene is our standing icon stating both the problem and the solution for all of history.
Adapted from Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, p. 143
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Meditating on The Attributes of Holy Spirit - Spurgeon
"Thy good Spirit."
- Nehemiah 9:20
Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. This is folly
and ingratitude. He deserves well at our hands, for he is good, supremely
good. As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold
ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah.
Unmixed purity and truth, and grace is he. He is good benevolently,
tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills;
quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for the skies as
a loving nurse fosters her child. How generous, forgiving, and tender is
this patient Spirit of God. He is good operatively. All his works are good
in the most eminent degree: he suggests good thoughts, prompts good
actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, assists in good
attainments, and leads to good results. There is no spiritual good in all
the world of which he is not the author and sustainer, and heaven itself
will owe the perfect character of its redeemed inhabitants to his work. He
is good officially; whether as Comforter, Instructor, Guide, Sanctifier,
Quickener, or Intercessor, he fulfils his office well, and each work is
fraught with the highest good to the church of God. They who yield to his
influences become good, they who obey his impulses do good, they who live
under his power receive good. Let us then act towards so good a person
according to the dictates of gratitude. Let us revere his person, and
adore him as God over all, blessed for ever; let us own his power, and our
need of him by waiting upon him in all our holy enterprises; let us hourly
seek his aid, and never grieve him; and let us speak to his praise
whenever occasion occurs.
The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the
Holy Ghost.
He is so good and kind, that it is sad indeed that he should be grieved
by slights and negligences.
- Nehemiah 9:20
Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. This is folly
and ingratitude. He deserves well at our hands, for he is good, supremely
good. As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold
ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah.
Unmixed purity and truth, and grace is he. He is good benevolently,
tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills;
quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for the skies as
a loving nurse fosters her child. How generous, forgiving, and tender is
this patient Spirit of God. He is good operatively. All his works are good
in the most eminent degree: he suggests good thoughts, prompts good
actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, assists in good
attainments, and leads to good results. There is no spiritual good in all
the world of which he is not the author and sustainer, and heaven itself
will owe the perfect character of its redeemed inhabitants to his work. He
is good officially; whether as Comforter, Instructor, Guide, Sanctifier,
Quickener, or Intercessor, he fulfils his office well, and each work is
fraught with the highest good to the church of God. They who yield to his
influences become good, they who obey his impulses do good, they who live
under his power receive good. Let us then act towards so good a person
according to the dictates of gratitude. Let us revere his person, and
adore him as God over all, blessed for ever; let us own his power, and our
need of him by waiting upon him in all our holy enterprises; let us hourly
seek his aid, and never grieve him; and let us speak to his praise
whenever occasion occurs.
The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the
Holy Ghost.
He is so good and kind, that it is sad indeed that he should be grieved
by slights and negligences.
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