"PREPARE THE WAY" by Rick JoynerMorningStar Ministrieswww.morningstarministries.org
The greatest sign of the return of the Lord is recorded in Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come." An acceleration of transformation is now going on in the Church in order to prepare the way for this gospel to be preached and this prophecy fulfilled. The greatest force for truth is now being assembled for this purpose.There are true, last-day prophets and apostles already living among us. Most are still immature, but they are here, they are maturing, and they will soon be released in power. Their commission will be foretold by the earth itself suffering spiritual contractions, so that all who dwell on the earth will tremble. God is coming to shake things up.
The Revolution
This "gospel of the kingdom" is not the same as the gospel of salvation, commonly referred to as "the gospel" which has been the primary message of the Protestant and the Evangelical churches for the past five hundred years. It is now time to understand the gospel of the kingdom, how it is distinguished from the gospel that has been preached, and howthe message of the church is about to change so that it is preached throughout the whole world.
We also need to examine the way that the gospel of salvation has been perverted in recent times, changing it from Him coming to save His people from their sins, to Him coming to save His people from their troubles. This is why so few remain in the faith after their "conversion." The only true salvation comes from the conviction of our sins and our profound and desperate need for the atonement of the cross of Jesus Christ. Anything other than this is a wrong foundation that cannot stand. He did not come to deliver us from troubles, but rather the opposite. When someone comes to Christ, he or she needs to immediately be prepared for troubles, as the whole fallen world will be against them.
Redemption, reconciliation, and restoration are all part of the gospel of the kingdom, and these are reasons for which the kingdom is coming.
Without question, the Christian life is the most fulfilling, wonderful adventure that anyone can experience in this world, but it is also the most difficult life that can be lived on this earth. When people come to Christ, they need to be prepared for battle from the first day. If they are not prepared for this, they are very unlikely to remain in the faith, as the glaring statistics of those who "come to Christ" that are lost again to theworld should boldly teach us.When we are born, it is not the goal of our lives, but only the beginning. Likewise, to be born again is not the ultimate goal of the gospel; it is the beginning of the greatest quest and journey toward the full maturity of what we are called to be. It is now time for the Church to go on to maturity, and this must begin with our message. It is the greatest message of hope, but also a call to battle.
To preach the gospel of the kingdom does not in any way negate or denigrate the gospel of salvation. In fact, it is the gospel of the kingdom that leads to true salvation, which is why the Lord Jesus Himself preached this gospel, as well as the first century apostles. Redemption, reconciliation, and restoration are all part of the gospel of the kingdom, and these are reasons for which the kingdom is coming. However, the gospel of the kingdom does include more than the salvation of believers -- it is the message that the rightful King is coming to take over.Those who are born again with the hope of salvation may be changed, but those who are born again in order to see the kingdom will be so changed that they are a "new creation" (see Galatians 6:15) -- which stands out in great contrast to those of the old creation. Just as the first century Christians stood out in stunning contrast to all who lived in their time, the radical faith that is about to be revealed through such radical Christians will cause the whole world to stand in shock and awe.Recent studies have revealed that modern, Evangelical Christians are really no different from non-Christians in basic moral and integrity issues such as honesty, cheating, and immorality. That is about to change. As the Lord warned in John 15, every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off. If you receive anything from this bulletin, heed the following clear warning from Galatians 5:16-25:
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
Again, we can know for sure that those who practice such things as are listed under the works of the flesh "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The scariest thing in the world should be if we are doing these things and getting away with them. As we are told in Hebrews 12, the Lord disciplines His children, and if we are without discipline, then we are not His.The Gospel of the KingdomThe gospel of the kingdom is not just the gospel of our atonement, but it is the good news of the kingdom of God and the declaration that the King is coming to establish it here on the earth, beginning with us. To be saved with a vision of our salvation is good, but it is man-centered. To be saved by a vision of the kingdom is an enlistment into the army of the coming King. This is not a matter of "majoring on minors"; each has very different consequences and different fruit. When the gospel of salvation is preached, we are compelled to "accept the Lord" and, often, it is done as if we are doing Him a favor. When the gospel of the kingdom is preached so that His kingdom is seen, we will bow the knee begging His acceptance.
As the Lord instructed His people to pray for nearly 2,000 years, His kingdom is going to come, and His will is going to be done right here on the earth just as it is in Heaven (see Matthew 6:9-13). This prayer of so many millions for so many years -- the prayer that the King Himself gave us to pray -- is going to be answered. He wants to start with us. That He came to be our Savior is something we will marvel at for eternity; however, He did not just come to be our Savior, but our King . . . There is a difference.
The coming of His kingdom is the greatest hope that has ever been preached on the earth. There is no hope found in any other religion or any philosophy of utopia that is as great as what we have been given to proclaim. As the troubles of the end of this age increase, the light of the hope of His kingdom will shine brighter and brighter. Now is the time to fill our lamps with this oil.
The earth will be restored to its former paradise so that there is no more war, sickness, dying, hunger, or even pain. The lion will lie down with the lamb, children will be able to play with cobras, and no one will hurt anyone else. This is the greatest message of hope that the world has ever heard. The gospel is not just "good news," but it is the greatest news -- the greatest message OF A FUTURE -- that the world has ever heard. Our message must change from proclaiming that the end is coming to proclaiming that the beginning is coming.
He Comes to His Temple First
This is a sure promise, and the time is near for its fulfillment. The kingdom of God is surely coming to this earth, and soon. However, it can come to us today! We can live in the kingdom now, and those who begin to proclaim it will do this as true citizens of this kingdom. As we read in Revelation 3:20, the Lord has been standing at the door of His Church, patiently knocking to see who would open to Him, but the time is near when He will suddenly burst into His temple and take over. His Church is then going to be His body who does His will, speaks His words, and does the works that He did.
Soon we will know the difference between what was truly born in the heart of God, and that which was born in the hearts of men.
We may think this is what we have been doing -- following His leading in everything -- but, in truth, few have followed Him in much at all. Many wonderful things have been done in His name, which the Lord has blessed, but He will bless many things that He will not inhabit. There have also been many terrible -- even diabolical -- things done in His name.
Soon we will know the difference between what was truly born in the heart of God, and that which was born in the hearts of men. He is going to cleanse His temple, destroy the idols that have been set up there, and drive out the money-changers. He is then going to rebuild it so His church is, in fact, His church -- His body of which He alone is the Head.
Great changes have been happening deep in the heart of the church for years. These are about to accelerate, resulting in such a great transformation that it will be viewed as the greatest move of God in His people since the Day of Pentecost when He first poured out His Spirit on the Church. Like the Day of Pentecost in the book of Acts, it will begin with a remnant that has been very close to Him, but it will quickly get the attention of the rest of His people in every nation. These will also begin repenting of their ways that have in fact caused them to reject Him and live contrary to His will. Just as John had to preach repentance before Jesus came the first time, a great repentance is going to precede His second coming.
The sword of the Lord will sweep over the whole earth and remove from among His people all who are not bowing before Him. He will remove the arrogant and the stumbling blocks. When we see this deep repentance even touching the most highly visible and influential leaders of the Church, we can begin to expect a radical transformation of the Church so that true, New Testament Church life as the Lord intended can be re-established on the earth. Then the Church will not be known so much for its organization, facilities, or even its message, but it will be known as the place where the living God dwells. His people will be continually in awe of Him, and the rest will be in awe of His people.
Many of the things that have been high and lofty in the Church will be brought down, and things that have been kept in low esteem will be exalted.
Another sign that His kingdom is near will be the mountains being brought low, and the valleys and low places being raised up. Many of the things that have been high and lofty in the Church will be brought down, and things that have been kept in low esteem will be exalted. The message of the cross and the crucified life will be the first to be lifted up. The messages that have promoted presumption, self-seeking, and selfishness will be brought low. The messengers who promote them will likewise follow them.
Through the coming repentance, a great and profound maturity will come to the Church. It will be such a radical change that Christians will claim that they have begun to see the kingdom of God and even the King for the first time. To a large degree, this will simply be the result of getting our eyes off of ourselves and turning to Him. Instead of the Church being so focused on building itself, it will begin to focus on preparing the way for His kingdom. This reorientation from self-focus to that which is greater will, in fact, do more to build the Church than all of our self-focus was ever able to do.
Even so, this great repentance will result in a great pruning of the Church. Many will not be willing to make these changes. The recent split of many denominations around basic issues is but a small foretaste of what is coming. Those who are more devoted to institutions or organizations than to the Lord will have a hard time, and many will not make it. Even so, those who do must press on.
In a relatively short period of time, the Church will become more brilliant and powerful than it has ever been. The branches that are cut off from it will wither and die very fast. Do not die with them. Our allegiance must be to the Lord and His kingdom, which is bigger than any denomination or movement. When denominations turn from the Lord and His Word, it is time to turn from them.From Control to AuthorityThere have been many messages that have come proposing to be the gospel of the kingdom, but, as Robin McMillan observed, most of these messages have somehow been about how to control people. Indeed, a control spirit has not only entered into many of these teachings, but has sat in the seat of authority in much of the Church since the first century. There is still a great deal of confusion in the Church on the issues of authority, but that will soon change as a true authority is raised up.Obeying the Lord and His delegated authority is important. The Lord Himself explained that if we call Him "Lord," but do not do what He says, we are building on a foundation that will surely collapse (see Luke 6:46-49). Therefore, obedience to Him as the King is crucial for being a true messenger of His kingdom.
However, the way in which the Lord preached the gospel of the kingdom actually said very little about authority and obedience, but rather He demonstrated their power over the conditions on earth.
For example, when the Lord saw a cripple it was as if He said (I am paraphrasing), "You know, there are no cripples in Heaven, so watch what happens when the kingdom of Heaven touches this cripple on the earth." Then the cripple would be made whole.
When He saw a multitude hungry with no food, it was as if He said, "You know, there is no lack in Heaven, so watch what happens when Heaven touches these few loaves and fishes . . . "
The condition of Heaven would touch the circumstances on earth and prevail over them. In this way, the authority of the kingdom of Heaven was demonstrated to be greater than any authority or condition on the earth. He told His disciples to go and live the same way so that they could preach the same message.
He promises those who are faithful to bring the whole tithe into His storehouse that He will pour out a blessing which they cannot contain . . .
It is noteworthy that when the Lord turned the water into wine or multiplied the fish and loaves, He always made too much! Of course, He did this purposely to demonstrate the abundance of His kingdom. He did come to give abundant life! He promises those who are faithful to bring the whole tithe into His storehouse that He will pour out a blessing which they cannot contain (see Malachi 3:8-12). Likewise, the apostle Paul affirms the same in II Corinthians 9:6-8:
"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
"Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
Life in the kingdom is one of abundance, having "all grace" abounding to us, "all sufficiency in everything," and "an abundance for every good deed." However, this is not just for our consumption, but for service. It is also in Spirit and power, which is why the apostle Paul wrote:
"And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God" (I Corinthians 2:4-5).
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power" (I Corinthians 4:20).
The message of the kingdom is about the King. The office of king is obviously about authority, but the authority of the kingdom of God is not about beating people into submission. In John 18:36 the Lord said, "My kingdom is not of this world." His kingdom is from above and, in many profound ways, not like the kingdoms of this world. Most of the doctrines concerning the kingdom, and even those which have been declared to be the gospel of the kingdom, are very hard to distinguish from the kingdoms of this world; they have very little evidence or demonstration of being from the realm of Heaven. What is coming will be different.
The foundational purpose of the coming gospel of the kingdom will not be about getting people to line up and obey. It will be about healing them, feeding them, and transforming their minds by such demonstrations of the goodness of God that people begin to love Him, His truth, His righteousness, and His justice . . .
To continue reading this "PREPARE THE WAY" Prophetic Bulletin by Rick Joyner, go to:http://www.morningstarministries.org/pages/bulletins/2005/PB47.pdf
Friday, August 19, 2005
The Key to Prayer
"The Key to Prayer is the Rock-Solid Belief That it is Personal"
by John Paul Jackson
Streams Ministries International
www.streamsministries.com
Very few good events that happen in this world occur without prayer being the moving force. True prayer is the union of the eternal and the temporal. God knows what will bring about His purpose in the earth; He then asks us to pray that it takes place. Thus, daily prayer consistently puts the enemy on the move. When we pray, the enemy must respond to God's movements instigated by our prayers. So, in effect, the enemy must respond to us instead of our responding to his attacks.
Unfortunately, we tend to think prayer is difficult. We think prayer is a human action that demands our time, effort, and energy; however, this isn't God's idea of prayer. He designed prayer to be an open, transparent relationship, brought through a spiritual atmosphere in which He can enjoy intimate communion with us. In other words, to not be able to pray would be the greatest disaster that could come upon us. It is only through God's touch that we can pray; it proves He is close to us.
The key to prayer is the rock-solid belief that it is personal. If we don't understand this simple concept, then we won't ever be able to truly know God, let alone enjoy His presence. All the things mentioned in the Lord's Prayer He wants to do for you -- personally. He desires to laugh with you, to cry with you, to touch you, to have intimate moments with you. Prayer times allow God to show you that He has plans, desires, and a destiny for you. Prayer is His moment as much as it is yours.
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer begins with, "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9). Many people, when they teach on this topic, stop at "Father," but I want to stop at "our" -- the very first word. The way Jesus opens the most famous prayer in history is rudimentary to understanding prayer's true purpose. We have been brought into the household of faith. This means that God is our Father. It is a family relationship issue -- not a foster parent type of concept. When we are born again, something actually happens in the spiritual realm and literally fulfills this statement. All of us who are children of God have God as our Father. He is our Father -- the Father of every one of us. But He is also my Father, and He is also your Father. Your relationship with your Heavenly Father is personal. Subsequently, it is then accurate to pray, "My Father . . . "
My mother and father have recently moved to New Hampshire to be nearer this ministry. I introduce them as "my" father and mother. Yet, they are also father and mother of my brother and two sisters. When we are all together we introduce them as "our" parents. Thus, our father and mother are, in truth, also my father and mother. One does not negate the other. And so it is in the Lord's Prayer.
If we don't grasp the personal intimacy of this, we will continually think of God as a God who is far away. Deists believe there is a God, but after creating the universe, He stepped back and is letting it run its course all by itself. They believe Him to be like a disinterested stepfather, who makes only periodic visits to see how His creation is doing. But the Lord's Prayer immediately disqualifies this belief because the first thing Jesus does is reveal the personal nature of the Father's heart. The truth is that God is completely, intricately involved in our daily lives and sends His Spirit to touch and transform us as often as we allow.
The Three Stages of Prayer
If we do not personalize prayer, we will never be able to go very far. We will end up drying out and becoming apathetic in our quiet time with God because we won't have a passion for Him. The three stages of prayer are desire, discipline, and delight. Each leads into the others. If prayer is not personal for us, if we do not understand the depth of God's passion for us on a familiar, individual level, we will never build true desire for Him, and our prayers will become stale.
So, when you pray as Jesus taught, let His first word, "our/my," resonate deep into your spirit. Let it speak volumes about your personal, one-to-one connection with your loving Creator.
Don't be afraid to take God personally, because that is how He takes you.
by John Paul Jackson
by John Paul Jackson
Streams Ministries International
www.streamsministries.com
Very few good events that happen in this world occur without prayer being the moving force. True prayer is the union of the eternal and the temporal. God knows what will bring about His purpose in the earth; He then asks us to pray that it takes place. Thus, daily prayer consistently puts the enemy on the move. When we pray, the enemy must respond to God's movements instigated by our prayers. So, in effect, the enemy must respond to us instead of our responding to his attacks.
Unfortunately, we tend to think prayer is difficult. We think prayer is a human action that demands our time, effort, and energy; however, this isn't God's idea of prayer. He designed prayer to be an open, transparent relationship, brought through a spiritual atmosphere in which He can enjoy intimate communion with us. In other words, to not be able to pray would be the greatest disaster that could come upon us. It is only through God's touch that we can pray; it proves He is close to us.
The key to prayer is the rock-solid belief that it is personal. If we don't understand this simple concept, then we won't ever be able to truly know God, let alone enjoy His presence. All the things mentioned in the Lord's Prayer He wants to do for you -- personally. He desires to laugh with you, to cry with you, to touch you, to have intimate moments with you. Prayer times allow God to show you that He has plans, desires, and a destiny for you. Prayer is His moment as much as it is yours.
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer begins with, "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9). Many people, when they teach on this topic, stop at "Father," but I want to stop at "our" -- the very first word. The way Jesus opens the most famous prayer in history is rudimentary to understanding prayer's true purpose. We have been brought into the household of faith. This means that God is our Father. It is a family relationship issue -- not a foster parent type of concept. When we are born again, something actually happens in the spiritual realm and literally fulfills this statement. All of us who are children of God have God as our Father. He is our Father -- the Father of every one of us. But He is also my Father, and He is also your Father. Your relationship with your Heavenly Father is personal. Subsequently, it is then accurate to pray, "My Father . . . "
My mother and father have recently moved to New Hampshire to be nearer this ministry. I introduce them as "my" father and mother. Yet, they are also father and mother of my brother and two sisters. When we are all together we introduce them as "our" parents. Thus, our father and mother are, in truth, also my father and mother. One does not negate the other. And so it is in the Lord's Prayer.
If we don't grasp the personal intimacy of this, we will continually think of God as a God who is far away. Deists believe there is a God, but after creating the universe, He stepped back and is letting it run its course all by itself. They believe Him to be like a disinterested stepfather, who makes only periodic visits to see how His creation is doing. But the Lord's Prayer immediately disqualifies this belief because the first thing Jesus does is reveal the personal nature of the Father's heart. The truth is that God is completely, intricately involved in our daily lives and sends His Spirit to touch and transform us as often as we allow.
The Three Stages of Prayer
If we do not personalize prayer, we will never be able to go very far. We will end up drying out and becoming apathetic in our quiet time with God because we won't have a passion for Him. The three stages of prayer are desire, discipline, and delight. Each leads into the others. If prayer is not personal for us, if we do not understand the depth of God's passion for us on a familiar, individual level, we will never build true desire for Him, and our prayers will become stale.
So, when you pray as Jesus taught, let His first word, "our/my," resonate deep into your spirit. Let it speak volumes about your personal, one-to-one connection with your loving Creator.
Don't be afraid to take God personally, because that is how He takes you.
by John Paul Jackson
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Olympic Story
courtesy of Tish
Some people understand life better, And they call some of these people "retarded"...At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,"This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story... Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. If you pass this on, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else's. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"
Some people understand life better, And they call some of these people "retarded"...At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,"This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story... Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course. If you pass this on, we may be able to change our hearts as well as someone else's. "A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"
Sunday, June 26, 2005
boiler rooms
v.6 The Practice of Learning and Discipleship· All Boiler Rooms are learning communities committed to mutual discipleship, study and the ongoing spiritual formation of the community as a whole as well as its individual members. Some Boiler Rooms are recognised by 24-7 as Training Centres, thus benefiting from a regular influx of trainees. · Within the core team at the heart of every Boiler Room community, we expect there to be a climate of relational accountability and mutual submission. An abbot or abbess is appointed to lead this team lovingly and with recognised authority, accountable ultimately to God and temporarily to 24-7 alongside locally appointed structures. · Whenever Boiler Rooms multiply we would expect the sending community to offer strong initial support and oversight to these new communities they have planted (see later).
Excerpts from Gary Weins for contemplation
I spoke from Psalm 50 about the Lord "shining forth" from Zion, perfect in beauty. The words there refer to God's self-disclosure, His unveiling of His own beauty and character. We then went to Hebrews 4:16 and spoke about the Bride's response of coming "boldly" into His presence because of what Jesus has done. The boldness in that passage is the same concept of self-disclosure, coming to the Lord exactly as we are because He has embraced us in our weakness. God says to us "Here I am as I am," and desires us to say to Him "Here I am as I am." It's a lovely reality, and there was tender and gracious ministry afterwards
This morning I spoke from Ephesians 3 about being filled with all the fullness of God, the stunning reality that awaits us as the Bride of Jesus. It was not a normal "preach;" rather, I simply spoke as I felt moved in the moment about the destiny that each of us longs for - to feel significant, to know power and authority, to stand shame-free and know the fullness of what God had in mind when He created each of us.
. . . Jeremiah 33 about God's invitation to uncommon grace. What will it be like when we have the fear of the Lord over His determination to do good to us? Perhaps then we will know the Spirit of prayer, and will touch those things that God calls "great and mighty things." The observation came to me in the moment that Job 26 calls the sustaining of the universe "the mere edges of His ways." If that is so, what in heaven's name would God call "great and mighty things?" Wow!!
This morning I spoke from Ephesians 3 about being filled with all the fullness of God, the stunning reality that awaits us as the Bride of Jesus. It was not a normal "preach;" rather, I simply spoke as I felt moved in the moment about the destiny that each of us longs for - to feel significant, to know power and authority, to stand shame-free and know the fullness of what God had in mind when He created each of us.
. . . Jeremiah 33 about God's invitation to uncommon grace. What will it be like when we have the fear of the Lord over His determination to do good to us? Perhaps then we will know the Spirit of prayer, and will touch those things that God calls "great and mighty things." The observation came to me in the moment that Job 26 calls the sustaining of the universe "the mere edges of His ways." If that is so, what in heaven's name would God call "great and mighty things?" Wow!!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
IHOP Indianapolis' Value Statement
I. INTERCESSIONa. Night and day prayer is a literal reality taught in scripture and it is a prerequisite for full scale revival. This is based upon the worship patterns of the Tabernacle of David, Jewish worship under Ezra and Nehemiah, worship around the throne of God (Rev 4), the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Lk 18), and the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6). b. We value solitude and quiet contemplation with Christ. It is the foundation of healthy community We believe in gazing upon the beauty of the Lord through nature (Ps 19), through the written word of God, and through quiet communion with the Holy Spirit within (II Cor 3:17, Eph 3:16). Solid and vibrant relationships with others are dependant upon a healthy and vibrant personal communion with Christ.c. The Bible prayers are our model for prayer Prayer is agreement with God. We know we are in agreement with Him when we are praying the prayers He wrote. The whole body of Christ can unify around the Bible prayers.d. Worship and prayer are two currents within one flow of the Fathers heart In heaven, the prayers of the saints are mingled with the music of God and the songs of the saints (Rev 4 & 5). In the heavenly model, the elders have a harp worship and a bowl prayer. Jesus prayed that the kingdom would come to earth as it is in heaven (Jn 17).II. HOLINESSa. First commandment first - We believe the first commandment, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, must have first priority in our hearts, affecting how we spend our time and our money. b. Friendship with Jesus - the one necessary thing. We believe the inward satisfaction of a vibrant and intimate relationship with Christ is the fountain from which fruitful and lasting ministry spring forth.c. Lovers outwork workers - Without the flames of Divine romance awakening and fascinating our hearts, the work of ministry will burn us out. d. Superior Pleasures - The pleasures of sin can only be resisted when the greater pleasure of Gods love is satisfying the heart (Psalm 37). Our goal must be to make God our delight, He will complete the work of bringing forth our righteousness. - "Sin is what we do when our hearts arent satisfied in God" John Pipere. Our Beauty to God - In our immaturity, weakness and sin, we are lovely to God and he delights in us. Immaturity is different than rebellion. Immaturity says yes to God but struggles in carrying out the yes. God delights and enjoys the immature believer who has a willing spirit but weak flesh.f. Authenticity We can only export or reproduce what we are. We can only give away what we own. We must be sure that the things we are trying to reproduce are the things we have become. Our stated values must be our actual values. g. Unity of Believers - We can only see a complete picture of Gods love with all the saints Full revelation and full blessing will only occur in the context of full unity under the banner of Jesus. (Eph 3:18, Ps 133).III. OFFERINGS TO THE POORa. Simple lifestyles - We believe in living materially modest and simple lifestyles, and that everything over and above what we truly need is to be radically given to the poor and for the advancement of the gospel in the earthb. We embrace a fasted lifestyle - We believe that the routine forsaking of fleshly pleasures positions us to receive all that God freely and joyfully offers us, and it frees up more resource to give to the poor and to missions.IV. PROPHETICa. Divine strategy for ministry to people flows out of a lifestyle of ministry to the Lord - David entered the tabernacle as a worshipping priest. Inside, surrounded by musicians, songwriters, and singers ministering to the Lord day and night, David received divine revelation and instruction. He then went out from the tabernacle as a King, and with that divine information, defeated all the enemies of the Lord. b. The great commission will be accomplished through the Great Commandment - We will be only partially effective in evangelism and discipleship until we are consumed with love and adoration for our God.c. The Fullness of God. We will persistently contend for the fullness of God in our midst and in our city.
God's Jealous Love -SJ HILL
Over the years, many people—Christian and non—have stumbled over God’s anger and wrath. His judgments have been both misunderstood and maligned. What so many have failed to comprehend is the fact that the Lord has always burned with pure passion for the undivided love and devotion of His people. As the Hero and Husband in the love story called the Bible, the Lord has always been jealous for the affections of His bride. Although the Bible is full of references regarding the Lord’s attributes, such as love, mercy and kindness, it’s really eye-opening to discover how much it also has to say about His jealousy:
• “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)• “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24) • “They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.” (Psalm 78:58)But exactly what does the Bible mean when it speaks of God’s jealousy? How can He be the epitome of love and be jealous at the same time? To say that the Lord is jealous most certainly does not mean He is suspicious because of some insecurity on His part. Ungodly jealousy is the byproduct of wanting to control and possess what does not belong to us. It is always demanding and cares very little about the alleged object of its love. In contrast, holy jealousy is at the very core of who God is. Within the depths of His being burns an inextinguishable fire of love called jealousy. His jealousy is a blazing passion to protect a love relationship that is eternally precious to Him and to defend it when it is broken. The severity of God’s jealous anger is in direct proportion to the depths of His love for those who belong to Him. His anger is never irrational and unpredictable. God’s love for Israel was the source of His controllable anger and wrath. It was because He infinitely cared for His bride that He burned with holy anger against her. This is passionately portrayed through the language of Jeremiah: “I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made” (Jeremiah 1:16). God’s anger and mercy are not opposites of each other; in fact, they are actually related. This is why the prophet Habakkuk prayed: “In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). It is inconceivable that the Lord’s love would ever end. This is why the psalmist asked: “Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” (Psalm 77:9). The message of God’s anger included a call to His adulterous wife to return to Him and be saved. He promised her that if she changed her behavior, His anger would subside. The call of anger was actually a call to cancel anger. It was not an expression of irrational behavior but a deliberate response on God’s part to deal with what was evil. To understand God’s anger is to understand His care. In Scripture, God’s anger is always described as something temporary rather than something that lasts indefinitely. The psalmist David contrasted the difference between the Lord’s anger and His enduring love: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). This Scripture vividly demonstrates that anger is not an emotion in which God delights. His anger, instead, is a tragic necessity. It was compassion that transcended the most intense, holy anger; it was a love that remained steadfast in the face of human sin and weakness. And this is the splendor of God’s love and concern that was revealed through the prophets. The greatest example of God’s unfailing love, despite human sin, was His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus epitomized the jealous love of God because of His sacrificial love and devotion for His people. In Matthew 10:37, He made a statement that clearly illustrated His jealous passion for His bride: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus could just as easily have said, “I don’t mind you loving your father and mother or your son and daughter. In fact, I insist on it. But you can’t love them more than Me. You can’t love anyone or anything more than Me. I must be first place in your affections!” Jesus is emphatically telling us that He will not tolerate any rivals who try to steal our affections. The fire of His love will consume everything that tries to threaten our relationship with Him. This is why it is imperative we understand that “conviction” is really a manifestation of His burning jealousy for us, as He continually warns us of things that would seduce our hearts away from Him and destroy our lives. The Lord longs for our love and loyalty to such a degree that He will stop at nothing to keep us for Himself! May we all continue to grow in our understanding of just how spirited the Lord’s jealous love is for us. Let us renew our minds and free ourselves from attempting to serve God out of fear of punishment, and let us learn to live a life of obedience in response to His incredible love. S.J. Hill is a speaker and the author of Enjoying God and Burning Desire, available from Relevant Books.
• “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exodus 34:14)• “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24) • “They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.” (Psalm 78:58)But exactly what does the Bible mean when it speaks of God’s jealousy? How can He be the epitome of love and be jealous at the same time? To say that the Lord is jealous most certainly does not mean He is suspicious because of some insecurity on His part. Ungodly jealousy is the byproduct of wanting to control and possess what does not belong to us. It is always demanding and cares very little about the alleged object of its love. In contrast, holy jealousy is at the very core of who God is. Within the depths of His being burns an inextinguishable fire of love called jealousy. His jealousy is a blazing passion to protect a love relationship that is eternally precious to Him and to defend it when it is broken. The severity of God’s jealous anger is in direct proportion to the depths of His love for those who belong to Him. His anger is never irrational and unpredictable. God’s love for Israel was the source of His controllable anger and wrath. It was because He infinitely cared for His bride that He burned with holy anger against her. This is passionately portrayed through the language of Jeremiah: “I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made” (Jeremiah 1:16). God’s anger and mercy are not opposites of each other; in fact, they are actually related. This is why the prophet Habakkuk prayed: “In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). It is inconceivable that the Lord’s love would ever end. This is why the psalmist asked: “Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” (Psalm 77:9). The message of God’s anger included a call to His adulterous wife to return to Him and be saved. He promised her that if she changed her behavior, His anger would subside. The call of anger was actually a call to cancel anger. It was not an expression of irrational behavior but a deliberate response on God’s part to deal with what was evil. To understand God’s anger is to understand His care. In Scripture, God’s anger is always described as something temporary rather than something that lasts indefinitely. The psalmist David contrasted the difference between the Lord’s anger and His enduring love: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). This Scripture vividly demonstrates that anger is not an emotion in which God delights. His anger, instead, is a tragic necessity. It was compassion that transcended the most intense, holy anger; it was a love that remained steadfast in the face of human sin and weakness. And this is the splendor of God’s love and concern that was revealed through the prophets. The greatest example of God’s unfailing love, despite human sin, was His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus epitomized the jealous love of God because of His sacrificial love and devotion for His people. In Matthew 10:37, He made a statement that clearly illustrated His jealous passion for His bride: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Jesus could just as easily have said, “I don’t mind you loving your father and mother or your son and daughter. In fact, I insist on it. But you can’t love them more than Me. You can’t love anyone or anything more than Me. I must be first place in your affections!” Jesus is emphatically telling us that He will not tolerate any rivals who try to steal our affections. The fire of His love will consume everything that tries to threaten our relationship with Him. This is why it is imperative we understand that “conviction” is really a manifestation of His burning jealousy for us, as He continually warns us of things that would seduce our hearts away from Him and destroy our lives. The Lord longs for our love and loyalty to such a degree that He will stop at nothing to keep us for Himself! May we all continue to grow in our understanding of just how spirited the Lord’s jealous love is for us. Let us renew our minds and free ourselves from attempting to serve God out of fear of punishment, and let us learn to live a life of obedience in response to His incredible love. S.J. Hill is a speaker and the author of Enjoying God and Burning Desire, available from Relevant Books.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Love Dream
I had a dream a few weeks ago that left a deep impression on me regarding a move of God in/on the Church. In short, "Love" invaded the Church. In the dream, I was dressed in white (as was everyone else) and lying down on the left, front pew of an old wooden church, talking with my sister. We were doing something that represented old, worldly comforts. I was a little bored. I looked around and realized that although the Church was gently illuminated (like candles in a dark room), the light came from each of the people in the building. There was a man behind me (second pew)that was, in reality, my Christianity Professor in College. He was illumined as well and covered lavishly in soft garments, but he had a stoic face - not happy, nor un-happy mmm . . . maybe slightly sad. I knew that Harry (his name) was jaded by the his experiences in life - particularly his experiences with the Church. Suddenly a Knight with beautiful flowing gold hair rode into the Church, up the aisle, circled behind the preacher and stopped- facing the congregation just to the left of the preacher. He was full of light and I immediately loved Him. He was "Love". I turned to Harry and said, "He is my gift to you Harry." The preacher's voice became audible and I realized that it was Charles Spurgeon (an 18th Century Preacher) speaking about "Love". I looked at Harry and knew that "Love" was being restored to the forefront for Him, myself, and the Church. "Love" captured my attention and I was no longer interested in old, worldly comforts. Suddenly a strong wind began to circle the Church and shake it violently. I spoke to my sister and said "We need to get to the lowest point possible." We ran down the stairs, out to a tunnel near the Church and got very low. I didn't want to go too far into the tunnel, but we did stay low and waited out the storm. The storm passed. When we peeked up through a rabbit hole, the sun was shining, the sky was sweetly blue and the grass was a wonderful green. The "mighty" wind had shaken the boards on the church off in some places, but the Church itself was intact and the people had not left, despite the storm. When I woke up I understood enough about the dream to know that "if we have not love . . ." applied and it was in God's heart to bring "Love" to the forefront. It's the balm for broken and jaded hearts. Getting to the lowest point, I think, refers to humility. I wonder, if "Love" is actually the hallmark of true revival and the hoped for move of God.
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