Prepared To Die versus Prepared To Live?

John 14:1 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
A family member of mine is in dire straits because of a freak accident. I should interject, within the Body of Jesus Christ, is there such an animal as a freak accident? I think we all know better, but we don’t live out our daily lives like we know better. In fact, we usually live out our lives quite willing to accommodate freak accidents, and I think that kind of response is based more on doubt than belief. (I can just imagine God turning to Jesus as the freak accident happened, wringing His hands and saying in consternation, “I never saw this one coming, what on earth are we going to do?”). Silly, isn’t it? And yet, that’s truly the way we act when tragic things happen to us or those we know. It’s doubt and it’s unbelief.
Consequently, we usually find it incumbent to prepare ourselves and our loved ones for the worst. Questions: Who does this serve if not ourselves, and what is the compulsion based on if not doubt and unbelief. Another question: Does preparing ourselves for the worst ever have any positive effect on the victim? Ever?
And so, my key question is this: If we go to church and say we believe the scripture quoted above, don’t our well-intentioned death preparations testify that we are hypocrites? If we indeed were not hypocrites, wouldn’t we find it more natural to prepare for the best? I’m in my sixth decade and I’ve never know this to happen even one time! Let’s face it, whether we prepare for the worst or the best, both are faith-responses.
So what if we do prepare for the best and the worst happens? My response to that is this: “So what?” Isn’t it a lot like being afraid to love because then you might risk getting hurt? Is becoming unloving and emotionally distant really living? Of course not, it is rather the routine response of cowards. So do you want to be a church-based hypocrite and a coward? Do you want your kids to see that example? They may not always add things up in your words, but they know the truth when they hear it – and they know cowardice when they see it.
Now I know some might read this piece and say with conviction, “How dare you say these things when you are not in the front lines (like me)?” Perhaps they should reckon this: we all live on planet earth, the Dark Planet, probably alone in the universe in concentrated rebellion against God, and as such – sooner or later we all get our turn in the front line – like it or not. And if Jesus doesn’t intervene, no one gets out of here alive.
Like every person I’ve ever known or known about, I don’t know why some are not healed; wish I did, and maybe I will someday…but until then, I don’t think Jesus died so I could routinely prepare myself for the worst. He came to give us Life, and I can’t find any life in preparing for the worst, in fact, I postulate that to some degree, it actually empowers the spirit of death.
All of our decisions empower something and someone in the spiritual realm, and I’d rather be prepared for life with Jesus, than preparing for the worst without Him. And when I’m disappointed, Jesus is still better company than the death merchants.
John
My choice – you should make your own.

Storm Anchor

Ref: Psalm 68:20 – God is to us a God of deliverances; and to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death. [NASB]
In the old sailing vessels, “storm anchors” were pitched into the storm from the bow (front) of the boats, and as they dragged the bottom, served to turn the boat into line with the waves, rather than crosswise, which would swamp the boat. In this way, the front of the boat would continually face the storm. Do you see the spiritual application?
God is forever the Commander AND Chief of his army. He sets forth the circumstances calling for battle and He administers the order of battle. He appoints who He wills to the front lines, and delegates His authority to the humans He chooses, and His choices are based upon the hearts of the troops involved. One of the most important positions within God’s ranks of soldiers is called The Storm Anchor.
The Storm Anchor is a temporary, battle-by-battle administrative rank and comes complete with God’s delegated authority and His anointing. That person is placed in the front-most front line of the fight, and probably will not have any aspirations of leadership, nevertheless, it is at God’s direction and appointment. I had the great honor of speaking with one this morning.
During my brief telephone conversation with this person, God told me in my spirit that this person was His delegated Storm Anchor in the life or death fight we talked about. When I told this person what God had told me, she broke down momentarily, then she firmed up to the appointment. She told me she felt too immature in Christ and said she wasn’t strong enough. I told her that’s probably why God chose her; He doesn’t look upon our strength, He looks upon our hearts.
It seems that every “event” comes with it’s own mix of personalities, and the Storm Anchor needs discernment, for every grouping comes complete with it’s own Judas. He’ll be the one who “assumes” a position of authority, but it’s not authority from God. This person doesn’t need to hear from God today, because he thinks he already knows what He would say. Blinded by his own arrogance, this Judas holds as great a potential for disaster by his demeanor as the agent of satan that perpetrated the battle.
The Storm Anchor must depend on Almighty God 100%, 100% of the time. Life or death resides in her words, for as she depends on God, they will be His words. It is a heavy, and consequently a highly honorable position. She administers God’s directions and vocalizes His directions, and this certainly includes being a bastion of God’s strength to those who falter and get wounded. And at the end of the fight, be it won or lost, she alone is responsible to taking the helm and focusing the attention of the troops on praising God – no matter what. For one thing is certain:
No matter how violent the storm, no matter the outcome, God is still solidly on His throne, and He is still worthy of praise.
As God said, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” And I might add, as we submit our weakness to His strength, we become strong in Him.
John

Anchors

Ref: John 17:14-16

For the last two months I’ve been helping a friend take up and re-lay the sub-floors in some motel rooms. It’s physically challenging for this couch potato, but it’s good work. The plywood flooring was originally nailed into place, then later, decking screws were added to help stop the floors from squeaking and bothering the borders in the rooms below. So as we pry up the old plywood, we have nails and screws to contend with, and we’ve gotten pretty good at “feeling” whether we need to pry up against nails or go after a hidden screw or two, for they feel very different.
It’s almost impossible to pry the wood up against screws because of the way they are anchored. This morning I was thinking about how different the nails and screws “feel” as we fight against them, and I felt there was a lesson brewing.
Like the hidden screws in the flooring, I sometimes “feel” unseen anchors in my soul, anchors that anchor me into this world and this world system. Oh I pray that Jesus returns soon, and I know intellectually that I’m a citizen of God’s Kingdom rather than earth, but the hidden anchors hold secretly fast, way down inside of me. I can feel them with my spirit. And like the flooring job, I can succeed in pulling out nails, but the screws are insidious, and as I feel their opposition, several questions arise.
The first question is a “Why?” question. Why do I stay anchored in? Is it because I’m afraid of the un-experienced, or do I secretly love this world? The second question is, what can be done about it? How do I get un-anchored? And I know somehow that there is one answer to both questions: I can only break my old anchors by establishing new ones in Jesus Christ.
I’m continually astonished at how helpless I am in my own strength. I can use my will to turn to Christ, and re-turn to Him, but after that, only He has the strength I must have. I can will my world to be turned upside down, but only Jesus, with the power of His Holy Spirit, can actually do it for me. And while I’m tempted to be frustrated, the frustration itself is a testimony that I’m trying too hard to do it myself.
After all is said and done, all I really need is more of Jesus Christ, and I need to continually re-trust Him to be able to accomplish that which He’s begun. As I get more mature in Christ I have better but fewer answers. In fact, I’m working my way down to only One.
On the cross, Jesus bought me – all of me, anchors and all. Since He chose me, I have to reckon He knew what He was purchasing. And He of all people, would have ‘counted the cost’.
Here at the end of this essay, I’m wondering why I wrote it. I look it over and think, “No one will ever like this; it’s too simple and unnecessary.”
But perhaps I’ve made you wonder if you have anchors in your soul….. Can you “feel” them?

John

Expectations

I suppose I’m getting contemplative as 2011 comes to a close. Describing my thoughts is like giving detailed descriptions of spaghetti; so many strands of thought…. I think it’s fair to say that none of us has ever seen a year like 2011, and it’s even more sobering to realize that 2011 is only gestation for 2012! Not all the news has been good, in fact most has been devastating and bodes terminally for the good old USA – but in Jesus Christ it has all been GLORIOUS! (No wonder the heathen call us crazy!!). And it’s going to get better!! Imagine that!
One of the very best things about being a Christian is the opportunity to see the world through God’s eyes, and from His vantage point. Oh, I guess we could very likely see the fabric of our “world” here in America fall apart during the coming year, and I suppose there could be increased violence to a scale we’ve hitherto been insulated against, for the roots of our tree have already been cut. But sadly, while the branches begin to wither, we seem to be caught up in a “business as usual” attitude. And I have to declare with gusto: “Were it not for Jesus, I’d be wringing my hands with the best of them. But with Jesus, I’m feeling increasingly secure and at peace.” Do you feel that way too? It’s your birthright as a Family member.
One of the best qualities of Jesus is that He never disappoints. The old truism: “Familiarity breeds contempt” simply doesn’t apply to Him, and the more I get to really know Him, the more I’m able to love Him more. With other people we’re sometimes afraid (root = FEAR) to really be intimate because we know that somewhere down the road we’ll have to grapple with disappointment, and so will they, but it doesn’t happen that way with Jesus. His personality is infinitely more fascinating and satisfying with every passing day. He stands alone in that category – and with no competition.
Jesus is what He is; He doesn’t change – ever, for there’s simply no need for it. While He brings about change, and seems to be the author of it, He, Himself never changes. If He loves you today, He’ll love you the same tomorrow. He’s not going to like you more or less as the years go by. And don’t wait for Him to apologize – He will never need to do that. He’s perfect and completely complete in His personality and in all His ways. While He may seem different as we mature in our knowledge of Him, in actuality we are being changed – not Him.
So with 2012 coming upon this United (Sodom) of America we live in, it’s good to know He can be completely trusted and relied upon – forever (and that’s a long time!). All we have to do is learn how to live sold-out lives to Him. We can’t go fishing with the Master if our boats are anchored in this world. And frankly, that’s a full time job for me. You too?
So come on 2012! I have complete confidence that great judgments will happen to us as God attempts in His mercy to turn us from our evil path as a nation, for we are a desperately sinful and arrogant nation. And I have no doubt that we will be brought to our knees one way or another, as we are forced to choose who we will worship.
When you get right down to it, so very little we’re concerned about matters at all. There is only one thing that really matters. It’s so simple; almost offensively simple to some:
Jesus Christ died for those of us who want to really live. For those who really want to die, His death was in vain.
In 2012, please choose LIFE.

John

Inner Vault

Ref: Hebrews 11:1-6 (with) Romans 10:17
John 16:13-15 (with) Deuteronomy 29:29

I was listening to a television preacher this morning over breakfast. I’ve started doing that as a substitution for Fox News. Not a bad exchange; at least I can say I do not miss Fox News. The preacher was sermonizing about the topic of Faith. I should have known that with a topic like Faith, he was going to derail at some point, and sure enough, he did.
I really do enjoy this particular preacher, and I’m not saying he purposely misled his audience; I think he was sincerely giving them all he understood, but I believe he was sincerely in error. By the way, it should be stated that sincerity doesn’t grant license. In this sense, Adolf Hitler was certainly sincere – but sincerely wrong.
I was okay with the message this morning until the preacher began to acquire his familiar rut concerning “claiming faith”. One of the issues I have with this guy is how he uses and teaches the Bible as a “system”. He loves to talk about the “law of faith” and how to work it as a system. This kind of verbiage hits me crosswise every time. This morning he even said that Faith was synonymous with the Word of God. Synonymous! I’m wondering, does one have to go to a real seminary to think this is logical? And considering my lack of formal education in spiritual matters, it’s embarrassing for me to even know this guy’s off base. No, I’m not angry with him, but it is frustrating.
In Hebrews 11:1-6 we can read about what Faith is. In verse 1 we are clearly told Faith is 1) a substance of things hoped for, and 2) evidence of things not seen [NKJV]. The New American Standard translation changes these words to assurance and conviction respectively. Then in Romans 10:17, it says ‘So faith comes from hearing and hearing (comes) by the word **(Greek: “Rhema”) of Christ.’
As we digest these scriptures let’s consider honestly – do those folks in the ‘claim it’ camp really have victory? Do they get their lives blessed by “working” this system? Really? Then where are they?? And shouldn’t we ask if us getting blessed is the overall purpose of Christ? Not that He doesn’t want to bless us, but is that what all this is about? Really?? Is that all there is to life on this planet? Let’s just cut to the (television) point = “Just be blessed and send me money.” There now, isn’t that easier to understand, and more honest at the same time?
Let’s climb into the inner vault of God’s riches….Faith comes from us being enabled to hear the words of Christ with the ears of our hearts. As we hear His word **(Greek: “Rhema”) spoken directly to us as individuals, Faith springs up, is born (comes to life) in our hearts, and what we have hoped for becomes a present reality in our lives as it is given to us by God (Dt. 29:29).
An example: many times I have been afflicted and have prayed for relief or healing. At some point in my search for God’s heart, (as opposed to pulling out a “Promise Book”), He has spoken directly to me, and it is at that time I knew I had been healed. It was a done-deal, and I could rejoice with heartfelt gratitude – even though the physical manifestations had not happened yet! There is a proper place for “claim it”, and that place is right after we’ve heard a (personal) word to us from God, and it is then that we can claim possession of that particular Word. God’s spoken word has always resulted in an assurance, and this assurance produces substance.
By the way, I don’t think it’s a righteous motive to seek God so we can get Him to spring loose of stuff for us. And if it’s not a righteous motive, it’s not from God in the first place. God sent Jesus so we could spend eternity with Him – starting right now.

** [“Rhema”; Strong’s Concordance #G4487 and G4483]

John

Light From A Shadow

There are two types of shadows; one casts darkness and the other casts the brightness of revelation. Noah’s ark, in Genesis 6:14, is a shadow of the second kind, for it casts the bright revelation of God’s Salvation, Jesus Christ.
To the non-revelatory, Noah’s ark is just about a boat, and in Genesis 6 and 7 there is the neat little story of this boat and it’s maker, Noah. It would sound like grand fiction, except for the fact that Jesus believed it to have been real history. And of course, there is the constantly disputed geological record all around us, on casual display for all to see. The facts remain constant, while the interpretations vary according to worldviews.
Noah’s ark was a “shadow” of a later reality. The boat itself, was a hiding place from worldwide judgment, built by direct revelation from God which was given to the only receptive human of his day. We have the bare bones of the construction story, but it is revealed that Noah built the boat in the midst of at least probable verbal persecution from everyone else in his society.
Until Noah’s ark was built, it had apparently never really rained, for there was no need of it in the pre-diluvian world. There’s some amount of conjecture in this statement, but today it rains, and we live after the collapse of the atmospheric protective water canopy that enclosed the earth before the Flood. So it’s likely it didn’t rain then like it does now, if at all.
Following his long construction project, possibly lasting one hundred years, Noah was told to get inside the ark. By this time, the ark was stuffed with all the pairs of animals God chose to preserve. They came to the ark; Noah didn’t trap them; he didn’t have time to do so – they came by God’s choice and by God’s command. (It would seem obvious that God loves animals, and has only entrusted them to us).
In Genesis 7:15 and 16, we read how the animals that entered the ark, indeed, all the occupants of the ark, were male and female (not male with male or female with female). Aren’t we fortunate Noah took aboard his wife, instead of a male significant other? God’s rules; not mine.
It is significant that Noah finished the construction in time to benefit from it. God made sure it would happen that way, for He had already promised His salvation to Noah and his family. It is also significant that Noah didn’t close the door to the ark – God did, indeed, the beginning of God’s judgment was not the rain, but the sealing of those inside the ark safely away from those outside of it. And with God closing the door, Noah couldn’t take credit for the salvation that followed.
The entire story of Noah and his ark is a technicolor preview of the true Ark of God – Jesus Christ. Those who have been chosen for the Ark of God today will undergo various forms of persecution from those who have rejected God’s Ark. And only when God judges that the Ark is full will He, and He alone, close the door. Then judgment will rain on the earth, and it won’t be a forty day drizzle, but like the first judgment, it will be cataclysmic and worldwide. To those outside, it will be unavoidable and decisive.
Jesus Christ is the Ark. He Himself is the true Ark foreshadowed in Noah’s boat. Like Noah’s ark, Jesus is the only way to Salvation. There are no other ways; God has seen to that. This is a divine parallel to our statement, “His Way or the highway”.
And while Jesus is now equally available to all, like Noah’s day, not all will get in. Many, maybe most, will be derisive until God closes the door – then for them, the party will be over.

For those inside the Ark, the party will have just begun.

John

The Clocks of Heaven

God is a God of order. Anyone able and willing to keep an up-to-the-minute record of the numbers of hairs on our heads simply does not acquiesce to randomness. This doesn’t mean that God has no spontaneity, but rather that His kind of spontaneity contains no randomness like “good luck” or “coincidence”. That’s how we think; not Him.
Many of us think that eternity in heaven will be “timeless”, but I disagree; I believe there will be “time” in heaven, only time without even a hint of decay in any form. And while we may spent millions of years in heaven, they won’t result in us being millions of years old.
Time, in a pure sense, is chronological. You can’t have tomorrow without having a definition of today. Even the term, “forever” denotes some kind of chronology. It would be meaningless without it. And while God is justly credited with being able to see the end from the beginning, neither term would make sense without chronology, and without chronology, the statement itself would be nonsense, and as such, unrelated to truth.
All of this is evident in the Genesis record of creation; it happened before the Fall, and it happened in six days. It was time without decay; time without death. While Adam was created to spend time on the new planet, he was not created to age while he did so. It was quite a Fall!
So concerning the clocks in heaven – while they may have hands, those hands will likely cast no shadows.

John

God of Covenants

It is critical that God’s chosen children see the world through His eyes. Failing this, we are prone to make ourselves gods of the worlds we create, and our created worlds are subject to our individual world-views. And so, my statement of premise: In God’s eyes, all relationships are defined by covenants.
Before we believed, and by default, our covenants were with the dark lord of this world, but when we first believed in Jesus Christ, we made a covenant with Him – as least, that’s what should have happened. After making our individual covenants with God through Jesus Christ, we embarked upon a journey of breaking our old covenants with the lord of darkness – hopefully. That would amply explain in simple terms why the road became bumpy in our Christian walks.
But unfortunately, many so-called Christians only made “conditional” covenants with God, and conditional covenants are only composed of conditional commitments. Please understand, we cannot fully enter into God’s provisions on the basis of conditional covenants, the terms of which we dictate to God. We either sell out to Him completely, or we don’t, and while God is merciful to the truly ignorant, He will show Himself increasingly unmerciful to the willful, for their chosen course is away from Him. Someone once asked, “If God seems far away, who moved?”
Like cowboys riding fences, it is imperative that we periodically review our covenant with God, prepared to renew any portions that have been torn down or damaged. And by the way, it works the same way in marriage. I’m not suggesting we try to find ways to feel guilty, but instead, that we look for ways to maintain our commitments. In my opinion, many Christians treat God like they treat their wives: “I told her I loved her when we got married….”, is NOT “maintenance”. It’s not complicated, if you love God, tell Him so, and tell Him often.
A covenant without commitment is not a covenant, instead it’s merely an “agreement”, and subject to both parties remaining in agreement. Either can break the agreement at will, and merely say, “I’m sorry”. No foul. On the other hand, only covenants require essential commitment. God hates divorce because He is a God of covenant, and He views marriage as a covenant relationship. As He is committed to us, He expects us to remain committed to Him. You can take this to the bank: God blesses covenant relationships He sanctions – He does not require Himself to bless agreements. Agreements are bound by fear; covenants by trust.
Therefore, if you find yourself outside of covenant with God or your spouse, consider the sand you stand on, for sooner or later it will shift, and you’ll be helpless to hold it fast. Get into covenant with God and man, and unlike Lot’s wife, don’t look back.
You don’t have to like what I wrote today; you don’t even have to agree with it, but one thing’s certain: Some day He will ask, and you can never say you weren’t told.

John

Works of God

‘Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”’
[John 6:28-29 NASB]

When I read the above verse it is my natural inclination to overlook the significance of the word believe, and the thought occurs to me, “Well, is that all I have to do?” Doesn’t sound so very grand! Just believe….. We believe in a lot of things. I believe that Jesus Christ existed, was crucified, rose again and rules from Heaven, but this belief doesn’t result in my salvation. In fact, just believing that Jesus is all of those things can most usually insulate us from salvation. Something is missing in just believing.
I looked up the word translated “believe” in verse 29, then I took it back to it’s root word, and the increased depth of the meaning becomes vital. Along with just simple belief in the existence of, the word also is flavored with conviction of the truth of, and trust in. A most vital distinction.
And so, I should say this: just believing Jesus existed once upon a time and was/is the Son of God DOES NOT result in our salvation. It does not cause us to be ‘born again’. Many of our churches are filled with well-intentioned fools who think they are “saved” because they don’t actively deny the claims of Jesus Christ, and this is sadly often reinforced by pastors who are perhaps better educated, but just as lost themselves.
God sent Jesus so we could be released from our foolishness. He did NOT send Jesus so He could bless our plans and our ways. He did NOT send Jesus so we could rule our own lives with His blessing. He DID send Jesus so we would look upon Him and realize He was the King, and not we ourselves. If we believe in Jesus in such a way so as to consider Him our Lord AND Master, we begin to live within the Salvation He died to provide.
If Jesus Christ is just an historical fact of our existence, and not Lord and Master of our lives, we are living in deception, and we are cheating Him of His due, and being cheated of the life found only in Him. Without allowing His mastery of our daily lives in real time and space, we are in the vast company of the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Look it up….it’s really chilling!
The word believe in verse 29 is a verb, not a noun, and it should be noted at this time, a few days before the celebration we call Christmas, that He is not now a baby in a manger; rather He is The Mighty King, fearful in His appearance, and He’s coming back soon – but only for His own.
Sadly, and after it happens, I predict many churches in this country will remain unaffected.

Business as usual.

John

Chaos of Imprecision

Ref: Hebrews 12:23; 1 Timothy 3:15
In North America, and probably in most parts of the world, we humans are wallowing in a chaos of imprecision, and our day-to-day verbiage proves my point. And behind all our fuzzy rhetoric is a chaos of imprecise thinking.
Professional communicators of all stripes seem to be vying for the point of the spear of imprecision, as they specialize in using terms and phraseologies that seem to mean something, but in fact, convey no substance. Instead, the terms and phrases used, communicate emotives, and beg for emotional responses in the listeners, rather than substantive responses. In short, we are being dumbed down, facilitated by those who should know better.
A principle is at work here: it’s easier to control the masses through the manipulation of their emotions than through the use of facts, and it now seems to be true, ‘we can’t handle the truth.’ Conceived by God to represent the Light of the world, the modern church seems to be caught in this morass of imprecision, and it’s killing the very roots of the organizations.
When I read the New Testament, I see numerous references to the “church”, but what I don’t see are references to the plethora of institutions, in fact businesses, that carry that title today. I realize it would be unrealistic to pull all the titles down at this juncture, but we very much need to know in our hearts that Jesus Christ only created and commissioned ONE church. This one church is mentioned in Hebrews 12:23, and fleshed out in 1st Timothy 3:15, and regardless of where we attend church or even if we attend, we are either in His Church by birthright, or we are not in His Church at all.
Within The Church, we are all called to fulfill our God-given niches, as ordained and authorized by the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. Within this context, and only within this context, we are given His delegated authority to accurately and effectively represent Jesus to the world at large.
Without this context, we are at best, ‘sons of Sceva’, and a loose-knit, pitiful bunch of religious, well-meaning people, hoping somehow by our own efforts to make a difference to the world. And the world keeps turning whether we acknowledge this truth or find a way to dodge it.
Foundational to the ‘Church of the firstborn’ is the concept of dependency. We are to be totally (that’s: TOTALLY), dependent on the God of the Bible – all the time, everyday, and interdependent upon each other in the Church, for the Church is nothing less than the blood-bought Family of God. If you are not blood-bought, you are not in the Family, and are illegitimate, regardless of your institutional attendance. The Bible calls you “tares” = weeds, and ultimately you will be uprooted and burned. Is that what you want for yourself?
In a general sense I will say this: if we supplant His one Church with our individual denominations, we will never fulfill His will for His Church. If we confuse the definitions of “church” and “Church”, through fuzzy, imprecise thinking, we gamble with His will and our eternal destinies, and no post-graduate seminary degrees will make any difference.
The Church of God was created to depend on Him and on each other as Family. As Noah and only his closest family were saved in the ark, so too will God’s Family be saved. But to be saved from what is coming, God’s Family will have to be inside His Ark. There is protection nowhere else. And if we continue to contrive the current denominational plethora, we will stand an increasing chance of being swept away.
Leaders, take note: you will be judged by the God of the Bible on how, and where you led your entrusted flock. If you led them into “Presbyterianism” or some other titled religion, instead of into the heart of God, the Church of the (F)irstborn, you will need advanced swimming lessons and summer clothing – it will be deep and hot where you are headed.
John
Take heed while you still can.