Olu Jegede Blog

Spiritual maturity

2011-10-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I read about contending for spiritual maturity in others. Paul speaks about this in the last verse of Colossians 1. As I cross referenced this verse in other translations, a picture of someone agonizingly, working tirelessly, enthused by divine passion comes to mind. These word pictures evidently show that Paul entirely spent himself on these disciples. It seems that he was committed to the end. The end of course was their full maturity in Christ as per Colossians 1:28a.

As I pondered on this I began to ask myself do I have this attitude? Am I contending with agony for my brothers and sisters, particularly those who are in leadership over others? In practical terms, do I pray for them with all my heart? And if so, is it continually? After all, Paul says to pray without ceasing. Or am I casual, callous, apathetic or complacent about the way that I seek God for them.

Personally, I believe I am somewhere in between. Recently I spent a few days agonizing over a believer, in that regard I would be like Paul. Many other times though I would have to admit I am casual in my prayers. Whilst still praying for people, I may be emotionally disengaged or lacking the agonizing of heart that the Spirit births. At other times I may be even callous, passing the buck off to God, after all these are his sheep any way.

Thus, this word speaks definitely to me, but I know as a fellow believer, it must to you as well. At least those of you who are mature in Christ, and desire to see growth in those you are mentoring. Can I challenge you to do what I have done? Assess your heart to see where it lies. If it needs adjustment then do just that. Simply repent and reposition your heart. Then commit a consistent time to seek God for those he has entrusted to your hands. Remember Paul worked tirelessly for many years, so it won’t happen overnight for you. But remain consistent, until the job is done. And like Paul you may present them in full maturity unto Christ.

God's cure for depression

2011-10-24T04:12:00.000-07:00

“But I trust in your unfailing love. My heart rejoices in your salvation” Ps 13:5

These were the words of the psalmist as he goes through the dark night of the soul. Reading Psalms 13, you get the idea that this person is going through a situation that is irreparable. They have cried out to God to no avail. In fact it seems God does not hear, and has completely forsaken them.

Having sought God, the psalmist is now left to his own demise. His thoughts bleak and dark become suicidal and represent the depravity of soul that persists. What is he going to do?

To make matters worse, the enemy awaits that imminent moment when his destruction his complete. Though still alive and well, as far as the author was concerned it was only a matter of time before the vultures came and picked up the pieces. Surely he was done for.

Then all of a sudden a bright light shines in the horizon. We see in verse 5, the first word “But” (NIV) that changes everything. A moment earlier he was destined to the tombs, now he is about to experience unprecedented joy. The only difference now is a resounding “but”. This one word can connect your past failures with future successes. It could link devastation with destiny, and disappointments with promises. Somehow, God’s abiding goodness is able to pierce through the veil of shadows that surrounded our psalmist. He is reminded of God’s love. Think about that for a moment : God loves you. He loves me. His heart beats with care and concern for his beloved ones. Somehow in the mix of things, the author had forgotten. But then, all of a sudden he is reminded. Not needing to know more, and not being assured of specifics as to his deliverance. Just the simplicity of the knowledge of God’s love is enough to produce hope.

Hope leads to joy, and thus he rejoices in God’s salvation. Now he is more assured that God will save him. It is only a matter of time now. After all God does not always show how, but when he promises, we can be rest assured it will come to pass. With this in mind the psalmist begins to sing “the Lord has been good to me”

My prayer this morning is that may this be your story. Let your depression be circumvented by a clear remembrance of God’s goodness. Remember he loves you. Begin to recount the things he has said about you (particularly in his word), and I know like the psalmist your heart will be filled with joy and soon, and very soon, songs will burst forth from you, ushering you into God’s blessed deliverance.

Blazing the trail of revolution

2011-09-24T18:45:00.001-07:00

Today, I and a small army of young adults descended upon the seniors building adjacent to our church. Our mission was clear, but yet uncharted. We wanted to show the love of Christ by doing good to the elderly in this building. Yet we were not sure entirely who was home, whether the authorities would permit us to traverse the building and who would be recipient to our ministry.
In summary, our mission was successful. God used us to visit quite a few seniors. Names were obtained, prayers were said, gifts were offered and Jesus was glorified. We left with a waiting list of seniors waiting for visits, and a strong assurance that God is moving in this government housing complex of often forgotten seniors.
One event that stood out in particular was the visit that I had with a 70 year old lady who could easily have been my grandma (or my mom. Sorry mom). This lady was the 21st century embodiment of prophetess Anna in the birth narrative of Christ. She was a spiritual stalwart, who had known Christ for decades, having converted from the religion of Islam. In the short hour that we visited her, she shared with us her story about life, upbringing, family, trials, temptations and victories. Her eyes bright and shiny were lit the entire time as she shared story after story. Obviously she was a life of the party sort. In the time we were with her, both phones rang several times reminding us that we were not the only ones vying for the time of this precious saint. Her prayers touched our hearts, and made us feel as if heaven was courting the living room of this modern day saint. We did get to share a tiny bit. Explaining why we had come and that were committing to stand with her and the needy in the building. She immediately nodded and called us evangelists, acknowledging the work we were doing was highly needed.
Evangelism in the inner city often takes time and looks different from the traditional explicit curt gospel presentation. Our time spent seemed quite unproductive in western measurements. After all she was a believer, we didn’t quote much scripture and we chatted for a good part of an hour about trivial matters. Yet unbeknownst to the superficial eye we were making great strides. Incurring the trust of this spiritual stake holder in the building was tantamount to breakthroughs of magnificent proportion. She promised to share fliers of outreach events whenever we had them, and even proved she was a self made evangelist as she had brought unbelievers to receive food from our emergency food pantry a few weeks earlier.
Can you see God is moving in this place? In fact God is moving all over the earth, but especially in places where people are open to him. Often they are open because they are simple, humble, poor and desperate. Will you join the revolution that is happening right underneath your nose? Come and be a part of our community outreach that happens every other week in Jane and Finch. Bring a friend out. Visit a senior, pray for a family, interact with community youth, you just never know what God will do, but you can be sure, that you are blazing a revolutionary trail of Christ’s love to those he cares for the most, the least of these.

The hand of God

2011-09-15T04:04:00.001-07:00

Nothing must hinder the gospel. This was Paul’s disposition in Sergius Paulus presence, a Roman ruler who was open to the message of the truth. Paul’s exposition of gospel truth is hindered by a satanic persona. Bar-Jesus a Jewish sorcerer opposed Paul in the same spirit as Pharoah’s magicians with Moses. Paul reacts apparently overly, as he pronounces a curse upon Elymas aka Bar-Jesus. Ponder that for a moment. An evangelist is sharing the gospel to a bystander on the road side and turns to invoking curses open a listening heckler. Sounds absurd right?
Paul saw things quite different. Reading the text of Acts 13 we see the evil influence this Elymas had on the proconsul. Via his influence, he literally had the ruler bound, and thus disabled him from perceiving God. Just as Jesus rebuked the devil working in Peter (Matthew 16), Paul saw this as a direct confrontation between the kingdom of darkness and light. Thus he invoked the God’s heavy hand upon Bar-Jesus and brought upon temporary blindness.
Why is it that we find it difficult to convert our friends and loved ones to Christ? Could it be that there are spiritual forces hindering them from perceiving God? I believe we can learn from Paul. Maybe not typically invoking blindness upon human personas, but having spiritual discernment and sharing the same aggressive intensity in dealing with kingdom opposition.
Scripture says we wrestle not again flesh and blood, but against evil forces (Ephesians 6:12, abbreviated). Our battle is not ordinary, and thus our attitudes need to be adjusted accordingly. May God open our eyes to see that lives are at stake, and that a warfare stance must be held in averting disaster pertaining to human souls.
Next time you share the gospel, or are praying for a lost soul, ask God for spiritual perception. Maybe you will see the “Elymas” in their lives. Then boldly proclaim Jesus’ mastery over every evil force, and trust that God will bring that lost soul into his glorious light.

Today Matters!!!

2011-08-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

Hezekiah was ecstatic because he had experienced God’s miraculous power. He had lived a blessed life and was at the tail end of it all when he fell deathly ill. He pled with God for life, and it was granted him fifteen extra years. This miracle along with others such as the effortless deliverance from the Assyrian overlord, Sennacherib were signs God was with Hezekiah. Yes Hezekiah was a righteous man, yet like many righteous he was short sighted. For him, as long as clear and present danger was averted he had done his job as a king. How was he to know that four generations from hence, his progeny would be shackled into slavery, and everything he worked for would descend down a slippery slope and end in utter devastation of palace, temple, city and life.
To celebrate his health and recovery emissaries from the far West came to visit the king. Naturally proud of the attention paid to him by the king of Babylon he let his guard down. Displaying all the splendor, armory and secrets of Judah he let the king’s messengers see all that was valuable in the land. After all that was what powerful sovereigns did when adored by others, they displayed their wealth. Hezekiah was short sighted. He seemed to have forgotten that only recently the Assyrians, another powerful enemy had tried to enslave them.
Upon the departure of the Babylonians, Hezekiah was visited by the prophet who foretold the judgment that would be doled out because of his actions. His reaction was biblically uncommon. For example, David wept at Nathan’s message, the King of Nineveh bore sack-cloths and wept and Jonah’s message, yet Hezekiah the righteous king was pleased. Why was he pleased at a message of judgment? Simply because he would not be alive when God punished Judah. His exact words were “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” and scripture records “ For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” Generations later, his descendants are enslaved, exiled, murdered, raped and the land pulverized by the Babylonians. If only Hezekiah were alive then. How would he have felt? Yet he was pleased when this word was spoken generations earlier.
Today does matter. Your very actions today resounds for generations and possibly for eternity. How you treat your family members may be marked in their psyche forever. How often I have talked to children whose parent’s harsh words marred their souls at an early age. Yet often times the harshness was stemmed by similar interactions when their parents were children. On a positive note, a kind word spoken, or a good deed shown, may propel someone to come to Christ. Jesus said we would be judged for every idle and careless word spoken. Eternity does bear record of our actions today. I believe God is raising up a generation today that will live for tomorrow, because they know today matters. Even the natural world prophesies this, as it emphasizes social justice, fiscal awareness and environmental responsibility.
Live today as if it’s your last. Make every effort count. Do your best for God, others and yourself. Remember you are being observed. Let the Christ in you be seen, and your impact will be felt for generations and eternity beyond.

They are part of us

2011-07-25T06:06:00.001-07:00

Nehemiah was very privileged like many of us in the west. He lived a life of affluence, and lacked nothing. His position as cupbearer to the king was that of a high ranking status. One day, unwittingly, an encounter with some brothers from his homeland of Judah changed his life forever.
He heard reports from them of the plight of those living in Jerusalem. His people were distressed, without a walled city, and the temple was in ruins. This news made an impact on Nehemiah like it had never had before. Being an exile himself in the courts of Persia, he would have known of the status of the holy land. Yet it was different this time. He was emotionally vulnerable, and allowed himself to be affected by this latest update of the state of affairs in Jerusalem.
When I think of the plight of the poor, locally and globally, I am very aware objectively of their depravity. However so often do I carry on with life as if it’s “business as usual”. Recently in Haiti, God opened my eyes in a greater capacity to the needs of people, and I like Nehemiah experienced an awakening, and become emotionally involved in their problems.
Emotional involvement, I feel is the beginning for social transformation. When I think about Nehemiah’s sudden interest in the plight of Jerusalem, I realize it couldn’t have happened without committing emotionally. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel that emotional connection until he put himself in the place of the others. He likened them to himself, and realized that they were of the same stock, nationality, and heritage. This congruency allowed Nehemiah to feel compassion for his “brothers”.
Compassion is sympathy in action. In order for us to demonstrate God’s love to the hurting we need to see them as we are. Most won’t go to our church, but they belong to Christ. Or maybe Christianity might not be their practice, however they qualify for help because they participate in humanity. For others, maybe they don’t live in our neighborhood, but we live in the same city. While many are not even from our country but we will care because we share this world together. Whoever they are, wherever they live, whatever they do, as we strive to emotionally sympathize with our suffering family like Nehemiah, we will see them to be part of us. Then and only then will we become emotionally involved, and poised to practically show them God’s love, sharing the gospel, while healing social hurts, bringing God’s restorative justice to the least of these.

Jesus is out of this world

2011-07-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

Imagine the most unbelievable, unthinkable, incredible, outstanding event, activity or occurrence that you can conjure up with your mind. It could be an impossible feat, an unattainable goal, or a wishful thought. But instead of this just occurring in your imagination, what if it actually came to pass? What would you do? How would you act? Who would you tell?
This exactly would have been Mary and Joseph’s predicament. The messiah, king of kings, savior of the world, was to be born ….to them. As a virgin, Mary’s chances of being pregnant were nil. Joseph a devout Jew bound by God’s law would have nothing to do with an apparently illegitimate child. Yet, somehow, despite the impossibility of the virgin birth, and it’s social acceptance, Jesus was conceived and eventually born to Mary. This was the indeed the greatest miracle of all, God, divine, incarnate, born as a baby to a virgin, to save us from our sins. As grand as this event was, it should not be underestimated how significant Jesus’ earthly parents were in the process. These extraordinary young adults responded in simple but radical faith.
Faith, is a God given ability to believe in something supernatural. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and faith is representative of our willingness to receive from a loving father. When I choose to have faith in God, I decide to believe in a system diametrically opposed to what I am used to. The kingdom of God is intentionally contrary to that of carnal humanity. Or maybe it is more accurate to say the worldly system opposes God’s way by satanic design.
Thus, when Joseph in Matthew 1, decides to accept Jesus as his son, by marrying Mary, he was demonstrating faith that is otherworldly. Unknowingly he was making a statement that still resounds loudly thousands of years later - God is bigger than the human mind and will never be comprehended. Joseph demonstrated his faith in God by choosing to place his reputation, future, and destiny in His hands. He could have been mocked, shunned and even ostracized because he protected Mary, yet he ignored the natural inclination to protect his ego, and faithfully walked towards his Godly convictions. He truly believed in Jesus as God’s son, and was willing as it were to “stake his life on it”.
I am inspired by Joseph. I believe he is a hero of faith that we often don’t hear about. As Mary and Joseph were pioneers in accepting Christ, every brave new believer follows in their footsteps, when they invite Christ into their life, despite the criticisms of family and friends. Let’s face it, Christ is out of this world. He truly is. He came from another world, lived in ours, was unaccepted, and thus was crucified. He will never be popular. As you and I choose to accept Christ for the first time, or each day, by doing his will we will never be popular to the world, but we are blessed according to our father in heaven, and we are well pleasing unto him. Stop looking for worldly affection, and decide to trust God. Don’t depend on earthly means, or worldly gain, but instead trust in kingdom provision. Fix your eyes on heavenly things, and embrace the true and full Christian life that is yours in Christ.

A prayer of integrity

2011-07-13T01:51:00.000-07:00

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years………… He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. 2 Chronicles 25:1-2

I pray that as I serve my Lord that I would do it with all my heart. That on my epitaph it would simply be written here lies Olu Jegede, a disciple of Christ who followed Christ faithfully until his end.

Amaziah, and many other kings of Judah and Israel had the opposite written on their biblical epitaph. They sought God, and something in addition.
Lord let me be singleminded, whole, one…only focused on you.
Amen

Success motivation

2011-07-13T01:14:00.001-07:00

What does success look like for you? A good looking spouse, a great career, admiration from friends, and this list goes on. What would you trade for this success? Family? Health? Peace of mind? … God’s blessings? King Jehoram of Judah was granted 8 years of kingship, but he chose to pay a hefty price. Pretty much all of the above mentioned did he freely trade. In the end he was left with nothing, all alone.
8 years earlier, he became king. He had attained the highest goal imaginable to most. His lust for power was so much however that he ended up killing all his brothers in case they posed a threat to his throne. Instead of trusting God from who all blessings flow, he leans on the “arm of flesh”, and trusts in his sword. He truly felt the way of the sword would guarantee success, yet he was very wrong.
I believe all of us have a tendency to act like Jehoram. See when our thirst for love, significance, accolades, and natural benefits become a consuming passion, we find ourselves wielding an intangible, (but powerful ) sword to displace opposing forces. Sure you haven’t killed your brother, but check your heart. How have you viewed their successes, or failures? Do you wish the best for him? Did you act in love or outside of love? Scripture says that if I hate my brother in my heart, then I am guilty of murder which warranted the death sentence. Ponder this thought. By our criticism, judgment and despising of others we deal spiritually lethal blow that eventually come full circle. An unexpected relationship breakdown, a topple from the career ladder, a premature midlife crisis, and plethora of emotionally traumatic scenarios leaves us with much sorrow and regret.
Jehoram’s sins did not stop with murder, like his father Jehoshaphat, he married from Ahab’s family, binding himself to familial sin and compromise, and incurring the judgment of God. His lust for self aggrandizing blinded him to God’s voice. He was judged by God and plagued with a disease of hemorrhaging bowels, dying a painful death, all along, without honor and acclaim he went to his grave.
Let all you do be motivated by love, is God’s cure for the Jehoram in us. Put yourself in the other’s shoes and act as Christ would. Do you have lust for things, people and power? Then bring yourself to the Christ of the cross. Repent for your ungodly motivations, expose your inner thoughts to him, and find accountability in the community of Christ. While this process is ever painful, and never ending, you will find truer, deeper successes as Christ, not self has become the platform on which your life is built.

Ungodly alliances

2011-07-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…2 Corinthians 6:14 is all about ungodly alliances. How often do godly people end up limiting their potential in God by partnering with worldly people. This partnership could be romantic relationships, marriage, business or friendships to name a few. The scripture further goes on to inquire what agreement does righteousness have with unrighteousness. Meaning that our alliances should not compromise our stance of holiness and righteous living.
King Jehoshaphat we are in told in scripture was allied to King Ahab by marriage. King Ahab was not necessarily an unbeliever. However he had lived a life of compromise, primarily stemming from marrying a gentile who introduced false Gods and wicked ways to the land of Israel. As a result of Ahab’s ungodly alliance God had declared judgment on him, and it was only a matter of time before his end would come. Thus when Jehoshaphat married into Ahab’s family he was treading on dangerous ground. Sometimes we as believers ignore God’s leading, or wise counsel by other Christians and pursue alliances of compromise. Yes, that person may be a Christian, but are they sold out to God? You may be blinded or biased because of your position, but have your mentors pointed out any issues with the alliance? Will you move forward despite these red flags?
That is exactly what Jehoshaphat did in the battle against Aram at Ramoth-Gilead. Due to treaty obligations Jehoshaphat warred together with Ahab. However this was the battle that divinely sentenced Ahab to death. Jehoshaphat was a hair’s breadth away from sharing the same fate as Ahab. But fortunately for him, God spared him. Upon Ahab’s death, Jehoshaphat finds himself partnering again with this family. Remember he was obligated by marriage, and thus would constantly be placed in situations of compromise. One wrong decision years ago, resulted in consequences that were largely unavoidable. This time around, Jehoshaphat suffered great losses because God condemned his business dealings with Ahaziah, son of Ahab.
What can we learn from Jehoshaphat? Avoid ungodly alliances. Remember oftentimes you will be emotionally and subjectively affected. Listen to the voice of God in others, and not just yourself. Prophets had confirmed Jehoshaphat’s partnerships were forbidden, but yet he forged ahead. God may not use a prophet of old as he did, but be sure he is still speaking prophetically. Yes through you, but also through others around you who care for and watch over you. Beware of ungodly alliances for they could affect your destiny, limit your potential, and leave you with a lifetime of regrets.

Meeting the parents

2011-07-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that parents universally are happy when their kids experience opportunities they didn’t have. Good parents love to see their kids excel in sports, drama, education, family, etc. Somehow they are able to live vicariously through the achievements of their kids, who take their own progress to another level.
While this ideal rings true in most circumstances, recently however I have come to meet several people whose parents were not so keen on their development (that is spiritually). A young man I encountered in Haiti had been indoctrinated in to a false religion early in life. His parents thus were not elated to find out he had accepted Christ. Another individual had recently converted from Islam to Christianity. He faced intense persecution primarily from his nuclear family. Further still, a young lady feared embracing Christianity due to traditionally religious parents who would oppose this decision.
As I pondered on their stories, I thought of how well Christ’s call to forsake our families fit.

Matthew 10:34-37
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Christ’s call to discipleship is so life changing that it could even cause division among familial lines. Consider the text, “a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household”. Hostility from family is something that often occurs to believers who have been radically converted, whether from another faith, or an excessively worldly past. It seems that the change is too drastic, for the parents to handle. Family members with good intentions have found themselves opposing the call to Christ in the new believer’s life. No well meaning parent desires their child to be a radical extremist or fundamentalist. Yet Christ’s call to discipleship, does mean for that believer to live completely different from their pagan or heathen roots.

Maybe you are in a situation like this. You deeply want to follow Christ but worry about what impression he will make when you bring him home. With your eyes on Christ and your mind on scripture, follow Christ in faith. Despite the persecution, the tension and the fallout, if you seek him first, he will work things out for his good…yes even in your family.

Life goes on in Haiti

2011-07-07T22:08:00.001-07:00

Eighteen months after the earthquake wreaked cataclysmic havoc, we find ourselves in Carrefour, Haiti. This is our second time in Haiti in the last 10 months. As we interact with our friends here, and work amongst the poor one thing is very evident, life goes on in Haiti.
Don’t misunderstand me by thinking much progress has been made in terms of rebuilding Haiti. Not all, in fact things look almost the same as they did 10 months earlier. Tents run amok in the city, piles of rubble make many two lane streets almost impassable in parts, a plethora of garbage piles abound in Carrefore reflective of the pervasive impotence of the government. These are just a few of the many things yet to be addressed. In fact it could be argued that whatever was broken or non-functioning in Haiti prior to the earthquake seems worse now, and definitely not better
What I mean by life goes on, is more of a disposition that I found many held. It was hard to find someone who would voluntarily talk about the earthquake. It was as if it never happened. We would have conversations about their need, hopes, plight, family, etc but their feelings about the earthquake and its effects were matters that had to be prodded. I didn’t get the impression that they had worked through deep emotional hurts and thus the earthquake was a passé issue. Instead it was as if misery loves Haiti, and the earthquake was another semblance of this fact. They would continue to survive as they had in the past, and thus it has become pointless if not distracting to delve into the past.
Coming from the outside, this attitude shocked me. I in my western solution oriented mindset wanted to determine cause and effect, and postulate solutions. Thus, I found myself disarmed by their survivor mentality, speechless often I was forced to be reflective and ponder these things in my mind. Being still helped me develop a better listening ear in support of my friends. Surprisingly I discovered that this unusual approach worked. Not prodding, or asking, but befriending and waiting for the timing, I found that my friends would share. Not in many words or with much emotions, but like a dam with a little breach, a trickle of words would often turn into a full expression of their pain and cry to God for help.
I am reminded that everyone has a story, and not to judge by externals. Just because our translator, our cook, or our chauffeur in Haiti had a smile and a great attitude did not dismiss that they all were probably adversely affected by the earthquake. These wonderful people who seemed to have it all, (after all they had a job unlike most Haitians and were not living in a tent) often had great scars. As we ministered in the tents, we found ourselves also ministering within our quarters, be it in the office, our missions base or our hired transport vehicle. God opened doors of ministry because we were willing to be used, within and without.
May God’s hand be on those who have lost children, homes, parents and friends, yet who keep going. I pray that they not only be strong in themselves and for their family, but also strong in God, for when we are weak in Christ, he makes us strong in Christ. Amen

Haiti Reflections

2011-07-06T11:09:00.001-07:00

It’s the fourth day back from my three week mission trip in Haiti. I sit back in the middle of the day reflecting on a couple of occurrences from today.
I was driving today and I noticed how smooth, and quick the roads are. The traffic lights exist, and they regulate traffic expediently. I can’t help but think about my friends in Haiti, and how they lack amenities such as good roads, and traffic lights.
Shopping in Home Depot was an unexpectedly reflective event for me. In Haiti department stores largely don’t exist. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or it’s equivalent are comprised of hundreds of different stores and stalls that could be spread across the entire city. A monthly household shopping experience at your favourite department store will take you a minimum of a whole day in Haiti, fighting traffic, pollution and frustrated people as you traverse the city. It is a tremendous blessing (and we are largely unaware of it) that you can buy multiple items under one roof. While shopping for our construction materials in Haiti we had to visit four different stores of which none of them was larger than the cash register area of a medium to small sized Home Depot.
I can’t help but think about the forces that are responsible for such dire lack of services in Haiti versus an excess that exists here in North America. Is it greedy Haitian rulers over decades colluding which preying opportunisitic corporations and affluent nations that are responsible? No one thinks about the average Haitian left holding the bag.
My heart goes out to the common man in Haiti who has to suffer. These precious souls are typically unaware of the reasons behind their plight. I wonder if they are better off not knowing at all. In fact the many I have met have known no other life, having growing up in a chaotic and oppressive world, they have learnt to survive with what they have.
May God’s hand be upon Haiti. May his peace, progress and prosperity rest on this nation. May he call forth intercessors and labourers both within and without, into this great harvest field.

The randomness of God

2011-07-06T11:08:00.001-07:00

King Ahab had the judgement of the Lord coming upon him. Due to his aberrance from God’s law, a nation was idolatrous, blood had been shed, and God was forgotten. God had pronounced an impending end to Ahab, and it was only a matter of time for the divine decree to be fulfilled.
On a certain day, the 2 kings, Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah, were embattled with the forces of Aram. Ahab apprehensive about his fate in the battle had disguised himself by wearing plain clothes. Customarily the king went to battle in kingly robes. It served a two-fold purpose, encouraging the troops to bravado and solidarity, whilst challenging the opposition. Ahab, being out of costume was in effect transparent to the enemy. Ben-Hadad the Aramean king had instructed his fighters to seek the king, and this they did. They pursued Jehoshaphat, who was dressed in his kingly robes, thinking they had their man. Fortunately for him, his assailants discovered that this wasn’t the king of Judah and they withdrew. Shortly thereafter, the notorious king Ahab was struck, but oddly enough it wasn’t intentional. 2 Chronicles 18:33 state, “But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the breastplate and the scale armor”. This random act of providence was actually a sovereignly directed assault. What appears to be a co-incidence often to us humans has been ordained by God. Granted other forces may be at play, chance, the forces of evil, and natural consequences unleashed by our own actions. Yet ultimately this scripture challenges us to accept the fact that nothing is by chance or “random”. And that these events are allowed or even initiated by God. The odds that a plain clothed person would be hit, by a random arrow, in the vulnerable portion of the armor is unbelievably rare. The writer might as well have said God allowed the arrow to hit its mark. The accuracy of this random arrow much like that of David’s stone slung in Goliath’s skull, evidences God at work.
Be encouraged that God is always working. Even when your plans fail, and things seem hopeless. A “lucky” break, a chance meeting or a random event could change things completely for you. Let God be God in your life. As you demonstrate your faith and trust in him by putting him first in all things, he will work out the necessary random events to align your life towards his intended goal.

Go ahead and keep moving

2011-03-18T10:57:00.001-07:00

Our reading today included Joshua chapters 1-2. Here Joshua receives command over the Israelites. Joshua is enjoined not to be discouraged but to put his trust in the Lord. In chapter 1 we see this instruction from the Lord as well as the people’s confirmation of Joshua’s strong leadership.
The first act of Joshua was to spy out the land to be possessed. This entire process was one of radical faith and trust in God.

It was evident that Joshua was scared. After all our texts marks at least half a dozen times where he is charged to be fearless. Faith always stands in opposition to fear. Though Joshua could have succumbed to fear he acted otherwise. Thus in Chapter 2 he sends out a reconnaissance team, indicative of his desire to forge ahead into the uncharted waters of seizing the promised land.

The scouts are seen to also be faithful models. They proceed to the town of Jericho and to avoid being accosted by the enemy they duck into Rahab’s house. Put yourself in the scouts’ shoes. Here we see them risking their lives by trespassing in a formidable enemy’s territory. Do not miss this detail. Surely they would have been afraid, but a person of faith moves on. God had given the command. Joshua take the land. The dutiful response of a believing individual is always to act once God speaks. As it were the scouts were already treading on dangerous ground by being in Jericho, but their faith is highlighted in yet another way. They seized an unlikely source for aid. Rahab - who is a commoner, a gentile, and a prostitute. Surely the God of Israel will not use a “filthy person” logic or even religion would dictate. Yet that is exactly what he does. The men chance their lives in the hands of Rahab a total stranger, who by the sovereignty of the Lord, offers them protection against their assailants.

Let’s learn from our text today to trust God, simply, truly and fully. I urge you to Move on. Go forward. That is the word of the Lord today. Step into that opportunity, try that endeavour. It doesn’t matter what the likelihood is. Only confirm God has spoken, then be a man or a woman of radical faith. As you do you exemplify the revolutionary spirit of Christ, obedience over challenges, and you will see him work in inexplicable ways.

Rejected love

2011-02-17T05:43:00.001-08:00

The bridegroom stands in the dark, damp, evening air, knocking on the door of the chamber of his beloved. She hesitates to open up. After all she had experienced an earlier encounter with him and she was satisfied. Though he longed for more moments of intimacy with her, she made up trite excuses, causing him to depart.

Song of Songs 5 describes the painful experience of rejected love. The Bridegroom represents Christ, the beloved the Church. This picture of divine love is described elsewhere in scripture.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelations 3.20

The Laodicean church is spoken of in this verse. Christ, the bridegroom stands at the door of intimate relationship with them. However they are not interested. Probably because they had other things to catch their fancies. God states in earlier verses that because of their lukewarm attitude towards him, he would spew them out of his mouth. This is not a pretty sight, yet it shows the hurts of rejected love. I can’t imagine if my wife were to lock me out of our room how I would feel? Or even to choose not to communicate with me. My mind would be racked with troubling thoughts. What would go through her mind to cause her to do this? How have I hurt her? Why does she have animosity towards me? If this persists I would wonder who and what else has captured her heart. My heart would be broken because of this shattering rejection of my love

God, almighty our heavenly lover is thinking about you, but how much of God can you really handle? You may be like the bride, where she was satisfied with a few moments of intimacy, and desired a break from God. Yet God was not tired of her. I like that thought. God tires not of us. In fact Psalms says God is ever mindful of me. That’s always and forever he is thinking about me, and the book of Songs indicates the kind of thoughts. Thoughts of desire, pursuit, intimacy and heartfelt affection are what fill his mind. Like the bridegroom and the beloved, he loves me with an enduring, endless love.

So what is an appropriate response to this unthinkable divine romance? How do I act and what do I do? For the bride the expected response would have been to let her lover in. The same is for us. God expects us to let him in. We let God in simply by answering his frequent beckonings at the door of our hearts. God knocks on our hearts when we are drawn to a song that spontaneously come to mind, or when we awaken fully alert in the middle of the night. He draws us by a call to the prayer room, or an urge to stay late and pray through the night. Every day he whispers words of invitation as we come to that quiet time with him. Whatever you do, however you respond, may I urge you to let him in. Listen to that tugging, go to that prayer time, and play or sing that song that’s in your heart. Slowly, but surely the attractive lure of carnal fancies will dissipate at the shining splendour of his presence that will readily fill your heart.

God’s time table

2010-12-30T04:42:00.001-08:00

Have you ever heard the saying, God is never too early, or too late, but just on time? As I read the narrative of Joseph I am gripped by the essence of this cliche. Though I don’t fully agree with all the intimations of this saying, I think what it ultimately indicates is that God’s timing is different from ours and we need to rely on him in patience in matters of this life.

Joseph had received earth shattering dreams from God as a youth. It seemed like his life was charmed, destined for power according to his dreams, he was also the favoured of 12 sons, and in his father’s eyes he could do no wrong. As fate would have it however he fell into severely hard times. Sold as a slave by his own brothers, he found himself in servitude to an Egyptian royal official.

As if Joseph knew the old saying about God’s timing he faithfully puts in his time in dutiful service. He serves Potiphar excellently and is soon the chief steward overseeing all enterprises. Again it seems that nothing could go wrong. But unfortunately, history seems to repeat itself. Joseph is falsely accused and ends up in a deep dark dungeon meant only for criminals.

Here in the cave of despair, Joseph has an opportunity to forsake God. After all God’s prophesied dreams haven’t come true. Far from it! Instead an unimagined opposite extreme has been Joseph’s reality for many years. I can hear Joseph now wondering about God’s timing. Lord didn’t you promise? Why did you give me those dreams? How come these things are happening to me? When will you deliver?

Finally it seemed like salvation was at hand. Pharaoh’s royal cupbearer had received ministry from Joseph while in Jail thus owing Joseph a favour upon his release. Surely now his vindication would come, and a pardon would be issued Joseph thought. But yet again he faces another disappointment. For two whole years he is forgotten in the cell by God, his family and even the cupbearer who owed much to Joseph.

I do believe God’s timing is impeccable. His timetable is on a completely different coordinate system than ours. Thankfully Joseph did continue to be faithful. Even though by know he was despondent and grief stricken he continued to serve God with integrity. It seemed as if God knew what he was doing after all, for all of a sudden Joseph was ushered into Pharaoh’s presence. Out of nowhere, God had granted the king a puzzling dream, which only Joseph could interpret. Isn’t that just like God to conjure the right events necessary to provide breakthrough you need? Think about the “lucky breaks” or “random” strokes of luck that have led to you meeting that significant person, finding the right job, or just simply being in the right place at the right time. In fact if you recall, had events been sequenced a little differently you may have missed entirely what God wanted you to experience.

That, my friend is all the timing of the Lord. He holds our future, past and present in his hands. You may even say he holds the chips of our lives, and he knows the right cards to deal out to us. We simply need to place our trust in him.

That is exactly what Joseph did. In Genesis 41 Joseph is rewarded greatly for solving Pharaoh’s stirring mystery. He becomes the 2nd most powerful man in the kingdom only at age 30. Joseph receives the hig priest’s daughter in marriage, and inherits riches, power and influence beyond his wildest dreams. For Joseph, the Lord’s timetable was the right time.

While you may not marry priestly royalty or become the most powerful person in your nation, understand that God’s rewards will outlast your own human estimation. Trust solely in God, despite the longevity of your circumstances, believe that our times are truly in his hands, and expect to see the salvation of the Lord.

Who will answer the call?

2010-11-10T07:25:00.001-08:00

God has called us. This statement is unquestionable. As believers, God has a mandate on our lives, that he expects us to fulfill. This call is always related to the great commission. God longs to save souls, and we as his co-labourers are always involved.

Jonah received such a call from God. He could have been a lay prophet or a vocational prophet, scripture does not indicate his profession. Most likely he was like many of you who have a regular job, but are also involved in ministry. Upon receiving the missional mandate - to proclaim a message of impending judgement to Nineveh, he fled. Not towards Nineveh, but away. He fled because he was afraid of the Ninevites who were from Assyria, and enemies of Israel. These were known to be brutal and very menacing in disposition. He fled because he feared God. Ultimately he fled because he was selfish.

This problem of selfishness pertains not just to Jonah in his day, but also to us in ours. Our modern world is rampant with self-idolatry. Believer and unbeliever alike, are found to focus on themselves, instead of others. Many of us are concerned with our families, our jobs, our wellbeing, etc. As believers we often spiritualize our selfishness. Spending oodles of time devoting to spiritual edification which limits our time with the poor.

Jonah eventually makes it to his destination, and delivers God’s judgement to Nineveh. As he awaits God’s blast of destruction, prophesied by Jonah to arrive in 40 days, he is grossly disappointed. The Ninevites believe the message, repent of their sins, and find God’s favour and forgiveness. Our friend, Jonah is surprisingly discouraged. Possibly partially because of the cultural hatred of the Assyrians, and also to preserve the accuracy of his prophetic word, Jonah opposes God’s mercy upon the Ninevites.
Though he doesn’t see it this way, Jonah exposes his selfish heart. He is more worried about fulfilling personal agendas than God’s desire.

God in order to expose Jonah’s heart allows a tree to grow in the hot desert sun overnight. Jonah finds refuge under this tree, but God causes it to die suddenly. Thus Jonah, exposed to the elements, combined with his frustration at God finds himself depressed to the point of death. Upon inquiry, Jonah reveals to God his frustration about the death of the tree. God uses this as a hook, and reveals Jonah’s carnal preferential treatment for a tree rather than 120,000 human lives hanging in the balance at Nineveh. Selfishness to the uttermost, thus again is abundant in Jonah visage.

Before throwing stones at Jonah, think about yourself. What discourages or destabilizes you? Is it trivial issues, or life and death affairs? Granted life brings its challenges often warranting emotional responses, but surely these pale in significance when it comes to the salvation of souls. You may have cried over a job loss, a relationship break down, or harsh words of rejection. However have you shed a tear for your lost loved one? Does the fear of hell grip you, or is it a dull consciousness in your mentality? While judging Jonah for being selfish, let’s remember to judge ourselves. For we often get sucked into the vortex of life’s forces, while ignoring the spiritual reality of the fate of the lost of this world.

Lord, may we share your burden for the doomed of this world. Bring the tears of Christ to our hearts. Let selfishness away from our hearts. Open our eyes to spiritual reality, that your call for the lost may forever be our one desire, and the cry of our heart.

Space for God

2010-10-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Ezekiel prophesies a restoration of Judah to the Lord. This encompasses a total rehabilitation of every aspect of community life for the Jews. Due to rampant sin and lawlessness, they had lost their inheritance. Their city had been plundered, the temple had been destroyed, the religious had become irreverent and the priesthood was practically defunct. God promised a restoration would come. This restoration however was dependent on a spiritual restoration of God’s people. God sought for his place to be restored in the hearts of the people, before his gave them their land back.

How is God’s place in your heart? Do you make space for God? Were you once occupied with godly things, but now preoccupied with transient, natural life affairs? This is essentially what happened to the Jews in Ezekiel. God had been put on the back burner, and thus sin had crept in, until it manifested in apostasy leading to gross sin, and ultimately judgement and devastation.

For things to be restored thus, God would have to be resident again in the people’s lifestyle. Thus you find Ezekiel describing a vision that details the rebuilding of the temple in detail. This was primary, because the temple represented God in the land. The temple would no longer be lifeless, but God’s spirit would once again reside there. Further, God would separate to himself once more the priests. The priests like the temple were dedicated to the Lord. Thus they were to abstain from much normal activities, in order to practice piety and holiness unto their Lord. Their function was to model and represent God’s holiness for the people. A restored priesthood in a rebuilt temple could represent people before a holy God.

Today we don’t have a temple, priests or holy lands. However we do have a holy God, who has called all of us to be priests. We have Christ in heaven who represents us to God. Though there is no need for a physical building, God wants to make a place in us. This place begins by making space. This space is found first in our hearts, and then in our lives. He wants to build a holy habitation inside you and I. The temple was only distinct because of the residency of the spirit. God distinguishes us by choosing to reside in us. Isn’t that a mind boggling concept? Though he lives in us without our efforts, by his grace, yet we are required to consecrate ourselves. This allows his presence in us becomes a reality. Make space for God friend, so he can build a place inside of you. Space for God is created when you choose to spend time with him. A place for God is made as you allow God to take over your habits, choices, thoughts and lifestyle. Seek to be that temple, that holy land, that consecrated priest, maybe not literally but desire to be truly set apart for God, rest on his grace, wrestle with the flesh, and act on his word. Before you know it you will have created a space, a place where God can have his way in your life and others.

Small things, great love .....and great faith

2010-10-10T06:03:00.001-07:00

Mother Teresa’s was noted to have attached much meaning to the phrase
“small things with great love”. As she ministered on the streets of Calcutta in her early years, she believed that small acts of love was much more impactful than a grandious desire to change the nations without followthrough. For Mother Teresa believed through her acts of love, she was ministering Christ’s compassion to the needy. Over time, her faithful acts of focused mercy, mushroomed into a national ministry with international renown. Small things, with great love, but also yet with much faith.
Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a very small seed, such as the mustard seed. Upon its planting, this seed subsequently grows to be among the largest of trees. Further, Jesus indicates that you and I do not know how this occurs. All we do is plant the seed, and live our lives. Somehow this seed over the course of seemingly uneventful passing of time becomes a grandiose tree. The kingdom of Jesus is such as this. Small things, done with great love and much faith.
Never underestimate the impact you have on people. I have been in youth ministry for almost two decades, as a volunteer, a youth pastor, and now a community worker. As I see generations of kids turn into teenagers, young adults and older, I am reminded of how small acts of love with faith impacted their development, for me this is the kingdom of God in action.
Maybe you are mentoring young children or teens, be aware of how significant your little actions can be. A simple demeanour of kindness, gracious words, consistent mood and tone, can significantly impact a minor who has been calloused with harsh treatment. Kind simple acts such as a trip to the mall, bowling, or burgers at McDonalds may be remembered by the youth for a life time. Your seemingly insignificant acts are like that seed which eventually turns into a giant tree. It could lead into the child being converted, a destiny altered and a future community leader formed. Act in faith, for someday, your love will be recognized for what it is, Christ’s compassion. Don’t try to do big things, just love these kids in simple ways, and remember who you are doing it for; “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord”. Small things, great love and much faith.

Watch and Pray

2010-10-07T06:08:00.001-07:00

Jesus had told the disciples to watch and pray lest they fall into temptation. The disciples didn’t take him seriously. Peter and probably all the disciples were comfortable in their relationship with Christ, and felt sure of their allegiance to Him. They had no need to take these words too seriously as evidenced by them subsequently sleeping in the garden while Jesus prayed against temptation.

Have you ever felt that you were impervious to sin? Then what happened? You probably fell, right? It’s a time tested formula. Holy living plus self dependency always results in sin. Peter and the disciples deserted Christ. Worse for Peter, he denied knowing Christ. He swore on oath multiple times to this. Can you imagine how severe Peter’s actions were? Have you committed a grievous sin as a believer that took you and others by surprise? Well this is exactly what happened. Peter’s denial of Jesus amounted to Peter stabbing our Lord in the back. See, in the Ancient East, mentoring relationships were often familial in nature, thus loyal and binding, typically to the point of death. For one to deny their family or kindred relation practically amounted to wishing they were dead. Thus by denying Christ, Peter might have well as literally stabbed him in the back.

As I ponder this larger context of Peter’s sin, I wondered how he could have fallen so far from grace. Then I remember the reminder of Jesus to “watch and pray”. Sin, pride and self-reliance are no respecter of persons. Lucifer a high ranking angelic being who knew better fell to prideful sin. Many saints in Church history have committed heinous acts, and even in today’s media we read about well respected church leaders falling from their throne of grace. So how can you and I stand? Very simple we can’t.

Even Jesus knew that he could not stand. Not by himself. As a master teacher, he modelled his own teaching. Thus, he watched and prayed through temptation. During the forty days of fasting, he was strengthened against temptation by watchful prayer. Also in the garden of Gethsemane, during those final hours of his life, he realized that only prayer against temptation would provide sustenance for this momentous temptation. For failing this test, would mean abdicating his mission to the cross and leaving eternity doomed to hell.

Watch and pray then my friend. Jesus passed his test because he did. Peter failed his because he didn`t. May you be found constantly in prayer. Pray in solitude mostly, but also often in groups. Share your temptations with a couple of trusted mentors. Pray together and pray often, and watch God strengthen you for your personal test and trials.

Revival is Judgement

2010-10-05T01:42:00.001-07:00

I will pour out my spirit....Acts 2:17 on one level speaks about Revival. God has poured out his spirit on Jews and Greeks alike in the 1st century church. Could this be the revival that Joel had prophesied in Joel 2? Peter sure felt so. In fact he quoted this verse as a reaction to the dynamism of the spirit he saw. Peter imagined that the day of the Lord was approaching, for Joel had prophesied that upon such a powerful display, such as in Acts the day of the Lord would come.

So what is the day of the Lord. It is a day envisaged in Jewish hope as the salvation of the Jews. On this day Messiah would take his rightful place as ruler over all his enemies. The Jews would once again be sovereign over their enemies, God will be their king and punishment will be dealt to the offending heathen nations. In Joel’s time the kingdom of Judah was in apostasy. Many had turned from God, and Jeremiah predicted doom. However God promised them absolution, if they returned to him. He promised a revival, that would usher in the day of the Lord. This revival is featured the Spirit outpouring on all flesh, similar to Acts 2, and was followed by mass conversion, again just as Peter observed in Acts.

But one key requirement was imposed on the Jews. Repentance. That is self-judgement. See repentance is judgment. God’s people were required to call to turn from evil, fast and seek him for an outpouring of his spirit. If they would do this, then he promised a revival. This self-judgement did occur, and God’s prophecy was fulfilled in Joel’s time.

Similarly in Acts, God’s people had decided to seek God. The disciples were meeting regularly seeking God for an outpouring. They had consecrated themselves, were often fasting, and sought God daily. By these penitent actions, they showed a heart of repentance. Thus God graced them with a revival. For the condition of Joel’s prophecy again had been met. God poured out his Spirit that day, Peter challenged the masses, they judged themselves and turned to the Lord.

Revival always brings judgement. For us believers, this self judgment leads us to confess our faults and change our actions. While for non believers they are convicted unto salvation.
Peter was partially right about the onset of the day of the Lord. It had not fully arrived, but it was progressively approaching. It seems that in Revivals God impresses the reality of his imment coming on people even stronger. That would have been what Peter, the early Christians, and the plethora of church history saints who have experienced revival from the 1st Century till now.

As we stand as current day believers, the challenge of Joel is still the same. Judgement is repentance. As God’s people repent and seek him, his Spirit is poured out, leading many to further repent. As the day of the Lord speedily approaches, God desires to bring the masses to him. Psalms 24 indicates only a holy generation can usher in a move of God. Thus, God is looking for some who will consecrate themselves, judge their hearts, and seek him for revival, and the evangelization of the nations. My question is will that be you and I?

Love and Justice

2010-10-01T03:48:00.000-07:00

I will put my spirit on him and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
Matthew 12:18b

God’s desire is for justice, fairness and equity to exist. In Isaiah 9, God foretells the coming of the messiah. This messiah would be spirit imbibed, led and empowered. By the Spirit he would rule and reign over the affairs of the earth. The government shall be on his shoulders the prophetic words state, and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isaiah 9)

Social justice was not originated by the faddish political correct movements of our post modern culture. In Biblical times, God’s desire was for justice to be displayed. This desire in God reveals his heart for all people groups everywhere. Often God would condemn the rich for oppressing the poor. Nations would be reprimanded for dealing a heavy hand on their weaker counterparts. Even clergy in the minor prophets are justly reprimanded for their role in fostering social injustice.

Let’s be clear, God’s love was and is not just spiritual. Granted, evangelism is primary as spiritual things are eternal. Yet God does not seem to differentiate or prioritize. The message of God’s salvation both in the Old and New Testament is well tempered with acts of generosity, justice, and love towards the socially disenfranchised. Could it be that God wants us to just love people. God’s justice is one of love, and in the New Testament he introduced the summation of the law – Love. Thus he wants us to just love people. For God, to love people is just.

Thus whether you are into social justice, legal justice or spiritual justice, all of them are important to God, and in my opinion they are all represented by God`s love. Because I love my fellow man I desire to alleviate social ills, aid in exposing legal and institutional oppression, and bring the message of salvation to heal their hurting spirits.

May God take you and I deeper on our quest of love. Loving him by loving others. As we do, we will by the spirit help bring justice to the nations.

Fire and Light

2010-09-21T06:20:00.001-07:00

When Ezekiel saw God he was stupefied. As he waited by the river Kebar during the Jewish exile at Babylon, Ezekiel was given a revelation of God and his divine beings. Image after image was presented to him that represented God and his attributes.

First there were the four Seraphim. These beings each had four faces, representing facets of God. They had four wings each, which coordinated their well positioned flight in perfect harmony. An intersecting wheel was shown in conjunction with the beings, representing further harmony and unison of mind. Wherever the creatures went the wheel went. As they turned, it turned. The synchronized perfection of these beings was only foretelling the majesty of God himself.

Shortly thereafter, these beings faded in the background, while the image of God was presented. Ezekiel saw God. Don’t let the simplicity of these words reduce their import. Ezekiel encountered the almighty creator of heaven and earth – God!!! He saw him afar off, suspended as it were above the beings, intimating his superior position to theirs. The image of God was as a man indicating the paradoxical nearness of his nature to ours. This being was like fire. His insides from the waist up was so bright and pure that it resembled fire. He sat upon a throne made of glittering sapphire. The splendour of this glorious display projected an image of a bright rainbow, circling as a halo around God. As Ezekiel got a snapshot of deity he was overwhelmed. I would be too. He fell face down prostrate before this holy scene, waiting on the glorious king, somewhat as a peasant would in the courts of an earthly king.

As God’s people seek God desperately, they begin to get a glimpse of heaven. The Jews were seeking for a reformation of their present condition in Babylon. They longed for their home, their temple and their God. It was during this period that God showed them his glory. In the New Testament God’s people were also seeking him desperately. In the book of Acts we see many appearences of heavenly beings and visitations from God. God’s people were in a time of revival, and he was giving them heavenly instructions to lay down foundational blue prints for his work on earth.

Our present emphasis at Revolution is on revival. Some of us are banding together, craving for God to do a reformative act in our hearts and lives that will spill over into our surroundings and community. It is still in its infancy and I am not sure what, when and how. I leave that up to God. Yet as I pore over the Biblical history, I sense God will repeat what he has done in times past and that we will receive revelatory visions of God. For some it will be visual, while others simply in the heart. Regardless of their nature, these revelations will spur powerful internal reformation, effecting a radical change in others around us.

To God be the glory. Amen

Consecration

2010-09-18T02:37:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah had invited a few of the Recabites for some drinks. These were Levites who served in the temple of the Lord. As is to be expected they declined the offer to drink wine, citing their religious vow of abstinence. The Recabites in fact lived a totally devout life. As Levites, they were required to live a consecrated life to the Lord.

Thus these particular individuals cited off their restrictions to Jeremiah as justification for their position on indulgence. Not only were they to abstain from wine, they had also sworn not to build houses, own property and possess g agricultural land. This practice was consistent through several generations of the Recabite family.

What an affront it was then for Jeremiah to even suggest that they were to drink wine. Surely their consecration to the Lord was evident. Did he not know this about their heritage?
Jeremiah later reveals his purpose in offering them wine. It was a directive of the Lord to illustrate to the Israelites the strength of the human will in works of righteousness. If humans like the Recabites could successfully adhere to rigid oaths, God was then justified in condemning those in Judah who had not obeyed his commands.

May I ask you something? How consecrated are you to the Lord? Here we have a clan wholly consecrated for generations who remained totally devoted to God, status and livelihood to religious regulations. Yet we believers are far privileged to serve God in dynamic relationship.

Recently some of us have consecrated ourselves in seeking God in prayer and penitence. It has been a blessing to see people broken before the Lord, passionately seeking God. As testimonies were relayed of deeper devotion, more joy, loss of desire for natural pleasures etc, I wondered why this is not normative. I dare to think that maybe it could be.

I see a revolutionary generation seeking the Lord of hosts. This is the generation of Jacob that the word speaks about - those who will have pure hearts and clean hands. These seek God in obedience and consecration, living out their faith humbly and boldly. May this be you and I as we consecrate ourselves daily and shine a tremendously bright light for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our victorious Lord

2010-09-18T02:25:00.001-07:00

The Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies a foot stool for your feet. God is speaking of Jesus’ victorious dominion over all. The Psalmist prophesied what was to accomplished by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Jesus now the victor over sin, death and hell is seated on the right hand side of God according to Hebrews, where he has subjugated his enemies, with his leg on their necks (figuratively speaking).

While these are great spiritual truths, you may be wondering what does this all mean for us in the here and now. As I pondered Psalms 110 and Revelations 19 it became quite apparent to me. You and I are heirs and participants in Christ’s victorious rule. As Christ comes back victoriously riding on that white horse at the end time apocalypse, we join him among the countless troops in his cavalry. Psalms 110:3 indicates this troop is fearless, but yet loyal. How can this be? After all, in battle men are wound up so tight with knots in their stomach, apprehensively anticipating certain death.

As Revelation 19 indicates Christ is a victorious war lord. Anyone who puts their trust in him will not be put to shame. His example of fearless sacrifice, coupled with his insurmountable resurrection power, is enough to persuade his followers of assured victory. We have been called his body, seated with him in high places. Thus where he sits, we seat, and where he goes we go, as he rides to victory so do we.

This victory though eschatological in nature is ever so tangible in our day to day lives. I am assured that my daily struggles, battles and trials brought on by the enemy and worldly forces will have a victorious outcome. Christ is the victor. He battles for me. What do I do in response? I simply rest in his victory. Sure I follow him to battle, but it is one in which I do nothing in my own strength, for in him, we live and have our being.

Look ahead friend at the possibilities. Don’t get bogged down with the painful memories of yesterday or the frustrating turmoil of today. Set your eyes on your general, Lord Jesus Christ through whom we are more than conquerors. Let your spirit rest in his in confidence faith, knowing that his love and grace will see you through. He is our victorious Lord, meting out judgment to our foes, while dispensing blessings and grace upon us – his loyal followers.

The Unyielding Word

2010-09-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah was a prophet of God whose words rubbed his society the wrong way. Yet he was inflamed by the word of God and continued to boldly declare the oracle of God. Persecution came from every angle. The king wanted him dead, the clergy did and so did the people. How could this be so? What was so bad about the things he said?

The issue here is a spiritual one. God not so much Jeremiah was the initiator of these polemical words. Society was not ready to change their ideals to measure up with God. This was the case then and is the case now.

The Bible clearly indicates this tension as perpetual. We are told, God’s ways are never the same as our ways. Jeremiah indicates cursed is he who trusts in man, while blessed are those that depend on God. Paul in Galatians notes that the Spirit and flesh are in constant tension.

As believers who live in society, how do we then keep ourselves from being influenced by the world’s philosophies? Which inadvertently could cause us to persecute the Jeremiahs of today. The answer to this is quite intricate and may not be fully delved in here. Yet what keeps resounding in my heart is the concept of brokenness and penitence. As we have a broken spirit before God we exemplify humility at its deepest. We are saying to God that there are “no holds barred” in our lives. That we allow him to humble and speak to us I areas of our hearts. This inner work of the spirit creates in you and I a built in resiliency to the dictates of the flesh and the ever changing fancies of this transient world.

Maybe when we encounter Jeremiah we won’t recognize him as the messenger of God. We might initially judge him by earthly standards of dress, speech etiquette, etc. Yet as we have allowed God’s word to work in our hearts, we remember such verses as “we are not moved by what we see or feel, but only by the word of God”. A person with a broken spirit will pause and reflect, and allow God to lead him back to such a path missed or a message dismissed.

Remember God’s word never fails, despite its mode, packaging or cohesion with us. His word is unyielding, and will accomplish what its missional purpose. My prayer today is for God to have is way. For his word to prevail despite mine or anyone’s will. And that we will have a broken spirit whereby we can filter out the many voices in discernment of God’s.

Amen

Is God calling you?

2010-08-25T02:09:00.001-07:00

Jeremiah was busy. He was active as a priest in Anathoth before the call of the Lord came upon him. This was a young man who already had something going for him. All his life he had been groomed to be a priest. After all, his father and grand father, and for multiple generations on were all priests. This was the destiny of Jeremiah, or so he thought. On this fateful day, as seen in Jeremiah 1, he receives a call from God that changes his life forever. God speaks to him about his destiny, purpose and future. The future Jeremiah envisioned was completely changed. He is called to be the lamenting prophet declaring God’s judgement to Jerusalem and all Judah.

Has God spoken things about your destiny to you? Are you a youthful person like Jeremiah, or at least young at heart? See I believe God speaks specific dreams in the heart of the young. Do you remember as a youth having dreams and hopes? Some of these you may have dismissed as childhood fancies, which they probably could be. However others might have been sincere God given aspirations unable to be decoded because you were just a youth. Maybe God has spoken specifically to you, then like Jeremiah, begin to fulfill your calling, but if you are unsure about your God given purpose and mission here in this life, then ask him to do what he did to Jeremiah for you also.

Jeremiah however did not passively wait for this encounter for God. He was actively living his faith out. You might have heard the saying it’s much easier to steer a moving car (than one that is parked). Granted you may not know the details of the future, but are you actively living for God? Jeremiah as a priest was committed to certain things. Surely he would have a consistent time of devotion with God’s law as prescribed. In addition he had certain tasks and sacrificial duties he would do unto the Lord. You may remember Zechariah whom while performing his annual priestly rites heard from God. Or even Cornelius in Acts 10, who had an angelic visitation during one of his regular devotion times. Thus, we shouldn’t underestimate the daily acts of devotion and service that we do for our Lord, however mundane they might feel. God’s prophetic voice could be a day away, or an act of love and kindness away. You never know.

Are you craving to hear God’s voice, I ask again? Then position yourself as Jeremiah. Live for God in devotion and service every day, starting with today. Further, purpose in your heart to be childlike, humbly open to hear God’s leading, then watch to see what God does.

New Heavens and New earth

2010-08-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

I am captured by the phrase “I make all things new” (Revelations 21:5). Does God really mean all things? Would that include the sun, stars, moon, the people around us, our bodies, our clothes and even our shoes?

Consistently through the Bible there is an apocalyptic hope of the end of days. Where God disposes of this depraved world, and brings in a new order. This order includes a new heaven, and earth including even the dust particles according to Isaiah 65. In this new age everything is new. Even the relationship dynamics between beasts and men. We are told in scripture the lion will lie down with the lamb, and animals will be timid towards us.

While these things may seem outlandish, yet scripture boldly affirms the certainty of these events. This new order however though it ends in a re-creation of all things begins with an internal catharsis. Mark’s gospel presents Jesus as ushering in the kingdom age. Here Christ begins the new order by modelling it for us. This order was one in which he overturns societal hierarchy as he dines with the poor and treats women as equals. Bondage and oppression melted away in his presence. His death and resurrection paved the way for us to share in this new order. As our death became his, his life became ours. The kingdom of heaven finally was in the grip of humanity indeed in the hearts of those who believed on him. For them a new heaven had been created, deep in their hearts.

Though we as Christ’s followers live in the reality of a new heaven, this earth’s effects of earthquakes, tsunamis, and sinful human actions relay the harsh realities of the old earth. Creation as it were seems to writhe in agony, waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. (Romans 8). You and I as believers are the sons of God. We groan along with creation, anticipating the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have been to places of the earth that have been ravaged by the enemy, and I long to see the restorative glory of God working in these broken contexts.

As we anticipate this new order, what keeps us in active hope? I say active because some mentally assent to their trust in God’s restoration, but it doesn’t affect their daily faith. I believe it is only a vibrant and intimate relationship with Christ that can spur us on to persist in waiting. Whether in devastated Haiti or privileged Canada, it is the daily whispers and nudging of Christ’s intimate assurance that can foster hope to the meaning of life. As we walk hand in hand with Christ, his loving touch empowers us to bring a spiritual heaven to earthly chaos. Our little of acts of love go a long way, as we bring spiritual hope to this “old” earth, depositing strands of heaven in those around us. Bits and pieces of heaven that will one day culminate in a brand new earth.

The Shaken has begun

2010-08-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

It’s been a few days now since we came back from Haiti. I and over a dozen of friends had embarked on a mission endeavour to bring relief, aid and encouragement to the people of Carrefore, Haiti. What we saw was expected, but what we experienced wasn’t. Despite the aid we offered, we left Haiti feeling quite insignificant. Ultimately we had to accept that we are but babes, and our faith and hopes for Haiti rests in the hand of God almighty. Our recent Bible reading in Hebrews 12 sheds some light along these lines.

26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once
more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."[w] 27The words
"once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created
things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us
be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe

This shaking that is spoken of in verse 26 is prophetic. It speaks of the last days. Essentially God is saying that in these days we will be tested. The shaking might not be a literal shaking as in Haiti, but it will occur.

While for Haiti, it was literal. The statistics are staggering as we know. Lives have been lost, an economy in further shambles and people desolate. Despite this reality, we were encouraged to see many brethren embodying verse 28. They were choosing to look beyond the earthly circumstances and focus on God’s unshakable kingdom. For these ones, despite the homelessness, joblessness, bereavement, etc, they refuse to let their faith be shaken.

What will you do if Haiti happened in your locale? Would you be shaken? Does a calamity need to occur before you re-examine your foundation? How about you let God’s word speak to your soul right now? Be assured, there will be a shaking as the scripture predicts, and God’s desire is that you will be found on the unshakable rock of his kingdom – Christ. Examine your values, tastes, desires, aspirations and wants. Who do you live for and why? Is it God, to please others or yourself. Discipline yourself in prayer and fasting, and seek to hear God’s voice and direction. Maybe you will go on a missions trip to encounter privation in another culture. The key is to strip yourself to the core as it were, to see what’s really there. Then trusting God to put the pieces back together. As you embark upon this process my prayer is that you will develop a strong cemented foundation, built to last in these uncertain times.

Acts of Righteousness

2010-08-10T11:28:00.001-07:00

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long....Psalm 71:24a

I noticed that I have been telling of your righteous acts for the past couple of days. One cannot declare God’s righteous acts except that their heart is full. However one cannot have their heart full except but the Lord fill it. Similarly, one’s heart cannot be filled except but by work. By this I mean doing the work of God.

As we have just arrived from Haiti, there is lots to report. Without the effort, energy, money and time spent in Haiti however, God would not have had substance to work with to put his words in our hearts. As people ask us how things went in Haiti, it is with pure ease that the words flow out of our hearts. We are truly full of glorious reports of the righteous acts that God allowed us to do on his behalf.

Similarly for those who maybe cannot go to Haiti, God requires them to do work so he can fill their heart. This could be evangelism, or acts of service, ie visiting the poor, or praying for the sick, or just doing a random act of kindness. Whatever it is, this work must be done. How can we expect God to work, when we don’t provide him with willing hearts and open hands.

Position yourself today to be a tool for the Lord. Reach out and serve someone else. Share your faith on the bus today. Take out a friend for coffee today, and bless them with companionship. Pray and ask God how you can be used of him today, and watch how he fills your heart with goodness, joy and gladness to his praise and glory.

The Sovereignty of God

2010-07-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

God through Biblical History has consistently chosen to use worldly forces and powers to discipline, shape and mold his people. This concept is paradoxical to the core. How can evil help good? Can oppression result in divine justice, and devastation end in salvation? These are some questions that arise in my mind as I ponder the daily reading passage of Isaiah 10.

Babylon was instrumental in discipling Judah. God raised up this nation so it would issue out God’s decree of exile and captivity upon Judah for 70 years. Definitely this whole exercise resulted in countless of war crimes, aggression, violence, murder, rape and pillage.

In our passage Assyria, under King Sennacharib has been given the green light to carry out war and oppression upon the nation of Judah. Why would God cause such devastation upon his chosen people? Could there be a greater good? If so is it justifiable?

The writer of Romans has a similar question as he touches on this topic of sovereignty. The issue at hand is how can Pharaoh be brought to accountability for his evil in enslaving Israel. Afterall God had decreed their slavery. And he was just being an obedient servant. God’s quick reply is that I am God. Sovereign, divine, God. Of course Israel had been deficient of God’s laws and warranted punishment, but God in his sovereignty chose a cruel world power, namely Egypt to execute his plans.

A troubling passage in Isaiah 54 sums up God’s perspective.
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc”

If this is God’s view, then shall anyone be held of guilt (as the author of Romans poses)? If God’s sovereignty allows for violence and devastation, then doesn’t Babylon, Assyria and Egypt get a free ride.
God’s emphatic answer is No!!!!! Isaiah 10 reveals God’s judgement on Assyria because they were harsh in their treatment of God’s people. Yes they had been sent on course by God but they chose to involve self motivated schemes and thus were held accountable by God. Pharaoh is judged for hardening his heart, while Babylon loses their place in world dominance.

In essence evil begets evil. Just because God uses the destroyer to wreak havoc, does not excuse the messenger from having a violent disposition. God in his sovereignty is able to walk the fine line between using evil for good, while meting out punishment. You and I cannot walk this line. It is a sovereign right of God. He sees the bigger pictures. He knows the end from the beginning. It’s as if he has watched the tape and knows the scores, stats and key players.

Will you trust God with the good, the ugly and the bad in your life? Definitely resist evil and fight the good fight of faith. But if God is molding you then accept it, even if it is ugly. Accept it with trust, faith and dependence. For he truly has the best for you in mind and in his sovereignty, things will be well.

For such a time as this....

2010-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

I write this blog, from a coffee shop early in Chicago. Lessons from Esther seems to coincide with my experience with a ministry we visited yesterday in the inner city of Chicago. Esther, as the biblical narrative reveals has been given a position of great influence. Chosen by divine grace, she sits as the Queen of Persia, possibly the greatest nation in the world in the time of Xerxes. Yet there is a crisis. Her people the Jews have been sentenced to sure death by political decree motivated by the scheming of an insidious and powerful foe, Haman. Mordecai who stands for the preservation of the Jews, urges Esther to risk her life and approach un-summoned her husband the Queen. This act could result in death, thus Esther stalls. Yet Mordecai issues this challenge to Esther
“Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Esther re-acted immediately with bravery and proceeded to intervene on behalf of the Jews, leading to great deliverance and historical symbolism that the jews still celebrate today with the festival of Hannukah.

The ministry of Lawndale Community Church in Chicago represents a movement spearheaded by Christ in a man who chose to lay down his own life so to speak and relocate into a violent neighbourhood in inner city Chicago. 30 years later, this pastor has lead a ministry that has resulted in much renewal and revitalization of the city, providing a church, healthcare, jobs, and affordable housing to many. As I researched about this ministry, time and time again, Esther’s message resounds. God called a few people to use their influence at great risk to influence many.

Just as God called Esther and the Lawndale Church leadership to influence the dying (physical in Esther’s case, and mostly spiritual with Lawndale) so is he also calling you and I. The charge of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle is from God. Do you have privilege, power and position? Are others around you without? Then share, give, sacrifice, for it is the way of Christ. These could be in the form of resources that we might possess, opportunity that we might have access to or privileges that we hold such as salvation. The key to being like Esther is really found in understanding the urgency of the matter. For often we exempt ourselves from compassionate action due to apathy which only exhibits our ignorance of our huge capacity to effect change. Can I challenge you to see yourself as Esther? Treat your current situation as a divine trust, in which a sovereign God has given to you, for only one reason, that you would aid in bringing deliverance to those in need for the kingdom. And remember, you have been called for such a time as this.

Are you struggling with Sin?

2010-06-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

I haven’t been blogging regularly, so my apologies for those who had been following.
I will endeavour to continue posting something up fairly regularly. These blogs typically come out of my time with God. For the last few months I have been doing a special study which was a bit tricky to blog.

Our daily reading (www.revolutiontoronto.com ) is currently on Romans. Chapter 7 of this book especially causes a huge problem for many readers, for it seems to condone the sinful struggle that many undergo. I have enclosed a short excerpt of my interpretation of Pauls’ struggle from a paper I wrote. I believe you will find it very encouraging. (For the longer excerpt please feel free to request it)

A contemporary reader of Romans 7:14-25 need not be confused as to the interpretation of this text. Tradition and experience may have taught them to interpret the passage in a number of different ways. Tradition may dictate that Paul is speaking about his non-Christian experience, while experience may state that Paul is referring to common sinful struggle experienced by most Christians. However, Paul’s understanding of the flesh, his belief in the finality of the Mosaic Law and an understanding of his use of speech rhetoric act as guideposts in proper interpretation. Paul’s belief that the flesh is of the old rebellious nature, along with his belief that the Mosaic Law has passed away lead the interpretation of our passage in a clear direction. Paul does not admit of any enslavement to sin as verse 14 would seem to say, neither does he concede to a bitter struggle between his mind and his flesh in verse 25. At this point, the contemporary reader seems to be stuck in how to interpret this passage. Paul is admitting his guilt to sin in the first person expressed in the present tense, yet the reader cannot interpret the passage as such since Paul believes in freedom from the law and works of the flesh. An awareness of the rhetorical device responsible for the personal portrayal thus presents an interpretive solution for the reader. Paul is definitely speaking about himself in this passage despite apparent contradictions. However it is before his conversion to the faith. Paul chooses to use a first person account in order to achieve credibility with his readers.
Thus, the interpretation of Romans 7:14-25 while it has been subject to much conjecture over the years need not be mysterious or problematic for the modern day reader anymore. A contemporary reader armed with an accurate understanding of Paul’s view of the flesh, a proper knowledge of Paul’s belief in the finality of the Mosaic Law and his use of speech rhetorical devices can be guided toward a proper interpretation of this passage. This interpretation is one that factors in Paul’s intolerance to sin and works of the flesh. Thus a contemporary interpreter will be constrained to pursue a life of holiness, despite personal cost, such as times of fasting, prayer and self-denial, in order to live a passion free life congruent with the proper interpretation of our passage.

God’s simple blessings

2010-06-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Zechariah busied himself with his regular duty as prescribed by the priesthood. This could include temple tasks such as changing the sacred bread, burning incense, replenishing fuel and administering the sacrifices unto the Lord.

These activities were not very glamorous. In fact they were routine, scheduled and trivial. Nor were they complicated. So simple that a fourth grade child would be able to perform these duties with relevant ease.

While Zechariah felt it was yet another day of service, he was in for a major surprise. His entire life was about to change. As he entered the temple that day God had other plans for him. For whilst in his activities he had a vision from God. An angel appeared to him and promised him the ultimate longing of his heart - the birth of a male child. For a barren couple in this eastern world this was better than winning the lottery. A son meant an extra special blessing from God, and a protective agent for the security of the family in the dearth of the parents. See, just because you and I may live regular ordinary lives does not disqualify us from expecting God’s miraculous hand upon our lives from time to time.

However a note of distinction is important as we examine Zechariah’s life. Though it seemly appears that his tasks were mundane they were of utmost importance. To put it in perspective, the most important being in the universe, namely God, had allowed him to conduct religious rites, leading his people in devotion to him. Wouldn’t that be more important than opening up in song at the President’s inaugural celebration? Of course it will. It seems the most important things are sometimes given the least recognition. Whether it’s reading Holy Scripture, going to a small group study, volunteering in kids ministry or singing “this little light of mine” the principle remains the same. God rewards our faithfulness and diligence in executing devotional activities.

Maybe you may not see a vision, or be awarded such a grand prize as Zechariah. Be rest assured that your devotion and acts of service to God are significant, and you will be rewarded, in his way and his time. Cornelius in Acts 10 was commended for his seemingly unimportant acts of piety and prayer. So pray as you always have prayed. Meditate on scriptures like you were taught to do in your infant Christian period. Serve in ministry with the greatest passion and commitment, whether its pouring juice for the homeless or leading worship to a crowd of hundreds. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord, and be sure he who knows your secret piety will openly reward you probably when you least expect it.

The Cost of Discipleship

2010-03-08T03:56:00.001-08:00

In Mark 8 Jesus said to his followers, if any one would follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. The question I have is this: Were they not already following him? Why then did he need to urge them to intensify their “followership”. As you survey the gospels, you see Jesus offering this call of discipleship to several people. Some responded, like the 12 disciples, and others didn’t for they had to attend to their own private matters. In the call to discipleship, Jesus’ challenge never wanes. Do you want to follow me, truly? Or are you willing to be in the crowd?

Being in the crowd is very common in Christianity today. In fact I believe majority of believers are the crowd. The crowd would be there for the miracles, constantly sought the spectacular and would be the first to devour the bread and the fish. However they did not know him. They would never be found in an intimate setting visiting with Jesus like Mary and Martha. Their adherence to Jesus never required anything from them. Their discipleship cost them nothing. In fact when Jesus’ rebuke would be too strong, they would vanish, offended and disillusioned. The crowd phenomenon can be very confusing to the world, for often Christianity is judged by the actions of its stated adherents. Yet the crowd do not truly represent Jesus. They may attend church services, but they have never been discipled. Thus, their faith in Christ is not authentic.

Discipleship involves a surrender of self, along with a clinging to the cross. In this self surrender, one begins to apply the cross to their heart attitudes which ultimately transforms them entirely. Motives, judgements, thinking patterns, are consistently weighted with the way of the cross. Is what I am about to do selfless, and characteristic of the suffering messiah? Am I elevating myself above my fellow man? Have I humbled myself to serve in whatever capacity, or do I seek self-aggrandizing even in my volunteer capacity at church. Such are the questions that constantly surface in the mind of a disciple. As these questions are wrestled with and applied to the cross of self denial, the believer finds their actions become more congruent with the teaching of Jesus. Slowly but steadily, the believer, a former member of the crowd becomes transformed to a disciple, who closely adheres to the teachings of Christ.

Does your discipleship cost you much? Have you had to deny yourself in living for God? As often said, salvation is free, but not cheap. So goes discipleship. It is very expensive in fact, and God determines the value. As Bonhoeffer (a 20th century martyred disciple) said, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ”. May you continue to follow the teachings of our Lord, and be drawn to deeper levels of commitment to his ways, bearing much fruit, thus proving a disciple of our Lord.

Revolutionary leadership

2010-02-14T05:13:00.001-08:00

Who will lead the revolution?

Moses was about to depart. Having liberated 3 millions Israelites from the hands of pharaoh, and successfully navigating them to the precipice of the promised land. He would leave a tremendous legacy that none could erase. Yet his time was up. God clearly revealed to Moses that he could not fulfil the mandate of leading his people to the promised land alone. Elswhere in the Pentateuch, Moses was at his wits end and required aid. God provided leadership through the 70 elders. The message was the same here in Numbers 27:18. God recommended Joshua, as one able to carry on Moses mantle, both in power and authority.
Every movement needs leadership. Over a millenium later, in Acts 6, the Holy Spirit revolution was fiercely raging. Thousands had come to know Christ, Jerusalem had been infiltrated with the gospel, miracles and signs were common, and Christ was glorified. Yet the apostles had a problem. You know what it was? Leadership. Like Moses the required aid and support, for fulfilling God’s mandate was too cumbersome. In fact, it never has been meant for any one human. God desire has always been to fulfill his vision via capable leadership.
As a fellow leader, I know I look for certain leadership qualities in potential leaders. Whether it be communicative, relational or navigational abilities there are natural traits that often reveal leadership potential. Yet this was not what was paramount in God’s school of leaders. For God the prerequisite for leadership was primarily the Spirit. In Acts 6 the apostles looked for men who had the Spirit. In Numbers 27, Moses was required to find a man who possessed a similar spirit. And as Moses delegated leadership to his 70 aides, it was the anointing of the spirit on these men that authenticated their leadership.
Who will lead the revolution today? I believe, men and women who possess God’s spirit. These are revolutionaries who not only desire intimacy with God’s spirit, but who also exhibit fruits of the spirit, while desiring deeper levels of spiritual gifts. These leaders are keenly aware that their natural and gifts though necessary are not essential. They realize that the harvest is too plentiful, and the magnitude of work is humanly impossible. That ultimately the key to breakthrough is their reliance on the Holy Spirit as they invoke spiritual leadership in leading God’s people.

Great Grace

2010-02-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

"and great grace was upon them all..."Acts 4:33

In this *revolution what we need more than anything else is grace. Acts 4 depicts a movement in which God, the Holy Spirit was in the middle. This movement, as all do, had key figure heads, surrounded by a mass of people dedicated to the cause. Yet the Holy Spirit was the main player, as he divinely orchestrated events, empowered humans, and strategically led them to great breakthroughs. As the disciples fought against systemic religion, they were emboldened by the Holy Spirit. As they won the favour of the masses and reached thousands for Christ, they also depended on the Holy Spirit. In dire
circumstances, such as Paul in jail (Acts 16) the Holy Spirit was their only solace, and he came through.

Grace is the gift the Holy Spirit of God bestowed on his people in each of these aforementioned situations. Without God’s grace there would have been no dependence on the Holy Spirit. Grace is described as unmerited favour, mercy totally undeserved. With grace two people stand at opposite ends of the spectrum in responsibility. One is the benefactor and the other the recipient. The benefactor’s bears the sole burden of bestowing aid, while the recipient’s whole hearted response is to obtain it.

Have you ever felt on top of the world? That you finally made it to the top echelon? Do you relegate your success to your gifting rather than God’s grace? Can I share something with you? You are still fully dependent on God’s grace. See his mercy is what allows you to breathe, function, be self aware, imaginative, creative, and the list goes on. Acts 17, tells us that in him we, live and have our being. Thus both the agnostic and the believer are here by God’s grace. The difference is your intimacy with the truth.

In Acts 4:33, scripture states that a special quality of grace was upon the disciples. This grace was of a great nature. Did you know that you can receive grace in measures? At a recent service, God’s grace was powerfully felt. As always, God moved through his word, and his grace bestowed faith to induce heart transformation. Yet in this service, he gave great grace. We saw people being impacted by the Holy Spirit in tangible ways. Some were worshipping passionately, others weeping and repenting. Further, some had fallen under the power of the spirit, while still others were delivered from chains of bondage.

Which level of grace you need depends on you. As you hunger for God, and cry out for his grace. In your heartfelt desire for deliverance from your sinful state his grace will abound. As we desperately crave *revolution in our lives, in our families, community and city, it will not happen without great grace. My prayer is that you will be an addict of God’s grace. That you will be so weak in your own pursuits and that you desire a much deeper measure of God’s intimacy. May great grace be yours in all you endeavour to do for him.

*revolution is a revival that is rooted in biblical discipleship and heart change, ultimately leading to a transformation of community and culture. Visit revolutiontoronto.com for more info.

The Holiness of God

2010-02-02T14:40:00.001-08:00

Numbers 3 details the instructions for dismantling and transportation of the tabernacle in the Israelite camp. God had instructed the Israelites that he would lead them through the desert to the promised land. Many times they would travel for days and weeks, and other times they would remain camped. The tabernacle being a central part of the Israelite cult thus had to be mobile. God arranged for a team comprised of the holy tribe of the Levites and the priests to oversee this process.

The dismantling of the tabernacle covered varied tasks that had to be completed in a certain order. The priests would carefully dismantle the framework, while bundling up sacred matter such as the altars, the curtains, the utensils etc in cloth. The Levites would not be involved in this process. Numbers 4:20 explicitly states that they must not look into the holy things even for a moment, else they will die. Years earlier, God had judged two of the priests, Nadab and Abihu. They had burnt fire in an authorized manner to God. The penalty of their carelessness and contempt was immediate and fatal, as fire from the Lord consumed them.

Thus the Levites were very wary of obeying God’s every instructions. Clearly only the priests were sanctioned as holy enough to intimately handle the tabernacle artefacts . While the Levites were also considered holy, they were could only experience a second-tier intimacy in comparison with the priests, in matters pertaining with the sacred things of God. Their role was thus limited to lifting and transporting the packaged holy items.

The New Testament also envisages God’s holiness as something to be revered. Annanias and Sapphira “burnt strange fire” unto God. By choosing to lie to the Holy Spirit, they were sticking their noses to God. We can do things our own way, your rules don’t apply, we could care less, were the words there actions echoed. Elswhere in the New Testament, Hebrews 12 indicates that God is a consuming fire. The author informs us that since New Testament covenant is more efficacious, than New Testament holiness should call for a much higher standard of living. We are enjoined to fear God even greater who now speaks not from an earthly mountain such as Sinai at the giving of the law, instead he speaks in New Testament tradition – from the heavens.

Why would a holy God kill his own people, especially in a moment of worship, contrived as it might be? The answer to that question may never belong to us. However, dare I ask, why does power when used wrongly harm? Electricity transmitted via your body is sure to hurt, if not kill. Monetary power used for self gain often taints and corrupts, causing one to indulge in self destructive materialism. Power hungry politicians find themselves trapped into making decisions that lead to the undoing of the people they once idealistically promised to protect. Pornography snuffs the spiritual life of every young man who is held in its iron clad grip. Was any of this power evil in its own self? No. Electricity aids life, money fosters development, government is needed and beauty properly contextualized is pure. Could it be God’s power could be seen as such? An impartial force that metes out judgement appropriately to its handlers. While we might not be able to predict the extent the damage of the aforementioned influences, we know there would be damaged when inappropriately used. The sovereignty of God reserves the right to be unpredictable in enforcing the judgement side of His power via the Holy Spirit. Some die, others are convicted in their consciences, while yet others may have doors closed to them.

Let’s learn from the Levitical protocol of approaching God. With meekness, humility, obedience and heartfelt sincerity, we should engage in our walk with God and his people. Sure we will miss it. But surely he looks on the heart, thus he can decipher between intentional short changes, or cover ups, as was the case in Acts 5.

Strategic Planning

2010-01-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

The Apostle Paul was quite strategic in his approach to ministry. He would start his ministry in Antioch on the coast of the Mediterranean and travel west through Asia. Upon reaching Asia he would then circle around cities primarily in the south. While in each city Paul would first approach the Jews, typically in the synagogues. Depending on his reception by them, he often would defer to preach to the gentiles outside the synagogues. Finally Paul would then make his way back to Palestine. But not without revisiting certain cities re-iterating his message to the saints.

Thus as Paul embarked on this missionary journey in Acts 16, he was programmed to travel through Asia encouraging his prior contacts in Asia, while exploring new ones. But God had quite different plans. Sometimes we might have a system that works efficiently for us, but at a point in time, the Spirit might desire a different route. Paul felt the Holy Spirit didn’t want him to proceed into Asia but was at a loss for the next direction. Thankfully he received a vision indicating aid was needed in Macedonia of Greece. God apparently wanted Paul to extend his ministry from Asia into Europe.

As Paul arrived in Philippi of Macedonia, he and his friends were led to the pray at the river. IT was at the river that Paul led Lydia an influential woman to Christ, who was a resource to Paul’s ministry. This speaks of the importance of prayer, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit leading. The more we pray, the more we are led by the Holy Spirit. Further the Spirit at times would impress upon us the need to pray, as he wills to lead us in fulfilling his call on our lives.

Have you ever had your paradigm shifted? Paul did. His sensitivity to the Holy Spirit would be the inception of a missionary move to the West that would ultimately result in the gospel being spread to the entire Roman Empire. As Paul writes to the Romans much later, he indicates that he has fully preached the gospel near and far. But did you know this claim would not have been accomplished had he not responded to the leading of the spirit. Maybe you have had some successes in ministry, but your prayer life is weak, or your sensitivity to the spirit’s leading is indistinct. Then may I suggest that your impact for the kingdom will be very limited. God might be speaking to you about a career change, a ministry initiative, a relationship break up, or a plethora of things. You and I naturally would respond to these situations in a predictable way, either simply to suit our fleshly desires, or to fit with our temperamental dispositions. But take time to pray, be lead of the spirit, and most of all be flexible. God’s desire is that you will be truly fruitful in your kingdom endeavours. As you endeavour to depend on God, may you bear much fruit and thus prove to be his disciple.

Fertilizer

2010-01-20T13:30:00.001-08:00

The parable of the sower in Luke 8, and Mark 4:1-20 speaks much on the importance of hearing the word of God. The sower goes to the field to scatter seed, and varying conditions are presented. The seed represents the word while the ground different types of people. Essentially, the seed falling on the wrong kind of soil does not produce any harvest at all. Whether it is due to worry, superficiality or trials, the word evaporates from the hearts of these different folks. The scripture then presents us with a fourth kind of ground. Others.... hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown. (Mark 4:20 NIV)

This fourth group of people have a heart to hear the word of God, and thus produce fruit. However fruitfulness differs even among this preferred category. They all hear the same word, yet some produce 30% yield, others 60%, and yet others 100%. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? Why is it that we have similar Christian folks all listening to God’s word, yet there are differing results.
Is God a respecter of persons, favouring some over others? Definitely not. How can a believer with a heart to hear produce a harvest with a return of 100% pertaining to the word?

The answer to these questions is found in verse 24 of Mark 4. Speaking about hearing the word, Jesus instructs us to pay special attention to the word. He goes on to state that the amount of productivity we receive from the word is directly dependent on the amount of time spent in the word. The amplified elucidates this even more clearly. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [c][of thought and study] you give [to [d]the truth you hear] will be the measure [e][of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (AMP)

For many of us, this sheds much light on a somewhat obscure scripture. God is indicating that our approach to scripture distinguishes us from other believers and may determine differing yields. In Understanding this concept is really not foreign at all, especially observing agriculture. If you have ever planted a crop, grass, or anything on multiple occasions you may notice different kinds of yield. Sometimes it may be seasonal variations, and other factors that dictate a good yield, but mostly what limits productivity is the soil fertility level. For example, you may have planted grass one year with little success, and then the next year you decide to add a little bit of fertilizer. All of a sudden your crop is acutely different. You discover that the soil, with richer nutrition is able to produce better.

So how does all this related to you personally. Jesus said the heart is like soil. Maximum productivity is of a believer is proportional to their ability to assimilate the word of God into their hearts. I trust you want to be a 100 fold producer. May I recommend that you spend ample time in the word of God? Not just reading in mass to cover as much ground as possible, but also taking the time to reflect on the meaning of what you are reading. This might mean you pause for days over a troubling passage, as you wrestle to fully be persuaded to do comply with kingdom directives. Though you might feel weak, or unable to comply with a specific standard you encounter in his word be patient and persevere. As you tackle the word in such a fashion, I believe your fertility in bearing Godly fruit will be clearly seen as fruit abounds in your life.

The right place at the right time?

2010-01-15T11:50:00.001-08:00

Have you ever been thinking about someone, and then all of a sudden you see them? Or you were delayed in traffic, by minutes, and as a result of being delayed you happen upon someone or a situation. Had you been seconds earlier, you might have not discovered that person.

I believe nothing just happens, and that there is no such thing as being at the right place at the right time. Granted their might be fortunate events, and unexpected occurrences which might defy logical explanation, yet I believe in the grander scheme of things. As God sees it, nothing just happens.

Acts 17 indicates that God knows the exact places, boundaries and habitations, and that he knew them ever before we did. A strong sense of predestination tints this verse. Yet our discussion is not that at all. Instead we focus on the sovereignty of God noted particularly in the chronicles of the apostles.

Philip had just finished a powerful ministry in Samaria. Upon his departure he was “lead” by the spirit down a desert road to the coastal city of Gaza. As “fate” would have it, he happened upon an Ethiopian dignitary struggling to understand a piece of scripture. Philip ministered the word to him and saw the gentleman get baptized. Upon ministering, he is then recorded to disappear, and is transported by the spirit elsewhere. Church history traces the advent of the gospel in parts of Africa to the conversion of this Ethiopian.

Can you imagine what would have happened if the Ethiopian was thirty minutes behind schedule, or if he had decided not to be viewing scripture as Phillip passed by. What if Phillip so engrossed in his charismatic work at Samaria had failed to heed the spirit? He would not have found himself lead on the journey to Gaza. The truth is this matter would not even be history. The royal official would have gone on in church obscurity, while Philip would have been none the wiser about the incredible harvest opportunity in Ethiopia that he would have had a key part to play.

Remember this; nothing just happens. Have you prayed for someone lately, and thought that their name just popped into your mind? What about the blessings that you received daily. Have you ever wondered if someone prayed for you down the line to receive them? I believe in divine intentionality. We may not know exactly what God is doing because he is divine, but we can be intentional.
Intentionally, we can pray for favour, strategically we can reach out to the hardened colleague. Proactively, we can stir up the gifts within us for God’s greater glory. As you yearn for God to use you, expect the impossible, believe the unbelievable and do the insignificant. Make small steps, and let the spirit direct your intersections, putting you where he sees fit, in order for his kingdom to be maximally affected.

Reflections on the harvest

2010-01-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send labourers out into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37-38

Jesus had just finished doing good to the needy. Preaching from town to town throughout Galilee and Samaria, his pattern was the same. He would teach the work, preach the good news of freedom, and he would minister healing to those who were in need. Often he would heal every disease and sickness at one time. Needless to say he was in much demand.

As the crowds flocked to him, he was over-whelmed. It was as if he were in a field of wheat that was burning up in the hot Palestinian sun. The farmer, though feeling adequately prepared with his standard cadre of hired hands, was ill prepared due to the extreme harvest that the year`s season brought. Thus acres of wheat would be ravaged by weather forces and possible marauders due to the lack of labourers to cut, bind, sheaf and thresh the harvest as was the norm.

Though Jesus was the pinnacle of mercy and justice, he himself felt inadequate due to the sheer volume of need. People around him were broken. The needs ranged anywhere from emotional to physical. Many he healed, others he forgave, and some he befriended. Whatever he could do to envisage the love of God to the lost world, he did. He the master gardener was fully immersed in the work of the harvest. But the need was much too vast. Even for him.

Thus out of sheer compassion for the lost, Jesus pours out his heart to his disciples. `Pray that the Lord would send more workers into the harvest field`.

Have you ever thought as your neighbourhood as the harvest field? Or your school, or college dorm? What are the needs there? Could Jesus of the gospels be bring healing to the broken people who surround you everyday? A most definite affirmative is the response that Jesus gives. `As the father sends me, send I you he says.` `Greater works than these shall you do`. Jesus thus indicating that he needs us to partner with him in the work of harvesting.

This week I have been bombarded with sheer need. Some need advise others need salvation, while many need a helping hand. I have been asking God if it`s my place to fulfill all these needs, and I hear one thing in my spirit. Leaders. Raise up leaders. Send leaders. Who are these leaders. These are servants, labourers, workers who have pledged to join in the harvest with our Lord of the harvest.

Yes I know your needs are many. Maybe you can`t be one of these workers, but you can pray. Pray for God to send help to the individuals in your world that you encounter every day. Pray that your eyes may open to even pray for these individuals. Pray that one day, maybe even soon, that God can raise you up to be a servant – a leader for his kingdom. Finally, whatever you do, pray that God will help you share his burden, and that you can play a part in the greatest harvest known to humanity – the harvest of people.

Conviction and the Holy Spirit

2010-01-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

“when he comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement” John 16:8

As I meditated on John 16, today I was once again impressed on the role the Holy Spirit plays in salvation. Jesus says that no man comes to me except the father draws him. If that is the case, then why do we try so hard to convert people? Could it be that our role is just simply to be a vessel, and that he does all the work?

Here are some thoughts on John 16:8ff, as Jesus promises the Holy Spirit after his return to heaven.

A. “in regard to sin because men do not believe me” John 16:9

I believe this indicates that ordinarily speaking men will not listen to the truth. In fact in our world today there is a self serving, self righteousness that pervades the modern mind. It reassures them of the reality on an amoral world. Sense, rationalism and the tangible, are what matters. We are truly incapacitated in our preaching against this philosophy......except for the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is able to bring holy conviction upon men, where we see in Acts, as the Apostles were preaching, people running up to them inquiring about salvation. When was the last time in our services that people asked to be saved? We practically have to beg them to “consider Christ” as if he were just another recommended item. Our words betray our belief that the Holy Spirit is impotent against the forces of unbelief in the godless in this world.

Jesus rears us in, reminding us that He alone is able to penetrate deep into humanity’s soul, and bring them to a genuine repentance and acknowledgement of their sin.

B. “in regard to righteousness”

Who model Christ? If we were to judge the authenticity of the Christian faith by the life of the Christians, we will be very disappointed. Statistics are clear. There is truly no difference in life praxis between Christians and non- Christians. Whether it be divorce rates, phobia stats or depression cases. Studies have shown that Christians largely are plagued with the same problems of non-believers. The sad part about this is they often choose to react to these circumstances similar to the world, devoid of God. Thus the world is confused if it simply looks at Christians for the standard of righteousness.

Again, I ask who models Christ? Jesus knowing that his absence will create a void in representing his image to the world, sends the Holy Spirit. Only a believer imbued with the presence of the Holy Spirit can truly communicate the gospel in such a way that the recipient acknowledges their unrighteous condition in the face of Christ. The Holy spirit reveals Christ’s true righteousness and offers it freely and unconditionally to the depraved soul.

C. “in regards to judgement”

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgement because of its tendency to be blinded to such harsh truths. Ask many today if they believe in an eternal judgement. Though answers may vary, many will tell you they doubt such a thing exists. Jesus cites the judgement of Satan as an indication that the world will be judged. While we don’t want to preach “gloom and doom”, as we witness to unbelievers we need the Holy Spirit to reveal to them the reality of judgement. There is a consequence for the life they lived on earth, and whether they received the saviour or not. They need to know that just as much as heaven is a reality, so hell is also. Who reveals this to them? Is it you and I with our fiery words and bold preaching? No! It is the Holy Spirit.

This year as you endeavour to share your faith, don’t stop. But do it with a renewed dependence and hunger for the power of the Holy Spirit. May your words not be wasted, and your deeds not be in vain. Let the Spirit guide you and lead you as you co-labour with Christ in reaching a lost and dying world.

Nothing’s Impossible.

2009-12-09T04:05:00.000-08:00

What does nothing mean? Is that everything, and anything? Is God indicating that if I asked for any whimsical fancy he would grant it? Can I ask for an infinite array of worldly pleasures and would he grant it to me? Is God some sort of genie who grants wishes to those who ask?

As I ponder these things I realize that there must be more than meets the eye to this verse. Granted, the scriptures are right in indicating that God can do all things. However when it pertains to what we can expect him to do there are limitations. Scripture indicates that God can do nothing outside of his will, and that when praying we should pray in line with his will. Thus the scripture is true pending only on its alignment with God’s will.

Thus knowing God’s will becomes the key. God’s will must first be understood and then discerned. Understanding God’s will is probably the easier of the two. We may understand that God wants us to be provided for, thus it would be his will for us to have a job. Further, it is easily understood that God wants us healthy, hence we can pray for healing. Also we know God wants people saved, thus we can expect those we share our faith with to come to Christ. Thus understanding God’s will in many areas is often quite apparent. However, when faced with a situation where you have prayed and nothing is occurring, you may need to discern God’s will in that instance. Many have fallen by the wayside on the journey of faith, because of ignorance in this area. They may even doubt God’s word simply because of lack of perceived results.

Discerning God’s will always begins with the understood will of God. For often one will be tempted to forgo believing in God’s word, were it not be a strong assurance in what God desires. It is a series of events, decisions and actions. Discerning his will involves patience, as one waits for God’s timing. It involves accountability, as one listens to Godly people as to how God’s will could unfold in their situation. Discerning his will involves personal integrity, as the individual is challenged to “walk the talk” and not act contrary to what their belief indicates. Discerning his will involves an intimate, ongoing relationship with God that is based on grace and not works. Thereby underscoring that its all about relationship and not the effects of the relationship.

God indeed has stated that nothing will be impossible for you and I. We must not be unclear about that. His word is truth. We need to be people of faith, latching on bull doggedly to his word and persevering to see it come to fruition in our lives. How else are we going to see a great God do might things for a hurting world? Yet at the same time, let’s not forgot that fulfillment of his word is often related to an appropriate season that must accurately be discerned.

Let’s achieve great things for God together. I challenge you to use your faith as a tool, not necessarily for personal gain, but primarily for kingdom purposes, expecting God to do great and mighty things, making the impossible become possible in your life.

The road less travelled.

2009-12-02T20:38:00.002-08:00

The battle is raging, the outcome of a gruesome, lingering war hangs in the balance. The forces of good and evil locked in arms wrestle to the bitter end to determine the fate of humanity. Jesus speaks about an unseen war in the spiritual realms. He states that the outcome of this war will be determined by the violence of the righteous. Is Jesus condoning warfare and bloodshed? Is this war literal? As I meditate on today’s Bible reading of the sermon on the mount, I am gripped by the analogy Jesus depicts of the reality of this life. Matthew 7, gives you and I two options. Either to take the favoured path through life or the less travelled road. Both have their pros and cons, yet the scriptures are clear. Only one road leads to God, which ultimately defeats the prevailing forces of this world.

Why then do most choose to fall casualty to the treacherous terrain and embark on the road of death. Matthew 7 reveals the answer. Jesus says the road of death is broad and wide. Indicating that it is easier to travel on. Think about it? If you had a choice to travel on a 5 lane interstate highway versus a one lane opposing traffic country road, what would you choose? Jesus clearly taught a revolutionary message that demanded too much from the average follower. No wonder they all left him at a point. Whether it is the glitter of materialism, the pizzazz of sex, or the solace in achievement’s and man-made accolades, the simple truth is that it is much easier to travel down the well worn path of the masses in this deceptive life we live in.

Jesus then speaks of a narrow road. This road similar to the “eye of a needle” which can only fit a few at a time. It is not glamorous, very costly and often lonely. It is the road far less travelled, which Bonhoeffer speaks of in his book the Cost of Discipleship. Though this path guarantees life, few find it Jesus touts. Why? Is he intentionally excluding his creation from spending eternity with him? By no means. The very opposite. He understands that our fallen nature will repel his righteousness, and disqualify us from eternal bliss. All too aware of the deception that our souls easily succumb too, he formulates a way that rescues us from our own self. He channels our often misguided hearts into a form which concretizes his image in us. The pressures of trials, the disappointments of friends, the revelation of our own shallowness, all acts as an imprint upon our souls, squeezing the bitter juice of this world’s fruit out, and creating a space where God can begin to work.

While this narrow road only gets worse, be encouraged friend for it leads to eternity. It also does get better. As you decide you will be a disciple, know that it will cost you something. In fact, it will cost you everything. Sell all you have, possessions of pride, self, rationalism, and yes possibly even material goods. Give your life to him, by giving your life away. Travel this narrow road, and don’t forget to catch a view from the window seat as God takes you on the journey of your life.

Practicing God’s Presence

2009-11-15T04:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a place, where you felt God’s presence intensely? This is no ordinary encounter. Your heart is beating, your mind is fully alert and possibly your body physically experiences unusual sensations. Maybe at a church service, or an encounter retreat, in your cell group or even at home, a supernatural encounter with God makes you incredibly aware of his presence.

Joseph was on the run from his brother Isaac. En-route to Haran, he stopped in Bethel for a bit of respite. He receives a dream featuring angels and a ladder whose top reached the heavens, and bottom touched the earth. The angels were climbing and ascending the ladder, as if to indicate a divine passageway from heaven to earth. Joseph wakes up startled, but also ecstatic, uttering this phrase “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, and I was not a aware of it”.

The presence of the Lord as encountered episodically often in the Old Testament, as God manifested himself sovereignely to his people. This would be a time for his people to experience his presence to fulfill a task, be encouraged, or to give a prophetic message. Things however changed in the New Testament. Jesus promised his disciples that upon his passage to heaven, he would send them another helper, this was the Holy Spirit. This same spirit was thus received after Jesus death and resurrection by those who committed their life to him in salvation. Further, the Holy Spirit was given in a deeper sense at Pentecost in Acts 2, and ensuing in a similar fashion. This Holy Spirit is nothing other than God’s presence.

As a New Testament believer you have God’s presence, abiding not just around you as Jacob encountered at Bethel, but inside you. You do not need to have a special retreat or church camp meeting to experience the Holy Spirit. He abides with you, ready to fellowship with you as you give him audience and approach him with a heart of faith. Jacob was unaware of God’s presence. Do you find yourself like Jacob? Is God inside of you, yet your life experiences are often devoid of this special relationship? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit, possessing the gift of tongues, yet you struggle to experience his presence? How do we become more aware of God’s presence?

I believe it begins with our understanding of his presence, despite our sensory perception. Our belief in the Holy Spirit must simply be by faith as revealed in the word of God. This faith comes as you spend time in his word reflecting deeply on the reality of the Holy Spirit in you. But to be truly aware of his presence requires you to bring this spiritual reality to your consciousness. Often times I would say audibly to myself “God is with me”, “the Holy Spirit is in me”. As I verbalize the spiritual reality several times, consistently over a period of time, I begin to be keenly aware of God’s presence.

Engaging in this activity is called practicing his presence. You intentionally practice being aware of the Holy Spirit regularly, fostering in you God’s heart and desires. As you engage in this process you will find your capacity to hear and obey God’s thoughts are heightened. He makes your energy reserve increase, your resiliency to sin stronger, your joy for the lord fuller, and your compassion for the hurting deepened, as he partners with you in living out his kingdom as a light in this dark world.

May you continue to be aware of his presence, that God’s potential for your life be fully maximized.

Mercy and Justice

2009-11-01T05:54:00.001-08:00

The citizens of Bethel were about to embark upon an annual fast. Before commencing, they inquired of the prophet Zechariah, as to God’s will concerning the fast. The answer they received was unexpected. One would have thought God would cheer them as they fasted, yet the opposite. They were rebuked. God actually told them not to fast. Can you imagine? You are about to worship God, read your word, go without food like Jesus did, but all of a sudden you get a glaringly clear signal from God to defer your spiritual activities.

Digging deeper we realize God was not against fasting. But in this situation, the people had overdone fasting. According to Isaiah 58, true fasting must result in acts of mercy and kindness to the less fortunate. Thus Zechariah corroborated Isaiah’s position when he indicted the people for choosing to fast. See, they had forgotten about works of mercy and justice for the poor. Mercy simply put is acts of kindness to help the oppressed, while justice is effecting change at the institutional level, such as in changing policies, in courts, etc.

Israel was in a time of prosperity. They had been freed from bondage to Assyria, Babylon and Persia. It was their time to rebuild temple and home. Thus they focused on industry, personal wealth attainment, home renovations, and maybe even temple duties. Yet they were forgetting the most important thing. For God, the hallmark of blessing, was that the poor would be catered to, and justice be served in their society.

God declared to Zechariah that he wanted to pour his spirit on the land, and restore Israel to glory. Yet this vision of the Lord would be inhibited if he could not trust his poor in their hands.
Maybe you are limited in a capacity, and wondering why? Or perhaps your clarity is blurring in areas of career, personal wealth and self-development goals. Why don’t you measure yourself up against the gauge of Zechariah “And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.” Zechariah 7:9-10

As a ministry, I believe we are in a similar season as the inhabitants of Bethel, Israel. We have just fasted and sought God. The next imperative is to take up the challenge and care for the less fortunate. Ask God to lead you in this period as to how to serve others. It might be in small ways such as talking to a homeless person, volunteering at a homework club, or larger ways such as advocating for injustice at a local town hall meeting. Remember, that in as much as you do to the least of these, you do unto him.

May you be blessed, by blessing others.

Crucified with Christ

2009-10-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

I have been crucified with Christ...and I no longer live.... but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body....I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.

As I did my devotions this morning I asked the Lord what does it mean to be crucified with Christ?

It’s you who walks down that street on that fateful morn. After being stripped of your dignity, you are completely shamed, you are broken, exposed to the public. No longer hiding to the world. Everything about you is seen and known. You are God’s instrument....God’s tool. Crucifixion is encompassed in the word Gethsemane, which is the garden where you were caught with the disciples. It means olive press. This was a press made of huge stones, where they would crush olives between heavy stones, squeezing them make oil. Maybe this weekend, you feel God is squeezing you.....As you are being crucified, the first stage is the beating. You are flogged. Your friends have left you....these are those from the world (and from the church) who want nothing to do with your new determination to live 100 percent for God. The road of crucifixion is a lonely one....the world does not understand.....Your family begs you not to do it citing the voice of reason.....they tell you don’t be radical for God....don’ t give all your time to the church....don’t be so fanatical...., your friends think you are crazy. Like Jesus you experience similar criticism from all and sundry.

As you walk down that lonely road of Golgotha with that heavy cross only one thing is on your mind, be faithful to your call. You are crucified with Christ.

As you walk you see people surrounding you....these are faces that you barely know, and some you recognize from this occasion or that. You pity them because they don’t know the life of a surrendered disciple. They think you have it hard....little do they know they are headed for an eternal destination that is infinitely worse than crucifixion. You begin to tear up.

As you end the 40 Day revolution you wonder if you have been really changed...Are you truly different from the world? Can your efforts, tears and prayer really make a difference?

You begin to pray the prayers of Christ for these lost ones...father forgive them....father help them...father don’t hold their sin against them....Lord bring your salvation to the world...you are gripped with the call of God... your life is no longer your own...you are now living for God.

Sin seems distance from you now. Your mind is so focused on carrying that cross that the thought of offense, anger, indiscretion, lust....is far from your mind. The weight of the world like Atlas has squarely being placed on your shoulder. You are God’s person for the hour.

Your strength begins to ebb from you....you falter....stagger....and fall...Someone picks you up, you look up and instead of seeing the person...all you see is a bright light...and you sense a warm glow in your heart....you know it’s your father, he is helping you through your darkest hour

The destination is reached. Golgotha: the place of the skull. The soldiers drape you around the cross...your clothes are stripped from you...your shame is seen by the world....but it doesn’t matter for you are doing the will of the father....The 6 inch spikes sent jolts of searing pain through your nervous systems...they remind you of hurts, fears, wounds, and let downs that you have felt all your life.....One hand after another, you are nailed to this tree. As your feet get nailed your entire body now hanging on just 3 nails is wracked with excruciating pain...Yet all that is on your mind is your father - God...how he has been good to you. Others yell at you to curse God and die....if he really loves you why would this happen to you....Yet you know better. He loves you that is why you are dying...dying to live. Dying to self...dying to sin....living a new life...Christ centred...God focused.....a new bloom of joyful life that will bring a touch of love to a hurting world.

Indeed you now understand what it means to be crucified with Christ...the life you live is exchanged for Christ....for it is he who lives on in you.........

Every day he calls you to remember your crucifixion.....he challenges you to let the vivid image of your death keep you pure, holy, and ready to live for God....daily....today....now...take up your cross....and follow him

Pride goes before a fall.

2009-10-09T13:41:00.001-07:00

Daniel 4, (one of our 40 Day Revolution readings) depicts a king who sought after his own gain despite the will of god, and his unappealing fate. As we explore this story together, I want you to put yourself in it. What would you do if it was you? Have you struggled with similar issues? How did you fare? How does God call us to handle things?

Nebuchadnezzar the powerful king of the Babylonians and the Chaldeans in the 6th century BC was laying on his bed, apparently unable to sleep when he began to have visions. These were not ordinary visions. They were messages from the almighty God. The first thing to note here is that God speaks to his creation. Here was an ungodly king who was privy to hearing from God. The content of these visions were alarming. After much search, the king found an interpreter in the person of Daniel, who essentially spells impending divine judgement upon the king for his prideful ways. The king is given about 12 months to repent, and avoid judgement, but chooses not to do so. Thus he is expelled from his royal seat, and finds himself an outcast, living amongst the wild in the forest.

One thing separated Nebuchadnezzar from success, it was his pride. The saying pride goes before a fall describes humanity to a tee. How many of us would say that we have been in situations where we knew God’s word, but chose to ignore it or procrastinate, and eventually found ourselves in hot water? For the king, his pride stopped him from repenting. After all things were going well. As he overlooked the city from his palatial roof top, the magnificent cityscape surely evidenced his greatness, and thus lured him into self deception.

Daniel in this story serves as God’s oracle to the king, and also to you and I. As God speaks to us constantly through his word, visions, other people, etc.,do we truly pay heed? What message of God are you currently ignoring? Don’t repeat the cyclical pattern of ancient Israel sojourning in the dessert aimlessly for decades. Is the Daniel in your life currently advising you on what to do, and are you taking it seriously.

Nebuchadnezzar eventually repented, and glorified God, but it was at great expense and much personal sacrifice. In today’s society, many are looking for rapid ways to attain fame, and gain public acclaim. While it might be tempting to follow the broad way of the masses, can I challenge you to look a different way. Jesus calls you and I to the narrow road. This road is travelled much less by many, but it leads to certain blessings and respite from the many pitfalls this life throws our way. Christ mantra was self sacrificing humility. He lived a revolutionary life of loving others until the end. God is calling you and I to destroy pride in our lives and defer to our friend, neighbour, spouse, leader and so forth. Challenge yourself to put other first, serve people, defer to them, give till it hurts, and I promise you, according to God’s word, in your humility you will be exalted.

Great faith of a revolutionary

2009-09-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

Abraham is commended in Hebrews 11 as being a person of great faith. What does it take to have such faith? Is it something unattainable for you and I?
The most striking thing about Abraham was his willingness to execute God`s will. See faith doesn`t necessarily mean you achieve some inhumane feat? At times it simply just means denying your own will, and deferring to God`s instead.
Reading Abraham`s history in Genesis 16 you will observe he was flawed like you and I. Yet despite his flaws, Abraham came to a place in his walk with God that set him apart. While others would have questioned God when asked to do something so unthinkable such as sacrificing one`s own child, Abraham simply trusted God. He was truly a revolutionary. Abraham had walked with God thus far, and had seen God prove himself time and time again. He had experienced God in several ways, beginning with his calling to venture into unknown territory, encountering God`s supernatural provision from enemies, receiving abundant provision for his family, and finally a child born to parents who where 90 and 100. Through it all Abraham had come to know God intimately, thus he trusted Him.
As God presents the ultimate test of faith to Abraham, the options were few. Deny yourself from your only son and give him up to death or indulge your own will, disobey God and walk away from a lifelong relationship with the creator. Giving up his son meant total loss. This was his only natural son born to him and Sarah. This son was his progeny, and would carry on Abraham`s legacy, oversee his estate, and would be an extension of Abraham into the next generation. These were benefits that every parent in the ancient East lived for. As Abraham took the fork in the path leading to self-denial, he was saying goodbye to his reputation, and embracing sure despondency. Abraham in his denial of flesh shows us what it means to have great faith. To the extent you are willing to sacrifice your own desire, the greater your faith would be.
What is it that you are holding on to? Let it go. Has God been challenging you to give up media, friends, a wrong relationship, or a personal habit? Take the fork in road of sacrifice. Deny yourself. It all begins with a firm decision to trust in God. As you act accordingly it won`t be easy.
Thus, as Abraham acted in faith, God proved faithful. His self-denial led to probably the greatest faith testimony in the Old Testament. Not only did God restore Isaac to Abraham, the nation of Israel came from Isaac, and ultimately our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we embark to live radically for God, we need to deny our self to experience great things. These things may not be immediately apparent, but as you consciously choose to love others, defer to God`s way, serve his people and his kingdom, you will see things change around you beginning with yourself. Get ready for a revolution, rise up and rescue this generation.

The river of the Spirit

2009-09-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the most high dwell” echoes Psalms 46, in respect to the phenomenon of the spiritual life found in heavenly Zion – God’s abode.

Ezekiel amidst his visions of the temple foresees an unusual occurrence. The temple was overrun with water. Not just a little splash of water, but a tumultuous amount amassing into a vast river that was too wide to swim across.

John 7:38, portrays one of Jesus temple outbursts, his words again speak of the river, for he says, “whoever believe in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.

Revelation 22, reveals yet again a picture of heaven, where the river flows in the midst of the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life, administering healing to the nations.

What is this river? Why is there a sense of its being related to God’s temple? Does it have significance for us today?

An encounter with the river, simply stated is an encounter with the spirit of God. While salvation invites God’s spirit, the river does not stop here. The river is simply a manifestation of God’s spirit that produces fruit in whatever capacity it is featured. No wonder Ezekiel sees the river reviving the deadness in the Arabah (dry places) of Palestine, while desalting the Dead Sea in order for fresh water fish to teem.

What are the dry places in your life? Are there areas that no one knows about, and you would like to forget about? Do you need a touch from the everlasting Holy Spirit? God likens his presence to a river because of the life giving qualities embodied in the river. The river brings life in so many ways, ranging from watering farmland to hosting fish for fisherman to farm, earning existence for themselves while providing food for others. An overflowing river was equated with a boisterous economy, sufficient trade, and abundant living.

God wants you to experience his river. The woman at the well in John 4, though she went to fetch water, was filled with God’s river. As she believed in Christ, the river of the Spirit washed away her sins. This new cleanliness refreshed her neighbours, who also pursued this river offered in Christ. When the disciples received the Spirit in Acts 2 this was also a manifestation of the river. They were so filled with life, that it bubbled over into an ecstatic utterance of heavenly origins, their spirits communicated with God’s spirit in a new language. The river of God was ushering them into a deeper dimension of the spirit.

What is your experience with the river? Have you experienced it ever. If so , is the river fresh in your spirit, or is it only a historic experience. Ephesians 5:18 intimates God’s desire is to constantly fill you with his river. As I write this article I feel his river. I can almost hear the water of the spirit lapping ever so gently on its river banks. I drink up his spirit with deep refreshing gulps. Knowing his spirit means things will be ok. Come the storms, temptations, trials, naysayers, etc, God’s river instils peace that’s synonymous with the serenity fostered in any nature lover gazing at a curvy flowing river on a bright summery day.

Are you thirsty? May you crave the river. Are you filled? May you want more. Let the river of God flow into you, but let it not stop there. Let others around you sense God’s presence in you. Did you know others are sovereignely placed around us as river water level indicators. People innately seem to sense if the river is flowing in us. Are you patient, kind, gently, peace loving? Or do things get you down, causing you to lose your peace often? Do you find ministry a joy, or a never ending burden? Step into the river with me today. Pause in your busy day. Step aside from your routine . Catch a God breath, talk to him even for a couple minutes, say “Lord I crave your river”. “I need you to fill me with your presence”. Then relax and see what God will do.

Metropolitan reflections.

2009-07-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

The city is a beautiful phenomenon. Much life, rich diversity, industries, hustle and bustle, people interacting in a wide array of ways are all familiar traits of the city. As I sit at a coffee shop in the big apple I can’t help but reflect on the metropolis.

God has much to say concerning the city. A city is often treated as a personality in the Bible. Cities are seen to have a purpose and God given responsibilities that demand accountability. Think about the city in which you live in. What is its God ordained purpose? Why was it built? Where has it succeeded? In what ways has it being derailed from its goal?

Old Testament Jerusalem was a beautiful city situated on the hilltops in a land that was blessed with much abundance. God ordained this city for his ultimate goal – world evangelization. This would happen on 2 levels, naturally through its prosperity, it would signify the crowning achievement of a divinely controlled nation, provoking the nations to seek God. Spiritually it would be the centre of Christianity, disseminating the gospel to the world via the death and resurrection of Christ.

Jerusalem however fell short of its mission in the Old Testament, leading to its destruction. The prophets speak of much factors that led to the fall of Jerusalem, that are strikingly similar to what plagues our cities today. Family instability, abuse, violence, crime, systemic oppression, social injustice, lust for power and religious apathy and pluralism are only a few of the items that indicted Jerusalem.

As we reach our cities for God today, what can we glean from Jerusalem? Which one of the ills facing your city has God burdened you, and what are you doing to change things?
May God empower you as you take on the challenge of healing your city, allowing God to be glorified.

Planted

2009-07-26T19:33:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time there was a tall, wide, hefty cedar tree that was admired by all far and wide. Then came an eagle that happened to land on the tree. As it flew away it grasped a branch in its clasp. The twig got planted in a fertile patch of soil by the river. After many days it sprung alive, and another tree was formed. Yet this new tree was weak and feeble and could not withstand much resistance, unlike its parent, it never grew to any significance and was eventually uprooted.

God used this allegory in Ezekiel to speak to the Israelites in their rebellion. As he predicted their fall, his question was “who planted you”? Who planted you is a question of viability and purpose. Except the Lord builds a house they that build, labour in vain. Many like the cedar are planted by accident. Often living life without a true sense of purpose and mission while some who fortune on a cause never fully succeed. Like the newly planted tree they lack the fortitude that undergirds a purpose birthed from the bowels of God.

Who planted you? What is your foundation? Why are you building? Search to answer these questions, hearkening to the voice of God himself. May you be a tall cedar of Lebanon spreading its branches wide, providing shade to many and nesting the birds of the air.

Humility

2009-07-17T05:10:00.001-07:00

Moses was a self proclaimed leader over his people. Sensing God might have a leadership calling on his life he takes matters in his own hands, which backfires, as he winds up killing an Egyptian official.
The saying pride goes before a fall is very fitting here, for upon discovery, Moses becomes a fugitive in the desert, living with nomads and shepherding animals.

This transitionary time spent in the desert was approximately 40 years. A lot happens in 40 years. Prior to his fall from grace Moses had been a prince in the court of Pharaoh. Lavish and splendour was what he was accustomed to. The life he now led was totally different. As a shepherd his occupation was considered very insignificant. Shepherds often travelled from place to place, not possessing much, and often dirty and smelly because of their intimate dealings with sheep. It would seem that Moses was cursed, or being punished by God, yet this situation was sovereignly being engineered by God.

It was here in the desert that Moses met with God. As a young prideful individual, he was hardly useful to God. Seasoned through the years through much manual labour and adverse experiences, Moses pride had been replaced with humility. So humble was Moses that at first he rejected God’s call to lead his people from captivity. Having surrendered his life over to God’s control, Moses’ situation changed. He spends the next 40 years, leading his people out of Egypt to the promised land.

You might be in a period of transition in your life, and wondering why things are not as bright as they could be? Maybe like Moses God wants you to release control of your own destiny, and trust his leading. As natural people though, we sometimes are unable to acquire true dependence on God except through trials. For it is often only after much disappointment that God becomes our only option. My advice to you is to thank God for his process of transition. Release the reigns of control to God. Learn the lesson of humility through your current situation, and watch God exalt you to the place he has called you to.

Unorthodox faith

2009-07-09T19:52:00.001-07:00

Have you ever believed in something completely unconventional? Studies in human nature reveal that we are products of our environment, creatures of habit and culturally bound. Thus it is quite rare to find a person embrace a faith or concept foreign to their pre-existing understanding.
Jesus message was unconventional. His teaching unapproved by the religious bosses of his day had a strange appeal to the masses. There was a man who believed in Jesus. Blind since birth, yet a religious adherent, his fate changed upon meeting Jesus. As he regained his eyesight from Christ’s touch, he knew whom he could put his trust in. Yet his belief in Christ was disapproved of by the Pharisees who were the religious authority of his day.
Organized religion can often be a stumbling block to faith in Christ. The Pharisees had to much to lose if they turned to Jesus. Today, our church leaders often suffer from the same fear. Some hold on to reigns of control by teaching biblical truth that promote denominational stance or by discouraging questioning of church taught doctrines. Like the Pharisees of old they monitor the intake of the spiritual diet of the masses, and all too often with mixed motives.
Eventually this new adherent of Christ was kicked out of the synagogue. His crime - belief in the unorthodoxy of Christ’s teaching.
Have you put Christ in a box? Do you expect him to move only in a way that has been prescribed for you? If you are then you are short-changing yourself. Scripture says all things are possible to him who believes, and with God all things are possible. God is a god of possibilities, and he wants us to simply believe. Are you burdened by unsaved friends? Have you lost hope concerning that intricate situation? Do you still believe there could be justice and social equality for the oppressed? Jesus answered Jairus whose daughter had died with those few powerful words “Have no fear. Just believe”.
The masses longed to believe in Christ because he preached hope with authority. Many were touched, many were saved, but only a few really believed in him. This was evidenced by the fact that he was deserted in his passion. As products of our environment, unorthodoxy of faith is rare. Yet that is what is required to follow Christ. I challenge you to love God, be passionate about your convictions, believe in the impossible, and take little steps. As you do, expect things to be unconventionally different for he rewards those who diligently and faithfully seek, trust and believe in him.

Signficance

2009-07-09T08:51:00.001-07:00

“No one who wants to be a public figure acts in secret”. These were the challenging words that Jesus disciples posed to him as he declined the invitation to publicly display his supernatural abilities. Surely Jesus wanted people to know he was the messiah that would come to redeem Israel from the torment of the Roman tyranny. Wasn’t Jesus here to stay? Wouldn’t he be crowned the king of the Jews? When would he release thunderbolts from heaven to silence the Roman enemy? All these questions and probably more would have been foremost in the minds of the Jews.

Jesus in his typical counter-culture way declined to satisfy their wish. He would stay in obscurity for a prolonged period of time, neglecting the opportunity of broadcasting his message. For Jesus, his message would be best received, not by spectacular, crowd-grabbing miracles, but by an unorthodox humility, requiring insignificance and death to self.

We are told in Philippians that Jesus found his significance in obedience to the father. This obedience ultimately resulted in his subjugation of his flesh leading to his incarnation, and crucifixion. Can you imagine? Jesus who is God, existing in a blissful euphoria in eternity chose to become one with fallen humanity. Why would he do this? Could it be that he was exemplifying the secret to humanity’s plague

Think about it. What caused sin, the fall of man, and the plethora of problems we face in our world today. It all resulted from pride. Humanity via Adam and Eve longed to elevate itself beyond God’s prescribed order. This pride so rooted in our makeup is typified by our desire to constantly elevate ourselves. Thus Jesus response to his disciples was strategic and intentional. In essence by avoiding man’s approval, he was asking them the question of the ages, “what determines your significance?”

What determines your significance? Is it you? Is it what others say about you? Could it be accolades, achievements and rewards of this life? What makes you feel good about yourself? Is it rooted in pride?
By acting in secret, Jesus teaches us not to desire to be famous, popular, rich or important. After all, he didn’t. We are meant to find our significance in Him. See Jesus found his significance in his identity. He knew who he was. Do you know who your are? He was the son of God. One with the father. Already elevated, already famous, popular and rich in the eyes of God. In 50, 80, 100, years, when we are all translated to the next life, what would really matter is what should drive us today. Strive to know God’s opinion of you. Anchor your significance in God, and crucify your fleshly demands. This won’t be a momentous victory, but God will keep you consistent as you stay committed to his purposes. Escape the short-lived significance of this world, withdraw from the crowds, and pursue your relationship with God, who thinks the world of you.

Waiting for direction

2009-07-07T02:34:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah a charismatic prophet of the Lord was bound by the spirit. Often he is found not willing to relay his unpopular message. However out of sheer obedience to God he delivers the oracle without fail to God’s people. So dependent on the Lord was Jeremiah, that if God did not speak he would not act.

In Jeremiah 42, a situation enfolds, where God’s people need direction. Upon inquiring of Jeremiah, they found he did not have God’s answer. Yet Jeremiah persisted in God’s presence waiting for God’s word. Ten days later, the word came, and he delivered a prophetic message to the people of Judah.

How important is God’s word to you? I mean receiving direction from the spirit of God, and then acting boldly. Jeremiah would not proceed until he heard. Unfortunately it took ten days for this to happen. The prolonged uncertainty must have been a bit trying for him. I wonder what he was doing for those ten days. I imagine he was seeking God and praying. Possibly fasting, worshipping, sitting, stationary, simply waiting for God’s presence.

Most people I know would act differently than Jeremiah. In our frenzied pace consumer centric culture people are often impatient when hearing from God. We seem to often act to quickly, devoid of the spirit of God, even justifying our decisions biblically, yet not clearly sure of the direction of God. Jeremiah could have given his best biblical advice, but yet didn’t. He relied on the Spirit’s fresh direction. Do you have a key decision to make? I know you probably have considered many reasonable options, such as best case scenarios, peoples’ opinions, etc. My question for you though is have you heard the word of the Lord? Do you truly feel his peace internally about your course of action? How do you know God has spoken? Did you persist in waiting?

God promised to pour out his spirit in these last days upon his people. He desires for us his people to be spirit led. I believe like Jeremiah, God will speak prophetically to you, giving you the direction, and the wisdom you need. However you must position yourself to determinedly wait on God’s presence. This might mean you may have to pray extensively for a season, delay a decision, and possibly choose a course of action that might be unpopular. Be rest assured, if you have heard from the spirit, your course of action will have God’s approval.

Who will go?

2009-06-25T06:16:00.001-07:00

Two separate encounters in one evening has made me aware of the dire need for us to speak the truth boldly to the lost on the streets.

The other day we encountered a girl who had strayed far from the Lord. Once a believer, she had now incorporated a plethora of beliefs to her spiritual diet. As she spoke we were amazed at her confidence. I sincerely believe if we had not had an intimate knowledge with truth, we would have been confused.

The same night, our second encounter was uncannily similar. A young man of a charismatic heritage had deserted the faith. He had traded simplicity of belief in Christ, for endless speculative dabbling in multiple philosophies. His articulation and cynicism were poised to unnerve the most avid evangelist.

How could people be so lost be yet so bold in their convictions. Like the blind Pharisee guides, their misconstrued ideals would ultimately lead many down the same spiralling path of uncertainty.

As we reflected on the evening, our hearts were burdened. We clearly understood Satan’s agenda for our age. Under the guise of tolerance, the lines are becoming blurred between traditional Christian truths, and other religions and philosophies. Many are falling by the way side, as they are left speechless when confronted with the outdated exclusivity of Christ’s sole claim to salvation.

Friend, do you have an answer for the hope in which you trust? Why is Jesus the only way? How is Jesus different than Muhammed, or others? How can we know your faith is real? Endeavour to tackle these questions. Understand deeper truths of scripture and study to show yourself approved. If you need to, then talk to your leader or fellow Christian peer about your questions.

The parting words from the young lady still ring loud and clear in my mind. Upon understanding we were Pentecostals, she remarked about their scarcity on the street witnessing scene. Understandably enough, she mistook us for Jehovah’s Witnesses. The sad thing is I encountered the same remark a week earlier from another individual.

Take on the challenge. Dare to understand your hope, and boldly take it out there. When stumped for words, remember, nothing can trump your testimony. Pray and God will lead you to a spiritually starving individual, who just needs to be reminded of what truth looks like.

The kingdom of God is within you

2009-06-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God in his incarnation on earth. The kingdom of God represents the rule and reign of God. Think about it. The word “king – dom” means king domain. Jesus Christ brought the domain of the king, God the father into manifestation on a daily basis. This kingdom was one of immense good news. The miracles, radical love, intentional community and sacrificial service that Jesus modelled were all semblances of this kingdom that he inaugurated.

Jesus not only initiated this kingdom, but passed it on to others. His disciples as they believed on him received the kingdom. Jesus said the “kingdom of heaven is within you” to his disciples, including us in this amazing statement. The kingdom of heaven being inside of us has tremendous ramifications. Could God be saying that heaven’s power, and manifestation potentially lies inside of us? Is this real or abstract? How do we make this kingdom a reality in our world?

I believe the key to seeing the kingdom of God established in our lives is an acute awareness of the existence of the king within us. Recently God has been impressing on me the need for intentional evangelism. One key reason I believe people don’t evangelize is they simply don’t realize firstly their potential, and secondly the dire need. If I really believed that I was the answer to the poverty, hunger, disease, social oppression, injustice, wickedness, vile and every unthinkable perpetration of fallen humanity I believe that I would wake me up. If I understood that in heaven I will cry tears of regret for every wasted moment, I would be more intentional in the here and now.

See, you and I can understand that Jesus is the answer. After all we glibly say “if God wills” he can do anything. Yet Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you. Not above you. Not in heaven. Not in Jesus. But within you. See with Jesus within you, God’s grace and power to alleviate the suffering of humanity has been transferred to you. Christ is in heaven, his job on earth is finished. We are the answer. He has left you and I with the Holy Spirit to establish his domain (the domain of the king) on this earth.

Fellow revolutionary, the hour is short. Jesus says night comes quickly when its too late to labour. The harvest is ripe. Lift up your eyes and see the vast world around you in need of desperate care. Catch an eternal view, and realize that you are the difference between people entering God’s kingdom or being destined to perdition in hell. Manifest the kingdom today. Pray for your neighbour, visit a friend, tell them about your story, see God move to establish just a bit more of his rule in their life, and catch a glimpse of heaven here on earth.

One thing you can do to make God happy

2009-06-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

If I told you that you could do something for God that would make him happy what would you think? God is infinitely mighty, exceedingly abundant in beauty, esteem and deed. We on the other hand are human, weak, limited and totally dependent on the grace of God. Yet He depends on us to bring him immense joy. How paradoxical.

Jesus tells a few parables that illustrate the father’s heart in the gospels. A son deserts his father to find his fare in the world. The father is left heartbroken for an indefinite period of time, not knowing whether his son was dead or alive. A man owning a large amount of sheep that are healthy, safe and well-fed, is depicted as being uneasy, and restless until he finds a single mere sheep that has strayed away. Similarly a lady having lost a single gold coin does not rest, but turns her house upside down in search of it.

These stories all end up similarly. The father, man and lady find their desired item. The father is ecstatic as his son returns to him, figuratively from the dead. The man, along with lady both rejoice upon their discovery. All these individuals are full of joy and celebrate their good fortune.

Do you want to make God happy? Would you like to see him rejoice and celebrate? Then help him! The father bereaved of his son was devastated, and would not be truly comforted until his son came home. God is like this father. How many of God’s children are lost? Wandering in rebellion through the wilderness of this life and completely detached from true life. God needs our help!

As the shepherd finds his lost sheep and celebrates, scripture tells us such is the celebration that ensues in heaven upon the return of a lost child to the father. Can you imagine? God throws a party each time someone gets saved.

Help God to discover his children by reaching out to the lost souls of this world. Romans 10 indicate that they will never know except you and I tell them. We hold the key to God’s joy. Think about that last statement. Without you reaching out to souls, we leave God sad, burdened and devastated.
Won’t you help him today! Find someone who doesn’t know him and reach out to them. Perform a kind act. Let them know you care. Point them the way to God. Tell them about the reason for your joy. Help bring a smile to the father’s face today.

Joy to the world

2009-06-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

If you had to think of meaningful events in life that would bring tremendous joy, what would you think of? Would it be the advent of a new job, the prospects of a romantic relationship or graduating from a post secondary institution? Whatever the event might be the impact of these situations is similar - gladness, happiness, joy and a desire to celebrate.
Luke 2 details an event which is bound to bring joy to any family. The birth of Christ is foretold via the angel stating that much joy will come to humanity because of this momentous event. The joy to be experienced by this birth was beyond the norm. Certainly the family and friends of Mary would be ecstatic at the birth of a new child. But beyond them, the world was to rejoice at the birth of Christ who signified freedom for all.
Having recently experienced the birth of yet another child into our family I have a little understanding of the joy that child birth brings. I recall the instant shouts of joy that my wife and I elicited upon seeing our child for the first time. Even the nurses who were strangers with us joined in ecstatic celebration as they praised the baby and the successful birth. As the hours and days progressed, the joyous responses were evidenced by phone calls, text messages, e-mails and visits by friends and family members. It seemed as if the news of the baby instantaneously brought people together, made faces smile and gladdened hearts everywhere. Even now as it`s been five short days since Elizabeth`s birth, my heart is warmed with joy at the thought that God has blessed me with yet another gem.
Christ being born was definitely joyful news to all who heard. The world could rejoice at the good news that his birth represented. The joyful declaration of the angels only confirmed what Isaiah had prophesied 500 years earlier. There would be a servant of God who would bring freedom and deliverance to those who needed it. This freedom was spiritual, yet tangibly felt. Christ would liberate us from the grasp of addiction to sin, while bringing us temporal relief from pain, sickness, misery and other felt needs.
Have you heard the good news? If not then receive it today. Do you know the good news? Then share it! Don`t dare keep it to yourself. We have the most sought after piece of information on the face of the earth. Let`s do all we can to live and preach this wonderful news, that the world can came to know the joy we have?

Leaping in enthusiasm

2009-05-16T07:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Someone we had recently been praying for recently gave their heart to Christ. Our hearts were filled with joy as we prayed with this person. God is really wonderful.

You could say we were very enthusiastic about what God had done. Enthusiasm literally means zealous or passionate interest in something. This dictionary definition however does not do justice to the historical connotation of the word.

The Greeks initially used enthusiasm to describe one who was possessed by a god. Initially this was really a person who was drunk, being possessed by Dionysus, the god of wine. This person obviously would be exuberant in actions and gestures beyond the norm. The word evolved eventually to mean someone who was filled with religious and sometimes political inspiration. Evidently these religious zealots still exhibited outer characteristics that warranted the same description. Essentially through history, enthusiasm has had both positive and negative connotation depending on the society and context. However the exuberance of the enthusiast in observable actions has never changed.

The reason we focus on this word is its linkage to the word joy in the New and Old Testament. “Leaping for joy” in scripture is rooted in the word enthusiasm. Thus, as Mary felt Jesus kick in her spirit, or as the disciples are enjoined to leap for joy at impending persecution, they are engaging in being enthusiasts.

What word picture comes to your mind in relation to enthusiasm? Do you envision a youth leaping for joy at the prospect of going on a summer vacation or a sports fanatic running wildly onto the field as its favourite team just won the cup? These pictures are both accurate. God desires that we would be enthusiastic in our celebration of Him. When he speaks of being joyful, it doesn’t relate to only inner contentment and satisfaction. It speaks of an exuberant, almost fanatic or infantile, outward display of unusual gesticulation. Does this describe you? Are you joyful? Are you enthusiastic in relation to God?

After last night my understanding of biblical joy has compounded. As a few of us stayed late to pray, we encountered God in a unique way. Several times during the prayer time, God’s spirit which possesses us was felt in an uncontainable fashion. We found ourselves literally leaping for joy and running around. There was no inhibition by our age, culture or temperament. I am not sure why I leapt for joy. It could have been because of excitement at the recent salvation or a plethora of things God has done. Whatever the cause it was a childlike-biblical response to the abundant excitement felt inside.

Be joyful. Rejoice. Be an enthusiast. Leap for joy. As you practice the joy of the Lord, his strength, splendour and goodness will be more evident in your life.

How does a disciple, rescue a generation?

2009-05-08T04:28:00.000-07:00

We have recently been meditating on the book of Nehemiah. As you might know, because of Nehemiah`s selfless and courageous desire to help his fellows Jew, he forever changed the destiny of God`s people. His follow through in building the walls spurred a series of events that was intrinsic to Jewish identity. The walls, led to the building of the temple, which allowed for temple worship, and ultimately repentance and recommitment to God`s law by the Israelites.

Did you ever wonder what motivated Nehemiah? Who was this radical disciple? How does he differ from you and I?

The amazing thing about Nehemiah is that he was just like you and I. He was a privileged believer, living his own life, at the pinnacle of the career God had destined for him. As God began burdening him about the fate of desolate Jerusalem, he must have wondered, what could one individual do? After all he was just an individual in a complex system designed to favour only the privileged few. The admirable thing about Nehemiah was that despite these natural convictions he had, he still acted. He felt it was not fair that he should live lavishly, while God`s people were broken down. Thus he followed his gut, and was impressed to communicate his feelings to his king. Did you know however that Nehemiah was not guaranteed any outcome? The king could have laughed at him, ignored him and dashed his hopes to nothing. However Nehemiah`s sense of mission overcame the fear of failure. He spoke. We are told that fear of failure is often what stops any of us from trying something different. Fortunately enough in Nehemiah`s sake, God granted him favour, and the events we read about in Nehemiah ensued.

How does a disciple rescue a generation? Simply by being faithful to the simple directives God puts in your heart. You will never know the impact of your actions, until you try. Maybe God is asking you to talk to a neighbour or a co-worker, but you find yourself too preoccupied. Or you are getting an urge to commit to a certain cause, but you lack the follow through. It could be that He is speaking to you about making steps in a certain direction in your life, yet without the big picture you are hesitant.

The only difference between many of us and Nehemiah is a commitment to obeying God. Many don`t fully know that their obedience could determine the freedom of others.

Begin today by being a Nehemiah. Commit to obeying God in the little things, when no one is looking. Develop a keen sensitivity to God`s voice, so that when he does lead you to rescue a generation you are ready, willing and able. Maybe you will end up like Nehemiah, and your convictions will cause you to relocate to an area of great depravity to bring freedom to many, or you will simply change the world right where you at. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, and leave the rest to God.

God`s word is not enough

2009-03-22T04:38:00.001-07:00

The situation looked bleak. King Hezekiah was under extreme pressure. He was faced with the real possibility of being decapitated by his enemies, while his kingdom would surely be ripped apart. After all, Assyria had already done such atrocious things to many, including their sister state Israel. The choices were clear, either fulfill the terms of the king and surrender or face certain demise. Surely these were the only two options that all his predecessors would have considered.

Hezekiah had one final hope. He sent word to the prophet, God`s servant. Could it be possible there was a third option? Could God deliver his people supernaturally from a nation so great? As Hezekiah waited for God`s word, he knew that his fate would soon be decided.
Imagine the anxiety, the panic, the double minded thoughts that would be running through the King`s head. Will God deliver? Would the answer be favourable? What if the answer was favourable and God would deliver, could Hezekiah really afford to wait?
Have you ever faced a situation where you could not afford to wait? Yes God loves you, and you know what the Word says. But can you truly afford to wait for God`s word….for God`s timing?
Hezekiah needed more than the word to assure his deliverance. He needed bold confidence to act on God`s directives. Boldness is required when the odds are against you, even if you know what God is saying. When your friends are pulling you the other way, or life stresses seem to dictate another gospel. I bet you that you know what God is saying. Your trouble is often confidence to wait, or lack of boldness to act on God`s commands.
Well listen to the end of the story as told in 2 Kings 19. The Lord supernaturally delivered Hezekiah because of his bold confidence. Not one single arrow or weapon was used by Judah. Yet 185,000 Assyrian soldiers fell by the Lord`s angel. Totally supernatural deliverance was obtained by the hand of the Lord.
Bold confidence infuses patience to wait on God`s word. May you continue to seek God`s word. But beyond that may you persevere in His word with daring boldness and strong confidence.

Have no fear!!!

2009-03-14T04:21:00.001-07:00

These were the words of the prophet to his servant, in the midst of sure devastation and death.

The armies of Aram (Damascus) had surrounded Elisha and his servant. Their crime. Hearing accurately from God and relaying intelligence information to the king of Israel.

Thus a whole army descended on two unarmed individuals. This situation was far worse than that of Elijah and Jezebel. Where Elijah fleeing from Jezebel’s threat, ended up in the wilderness in utter despair, hunger and frustration.

Fear is real. I repeat, fear is very real. Recession fears are real. Fear of economic collapse is bona fide. Fear of marriage or relationship failure abounds. Fear of personal failure plagues people, and limits their divine potential.

Elisha responded to fear in an unusual way. Elijah fled, while Elisha looked at the situation differently. Do you look at things in the natural, or can you see with the eyes of faith? Elisha’s servant was astounded, as his spiritual eyes were open to see reality. What is reality? I heard a definition once that reality is the highest form of truth. Facts are true, but God’s truth is in a sense higher than facts. God’s word is true reality. Thus, while it was true that the prophets were outnumbered, the real truth was revealed. In fact, God’s army was greater. The servant was startled to see the hills surrounding them full of a heavenly army. Men, horses, chariots of fire loomed larger than life in comparison with the now puny seeming Aramian army.

Have you ever thought of looking at things differently? I know the facts are real. Your life, job, career, family, health, burdens, pains, are all real. But maybe God wants you to pray the Elisha prayer today. “O Lord open my eyes that I may see [reality]”. Let the reality of God’s word dispel the fear arising from current situations in your life. Find out what God’s word says. Pray, meditate, and fast about his word get another vision of your circumstances, seeing what God sees about things. Then stand boldly and be encouraged that those who are with you are more than those who are with them.

A little compromise

2009-03-06T04:53:00.002-08:00

Have you ever wondered why God is so particular? When God gives a command do you fully obey, or do you find ways to do things a little bit different?
This was the situation with story of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was a successor of King Solomon. Jeroboam had been promised a long lasting dynasty much like David if he followed God`s ways. This was particularly significant since King Solomon had forsaken the ways of God, through compromise. God was looking for one would serve him whole heartedly.
Jeroboam`s biggest compromise was in matters relating to the worship of Yahweh. God had taken time to institute an intricate system of rules and regulations of how to approach him, via his priesthood and in the temple dedicated to his own name. Jeroboam in an attempt to maintain loyalty of his Israelite subjects decided that he would duplicate the entire cultic worship system of Yahweh. Thus he built places of worship all over Israel, set up his own priests, made images of God in the form of calves, and other gross violations of God`s commands.
While this act of a duplicate worship system was a logical political manoeuvre it was a complete forsaking of God`s laws. It made much sense especially since Israelite had now been divided into two separate kingdoms (Judah and Israel) to have a separate worship system for each nation. It seemed reasonable to modify God`s prescribed laws, since this was a different situation. Surely God would overlook these minor changes, in understanding of the larger picture, kingdom sovereignty.
Have you ever found yourself thinking like this? You know what God has said, but you justify it based on a reason that might make sense. Can a little compromise really hurt? After all, God knows that I love him, and I am trying my best? Well look at Jeroboam`s story as an example on compromise. Because of this act of Jeroboam, he plunged a whole nation into idolatry for centuries. Much sin, including violence and murder resulted from his compromise. Further, Jeroboam`s offence is attributed as a major cause of the Israelite`s exile, where millions were displaced from their lands and carried off to Assyria in shame and bondage.
So what is the result of my decision to compromise? How many people will be affected? Does it really matter? These are important questions. Jeroboam`s example teaches us never to flirt with disobeying God`s commands, for we never know the end of our compromise. My challenge to you as you strive to be like Christ is to weigh every choice, judge every thought, and act as if Christ was physically present. Decide you will not toy with compromise, and let God build a kingdom through you that will have eternal significance.

The facts of faith

2009-03-06T04:53:00.001-08:00

Are you like me where you are tired of the facts? I have stopped counting the encounters that I have had with people where they have told me why in no uncertain terms that this idea, a certain vision, or a dream that I have will not come to pass.
The hard part is that you know they are right. Worse is that you have been trying not to think of all these variables, which they so insensitively brought up. As I pondered over the message for the month I realized that the answer is easy for all the naysayers. Simply agree with them. See you and I cannot deny the facts. It is clear that we cannot achieve God’s plan for our lives. Further, it is evidently clear that we don’t know what we are doing? Just think about all the blunders that you have made in your life….see what I mean? Only God truly knows what he is doing, and thank him for the bit of wisdom he bestows us.
My point here is that you need to free yourself up from trying to ignore the facts. See the facts help me realize even more than ever before that I need God. In fact, God is one fact that all my naysayers won’t deny. Even if they are not Christian, they typically have a God factor. All you have to do is get to know your God facts. Yes there is a problem….a situation….a mountain. But what has God told you about that situation? What does his word say? I bet you if you spent more time in the word than worrying about the negative facts, you will begin to see things God’s way. Yes visions must be tweaked, plans must be changed, and even bad ideas pitched. Yet God still needs you and I to be true to our name as believers, and trust him. Let’s turn to God. Take the facts to God in prayer, hear his voice, act on it, and watch him turn the facts into God possibilities.

God has the answer.

2009-02-25T04:04:00.000-08:00

David king of Israel was facing a severe crisis. The land was plagued by a famine that would not abate. Scripture says in 2 Samuel 21 that David sought the Lord for a solution.

Seeking the Lord I believe is the answer to all our problems. While sometimes the answer comes via natural wisdom, commonsense, or the advice of friends, ultimately it is the Lord who orchestrates all affairs. However there will be times such as in this Davidic famine experience that defies natural wisdom, and we simply must seek the Lord for an answer.

What does it means to seek the Lord ? Is it just that we ask God pertaining a request, and simply hope for the best. What if we don`t receive a definite answer, do we simply move on proceeding with our own best judgement ?

Seeking the Lord is best answered in the context of David`s life. At other times when in crisis David would inquire of God via a prophet, priest, or the ephod (divine articles of clothing). In these instances a clear, understandable message was elicited from the Lord, and then acted upon. Whenever David sought the Lord, he waited for God`s word before proceeding. Thus in our narrative here David seeks the Lord concerning a prolonged famine. Think about it. If you had a severe problem spanning three months, would you really be able to wait for an answer from God, or would you lose hope, and relegate the non response simply as God`s ultimate will ? What place does perseverance have in your thinking as you seek the Lord for certain issues ? What is mind boggling is that David didn`t seek the Lord for 3 days, 3 weeks or even 3 months. He sought the Lord consistently, determinedly and perseveringly for 3 long years. I can imagine that these 3 years were full of pain, frustration, numerous complaints from his subjects and myriads of interwoven issues. Yet David did not give up, he simply sought the Lord as he had done at other times.

Amazingly the answer finally came. It was not something easy, but it was clearly divine. David executed God`s dictated command, and the famine relented. Thus ultimately was because he sought the Lord. As you move forward this year in kingdom mandates and pursuits, decide to seek the Lord always. Purpose in your heart that this is the only way, and be immobile at the thoughts and temptations to accommodate to natural directives rather than God`s word.

None can match the spirit`s power.

2009-02-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

David is a fugitive, running for his life, with Saul, the king in heavy pursuit. We read about this in 1 Samuel 18-20. How does one individual outwit a king who is obsessed with destroying him? Simple. It is by the power of the spirit. We are told that the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul. This indicates he was vulnerable, defenceless to the whims and dictates of his flesh. No wonder David cries out in Psalms 51:11 `take not thy Holy Spirit from me`. Where would we be without the Spirit? We would literally be up a creek like Saul was. To further compound his problem, Saul was given an evil spirit from the Lord. He was practically a raving lunatic, obsessed with only one thought – the death of David.
Our hero David represents what it is to be possessed of the Spirit. It seemed as Saul lost the presence of God, David gained more of the Spirit, and he continued to play his melodious harp. The more Saul lost grace with God, the more David gained favour with God and with people. God was with David wherever he went. When the Spirit is with you he delivers you from the throes of death itself. David is able to repeatedly escape from the murderous intents of his commander and king, Saul.
One standoff related to us in this narrative is that of Saul and the prophets. David escapes to Samuel, who hides him in the place where the prophets gathered. Saul sends multiple companies of men to retrieve David, but he grossly underestimated the power of the Spirit, for the soldiers overcome by the spirit began to prophesy. Finally Saul himself comes for David, the Spirit overcomes Saul, who rips off his own clothes, and lay on the ground prophesying. The mighty king was felled by the dynamic Spirit of God.
Don`t you long to be like David. I do. Encompassed by the spirit, driven by the whims of God, anointed for ministry. I tell you the Spirit will make you supra-normal. You will do things that you cannot do in your own might. Men and women will be astounded by the remarkable godliness that marks your life. But what do you have to do. Very simple. Do what David did. Live to please God. Say no to your flesh. Don`t retaliate against your enemies. Worship God like David did on his harp, but most importantly keep a soft and open heart to the Lord. This means surrender. Allow him to lead you wherever, whenever to do whatever. You know when he speaks to you don`t you? I believe you do. It`s soft, sensitive, persistent. Not in your ear, but in your heart. That knowing assurance that God is with you. Yes, that is the voice of the Spirit, may you heed it and be blessed.

Risen Disciples, Rescuing a Generation

2009-02-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered why on earth you are here? I have news for you, God knows and has revealed it in scripture. It is to do the works of Christ. Our first call of course is to know God, to be worshippers of Christ, to be true children of God. (John 6:28-29). When you got born again, you achieved your eternal destiny. Your light was no longer darkness, confusion vanished, clarity was restored, you became a child of God. However God left you and I here on earth to complete a job. He rescued us, woke us up and calls us as risen disciples to rescue this generation. This is why we get together as a group of young adults. Our mission is to raise up a generation of believers, that are discipled and released to serve, sacrificing radically in order to transform our culture and community by providing justice for the spiritually and socially oppressed within the city of Toronto.
Thus we don’t live for ourselves anymore, we live through God for others. We are believing to raise up a movement of young adults who believe the same we do. Living in purity for God, sacrificing radically and loving passionately. As we demonstrate our zeal for God through much ministry activity and community fellowships we are focused on our specific goals for 2009.
*To see 290 young adults coming together in our monthly services
*To see our cell groups multiply to 20 by the end of 2009

The months ahead promise lots of prayer, toil, labour, and tears, but its all for the master, it’s all for him. I beg you to jump on board. Find your niche in the ministry, reach out, do something great and you will be glad you did.

The hows of multiplication?

2009-01-23T13:01:00.001-08:00

If I were the disciples in the story of the feeding of the five thousand, I would have many questions. It had been a gruelling ministry season. They had been toiling, crowd controlling, running errands for Jesus for the last 3 days, as he ministered to a staggering crowd whose desire to linger with Christ wouldn’t wane.

Finally, the break that the disciples were hoping for had come. Jesus Christ looked at them and said it was high time that the crowds got something to eat. Naturally speaking the disciples would expect Jesus to send the crowds away since there were so many. Yet he didn’t…he wouldn’t. Jesus Christ was preparing them for a lesson in the school of the extraordinary, as he instructed the disciples to feed the crowds.

The disciples puzzled must have thought Jesus was crazy or joking. Feeding 10-20 thousand people (women and children included) was no joke. Besides all they had were five loaves and two fish. Sure Jesus had done many miracles prior, and so far his word was credible, yet this was different. No one had fed so many, with barely nothing. Food multiplication was far from their thought processes. Naturally speaking, people bought food, or prepared food when they were hungry, thus that was the thing to do.

As we embark on a miraculous journey this year, what do you expect God to do and how? Are you looking for God to move or you. Naturally speaking we know we need to plan, and figure things out. But who is our trust in, and to whom do we look to for results? The disciples represent many of us in that we are stuck in cultural and traditional models of viewing God’s workings. We look to see how God has worked around us, in our circles, and with contemporaries. Yet God clearly declares that all things are possible to him who believes. Belief for us becomes often a mental assent, where we say yes but.

Thus the disciples represent you and I as the “yes buts” people. Yes Lord you will do miracles in my ministry this year, but this is what I am prepared to expect. Jesus, yes I know you will take care of that problem, but its probably going to be this way.

I was recently overcome in a service by a miraculous stream of God’s healing power. This reminds me that while doctors, aspirins and knee braces are necessary, Jesus is the healer.

Friend, Jesus is the multiplier, Jesus is the provider, Jesus is the deliverer. But he needs you and I to hang on to him in faith. For his says all things are possible…not for those who try, not even for those who are faithful. No. All things are possible to him who believe.

So dream big. Reach out big. Talk big. Act big. Do something big, for we serve a tremendous God, who says, I can do more than you can ask think or even imagine, according to the power that works within you.

Movement

2009-01-02T09:08:00.001-08:00

Joshua moved a mighty nation through the River Jordan. This would only have been accomplished via a number of symbiotic events inducing hope in an almost impossible vision and commanding a forceful thrust able to accomplish their goal.

It is key at the end of Joshua 1 that the people saw Joshua as powerful as Moses, hence giving their allegiance to him. The first event occurring here is that of obedience. The people simply chose to obey thus making it easier for Joshua to lead them according to the dictates of the Lord. The second event is that of communion. This was no individualistic bunch of robot obeying a dominant general. They were a family, a Godly community submitted to authority. It was through their expression of this koinonia (fellowship) that a fluid passage would occur. This kingdom community thus would consecrate themselves together as the law demand and participate in cultic worship at the leading of the priests, enabling them to maintaining unified fellowship.

Another event is that of the supernatural hand of God. This was a two edged sword that had both direct and indirect effects in the Israelite’s victory. Directly, they experienced miracles such as the parting of the Jordan, thus allowing them to boldly forge their way towards Jericho. Indirectly these miracles generated fear in the enemy’s camp immobilizing them and greatly contributing to their defeat. A final event observed in the movement of the Israelites is that of order. Having the ark precede them carried by the priests (probably in conjunction with procession regulations as revealed in Numbers) as they embarked in to the Jordan. The import of this is that order is intrinsic to victory. Godly order. As the Israelites followed God’s prescribed order, the waters of the flooded Jordan abated, allowing an entire nation to cross in a relatively short amount of time.

God’s words to Joshua initiating the Jericho march are probably the most significant. “The time has come for you to lead the people, the Israelites into the promised land” (Joshua 1:2). This event is timing. For us as believers we also need to understand that the time has come to fulfill God’s destiny for our lives. 2 Corinthians 6 indicates that the time to fulfill God’s salvific commission is now. Not tomorrow, not next year, but now.

Thus be motivated by these events occurring in the book of Joshua. Obedience, Godly community of the saints, submission to Godly authority, a spirit filled life, and God’s timing are but a few keys that you will need to fulfill your destiny, participating as a co-labourer with Christ himself in the fields of harvest.

A new family

2009-01-02T05:53:00.001-08:00

Family in ancient times were essential for survival, industry and affluence. Imagine the immense surprise that Jesus’ disciples would have met with when told that following Christ would bring family division in Matthew 10. Is Jesus against family? Why such polemical talk from the saviour who has created family and upholds peace and harmony.

Christ chose to use the established intrinsic institution of family to convey the new community that he had come to establish. This community would be as integrated as the family, yet also bring strong opposition.

The close knit characteristic of the family meant that Christ’s disciples were supposed to be united. Though they would come from different backgrounds, philosophical views, and different ethnicity (Romans and Jews) they would be grafted into a new community that was as close as the family. In this new family Zealots would have to love Romans, Jews would fellowship with Gentiles and slaves with their masters. No longer would one define themselves simply by their birth family, but their spiritual family would be just as important. This of course meant that prejudice and superiority ideals had to be done away with. Walls of division and suspicion would disintegrate as these believers worked towards having a close fellowship in Christ.

Not only would these new believers have to overcome divisive boundaries, they would also be subject to persecution from their own family. Parents wondered why their children were now involved with others not like them. Family traditions that were unbiblical or religious would be ignored causing further division. A passionate family member might even choose to forsake the family business for the calling of ministry.

Thus Jesus reminds us that joining his family takes extreme commitment. We commit to loving one another though we are very different. We commit to getting to know each other, understanding one another and valuing our differences. Despite the criticism of the world and often well meaning loved ones, our eyes remain on the prize – of maintaining real unity with those whom God has called us to share this supernatural life with.

So God I thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to be a blessing to day, serving, loving, giving all I am for those you gave your all to. Amen.

A new law

2008-12-29T09:26:00.001-08:00

Our recent focus on Matthew 5 has given me an appreciation of Jesus’ radical teaching. The scene is the hills of Galilee. Jesus sitting on a mountaintop addresses his flock. A consistent theme in this chapter is that mere legalism in following God’s commands is not enough. One must obey the spirit behind the law. Thus Jesus asks his disciples not just to greet their friends, but also those who are unlike them. He asks them not to just love their friends, but even pray for those who persecute them. Further he enjoins them to bless those who falsely accuse them. On and on Jesus continues to challenge orthodox rabbinical teaching, where they taught that righteousness was based on fulfilling their version of the law.

You can just imagine the Pharisees hearing Jesus’ teaching and seething with anger. Jesus finally says except your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “But how could this be?” A faithful Jewish peasant would ask. After all the Pharisees were the most righteous of all.

Jesus in giving his version of the law evokes a new law. Something only Moses had done hundreds of years earlier. Jesus was essentially saying look I am now effecting a new law. Moses law was good, and yes we should follow it, but a higher law is here now. One who is greater than Moses is now here. This law is one of love, one of the spirit of the law, not just the letter. According to Matthew 22:37-40, the greatest law is loving God and one’s neighbour, thus love is the foundation of the law.

Jesus concludes in verse 48 by saying “be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect”. We know perfection is impossible, but Jesus refers to completion. If we choose to be like God, and complete His wishes for us, then we need to fully follow his commands by placing our highest priority on loving one another.

Jesus new law for you and I then is not just to be honest, kind, and obedient. But to radically love when it is both convenient and inconvenient. To place ourselves last and others first. To live sacrificial lives whereby our desire is to be more and more like Christ who gave all for sinners. For it is only in doing thus that we will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Hold on, its not yet time!

2008-12-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

Yet, but not yet. The perpetual tension seen in scripture is thematic in our reading today of Romans 8. God’s kingdom, inaugurated by Christ has always been multi-tiered. Christ appears as the manifestation of God’s kingdom, he heals, delivers, meets needs and models a godly community of love and care. Yet by his own admittance, this kingdom has only just begun. The end of the age has not yet appeared. Thus in this moment, there will still be injustice and oppression, disease and sickness, strife and dissension. The only solace that Christ brings is freedom in the spirit which is microcosmic of the universal kingdom that God plans to normalize at the end of the age. For now the Christians can demonstrate this life that will be, yet they will struggle with the challenges of this fallen world. Christ promises freedom, but this freedom is limited to the body of Christ, and the vestiges of the world it chooses to influence. God’s kingdom remains now, but not yet.

Continuing with this theme, Paul describes the tension of not achieving our full redemption as a woman in childbirth. We who are now trapped in earthly vessels, long with tremendous burden to become the full children of God. Whereby not just our hearts and minds, but also our bodies will be transformed. Paul reminds them that even creation itself and the current worldly order, will also be delivered in the apocalypse. Finally, Paul offers the spirit as our ever present comfort. His consistent message to the Romans bears significance for us. We can win the fight over the flesh, if we lean on the power of the spirit. For the spirit knows our weakness, and also knows God strengths. Thus a life lived in the Spirit is able to close the gap between the far off kingdom of heaven that appears to be not yet while helping us believers to realize a taste of heaven in the here and now.

Shy?

2008-12-15T04:20:00.001-08:00

The gospel and being shy are not synonymous terms. In Romans 1:16, Paul writes that he is not ashamed of the gospel. The message translation says

I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."

As I look at this verse I see several words or phrases immediately. “Most Proud”, “extraordinary message”, “rescue” , “powerful plan”.

These words tend to convict. Think of the last time you talked about Christ to someone who was a non-believer.

The obvious question is have you talked to someone recently about Christ?
The next question is did you really think you are “rescuing” them from any imminent danger?
Were you “most proud” of the message you had to proclaim, or was it a burden, stressful or even difficult to say what was on your heart?
Did the “extraordinary” nature of the message make you excited to share the good news with someone?
Were you convinced that your solution would be a “powerful plan” able to help solve core issues in their lives?
Did you find you were shy, or you could boldly share this message?

Work through these questions this week. I am.

Don’t let shyness rob you of the joys of participating in the greatest rescue mission ever known to humanity. Embrace the cause that you have joined with when you got saved. Reflect on the nature of your calling. Like Paul, realize that God needs you to proclaim his powerful message in a consistent fashion to people around you everyday. Pray specifically for God’s boldness to remove shyness, apathy and complacency from your life.

My challenge to you as we meditate on this portion of scripture from our daily reading is this:

Find someone this week to share the rescue plan of the ages to them – the gospel.
Pray first. Ask God to lead. Don’t wait or think too much, just do what makes sense after you have prayed. Step out, and be bold about it.

Remember, the power to save is not in you, but in the words of God that you speak.

Fellowship

2008-12-03T07:02:00.001-08:00

In Acts 14, Paul is persecuted in the Lycaonian cities. Jews from Antioch have followed Paul to his current destination. They incite the crowd with hatred against Paul, ultimately resulting in a murder attempt against Paul. The crowds physically throw stones at Paul until he was presumed dead. They then dragged him outside the city and left him to the vultures.

As I meditate on our daily reading in Acts 14, verse 25 speaks volume to me. This is where the disciples gather around Paul’s body, and after some indeterminate amount of time Paul astonishingly gets up, and returns to the city with the believers. In analyzing this verse three words are key, disciples, gather and up.

The disciples represented a group of people who were followers of Christ. They have abandoned worldly aspirations, turned their back to cultural dictates, forsaken personal dreams, and have latched on to Jesus Christ for fulfillment and meaning.

Their gathering represents their potency. In multiple places throughout acts we see several instances of what happens when disciples gather. In Acts 2 gathered in a room, the supernatural power of God invades their fellowship, and people speak in tongues. In Acts 4, after being persecuted by the Sanhedrin, Peter and John gather with the disciples, and upon praying the place was physically shaken. Elsewhere in Acts, Peter is led out of Jail by an angel, while the disciples are gathered in a home praying. Gathering together of God’s people ultimately results in a powerful display of the supernatural. That is the message that Acts leaves us with.

The final word is up. Paul we are told got up. Due to the gathering of the disciples around him, Paul got up. This speaks of encouragement. We are not told the intricacies of this miracle. All we know is Paul was presumed dead and deserted by his persecutors. This means he would have been hideously wounded, up to the point where he looked dead. Thus, for him to even get up and walk away with the disciples would have been a miracle. As I reflect on this event, I wonder if maybe God supernaturally healed Paul as the disciples prayed. Or maybe the disciples lovingly massaged his body back to life. They could have even been with him for hours waiting for signs of life, and then once he revived they helped him as he got up, and walked to the city. The point here is it was all miraculous and this would have never happened without the fellowship of the disciples.

What do you do in your gathering? Whether you go out to minister as a group, or just collectively fellowship in a coffee shop is immaterial. What happens at your group times? Understand that God’s power is literally present each time his disciples come together. It’s up to you to apply that power to the current situation. Next time you are visiting the homeless with your crew, be very aware, his power is there to lead that conversation. When you pray for that sick residence mate, look out for God’s supernatural hand. Let the power of Christ move you to minister as you gather with the body, all for the glory of God.

Going deeper in God

2008-11-28T04:18:00.001-08:00

Sometimes we say we desire to increase in our experience of God, and we long to go deep yet we are stopped or hindered by many factors. One major factor that affects most in experiencing God’s fullness is seen in Acts 10.

Acts 10, our daily reading of the day portrays Cornelius a devout gentile, seeking for more of God. Peter is used as a divine instrument to bring Cornelius and his household into a spirit filled life. Cornelius had requested that Peter would come to visit him in his home and possibly bring the gospel message to him. Peter though willing to be used by God however knew it was against Jewish ritual laws to associate with a gentile. For Peter, the barrier preventing him from experiencing God was his tradition.

Tradition is often very prominent in limiting us from experience God’s power. Peter knew associating with the gentile Cornelius could include visiting his house, eating ungodly food, conversing with unclean people, etc. For him, these acts were forbidden, and his normal inclination would have been not to go at all. Yet God broke through Peter’s mindset via a vision. In this vision God is able to instil a new paradigm, one of inclusiveness in Peter’s psyche. Thus Peter is released to obey God in ministering to the Gentiles and witnessing God’s power at work.

Mindsets, often induced by our culture and traditions are often hard to overcome. For some it might be their church tradition has never experienced God in a certain way. While for others it could be their personality trait tends to be more conservative and thus emotionalism in spirituality is foreign to them. Yet still, others through intellectualism and rationalism legitimize their reasons for not being open to deeper things of the spirit.

Let’s learn from Peter. See how he was challenged by the spirit to deviate from the ways of his fathers. Notice though Peter at first was unwilling, yet through openness, he was persuaded to try a new path. Ask God to give you a new thought, a different vision, let him introduce his paradigms to you, so that you can fully experience God’s best.

Boldness

2008-11-22T05:40:00.000-08:00

We could all use a little more boldness to make our witnessing more effective. Our reading over the last couple of days in Acts has stirred me up to seek for more boldness.

Peter and John on the way to the temple were intercepted by a needy 40 year old man who had been crippled for many years. This beggar requested only money, yet due to tremendous boldness, the disciples commanded him to walk in the name of Jesus. And he did! Have you ever wondered what would have happened if that was your or I? Would we have given the man the money he required and walked on? Or would we give him some food, comfort him and then depart when the conversation comes to an uncomfortable lull? Really, think about it. What would you do? I know for me, the first thought would not be to command him to walk. The reason for this would be due to lack of boldness.

Later on, the disciples are accosted by the authority figures who killed Jesus. The political implication of performing such a public miracle could be damaging to the Pharisees. Thus the disciples are put on trial, and in this scene we see more boldness displayed. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times in fear of death, spoke boldly and declared Jesus was the healer and the messiah. What would possess a cowardly disciple to speak boldly in front of murderous political leaders? Boldness. The scriptures show us the source of this boldness in Acts 8 “then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them”. The source of course is the precious Holy Spirit. See the Holy Spirit does not just fill us to give us tongues, ultimately he empowers us with his Spirit so we can be bold witnesses for him.

Finally, the disciples are released, and withdraw to their own company. Again look at the context of their prayer in the latter part of Acts 4. They prayed not for the persecution to stop, or people to like them, instead they prayed for more boldness. Boldness to preach, boldness to live, boldness to act, boldness to be witnesses. Friends I believe this is where we live. Our world today is desperately in need of an answer. They need miracles in many different facets of their lives. But they requre someone filled with the Holy Spirit to boldly give them a message they can receive, believe and adhere to. Join me today as I pray and seek for more boldness.

The bitterness of rebellion

2008-11-20T10:53:00.001-08:00

Have you ever felt like leadership was heading in the right direction? Do you ever get frustrated at the apparent immobility of the engines of hierarchical institutions? Wouldn’t it be great if Pastors and were more selfless and led more like Christ would?

I have often had these questions. And as I read the daily reading of today (Numbers 19-20), I find that I am not alone. In fact these questions are founded in antiquity and surface in the narratives of the wilderness wanderings of the people of God.

Can you imagine following a leader who is outdated? Moses was such a leader. He had lived half his life in a different land and a foreign culture (Midian) than the Israelites. He was old, and was dogmatic about his convictions. Over three million people had to follow such a leader for fourty years. Thus understandably these Israelites had complaints pertaining to Moses’ leadership, I probably would too, wouldn’t you? However, God had a different perspective. In Numbers 16, He challenges the people for their disobedience, and equated their complaint to Moses as rebellion against Himself. Due to this rebellion many died from divine judgement.

For those of us leaders, unfortunately, rebellion also seems easy to succumb to. Granted the Israelites perpetual complaints frustrated Moses in Numbers 20. God told Moses to provide them their much sought after water by speaking to the rock. Moses however in frustration at the people neglected to decree God’s word to the rock. Instead he strikes it with his rod to induce the miraculous flow of water. Due to this disobedience, Moses is judged guilty by God and forfeits the right to ever enter the promised land in his lifetime. As I survey this from a leader’s perspective, I must confess that I am bewildered. Why would God fault Moses for striking the rock? Afterwards at other times, Moses had been instructed to use his rod to perform miracles. Couldn’t Moses exercise initiative and do things his own way? Why is God so “micro”? As I meditate on these thoughts, I become convinced that God’s ways are not our way. Thus, we just need to reverently submit and follow him. Moses’ ultimate indictment was that he was found rebellious. Interestingly enough, this was the very thing that he faulted the Israelites for.

May we as followers submit to Godly leadership and in humility follow our Paul’s as they follow Christ. And may leaders in the kingdom be found even more humble, and demonstrate radical-immediate obedience to the utterances of a holy God.

When your world gets shaken.

2008-11-19T03:45:00.001-08:00

The tabernacle was the centre of the Jewish community in ancient Israel. It was here that God disseminated his blessing for the community. All of life was orchestrated around the rhythm of the tabernacle (which later became the temple). Whether it was festivals, daily sacrifices, Sabbath worship, or community events, the tabernacle or the temple was one of the most significant emblems of Jewish identity.

Two of our readings today both concentrate on the tabernacle-temple, yet from opposite sides. Numbers 18 is contextualized in the period of Jewish history where the tabernacle was indeed the centre of the Jewish community. God regulates the worship, care, and protocol pertaining to the tabernacle. Of such import is the tabernacle, that sentence of death is issued to those who would misappropriate the tabernacle of God.

The evolution of the tabernacle results ultimately in the building of the temple by Solomon in 1 Kings. This temple though a fixed structure still bore the same significance for the Jewish people.

Our second reading in Psalms depicts what happens when a nation loses their identity. The context of Psalm 74 is the demise of Jerusalem, particularly the destruction of Solomon’s temple by the Babylonian empire.

No longer would Israel have the divine dwelling among them. Worship of Yahweh would cease, as the Israelites were carried far away into strange lands. The feasts, holy days, and religious pomp such a key part of their lives for centuries was abruptly ended. In utter despair, the Psalmist cries out, “why have you rejected us forever oh God?” For them, their world was truly shaken.

Has your world ever crumbled around you? Have things ( even Godly things) that you hold dear become memories of the past? Do you feel God has not been faithful to his promises? Undeniably these were the sentiments of the Jews as they languished in captivity. Yet, the Psalmist offers hope in times of duress. This hope is seen in remembrance of the covenant keeping nature of God. He remembers God keeps his covenants, and challenges the Holy one of Israel to rise up and defend their cause. Such prayers by the Psalmist, along with penitent supplication of a nation in Israel, did ultimately cause the Lord to restore the captive to their beloved city, and a new temple.

Thus, Psalm 74 teaches us that God keeps covenants. Our covenant with Him as New Testament believers of course is rooted in Christ via his blood sacrifice. We are reminded in Hebrews that this covenant is far better than the old. Yes your world may have crumbled, but remember God keeps covenants, and he promises hope, restoring stability to the shaken foundations of your circumstances.

The majesty of Christ

2008-11-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

We have been reading Revelation for the past two weeks, and I haven’t yet written a blog regarding this often misunderstood book.

One clear theme in Revelation is the awesome nature of Christ. Revelation, filled with many images, bizarre symbols and cryptic sequences of numerical events may confuse the interpreter. While one struggles to navigate through Revelation, the definite sense of Christ’s glory must not be lost.

Jesus appears to the apostle John in a way which holds tremendous meaning for the Bible enthusiast. He appears as the son of man, or the ancient of Days already foreseen in the book of Daniel (Daniel 7). His hair is white look wool depicting his antiquity. This of course indicates that Jesus is the historic creator of the world, who is eternal, and forever existing. The vision further describes Jesus eyes to be burning like fire. This speaks of God’s consuming fire of holiness, full of purity, yet powerful enough to consume iniquity. The fiery eyes are typical of the angelic vision Daniel had. (Daniel 10:6). As the Lord speaks, John hears the sound of many waters, indicating the awesome authority his voice commands. This reminds us of Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 1:28. Other stirring visual details are given, such as the bronze feet, the pure white linen robe, the golden lampstands and the sunshine glistening face.

As I write these words, I am immensely overwhelmed at the picture of God these images conjure in my mind. John was awestruck as the majesty of Christ was revealed to him. His only response was to fall down as one dead in deep reverence of the awesome Christ. Careful study of the Old Testament manifestations of the presence of God causes one to truly appreciate John’s vision of Christ. While these images are overpowering, one could only imagine what it would have been like to actually see Christ.

Would you like to see Christ? I mean really have a vision of him? I know I would. Well why don’t you start with Hebrews 12:14, where we are told that living holy lives is prerequisite to seeing God. Holiness is rooted in an acute awareness of the majesty of God. Study out these details of Christ, and get an understanding of how grand and majestic he really is. Let this consciousness drive you to an increased desire to be more like God. As you do, you will naturally become more holy, and sin will become more and more distasteful to you. Maybe you won’t have a literal vision, but I guarantee you that as you seriously consider these things, and put them into practice God will be more real to you than ever before, and you will truly experience the rich presence of the majestic Christ.

Order in Numbers

2008-11-05T04:29:00.000-08:00

The reading of today (Numbers 2) depicts a systematic ordering of the placement of each tribe of Israel in respect to the tabernacle. At the command of the Lord, the positioning of each tribe is mapped out. In this mapping scheme, the Tabernacle (or Tent of meeting) is featured in the centre of the Israelite camp, indicating God’s central presence and importance in the affairs of the Israelites. Immediately surrounding the tabernacle (on all sides) is the tribe of Levi, which include the Priests. Finally all the 12 tribes are positioned (in clusters of 3) beyond the Levites and Priests in order of importance, beginning with Judah at the east side of the Tabernacle (see www.youthrevolution.ca/Bible Reading/IsraeliteCampingChart.jpg).

A few observations are necessitated by this intricate ordering of the tribes. Firstly, the holiest tribe is placed next to the tabernacle. And within that tribe, the holiest clan, the priests are positioned at the entrance to the tabernacle on the east side. As you may remember, the Levites showed themselves loyal by not worshipping idols at Mt. Sinai, and thus the Lord promised they would be set apart (Exodus 32). Secondly, the priests are placed at the east end of the tabernacle. This position, being the entrance to the tabernacle courtyard would have been very important, as the priests could determine who was allowed into the tabernacle to offer sacrifices to God. Finally the ordering of the tribes was also important. Judah being the most important tribe, in that Jesus and David were from Judah had the privilege of being positioned next to the priests.

This order ruled their lives as they journeyed in the desert for the next 39 years. Whenever the cloud lifted off the tabernacle, the journey continued. The Israelites would retain the same positioning with respect to the tabernacle as they travelled for days on end. When the cloud by day (or fire by night) stopped, the tribes would set up camp, maintaining the order that God prescribed. Thus they were efficient, maintained uniformity and operated as a fluid mechanism towards their divinely appointed destiny: Canaan.

What is one to make of all these details? Essentially the point is that we need to trust the sovereignty of God, and value our position in life before we can achieve our own destiny. In 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, God makes it clear that he gives gifts to those he chooses, simply because of divine will and for his sometimes unknown purpose. Thus God knows where he wants us to be positioned in life, and he prepares us and equips us accordingly with temperaments, personalities and gifting needed to fulfill our divinely appointed purpose. Since God knows the master plan, our job is trust his divine ordering. When we compare ourselves to others, envy positions and gifts, or put undue guilt and pressure on ourselves, we move out of God’s order, and we are in danger of being out of order. Have you ever tried to use a bank machine and the sign said out of order, or worse still a washroom in times of emergency? How frustrating!!! Similarly when we don’t value where God puts us and we function out of our own inner desires we end up being frustrated, and find ourselves out of order, unable to be of true help to those around us.

The faith of the Law

2008-10-23T05:25:00.001-07:00

Faith and Law are almost oxymoronic and for the most part are not used in the same context in the Bible. Yet as we examine the sacrificial instructions to combat sin in the early chapters of Leviticus we notice how the law requires individuals to have faith beyond simple legalism.

There were different sacrifices required for different types of sin. If one sinned intentionally then a ram was expected, otherwise a female goat or a lamb. Further the type of sacrificial object was also dependent on the financial status of the individual. The poorer ones could bring a dove instead of livestock, while the poorest of the poor were only required to use flour for their offering.
These are only a few of the many intricate details we notice in the sacrificial instructions.

Despite all these instructions of the law, it was up to the individual to respond through faith. Atoning for sin was a costly process. Thus an individual really had to believe in God’s forgiveness via the sacrificing before doling out money for a creature. Further, due to the proactive onus on the giver to initiate the sacrifice, one could easily pretend they were sinless and offer no sacrifices, and everyone would be none the wiser. Similarly, the individual could choose to offer a sacrifice that was beneath their financial means pretending they could only afford such an item. Yet faith in God’s sacrificial provision caused the individual to confess sin each time and bring the appropriate object needed to atone for their sins.

As David intuitively realized, God does not delight in sacrifices. He looks at the heart. As individuals came to God with a pure heart of faith and chose to be honest in offering the right sacrifices, God’s legal process of the law was able to atone for their sins. Thus faith in the law offered benefits for Old Testament adherents, and teaches us New Testament believers to have faith in the new law: Grace in Christ.

Awesome Regulations

2008-10-16T07:35:00.001-07:00

Exodus 20-31 contains information about the mosaic covenant. Here we see God meeting with Moses and the elders. Further God gives commandments from heaven to his people via Moses. Then God gives details as to the tabernacle, priesthood and worship protocol.

As one reads these details they seem very numerous, mundane and irrelevant. What spiritual meaning could we ascribe to the 7 day purification process of the priests? Why would God require so much blood offering and animal sacrifices in officiating worship? What is the purpose for the priestly garments and why is there such an emphasis on appropriate color scheme, skilled and dedicated workmanship, and the anointing and reservation of these garments?

The only answer that comes to mind as I reflect on these details is “awe”. Our God is an awesome God. To approach him, and serve him requires much...in fact, requires all.

The prescription for temple worship and priesthood sanctification serves as a monumental object lesson for us westerners so far removed from the Ancient Near East (ANE) culture. We might question the blood sacrifices, which by the way was abundant. 7 bulls, 14 lambs and 2 rams were required in Exodus 29 to consecrate the priests and altar. Blood was placed on the bodies of the priests, and also sprinkled on their clothing as well as the altar. Why so much gore? Why so much apparent barbaric ritualism in the Bible.

These questions can all be summarized with one answer – awe. Blood represented life in the Bible and the ANE. To approach God was so awesome that it was deathly costly. One’s life represented by blood was thus a justifiable means for approaching God. The priests in administering temple worship stood for God, and had access to his divine power. However the humanity of the priests would inherently disqualify them from this role. Thus God’s introduction of the blood sacrifices allowed their sins to be atoned for, making them righteous enough to fulfill their divine mandate.

The awe of God is seen in these passages and throughout the entire Old Testament. While we cannot discuss all its intricacies here, suffice enough is that regulations were required to guarantee God’s power would be available for humanity. The priest in reverence for God’s awe underwent the cumbersome procedure of personal sanctification, temple consecration and procedural propriety. These forerunners of the faith via their deep reverence for God serve as a clear model for us believers today. Let us be awe inspired at the concept of God. Be reverently fearful when you worship him, knowing God is all too powerful, and only by his divine Grace and the blood of Christ are we allowed to worship Him. Let the awesome nature of God drive sin from your thought and active life. Be regulated, not by the law of works, but by the law of Grace. Adhere to restrictions in your social life, personal life, entertainment life and relationships because of the awe of God.
Let your regulated life lead you to experience more of the awesome God.

Productivity

2008-10-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Our reading of today literally forces me to stop and take stock of my efforts for the kingdom.

Moses and the elders, including Joshua approach the presence of God on Mount Sinai. God further beckons only Moses to come even nearer, while Joshua his aide accompanies him. 7 days of exclusive consecration and isolation ensues. Finally God speaks to Moses and begins to give him a detailed blueprint of the tabernacle.

My blurb today can be themed Presence before Production.

God never calls us to be productive. He calls us to know him. John 15 encapsulates this message very powerfully in the New Testament. Paradoxically, while God calls us to be fruitful, yet he calls us to be still and know his presence (Psalms 46:10).

The disciples approached Jesus with deep piety and wondered what the greatest activity one could take on for the cause. They must have been utterly dumbfounded by his simple answer: “To know him” (John 6:28-29).

As Moses and the elders sought God’s presence simply for the sake of God’s presence, nothing concealed, without agenda, releasing the terms of the relationship solely to God, then God surprises them with a crisp clear vision of the tabernacle.

While we do not seek God for things, ministry, or anything else, the biblically inevitable result of such activity is productivity.

My journey as one who is task oriented is constantly to base all I do in seeking the presence of God. As I seek Him first daily, I allow him to put promptings in my heart of clear and often detailed activity that He would like me to accomplish. When stresses, time constraints, self-imposed goals and objectives try to steal you and I away from God’s presence, may the nagging sense of emptiness continually drive us to forsake self and seek his presence. For in his presence we find purpose, and ultimately true productivity.

The blessing in boundaries

2008-10-10T20:21:00.001-07:00

God appears to his people shortly after their exodus from Egypt. He descends upon Mount Sinai, in a very explosive fashion. Lightning, thunder, thick cloud and dense smoke are some of the natural phenomenon that accomplished this divine visitation.

Moses indicated to the people that there were to be specific boundaries placed prior to this divine visitation. A fence had to be put around the base of the mountain to enforce all would keep a certain distance from God’s presence. Further, the people were to prepare themselves by purification washings and sexual abstinence. Essentially all these instructions depicted the boundaries that God required the people to observe.

These boundaries ensured that God could properly reveal himself to his people. In our lives today, God expects us also to observe certain boundaries and limits. We are called to live holy lives as He says “be holy as I am holy”. We are asked to forgo certain friends, and desist from practices that have no spiritual value.

In the wake of the consecration of the nation of Israel, Moses was able to deliver God’s words to the people. Words that would add value bring life and ensure God’s covenant blessings were made known to the people.

Would you like to have a richer experience with God? Do you desire to hear his voice more clearly? Are you interested in seeing God moving supernaturally in your life? Then consider the boundaries you have in your life. Are there any that prevent you from sinning? Do you have ones that keep you accountable to godly peers and mentors? Where does spiritual discipline, Bible reading and prayer fit in your life?
Value these boundaries, and seek to place them appropriately in your life so you can receive God’s never ending blessings.

Provision

2008-10-08T04:11:00.001-07:00

Israel’s escape from Egypt while embraced whole heartedly by the Israeli’s came with unforeseen difficulties. As they traveled through the desert they discovered firstly that there was no water supply, and secondly no food provision.

Throughout this experience the Israelites complained about their lack of sustenance. God miraculously provides water for them in a variety of ways, and also cause both bread and meat to come down from heaven. Genesis 16:34 indicates that they ate manna from heaven for fourty years. While one might think it preposterous to eat the same thing for fourty years, this sustained provision holds a powerful insight for us.

God’s divine provision is able to sustain you and I through the good and the hard times. Moses had to cry out to God before God provided the necessary provision. You may be lacking provision either for yourself or for those you care about. God wants to be that stable source of provision. Fourty years, the Israelites did not have to worry about food or drink, God freely gave.

For fourty years, God was consistent. For four decades he continued to give, day in, day out. For an entire generation, God’s goodness never ceased to be displayed as He physically sustained the children of Israel.

Be persuaded today that provision comes from God. Access that provision through crying out to God. 2 Corinthians 8 reveals God’s intent for provision. As you receive, also give. Thus once you have received provision, freely give. As you do God’s provision will effect not just you, but those around you just as the manna did in the time of Moses.

Spirit Led

2008-10-07T04:05:00.000-07:00

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today"
Moses

In today’s reading we read of the deliverance of Israel from the armies of Egypt. A few points are worthy of note.

God had requested Moses (in Exodus 13) to lead the Israelites into the desert, even though there was a shorter way via the Philistine region. This made no sense in the natural. Travelling into the desert would mean suicide. 3 million people travelling, along with lack of food and water in the desert could be very problematic.

Yet Moses obeyed, simply because he trusted the leading of the Lord. Pharaoh took the bait, knowing God’s people were hemmed in by both the sea and desert he decided to attack them. As the people realized the impending nature of Pharaoh’s attack they were distraught. Yet Moses’ assuring words “stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today” began to indicate the secret behind Moses’ leadership.

Have you ever been hemmed in? Do you feel like you are sometimes between a rock and a hard place? How do you decide when there is a fork in the road, and both forks are impossible to consider?
The leading of the spirit is Moses’ answer. Though it totally made no sense in the natural he plodded on blindly leading God’s people to wandering in the desert, facing a sea and facing sure death. But as Moses faced Pharoah and sea, he heard from the spirit. Hearing from the spirit is so freeing. Romans 8 says those who are led by the spirit are sons of God. Galatians 3 teaches us about the freeing blessing of being spirit led. As Moses heard the voice of God in the 11th hour, he knew what to do. Impending freedom would be had.

God’s timing though not necessarily ours is always impeccable. God then instructs Moses to raise up his staff towards the sea. I can only imagine what was going through Moses mind. Will this really happen? Will we drown? Will Pharaoh catch up with us? Listen to me friend! Questions don’t matter. You will always….always….always have questions when it comes to the things of God. But as long as you listen to the spirit and obey, God can move in your life.

Moses raised up his staff, and God’s divine power separated the water into two. Moses and the Israelites proceeded into the sea, and were ultimately delivered while their enemies were drowned.

My word to you today is stand firm. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the Lord. I know things may be hard, confusing, and even desperate. But lean on the spirit. Watch out for God’s leading. It may not be a physical pillar of fire by cloud or fire by night, but he does and will lead you. It might be a still small voice. It could be a confirmatory voice from a trusted friend. It could just be plain commonsense to move ahead. But whatever it is, ensure you have peace, and see the freeing move of the spirit in your life, STAND FIRM.

The Timothys are here!!!

2008-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

We have been reading the book of Timothy over the past few days. As I meditate on the ministry and instruction in this book I stop to ponder over a few things.

Are there Timothys still today? Do we have Pauls around us still? And my third question is personal, which one of these two do I want to be like.

I believe Timothy’s today are around, but they are few in number. Timothy was a disciple of Paul. He was willing to follow Paul in every way. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:17 that Timothy is like a son to him, who is dearly loved and most faithful. Faithfulness underscored the life of Timothy. He was willing to travel with Paul any and everywhere, he had no qualms about being a servant and embarking on errand missions for Paul, and most importantly when asked to be circumcised he freely did it. For Timothy, nothing was too difficult to do when it came to following after God. He respected the authority God had placed in his leader Paul, and obeyed him. He followed Paul, as Paul followed after Christ.

In our self-motivated, fast paced, materialistic world, I believe the Paul’s are also rare. This is because to be like Paul, one needs to be selfless, and intentionally reach out to the younger spiritual ones. Disicpling a younger believer is hard work, and many are simply discouraged by the sheer difficulty. It takes a visionary like Paul who having the heart of Christ realizes that to save the world, we need spiritual children. Investing in others benefits the kingdom, as these new believers grow up and take off from where we as their mentors stop.

Personally, I would like to be more like both Paul and Timothy. Timothy teaches me to be more submissive, be a better follower, and intensify my walk with God. Paul helps me to understand that I can’t run this race myself, and that I need believers around me who as I empower them via God’s grace will do immensely more than I can ever hope to achieve.

Am I in the place of God?

2008-09-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Cursed is he who trusts in the arm of flesh, Jeremiah lets us know, and further goes on to say blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. As I begin this devotion, are you in the place of God in your life? Or do you let him lead you and guide you?

This question was asked twice in the Bible. It was asked exactly twice by a father and son who we all owe our spiritual heritage to. Both were tested, and both passed. Both had the chance of being in the place of God, but instead they deferred this role to God alone.

Jacob in Genesis 30 was asked to do the natural. Rachel wanted a child and she cried in desperation to Jacob to give her a child. Jacob in utter frustration exclaimed “Am I in the place of God”, and then urges her to seek God and not him. In answering her this way, Jacob acknowledged he was only human. That he and Rachel needed divine enablement to do what she required, for God alone opens closed wombs. Further Jacob urges Rachel to trust in God, and God alone. As the story goes, Rachel failed this test and instead leaned on the arm of flesh by going the route of self. She asked Jacob to impregnate her maid which would have been culturally acceptable at the time. This to Rachel was much easier than waiting for the time of God.

Joseph likewise, asked the same question, when his brothers fearfully sought peace with him. Am I in the place of God he asked? Do I have the power to take your lives out of revenge? Joseph essentially chose the way of the spirit. Instead of taking out his vengeance on his violent brothers, he said only God repays. I will not judge. For I am not in the place of God. Joseph then further re-affirms his commitment to them and embraces them as family.

Are you in the place of God? Do you take the way of flesh to handle situations or the way of the Spirit? Even so called ministerial activities can fall prey to the way of the flesh which inherently is placing ourselves as God. Today forsake the way of the flesh. Choose to be led by the Spirit. Don’t tackle issues, problems or life’s realities just as everyone else would. Put God in his place. Let him be the key factor in every decision you make. Join with me in saying “cursed is the way of the flesh”, and “blessed is the way of the spirit – the way of God”.

The answer to your suffering...

2008-09-29T03:39:00.001-07:00

Psalms 22 is the famous Psalm of sorrow. It depicts the situation of one who has been afflicted with sickness, who faces persecution, who has lost everything. The Psalm portrays this suffering one as very humble and penitent, continually reaching out to God for deliverance despite external circumstances that would indicate God does not care.

This Psalms describes to a degree the sufferings of Jesus. Scholars however are divided as to whether this Psalm is literally talking about Jesus (especially since Jesus quoted from this Psalm when he was on the cross “my God my God why have you forsaken me”), or whether simply Jesus quoted this Psalm as a means of comfort, which would have been typical for a Jewish person to do.

The typical Jew growing up would have memorized this Psalm. It would have portrayed the prayers of any individual who was several traumatized or in deep suffering. The Psalm promised hope in times of desolation, peace in a state of crisis.
Verse 24 encapsulates the point of the Psalm. The psalmist declares
“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help”

My friend, I have three questions for you. Are you suffering? Have you cried consistently to God? Did you receive the answer you need?

Are you suffering? Many are crying out to God but are not really suffering. They may think they are suffering, but their hearts are not right. True suffering is found in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, where one finds themselves humbled by a crisis, repents of their sins, fasts in humility and cries out to God for deliverance.

Some may be crying to God in true suffering, but their cry is short lived. Thus my second question serves to remind you not to give up in your cry.

Finally, have you received your answer? 1 John 5:14 explicitly indicates that if God listens to your prayer you will have your request. Our verse here indicates God will listen if you are truly suffering and consistently crying out to God out of a deep desperation.

As we continue to believe for Souls, take on true suffering. Feel the pains of those who are lost. Understand the anguish that comes with not knowing Christ. Then begin to cry out to God out of a burdened heart, and I believe God will answer your cry.

Am I done yet?

2008-09-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered how long you should pray for people? Many of you have been burdened with praying for the lost. Some of you are also praying for people who have just been lukewarm. Yet the question is the same. When is it enough? When can I leave that person and move on to praying for the next?

Paul inadvertently answers this question in our daily reading of today. Paul although he has not personally discipled the Colossians, feels obligated to write to them. He tells them that he has heard about their faith and love and thus is compelled to write to encourage them. God has placed these Colossians on Paul’s heart. Further, Paul says these words that applies to the issue at hand. Quoting Paul “For this reason since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you....”.

The above words of Paul indicates that we never stop praying for lost souls and those believers God puts on our earts. The Colossians though saved had several issues they were going through. Primarily, they were in danger of falling prey to the very convincing philosophy of their day which called into question the Cosmic majesty and rule of Christ. Thus Paul in a manner characteristic of his commitment to the mission indicates passionately that he will not stop praying.

I therefore like Paul boldy declare that since the day that I have heard about your faith, your love, your struggle, your fears, your doubts, your cares, your victories and losses, have not stopped praying for you. In fact I will not stop praying for you, because you are so dear to my heart.

May the Lord continue to increase the burden in our hearts for one another and for the lost, and may you fulfill the law of the anointing, bearing one another’s burdens.

Tempted?

2008-09-25T11:28:00.001-07:00

Temptation comes to all of us. For some it comes when we are as close to God, enjoying a new nugget of truth from his word. For others it comes when we are severely weak in the flesh and very susceptible to falling. While for others it comes when things, naturally speaking are going well, with family, job or relationships in general.

For Joseph in our daily reading of today, temptation came to him at one of these “opportune” times. Things were going well for him. He was successful. There was not even an iota of a problem. We might ask why would temptation come to him all of sudden? After all, didn’t God know he was working hard and being faithful, despite the fact that he was a slave? Whatever the reason, temptation did come to him. Unfairly it was at the pinnacle of his prestigious job as a master steward in the house of the Captain of the national guard of the greatest ruler in the world, Pharoah.

Thankfully, Joseph was able to handle his temptation, and deny his flesh. He didn’t let the successes experienced lead to lust for more. He could have easily had his master’s wife, after all he was in charge of the master’s entire estate. Yet he withstood his ground. When finally he couldn’t handle it anymore, as the pressure to sin intensified, he did what amazes us all, he fled. He literally ran away from the arms of his master’s wife. He fled as fast as he could, as far away as he could go. Joseph understood that to sin would not only hurt his master, and not only damage Joseph’s integrity, but ultimately it would severely hamper his relationship with God.

How do you handle temptation? Do you think you are too spiritual to fall? How far do you distance yourself even from the possibility of the minutest of sins. Scripture promises us failure if we act in pride and believe we will never fall (Galatians 6 and 2 Corinthians 10).

My prayer is that you would so fear God, that you will literally run from temptation, and that God’s holiness will envelope you and literally prevent you from falling to temptation.

Peace and Love

Prison

2008-09-24T02:53:00.001-07:00

One thing I did not mention in my background summary of Ephesians (http://www.youthrevolution.ca/Bible%20Reading/backgroundseptember.pdf) is that Paul wrote this book from prison. In Ephesians 3:1 Paul indicates his present status as a prisoner. However one can easily gloss over this part to get to the essential point of his teachings. Yet the fact that he is a prisoner is just as important as his message.

See Paul was called to suffer for Christ. When God appeared to him on the Damascus road encounter (Acts 9), God prophesied to Paul that he would suffer greatly for the cause of the Gospel.
Thus Paul finds himself in a Roman jail, writing. Not writing the governor for a pardon, not writing his friends to petition his freedom, but instead writing Ephesians, Colossians and many other books of his corpus.

Can we learn from Paul? What do you do in your times of trial and persecution? Do you abort (or pause) mission as you take care of your own stuff. You and I probably know many who have taken a
‘break’ from God or church. Life’s trials have rail-roaded them from their once passionate and focused mission for God. Prison is meant to get the best out of us, not the worst. Suffering and trials are supposed to perfect us, cleaning us up, sharpening us to do a better job for the kingdom (James 1:1-5).
What is your prison? What trials are you currently in? How did you handle them?

So today, be like Paul and embrace prison. Embrace your place of suffering. Rejoice in your trials. Ask God what can you learn from this season. But whatever you do, don’t get worse, get better. Keep pushing. Keep the fire burning. Keep ministering, and stay on course on the mission of God for your life.

Barren?

2008-09-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why all the matriarch’s were barren? Sarah didn’t have a child until she was 90. Rebekah, Isaac’s wife struggled for a season to have children until her husband interceded and she bore twins. Rachel also was barren for a long time, as she desperately cries out in Genesis 30.
This condition of barrenness would have been a significant trial for these women, for in that time, bearing children was the crowning joy of woman, it indicated success, being in favour with God and also with one’s husband.

Our reading of Galatians recently quotes a unique scripture in Isaiah, “Be glad O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud (for joy….) Galatians 4:27.

Paul strangely urges the barren woman to be excited and shout for joy, just as Isaiah did (Isaiah 54).
What would make a barren woman sing for joy? Of course it would have to be children. Paul sees the upside in the condition of barrenness that would be hard for most to see. Galatians 4:23 indicates that children born naturally or without much trial are simply ordinary, yet those born supernaturally despite a barren condition are God ordained.

Barrenness forces a woman in the bible to turn to God. It brings her to a state of desperation, for out of her utter shame and desolation, having run out of self made options, she is forced to turn to God, and her pain is turned into joy as God miraculously gives her a child.

Are you barren? Do you have dreams that you would like to see happen, but things are not quite there yet? Do you bear the fruit you desire? Are you believing for more in your life or more in your ministry? Learn from the barren woman. Get desperate, and cry out to God. Don’t force things. Seek God’s spirit, and God’s way. And once you begin to bear fruit, ask yourself, is this fruit God ordained or self-ordained? Notice Paul does not just commend fruit in Galatians 4. He commends fruit borne out of a true and total dependency on God.

Whose burden are you carrying?

2008-09-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

The miracle at Nain records a powerful story of Jesus raising a boy belonging to a widow from the dead (Luke 7:10-17). This story really grabs me due to the recent journey that I have been on. This lady in the story had obviously been through tragedy. Having lost her husband and becoming a widow. She had already been burdened with grief. Further, now her son had died suddenly. You can imagine the woman’s state of grief. This boy would have been of immense help around the home, being the only son. He was also the hope of the family name being passed on to the next generation. But all this was gone in a moment as the severe effects of death made this all apparent. Thus this lady is found in a funeral procession burdened with grief upon grief as she heads to bury her son.

My theme today is burden. I ask the question whose burden are your carrying. I recently shared a message on having the compassion of Christ. For in his compassion, Christ was burdened enough to meet people’s needs. As I and some of the people around me have recently decided to start intensely pray for the lost, God has been challenging me with this question. Whose burden are you carrying? Are you burdened enough? Are you burdened like Widow of Nain? See this story is relevant because many that we know though not physically dead like the boy in this story are spiritually dead. And just like the widow was burdened by this untimely death we need to be burdened by the death of our friends and family. When I speak of this burden, I speak not as one who has already received it. But instead I join with you my friend in asking God to open my eyes and touch my heart so I can be truly burdened by the lost ones he has given to me.

As the story goes, this burdened lady meets Jesus who is the giver of life. Jesus via his divine grace assesses her need, and raises the dead to life. My prayer is that Jesus will meet you today. That he will notice you in the funeral procession, where you lament for the lives of those who are doomed to eternity. Think about it. If you are not found lamenting, you will never be found rejoicing. Jesus can only bring back to life, those who are dead. Have you really understood your friends are dead? Do you want Jesus to bring them back to life? Then why don’t you pray? But don’t pray the usual way. Be burdened truly, by the spiritual loss of your friends. Pray the prayer of tears. Mourn your friends’ death, so that Christ might comfort those who mourn, and bring blissful life to those who are dead.

Control

2008-09-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

Jacob was destined to rule over Esau. This was pre-determined by God. For God indicates “Jacob I loved Esau I hated”. Jacob grabbing Esau’s heel in the womb, and coming out at the same time as Jacob when the twins were born was indicative of this divine destiny. Further Jacob had bargained with Esau in Genesis Chapter 27 to have Esau’s birthright, indicating he would receive the first part of their father’s estate.

Though Jacob’s destiny was already known there was a divine order for it to be achieved. God would have worked things out in his own time. Just like Jacob you might have a dream, a destiny, a burden or a plan that you feel comes from God. Are you letting God work it out in his own time, or would you take matters into your own hand like Jacob did?

Jacob had to have control of his destiny. True to his name which meant deceiver, he pretended he was his brother, and received the blessing intended by his dad for Esau. Though this blessing was divinely his, it was received in a sinful fashion. Upon receiving this blessing Jacob’s rulership over Esau was finally confirmed and would happen imminently.

Taking matters into our own hands, while might be successful in the short term yields much sorrow in the long term. Jacob’s deceit would cost him much as we will discover in the proceeding chapters.

Who’s in control of your life, your dreams and your hopes? Are you letting God do what he wants in your life, or are you playing God in your life? Are you making things happen in your own life, or is God the one initiating them? Are you spirit led, or self led? Learn from Jacob’s story, God promises that in due time we will reap a harvest if we wait for him. (Gal 6) Let’s submit even a little more today than we ever have to God, and give him control over our lives.

Stay in your land of promise!!!

2008-09-17T02:54:00.001-07:00

The bible reading for today (Genesis 23-24) focuses uniquely on one geographic area-Mamre, which was in the land of Canaan.

The details of the burial land negotiations while a bit much show the desire of Abraham to bury his wife in a specific place, the land of Mamre. Further, chapter 24 reveals Abraham’s desire that Isaac not leave this same land to find a wife. Isaac’s future bride must be brought back to the land where Abraham and Isaac dwelt.

All this emphasis on Mamre begs the question why is the land so significant, and what does it mean to me? Mamre was in Canaan, the region God had promised to Abraham and his descendants forever. Specifically in Mamre, God had spoken to Abraham several times and revealed details of his marvellous plans for his family. Mamre was a special place, where God had chosen to speak to Abraham, time and time again. Abraham was not about to leave this place, and instead would do whatever it took to ensure his family lived near there and was buried there.

Places are very significant. God not only calls us to ministries and careers, but also to certain places (Acts 17:26). When we are situated in the right place, we can discern and actualize God’s will for our life. As you continue to seek God, grow and follow his leading for your life, be very aware of the place you live, and the place God wants you to be. Are you in the right place? Does God want to move you elsewhere? Do you value the place God has you right now? Don’t ever leave a place, unless God is leading you. For in the place God has called you, there you will find his blessings.