so my ramblings turned out a little like this
A religious spirit is very similar to the taking on of an idol. Both of them steal the relational aspect of a personal God. Both of them allow the individual to manipulate, and make deals with God based on behavior and sacrifice.
Characteristics of a religious spirit can be broken down into as small as three parts, and as many as 25. I broken down to a number somewhere in the middle.
First if religion is taking over relationship in a specific area of your life outward appearance becomes very Important. What you say and what you do is evaluated by those who watch you. What other people think about what you say what you do becomes of greater and greater importance as a religious spirit grows.
Second there is a greater sense of condemnation and fear in your life. The idea that you need to get things right in order to be right. Also if you don't make things happen you may be a failure, or God's plans may fail.
Third would be pride, this comes from believing there is only one right way and you have it. There's also a pride in developing standards for yourself that you believe to be better than the standards of those around you.
Fourth would be a concept of judgment. There is judgment tied into religious spirit because if you're right then you judge others to be wrong. It is also a judgment that if you have the highest standards and other standards must be lower or lesser than yours.
The fifth one was legalism. This is where methods replace the relationship with God. This is seen as somebody who is walking close with God starts taking their behavior and turning it into a method by which everyone can be close to God. Legalism comes in as that method now becomes required for anyone who is close to God, or wants to be. In legalism the Holy Spirit's guidance is no longer desired on a moment by moment basis but maybe occasionally for big decision regarding a specific method or program, or personnel and after that the methods will take over again.
There is a need to figure out God, so that the individual can explain God. And tradition becomes more important than what the tradition was meant to remember.
All of these things take place within the context of people who love God or make that claim. They are people that at one point walked closely with God but a religious spirit slowly began to separate them from the personal moment by moment interaction that a relationship needs in order to grow.
If you sense a separation from an intimate relationship with God and religious spirit may be what the enemy is using to pull your part.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
elevate July 7
on this holiday week/weekend I just wanted to talk randomly about a couple themes that seemed to be running through my head.
One is in the area of religion. The line between religion and relationship becomes more insidious the older I get. It used to be a clear definition in my head, there was religious people and there were those who had a great relationship with God. But as I've gotten older it's become obvious that you can become very religious about your relationship with God. Then my crazy head began to think that maybe most religious people started out with a great relationship in their excitement over how wonderful their relationship was the God they became religious in order to protect that relationship, and used programs and tradition in a miss informed attempt to help others develop a relationship with God. (That was a really long sentence, and I'm guessing it technically isn't a sentence)
in general religion seeks to separate. In this is where Satan wins so many battles because he uses Scripture to justify the separation. And people in a great relationship with God begin to divide over some of the silliest things. Some of these divisions are over being right, which sounds like an excellent thing to divide over but many times it is based on fear and pride and not out of love and honor. We divide over a fear that if we were wrong then we were wrong about everything so in pride we tell everyone else that they are wrong and if they were really were good students of Scripture they would agree with us.
Well more thoughts like these thoughts and many more like them are running around my brain right now.
The second thing that has been dominating my mind wanderings, is the idea that many people prefer someone else to be really close to God. I Picked this up on a recent study of Moses receiving the law. People didn't want to be too close to the mountain, they wanted Moses to be the one who spoke to God and relayed the message is to them. Got offered the opportunity for everyone to surround the mountain ,feel his presence and hear his voice, but they refuse and backed far away from the mountain. Then when they thought Moses was never going to return they built an idol, not really to replace God but to replace Moses. They wanted somebody else to intercede for them with God. They wanted something that wouldn't die on the mountain as they thought Moses had.
As I look back over my life I can see this ringing truer then I would prefer to admit. And although I have separated myself from an entire ministry that is built around the concept that the leaders were the close ones to God and all we had in do was obey them, even now I find myself at times apprehensive about just how powerful and life-changing a close relationship with God can be. It's tough sometimes to keep walking deeper and not compare myself to others and just be satisfied that I judge myself to be closer to God than they are, so let's just hold up here and get comfortable. It is tempting to come under the covering of a spiritual father and ultimately just let the spiritual father communicate to God for me and let me know what he thinks I should do next.
While these are my current ramblings,
I hope to see this Saturday at elevate, where maybe some of these ramblings will start to make sense.
:-)
Remember elevate begins at 6:30 p.m. with an awesome café, with coffee fruit and some form of cake . Programming begins at 7:00 p.m.
One is in the area of religion. The line between religion and relationship becomes more insidious the older I get. It used to be a clear definition in my head, there was religious people and there were those who had a great relationship with God. But as I've gotten older it's become obvious that you can become very religious about your relationship with God. Then my crazy head began to think that maybe most religious people started out with a great relationship in their excitement over how wonderful their relationship was the God they became religious in order to protect that relationship, and used programs and tradition in a miss informed attempt to help others develop a relationship with God. (That was a really long sentence, and I'm guessing it technically isn't a sentence)
in general religion seeks to separate. In this is where Satan wins so many battles because he uses Scripture to justify the separation. And people in a great relationship with God begin to divide over some of the silliest things. Some of these divisions are over being right, which sounds like an excellent thing to divide over but many times it is based on fear and pride and not out of love and honor. We divide over a fear that if we were wrong then we were wrong about everything so in pride we tell everyone else that they are wrong and if they were really were good students of Scripture they would agree with us.
Well more thoughts like these thoughts and many more like them are running around my brain right now.
The second thing that has been dominating my mind wanderings, is the idea that many people prefer someone else to be really close to God. I Picked this up on a recent study of Moses receiving the law. People didn't want to be too close to the mountain, they wanted Moses to be the one who spoke to God and relayed the message is to them. Got offered the opportunity for everyone to surround the mountain ,feel his presence and hear his voice, but they refuse and backed far away from the mountain. Then when they thought Moses was never going to return they built an idol, not really to replace God but to replace Moses. They wanted somebody else to intercede for them with God. They wanted something that wouldn't die on the mountain as they thought Moses had.
As I look back over my life I can see this ringing truer then I would prefer to admit. And although I have separated myself from an entire ministry that is built around the concept that the leaders were the close ones to God and all we had in do was obey them, even now I find myself at times apprehensive about just how powerful and life-changing a close relationship with God can be. It's tough sometimes to keep walking deeper and not compare myself to others and just be satisfied that I judge myself to be closer to God than they are, so let's just hold up here and get comfortable. It is tempting to come under the covering of a spiritual father and ultimately just let the spiritual father communicate to God for me and let me know what he thinks I should do next.
While these are my current ramblings,
I hope to see this Saturday at elevate, where maybe some of these ramblings will start to make sense.
:-)
Remember elevate begins at 6:30 p.m. with an awesome café, with coffee fruit and some form of cake . Programming begins at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Elevate June 19
covenant versus cohabitation.
Briefly the difference is this.
Covenant brings two parties together that are willing to sacrifice everything they have for the other party.
Cohabitation brings two parties together that are interested in what the other party can give them.
Cohabitation is something that is used by the enemy to disillusion and dilute our commitment to God.
It is easy to see the difference in those who cohabitate before marriage. Usually those who cohabitate are looking to make sure that they fit together. To make sure sexually they have good chemistry. To understand how each other operates in a living arrangement so that they don't marry someone before they know everything about them.
This argument sounds almost like it makes sense.
But you see the marriage is a covenant relationship.There is no option in which leaving is easy as finding a better deal .
So no matter how long you live together you know there is always the option to hold something back on your partner or ultimately leave for a better deal.
In a covenant relationship
leaving for a better deal is never an option. Because a covenant partnership brings everything you all are to that other person. And if they lost everything it wouldn't matter because the partnership is a covenant partnership so everything you brought is there is for the partner. If for some reason in a covenant relationship one of the partners can no longer provide what was available at the beginning of the partnership it does not affect the relationship. Because a covenant relationship is sealed by blood and lasts until death.
This is why so many people who live together before marriage still end up splitting after marriage. Because living together/cohabitating is not the same as a covenant commitment.
In our relationship with God it is designed to be in covenant. Everything God is he makes available to us. It is a unique covenant because we literally bring nothing to God. What he makes available to us allows us to be everything he wants us to be. He gives us all of himself because he desires a relationship with those that he loves.
Many believed they cohabitate when God.....Well many behave as though they cohabitate with God. They keep God around as a good option unless somebody offers them a better option. They believe that their behavior dictates the response of God, and if their behavior becomes bad God will leave the relationship.
These lies about our relationship to God are from a miss understanding of what a covenant relationship is. There is nothing in a covenant relationship that gives you the option to pull out because you think there are better things somewhere else. In a covenant relationship there is nothing you can do that will make God pull out because a disappointment or anger.
Briefly the difference is this.
Covenant brings two parties together that are willing to sacrifice everything they have for the other party.
Cohabitation brings two parties together that are interested in what the other party can give them.
Cohabitation is something that is used by the enemy to disillusion and dilute our commitment to God.
It is easy to see the difference in those who cohabitate before marriage. Usually those who cohabitate are looking to make sure that they fit together. To make sure sexually they have good chemistry. To understand how each other operates in a living arrangement so that they don't marry someone before they know everything about them.
This argument sounds almost like it makes sense.
But you see the marriage is a covenant relationship.There is no option in which leaving is easy as finding a better deal .
So no matter how long you live together you know there is always the option to hold something back on your partner or ultimately leave for a better deal.
In a covenant relationship
leaving for a better deal is never an option. Because a covenant partnership brings everything you all are to that other person. And if they lost everything it wouldn't matter because the partnership is a covenant partnership so everything you brought is there is for the partner. If for some reason in a covenant relationship one of the partners can no longer provide what was available at the beginning of the partnership it does not affect the relationship. Because a covenant relationship is sealed by blood and lasts until death.
This is why so many people who live together before marriage still end up splitting after marriage. Because living together/cohabitating is not the same as a covenant commitment.
In our relationship with God it is designed to be in covenant. Everything God is he makes available to us. It is a unique covenant because we literally bring nothing to God. What he makes available to us allows us to be everything he wants us to be. He gives us all of himself because he desires a relationship with those that he loves.
Many believed they cohabitate when God.....Well many behave as though they cohabitate with God. They keep God around as a good option unless somebody offers them a better option. They believe that their behavior dictates the response of God, and if their behavior becomes bad God will leave the relationship.
These lies about our relationship to God are from a miss understanding of what a covenant relationship is. There is nothing in a covenant relationship that gives you the option to pull out because you think there are better things somewhere else. In a covenant relationship there is nothing you can do that will make God pull out because a disappointment or anger.
Monday, June 14, 2010
elevate June 12
we had a nice opportunity to reconnect with each other and elevate this week. It's been several weeks since we met, and it was good to see all those who were able to come.
We did start out by announcing that we would be going to a conference in Boston. September 17 and 18th. This is hosted by "the international House of prayer" is called a One Thing Conference and although the conference is free we will have to work out details regarding transportation and housing. Although these things may be left up to individuals we would like to experience a conference together so we would love to meet before and after each meeting as well is it in the meetings together.
The message focused on the idea of covering. This idea/principal of God is example throughout Scripture We as followers of Christ should come under the covering of older/mature followers of Christ.
We used two examples.
Joshua and Moses.
Joshua was a highly capable leader who came under the covering of Moses.Throughout the story of Moses we see that Joshua was present at multiple key points. He was there to oversee the Army ,on the mountain with Moses when the covenant was written, and in the tent when Moses would speak to God as a friend. Joshua had a clear call from God to be a leader, but he was willing to follow Godly principle in wait until God exalted him into leadership.
I believe every time the people wanted to kill Moses Joshua had the opportunity to take over leadership. And yet every time he supported Moses and was there to hold him up before the people.
Elijah and Elisha. in the final walk of Elijah , Elisha has given several opportunities to take on his own Ministry.other substantial servants of God wanted him to stay and become their leader, but he chose to follow Elijah until the end.
He walked away from individual promotion and waited until God put him in a place of leadership.
Often in our culture the spirit of individualism steals the sustaining opportunities of revival in our land.
Individuals receive a call of God on their lives, and instead of coming under the covering of other fathers and mothers they strike out on their own. By striking out on their own they miss the opportunity to learn what has been taught to other fathers and mothers. So therefore as individuals they must relearn lessons that could have been passed down to them. By striking out on their own they miss the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of those in a gone on before them and therefore reach higher places in the spiritual realm. By striking out on their own many times when they die there Ministry guys with them.
All of these and other myths steps could be eliminated if younger people were willing to come on to the covering of spiritual mothers and fathers.
Joshua was able to become a leader of a nation and possessed the promised land for the people of God.
Elisha was able to request a double portion of blessing from God, he got it, and twice as much is recorded in Scripture regarding his ministry than that of his spiritual father Elijah.
By coming under the covering of a spiritual father of mother, I believe God is able to work on behalf of your call. And when he calls you into leadership you will not waste time learning things that others have learned. You will be able to step out on the shoulders of those who've gone before you, and reach a higher place.
We did start out by announcing that we would be going to a conference in Boston. September 17 and 18th. This is hosted by "the international House of prayer" is called a One Thing Conference and although the conference is free we will have to work out details regarding transportation and housing. Although these things may be left up to individuals we would like to experience a conference together so we would love to meet before and after each meeting as well is it in the meetings together.
The message focused on the idea of covering. This idea/principal of God is example throughout Scripture We as followers of Christ should come under the covering of older/mature followers of Christ.
We used two examples.
Joshua and Moses.
Joshua was a highly capable leader who came under the covering of Moses.Throughout the story of Moses we see that Joshua was present at multiple key points. He was there to oversee the Army ,on the mountain with Moses when the covenant was written, and in the tent when Moses would speak to God as a friend. Joshua had a clear call from God to be a leader, but he was willing to follow Godly principle in wait until God exalted him into leadership.
I believe every time the people wanted to kill Moses Joshua had the opportunity to take over leadership. And yet every time he supported Moses and was there to hold him up before the people.
Elijah and Elisha. in the final walk of Elijah , Elisha has given several opportunities to take on his own Ministry.other substantial servants of God wanted him to stay and become their leader, but he chose to follow Elijah until the end.
He walked away from individual promotion and waited until God put him in a place of leadership.
Often in our culture the spirit of individualism steals the sustaining opportunities of revival in our land.
Individuals receive a call of God on their lives, and instead of coming under the covering of other fathers and mothers they strike out on their own. By striking out on their own they miss the opportunity to learn what has been taught to other fathers and mothers. So therefore as individuals they must relearn lessons that could have been passed down to them. By striking out on their own they miss the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of those in a gone on before them and therefore reach higher places in the spiritual realm. By striking out on their own many times when they die there Ministry guys with them.
All of these and other myths steps could be eliminated if younger people were willing to come on to the covering of spiritual mothers and fathers.
Joshua was able to become a leader of a nation and possessed the promised land for the people of God.
Elisha was able to request a double portion of blessing from God, he got it, and twice as much is recorded in Scripture regarding his ministry than that of his spiritual father Elijah.
By coming under the covering of a spiritual father of mother, I believe God is able to work on behalf of your call. And when he calls you into leadership you will not waste time learning things that others have learned. You will be able to step out on the shoulders of those who've gone before you, and reach a higher place.
Monday, May 24, 2010
elevate may 22
we had fun at Elevate this week.
We were combined with a weekend conference here at the church. The team of ministers from Redding California were led by the main speakers Steve and his wife Wendy Bekleand.
they had many excellent things to say but let me briefly reviews some of the main concepts.
Re: Hope/hopelessness.
To be filled with hope means we are believing something that is true. When we have hopelessness we are believing a lie.
This is sourced in God's character. There is no situation in which God is hopeless, so there is no situation we are in where there is no hope. If God is true to his character than any time we have a circumstance or situation where we think all hope is lost we are believing a lie about God's character.
The enemy loves to do less with lies about God's character. He loves the steel hope and replace it with hopelessness.
There are no hopeless situations only hopeless people. So the circumstances are not the problem it's the conclusions that we put on it. When we look at our circumstances and conclude that there is no hope we have the problem.
This takes us to the idea that the highest form of spiritual warfare is in our thought processes. What we believe is more important than our behavior. Our conduct flows from our beliefs. If we believe situations can be hopeless we will behave as though they are hopeless. We need to change our belief system to mirror God's character, and we will begin to act as though all of life is filled with hope.
Regarding our mind and our spirit.
Our mind creates opportunities to diminish the importance of the Spirit. We were created to be more spirit than flash. We need to bring our flash into alignment and allow it to be trained by the Spirit. Our spirits should not be in balance with our minds, but rather our spirits should be in balance with God. When our minds are trained by our spirit our minds believe all things are possible, and we can do anything God wants done.
How we see something is more important than what we see. When we allow our eyes/mind to be trained by the Spirit we see things as God sees them. So it doesn't really matter what we are looking at, it matters how we look at it, our perspective.
We can sabotage the very blessings of God by viewing them through a negative stronghold in our mind. Any relationship, circumstance, or possession that God has blessed us with can be viewed negatively and even sabotaged into a curse because our minds filter it through a negative stronghold that God is not good, or good things cannot happen to us.
Regarding our imaginations.
If our imagination is at odds with our will be imagination will always win. If we use our willpower to lose weight, but we always imagine ourselves as being fat we will be fat. If we really want peace and kindness to rule our homes, but we can never imagined everyone getting along, then there'll always be arguments.
The examples go on and on. It is important to understand that the imagination does a win right away. Over time if our will and imagination argue with each other ultimately imagination wins.
In our imagination we understand, if God has done it at any time he can do it now. If God is done it anywhere he can do it here. If God has done it through any one he can do it through me.
So many things in our lives can be traced back to an improper alignment of our minds we Gods spirit.we must relentlessly pursue the renewing of our mind. We must look to God's Spirit to cleanse our mind of negative strongholds, and human rationale. As the Spirit of God reveals streams of thought that need to be changed, repentance needs to be a pattern in the renewing of our mind.
Even though our official elevates service will not be meeting every week, I will continue to try and blog each week.
We will see you a second and last Saturday in June, July, and August.
We were combined with a weekend conference here at the church. The team of ministers from Redding California were led by the main speakers Steve and his wife Wendy Bekleand.
they had many excellent things to say but let me briefly reviews some of the main concepts.
Re: Hope/hopelessness.
To be filled with hope means we are believing something that is true. When we have hopelessness we are believing a lie.
This is sourced in God's character. There is no situation in which God is hopeless, so there is no situation we are in where there is no hope. If God is true to his character than any time we have a circumstance or situation where we think all hope is lost we are believing a lie about God's character.
The enemy loves to do less with lies about God's character. He loves the steel hope and replace it with hopelessness.
There are no hopeless situations only hopeless people. So the circumstances are not the problem it's the conclusions that we put on it. When we look at our circumstances and conclude that there is no hope we have the problem.
This takes us to the idea that the highest form of spiritual warfare is in our thought processes. What we believe is more important than our behavior. Our conduct flows from our beliefs. If we believe situations can be hopeless we will behave as though they are hopeless. We need to change our belief system to mirror God's character, and we will begin to act as though all of life is filled with hope.
Regarding our mind and our spirit.
Our mind creates opportunities to diminish the importance of the Spirit. We were created to be more spirit than flash. We need to bring our flash into alignment and allow it to be trained by the Spirit. Our spirits should not be in balance with our minds, but rather our spirits should be in balance with God. When our minds are trained by our spirit our minds believe all things are possible, and we can do anything God wants done.
How we see something is more important than what we see. When we allow our eyes/mind to be trained by the Spirit we see things as God sees them. So it doesn't really matter what we are looking at, it matters how we look at it, our perspective.
We can sabotage the very blessings of God by viewing them through a negative stronghold in our mind. Any relationship, circumstance, or possession that God has blessed us with can be viewed negatively and even sabotaged into a curse because our minds filter it through a negative stronghold that God is not good, or good things cannot happen to us.
Regarding our imaginations.
If our imagination is at odds with our will be imagination will always win. If we use our willpower to lose weight, but we always imagine ourselves as being fat we will be fat. If we really want peace and kindness to rule our homes, but we can never imagined everyone getting along, then there'll always be arguments.
The examples go on and on. It is important to understand that the imagination does a win right away. Over time if our will and imagination argue with each other ultimately imagination wins.
In our imagination we understand, if God has done it at any time he can do it now. If God is done it anywhere he can do it here. If God has done it through any one he can do it through me.
So many things in our lives can be traced back to an improper alignment of our minds we Gods spirit.we must relentlessly pursue the renewing of our mind. We must look to God's Spirit to cleanse our mind of negative strongholds, and human rationale. As the Spirit of God reveals streams of thought that need to be changed, repentance needs to be a pattern in the renewing of our mind.
Even though our official elevates service will not be meeting every week, I will continue to try and blog each week.
We will see you a second and last Saturday in June, July, and August.
Monday, May 17, 2010
elevate may 15
this week we looked at some opportunities to get sidetracked when participating in God's work.
If we are not constantly developing the character of God, that is going through the process that God has is walking through we can get sidetracked and cause negative ramifications.
The first one we will call "speed without skill" it really has to do with the concept of maturity. Having one really good gift and being very singularly focused about that gift may get things started but without more training could get you killed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 2:18-23 .
There we saw a soldier with incredible speed. The soldier was able to spot the opposing general, and began to chase him down. The opposing general while running away made it clear that if the runner insisted on chasing him he (the General) would kill him. The runner remained singular and focus and with great speed close the gap on the much more experienced general. The general as promised killed the runner.
Many times people take off with a gift that God has given them. And they take on far more than they should. They decide to attack, or try to overtake a much larger aspect of the enemies territory than their experience in training would warrant. They even refused to listen to warnings that people throw their way. Ultimately the ministry is killed off by the opposition, and sometimes their gifting is lost forever.
The second one we will call "messy messenger" and he really has to do with not rushing into an assignment in which you are not fully informed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 18:19-33.
After a very long and strategic battle and message needed to get back to the king regarding all that it happened. The first messenger who wanted to go desperately wanted to be the first one to share the victory.
The second messenger was someone who had observed all that had occurred throughout the day was fully informed.
The general sent the fully informed messenger. The general knew that just reporting the victory was not enough. The messenger needed to be able to recount a full day's battle to the advisers that would be sitting in the room with the king.
He knew though the message might get their a little slower it needed to be complete.
The first messenger continued to push and beg the General to send him.a general finally relents, first runner is faster and those shortcut, and arrives to the King before the other runner. He informs the king of the victory, but cannot answer any of the Kings questions. As the other runner arrives the king pushes aside the first runner.
It is vital that our desire to be noticed, or to bring our message doesn't override the wisdom of those in authority over us. We must be willing to wait for God's timing so that we can be a trustworthy messenger. If we arrive first, we may be noticed but if we cannot answer questions and our message is incomplete we will not be considered a trustworthy messenger. We may be pushed aside by the king.
A third warning we looked at as the idea of being sensational with no substance" here we drew from the book of Judges chapter 16. It's the story of the capture of Samson. Although Samson's story seems complicated the common thread through all of it is pride. Samson did sensational things when the Spirit of God came upon him. Samson never had the substance of God's character to recognize God's Spirit, and took credit for what he thought he controlled.
So wrapped up in pride Samson believed God needed him to accomplish God's will on this earth. When God lifted the gifts of strength from Samson, Samson didn't even notice. Without the spirit of God upon him he was blinded, bound up, and imprisoned by the enemy. If Samson had had the substance of God's character within him, he would've recognized God's Spirit when it was upon him is what gave him the strength, and he definitely would've noticed when God's Spirit was lifted.
In essence we said this
when you put gifting over character, or position over processed you are in danger of,
being blinded, being bound up, being imprisoned, being killed, or being pushed aside.
When you put character over gifting, and process over position you receive,
God's heart, victory over your enemy, freedom to be successful in God's call, you are seen as a trusted messenger.
If we are not constantly developing the character of God, that is going through the process that God has is walking through we can get sidetracked and cause negative ramifications.
The first one we will call "speed without skill" it really has to do with the concept of maturity. Having one really good gift and being very singularly focused about that gift may get things started but without more training could get you killed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 2:18-23 .
There we saw a soldier with incredible speed. The soldier was able to spot the opposing general, and began to chase him down. The opposing general while running away made it clear that if the runner insisted on chasing him he (the General) would kill him. The runner remained singular and focus and with great speed close the gap on the much more experienced general. The general as promised killed the runner.
Many times people take off with a gift that God has given them. And they take on far more than they should. They decide to attack, or try to overtake a much larger aspect of the enemies territory than their experience in training would warrant. They even refused to listen to warnings that people throw their way. Ultimately the ministry is killed off by the opposition, and sometimes their gifting is lost forever.
The second one we will call "messy messenger" and he really has to do with not rushing into an assignment in which you are not fully informed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 18:19-33.
After a very long and strategic battle and message needed to get back to the king regarding all that it happened. The first messenger who wanted to go desperately wanted to be the first one to share the victory.
The second messenger was someone who had observed all that had occurred throughout the day was fully informed.
The general sent the fully informed messenger. The general knew that just reporting the victory was not enough. The messenger needed to be able to recount a full day's battle to the advisers that would be sitting in the room with the king.
He knew though the message might get their a little slower it needed to be complete.
The first messenger continued to push and beg the General to send him.a general finally relents, first runner is faster and those shortcut, and arrives to the King before the other runner. He informs the king of the victory, but cannot answer any of the Kings questions. As the other runner arrives the king pushes aside the first runner.
It is vital that our desire to be noticed, or to bring our message doesn't override the wisdom of those in authority over us. We must be willing to wait for God's timing so that we can be a trustworthy messenger. If we arrive first, we may be noticed but if we cannot answer questions and our message is incomplete we will not be considered a trustworthy messenger. We may be pushed aside by the king.
A third warning we looked at as the idea of being sensational with no substance" here we drew from the book of Judges chapter 16. It's the story of the capture of Samson. Although Samson's story seems complicated the common thread through all of it is pride. Samson did sensational things when the Spirit of God came upon him. Samson never had the substance of God's character to recognize God's Spirit, and took credit for what he thought he controlled.
So wrapped up in pride Samson believed God needed him to accomplish God's will on this earth. When God lifted the gifts of strength from Samson, Samson didn't even notice. Without the spirit of God upon him he was blinded, bound up, and imprisoned by the enemy. If Samson had had the substance of God's character within him, he would've recognized God's Spirit when it was upon him is what gave him the strength, and he definitely would've noticed when God's Spirit was lifted.
In essence we said this
when you put gifting over character, or position over processed you are in danger of,
being blinded, being bound up, being imprisoned, being killed, or being pushed aside.
When you put character over gifting, and process over position you receive,
God's heart, victory over your enemy, freedom to be successful in God's call, you are seen as a trusted messenger.
Monday, May 10, 2010
elevate may 8
At elevate this week, we continued our study on the concept of revival.
One of the words that often gets used in the context of revival is the word "repentance". The concept of repentance is one that I believe has suffered from the modern approach to Bible study. In the modern era everything was boiled down to its lowest common denominator. By simplifying the definitions there was a hope that everyone would be a will to agree on foundational truths. This did not occur and actually resulted in multiple divisions amongst believers as well as a lot of ugly fighting. This is not what this blog is about but I'm pretty sure I covered it in an earlier one.
We took the word repentance and expanded or some would say complicate its definition by looking at the book of Acts Chapter 2.
The key idea of repentance was broken up into three concepts. The first one is the idea of Revelation, the second repentance, and the third turning. We also want to make clear that repentance is not something only the unsaved person can do. Repentance is something all of us should participate in regardless of our relationship with God
Revelation is sourced in God. It's the idea that God starts the process of repentance through the prompting of his spirit. Now revelation can occur directly to the person from God's Spirit. Or it could be brought to him through some other source like a person, a miracle, some form of the arts, an aspect of God's creation, all of these things can be used to start the conversation between the individual and God.
Repentance is more than "pain of the mind" it is really a change of mind. When you repent because of some pain that you are in , humiliation, embarrassment, or just plain feeling bad, it's not a bad place to start but true repentance doesn't end there. Repentance allows you to see things from God's perspective. Repentance when done as God intended allows you to see what you've done from his viewpoint. God does not use guilt, manipulation, humiliation to make you do what he wants done. The self inflicted repentance uses those things.
So if we have responded to Godly revelation in a Godly way, the end result will be true repentance where we see ourselves or our sin the way God does.
Which leads us to the third part the turning, The turning is just that it is a new direction. The old direction is the direction of self, pride, intellect, reason, but God’s way he does not use those things. God's Way the way that we turn to when we repent produces godly characteristics and our lives. We seek God's will/plan on earth.
When the first two aspects are in repentance the last thing we do, "the turning" is something that becomes very natural. Doing God's will is so easily stepped into that people may think we are under some sort of chemical influence because of how uninhibited we are in the way we present God in everything we do.
One of the words that often gets used in the context of revival is the word "repentance". The concept of repentance is one that I believe has suffered from the modern approach to Bible study. In the modern era everything was boiled down to its lowest common denominator. By simplifying the definitions there was a hope that everyone would be a will to agree on foundational truths. This did not occur and actually resulted in multiple divisions amongst believers as well as a lot of ugly fighting. This is not what this blog is about but I'm pretty sure I covered it in an earlier one.
We took the word repentance and expanded or some would say complicate its definition by looking at the book of Acts Chapter 2.
The key idea of repentance was broken up into three concepts. The first one is the idea of Revelation, the second repentance, and the third turning. We also want to make clear that repentance is not something only the unsaved person can do. Repentance is something all of us should participate in regardless of our relationship with God
Revelation is sourced in God. It's the idea that God starts the process of repentance through the prompting of his spirit. Now revelation can occur directly to the person from God's Spirit. Or it could be brought to him through some other source like a person, a miracle, some form of the arts, an aspect of God's creation, all of these things can be used to start the conversation between the individual and God.
Repentance is more than "pain of the mind" it is really a change of mind. When you repent because of some pain that you are in , humiliation, embarrassment, or just plain feeling bad, it's not a bad place to start but true repentance doesn't end there. Repentance allows you to see things from God's perspective. Repentance when done as God intended allows you to see what you've done from his viewpoint. God does not use guilt, manipulation, humiliation to make you do what he wants done. The self inflicted repentance uses those things.
So if we have responded to Godly revelation in a Godly way, the end result will be true repentance where we see ourselves or our sin the way God does.
Which leads us to the third part the turning, The turning is just that it is a new direction. The old direction is the direction of self, pride, intellect, reason, but God’s way he does not use those things. God's Way the way that we turn to when we repent produces godly characteristics and our lives. We seek God's will/plan on earth.
When the first two aspects are in repentance the last thing we do, "the turning" is something that becomes very natural. Doing God's will is so easily stepped into that people may think we are under some sort of chemical influence because of how uninhibited we are in the way we present God in everything we do.
Monday, May 3, 2010
elevate may 1
we were blessed this week with a visit from Brian Lahoue, and his team from Cambridge Mass..Bryant heads up the ministry called "The Awakening". It involves a consistent outreach into the Harvard Square area of Cambridge. And the desire for the awakening of spiritually dead but academically brilliant people at Harvard University.
You can find them on Facebook at "The Awakening, Harvard Square".
Brian brought a good message reminding us of the authority, of God's kingdom that Jesus left with us when he commissioned us to go forth and make disciples of the world. We are in a position of authority to take back what the enemy has stolen. We have the opportunity to not only represent our King, but to recapture his original intent for his creation.
It was a good reminder to be on the offensive for our King. Not on the defensive ,just trying to survive in a world filled with the enemy's philosophies and practices.
The ministry time was a time of sweet revival. As the worship team lead us through songs and praises, Brian and his team used their anointing to bring an a cute awareness of God's presence in our meeting.
One particular call for healing cock my attention, and I will share with you why.
Brian called up someone who is having problems with their jaw, particularly pain.
This made me almost jumped from my seat, actually my hand shot up first and then I jumped up from my seat.
About three months ago I was hit with an acute case of TMJ. I was in tremendous pain and went immediately to the emergency room where I was given muscle relaxer, and painkiller. These both helped slightly, but there seem to be something more going on. As a number people interceded over what was happening, and the events leading up to when it started it was pretty clear to most people including myself that this was a spiritual thing not a physical thing.
I sought God regarding its effects and why it was occurring. He revealed it to me through a prayer team consisting teenagers from our student ministries Department. As they prayed over me one of them spoke clearly that this had to do with verbal judgments that I had spoken against other people in Ministry. Those judgments had given the enemy and opportunity to throw a dagger at my jaw and cause this physical manifestation. When that student said those words I knew it was true. I had spent many hours over my years of Ministry speaking judgments over those I did not agree with, or thought they should be doing a better job.
As I started to confess in general right there the pain dissipated, and I no longer needed any sort of pain medication. I had far more to confess than just the first few minutes in a prayer circle.Over the next few weeks God faithfully brought to mind people that I had judged verbally. I sought repentance from God and from those I could get a hold of I asked for forgiveness from them as well. It was a wonderful journey, but my jaw still did not work.
I went to doctors, and chiropractors and they would tell me the same thing. You jaw muscle is swollen, you should be happy you're not in pain, eat soft things everything should be fine in a few weeks.
My heart told me I needed to wait for complete healing. I needed to wait because God wanted to remind me how powerful my jaw can be.The words I speak and especially the judgments that I had spoken can cause a lot of pain. The words I speak in teaching and encouragement also cause a lot of joy. So each day that my jaw did not work each time I would attempt to bite down on something that I can no longer eat because my muscle wouldn't let me, I took as a reminder to be careful what I say.
And I waited.
I could have sought out people who I know have healed other people. I believed God wanted me to wait until He called me out. Until He revealed to somebody that I needed healing.
That occurred on Saturday night.
After I jumped out of my seat and went forward and received prayer, my jaw completely closed. I enjoyed a large family gathering on Sunday afternoon, without any hesitation to eat whatever I wanted.
I thank God for the healing. I thank God for the opportunity to learn a lesson. I pray I will never forget either.
You can find them on Facebook at "The Awakening, Harvard Square".
Brian brought a good message reminding us of the authority, of God's kingdom that Jesus left with us when he commissioned us to go forth and make disciples of the world. We are in a position of authority to take back what the enemy has stolen. We have the opportunity to not only represent our King, but to recapture his original intent for his creation.
It was a good reminder to be on the offensive for our King. Not on the defensive ,just trying to survive in a world filled with the enemy's philosophies and practices.
The ministry time was a time of sweet revival. As the worship team lead us through songs and praises, Brian and his team used their anointing to bring an a cute awareness of God's presence in our meeting.
One particular call for healing cock my attention, and I will share with you why.
Brian called up someone who is having problems with their jaw, particularly pain.
This made me almost jumped from my seat, actually my hand shot up first and then I jumped up from my seat.
About three months ago I was hit with an acute case of TMJ. I was in tremendous pain and went immediately to the emergency room where I was given muscle relaxer, and painkiller. These both helped slightly, but there seem to be something more going on. As a number people interceded over what was happening, and the events leading up to when it started it was pretty clear to most people including myself that this was a spiritual thing not a physical thing.
I sought God regarding its effects and why it was occurring. He revealed it to me through a prayer team consisting teenagers from our student ministries Department. As they prayed over me one of them spoke clearly that this had to do with verbal judgments that I had spoken against other people in Ministry. Those judgments had given the enemy and opportunity to throw a dagger at my jaw and cause this physical manifestation. When that student said those words I knew it was true. I had spent many hours over my years of Ministry speaking judgments over those I did not agree with, or thought they should be doing a better job.
As I started to confess in general right there the pain dissipated, and I no longer needed any sort of pain medication. I had far more to confess than just the first few minutes in a prayer circle.Over the next few weeks God faithfully brought to mind people that I had judged verbally. I sought repentance from God and from those I could get a hold of I asked for forgiveness from them as well. It was a wonderful journey, but my jaw still did not work.
I went to doctors, and chiropractors and they would tell me the same thing. You jaw muscle is swollen, you should be happy you're not in pain, eat soft things everything should be fine in a few weeks.
My heart told me I needed to wait for complete healing. I needed to wait because God wanted to remind me how powerful my jaw can be.The words I speak and especially the judgments that I had spoken can cause a lot of pain. The words I speak in teaching and encouragement also cause a lot of joy. So each day that my jaw did not work each time I would attempt to bite down on something that I can no longer eat because my muscle wouldn't let me, I took as a reminder to be careful what I say.
And I waited.
I could have sought out people who I know have healed other people. I believed God wanted me to wait until He called me out. Until He revealed to somebody that I needed healing.
That occurred on Saturday night.
After I jumped out of my seat and went forward and received prayer, my jaw completely closed. I enjoyed a large family gathering on Sunday afternoon, without any hesitation to eat whatever I wanted.
I thank God for the healing. I thank God for the opportunity to learn a lesson. I pray I will never forget either.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Elevate april 24
this week elevates we continued our look at this vision of revival that many people desire and hope for.
You are in the book of Ezekiel chapter 47. In this chapter we work through a dream in which the writer is brought from the throne room of the temple along side a stream that flows from under the throne, out into the desert and ultimately to the dead sea.
After walking1,00 cubic s he is allowed to enter into the stream which is about ankle-deep. He goes another1,000 cubic s and the stream is now up to his knees. Another1,000 and it's up to his waist, another1,000 and he is swimming in a river that is too wide to cross.
And we have the option of applying this in several ways but for our study were going to apply it to levels of maturity and how that affects revival. We see through the process of1,000 cubic's dad killing deeper into the river of God's Spirit is a process. And that God walks us through the process completely before we get to go deeper.
Many people get tripped up in ankle-deep experiences of God's Spirit become overwhelmed because of a lack of character and ultimately never go deeper. These areas that trip them up are often things like pride, presuppositions, extremes, and selfish pleasures. They get a taste of what God's Spirit can do and begin to splash around in such a way that they avoid completing the walk to the deeper levels with God. Often times the pressure that causes people to be tripped up its success. They successfully work within the spirit of God's moving and then become distracted by their own lack of character.
As we observe them vision we see that the river flows through the desert to the Dead Sea. These two places are not known for life. The desert is not a place you want to be if you're in need of water or food. In the Dead Sea has long been known as a place that nothing lives, and nothing grows.
What we see in the vision is that the river of God brings life to the desert and turns the Dead Sea into fresh water teeming with fish. As the man in the vision comes back out of the river he is surprised to see the banks of the river are now lined with fruit trees. These trees are bearing fruit year-round, and the leaves of the tree bring healing.
The surprise comes because much like us we often think that the desert (which is the world we live in) is so filled with death that nothing outside of a massive revival could bring life again. I think one of the main applications of this passage is the stream that God wants to flow through is can bring life to whatever part of the desert we are flowing through.
The life giving flow of God's Spirit is designed to refresh those we come in contact with with life-giving nutrients of God's fruit of his character, and healing touch of his kingdom.
This is a revival that we should be seeking. We should not hold out for some massive move of God before we decide to get involved in the flow of God's Spirit. It is individuals can make a difference. Hundreds of streams of God's Spirit lined with fruit trees bearing God's character and healing that change our immediate communities. It's the life-giving stream of God's Spirit that flows into someone's life that can bear no fruit and turns their salt water into fresh water teaming with fish.
God took one man on his journey because God wants each individual person to do the same thing. He wants us each to journey deeper into the flow of his spirit. He wants each of us to bring life to our communities. He wants each of us to make a difference and not be overwhelmed by the vastness of the desert that we flow through.
As a word of caution there are several types of "faults revivals" that can distract us from our individual walk.
"Rapid revival", where we seek to make every aspect of God's presence happen right now. In other words we skipped the process.
"Premature revival" as gods presence starts to make a difference, we relax in our work and ultimately the presence of God lifts.
"New cart revival"man-made methods/creativity to produce revival.
"Kitchen revival" we get so busy working for God we don't stop to go into the living room and listen to God.
"Sensational revival" we don't think revivals happening unless something sensational, emotional or big is going on.
"Stale revival" the reworking and rehashing of the way it was done before.
God's presence/revival should bring life to the desert not just get attention for the individual, or fire up emotionally the people around you.
What are you bringing to your desert?
You are in the book of Ezekiel chapter 47. In this chapter we work through a dream in which the writer is brought from the throne room of the temple along side a stream that flows from under the throne, out into the desert and ultimately to the dead sea.
After walking1,00 cubic s he is allowed to enter into the stream which is about ankle-deep. He goes another1,000 cubic s and the stream is now up to his knees. Another1,000 and it's up to his waist, another1,000 and he is swimming in a river that is too wide to cross.
And we have the option of applying this in several ways but for our study were going to apply it to levels of maturity and how that affects revival. We see through the process of1,000 cubic's dad killing deeper into the river of God's Spirit is a process. And that God walks us through the process completely before we get to go deeper.
Many people get tripped up in ankle-deep experiences of God's Spirit become overwhelmed because of a lack of character and ultimately never go deeper. These areas that trip them up are often things like pride, presuppositions, extremes, and selfish pleasures. They get a taste of what God's Spirit can do and begin to splash around in such a way that they avoid completing the walk to the deeper levels with God. Often times the pressure that causes people to be tripped up its success. They successfully work within the spirit of God's moving and then become distracted by their own lack of character.
As we observe them vision we see that the river flows through the desert to the Dead Sea. These two places are not known for life. The desert is not a place you want to be if you're in need of water or food. In the Dead Sea has long been known as a place that nothing lives, and nothing grows.
What we see in the vision is that the river of God brings life to the desert and turns the Dead Sea into fresh water teeming with fish. As the man in the vision comes back out of the river he is surprised to see the banks of the river are now lined with fruit trees. These trees are bearing fruit year-round, and the leaves of the tree bring healing.
The surprise comes because much like us we often think that the desert (which is the world we live in) is so filled with death that nothing outside of a massive revival could bring life again. I think one of the main applications of this passage is the stream that God wants to flow through is can bring life to whatever part of the desert we are flowing through.
The life giving flow of God's Spirit is designed to refresh those we come in contact with with life-giving nutrients of God's fruit of his character, and healing touch of his kingdom.
This is a revival that we should be seeking. We should not hold out for some massive move of God before we decide to get involved in the flow of God's Spirit. It is individuals can make a difference. Hundreds of streams of God's Spirit lined with fruit trees bearing God's character and healing that change our immediate communities. It's the life-giving stream of God's Spirit that flows into someone's life that can bear no fruit and turns their salt water into fresh water teaming with fish.
God took one man on his journey because God wants each individual person to do the same thing. He wants us each to journey deeper into the flow of his spirit. He wants each of us to bring life to our communities. He wants each of us to make a difference and not be overwhelmed by the vastness of the desert that we flow through.
As a word of caution there are several types of "faults revivals" that can distract us from our individual walk.
"Rapid revival", where we seek to make every aspect of God's presence happen right now. In other words we skipped the process.
"Premature revival" as gods presence starts to make a difference, we relax in our work and ultimately the presence of God lifts.
"New cart revival"man-made methods/creativity to produce revival.
"Kitchen revival" we get so busy working for God we don't stop to go into the living room and listen to God.
"Sensational revival" we don't think revivals happening unless something sensational, emotional or big is going on.
"Stale revival" the reworking and rehashing of the way it was done before.
God's presence/revival should bring life to the desert not just get attention for the individual, or fire up emotionally the people around you.
What are you bringing to your desert?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Elevate april 17
The Presence of God.
It is something that many people desire. God's presence is the essence of revival.
God often describes His presence like a river. God actually uses many different forms of water to describe aspects of himself. God describes life with him like water, a well, a river, a Belgian, a stream, and rain. God describes his piece as "still waters". He describes His love like a garden spring, a well of fresh water, flowing streams. God describes his voice like the noise of many waters, and his righteousness like the waves of the sea.
So with all of these descriptions we understand why the presence of God can be so refreshing. It is something we can bathe in, something that can bring us joy, and peace.the presence of God is something that many Christians pray for and seek after because of the results and experiences His presence brings.
But our desires for experiences can lead to activities that ultimately lose God's presence. Our pursuit of God's presence can become a pursuit of just the next spiritual high .One author put it this way "God is often lost in our pursuit of God"
in the book of John chapter 7:37-39, Jesus challenges those who believe in Him.
Jesus stands up and tells those who will listen that if they believe in him they should "come and drink" and when they do "rivers of living water will flow out from them".
What we see here is that the presence of God is available not just for us to experience, but for us to present to the world.
The river of God is sourced at the throne of God. In this passage the living water is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is saying when we drink from God's river that same spirit that we drink in flows out from us to the world around us. The phrase "come and drink" is a command to those who believe in Jesus.
The "Flow" is something that should be continual.
And the "life" is the idea of giving birth.
Jesus is commanding those who believe in Him, to drink from the river that is God's Holy Spirit, and birth life in the world that is dying of thirst.
Now that is a beautiful description of what our Christian life should be like. We should not just be a group of people who bathed in the spirit of God. We should be a body of people who create a flow of God's presence were ever we are. And from the flow of God's Spirit bring refreshing drinks, and life-giving opportunities to those who are lost in the wilderness of bitter life sucking culture.
We are challenged to do more than just bathed in the spirit of God. We are challenged to drink constantly from the flow of his spirit. By drinking constantly the life that flows out from us will be a river of life that will affect and bring life to all those around us. If we have not been drinking, that is if we are not 100% full of God's Spirit then we need to be. We need to take the steps necessary to reconnect ourselves to the river of life that comes from the throne of God.
Let's open up streams of living water in the desert of this world.
It is something that many people desire. God's presence is the essence of revival.
God often describes His presence like a river. God actually uses many different forms of water to describe aspects of himself. God describes life with him like water, a well, a river, a Belgian, a stream, and rain. God describes his piece as "still waters". He describes His love like a garden spring, a well of fresh water, flowing streams. God describes his voice like the noise of many waters, and his righteousness like the waves of the sea.
So with all of these descriptions we understand why the presence of God can be so refreshing. It is something we can bathe in, something that can bring us joy, and peace.the presence of God is something that many Christians pray for and seek after because of the results and experiences His presence brings.
But our desires for experiences can lead to activities that ultimately lose God's presence. Our pursuit of God's presence can become a pursuit of just the next spiritual high .One author put it this way "God is often lost in our pursuit of God"
in the book of John chapter 7:37-39, Jesus challenges those who believe in Him.
Jesus stands up and tells those who will listen that if they believe in him they should "come and drink" and when they do "rivers of living water will flow out from them".
What we see here is that the presence of God is available not just for us to experience, but for us to present to the world.
The river of God is sourced at the throne of God. In this passage the living water is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Jesus is saying when we drink from God's river that same spirit that we drink in flows out from us to the world around us. The phrase "come and drink" is a command to those who believe in Jesus.
The "Flow" is something that should be continual.
And the "life" is the idea of giving birth.
Jesus is commanding those who believe in Him, to drink from the river that is God's Holy Spirit, and birth life in the world that is dying of thirst.
Now that is a beautiful description of what our Christian life should be like. We should not just be a group of people who bathed in the spirit of God. We should be a body of people who create a flow of God's presence were ever we are. And from the flow of God's Spirit bring refreshing drinks, and life-giving opportunities to those who are lost in the wilderness of bitter life sucking culture.
We are challenged to do more than just bathed in the spirit of God. We are challenged to drink constantly from the flow of his spirit. By drinking constantly the life that flows out from us will be a river of life that will affect and bring life to all those around us. If we have not been drinking, that is if we are not 100% full of God's Spirit then we need to be. We need to take the steps necessary to reconnect ourselves to the river of life that comes from the throne of God.
Let's open up streams of living water in the desert of this world.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Elevate april 10
We continued to have an awesome time during our elevate services.
Vision.
Vision is the fun part. Having a great idea is something many people experience. Expressing that idea to others and getting them excited about it as something that is fun to experience.
working out the vision, now that's where life can get a little rough.
In a Bible story regarding David we applied the importance of following God's plan, and sacrifice in order to complete the vision God has for us to do.
David knew that God wanted to bring the arc to the capital city of Israel. David knew that the ark of God would bring forth blessing to the people of Israel if it could be housed in the capital city.
So David had a vision.
David got a lot of people excited about it.
30,000 troops, and a whole city full of people came with his leadership to get the ark of God.
David had come up with a plan on how to move the ark. He decided to put it on a cart. The card would move directly in without hesitation to the capital city. The troops would surround it in a ceremonial honor guard. And the people with praise and worship with all their might for the entire trip.
This looked awesome.
Then things got tripped up.
When the arc began to slide off of the cart, one of the people who had been housing the ark reached out to make sure it didn't fall. When he touched it he died.
Party Over
David was angry with God. I imagine he was also embarrassed, afraid, confused, frustrated, hurt, and maybe a few other things in front of more than 30,000 people. They carefully move the ark to a nearby house and everybody went home.
David spent the next few months trying to decide what to do with the vision. The Place where the ark was being housed was continue to experience blessing.David came to understand that the vision was from God but the plan had been David's. David returned to the arc with God's plan, and took the opportunity to humbly sacrifice before God in order to remember and should be in control of all things.
When David entered the city he was worshiping with all his might.His wife was upset at how undignified he looked.I am sure he was bloody,sweaty,dirty mess and only wearing a loin cloth if anything at all.This trip involved a slow walk to the city.A sacrifice was offered every 6 paces,about 3,500 animals overall.It took many hours and it ended in victory and celebration.
David response was he was willing to become even more undignified in order for God's plan to be accomplished. David understood that day the importance of God's vision but also the joy of following through with God's plan.
It is easy and fun to have a vision of where God might want us to go as individuals, as a church, or a family, but it takes work, sacrifice, and an awareness of God's pace,and plan for that vision to be accomplished with joy and celebration.
Vision.
Vision is the fun part. Having a great idea is something many people experience. Expressing that idea to others and getting them excited about it as something that is fun to experience.
working out the vision, now that's where life can get a little rough.
In a Bible story regarding David we applied the importance of following God's plan, and sacrifice in order to complete the vision God has for us to do.
David knew that God wanted to bring the arc to the capital city of Israel. David knew that the ark of God would bring forth blessing to the people of Israel if it could be housed in the capital city.
So David had a vision.
David got a lot of people excited about it.
30,000 troops, and a whole city full of people came with his leadership to get the ark of God.
David had come up with a plan on how to move the ark. He decided to put it on a cart. The card would move directly in without hesitation to the capital city. The troops would surround it in a ceremonial honor guard. And the people with praise and worship with all their might for the entire trip.
This looked awesome.
Then things got tripped up.
When the arc began to slide off of the cart, one of the people who had been housing the ark reached out to make sure it didn't fall. When he touched it he died.
Party Over
David was angry with God. I imagine he was also embarrassed, afraid, confused, frustrated, hurt, and maybe a few other things in front of more than 30,000 people. They carefully move the ark to a nearby house and everybody went home.
David spent the next few months trying to decide what to do with the vision. The Place where the ark was being housed was continue to experience blessing.David came to understand that the vision was from God but the plan had been David's. David returned to the arc with God's plan, and took the opportunity to humbly sacrifice before God in order to remember and should be in control of all things.
When David entered the city he was worshiping with all his might.His wife was upset at how undignified he looked.I am sure he was bloody,sweaty,dirty mess and only wearing a loin cloth if anything at all.This trip involved a slow walk to the city.A sacrifice was offered every 6 paces,about 3,500 animals overall.It took many hours and it ended in victory and celebration.
David response was he was willing to become even more undignified in order for God's plan to be accomplished. David understood that day the importance of God's vision but also the joy of following through with God's plan.
It is easy and fun to have a vision of where God might want us to go as individuals, as a church, or a family, but it takes work, sacrifice, and an awareness of God's pace,and plan for that vision to be accomplished with joy and celebration.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Elevate april3
this holy week we took a look at the Passover.
Passover is a celebration that in general the church has forgotten. We have released a Passover to the Jewish community while we emphasize the resurrection. The fault in this lies on multiple layers but in general by missing out on the Passover we take away a celebration that emphasizes the power of the blood. It was faith in the blood of the Lamb that allowed death to Passover the Hebrews in Egypt. The blood is something that Satan continues to battle against knowing its power. I believe on a spiritual level Satan is quite happy that the church does not emphasize Passover anymore.
The practical level Passover was celebrated by the New Testament church up until the Roman Empire under Constantine. Constantine was used by Satan to destroy much of Christian heritage and unique interactions with God. He made Passover illegal and moved the Resurrection celebration to the same day as a goddess of reproduction with a name that sounds an awful lot like Easter, and is represented by a rabbit.
I know that there are some who do not celebrate Easter because of its secular roots. I believe there is redemptive value in celebrating Easter as a resurrection morning, but I do understand why some would want to deemphasize the Easter celebration. As with most holidays in our western capitalistic society many have found ways to make money on religious holidays, this should also not deter us from an opportunity to focus on such a powerful event.
We focused on the Passover celebration by the king Hezekiah,from 2 Chronicles 29-31. This was a godly king who sought to recapture the worship of God. He recognized the Passover was the most important celebration of the year. Within the first month of his reign as King he started preparation to peer five the temple and bring about the celebration of Passover. Technically he did just about everything wrong. There were not enough priests for the sacrifice.
They moved the celebration back a month because they didn't have enough time to invite everyone.
People showed up who were not purified, and were allowed to celebrate anyway.
After a weeklong celebration they decided to do another one for second week.
Hezekiah's heart is what mattered. He reminds those who he invites think God is gracious and merciful He calls out to God regarding those who are in fewer to forgive them and cleanse them later after Passover, to which God answered his prayer. Hezekiah was a king who recognized the Gods character as one full of compassion / love for his people. He knew that love was not going to get stuck on ritual but would welcome home those who had run away. Hezekiah was noted as a king that sought God with his whole heart. This is what the Passover is really about.
Many Christians have celebrated a Seder meal. They have listened to and participated in the traditions and rituals that the Jewish culture brings to the Passover celebration. But what we see in Hezekiah is that God is not interested in the traditions and rituals around the Passover, He is interested in the heart of those who recognize the power of his blood.
Passover is a celebration that in general the church has forgotten. We have released a Passover to the Jewish community while we emphasize the resurrection. The fault in this lies on multiple layers but in general by missing out on the Passover we take away a celebration that emphasizes the power of the blood. It was faith in the blood of the Lamb that allowed death to Passover the Hebrews in Egypt. The blood is something that Satan continues to battle against knowing its power. I believe on a spiritual level Satan is quite happy that the church does not emphasize Passover anymore.
The practical level Passover was celebrated by the New Testament church up until the Roman Empire under Constantine. Constantine was used by Satan to destroy much of Christian heritage and unique interactions with God. He made Passover illegal and moved the Resurrection celebration to the same day as a goddess of reproduction with a name that sounds an awful lot like Easter, and is represented by a rabbit.
I know that there are some who do not celebrate Easter because of its secular roots. I believe there is redemptive value in celebrating Easter as a resurrection morning, but I do understand why some would want to deemphasize the Easter celebration. As with most holidays in our western capitalistic society many have found ways to make money on religious holidays, this should also not deter us from an opportunity to focus on such a powerful event.
We focused on the Passover celebration by the king Hezekiah,from 2 Chronicles 29-31. This was a godly king who sought to recapture the worship of God. He recognized the Passover was the most important celebration of the year. Within the first month of his reign as King he started preparation to peer five the temple and bring about the celebration of Passover. Technically he did just about everything wrong. There were not enough priests for the sacrifice.
They moved the celebration back a month because they didn't have enough time to invite everyone.
People showed up who were not purified, and were allowed to celebrate anyway.
After a weeklong celebration they decided to do another one for second week.
Hezekiah's heart is what mattered. He reminds those who he invites think God is gracious and merciful He calls out to God regarding those who are in fewer to forgive them and cleanse them later after Passover, to which God answered his prayer. Hezekiah was a king who recognized the Gods character as one full of compassion / love for his people. He knew that love was not going to get stuck on ritual but would welcome home those who had run away. Hezekiah was noted as a king that sought God with his whole heart. This is what the Passover is really about.
Many Christians have celebrated a Seder meal. They have listened to and participated in the traditions and rituals that the Jewish culture brings to the Passover celebration. But what we see in Hezekiah is that God is not interested in the traditions and rituals around the Passover, He is interested in the heart of those who recognize the power of his blood.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Elevate March 20
as we continue to look at the concept of interceding for one another, we wanted to tie it in The "Light" of God.
God is light,
and we are children of light,
so how does his light and our representation of that light reveal itself through interceding for one another.
God's light sometimes is overseeing an atmosphere much like the sunlight on the earth. His light can be seen wherever you go and it makes people's lives warm and comfortable. When this is true the atmosphere we carry with us makes those around us also sense God's warmth and love.
As we pray for others one of the ways we can intercede for others is that God's light brightened and warm the atmosphere around someone. By being more specific about what we want God to do his presence and allows our prayers to be felt deeper.
As far as deepening the effectiveness of the light, our next point is this
God's light can be focused through prayer much like a magnifying glass focuses light on a specific spot. I personally see this more in line with pinpoint intensity of God's love and warmth, although it does have some tie into God's judgment. Sometimes God allows us to know exactly where he wants his light to be shown any wants to bring it powerfully in a specific way. I believe this is the magnifying glass of interceding brothers.
God's light can also be a place of judgment. He can become so hot in a general sense that it can also be uncomfortable and carry a judgment effect on all it touches.
The important thing is when God's judgment is called for, it is not up to us to judge. The judge is God. When we are called to intercede for judgment we need to call forth the judge to come and do what is righteous and just to be done.so many Christians pray for the specific judgments on the ungodly but the judge is really never invited into the prayer.
It is important when you intercede for judgment that you pray for the characters of the judge to be seen by those on whom he will be judge.characteristics like mercy, grace, righteousness, peace, justice, and that they would hear the judge and turn from their wicked ways. These are the things that we are to intercede for, and not to call forth specific judgments on people, governments, communities, or churches.
God's light can also be like lightning, or sometimes it's called a consuming fire. Lightning is powerful, memorable, attention getting, and damaging. Lightning also cracks the darkness. One of the ways we can intercede for others in prayer is called forth God to crack the darkness with a powerful display of his light. This powerful display is something that can definitely get people's attention.
Only pray this prayer and intercede for God to crack the darkness, in the end it is not in an effort to cause damage or to direct where that lightning should strike. Our job is to ask God to crack the darkness let him direct where the lightning may land or display across the sky.
God is light,
and we are children of light,
so how does his light and our representation of that light reveal itself through interceding for one another.
God's light sometimes is overseeing an atmosphere much like the sunlight on the earth. His light can be seen wherever you go and it makes people's lives warm and comfortable. When this is true the atmosphere we carry with us makes those around us also sense God's warmth and love.
As we pray for others one of the ways we can intercede for others is that God's light brightened and warm the atmosphere around someone. By being more specific about what we want God to do his presence and allows our prayers to be felt deeper.
As far as deepening the effectiveness of the light, our next point is this
God's light can be focused through prayer much like a magnifying glass focuses light on a specific spot. I personally see this more in line with pinpoint intensity of God's love and warmth, although it does have some tie into God's judgment. Sometimes God allows us to know exactly where he wants his light to be shown any wants to bring it powerfully in a specific way. I believe this is the magnifying glass of interceding brothers.
God's light can also be a place of judgment. He can become so hot in a general sense that it can also be uncomfortable and carry a judgment effect on all it touches.
The important thing is when God's judgment is called for, it is not up to us to judge. The judge is God. When we are called to intercede for judgment we need to call forth the judge to come and do what is righteous and just to be done.so many Christians pray for the specific judgments on the ungodly but the judge is really never invited into the prayer.
It is important when you intercede for judgment that you pray for the characters of the judge to be seen by those on whom he will be judge.characteristics like mercy, grace, righteousness, peace, justice, and that they would hear the judge and turn from their wicked ways. These are the things that we are to intercede for, and not to call forth specific judgments on people, governments, communities, or churches.
God's light can also be like lightning, or sometimes it's called a consuming fire. Lightning is powerful, memorable, attention getting, and damaging. Lightning also cracks the darkness. One of the ways we can intercede for others in prayer is called forth God to crack the darkness with a powerful display of his light. This powerful display is something that can definitely get people's attention.
Only pray this prayer and intercede for God to crack the darkness, in the end it is not in an effort to cause damage or to direct where that lightning should strike. Our job is to ask God to crack the darkness let him direct where the lightning may land or display across the sky.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Elevate March 13
we looked at a really awesome passage in the book of Romans, chapter 8.
We started in verse 23 but specifically emphasized versus 26 and 27 and 34.
The idea that the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ work together with our prayers so that they are presented to the father appropriately and in ways we cannot understand is amazing.
But the two main things we wanted to emphasize on this Sat night were.
First, the Holy Spirit helps our prayers end up exactly where they need to. Many times during our prayers we begin to feel like we're fluttering back and forth without a lot of a direction.much like a butterfly looks to us as the flies across the field. Dutch sheets calls this "the butterfly anointing".
This fluttering back and forth up and down to us looks very random, but ultimately the butterfly lands exactly where it's supposed to. The Holy Spirit helps us to do that in our prayers. He may bring things to our spirit to pray for, and we think it seems a little disjointed or up and down, but he is taking us exactly where we need to be.
Secondly the Holy Spirit helps us by lending his weight/power to our needs. It's the concept that the Holy Spirit comes along side of us. All that the Holy Spirit is as God is available to us. Not to be temporarily infused with his power but to have his power, strength, wait come alongside us in partnership to accomplish whatever miraculous opportunity lays before us.
These are two things at the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ do for us when we pray. We have the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ whom we intercede for others in the same way.
We can help them land exactly where they need to land. We can bring them along side God so they can see miracles happen.
Our prayer lives are far more complicated, and really far more interesting when they involve communicating with God and interceding on others' behalf.
Do not let your prayer life become like leaving a message on God's voice recorder, with the hope that he'll get around to listening to it. He is actively participating in making our prayers affective on this earth.
We started in verse 23 but specifically emphasized versus 26 and 27 and 34.
The idea that the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ work together with our prayers so that they are presented to the father appropriately and in ways we cannot understand is amazing.
But the two main things we wanted to emphasize on this Sat night were.
First, the Holy Spirit helps our prayers end up exactly where they need to. Many times during our prayers we begin to feel like we're fluttering back and forth without a lot of a direction.much like a butterfly looks to us as the flies across the field. Dutch sheets calls this "the butterfly anointing".
This fluttering back and forth up and down to us looks very random, but ultimately the butterfly lands exactly where it's supposed to. The Holy Spirit helps us to do that in our prayers. He may bring things to our spirit to pray for, and we think it seems a little disjointed or up and down, but he is taking us exactly where we need to be.
Secondly the Holy Spirit helps us by lending his weight/power to our needs. It's the concept that the Holy Spirit comes along side of us. All that the Holy Spirit is as God is available to us. Not to be temporarily infused with his power but to have his power, strength, wait come alongside us in partnership to accomplish whatever miraculous opportunity lays before us.
These are two things at the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ do for us when we pray. We have the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ whom we intercede for others in the same way.
We can help them land exactly where they need to land. We can bring them along side God so they can see miracles happen.
Our prayer lives are far more complicated, and really far more interesting when they involve communicating with God and interceding on others' behalf.
Do not let your prayer life become like leaving a message on God's voice recorder, with the hope that he'll get around to listening to it. He is actively participating in making our prayers affective on this earth.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Elevate March 6
so we took a look at interceding for one another.
Interceding is the concept of prayer that for me made prayer interesting again.
Most of my conservative upbringing involved praying through a list. Whether the list was given verbally at a prayer meeting, or was written down in some devotional book, or a piece of paper kept in the Bible, prayer was a matter of a list.
But I now see that:
Intercession is about bringing together two parties. If there is an intercessor there will be a meeting.
Jesus intercedes for us and allows us to meet God. We can intercede for others allowing them to meet God. We then fulfill our role of representing, or re-presenting God here on this earth.
Intercession has within it's definition coming along side of someone, to help them stand up. Kind of like a stake in which a tomato plant is tied to. Without something to be connected to the plant would fall to the ground and the fruit would be wasted. An intercessor can come along side of someone and hold them up/bear them up so they do not fall over, and are able to produce beautiful fruit.
Intercession also has within it's concept that of coming along side someone, and carrying their burden for them. This is more than just coming along side and standing/lending strength to someone. It's the idea that you take the burden that they're bearing and help them carry it to the cross where they can lay it down and be relieved of it.God does not want any of his creation weeded down with burdens that he is more than capable of removing from them. Intercession allows us the opportunity to accomplish Gods will on earth, as it is in heaven
I think it is important to consider that intercession may take on a physical form, spiritual form, or an emotional form. You may also have combinations of prayer and physical or emotional intercession as well.
What moves intercession out of just a list of people and things to pray for is revelation.
Intercession involves ascending to the throne of God and asking him to reveal to you what needs to be prayed for.
Without revelation intersession cannot take place. It is important to remember that God requires that prayers are presented before His actions can take place. His plan is for us to manage his creation, and to represent him here in this earth. That plan involves us going to him as our creator and asking him to do the things that we know he wants done here in this earth. Asking God is more than those big corporate concepts, and involves understanding what he is asking us to pray for individuals, communities, the church, and nations.
Intercession requires that we go before God and listened to him so that our prayers are specific and flow within the will/plan of God.
The power that is available to us in prayer/through prayer is what keeps the enemy so busy interrupting, fragmenting, and destroying our desire to pray.
Interceding is the concept of prayer that for me made prayer interesting again.
Most of my conservative upbringing involved praying through a list. Whether the list was given verbally at a prayer meeting, or was written down in some devotional book, or a piece of paper kept in the Bible, prayer was a matter of a list.
But I now see that:
Intercession is about bringing together two parties. If there is an intercessor there will be a meeting.
Jesus intercedes for us and allows us to meet God. We can intercede for others allowing them to meet God. We then fulfill our role of representing, or re-presenting God here on this earth.
Intercession has within it's definition coming along side of someone, to help them stand up. Kind of like a stake in which a tomato plant is tied to. Without something to be connected to the plant would fall to the ground and the fruit would be wasted. An intercessor can come along side of someone and hold them up/bear them up so they do not fall over, and are able to produce beautiful fruit.
Intercession also has within it's concept that of coming along side someone, and carrying their burden for them. This is more than just coming along side and standing/lending strength to someone. It's the idea that you take the burden that they're bearing and help them carry it to the cross where they can lay it down and be relieved of it.God does not want any of his creation weeded down with burdens that he is more than capable of removing from them. Intercession allows us the opportunity to accomplish Gods will on earth, as it is in heaven
I think it is important to consider that intercession may take on a physical form, spiritual form, or an emotional form. You may also have combinations of prayer and physical or emotional intercession as well.
What moves intercession out of just a list of people and things to pray for is revelation.
Intercession involves ascending to the throne of God and asking him to reveal to you what needs to be prayed for.
Without revelation intersession cannot take place. It is important to remember that God requires that prayers are presented before His actions can take place. His plan is for us to manage his creation, and to represent him here in this earth. That plan involves us going to him as our creator and asking him to do the things that we know he wants done here in this earth. Asking God is more than those big corporate concepts, and involves understanding what he is asking us to pray for individuals, communities, the church, and nations.
Intercession requires that we go before God and listened to him so that our prayers are specific and flow within the will/plan of God.
The power that is available to us in prayer/through prayer is what keeps the enemy so busy interrupting, fragmenting, and destroying our desire to pray.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Elevate February 27
one of the verses that jumped out at me in the book of James is chapter 5 verse 17. It says that Elijah was a person just like me. And when he prayed earnestly that the rain wouldn't fall the rain didn't fall. And 3 1/2 years later when he prayed the rain would return, the rain came back.
Can I do that? Are you serious? He was just like me?
So we took a brief overview of that story from 1 Kings 17-18. And what we see is that politically and spiritually things had taken a very ugly turn in Israel. Elijah prayed that the rain would stop, and God answered his prayer. God then protected him and fed him. God moved him into a small apartment and made sure that everyone in the house was fed. God answered another prayer of Elijah and raised the widows son from the dead. God performed a miraculous sign and showed the foolishness of following after another god. God heard Elijah"s prayer and sent the rain back again.
That was very brief, but not meant to be flippant.
Elijah was just like me. He had the same opportunities I have to connect with God. He clearly understood what God was saying and took the opportunity to pray God's plan back to God.
Why does God need us to do that?
It's very hard to explain the why, but we do know the when.
In the garden, with Adam and eve God shows us the pattern of how he works. He chose to make Adam and Eve and managers, overseers, administrators, caretakers of his creation. Their job was to represent God on the earth. Their authority and position was initiated and maintained by their relationship with God. And wherever they were seen they re-presented God.
Every day/throughout the day God communicated with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve had the opportunity to ask for and receive whatever they needed in order to represent God, and manage God's creation.
At salvation God does more than just make sure we can get to heaven. God seeks to restore us back to our original calling. He wants each one of us as humans to re- present him wherever we are. What we need to administer and manage his creation is what he wants to give us so that everyone within his creation can see him clearly.
Elijah is just like us. Elijah understood his position, his job, and God's plan. What Elijah prayed for God wanted to do, and Elijah knew this because he knew God. One of the many ways Satan has waged battle against Christians is by limiting our concept of salvation, and therefore greatly reducing our influence and representation of God to his creation.
Limiting our prayers to only what we think we want to get by for the day, is a practical result of the enemies attack on our understanding. God wants to restore, wants to provide, wants to resurrect, and wants to revive his creation back to himself. He also wants us as his representatives to ask for it.
just like Elijah did.
Can I do that? Are you serious? He was just like me?
So we took a brief overview of that story from 1 Kings 17-18. And what we see is that politically and spiritually things had taken a very ugly turn in Israel. Elijah prayed that the rain would stop, and God answered his prayer. God then protected him and fed him. God moved him into a small apartment and made sure that everyone in the house was fed. God answered another prayer of Elijah and raised the widows son from the dead. God performed a miraculous sign and showed the foolishness of following after another god. God heard Elijah"s prayer and sent the rain back again.
That was very brief, but not meant to be flippant.
Elijah was just like me. He had the same opportunities I have to connect with God. He clearly understood what God was saying and took the opportunity to pray God's plan back to God.
Why does God need us to do that?
It's very hard to explain the why, but we do know the when.
In the garden, with Adam and eve God shows us the pattern of how he works. He chose to make Adam and Eve and managers, overseers, administrators, caretakers of his creation. Their job was to represent God on the earth. Their authority and position was initiated and maintained by their relationship with God. And wherever they were seen they re-presented God.
Every day/throughout the day God communicated with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve had the opportunity to ask for and receive whatever they needed in order to represent God, and manage God's creation.
At salvation God does more than just make sure we can get to heaven. God seeks to restore us back to our original calling. He wants each one of us as humans to re- present him wherever we are. What we need to administer and manage his creation is what he wants to give us so that everyone within his creation can see him clearly.
Elijah is just like us. Elijah understood his position, his job, and God's plan. What Elijah prayed for God wanted to do, and Elijah knew this because he knew God. One of the many ways Satan has waged battle against Christians is by limiting our concept of salvation, and therefore greatly reducing our influence and representation of God to his creation.
Limiting our prayers to only what we think we want to get by for the day, is a practical result of the enemies attack on our understanding. God wants to restore, wants to provide, wants to resurrect, and wants to revive his creation back to himself. He also wants us as his representatives to ask for it.
just like Elijah did.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Elevate Jan 20
a prophet came to visit this week.
I was reminded again about a lesson I learned about five or six years ago. This wasn't necessarily a teaching from the prophet, it was more of a encouragement from our pastor as he introduced the prophet.
I'll start with my original lesson.
Five or six years ago I was walking down the streets of savanna with a very good friend of mine. and discussed how in the interest of being right many people have boiled salvation down to its lowest common denominator. They also reduced their descriptions of God in who he was/is too simple terms that allowed everyone to agree.and in searching for terms to keep God's simple and uncomplicated we had to use definitions that fit our culture and enforce them on any culture that might use different terms.
We basically put God in a box so that he could be carried around with us shown to anyone who might be interested.
The interesting thing about putting God in a box is that He fills that box. And that is the size of the God you get. You're God fits in a box and is described by words that you define and keep simple. Anyone who has a different box for God is either ignored, or argued with and neither option brings about any sort of unity.
As we concluded our little conversation I determined to my mind to take God out of my box, and allow Him to get as big as He'd like to be/as big as He really is. This meant I could not contain hidden in my mind, and I could not define him with my vocabulary. It meant that I would have to spend my life getting to know Him, and actually admit to being wrong regarding aspects of Him and His character, and if not wrong and then admit to being immature in my views ,because God gets more complicated the bigger he gets.
I was encouraged to do the same thing this week by our pastor regarding a prophet.if I limit what a prophet can do, if I narrow my view to what I'm comfortable with a prophet could be used for ,that is all I will receive from that Ministry. The Bible says "we should receive a prophet as a prophet and we will receive a prophets reward"
I believe we were able to do that this week, and I know we received a wonderful reward. The reward of a prophet is what the prophet brings. And this one brought much encouragement, teaching, and an awareness of God's presence that we could feel.
Hope to see you next week...at Elevate
I was reminded again about a lesson I learned about five or six years ago. This wasn't necessarily a teaching from the prophet, it was more of a encouragement from our pastor as he introduced the prophet.
I'll start with my original lesson.
Five or six years ago I was walking down the streets of savanna with a very good friend of mine. and discussed how in the interest of being right many people have boiled salvation down to its lowest common denominator. They also reduced their descriptions of God in who he was/is too simple terms that allowed everyone to agree.and in searching for terms to keep God's simple and uncomplicated we had to use definitions that fit our culture and enforce them on any culture that might use different terms.
We basically put God in a box so that he could be carried around with us shown to anyone who might be interested.
The interesting thing about putting God in a box is that He fills that box. And that is the size of the God you get. You're God fits in a box and is described by words that you define and keep simple. Anyone who has a different box for God is either ignored, or argued with and neither option brings about any sort of unity.
As we concluded our little conversation I determined to my mind to take God out of my box, and allow Him to get as big as He'd like to be/as big as He really is. This meant I could not contain hidden in my mind, and I could not define him with my vocabulary. It meant that I would have to spend my life getting to know Him, and actually admit to being wrong regarding aspects of Him and His character, and if not wrong and then admit to being immature in my views ,because God gets more complicated the bigger he gets.
I was encouraged to do the same thing this week by our pastor regarding a prophet.if I limit what a prophet can do, if I narrow my view to what I'm comfortable with a prophet could be used for ,that is all I will receive from that Ministry. The Bible says "we should receive a prophet as a prophet and we will receive a prophets reward"
I believe we were able to do that this week, and I know we received a wonderful reward. The reward of a prophet is what the prophet brings. And this one brought much encouragement, teaching, and an awareness of God's presence that we could feel.
Hope to see you next week...at Elevate
Monday, February 15, 2010
Elevate Jan 13
I think for many people in the world, especially the Christian world concept of worship has been so fragmented and narrow and we've lost two of its major functions.
Because of God's Omnipresence we have the opportunity to "always" worship God.
Because God dwells within His children we have the opportunity to individually stand before Him in worship.
Because of God's manifestation of his presence here in this earth we have the opportunity to feel him/experience Him during worship activities.
Within Scripture we can see a pattern that God used for worship.
The tribe of Judah descended from the fourth son of Leah named Judah. The word Judah means worship.The first three sons of Leah represented her desire to be loved by her husband and appreciated for bringing him sons.
The fourth one represented a shift in her attitude. Leah recognized that she was being blessed by God, she in turn worship him not as a victim of her circumstance, but as a victor and child of an Almighty God.
When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, God chose Judah to be the lead tribe. Judah had long since been given the position of authority within the family of Abraham. The first three brothers had forfeited their positions because of choices they made. God could have given grace and mercy to these brothers and allow them to take a position of authority, but He did not. God chose Judah/worship to lead his people out of bondage.
So the first pattern we see is that worship releases people from bondage.
When Joshua led the people into the land that God promised. The tribe of Judah led the way. Judah's Army was no better, or greater than any of the other tribes at the time.God was showing another pattern to his people and to the world. Worship should lead the way into battle.
I believe the lesson is pretty clear. If you want release from bondage then put yourself in the position of worship before God. That position of submission before his throne. That position that puts you in a place to hear him when he speaks. That position of worship will break the bonds of slavery.
I believe the second lesson is also very clear. If you want to do battle. If you've been called to reclaim land that God has given you, then worship. That position of worship allows you to be in a place to hear the battle plans of God. It puts you in a place that allows God to do battle for you.
Worship breaks bondage, worship does battle.
You can add even more power to the breaking of bondage, or the conquering of the enemy by participating in corporate worship. In corporate worship we see increased strength based on God's principal of multiplication. God says that one can put to flight a thousand, and that two will send 10,000 running. Just imagine what 10, 20, or hundreds could do in a place of worship before God.
The power of agreement, or coming into harmony with one another is a place that gods power begins to shift the very atmosphere in which we live.
The Lord's presence continues to grow as two or three are gathered together.
And in a corporate setting the body of Christ bows before their head/God in a position to respond to the head as it should be.
With all of this available power and opportunity to break bondage is it any wonder that the enemy seeks to fragment and destroy the concept of worship.
Satan is jealous. He is jealous because he wants that worship for himself. He is jealous because he wants the power of worship to be wielded for his plans. He hates God and he knows how worship moves guide to do battle, and break the bondage of his people.
The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. Satan knows that were God is he must flee. When the people of God worship, Satan cannot stay and cause trouble. But, but if he can fragment the people of God then he can cause the worship to be broken and the effectiveness to be diminished.
The enemy uses wandering thoughts and roller coaster emotions to break the focus of those who are trying to worship God.
He uses relationships to distract and break down the dreams of victory that God has placed in His people.
someone who's been offended can be so easily turned from a place of worship` especially if the person they feel offended by is on stage with a microphone.
Double mindedness, lack of direction, fear, all classic weapons used by the enemy.
And probably for me one that seems the most effective is the idea that I don't have enough time to worship. Many people might seem to or three songs in their head in if they feel no breakthrough they give up and become distracted in efforts to find their own way out.
The value and power of worship needs to be recaptured by God's people as we seek to bring God's kingdom into a world that has been over run by the enemy.
Because of God's Omnipresence we have the opportunity to "always" worship God.
Because God dwells within His children we have the opportunity to individually stand before Him in worship.
Because of God's manifestation of his presence here in this earth we have the opportunity to feel him/experience Him during worship activities.
Within Scripture we can see a pattern that God used for worship.
The tribe of Judah descended from the fourth son of Leah named Judah. The word Judah means worship.The first three sons of Leah represented her desire to be loved by her husband and appreciated for bringing him sons.
The fourth one represented a shift in her attitude. Leah recognized that she was being blessed by God, she in turn worship him not as a victim of her circumstance, but as a victor and child of an Almighty God.
When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, God chose Judah to be the lead tribe. Judah had long since been given the position of authority within the family of Abraham. The first three brothers had forfeited their positions because of choices they made. God could have given grace and mercy to these brothers and allow them to take a position of authority, but He did not. God chose Judah/worship to lead his people out of bondage.
So the first pattern we see is that worship releases people from bondage.
When Joshua led the people into the land that God promised. The tribe of Judah led the way. Judah's Army was no better, or greater than any of the other tribes at the time.God was showing another pattern to his people and to the world. Worship should lead the way into battle.
I believe the lesson is pretty clear. If you want release from bondage then put yourself in the position of worship before God. That position of submission before his throne. That position that puts you in a place to hear him when he speaks. That position of worship will break the bonds of slavery.
I believe the second lesson is also very clear. If you want to do battle. If you've been called to reclaim land that God has given you, then worship. That position of worship allows you to be in a place to hear the battle plans of God. It puts you in a place that allows God to do battle for you.
Worship breaks bondage, worship does battle.
You can add even more power to the breaking of bondage, or the conquering of the enemy by participating in corporate worship. In corporate worship we see increased strength based on God's principal of multiplication. God says that one can put to flight a thousand, and that two will send 10,000 running. Just imagine what 10, 20, or hundreds could do in a place of worship before God.
The power of agreement, or coming into harmony with one another is a place that gods power begins to shift the very atmosphere in which we live.
The Lord's presence continues to grow as two or three are gathered together.
And in a corporate setting the body of Christ bows before their head/God in a position to respond to the head as it should be.
With all of this available power and opportunity to break bondage is it any wonder that the enemy seeks to fragment and destroy the concept of worship.
Satan is jealous. He is jealous because he wants that worship for himself. He is jealous because he wants the power of worship to be wielded for his plans. He hates God and he knows how worship moves guide to do battle, and break the bondage of his people.
The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. Satan knows that were God is he must flee. When the people of God worship, Satan cannot stay and cause trouble. But, but if he can fragment the people of God then he can cause the worship to be broken and the effectiveness to be diminished.
The enemy uses wandering thoughts and roller coaster emotions to break the focus of those who are trying to worship God.
He uses relationships to distract and break down the dreams of victory that God has placed in His people.
someone who's been offended can be so easily turned from a place of worship` especially if the person they feel offended by is on stage with a microphone.
Double mindedness, lack of direction, fear, all classic weapons used by the enemy.
And probably for me one that seems the most effective is the idea that I don't have enough time to worship. Many people might seem to or three songs in their head in if they feel no breakthrough they give up and become distracted in efforts to find their own way out.
The value and power of worship needs to be recaptured by God's people as we seek to bring God's kingdom into a world that has been over run by the enemy.
Monday, February 8, 2010
presence of God, elevate February 6
The presence of God and what it has to do with those special worship times.
We can break down the presence of God into three basic categories.
First is the Omni presence of God.
This is the concept that God is everywhere all times, and more so that God's creation is always within God's presence.this type of awareness of God allows us to be in a state of worship/submission at all times. We can worship God because we recognize that he is available to us no matter where we are. The Omni presence of the Lord gives us the ability to "pray without ceasing, be thankful for all things, and worship the Lord always"
The indwelling presence of God.
This allows us as individuals to connect with God on a deeper level. God comes to dwell within us when we receive him as our personal savior. This indwelling of God comes in the form of his Holy Spirit and allows us a personal one-on-one connection to God at all times. This individual audience would the King of kings and Lord of lords is only possible because he considers us his children into wells within his children by choice.
The manifest presence of God.
This third form of God's presence is special in that, He is felt by our physical being.
The manifest presence of God is something that is often described by people (whether saved or unsaved) as having some sort of physical connection to God's presence. People who have experienced a manifest presence of God say things like "I felt God, God touched me, I felt heavy, the air was thick, and so on". This manifestation is something that God is willing to do when his people call for it. In many churches this manifestation of God's presence is felt during the musical portion of a worship service. It is what is meant when preachers call for God to come to a place and to make himself known.
People's reaction to God's manifestation is based on how they physically connect with what God is doing. If you've ever been in a worship service that allows people to react openly to what God is doing you will see a wide variety of reactions. This is because people experience Gods presence in different ways based on what's going on in our lives, and at that particular place in which God decided to make himself known.
We can break down the presence of God into three basic categories.
First is the Omni presence of God.
This is the concept that God is everywhere all times, and more so that God's creation is always within God's presence.this type of awareness of God allows us to be in a state of worship/submission at all times. We can worship God because we recognize that he is available to us no matter where we are. The Omni presence of the Lord gives us the ability to "pray without ceasing, be thankful for all things, and worship the Lord always"
The indwelling presence of God.
This allows us as individuals to connect with God on a deeper level. God comes to dwell within us when we receive him as our personal savior. This indwelling of God comes in the form of his Holy Spirit and allows us a personal one-on-one connection to God at all times. This individual audience would the King of kings and Lord of lords is only possible because he considers us his children into wells within his children by choice.
The manifest presence of God.
This third form of God's presence is special in that, He is felt by our physical being.
The manifest presence of God is something that is often described by people (whether saved or unsaved) as having some sort of physical connection to God's presence. People who have experienced a manifest presence of God say things like "I felt God, God touched me, I felt heavy, the air was thick, and so on". This manifestation is something that God is willing to do when his people call for it. In many churches this manifestation of God's presence is felt during the musical portion of a worship service. It is what is meant when preachers call for God to come to a place and to make himself known.
People's reaction to God's manifestation is based on how they physically connect with what God is doing. If you've ever been in a worship service that allows people to react openly to what God is doing you will see a wide variety of reactions. This is because people experience Gods presence in different ways based on what's going on in our lives, and at that particular place in which God decided to make himself known.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
elevates January 30
I like to take a look at Psalm Chapter 81.
This is where our final thought came from last week. You may remember the verse, "open wide your mouth, and I will fill it with good things".
The early part of the chapter, that is the first 10 versus speak to the praise and worship of God. Much like what we discussed over the last several elevates and will continue for the next couple elevates. We are to praise and worship our guide. We are to praise him when our strength, with our music, with our submission, with our obedience, and other things.
What we see in Psalm 81 is that we are to listen to him and worship we are to be released from our burdens during worship. We are to be focused only on God to receive worship from us.
Verse 11 is not a pretty picture.
The people did not listen to God's encouragement. It actually indicates that they did not want God to be around, they did not want God to interrupt their lives.
So God let them go wherever it was they wanted to go. They lived according to their own desires. I have no doubt that that probably felt really good to the people. They probably felt independent, strong, wise, confident, and it like they were headed somewhere that was finally worth going to.
But God says that they were quickly overcome by their enemies.
Such an incredible concept for us to consider. That when we worship our submission carry's with it the opportunity for constant blessing, fulfillment, and strength from the God whom we bow down to.
And yet God is willing to be pushed away. He is willing to let us be overcome by our enemies.
The very enemies that he has prepared a table in front of.A table so we could feast off of all that He provides.(PS 23:5)
The choice is ours ,as crazy as it seems. We have the opportunity to eat food that will last forever. To be satisfied with the best foods the God of universe can make.
What choice will you make.
This is where our final thought came from last week. You may remember the verse, "open wide your mouth, and I will fill it with good things".
The early part of the chapter, that is the first 10 versus speak to the praise and worship of God. Much like what we discussed over the last several elevates and will continue for the next couple elevates. We are to praise and worship our guide. We are to praise him when our strength, with our music, with our submission, with our obedience, and other things.
What we see in Psalm 81 is that we are to listen to him and worship we are to be released from our burdens during worship. We are to be focused only on God to receive worship from us.
Verse 11 is not a pretty picture.
The people did not listen to God's encouragement. It actually indicates that they did not want God to be around, they did not want God to interrupt their lives.
So God let them go wherever it was they wanted to go. They lived according to their own desires. I have no doubt that that probably felt really good to the people. They probably felt independent, strong, wise, confident, and it like they were headed somewhere that was finally worth going to.
But God says that they were quickly overcome by their enemies.
Such an incredible concept for us to consider. That when we worship our submission carry's with it the opportunity for constant blessing, fulfillment, and strength from the God whom we bow down to.
And yet God is willing to be pushed away. He is willing to let us be overcome by our enemies.
The very enemies that he has prepared a table in front of.A table so we could feast off of all that He provides.(PS 23:5)
The choice is ours ,as crazy as it seems. We have the opportunity to eat food that will last forever. To be satisfied with the best foods the God of universe can make.
What choice will you make.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Feast Elevate jan 23
a feast is available in the presence of our enemies.
Psalm 23, the shepherds Psalm. the fifth verse is where God makes it clear that he provides more nutrition, pleasure, and fullness than we could ever need while our enemies are all around us.
How does he do that?
Well I have no doubt there are many threads to that answer. But for me in this particular series I believe one of those main threads is the attitude that takes place during worship.
Worship is the key to the feast that God is providing. True worship takes place when the heart comes into submission to a guy that is desperate for relationship because we need everything he has to exist. When our mind confines warship to a specific area or time in which we are comfortable we lose the opportunity of eating a feast that God has provided.
Being in the presence of our enemies does not mean that we are safe in any walled city sitting in a palace having a banquet. Although I do believe that can apply in our lives, I do not believe it is the aspect touched on during this particular psalm.
Sheep were constantly in the presence of their enemy.
She spent most of their time in the wilderness. There were enemies that wanted to eat them, their enemies that wanted to steal them , and there was plenty of food that looked good but could cause great discomfort and possible death. The good Shepherd is able to provide a feast of nutritional, tasty, and abundant food in the presence of our enemies.
Worship is the path that allows us to ascend to the throne of God and feast at his table.
Isaiah chapter 55
this chapter is filled with opportunities where we see worship providing a connection to God.
We see that we are to come and eat food that is good for us. We are to drink for free good drink that we cannot afford. We are to seek God while he may be found. And after we do all that, we hear the thoughts that are not like our thoughts, we see the ways that are not like our ways, we are higher and lifted up more than we could ever be on our own. Worship brings us to a place where we ascend into God's throne room, hear things we could not have heard before, and see things we could not have seen, and think of things we could not have thought of, unless we were in the presence of God.
Often times when our mind gets in the way.
When we tell God what worship is, when worship can take place, we stand in the way of submission to God. Our minds become a stumbling block to what God is trying to accomplish. though our thoughts may desire to connect to God if we don't come to him in submission our minds will keep us from entering into a place of worship. Our minds limit what we can eat at Gods banqueting table. Worship becomes dry ,old, it doesn't satisfy any more, and we look for something new.
When we lead with our hearts. when we allow our minds to be bent to the thoughts of God.we are able to feast in the presence of our enemies at a table laden with opportunities to become full, energized, and healthy.
Psalm 81:10
"open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."
Come to the table, open up your mouth, and enjoy an endless supply of good things.
Psalm 23, the shepherds Psalm. the fifth verse is where God makes it clear that he provides more nutrition, pleasure, and fullness than we could ever need while our enemies are all around us.
How does he do that?
Well I have no doubt there are many threads to that answer. But for me in this particular series I believe one of those main threads is the attitude that takes place during worship.
Worship is the key to the feast that God is providing. True worship takes place when the heart comes into submission to a guy that is desperate for relationship because we need everything he has to exist. When our mind confines warship to a specific area or time in which we are comfortable we lose the opportunity of eating a feast that God has provided.
Being in the presence of our enemies does not mean that we are safe in any walled city sitting in a palace having a banquet. Although I do believe that can apply in our lives, I do not believe it is the aspect touched on during this particular psalm.
Sheep were constantly in the presence of their enemy.
She spent most of their time in the wilderness. There were enemies that wanted to eat them, their enemies that wanted to steal them , and there was plenty of food that looked good but could cause great discomfort and possible death. The good Shepherd is able to provide a feast of nutritional, tasty, and abundant food in the presence of our enemies.
Worship is the path that allows us to ascend to the throne of God and feast at his table.
Isaiah chapter 55
this chapter is filled with opportunities where we see worship providing a connection to God.
We see that we are to come and eat food that is good for us. We are to drink for free good drink that we cannot afford. We are to seek God while he may be found. And after we do all that, we hear the thoughts that are not like our thoughts, we see the ways that are not like our ways, we are higher and lifted up more than we could ever be on our own. Worship brings us to a place where we ascend into God's throne room, hear things we could not have heard before, and see things we could not have seen, and think of things we could not have thought of, unless we were in the presence of God.
Often times when our mind gets in the way.
When we tell God what worship is, when worship can take place, we stand in the way of submission to God. Our minds become a stumbling block to what God is trying to accomplish. though our thoughts may desire to connect to God if we don't come to him in submission our minds will keep us from entering into a place of worship. Our minds limit what we can eat at Gods banqueting table. Worship becomes dry ,old, it doesn't satisfy any more, and we look for something new.
When we lead with our hearts. when we allow our minds to be bent to the thoughts of God.we are able to feast in the presence of our enemies at a table laden with opportunities to become full, energized, and healthy.
Psalm 81:10
"open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."
Come to the table, open up your mouth, and enjoy an endless supply of good things.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Worship part 1 elevate Jan 16
Elevate will be focusing on worship or the next few weeks.
The concept of worship unfortunately has been shrunk by many people. When someone thinks of worship in general they tend to think of it as the "music time" in Church.
But
the concept of worship draws from its definition the act of submission. Worship is the submission to a higher presence. A presence that is believed to be greater than yourself. A presence that you place in a higher priority than yourself.
We believe that presence is our God.
In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve spent their entire waking and sleeping moments in worship to God. They were able to do this because they recognized 24 hours a day in their conscious and unconscious thoughts that God was greater than they were and they needed him to supply all that they were. They understood their activities and lives flowed from the relationship that they had with God. This understanding put them in an attitude of worship regardless of their activity.
This perfect environment was interrupted when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. In that disobedience they use their personal reason i/e self to decide what they should do rather than submit to God. They placed themselves and their reason above God and decided more knowledge was available through the tree.
Just like in the garden many of us use our reason to determine what the best course of worship is for us. We use our reason to determine where and when a worship experience can take place. And we decide what the voice of God can say and through what means He can say it.
Jesus came to redeem his creation, one of the aspects of that redemption plan was to restore us/give us the opportunity to once again live in worship to him.To live in a place that allows Him to hold control over us. Worship puts us in a place( that is His Throne Room)where we can hear His voice and follow His promptings.
In the story of Cain and Abel we see again the opportunity to evaluate worship. The brothers came to bring offering of worship to God.this is something they had done many times before.
And yet this time Cain had a different attitude. His heart had some form of selfishness or arrogance, something that was unacceptable in the act of worship. This resulted with God not accepting his offering.
Cains countenance shifted, and God went to Cain to restore proper relationship. Cain evidently was not interested, and ultimately killed his brother/competition in some twisted way of proving his point or to selfishly try to stay in control of his circumstances.
whatever the ultimate list of twisted reasoning might be, I believe one of the lessons in the story is ,the act of worship interrupted the flow of relationship between him and God. And without a proper relationship between him and God, ultimately all human relationships between Cain and others became destroyed, or in some way significantly altered to the negative.
Worship holds an amazing importance to our ability to stay in rhythm with God's heart. To worship only in song, at certain times of the day or week is giving into the same sort of self reasoning that destroyed relationships in the garden and outside the Garden of Eden.
Seeking a better relationship with God is another thread of worship that can help us maintain a constant connection to our Creator. To seek a relationship implies that we are seeking to discover, request and desire to know something more or someone better.Seeking God we are acknowledging the importance and greatness of His relationship with us. That acknowledgment is an act of submission and it keeps us in an attitude of worship.
Worship songs often allow us to declare, announce, and pray for what should be going on in our lives. Worship songs often allow us to acknowledge, and recognize the greatness of the God that we submit to. Worship songs give us music that allows us to ride, and ascend into the throne of God a little easier than doing it on our own.
But worship songs are not, nor should they be the only way that we worship.
The concept of worship unfortunately has been shrunk by many people. When someone thinks of worship in general they tend to think of it as the "music time" in Church.
But
the concept of worship draws from its definition the act of submission. Worship is the submission to a higher presence. A presence that is believed to be greater than yourself. A presence that you place in a higher priority than yourself.
We believe that presence is our God.
In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve spent their entire waking and sleeping moments in worship to God. They were able to do this because they recognized 24 hours a day in their conscious and unconscious thoughts that God was greater than they were and they needed him to supply all that they were. They understood their activities and lives flowed from the relationship that they had with God. This understanding put them in an attitude of worship regardless of their activity.
This perfect environment was interrupted when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. In that disobedience they use their personal reason i/e self to decide what they should do rather than submit to God. They placed themselves and their reason above God and decided more knowledge was available through the tree.
Just like in the garden many of us use our reason to determine what the best course of worship is for us. We use our reason to determine where and when a worship experience can take place. And we decide what the voice of God can say and through what means He can say it.
Jesus came to redeem his creation, one of the aspects of that redemption plan was to restore us/give us the opportunity to once again live in worship to him.To live in a place that allows Him to hold control over us. Worship puts us in a place( that is His Throne Room)where we can hear His voice and follow His promptings.
In the story of Cain and Abel we see again the opportunity to evaluate worship. The brothers came to bring offering of worship to God.this is something they had done many times before.
And yet this time Cain had a different attitude. His heart had some form of selfishness or arrogance, something that was unacceptable in the act of worship. This resulted with God not accepting his offering.
Cains countenance shifted, and God went to Cain to restore proper relationship. Cain evidently was not interested, and ultimately killed his brother/competition in some twisted way of proving his point or to selfishly try to stay in control of his circumstances.
whatever the ultimate list of twisted reasoning might be, I believe one of the lessons in the story is ,the act of worship interrupted the flow of relationship between him and God. And without a proper relationship between him and God, ultimately all human relationships between Cain and others became destroyed, or in some way significantly altered to the negative.
Worship holds an amazing importance to our ability to stay in rhythm with God's heart. To worship only in song, at certain times of the day or week is giving into the same sort of self reasoning that destroyed relationships in the garden and outside the Garden of Eden.
Seeking a better relationship with God is another thread of worship that can help us maintain a constant connection to our Creator. To seek a relationship implies that we are seeking to discover, request and desire to know something more or someone better.Seeking God we are acknowledging the importance and greatness of His relationship with us. That acknowledgment is an act of submission and it keeps us in an attitude of worship.
Worship songs often allow us to declare, announce, and pray for what should be going on in our lives. Worship songs often allow us to acknowledge, and recognize the greatness of the God that we submit to. Worship songs give us music that allows us to ride, and ascend into the throne of God a little easier than doing it on our own.
But worship songs are not, nor should they be the only way that we worship.
Monday, January 11, 2010
on fire
A people on fire, flamers :-)
As we enter a new year of Elevate, we are looking to create an atmosphere that ignites and perpetuates the flam of God's love in every individual that comes.
It is the love of God that makes a difference in the world.
It is the love of God that changes the atmosphere of the world we live in.
It is the love of God that can change the life of individuals.
It is the love of God that changed our lives.
As we look to the opportunities that meeting every week brings us, we are excited about the rhythm that our community can begin to develop. We look forward to a rhythm that will encourage, and ignite the love of God in everyone who attends. As people interact with God's love during one of our services we see at least two or three main desires being fanned into flame.
One is a desire to know the source of that love in a deeper way.
Second is the desire to share that love with the world/community that we have personal contact with.
And third is the desire to come back and encourage others again with what the love of God has been doing in our lives and in our community the past week.
We also are looking forward to seeing God presents at work in each one of our services.
We expect to see people healed (physically and spiritually and emotionally). We expect to see people challenged. We expect to see people broken and wrecked for God.we expect people to hear from God. We expect people to share and interact with each other about God and his love.
And we expect this every week.
we also know relationships are complicated, and people can get messy. We believe that expectation is part of the beauty in which the love of God is seen. We know creating the perfect environment for God does not mean creating the perfect environment. We believe it is a calling God to come to this place and change our environment and to shift our atmosphere. That expectation is something we can look forward to every week.
The relationship we have with God is also complicated. The atmosphere into which He comes may not always look or feel the same, but it is something we can expect to participate in.
I look forward to see you there.
I look forward to sharing with you the Love of God
As we enter a new year of Elevate, we are looking to create an atmosphere that ignites and perpetuates the flam of God's love in every individual that comes.
It is the love of God that makes a difference in the world.
It is the love of God that changes the atmosphere of the world we live in.
It is the love of God that can change the life of individuals.
It is the love of God that changed our lives.
As we look to the opportunities that meeting every week brings us, we are excited about the rhythm that our community can begin to develop. We look forward to a rhythm that will encourage, and ignite the love of God in everyone who attends. As people interact with God's love during one of our services we see at least two or three main desires being fanned into flame.
One is a desire to know the source of that love in a deeper way.
Second is the desire to share that love with the world/community that we have personal contact with.
And third is the desire to come back and encourage others again with what the love of God has been doing in our lives and in our community the past week.
We also are looking forward to seeing God presents at work in each one of our services.
We expect to see people healed (physically and spiritually and emotionally). We expect to see people challenged. We expect to see people broken and wrecked for God.we expect people to hear from God. We expect people to share and interact with each other about God and his love.
And we expect this every week.
we also know relationships are complicated, and people can get messy. We believe that expectation is part of the beauty in which the love of God is seen. We know creating the perfect environment for God does not mean creating the perfect environment. We believe it is a calling God to come to this place and change our environment and to shift our atmosphere. That expectation is something we can look forward to every week.
The relationship we have with God is also complicated. The atmosphere into which He comes may not always look or feel the same, but it is something we can expect to participate in.
I look forward to see you there.
I look forward to sharing with you the Love of God
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