Strength2Strength

A Massive Quake Coming to Christ's Church

2010-09-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

According to the New Zealand Herald, the city of Christchurch had been “left devastated by a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake,” which struck at 4:35 A.M. the morning of Saturday, September 4th.

My wife presented this information to me earlier in the week, and we both came to the immediate conclusion that this particular “shaking” was undeniably prophetic. Come on. I mean, there was a massive quaking in a place called Christchurch. Now, whether or not this specific event was purposefully orchestrated by the Lord to make an intentional prophetic statement to Christ’s church, I cannot say for sure. All I know is that our spirits resonated with the spiritual wakeup call that is clearly paralleled through this natural disaster.

New Zealand Herald reporter and Christchurch resident, Jarrod Booker, was awoken by what he described as an “extremely violent shaking” that morning. I believe there is a “Jarrod Booker” generation strategically positioned in Christ’s church that is being prepped for an “extremely violent shaking.”

According to the author of Hebrews,

…but now He [God] has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

First, we observe that God has sovereignly orchestrated a “shaking” that would impact two realms: The earth and the heavens. The shaking purposed to awaken God’s instrument for restoration and heaven’s establishment on Earth, the “church,” is part of God’s agenda for the ages. Though uncomfortable and confrontational, this sovereign shaking is ordained and either we can embrace it or fight Him kicking and screaming. It’s ultimate culmination is Jesus’ physical, visible return to the Earth. The key to spiritual survival? Loving and pursuing the Unshakeable more than the shakeable. Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.

Secondly, we ask, “What exactly does this shaking mean for earth and heaven?” Things in the Earth need to adapt to things in heaven. This starts in and with the Church, the gate of heaven to a lost and sin-stained world. Yes, Jesus is The Gate. However, where is Jesus presently located? He calls the church His “body” for good reason, as this is one of His two current residences (in the church and at the Father’s right hand), and there, we become administrators of heaven in the earth, through preaching the Gospel of salvation and seeing the Lordship of Jesus dominate every arena previously affected and impacted by the stain of sin. The heavens will shake as God’s will for His church is supernaturally released from His realm into this one. Rest assured, the shaking “on Earth” will be violent, for the schism between how things currently operate in God’s realm and how they operate in what we know today as the church are worlds apart… and shouldn’t be!

Third, we give definition to terminology that could be otherwise construed as hyper-spiritual ambiguity. In other words, what elements and attributes are being translated from heaven to the Earth? What does it look like… practically? The answer is simple: Jesus. Manifesting and re-presenting Jesus, on earth, is the destiny of the Church, and I believe that God is bringing this high call to His people again. The day of innumerable books, teaching series’, conferences and seminars attempting to answer the age-old question, “What is God’s Will for My Life?” is reaching its consummation, as the Answer will be profoundly and simply, Jesus. His compassion. His love. His signs, wonders and miracles. His teaching. His Kingdom. His restorative will, “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him…” (Eph 1:10, KJV).

In Hebrews 12, we read that the elements that are shakable will be shaken, so that when the shaking concludes, all that will be left are the things that cannot be shaken. In short, God is shaking the world out of His church and is in turn replacing it with Jesus, the Inaugurator and Advancer of the unshakeable Kingdom. All that’s built on the sand will come crashing down, but that which is established on the Rock will never be moved.

I pray that we’re ready, for God will either shake to or shake through his Church. He’s more concerned about His glory than our comfort and His Son being made manifest than us being happy behind the four walls of our padded church bunkers. You can see why a shaking’s coming. For too long, we’ve been content “doing” church on our terms, in our buildings, through our programs, and in turn, have lived endlessly below the inheritance of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Our Paramount Priority in Breakthrough Prayer: What Exactly Should We Pray to “Break Through?

2010-07-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10, NKJV)

A popular phrase surfacing in the church world today—specifically in regard to the subject of prayer—is “breakthrough.” In my opinion, the word in and of itself, without any context, clarification or instruction, conjures images of Christians praying simply to get some-thing from God and thereby, start equating the precious supernatural language of prayer with a means of merely satisfying natural wants and improving one’s caliber of life “on earth.” This is surely not the Kingdom concept of breakthrough prayer.

Christian bookstores are simply littered with titles boasting all sorts of tips and tools that believers need to get their needs met by Jehovah Jireh. Preachers present sermons week after week, exhorting congregations to implement the X-number of steps to receiving their breakthroughs and experiencing love, joy, peace, health, prosperity, problems-turned-into-solutions, yada, yada, yada.

“Faith ministers” (Word of Faithers) implore us to not only pray for, but expect and in some extreme cases, actually demand God to come through with a “break through.” Can I be honest? If I hear the word “breakthrough” one more time, I think I’m going to lose my lunch. Why? The concept is totally perverted because it is presented without proper context, or even worse, from a selfish perspective of getting what I want or need from God. I actually attended a church where the pastor preached a series called “How to Get Whatever You Need or Desire From God.” (available on CD, DVD, and on television). Hmmm, seems like these are the messages people are clamoring for, right? After all, isn’t this the concept of prayer Christians want to learn about and implement in their daily lives? If we were to live carnal, flesh-directed lives, then yes—this “version” of prayer would suit us just fine. But let me tell you, our flesh is dominated by tunnel vision. It so quickly hones in on and settles for mediocre counterfeits and perversions of glorious supernatural realities.

And that brings me to the subject of praying for true Kingdom breakthrough, not only to meet needs in our lives, but to reveal the nature, character, and reign of King Jesus “on earth as it is in heaven.” To work from any other understanding of breakthrough is, quite frankly, living far below our born-again birthright as Holy Spirit-possessed people.

Is it incorrect to pray for our needs to be met? Not at all. God desires to meet them and, often times, with great extravagance. The key is maintaining a Kingdom perspective. Oh, that our hearts’ desire would be for none but Jesus and nothing but His ever increasing reign. We want to see His world “break-through” to this one, primarily through the salvation of sin-bound souls, and for His Kingdom’s advancement to be physically signaled with miraculous demonstrations of power. And to think, He has sovereignly ordained to accomplish these supernatural exploits through us, His Church!

Amidst our needs being met and problems being fixed, let’s delight in the great Truth of prayer: Representatives from an undeserving humanity have been saved and filled with the very Spirit of God to execute His divine decrees on the Earth. The conduit? True break-through prayer.

Cultures of Glory

2010-06-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

As we were praying last night, I sensed something emerge out of the Spirit that, I believe, will dramatically shift the face of twenty-first century Christianity. This, reader, applies to YOU if you are a member of the household of God and the community of faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit desires to create communities (not buildings or institutions, per se) of believers so grounded in Scripture, so yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and so hungry for supernatural encounters with the Living God, that the Spirit of Jesus will begin cultivating entire cultures of believers where previews of the Age to Come are released NOW on a normative basis. “On Earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

However, the key to accessing and abiding in this supernatural glory-culture is the term “lordship.” Everyone seemingly wants Jesus as their Savior; when it comes to His complete lordship, however, we start compartmentalizing. This is why we don’t experience the supernatural as the normative. Not only do we refuse Jesus lordship when it comes to sin in our lives, but we also deny Him lordship when we pursue a comfortable, makes-sense, consumer Christianity and refuse to bow denominational biases, doctrinal concepts, and past experiences/disappointments to the supernatural realities presented as FACT in the Word. I pray that we would be convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that His presence tastes endlessly better than sin, that Jesus is ravishingly beautiful, that His Word is uncompromisingly true, and that He is wholly worthy of our complete devotion (Ps. 27:4, 34:8, Rom. 12:1).

Listen, do you want to continue in a mediocre, natural life, where the “same ole same ole” is normative, or do you want to embrace the new normal Christian life that God is raising up in this hour?

You were NOT born again to go through the motions of Christianity (endure the drag of church, attend Bible study, go on a missions trip, pop some money in a bucket, etc.) while simply “making it through” life. You were not saved by the unmerited favor of a righteously Holy God, sovereignly snatched out of the domain of darkness, and redeemed from the stain of sin by the precious blood of the Lamb to simply sleepwalk through life and do “your thing.” You know, the thing we assume God wants us to do that we (deep down) know is so far below the supernatural, history-making destiny Jesus has ordained for those who would be—literally—possessed by His presence.

I’m going to be straight with you—if you know Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you are possessed by the very presence of Almighty God. The same Jesus Who healed the sick, raised the dead, overcame the power of sin, and released glimpses of the age to come in here and now lives inside of you and, believe it or not, this same Jesus has prophesied over your life that you would do “greater things” than He did, in His Name, by His power, because He is doing them through you! (Jn 14:12).

Oh yeah, and the “greater things” that we sing so passionately about in “God of the City” are NOT just feeding the hungry, clothing the cold, visiting third-world countries, and handing out turkey dinners. That’s a part of it, but really, such things can be done through natural human strength. We need to start contending for and in turn seeing the presence and power of a Living Jesus released into the darkness. This demands the church—you—to “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Is. 60:1-2, KJV).

As Bill Johnson so aptly puts it, “The Holy Spirit is in you… and He wants out.” The Third Person of the Trinity does not exist to simply draw attention to Himself. He works to manifest Jesus through you, plain and simple. He stirs yearnings in the core of your being, causing you to want to experience Jesus in a tangible, powerful way, and in turn, see His presence, power and compassion manifest through your life in the sphere of influence He has uniquely given you.

You, believer, have been redeemed and filled with the Spirit for this strategic era in history, as God is uniting a people who will truly arise and radiate the light of Hi Son’s glory. And friends, this is not the type of “glory” that we will need faith to see. When Jesus walked upon the scene of humanity, His physical presence transformed the geography around Him. Why should it be any different with the Christ in you? He didn’t change at some point between the ascension and Pentecost. And to think, Christ is no longer constrained to a single physical body. He has been released through the Holy Spirit to inhabit entire communities of people.

Just ponder with me in closing—if Jesus Christ clothed in the glove of humanity released powerful glimpses of the Age to Come, how much more will this same Jesus release and manifest the same glimpses [plural] through a culture… a community… a generation…an army of God-possessed people?

Lord, release a hunger for this supernatural culture in your people, I pray!

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done… on EARTH AS IT IS in heaven.

The Fearful Goodness of Good Friday

2010-03-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

In Hosea, we receive an interesting prophetic picture of the soon-to-be-released goodness of God in redeeming a truly wretched, sin-loving bunch. In fact, this “latter” goodness is presented as something “to be feared.”

We read in Hosea 3:5,

"They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days" (NKJV).

How can something like God’s goodness bring us to tremble? Simple—it’s absolutely awe-inspiring when considered in context to Who God is and who we are:

Consider Who the Father is—Holy, perfect, blameless, majestic, glorious.

Consider who we are—wretched, sinful, at enmity with God, and yes, murderers of the very God Who came to rescue us.

Finally, consider the glorious exchange Paul describes in Ephesians 2: We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation…”But God--so rich is He in His mercy! (Eph 2:3-4, AMP).

There are many roads I could travel down with this topic, but really, I want to focus on the terrifying goodness of God as expressed through His extravagant forgiveness.

Satan has an agenda for us. He seeks to corner believers with his lies and convince us that the sin in our lives alienates us from the love, presence, and yes, forgiveness of God. He wants us to believe that in order to “get right with God again,” we have to… fill in your personal blank. Do penance in our heads. Feel bad enough to become good enough again to be received by God. Or worse of all, travel down this road long enough, ascribing to these lies so often that we ultimately believe: “God doesn’t want me anymore. I’m a screw-up Christian. I just keep missing it.”

Works will not redeem you from this line of thought—revelation will. Period. Lift your eyes to the cross and everything it represents. Satan doesn’t want our minds going there, so let’s really bend him out of shape and BOLDLY behold the cross and the Man, Christ Jesus, nailed front and center. Do you know what His presence there tells me? His forgiveness and mercy are extravagant beyond comprehension.

He died an outcast. His people rejected him. His own disciples abandoned and denied him. Surely even his mother was engaged in mental gymnastics, hoping he would bypass this “cup” of suffering. Let’s face it—God came to the earth to redeem us, and what did we do? We killed him. If that’s not evidence for the total depravity of man, I don’t know what is.

Now here’s the kicker—If you and I literally killed God (which we did with our sin), and He still declared, “forgive them…” do you really think what presently we “deal with” sin-wise now places us beyond His mercy? I think not.

Behold the Man upon the Tree this Good Friday. Look upon the One we pierced—I know it’s confrontational and uncomfortable—but beyond the confrontation with our sin is the most explosive revelation of mercy one could ever receive.

Medicate upon the Savior through this dynamic worship anthem. He truly deserves all of the praise.

"...and the Stars"

2010-03-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

Astronomers estimate that there are about 100 thousand million stars in the Milky Way alone. Big number, eh? Initially, it almost sounds kinda fake. I mean come on. “A hundred thousand million” might as well be a “Shlabadabado-illion.” Ah, but bare in mind that this estimated calculation represents the star population of merely one galaxy.

Outside of the Milky Way, there are millions upon millions of other galaxies as well. Consider it for a moment. Millions upon millions of other galaxies beyond the Milky Way galaxy-a sphere man has merely scratched the surface of-and each one brims with an estimated 100 thousand million stars.

Now observe Genesis 1, verse 16,

"And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars." (ESV)

I was simply blown away last night as I considered the implication of how the stars’ creation is recorded in the Genesis account. More or less, populating millions upon millions of galaxies full of thousands of millions of stars is considered a mere sidenote to our Great God. “…and the stars.”

Got it?

Now consider this. The God Who placed a practically infinite amount of stars in the universe-effortlessly-is the same Glorious Spirit that dwells with and within you and I.

Let’s not be like Sarah and brand the miraculous laughable. Remember the Creator God who effortlessly and yet meticulously placed the countless stars in the heavens? Yeah. This same God has promised, Sarah, to supernaturally touch your dead and barren womb and bring forth the child He Himself pledged to give you.

Is it any wonder that He responded to her appropriately:

"13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:13-14, NKJV)

When faced with the impossible, let’s consider the One who didn’t consider creating the stars a big deal.

My Oceanic Sojourn

2010-03-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, I arose at the break of dawn (Larry’s “break of dawn” is 7:15am) to join my Dad and some family friends on a deep sea fishing excursion. Oh, the adventure that would soon greet me!

We headed out at around 8:30am and voyaged through the ole Jupiter inlet. Amazingly enough, there were 30-40 commercial fishing boats floating around, trying to snatch some “triple tail.” Now, I pride myself on being somewhat of a Cousteau-in-training and yet, I had never seen or heard of these inlet dwellers. Apparently, they’re tarpon-esque and great for eating.

Then came our first steps towards “going ocean.” It was quite choppy, but such a beautiful day! I thoroughly enjoyed our “way out” into the sea, as the ocean spray collided with my face and the smell of the salty sea air embraced my nostrils. I’m not much of a roller coaster enthusiast, but I will say that violently jerking up and down as we glided over (and through) the wake was most exhilarating.

All in all, our day at sea was non-stop action and adventure. Whether it was beholding the majestic leatherback turtles making their way towards shore (to lay eggs), watching schools of shiny Mahi Mahi zoom by the boat, or my exposure to the incredible technology innovations that has emerged since my “days” of fishing with a rod, reel, bobber and rubber worm, the trip was most enjoyable!

Ah, but those who have participated with me in previous oceanic outings surely know that beneath the beautiful blue lurks the menacing deep sea demon (i.e. seasickness). That sucker hit about two hours into the trip and man, was it torturous. Everyone was having a grand time reeling in their catch while I looked to the sea, pondering: Would being consumed by a shark be preferable to this? Fortunately, throwing-up helps (as does Dramamine, so I’ve been told). One hurl changed everything and I was, more or less, back to normal (after about an hour and a half of trying to preserve my pride).

When all is said and done, there’s nothing like the thrill of the catch and being able to bring home some fresh, wild Sea Bass or Snapper (which will cost you a pretty penny at your local seafood restaurant). Be advised, though, that fishing is aptly named “fishing.” It would be called “catching” if the majority of the time was spent reeling in those aquatic acrobats. Such is not the case.

(note: The photos are illustrative; they are not the actual pictures from my trip)

Praise Him Because He's Unshakeable

2010-03-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Very quick thought. I implore you, don’t embrace the flighty, good-intentioned but deadly-wrong idea that God changes or shifts based on our situations, seasons or circumstances. That may sound like an ear-tickling, emotion-massaging comfort, but it is a deception that can be extremely costly, namely if we embrace it in the midst of tribulation.

Right now, I don’t need a God who falls apart when I’m going through stuff. Sadly though, one too many folks are “teaching” and writing “Christian” self-help books about this overly emphatic Jesus Who is so “in touch” with our junk that He too collapses under the pressure. After all, we need to make Him relatable right? That’s what people need…right? No.

Does He emotionally relate to us in our distress? Absolutely. However, rejoice in the Truth that He is the unchanging, unshakeable God and that He desires to release an unshakeable kingdom into an all too shakeable planet Earth. Stand on His unshakeability in the midst of your shaking and instead of looking for a “Savior” who simply allows us to savor our circumstance, let’s seek the One Who pulls us out of the ash-heap, sets our feet upon a Rock, and collides His unshakeable world and will with ours producing the miraculous.

Rejoice in His unshakeableness!

Take comfort in the following Truths as I do,

“For I am the LORD, I do not change…” (Malachi 3:6, NKJV)

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV)

A faith-building testimony of the power in Jesus' Name

2010-03-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

I don’t know why we as a church—both individually and corporately—have all but forsaken the glorious practice of testifying. Maybe it’s because we’ve been deceived into believing that the supernatural invasions that produce testimonies are ultimately all about us and improving our quality of life on earth. Wrong. God has been instructing me on this subject quite a bit lately, so allow me to briefly share our personal experience and His purpose in producing a testimony.

You may or may not know this but in early February my wife and I voyaged to a pastor’s conference in Jacksonville (for my work). Unfortunately, while we were there, Mercedes came down with a rather nasty flu bug. Ah, let’s call it what it was—swine flu. I cannot make light of her bout with the illness. It was so intense that it landed us in the Jacksonville emergency room until 3 in the morning.

Well, testimony number one is that God healed my wife and supernaturally protected our unborn baby from the potentially dangerous effects of swine flu. The next situation demanding the miraculous was paying the rather costly hospital bill. Even though we have health insurance, it’s never fun (and convenient) to receive a bill for $700+

Here came my potential hurdle to seeing revelation made manifest. Like I said, God has been teaching me lately about the power of praying in Jesus’ Name, not to use it as a magic “name it, claim it” formula to get what we want from God, but rather, seeing God testifying to the invisible realities of His Kingdom in our midst through that Name and that Name alone. Kingdom dominion is not released through any other name under heaven as no other Name possesses Kingdom power.

So finally, after being a stubborn, “I’m not going to ask for directions or help” stereotype, I called upon the Father to release a financial miracle in our situation. We prayed specifically in Jesus’ Name, so that the testimony would authenticate the power in that Name, not necessarily just the cool thing He would bring about in our lives. Not more than three days later, I called our insurance company and behold, I discovered that we didn’t owe any of the money the hospital initially projected.

Cool? Absolutely! But remember a few things. First of all, a testimony is not about WHAT happens, but WHO is revealed. God healed Mercedes and provided for us, and that’s worth a hearty shout, but all the more exciting is what this testimony reveals about OUR Father: His compassion, His love, His concern for His beloved, and ultimately, His desire to deposit foretastes of glory on earth (that’s what happens when the miraculous collides with our realm). Secondly, a miraculous invasion is not about obtaining “health, wealth, and comfort;” it signals the reality that the Kingdom of God is near and is experienced only through the God-man, Jesus Christ (released through praying in His Name).

Finally, a testimony brims with prophetic, faith-building power. Other believers hear what the Father has done through the Name of His Beloved Jesus and those accounts build their faith in this miracle-working, Kingdom-releasing Christ. I share this for your encouragement. If God did it for us, He can and will do it for you! Just remember, it’s not about us getting something; it’s about Him revealing Someone and oh, how awesome it is to behold that magnificent Someone as He makes the Father’s Name manifest by coming through on your behalf.

The Blowing Wind of Prophetic Revelation

2010-03-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

Last week, we attended a prayer meeting at our local Presbyterian church, and I do not exaggerate when I say that the wind of the Holy Spirit sovereignly and supernaturally blew through that place.

The word wind has actually been stirring in my spirit as of late. One particular passage that I have been hung up on is John 3:8, where Jesus dialogues with Nicodemus about the second birth. He likens the invasive, redemptive move of the Holy Spirit in a person to the nature of the blowing wind,

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (ESV)

I still haven’t mined this passage’s depths, but the Holy Spirit has revealed a few things about His movement and activity through this particular verse: The wind is God-originated and God-designated. In short, the wind is God, as it is the Spirit of God serving as the Messenger of the Revelation of God. He “comes out” of God and in turn, goes where God supernaturally directs. This verse reveals two aspects of God that tend to make the church nervous: He is both supernatural and sovereign.

Monday evening, this sovereign, supernatural wind of God blew through that prayer meeting and, by unction of the Holy Spirit, men and women began to prophesy. So often, I have observed the practice of prayer as one-dimensional, the currency of simply getting from God. Yes, we are to “ask” and make petition. God instructs it. However, there is a deeper, greater dimension of this sacred communication, where the one praying ceases trying to move God to do something and instead, God becomes the mover.

God releases prophetic insight into the spirit of the one praying, and rather than praying to God for something, that person starts praying from God about something. The person becomes a bold prophetic voice, for the things pouring forth from their spirit and ultimately out of their mouth are not “wouldn’t it be nice if God did this,” fantasies. They are prophetic realities that the Father desires to make manifest “on earth” through releasing the person, passion and power of Christ Jesus through his body (known as the Church).

Let’s enter prayer with prophetic expectation. Let’s step beyond prayer lists. They’re good. They’re necessary. But they are not the One Thing - Jesus is. Sometimes we act like what we say TO God is more important and deserving of emphasis than what God is saying… yes, to us... but what He’s saying TO us and THROUGH us is not all ABOUT us. Simply, it is all about God filling the Earth with God—first comes the “knowledge of His glory” and then BAM, then comes His manifest glory, and in the end, God receives all the glory. Period.

Revival in Kansas City Among Youth

2010-01-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share an exciting video testimony from, what I believe, is an authentic, powerful outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon the students and leaders at the International House of Prayer Missions Base.

Why is this happening?

God is sovereign over the visitation, absolutely.

However, I believe these people are hungry for Jesus... THE Jesus of Scripture, not the Jesus of church culture and comfort Christianity.

I encourage you to visit the International House of Prayer's website and check out some of the amazing services. This is what revival and "outpouring" are all about... filling us up and sending us out.

Jesus Christ desires to be released into our everyday lives and turn lives upside down, that the lost would be brought into His Kingdom.

For example, check out this powerful testimony of the Great Commission being lived out in a Walgreens. I implore you to listen to this POWERFUL 10 minute testimony, as this so exhibits the heart of God for this hour—to manifest Himself in power, in love, in mercy to a generation destined to encounter the All Consuming Fire that is Jehovah God.

Lord, stir this hunger in us... in me... I pray in Jesus' Saving Name. Amen.

The War to Adore

2010-01-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

“1 These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 2 He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.” (Judges 3:1-2, NLT)

We war against two things.

I know a while back Rev. Billy Graham classically stated we fight against three hostile forces: The flesh, the world, and the devil. Absolutely. However, in the context of Judges 3, I see one thing we war against (which could be the sum total of Graham’s observation) and One Thing we war for.

First, we war to adore. We fight for the presence of the Lord. I wholeheartedly believe we spend too much time talking about who or what we’re fighting against, but really, have no perspective concerning what we are warring for. What’s on the other side of victory… in this life? Many would say blessing, breakthrough, healing, miracle, successfully resisting temptation, prayer answer, etc. Those are victory byproducts, sure, but what or Who are we really fighting for?

Before I even examine this point further, NO, we don’t war to be saved. If anything, God wages war on us to bring us to salvation. He supernaturally intervenes and interferes with our sin-loving, self-exalting existences and wrestles us to the ground to where we have no choice but to say a spiritual “Uncle!” to the Holy Ghost. No wonder Jimmy Buffet sings, “Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost, these the things that terrify me the most.” Rightly so, for that Holy Ghost comes in and wrecks havoc on everything dead in our lives. He’s the God who wars and wrestles with the sinners heart, and believe you me, when you are His agenda, He’s going to get you and render you sweetly broken before the cross of Christ. So, no, we don’t fight for our salvation.

We war, however, to behold and experience our Sanctifier. Let me specify. God supernaturally places His Warrior in us at salvation. He is the Holy Spirit and He is what makes us long, yearn, and pine for the presence of God in our lives. We don’t want it. Our flesh doesn’t want it. Our flesh loves quick fixes. Our flesh loves simply being “okay” with what God deems intolerable, and that is living amidst “ites”—addictions, sin, religious deceptions—we are being groomed to simply be okay with these things, and listen, the institutional church ain’t doing a whole lot about it. Why? They’ve ceased fighting for His presence and instead, decided to finance their programs. When we’re in the Spirit, however, the lesser things disappear into the background and our heart’s longing is to feast upon Christ alone.

Jason Upon has a beautiful, spontaneous, prophetic anthem entitled “The Cost of Intimacy.” One of the lines is “We’re fighting for the presence of the Lord—a generation of warriors!” The Spirit of Jesus sanctifies us, don’t misunderstand me. However, we war to be with Him. We war for Him by Him. We war with His weapons, His arsenal, His grace, His enabling.

I’m not a proponent of “God saved you; now it’s all up to you” theology. Not true. However, now that we are saved, we’ve been enlisted in the army of God and we’d be stupid to believe that as an army, we’re called to sit around and scrub spiritual toilets all day.

Secondly, we war against the “ites” we examined previously. We war against the flesh, the devil, the distractions, the temptations, the sin we struggled with prior to our salvation that wants to stay in the land.

When we reject Jesus as Lord over every sphere of our lives and refuse to place Him at the center of our world, we are basically agreeing with the Israelites of Judges. “God, we want your blessing. We want you to have a part of our lives. But we want our own thing. We’ll do what (we think) You expect of us. We’ll do the Christian stuff; however, there are things we want to do and you keep your hands off those parts of our lives.”

I say that to God. I hate that I say that, but I do. We live with an old man called the flesh and let me tell you, this is dude selfish, cranky and boisterous!

Ultimately, our enemy conspires to thwart us from engaging Almighty God. He’s done this so strategically, most of all, through silencing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Why? When we grasp the Gospel, we understand a myriad of Truths that all stand side-by-side, and upon believing those Truths, we are privileged to access the very presence of the Most Holy God Who delights in undoing us in His majesty.

We are called and equipped to wage this war. Unfortunately, we’re being told two lies. One is that we do absolutely nothing now that we’re saved and whatever happens…happens. Then you have “those” people on the other side of the fence fighting and rebuking the devil from sunup to sundown. Oh, he must love the attention and delight in his duel-success—keeping the army of God asleep, or making them maintain their defensive (as they fight, unaware of Who and what they’re actually fighting for.)

We are inexperienced in true, Scriptural, spiritual warfare. Ah, but I believe the Spirit of God is awakening us. The sleeping giant is rising and the reality of His glory covering the earth is becoming an ever near reality.

True Spirit of Christmas

2010-01-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

I feel like Charlie Brown. Humorously enough, when he cries out, “Can someone tell me the true meaning of Christmas?!” he is standing a platform (where he and the rest of the Peanuts gang have been vigorously rehearsing for a Christmas production)… this platform so accurately represents the Church of the twenty first century, especially during the Christmas season. Pageants. Productions. Programs. Ah, but where is the preaching of the true Incarnation? Am I simply referring to that which occurred once two thousand years ago through the womb of the Virgin? No.

The true Spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit of God Who has been deposited in the hearts of those who have called upon the Name of Jesus Christ as Savior, and let me tell you, while we place a lot of emphasis on how much Jesus we “put in”, I believe a prophetic cry is emerging from the very heartbeat of God—“Release my Son into the Earth!”

‘Tis a weighty mandate indeed. And yet, isn’t it an appropriate call to action for an organism defined as the very body of Jesus Christ?

What was the common denominator amidst those who encountered Christ that first Christmas season? Divine Encounters Initiated by the Holy Spirit. In other words, those who longed for the Christ did not just one day decide or will to experience Jesus, especially the Jesus who was released into the Earth. He wasn’t a political powerhouse or a government over-hauler. He was the Lamb. His primary purpose was not to bring natural liberation from Rome; it was supernatural deliverance from the sin-tyranny of Satan. The Sinner’s Saviour is in fact the only Jesus who can incite us to leave everything behind and follow Him with our lives, for when we live in full view of that revelation—we were lost wretches, incapable of saving ourselves—and He came to the rescue.

Contrary to the lyrics of many Christian worship songs of this age, NO, we didn’t “call” and He answered our yearning beckon. Friends, we rejected Him. We crucified Him. We spat at Him and mocked Him and hurled insults at Him. And yet, He still came to the rescue. Oh the praise and thanksgiving that such Truth should up well in our hearts!

And again, only the Holy Spirit could open our eyes to long for and in turn, receive such a seemingly “lowly” Savior as our Great Redeemer and Liberator. This Spirit not only awakens us to the Truth of Who Jesus is, and what He came to do. We live, move, and breath in response to that, yes. However, we were never called to do it alone. Jesus is awakening his army in the Earth and Christian, He has sovereignly intended to do that through you.

The Holy Spirit is awakening this groan to release Jesus in the hearts of a generation. A John (the Baptist) generation. The Bible describes him as one filled with the Spirit and power of Elijah. What does this Spirit do? It prepares a prophetic atmosphere, fitting the environment of an era, time, hour, or generation for a Holy Visitation from God Almighty. Elijah was appointed to do that on Mount Caramel. John was called to do it prior to the Savior’s first advent.

So what releases these Johns? Encounter with Jesus.

“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:39-41, NLT)

Here, we witness a powerful exchange between Mary—literally filled with Jesus—and Elizabeth, who was hosting the developing, fetal John. That encounter with one filled-with-Jesus (Mary) stirred the forerunner-in-gestation (John), causing him to leap in the womb. This goes to show that the Christ-in-us when placed in close proximity to a chosen forerunner, should spiritually awaken that fetus. The question begs: Are we living as true hosts of Christ, ready in season and out of season to manifest Him into an atmosphere or environment?

You never know what chosen vessels may be around when Christ-in-you shines forth. May the bride assume the position of Mary—serving as a literal vessel and host for Jesus Christ.

Just as in the days preceding Christ’s first advent, I believe the Holy Spirit is sovereignly stirring a prophetic yearning and longing in the hearts of a generation for the Christ. Not the happy-go-lucky Jesus. Not “Jesus as my homeboy.” Not religion. Not feel-good, felt-needs focused, program-driven, timed down to the minute church. Not even the Jesus presented by most of evangelical Christianity in this day and age, Who essentially saves us from mediocrity and brings us into happiness, peace, joy, health, wealth and warm fuzzies. Not the emergent Jesus. Not the seeker-friendly Jesus. Not the indecisive, stoic, distant, hip, cool Christ. Friends, the Spirit of God is stirring a generation, calling them into the “wilderness,” just as He did John the Baptis. John didn’t learn from the Pharisees of his day, nor will this generation be theologically schooled from the “Christian celebs” of ours. The Holy Spirit has a people in training who will be grounded in True Christology and equipped to manifest the power of Jesus into the Earth.

I sense the Lord saying, “A generation is emerging out of a barren womb. A dead, impossible place where God-life seems nonexistent: The world, culture, religion…even the modern church. This generation needs to be around Jesus-conduits. Men and women overshadowed by the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Elijah that awakens generations to repentance for these vessels have seen the King and are supernaturally made away of their hopelessness and desperation for Christ, the Emmanuel.”

The Spirit of Christmas is setting up a supernatural collision, where the yearn of a generation will collide with a historic outpouring of the Spirit. Result? Historic revival that will prepare the bride for the bridegroom’s coming and awaken sinners out of darkness and translate them into Jesus’ saving light.

I’ll tell you where you can “Sow Your Seed”…

2009-11-12T16:59:00.001-08:00

Okay—total transparency coming up, so buckle your seatbelt.

This evening, I was watching a certain Christian TV network (that shall remain nameless), and what “message” was being proclaimed from their “pulpit” that broadcasts into the households of billions across the earth? Sow Your Seed and God will… (fill in the materialistic blank)

This heretical load of garbage has become sadly synonymous with the Spirit-filled, charismatic church—a movement that, though flawed, is near and dear to my heart as in its pure, Scripture-rooted form, it is truly a revelation of renewal in an age desperate for a true touch from heaven.

A few Biblical blurbs:

1) Financial “Seed Sowing” (as it is defined today) is not Scriptural. Literally, it’s not in the Bible… except for one isolated passage (2 Cor 9:10), and in a moment, we’ll briefly examine the context (2 Cor 9:6-15). Otherwise, there is no verse, passage, or account throughout the halls of Scripture where the phraseology, “Sowing Seed” is paralleled with giving money—in particular, giving money to manipulative ministries or corrupt churches.

2) Defining “Sowing Your Seed.” When presented in the Bible, “Sowing” is discussed in the context of farming and agriculture (Gen 47:23), preserving the soil’s sanctity (Lev 11:37), and intermixing of planting (Lev 19:19, Deut 22:9). When paralleled with anything—New Testament-speaking—“Seed” could be observed as a type for the Word of God or the Gospel (Matt 13:4) and, in one singular instance, yes, “sowing seed” is symbolic for investing in the work of preaching the Gospel (2 Cor 9:10).

3) The Balance:

2 Corinthians 9:5—The believers were urged to give a gift “not as an extortion [wrung out of you]…” but as “generous and willing.” (AMP)

I don’t need to tell you, but most instances where the “sowing your seed” malarkey is proclaimed, extortion is right there, smiling, singing, and swindling. Is tithing and giving wrong? Absolutely not. We give because God said so and we love Him. However, what’s happening in many evangelical circles today is not giving; it’s Christianized thievery and believers are willingly paying the robbers!

Paul warned young Timothy about charlatans who will come in with a Christian “look and feel,” but would ultimately pervert the Gospel for fiscal gain:

1 Timothy 6:3-5—“If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.” (MESSAGE)

The agenda?

Wrangle Together the Innocent and Ungrounded—They target people who are not grounded in solid, Biblical doctrine. In these “Sow Your Seed” environments, anyone who is a proponent of being theologically sound is considered a Pharisee, an intellectualized legalist and one who is against the “flow of the Spirit.” Church, the “spirit” flowing in many atmospheres today is not the Holy Spirit of God, but rather, a combination of fleshy frenzy and demonic divination. Be Word-grounded and Spirit-sensitive. Yes, they can peacefully coexist, for it’s the Word that exhorts us to quench not the Spirit.

Work Em’ Up with Worship—This is where the fleshy frenzy begins, and it irks me to no end. I am all for emotionally encountering God. I believe, in all honesty, that God is in the process of raising up an Enoch generation who walks with Him, so powerfully, so intimately, so tangibly, that the world and all it offers become so secondary and un-alluring because of their powerful engagement with the Holy One. Manifestations. Signs. Wonders. Healings. Miracles. I believe God is unleashing those into the earth like never before. Problematically, they are presently few and far between for the church at large is not mature enough to steward such blessings. We possess the propensity to worship the wonder or seek the sign. Oh, glory’s coming folks, but I believe we are in the final phases of Jesus restoring order to His body. The Gospel—Jesus as our Savior from sin—must be the magnificent obsession again. I’ve been in these aforementioned “worship atmospheres” and they are, quite frankly, intoxicating. The worship appears extravagant, the praise glorious, the atmosphere rich with “the presence,” and then, whammo, things get crazy… in this case, craziness is the “offering” message (more like the offering m-a-ssage).

Wave the Wand. Charm the Church. Pick up the Proceeds. Finally, after everyone’s brains are brought to mush and emotions are elated through the “worship experience” the deal can close. Putty in the hands of a suit-donning, mic-holding, hooping and hollering Bible-toting wolf in sheep’s clothing. Now, be mindful, not every preacher who is preaching or endorsing those who proclaim this message are certifiable apostates. Some are people I actually respect, and who I believe regularly bring a Word from God’s heart to the body of Christ. That’s what breaks my heart. I don’t know what to do about it, for it is a perverse message.

I’m just so sick of it, and I pray that someone would have the audacity to rise up and blow a trumpet in Zion about this rubbish. I’m upset that because of this prosperity perversion, the enemy has strategically divided the church concerning the reality of God as Provider—either we believe God wants us poor (which is unbiblical), or we expect Him to dish out the Cadillac, yacht, and million dollar mansion (likewise, unbiblical). I just needed to issue this caveat before the stones start flying. Yes, I believe in Prosperity. I believe in God’s Provision and His More than Enough supply. I DON’T and CAN’T, however, endorse the whole “Give to Get” bologna. That’s just me.

Oh, but there is a Seed Sown that will be eternally celebrated and cherished, and His Name is Jesus Christ! I’ll discuss this in my following post.

Revival in Retrospect

2009-10-25T22:20:00.001-07:00

Okay, so it was last year, around the beginning of the summer that I blogged about the now infamous (and item of the past), “Florida Healing Outpouring.” Man, a lot has happened since then, even in the context of that particular happening and the now notorious sparkplug behind it—Mr. Todd Bentley.

Let me rephrase that… I don’t know if Mr. Bentley was personally behind it. On the other hand, I don’t know if the Holy Spirit actually instigated something and man, as he loves to do (and does so well) decided to “flesh it up,” I really cannot deliver an answer with finality— we leave that to the Almighty’s evaluation.

I’m hesitant to immediately decry it as faux, fake, and wholly heretical. Why? I was there for one of the evenings and as God is so faithful to do, He powerfully inhabited the praises of His people. Oh, the worship was so sweet, but on the heels of extravagant adoration to the King, I witnessed what can only be described as unbiblical fanaticism, where everything but the Lord Jesus Christ was placed on a pedestal — “The Anointing,” “the Spirit of Elijah,” red healing rags, twitching heads, angel worship, laying on the ground laughing hysterically, etc.

This post, however, is not necessarily intended to be a warning— that article was written last year and I still vehemently stand behind everything I wrote then. I’ve just been confronted lately with a barrage of definitions to the word, “Revival.” In all honesty, I still don’t think I’ve come to any definitive conclusion on what the word actually means as there have been so many alleged meanings assigned to it.

Here are two I can come up with immediately:

1. Planned, Evangelistic Definition of Revival

Can we schedule a revival into our yearly calendar? Can we state with certainty that the week of October 5-10 will be a certifiable revival? Sure, we can classify it as a “revival” meeting, but I think in doing so, we diminish the true definition of the term. As I mentioned, this true definition is something I’m seeking, but more than seeking revelation of revival, I want to know the Jesus that so powerfully and supernaturally releases revival into an atmosphere. Into a people. Into a region. Where it seems as though heaven’s gates are ajar over a sovereignly-appointed, yet contending-directed atmosphere. God is sovereign over the visitation, absolutely. We can’t just plan it, or muster it up (as we will see more so in the second definition). However, I do believe there are certain elements that attract the spirit of revival like a moth to the flame. Anyway, not to venture off on a tangent — I just don’t get some of the “revival” semantics.

2. Spontaneous, Charismatic Definition of Revival

We have been internationally introduced to the neo-Pentecostal realm of “revival,” largely through the portal of Christian television. Don’t get me wrong. I thoroughly enjoy and am deeply ministered to by a lot of programming on such stations. However, some of the elements of this brand of “revival” just don’t seem Scripturally kosher. In short, Jesus is dethroned for the sake of experiencing and demonstrating fanatical emotionalism. I mean, some of the “manifestations” occurring in these meetings make God, in all honesty, look like a cosmic clown. People get into a frenzy and start engaging in all sorts of ridiculousness — clamoring for a healing cloth, shaking their heads like bobble-head dolls, barking like dogs, foaming at the mouth, laughing uncontrollably, falling down and flailing around, you get the drift. Is this revival? No. These are manifestations, and in all honesty, many are counterfeit manifestations if I might be so bold to declare that.

Ah, now do I believe in being overwhelmed by the power of God and being slain in the Spirit? Yes. A step further, however, I believe that true, authentic manifestations of this caliber are currently few and far between because of man’s desire to equate Himself with God and get glory for something only God can truly do. In both camps, really, revival seems to be centered around a figurehead, be it a guest speaker, a pastor or an alleged “Revivalist” touting all the bells and whistles.

Friends, a movement is coming soon — a mighty, tangible move of the blessed Holy Spirit, where atmospheres will be so charged with Jesus’ presence and glory that the multitudes will be overwhelmed by His power and drop to the ground, and no man will be able to boast, for no man will be able to receive the credit. A God-move is coming where Jesus Christ will serve as the Chief Revivalist. Yes, he will use men and women of flesh and blood. He may anoint forerunners as John the Baptist, but you can bet your bottom dollar that they will not resent losing potential disciples, converts or church-members to Jesus. John was considered a “Friend of the bridegroom.” Why? Simple. He demonstrated a supernatural friendship towards Jesus Christ — the friendship described and defined by Jesus in the Gospel of John where life is laid down for the sake of another, a friend. John the Baptist laid down his life, his ministry, his hour in the spotlight, without haste or reservation, for He knew it was all about the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. It’s coming, friends. Oh, that we would contend for this outpouring.

—Larry Sparks, 2009

Missional Worship

2009-10-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick Word of encouragement to the worship community (namely, all of us who have been redeemed and live to radiate authentic gratitude for the Cross of Christ)…

God has been exhorting me to concentrate less on naturals and hone in on the supernatural concerning what it means to missionally worship— yielding (not creating, for that’s God’s job and not a church’s) atmospheres to evangelistic worship. This may sound slightly intangible and different, but let me explain.

The Church of Jesus Christ — you and I — can veer off into one of two imbalances: Being too heavenly minded for earthly good, or being a “Christian” carbon copy of the world. The reality is that we are stationed in two realms simultaneously. We are spiritually positioned in Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places as voices that proceed from the Throne of God (which is such a powerful Truth concerning our spiritual placement), and, at the same time, we are on earth — strangers, foreigners, and aliens, indeed— but nevertheless, “on earth.” Until the consummation of the age when Jesus physically returns to Earth, we are anointed and charged to see that the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God.

Ultimately, God’s agenda for lost humanity is divine Kingdom-drafting. Jesus did not commission us to “go ye therefore and make converts of all nations.” He intentionally used the term “disciple.” People who are radically touched and transformed by the Living Christ to go forward and imitate Him— to literally “be Jesus” on Earth, a people who truly grasp that they are His temple, His tabernacle, His house, His vehicle, His body on Earth.

Fine and good, but what has the power to create a disciple? Programs don’t. Emotionally appealing altar calls don’t. Church-as-usual does not. What can instigate a true, lasting, supernatural change in the hearts of the once-lost, and, in a miraculous moment, transform the “chief of all sinners” into a radical Kingdom advancer?

The presence of the Awesome One. A genuine, real-deal encounter with the Living, tangible, loving, powerful, mighty Yahweh. Okay, so, where does missional worship concept come into play? Very simply, Scripture reminds us that the God of heaven inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). His presence is magnetically drawn to the fragrance of true, authentic, extravagant, selfless, yielded worship. Not “I’ll worship to get my breakthrough.” That’s selfishness and shame on us for even buying into that garbage. Not “I’ll worship because God NEEDS it.” He’s entirely self-sufficient, so let’s give up believing that mess. Not “I’ll worship because I like the music.” Nothing to do with music. Not “I’ll worship when I feel like worshipping.” David declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times…” “I will.” There’s an element of decidedly lifting one’s eyes beyond circumstance and fixing gaze upon the beautiful Savior. In short, true worship is of the Romans 12:1 caliber.

“In view of God’s mercy” we offer up our lives as living sacrifices. Genuine Spirit and Truth worship begins with a revelation of Truth — the Truth of the Cross of Christ, the blood of Jesus, and our eternal gratitude for being radically liberated from a horrific fate that we chose and was well-deserved. We don’t just worship for worship’s sake. The Cross is the ultimate manifestation of God’s glorious mercy, so that is what we fix our focus upon and in turn, respond to. We respond to everything it represents and the endless dimensions of God-revelation it has generously opened us to.

The reality is that when we understand the missional, or evangelistic byproducts of worship, something glorious happens. Now granted, we don’t worship just so that something happens in our atmosphere, personally or corporately. We worship Him because He is Jehovah. Ah, but in worship, we must possess an undergirding understanding and expectation of the sovereign move of the Spirit of God. He DOES respond to our praise and DESIRES to move in our midst.

“Change the atmosphere…” I sense that this is a phrase emerging from the Spirit. God wants to supernaturally transform atmospheres. I believe He wants to charge whole environments with a spirit of revival and evangelism. When we as believers encounter God in the midst of Spirit & Truth worship, we are revived by His presence and long to worship Him and in turn, manifest His will on earth all the more! When the lost are present in these atmospheres, in accordance with God’s sovereignty in salvation, the Spirit cannot help but go after these folks and do what He does best — powerfully introduce sinners to Jesus Christ. I’ve seen it; it is incredible.

I pray that we would be mindful of this supernatural dimension while we worship God. It can never just be about singing songs… even singing songs to God. God wants to tangible release Himself into atmospheres, by His Mighty Spirit, and awaken the sleeping, revive the dying, and save the sin-stained. So, while we gather to worship in church, or we are jamming in our cars, I pray that we would prophesy to the ever present looming clouds, be it over our churches, over our neighborhoods, over our cities, over the nations — “Let it rain…”

Past Tense Provision for the Present Day Commission

2009-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Prophetic Word received from the Lord: 2-28-07

Walk with me, says the Lord. Walk in a realm of past tension provision. Past tense authority. Have you (bride) not yet gotten it? Are your ears deafened to my cry? I have already done it. I have made a provision, for I took upon the Provisionary Role. I descended so that you could ascend. You are joint-heirs, regardless. When you beat yourself up, you are second guessing/doubting my Provision. This is not just a Provisionary act, not just a supplied need, healing or miracle. When you second guess my provision, you second guess Calvary. Bride, I love you. I instruct you in love. Do you like it when people distrust you when you’ve given them EVERY reason that you are dependable, reliably and steadfast? Of course not. Imagine how it grieves my heart when my bride distrusts my Provision, for I was and am her Provision. Don’t try to get it. Don’t think you can earn it. It cannot be obtained through begging. It’s yours – simply, receive.

From Jesus Freak to "One of Us"

2009-08-04T20:07:00.001-07:00

By Larry Sparks

Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you…” (Acts 3:6)

Peter and John were Jesus freaks. Why?

Because they attended Temple?
Because they were well-versed in the Old Testament and brushed up on their Law? Because they heralded all of the *right* ecclesiological and evangelical terminology? Because they went on missions trips?
Did the church thing? Fed the poor? Clothed the needy?

Oh the good ole’ days of DC Talk and their infamous anthem posing the question: “What will people say if they label me a Jesus freak?”

I mean, what really certifies one as a Jesus freak? After all, Joan Rivers is more than capable of charity work (as we’ve observed recently on Celebrity Apprentice). Does that automatically brandish her a Jesus freak? No – for all she and individuals of the like provide are the “silver and gold” Peter and John denied possessing: Natural aid that ascribes some-one, some-thing, or some method honor aside from Christ.

Is charity good? Of course. Does charity impact eternity? Only if the Gospel associated with it transforms the recipients’ lives. Otherwise, all “charity” does is somewhat enhance peoples’ here-and-now (and even promote lethargy, laziness, and sinful, destructive lifestyles) while they remain well on their way to eternal separation from the Only One who truly satisfies, on earth and forever.

Interestingly enough, the album featuring “Jesus Freak” was released the very year as the secular Joan Osborne smash, “One of Us,” which makes a very contrary inquiry: “What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us...?”

In my opinion, this current Christian generation is caught smack-dab in the middle of these two warring observations of the Divine. Sadly, the latter observation of God as “one of us”… Jesus as our homeboy…Buddy Christ…God as my Pal… and so on – these imbalanced observations which shockingly minimize Who God is as holy, glorious and utterly terrifying - is being embraced by the church with wide open arms all in the name of making Jesus relevant and relatable. They’ve turned Jesus into a dispenser of silver and gold – natural charity – when in fact, He desires to manifest and infuse the natural with the supernatural. God-forbid that happens anymore.

I hate to say it, but Christianity in its present form is working hard on emasculating God, either preaching a perversion of His Power (Word of Faith, which essentially makes the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, our butler), or vehemently brandishing His power as Taboo and ceased upon the conclusion of the Apostolic Age.

That God, however, is not Jehovah. This “god” that is as Joan Osborne declares, “just a slob like one of us… trying to make his way home…” is lost and needy. He needs us. He needs our prayers. He needs our confession. He needs our worship. He needs our love. If we don’t give it, we deny Him of completion. Folks, this is not our God. In fact, we pray and worship and love Him because He is not needy. This God Who is completely Self-Sufficient loves us and paid an extremely high price to redeem us from sin and adopt us into His family. Oh, what a marvelous Savior!

The “One of Us” God of feel-good, happy-go-lucky Christianity does not incite awe. He does not bring us to our knees. He doesn’t shake foundations, move mountains, melt hills like wax, scatter His enemies, wield a double-edged Sword, and bring us to tremble. And yet this God loves you. He loves me. And a step further, He filled us with Himself so that we could continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in the earth. That is why, like Paul, our aim is to preach the revelation of “Christ and Him crucified.”

Paul was no eloquent orator. He simply preached the Gospel and God would literally, physically and powerfully manifest Himself in those atmospheres. The sick were healed. The dead were raised. Demons fled. And most importantly, many were knocked off their horses of sin and rebellion and were supernaturally brought to bow before the Cross. Talk about freakish. I’m sure that would sure interrupt some agendas, reform some theologies, and ultimately, reintroduce the power-full Christianity of the Bible.

Man in his natural state is very capable of offering handouts – improving one’s condition in their pit, be it a pit of sin and God-less depravity; or if the individual is saved, these handouts essentially pat backsliders, well, on their backs, while they wallow in the prodigal pigpen. God, however, is all about bringing stragglers to their senses. He loves us too much to leave us eating from troughs of pig-pods. He’s all about reaching into pits, demonstrating His mighty hand and outstretched arm, and demolishing the fences of pigpens, wooing the desperate prodigal into returning home.

I pray that we would trade in “silver and gold” handouts for supernatural hand-ups that bring great glory to our Awesome Savior!

Get Out of that House!

2009-08-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

By Larry Sparks

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exodus 20:2, KJV)

When you research the Hebrew term for “bondage,” (ebed), note one of the latter Lexicon definitions: a servant of servants. What does this mean to the unfortunately-enslaved twenty first century Body of Jesus Christ? The type of bondage we face in this age is NOT at the hand of one greater, stronger, or wiser. No. If one deems him/herself an appendage of Christ’s body and is well aware that he/she is currently in a position of “bondage,” this individual is living in subservience to him who has been brought to nothing – Satan.

More simply put, to live as a slave to sin, addiction, sickness, deception, depression, etc., is really living in slavery to the dethroned taskmaster who, through Christ, became a slave destined for destruction. When speaking of Satanic principalities and powers, Paul reminds us of a topic that is beyond necessity in the church today, and that is the sufficiency of the cross

In Colossians 2:15, he reminds believers that Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (NKJV). What is the “it” Paul refers to? Examine the previous passages and notice he is writing of the authority of Calvary’s Old Rugged Cross (see AMP version). I particularly enjoy the modernization of this verse provided by the MESSAGE: He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.

Is it any wonder that Satan longs for us to live in bondage to shame? You see a lot of Christians understand that they are free from sin and its requirements (hell, torment and God-separation) – to some degree at least – but, they forget that Christ bore our shame as well as our sin. Shame is Satan’s snare to thwart the bride from enjoying fellowship with the Bridegroom. The bride observes herself as unworthy, dirty, adulterous, promiscuous, and unholy IF she heeds Satan’s false accusations. They may feel accurate, seeing that yes, in and of our own ability, strength and righteousness, we are all of those horrible things and more. When Truth enters the equation, however, those feelings or temporary “facts” are required to shift. Apparent facts, regardless of how real, true and reliable they seem to the sensory realm, must bend to the Word’s finality and this, brothers and sisters, is reason enough to shout for joy when Satan provides you “reason” to do anything but. A sad portion of the bride is not functioning in her Eden-allocated God-likeness.

Because of Christ, slave-Satan is no longer a formidable foe. In fact, He is under the Holy One’s whip, and safely positioned beneath His bride’s feet. After all, bride and Groom rule and reign together – such is original intent. Remember, God’s mandate in Eden was not just to him (Adam), but it was to them (Adam and woman): And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion (Gen 1:28, KJV). Paul refers to Jesus Christ as the Second or Last Adam (see Rom 5:12-21, 1 Cor 15:45), so is it any wonder then that the Last came to reclaim what the first surrendered over to the serpent? This, my friends, is what it means to recognize the need for deliverance and in turn, release it. Too many Christians are unaware that they ARE free. Period. Why? No one’s teaching, or encouraging them to seek out teaching concerning the sufficiency of the cross.

I cannot NOT fix my gaze upon the wondrous cross, for it was at and because of that place – that moment – hanging on that cruel tree of torment that our sin was paid for in full, that our physical healing was purchased, and that, ABOVE ALL, the fantastic notion of reconciliation with the Almighty could be made a blood-accessible reality. This is what it means to be brought UP out of the house of slavery, for no longer as we slaves to the defeated and shamed god of this world – Satan – but we are Servant-Bride-Friends of the Living God. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to exist as a servant of servants when in fact I’ve been purchased to rule and reign with my Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus.