Heir Borne

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Colossians 1:24 [Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.

Years ago I was reading Acts 5:40-42 that stated: and summoning the apostles, they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go.41 So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.42 Yet [in spite of the threats] they never ceased for a single day, both in the temple area and at home, to teach and to proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ (the Messiah). Verse 41 dumbfounded me: So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worthy [dignified by the indignity] to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name.

For years I couldn’t understand the reaction of the Disciples until I combined it with Paul’s declaration in Colossians 1:24: I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body…We don’t fully comprehend the fact that we make up the Body of Jesus. It’s not simply metaphorical, or symbolic language. We are the Body of Jesus. That means everything we suffer in obedient surrender to Jesus is being done to Jesus. That is the honor. Your sufferings are equal to Christ’s sufferings and you are being made one with Him through His sufferings. Your rejections, and persecutions, and the criticisms you receive on His behalf, your sacrificial, and misunderstood obediences, giving till it hurts, and giving to those who use and abuse you – all of these are added to the furrowed scars in His back, the nail scars in His feet and hands, and His thorn-pierced brow. All of these are added to His Glorified, Resurrected Body! Isaiah 49:16 states: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…(Which means we really are engraved on the palms of His hands.)

Recently a member of our church asked, Is Jesus still suffering? To which I replied, Absolutely! He suffers long in His love, and prayers for us. But it never crossed my mind to add, when we suffer – He suffers. We become His nail-pierced hands and feet. We become His pierced side, and His thorn-pierced brow. We become His scarred and furrowed back. We become the drops of blood He sweat in the Garden.

Most avoid suffering at all costs failing to realize these eternal truths. For these things we will be rewarded as He returns to earth in His Glory. For you see, His Glorified scars become our glory as we share in His Glory. This is why Paul reminds us in the book of Romans 8:17-18 And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Jesus’ Glory is to return to this earth to rule and reign. Only the meek will inherit the earth with Him. The meek being those who chose to suffer with Him in faithful love and surrender to His Word, His Will, and His Way. These are the true sons, and daughters of God. Those who are willing to follow Him in discipleship, serving others, witness, and missions. As the prophet Bob Jones was asked by Jesus, Did you learn to Love? Love God with ALL? Love your neighbor as yourself?

The Air I Breathe

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Nehemiah 1:11 For I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah, the author for whom this book was named – simply, and humbly wrote that he was a cupbearer to the king. But what exactly was a cupbearer? Got Questions states: Historically, a cupbearer was a high-ranking official in charge of serving the king. It was primarily the responsibility of a cupbearer to serve the wine to the royal table. Since kings were concerned about plots to poison them, cupbearers had to guard the cup carefully and would sometimes taste the drink before serving it to ensure it was safe. Due to the responsibilities of the position, a cupbearer had to be trustworthy and loyal. A cupbearer had the king’s confidence and because of his character was able to exert influence in the royal court.

This means Nehemiah faced the possibility of death every day he served the king. Imagine living each day knowing it could be your last. How would it impact the way you lived? How would it impact your relationship with God? You need to look no further than Nehemiah for the answer to these questions. In chapter one Nehemiah exemplifies the two greatest commandments: love the Lord your God with ALL…, and love your neighbor as yourself.

How are these two commandments modeled through Nehemiah? His love for the Lord was demonstrated in his heart being broken for the Lord’s inheritance: the people, and land of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 states: When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. Nehemiah loved and cared for what God loved and cared for. In other words, facing death every day caused him to have the heart of the Father for God’s inheritance and His family. (see Neh. 1:3-4)

Facing death every day was the job requirement of the cupbearer. There was a willingness on the part of the cupbearer to lay down his life for the king. Because of that Nehemiah was a man of prayer, faith and humility. Throughout verses 4-11 he models and teaches how to approach the King of kings and Lord of lords in prayer by acknowledging the attributes of Who God is. He doesn’t join in an accusation of God, or pray stingily. He doesn’t begin with himself as the center. He positions himself before the Lord pouring out his praise, worship and adoration seeking to have His God center him in Him. He doesn’t set himself apart from the sins of the people as if he were better but openly acknowledges that he and God’s people had openly sinned against God. In other words he takes responsibility for his sins and the sins of God’s people. Then in verses 5, 8-11 he gives God reasons why God should answer his prayers.

What does this have to do with us? Everything. The Apostle Paul stated that he wanted nothing but to know Jesus and Him crucified. We read such a statement and we think it only pertains to the crucifixion of Jesus yet there is so much more being stated. Jesus lived the crucified life before He even got to the Cross. In fact, there could never have been a crucifixion without Jesus living the crucified life. Recently I wondered how could I love God more. The answer was simple: obey Him and obey quickly. Jesus lived the crucified life through a daily practice of faith, love, and humility manifesting in obedience and prayers. Modern day believers think they can separate the practice of prayer from faith, humility, and love (as many “so-called” followers of Jesus separate it from gathering regular with the saints – “the separated ones”). Yet, you can no more separate prayer from faith, humility, and love than you can separate a bird from its’ feathers, and flying or a fish, from it’s gills, scales and swimming. Prayer is the “air” faith-filled, humble, and loving followers of Jesus breathe and soar on.

Prayerlessness is simply a symptom of unbelief, and pride; an indicator that I’ve ceased being an eagle or one of His fishes. Remember: eagles may soar alone, but fish “school” together, and sheep “flock.” Those who don’t become bait for the predators lurking in the shadows. Are you a Nehemiah? Are you one concerned for God’s inheritance and His people? Are you His cupbearer – trustworthy and loyal?

Raising the Bar

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1 Thessalonians 1:6-9 And you [set yourselves to] become imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord Himself, for you welcomed our message in [spite of] much persecution, with joy [inspired] by the Holy Spirit; 7 So that you [thus] became a pattern to all the believers (those who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Christ Jesus) in Macedonia and Achaia (most of Greece). 8 For not only has the Word concerning and from the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God [of your leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. So we [find that we] never need to tell people anything [further about it].9 For they themselves volunteer testimony concerning us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and how you turned to God from [your] idols to serve a God Who is alive and true and genuine,…

The distance between Macedonia, Achaia and Thessalonica was approximately 190 miles or the equivalent of the entire length of the country of Greece. A modern day equivalent of that distance would be equal to traveling from here to Wilmington (193 miles) or from here to Raleigh (183 miles). Does anyone in either city know of your faith? Are you impacting the Christians living in those cities? Are other pastors and Christians sending their church members to watch you in action? To learn how to follow Jesus; live like Jesus; live like a disciple? Let that sink in deep. Listen to what Paul says about their faith: everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God [of your leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. They were leaning their entire personalities in complete trust and confidence in God, His Son Jesus, and the testimonies of the Apostles. They had set themselves to become imitators of Jesus and the Apostles. If they were imitators of all the above they were not simply reciting information, nor were they excelling at attending house church. No this means they were putting into practice what they taught and practiced. This means they were preaching, teaching, winning the lost, going to the nations, serving the poor, serving the church, baptizing others, making disciples, casting out demons, raising the dead, speaking in unknown tongues, and overflowing in the Holy Spirit. Those are the things Jesus and the disciples did. That was their normal. What has happened in modern Christianity that sees this as abnormal? How have we become so impotent, and watered down? It’s time to raise the bar once again!

At the 19th Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968 an American named Dick Fosbury set an Olympic record in the High Jump and brought home a gold medal. No one had ever jumped 7’4.25″ before! What was so unusual about Fosbury’s feat was that he did the high jump backwards. It looked awkward and strange. It was called “The Fosbury Flop.” But it worked! Branching out in a new high jump technique is one thing. Getting it accepted by others is another matter. Fosbury remarked,“I was told over and over again that I would never be successful, that I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do was shrug and say,’we’ll just have to see,’” AND PEOPLE DID SEE! Since then, nearly all world-class high jumpers now use his technique. To attain his goals, he changed his approach to high jumping, and he didn’t allow others’ comments to make him feel like he would not achieve his conviction. Is that the modern Christians’ problem? Have you been letting others determine your altitude?

Wow! This whole thing is astounding and humbling all at the same time. (I just blew my own mind!)

Necessary Adjustments and the Soil of Your Heart

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Ezra 1:1-2 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [almost seventy years after the first Jewish captives were taken to Babylon], that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might begin to be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writing: 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.

Imagine a cataclysmic event occurring in the United States in which every citizen is forced to relocate to Russia and live for seventy years. Then, following this time period, picture the prime minister of Russia proclaiming that their country would pay for every American citizen to return. All expenses paid. What would you do? What changes would have taken place in a persons life in those seventy years? One way to make this more pertinent is to visualize turning back the clock in our nations’ history seventy years. This would place us in the year 1955. I was born in 1963. Since that time I have graduated from High School, College, and Seminary. I’ve been married for 40 years, and have two married adult children, and three grandsons. All of my life would have been lived in Russia. English would not be my heart language – Russian would be. My parents were born in 1944 and 1945. That means my Dad would have been eleven years old when he was forced to move to Russia. My parents’ parents would have been in their early thirties. Their parents would have been in their sixties. That’s six generations of family members impacted by the move.

Now imagine the prime minister of Russia asking you to go rebuild a church back in America. What would you do? From the book of Ezra we can see that only three tribes responded in faith to the invitation. Out of twelve tribes only three chose to return: Ezra 1:5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, with all those whose spirits God had stirred up, to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. One fourth of the people chose to act in faith. Only one fourth of the people understood God’s call on their lives. Only one fourth of the people were willing to uproot their way of living and return in faith to God’s Word; His Promises; and His Prophetic Declarations.

We often criticize and judge the unbelief of the Jewish people. It’s no coincidence that in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, or the soils, only one fourth of the soil bore fruit. Is there a correlation between Israel and the Modern day church? John 14:23 states that we are building God’s House with Jesus and the Father. But how is the soil of our hearts receiving the seed of God’s Word? Are we so entrenched with our families, and our way of life, that when the King summons us to build we choose to remain where we are, and as we are? You cannot stay the way you are and go with God. You cannot stay where you are and go with God. You must make the necessary adjustments in order to join God in what He is doing.

The Proof

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2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly and the love of every one of you each toward the others is increasing and abounds.4 And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your steadfastness (your unflinching endurance and patience) and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are holding up. 5 This is positive proof of the just and right judgment of God to the end that you may be deemed deserving of His kingdom [a plain token of His fair verdict which designs that you should be made and counted worthy of the kingdom of God], for the sake of which you are also suffering.

Two things really stand out in this passage: growing faith and suffering. Growing faith will cause you to overflow with thanksgiving especially when you consider those who have suffered along with you. Growing faith will even cause you to overflow with thanks for those who have caused you to suffer. The Christian worldview in the West thinks it a strange thing to suffer for Jesus. Often the idea is dismissed when comparing themselves with other saints who live under oppressive regimes. Regimes and governments that are anti-Christ, and antagonistic to Jesus and all who follow Him. We fail to realize that Jesus and any, and all who chose to follow Jesus were under probably the most religious system the world has ever known. They believed in similar things. They participated in worship, prayer, fasting, tithing, Bible reading, and teaching. Yet, many were anti-Christ, and antagonistic to many of the things Jesus taught. He was considered extreme, and because of this He was rejected. Rest assured if they reject Him, they will reject Him in you – if you are growing in faith.

1 Corinthians 1:23 states: We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

Paul only preached Jesus crucified? If you take the time to consider that thought: preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified – it should cause you to question, Is that all he preached? Chapter 2 makes a similar claim: For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. Think about it. All he taught, day in and day out, was the crucifixion of Jesus. But is that what Paul meant by that phrase? Absolutely not. Paul’s message was based on the crucified life Jesus lived. From the day Jesus was conceived, to the time He could understand the whispers and the gossip of the villagers surrounding His virgin birth – Jesus was living the crucified life. In fact you could easily surmise He was crucified, everyday, as He sought to do the will of the Father; to obey Him without compromise. Now imagine, in the midst of all these things, and much more, not only your faith growing and increasing, but your love. Paul commended the Thessalonians for both their faith growing, and their love increasing, and abounding. If these early followers of Jesus did it surely Jesus had done it before them.

Paul added that all of these things taken together was proof that you were worthy of entering the Kingdom of God. In an age of sloppy, and cheap grace, this statement is startling. Salvation is free, but I have been freed to grow in faith, thanksgiving, love, and suffering. Cheap Grace adherents would be incredulous over this statement. Rather than a statement of fact it would be turned into a question: I have been freed to grow in faith, thanksgiving, love, and suffering? Another way to think about this is by asking, Are you growing through suffering? Are you growing through sacrificial obedience, surrender, and love? Now that is preaching Christ crucified. That is knowing Christ crucified. Are you knowing Him?

The Pain-Pleasure Worldview

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2 Chronicles 1:5-7 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon and the assembly sought [the Lord].6 Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord at the Tent of Meeting and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it.7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, Ask what I shall give you.

I searched the internet attempting to attach a modern day, monetary equivalent to Solomon’s sacrifice. One article suggested that the animals used for sacrifice would cost roughly one month wages of an average worker. Thus, Solomon sacrificed roughly 84 months of wages to seek God. That’s approximately seven years wages – in one day.

A western Christian would look at the cost of Solomon’s sacrifice and be highly offended. Offended at the sacrifice being an animal, and offended at the pain to see it through. Why is sacrifice offensive to Modern Christians?

Matthew Pickering, in his online article titled, THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PAIN-PLEASURE WORLDVIEW, addresses this issue writing: Missiologist David Williams writes, “We are seeing the demise of guilt-innocence as the dominant worldview in Western cultures. I suggest that guilt-innocence is a fading paradigm. I think we are moving from being a guilt-innocence culture to becoming a pain-pleasure culture.” Our culture has changed. The new way of being in the world means all the following propositions and more. ‘I exist to pursue pleasure by becoming my true uninhibited self which can be anything I want it to be. Pleasure is good and therefore anything that limits or threatens my pleasure is bad. Pain is bad and anything that causes it is therefore also bad and should be avoided or even punished. If my pursuit is challenged, if it causes anxiety, if it is not working, I need therapy not correction.’

Pain and Pleasure participants, and adherents judge and dismiss Solomon’s Sacrifice as “over the top.” Interestingly, the person who wrote the book of 2 Chronicles took the time to count the number of animals sacrificed and record it. What’s sad is that the Pain-Pleasure Worldview has crept into the Church. Its’ members now count the number of songs sung, calculate the time spent traveling to and from church, and the number of minutes it takes for the sermon to be delivered. We’ve gone from picking up crosses, dying to ourselves, to wearing fashionable, miniature facsimiles.

Regarding this issue the writer of Hebrews states: Heb. 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. AMPC Pain and Pleasure adherents moan and groan over such a thought: let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise??? Pain and Pleasure participants challenge this thinking disregarding its truths exposing who and what is the center of their worldview. (And it’s not Jesus). Psalm 50:23 states: He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God. The real Jesus, not the velvet Jesus, or the hip, and cool, reimagined Jesus – points you to Someone and Something bigger than your pleasure-seeking, pain-avoiding SELF. Psalm 50 above compares sacrificial offerings of praise and thanksgiving as the means to order your way aright. The greater indictment is implied, Those who don’t order their lives around sacrificial thanksgiving and praise, aren’t glorifying Jesus. If we are not glorifying Jesus then who has taken His place? Glorifying something implies making something larger than anything else in comparison. Is our Western Culture making the Temple of Pleasure bigger than Jesus? Bigger than His crucifixion? Bigger than His Resurrection? Bigger than His Ascension? Bigger than His offer of salvation from an eternity of suffering in hell?

I’m reminded of the 2012 Marvel Movie, The Avengers, in which a character by the name of Loki – half brother to Thor states: ENOUGH! You are, all of you, beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I shall not be bullied by–[Hulk grabs Loki by the legs and slams him around like a rag doll, then leaves him face-up on the floor in a crater]. Hulk: Puny god. [Walks off]

Maybe our culture needs to trade places with Jesus and restore to Him the only attribute that sums up Who He is: God Alone! But as Bobby Conner has stated, We have become too familiar with an unfamiliar God. Solomon wisely stated: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. Guess Who Wisdom is in the Proverbs? That’s where we begin knowing Him.

Chief of Sinners

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1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. NKJV

Jesus tells a parable in Luke 18:9-13 that is truly reflected in the life of the Apostle Paul: He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [that they were upright and in right standing with God] and scorned and made nothing of all the rest of men:10 Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers—or even like this tax collector here.12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.13 But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am!

Paul embodied this message as his life and ministry progressed. In 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 he referred to himself as the least of the Apostles. Approximately 7 years later in Ephesians 3:18 he referred to himself as the least of God’s people. Approximately 2 years later in 1 Timothy, 5 years before he was beheaded, he referred to himself as the chief of sinners. What changed? Was he being insincere, feigning humility, to gain the approval of his readers?

Remember when the woman was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus to entrap Him? Jesus said, he who is without sin cast the first stone. What age group was the first to drop their stones? The old. Let that sink in. Why? They had read, studied and learned more Torah, and Prophets, probably longer than some of the young ones had been alive. They had prayed, fasted, given to God and the poor far more. They had gone to synagogue, and Temple, observed the feasts, and festivals far longer than any of the young. They knew more, and out performed, any of the young who held their rocks tightly in their clenched, fists of rage. But they also knew one thing that the young had yet to see clearly: they had failed God, themselves, and others miserably. The Apostle Paul understood life from this perspective.

Recently, I was engaged in a conversation with one of our younger church members. They had an equally young friend who was growing as a follower of Jesus. Somewhere along the way he picked up the doctrine that he could achieve sinless perfection before the Lord. My response in a nutshell was, he has read the Bible but how much of it has he attempted to obey? In Luke 18:18-19, five verses away from Jesus’ Parable mentioned above, a man approached Jesus regarding what he could do to obtain eternal life. He said: Good Teacher [You who are essentially and perfectly morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]? 19 Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? No one is [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God only.

Jesus wasn’t saying that He wasn’t good, or morally perfect. But one thing He made crystal clear: No one is [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God only. Only God is Good. Only God is Perfect. To claim either is to claim equality with God (and believe it or not there are some that teach that). What am I saying? Often I will say, I deserve to go below hell. Those who are “do-it-yourself” Christians become highly offended at that statement. They pity me. What they don’t understand is I fit in the category of the old pharisees above. I know more, and have experienced more than most. Because of that alone I have a higher responsibility. Because of that I have failed more than most – simply because of what I know, and how I know Jesus. I’ve sinned horribly, and disobeyed things I knew I was to do and not do. Do-it-yourself righteousness has a convenient way of excusing disobedience because of willful ignorance. They compare themselves to others – not Jesus – and congratulate themselves at not being like the other sinners. 2 Corinthians 2:12 addresses that foolishness when it says: Not that we [have the audacity to] venture to class or [even to] compare ourselves with some who exalt and furnish testimonials for themselves! However, when they measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding and behave unwisely.

The only trophy we are going to receive is Jesus and a crown, or crowns that reward faithfulness. Avoid the snare of patting yourself on the back, and collecting “trophies” for your Christian performance. One day we will dine with saintly nobility who have paid, unimaginable sacrifices, in order to simply love their Savior. In this life we pity them as paupers, but in Jesus’ eyes they are His royalty. When you are tempted to congratulate yourself for your performance – get some perspective. Read or watch what 75% of your brothers and sisters, around the world suffer to faithfully follow, and obey Jesus. You will hang your head in shame. (I have more than once)

Big Things in Small Packages

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1 Chronicles 4:9-10 Jabez was honorable above his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez [sorrow maker], saying, Because I bore him in pain.10 Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.

It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago a tiny book was written by Bruce Wilkinson titled The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life. A Wikipedia article about the book noted: In the book, Wilkinson encourages Christians to invoke this prayer for themselves on a daily basis: I challenge you to make the Jabez prayer for blessing part of the daily fabric of your life. To do that, I encourage you to follow unwaveringly the plan outlined here for the next thirty days. The book became an international bestseller, topping the New York Times bestseller list and selling over nine million copies by 2002.

What strikes me most about this passage of Scripture is that it emerges from amidst three chapters of genealogies. Many a new years resolution to read the Bible through has ended abruptly when encountering what appears to be an endless genealogy. Yet, Psalm 25:2 states clearly that it’s the Glory of the Lord to conceal a matter – but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. God conceals these hidden gems to see if those who are destined to be kings and queens in His Kingdom are willing to persist in the search for His hidden treasure. One pastor wrote that Jabez was the unknown who became well known.

Not only was Jabez a nobody, his birth and arrival was cursed by his mother, and his dad was non-existent. There wasn’t a blessing to be received from either parent. Chuck Swindoll, noted: The English rendering is Jabez, but the Hebrew is pronounced yah-betz (the second syllable sounds like the word baits.) His mother had the Hebrew word ah-tzav in mind when she chose her son’s name. The term ah-tzav refers to anguish, intense sorrow, or pain. To arrive at his name from the Hebrew word, you transpose two letters. So it’s a pun based on sound play. This would be like someone who hates cottage cheese, which is made from milk curd, saying, “I don’t prefer milk crud, thanks.” Somehow, his birth was associated with intense pain, though we have no idea how or what that pain might have been.

Jabez overcame, in spite of his curse, becoming a honorable man. Chuck Swindoll adds that: “The Hebrew word for honorable literally means “heavy.” We use that same concept in English when we say, “This is a weighty matter.” When used of a person, it conveys the idea that he or she is impressive or noteworthy.” What made him honorable or noteworthy is not specifically mentioned in Scripture. Yet, anyone reading this passage can see what is inferred: Jabez cried to the God of Israel,…In a polytheistic culture this was uniquely, and distinctly different from the average inhabitant of Canaan. Jabez chose Yahweh to be his God, and God chose to answer his prayer.

Jabez prayed a mountain shaking prayer. Filled with faith and desperation, he cried out saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request. In Jewish tradition the phrase, “your hand might be with me” when referring to God means that God’s protection, guidance, and support are with you. Essentially it signifies that you are not alone and God is actively involved in your life, providing strength and assistance. The “hand” metaphor represents God’s power and presence in a tangible way. What’s truly amazing about his prayer is that he was not born-again. He did not have the indwelling Presence of the Godhead living in him. He did not have the testimony of Jesus’ life, or Resurrection, yet he has the boldness to pray that God’s Power and Presence would be with him in a tangible way. Modern, western-minded, church attenders are typically waiting to die and go to Heaven in order to “know” God in a tangible way. Jabez was not having any of that. He was in pursuit of the “Prize” – the “Pearl of Great Price.” He refused to allow his circumstances, or the spiritual climate that surrounded him to determine the altitude he was desiring to ascend to.

Big things are made up of small things. Big destinies are typically shaped by small, ordinary, everyday choices – when nobody is watching and no one cares. BUT GOD. What little thoughts have you been having; what tiny choices have you been making? Are you willing to turn life’s stumbling blocks, and curses into stepping stones of advancing into the reality of God?


Set This Place on Fire!

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2 Timothy 1:6-7 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Elijah was a man on fire for God calling fire down from heaven. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were men who walked in the fire with Jesus and were not burned. Jesus is the Burning Man in the book of Revelation. The Upper Room saints, praying in agreement with the Word of God and the Promise of God, were set ablaze as the Spirit of God was poured out on them and they were immersed in the Holy Spirit and Fire. Yet, the Apostle Paul has never laid hands on any of us – so what chance do any of us have of stirring up a fire within?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-20 give us a clue: Always be joyful. 17 Continually be prayerful. 18 In everything be thankful, because this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. 22 Keep away from every kind of evil. ISV

This could be broken down into several directives: be joyful; pray continuously; give thanks continuously; do not put out the Spirit’s Fire – His Grace; do not despise prophecy; hold onto what is good; avoid evil. At the heart of this is a desire to be with Jesus and to host the Holy Spirit’s Presence. What seems to be impossible – like always being joyful and praying continuously – is made possible by two key factors: Holy Spirit and Rigorous Thanksgiving. If you are always giving thanks you have no time for anything that is not joyful. If you are always giving thanks you are continuously praying – because thanksgiving is prayer. If you are overflowing in all three you don’t have time for evil. In fact, I know from personal experience you are inclined to a holiness you can’t even imagine. When all of those factors come together – you become a fire – and there is no room for fear. Fear is the currency of Hell – while Faith is the currency of Heaven. (Just writing about all of this makes me smile).

The Contemporary Christian band, Third Day wrote a song years ago titled: Consuming Fire. Here are some excerpts from the song’s lyrics: Set this place on fire. Send Your spirit, Savior. Rescue from the mire, yeah. Show Your servant favor, yeah. Yes, our God, He is a consuming fire and the flames burn down deep in my soul. Yes, our God, He is a consuming fire. He reaches inside, and He melts down this cold heart of stone. Did you realize that inside of you there is a flame? Did you ever try to let it burn, let it burn, let it burn?

William Wood reminded us two weekends ago: “When you sow a thought – What does it reap? It reaps an action. When you sow an action it reaps a habit. When you sow a habit it reaps a lifestyle. When you sow a lifestyle it reaps a destiny. So there is a divine connection between what you are thinking today and what you are fulfilling tomorrow. Today’s thoughts are literally the prophetic voice of tomorrow’s destiny.”

What about you? What are you sowing into? What are you reaping? Are you fulfilling His Manifest Destiny for your life? Did you realize that inside of you there is a flame? Did you ever try to let it burn, let it burn, let it burn?

A New Normal

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2 Kings 1:7-10 The king asked, What was the man like who came to meet you saying these things? 8 They answered, He was a hairy man with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.9 Then the king sent to Elijah a captain of fifty men with his fifty [to seize him]. He found Elijah sitting on a hilltop and said, Man of God, the king says, Come down.10 Elijah said to the captain of fifty, If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty. And fire fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Years ago I was hiking above the mountains of Boulder, Colorado. As I looked to the south, towards the Pikes Peak – Colorado Springs region, I had a vision. In the vision I became aware that there was a showdown taking place between the true Followers of Jesus and the satanists that “coven-ed” (i.e., a coven of satanists) in that region. (Satanists and witches love high places). In the vision we had become an Elijah Company, challenging the satanists to call fire down from Heaven as Elijah had in 1 Kings 18 demonstrating Who was truly God. The reality of the vision scared me as I imagined myself being one of its participants.

In the passage from 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah was dying and had sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub whether he would live or die. Jesus used this title to speak of satan (most translate it as Beelzebul) prince of demons, or lord of the flies. What’s interesting is that the King asks the messengers who had encountered the prophet, What was the man like? The messengers, and king shallowly described the prophet by his appearance – not by who he was. Which was unfortunate for the king and the soldiers he sent to arrest Elijah. If they had been listening, and looking with spiritual eyes they would have quickly discerned this was the man who called fire to fall from the sky on a water-logged sacrifice, consuming it and the rocky altar it was placed on. This was the man who called for the slaughter of over 900 prophets and priests of two false gods. He prayed that it wouldn’t rain for three and half years and it did not rain till he gave the word. This was no man. He was the Man of God. John 18:4-6 records a similar situation when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion. When the temple police came to arrest Jesus, He inquired Whom they were seeking? They replied, Jesus the Nazarene. When Jesus said to them, I AM, they fell to the ground. It’s my opinion that they fell to the ground simply because they were well aware of this story, and did not wish to become a living sacrifice. In Acts 4, Peter and John were sequestered to appear on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin and interrogated by asking, By what sort of power or by what kind of authority did [such people as] you do this [healing]? Peter responded with such power that Acts 4:13 notes: Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Jesus said to His disciples, If you have seen Me you have seen the Father. The fullness of the Godhead dwells within you. What’s blocking others from seeing who Jesus is in you? When someone queries, What are they like? Will they describe how you dress, or your physical demeanor? Or will they recognize you have been with Jesus? Are you scared to be identified with the Elijah company or are you ready for that to be your normal – because you have walked with Jesus in the Fire?

Manifest Destiny

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Titus 1:3 And [now] in His own appointed time He has made manifest (made known) His Word and revealed it as His message through the preaching entrusted to me by command of God our Savior;…

When Christianity first began the followers of Jesus were mostly of Jewish descent yet there were those, numbered among them, who were Gentiles. Those Gentiles, or Nations, had no grid of reference for the teachings of Old Testament Scripture; no traditions, or holidays they could fall back on as reference points. When they came together to be taught it wasn’t to gather more information. They came together in order to be instructed in how to practice being a follower of Jesus. The Word of God had multiple meanings to them. The Book was more than just a book. It was a mirror of Jesus – the Living Word of God. It wasn’t simply a gateway to information but was a literal portal into the very worlds the heroes of the faith had experienced. What has happened to Christians that has reduced the Book to a collection of children’s stories?

Revelation 19:10 states: the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy…Prophecy was a world of words manifesting into a living, physical reality. The Testimony of Jesus, and of the Word of God, manifesting – being made a physical reality. When you take the time to consider that if you truly embraced the Testimony of Jesus – by faith, or anyone who had embraced His Testimony – you became a manifestation of that Testimony. You were born-again of the Spirit. Your spirit man came to life and you began to have the capacity for spiritual things. On the day you believed, and trusted, you heard God. I would dare say that on that day your spiritual senses were activated. Things that you thought you might have imagined were actual spiritual realities you slowly learned to dismiss.

In 1845 a newspaper editor by the name of John L. O’Sullivan coined the term manifest destiny describing the collective belief of many Americans. According to historian William Earl Weeks, there were three basic tenets behind the concept: The assumption of the unique moral virtue of the United States. The assertion of its mission to redeem the world by the spread of republican government and more generally the “American way of life”. And lastly, faith in the nation’s divinely ordained destiny to succeed in this mission. This belief led to the westward expansion of the United States into unclaimed territories. O’Sullivan believed that Providence had given the United States a mission to spread republican democracy (“the great experiment of liberty”). No where in the mind of any American was the thought of dedicating schools, teachers, and books to “learn” the meaning of this term. It would have seemed preposterous to any citizen or settler venturing out into the unknown, mysterious, untamed wilderness of anything west of the Appalachians or Alleghenies – to research the etymology of the phrase, or take a course on it in school. Absolutely not! For them it was a term that embodied what they believed and many would give their lives for. It was every individual Americans’ God ordained destiny to push forth into a manifestation of what they believed, and valued.

Followers of Jesus are called, and destined, to push forth into spiritual wildernesses to stake their claim on the land as their inheritance. The Word of God, and the promises of God, become their manifest destiny until it manifests as reality and they are living in and on that land. Once there was a time in the history of Christianity when the belief in Calvinism was so entrenched in the minds of believers that led them to assume some were destined to Heaven and others to Hell. Because of this belief, few if any practiced sharing the Gospel with others, and the taking of that Gospel to other nations was totally unheard of. Yet in the early 1700’s some Moravians became filled with the Spirit and were so moved that they sold themselves into slavery in order to finance their way to the mission field. It took another 100 years for this belief to spread in which Christians began to press forth into their inheritance and manifest destiny. The same could be said of being filled with the Spirit, Worship, the Gifts of the Spirit – tongues, healing, miracles, and discerning of demons. I can remember when raising the dead was unheard of and Bible believing Christians scoffed at the idea. Yet, he we are living in a time where we are encountering those who have not only raised one person from the dead but several. His Living Word pulsates all around you – if you believe that creation came into existence simply through His spoken Word and not a cosmic accident – waiting for someone to access the riches of it’s unimaginable Glory.

New York newspaper editor Horace Greeley once wrote: Washington [D.C.] is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country. Some One greater than Horace Greeley, the Living Word, stated: Therefore GO! Are you a classroom Christian theorist or a Manifest Destiny Explorer and Pioneer? Are you growing up with the Word – into the Manifestation of the Word?