Laboring….in the Harvest?

/in /by

Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Some time around 2002 I was meditating on this passage of Scripture and what the Lord revealed to me astounded me. So much so that I sobbed over the revelation. What would illicit such powerful emotion? In 1998 I had read a book entitled, Surprised by the Spirit, by Dr. Jack Deere. Through it I reasoned that it wasn’t right for me to remain in the denomination believing, and practicing things contrary to traditional expectations. Unbeknownst to me, at the time, the Lord had a different perspective from mine own. Yet I left, with no intentions of returning. Fast forwarding to 2001 I had a recurring dream, three times in a row, in which my Mom was waking me. Following the third, and final time, I simply prayed, Lord if you are trying to tell me something You need to make it clearer than this. And He did. He revealed that my Mom symbolized the denomination that birthed me and He wanted me to return. The revelation shocked, and startled me. After a great deal of prayer Jackie and I made plans to return – which was a miraculous event in and of itself. (I had a reputation for being charismatic) When I returned I kind of kept the things of the Spirit a secret, or some would say, in the closet. In other words I attempted to behave according to traditional expectations. All of this began to shatter when I went on a mini retreat to seek the Lord and He revealed to me the meaning of the aforementioned passage. When reading Scripture context is everything. For years I had missed the context of this passage thus missing the impact of Matthew 9:37-38. The context is revealed in the preceding passage headings beginning in chapter eight: Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy, The Faith of the Centurion, Jesus Heals Many, Jesus Calms the Storm, Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men, Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man, Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman, and Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute.

Matthew 9:36 is where the full impact of the context reaches a crescendo: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Mt. 9:36) Get this. The Chief Shepherd is in their midst and they are like sheep without a shepherd? How can this be? Jesus’ point isn’t that they don’t have a shepherd. His point is that He sees the need to multiply the shepherding, or in other words the shepherds or laborers. Is there a connection, hebraically, between the two words that would have stood out to the disciples? I decided to google it by typing, Is there a connection between the biblical hebrew words for shepherd, and laborer? Googles answer: Yes, there’s a strong conceptual link in Hebrew, as the root word for “shepherd” (ra’ah – רעה) also means to tend, feed, care for, or be a companion, which connects to the idea of serving or caring for others, though the specific word for “laborer/hired worker” (sakhir – שָׂכִיר) is distinct and often used in contrast to the selfless shepherd, highlighting themes of justice and contrast between paid work and covenant love. 

All the things the Chief Shepherd had done, from the beginning of chapter 8 of Matthew to the end of chapter 9, Jesus expected His little “shepherds” or “sheep dog – laborers” would do. All the things: heal, do miracles, cast out demons, raise the dead, teach, preach, calm storms, etc. ALL means ALL!

Why did I sob that day in 2002? I said to the Lord, Why do you keep showing me these things and I never get to see them happen? Six years later I witnessed the answer to that prayer. The Lord used me to perform a miracle for a Ukrainian woman who could only shuffle and drag her feet using a walker. After four attempts at prayer – she walked without a shuffle, and her daughter folded up that walker, hung it over her shoulder – and mother and daughter walked home rejoicing in God’s goodness. Jesus is looking for laborers, or under-shepherds, like Himself – who do what their Chief Shepherd does. Remember Paul’s words in Galatians? My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you,…(Gal. 4:19) Remember Ephesians 4:12-13? His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she “labored” giving birth to Jesus in being the handmaiden (bondservant) of the Lord. Paul labored until Christ was fully formed in the Galatians. Jesus is still laboring, for you and I in prayer, until we reach the fullness of sons and daughters of the Most High God; fully participating in His Father’s business. Are you laboring? Is Christ being formed in you? Are you manifesting the Son of God? Are you participating in being a manifest son or daughter of God? Have you answered the call? Are you an answer to Jesus’ prayers? Are you His under-shepherd, sheep dog?

Pregnant with the Holy Spirit? – Merry Christmas!!!

/in /by

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit.

Are you pregnant with the Holy Spirit? Mary was, and what was conceived in her was none other than Jesus. The Apostle Paul took off on the reality of this event stating, My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,...Galatains 4:19

Praise Jesus today that what has been conceived in you is by, and through the Power of the Overshadowing Presence of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God! Scripture says in James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. AND in 1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Today praise Jesus that Christ is being formed in you – in and by the Spirit, and Word of God!

Today, Christmas, Christ’s Mass or Eucharist, thank and Praise the Father for sending you His Son, and His Spirit, to reconcile you back to Himself; to make you at one with Him – in a moment! Thank Jesus for revealing the Father to you and baptizing and immersing you into the Holy Spirit. Thank Holy Spirit (He’s a person) – for revealing to you Jesus, teaching you the Word, reminding you of Scripture you have read, teaching you to pray, praying through you, discipling you, befriending you, telling you things to come, revealing Scripture to you, feeding you revelation – manna from Heaven, encouraging and exhorting you to grow in Christ’s image. Thank Jesus for the “breaking” of His Body, and the shedding of His Blood, by having communion with Him. Are you pregnant with the Spirit and the Word of God? Remember: Communion is more than a meal! It’s an invitation to open the DOOR! Open the DOOR to commune with Jesus.

Merry Christmas from Jackie and myself!!

Dream of Revival

/in /by

Before departing for Nicaragua I hammered out the blogs I felt the Lord had given me – scheduled to go out on certain days of the December calendar. Friday, December 19 I had scheduled a blog titled, “Tsunami of the Spirit?” to go out at 6:00 AM. Little did I know a week later (from my scheduling of this blog) that Rick Joyner would send out a Prophetic Bulletin titled, “Dream of Revival.” I didn’t get to read Rick’s prophetic bulletin until Monday morning and was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see how it coincided with what I had written a week earlier. The concluding lines of my blog stated:

I have seen the Father do quite a lot. From the Jesus Movement of the seventies and eighties, to the prophetic movement of the eighties, to the vineyard and renewal movements of the eighties and nineties – until now. Yet there has been a “holding back.” It appears to be the calm before the storm when a cataclysmic receding of tide empties the beaches of “water” for miles out to sea. Is this spiritual recession to be followed by a deafening silence? Is the world about to see a roar of the mighty, rushing Tsunami of the Spirit? Will it be climaxed with a mammoth sized, Holy Ghost wave of unforeseen proportions hurtling toward dumbfounded onlookers? What do we do? What can we do? Humble yourself and pray, “Lord teach me to ride this Wave of Your Holy Spirit!”

Why is this astounding me? Rick Joyner wrote: This recent dream I had was a prophetic update on that vision. I saw in the 1987 vision there would be two waves in which the harvest would come. The first wave would be the gathering of the laborers for the second wave, but this first one would be so great that many would think it was the final harvest that Jesus said was “the end of this age.” However, as stated, this first great wave of ingathering would be mostly the calling of the laborers in the true harvest that was coming in the second wave, which would be far greater. In this vision, I was shown that between these two waves there would be a lull in the ingathering so that those who had been brought to the Lord could be equipped and trained for their purpose in the next coming wave. As I was also shown then, not many would use this opportunity between the waves to equip their people for the next one, but it was coming anyway, and those not prepared for it would be swept away by it. We are now at the end of the comparatively quiet time between these waves. It feels very much like the time before the first wave broke upon the world with the collapse of the Iron Curtain. It seems as if the body of Christ is in retreat around the world now, but the greatest move of God there has ever been will soon break out upon the world. The first wave began just a couple of years after I had the vision of the harvest and published the book about it. It lasted into the first decade of the 21st century. There were countries where more people were being born again than were being born. At its peak, it was estimated that about four hundred thousand people were coming to Christ every day. In that first wave, countries in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and Eastern Europe experienced in twenty years more people coming to Christ than they had from the Day of Pentecost recorded in the book of Acts until that time. The world had never experienced anything like this before, but what is coming will make it seem small. This first wave changed the world and propelled Christianity to being the largest and fastest growing religion on the planet. However, it all virtually missed North America and Western Europe. The next wave will not.

Two things stand out to me regarding Ricks’ Dream: First, In this vision, I was shown that between these two waves there would be a lull in the ingathering so that those who had been brought to the Lord could be equipped and trained for their purpose in the next coming wave. Second, As I was also shown then, not many would use this opportunity between the waves to equip their people for the next one, but it was coming anyway, and those not prepared for it would be swept away by it.

Which group are you in? Have you been equipped to bring in the Final Harvest before the Return of Jesus? Or will you be part of the group that is swept away by this final, earth shaking move of the Spirit?

Tsunami of the Spirit?

/in /by

“Democracy is in jeopardy at this very moment, we are in danger of dictatorships in most countries of the world. Democracy as such seems to be breaking down before our eyes.” Sounds like something ringing from our headlines today. When was it spoken? May 24, 1978 by the great British preacher, Martin Loyd-Jones. he continued preaching stating, “And there are many other kingdoms that I could mention. Another was of course democracy. We were told that the ultimate form of government was democracy. We had got rid of oligarchies, we must get rid of monarchies and so on-and one is in great sympathy with most of these teachings and most of these ideas. Those terrible days of tyranny, of monarchs, of Lords in this country, people with power, money – power, landowners and others. Now, they said, we must get rid of all that. What we need is democracy, government of the people and by the people. This is the ultimate in government, democracy. But somebody said, well what if people do not agree? If you give power to the people what if people do not agree, what happens then? Ah, they said, everybody will respect the rule of law; that is an absolute. Of course if they do not respect the rule of law well then there is going to be a collapse. But everybody, they said, will respect the rule of law – so democracy is going to be the ultimate in society and it is coming in the twentieth century. What of this kingdom? Do you not read constantly of these dictatorships in various parts of the world, some of them on the right, some of them on the left?“

What was his core text? Hebrews 12:27 Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken—that is, of that which has been created—in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. These words echo a similar theme in Haggai 2:3-9 with some good news thrown into the mix: Haggai 2:3-9 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that?4 Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. 5 According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not.6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;7 And I will shake all nations and the desire and the precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.9 The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
Did you catch the final part of that passage? “The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former,…” The Wedding of Cana was a prophetic type, or symbol of the Last Days outpouring of the Spirit. In John 2 of the VOICE translation it states, Headwaiter: “This wine is delectable. Why would you save the most exquisite fruit of the vine? A host would generally serve the good wine first and, when his inebriated guests don’t notice or care, he would serve the inferior wine. You have held back the best for last.“ Peter referred to this last days Glory of God coming in his sermon at Pentecost when he said, But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.18 Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].19 And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor;20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes—that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned [day].21 And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord—Christ] shall be saved. Acts 2:16-21 In other words we haven’t seen anything yet. That’s almost hard to believe. I have seen the Father do quite a lot. From the Jesus Movement of the seventies and eighties, to the prophetic movement of the eighties, to the vineyard and renewal movements of the eighties and nineties – until now. Yet there has been a “holding back.” It appears to be the calm before the storm when a cataclysmic receding of tide empties the beaches of “water” for miles out to sea. Is this spiritual recession to be followed by a deafening silence? Is the world about to see a roar of the mighty, rushing Tsunami of the Spirit? Will it be climaxed with a mammoth sized, Holy Ghost wave of unforeseen proportions hurtling toward dumbfounded onlookers? What do we do? What can we do? Humble yourself and pray, “Lord teach me to ride this Wave of Your Holy Spirit!”

Hold Fast!

/in /by

A man fell off a cliff but managed to grab hold of a branch on his way down. He hung there and shouted up to the top, “Is anybody up there?” “Yes,” came the reply, “God is up here!” “Can you help me, God?” “Yes.” “What do you want me to do?” “Let go of the branch.” There was a pause. “Is there anybody else up there?” This humorous story is more truthful than many would like to admit for it illustrates our tendency to have faith in everything but God. Unfortunately for some He’s the last resort, or back up plan when all other resources have failed. It seems appropriate that the Apostle Paul was warning the Thessalonian Christians to make it a lifestyle practice of holding fast to God – first and always. Paul states, So then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions which you were taught by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

But why was Paul compelled to write such an exhortation? What compelled him? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 9-12 answers that question: But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren,2 Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God…..9 The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels—[all of them] lying wonders—10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.11 Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false,12 In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness.

What really got my attention at the initial writing of the last two blogs was that I had scheduled my blog scriptures to go out in sequential order. Old Testament, then New Testament, working through the books of the Bible and consecutive chapters, beginning with chapter one. The goal is to work through each chapter, from each book, until we have utilized the entire Bible. What’s interesting is that I scheduled these Scripture months ago. I had no idea that they would coincide with an Aliyah Readiness Drill in Israel, nor did I plan them according to prophetic themes. This is the order into which they fell. Is the Lord warning of something?

Going Up!?

/in /by

Israel 365 News recently posted an article entitled, “Israel Tests Its Readiness for Mass Aliyah Amid Rising Antisemitism.” The date of the article? November 28, 2025. What is aliyah? Aliyah in Hebrew means to “go up,” or “ascend.” “In Israel and Judaism it has two primary meanings: the immigration of Jews to the land of Israel, and the honor of being called up to read from the Torah in a synagogue. Both meanings relate to the idea of elevation or a higher spiritual or national state, making the move to the ancestral homeland a profound act of ascending.” The article continues by stating, “In a rare and crucial exercise, Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, in collaboration with the National Emergency Authority, ran a full-scale simulation in the city of Ramla to prepare for a mass influx of Jews fleeing global antisemitism. The scenario envisioned planes arriving one after another, packed with thousands of Jews desperately seeking refuge from security threats and escalating hatred abroad. Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people, would need to absorb and integrate around 10,000 new arrivals within two weeks—many with incomplete paperwork, some even lacking full eligibility under the Law of Return. The exercise, which took place in mid-November, tested Israel’s ability to handle a surge in immigration, forcing officials to simulate everything from airport handling and medical screenings to housing, food, schooling, and job placements. The goal was clear: ensure that Israel could effectively absorb waves of Jews fleeing hostile environments, much like it did in the past, but this time with lessons learned from recent crises.”

Why is this headline so alarming? Zechariah 2:6-13 Ho! ho! [Hear and] flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, and from the four winds of the heavens, for to them have I scattered you, says the Lord.7 Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon! 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after [His] glory had sent me [His messenger] to the nations who plundered you—for he who touches you touches the apple or pupil of His eye:9 Behold, I will swing my hand over them and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger].10 Sing and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord.11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger] to you.12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land and shall again choose Jerusalem.13 Be still, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused and risen from His holy habitation.

That word “Ho! is an exclamation to “listen,” the equivalent to our New Testament usage of the word, “behold.” There’s an urgency in the exclamation that means we need to look and listen with careful attention. Why should we pay attention? Jeremiah 16:14-16 prophetically warns of a day when, “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when it shall no more be said, As the Lord lives, Who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,15 But, As the Lord lives, Who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries to which He had driven them. And I will bring them again to their land which I gave to their fathers.16 Behold, I will send for many fishers, says the Lord, and they will fish them out; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and out of the clefts of the rocks.” I’ve been paying attention to the global rise of anti-semitism waiting to see if this prophecy is about to be fulfilled. The second largest concentration of Jewish people in the world is New York city – second only to Tel Aviv, Israel. Recently New York City elected a Muslim Socialist to be their mayor. Does anybody remember their history from World War Two? What was the full name of Hitler’s Nazi party? “The full name of the Nazi Party was the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). It rose to power legally amidst the economic crisis of the Great Depression, not through a coup. Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933, and the party quickly dismantled democratic institutions, creating a one-party state.” Does Israel know something we don’t?Is history about to repeat itself? Wake up! Look up! Watch and Pray!

Playing Marbles With Diamonds

/in /by

A story was told of a man who loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody named Guten-something had printed it.” “Not Gutenberg!” the book lover exclaimed in horror. “That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!” His friend was unimpressed. “Mine wouldn’t have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].

What do you value? What do you truly prize? How do you know what you truly value? A value isn’t a value unless it costs you something. Shane Snow, in an online article entitled, “Here’s How to Know if Your “Values” Are Really Values,” commented that, “Giving up our money is one ouch! we’ll endure to get something we care about. Or we might give up our time, our prerogatives — even our ego. Regardless of what we say, it’s what we sacrifice that reveals what our values truly are. To find out what you really value, ask yourself: What cost am I willing to pay for this?” We can say we value something but if it’s not part of our lifestyle then we really don’t value you it. If it’s something that sounds good to others and leaves a good impression, but my lifestyle – what I sacrifice my time for, what I invest in extravagantly, what I eat, sleep, drink, and wake up thinking about – is the opposite; then it’s not a value it’s an ideal.

Focus On the Family shares the following story: I was ministering in Vietnam in 1971, and one of my interpreters was Hien Pham, an energetic young Christian. He had worked as a translator with the American forces, and was of immense help both to them and to missionaries such as myself. Hien and I traveled the length of the country and became very close friends before I returned home. We did not know if our paths would ever cross again. Seventeen years later, I received a telephone call. “Brother Ravi?” the man asked. Immediately I recognized Hien’s voice, and he soon told me his story.  Shortly after Vietnam fell, Hien was imprisoned on accusations of helping the Americans. His jailers tried to indoctrinate him against democratic ideals and the Christian faith. He was restricted to communist propaganda in French or Vietnamese, and the daily deluge of Marx and Engels began to take its toll. “Maybe,” he thought, “I have been lied to. Maybe God does not exist. Maybe the West has deceived me.” So Hien determined that when he awakened the next day, he would not pray anymore or think of his faith. The next morning, he was assigned the dreaded chore of cleaning the prison latrines. As he cleaned out a tin can overflowing with toilet paper, his eye caught what seemed to be English printed on one piece of paper. He hurriedly grabbed it, washed it, and after his roommates had retired that night, he retrieved the paper and read the words, “Romans, Chapter 8.” Trembling, he began to read, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Hien wept. He knew his Bible, and knew that there was not a more relevant passage for one on the verge of surrender. He cried out to God, asking forgiveness, for this was to have been the first day that he would not pray. Evidently God had other plans. What his tormentors were using for refuse—the Scriptures—could not be more treasured to Hien. After finding the Scripture, Hien asked the commander if he could clean the latrines regularly, because he discovered that some official was using a Bible as toilet paper. Each day Hien picked up a portion of Scripture, cleaned it off, and added it to his collection of nightly reading.

What do you value? Do you treasure preaching, teaching, and the Word of God as if the words were from God Himself? Or is it just more rubbish to be tossed to one side, or stuffed in a bin of waste? Years ago, contemporary Christian artist Steve Camp wrote a song, titled, “Playing Marbles With Diamonds.” An excerpt from the chorus line drives home the point: Ah, there’s a whole lot more than preaching to the choir, Kneeling at the altar, or paying our tithe, we’ve been treating God like He’s happiness for hire, we’ve been playing marbles with diamonds…”

Loving and Hating

/in /by

Malachi 1:2-3 I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the Lord; yet I loved Jacob (Israel), 3But [in comparison with the degree of love I have for Jacob] I have hated Esau [Edom] and have laid waste his mountains, and his heritage I have given to the jackals of the wilderness.

If you are reading this for the first time it is really offensive. God teaches us to love Him, others, and even our enemies. Who gave Him a pass on hating others? Or is there another way to interpret this passage? Yes! We see the same teaching device used by Jesus in Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple. In this passage, what is known as a hyperbole is being used to teach the high cost of following Jesus. What’s a hyperbole? “Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.” They are exaggerated to make the point: the cost for following Jesus is costly. But what is God saying about Jacob and Esau? He is saying that His love for Jacob was greater than it was for Esau. In other words, His preference for Israel versus Jacob made His comparative love for Esau look like hatred.

But what was it about Jacob – the deceiver; one who seeks to take the place of through any means necessary; the manipulator, and liar – that God loved or valued? Surely, it wasn’t his character traits. The Bible makes no bones about it: He hates sin! If you have ever been repelled by how offensive the crucifixion of Christ was portrayed in the Passion movie then you get a small glimpse of how much God, the Father hates sin. It is offensive to some because it took an offensive act to take care of the offensiveness of our many sins. But what was God seeing in Jacob that clearly his brother Esau did not have? Jacob valued above all things the birthright of his older brother Esau. What was the big deal? The birthright was a gift of spiritual and material inheritance. Esau valued immediate, physical needs more than the long-term spiritual and legal blessings of the birthright, Jacob sought it for its spiritual, and covenant promise value. The birthright included a double portion of inheritance, leadership of the family, and the role of the spiritual head of the household.

Not only did Jacob value the birthright he also valued the patriarchal blessing due to the first born at the father’s passing. What was the significance of the blessing? The patriarchal blessing represented prophetic promises, blessings, and a significant inheritance from God. Jacob was willing to do whatever it took to secure those blessings. You see the same thing happening when Jacob wrestles with the “Angel of the Lord” (an OT manifestation of Jesus). He wrestled through the night til sunup to secure the blessing from this visitor in the night. Now do you see what God saw in Jacob? Do you see what He loved?

What do you value in life and what have you done to secure it? Are you more like Esau or Jacob? Mt. 6:19-21 states, “Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What gift can you give to an individual who owns everything? There is absolutely nothing you can purchase for them so what can you give them? The short answer? Yourself. Guess who God’s treasure is? You and I. How can you lay up treasures in Heaven? How can you lay before God that which is truly valuable to Him? We look for the treasures in others seeking to secure them for Jesus’ Kingdom. As the Moravians used to say, “For the reward of the Lamb and for His suffering.” Every person you have led to Christ; every person you have baptized or discipled; every person you have loved closer to Jesus – are the treasures you are laying before Jesus’ feet. One more crazy question, How many of these “treasures” will greet you when you enter through Heaven’s Gates?

Revelation 7:9 gives us a glimpse of that day: After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. How many people from the nations, tribes, peoples, and languages are there because you partnered with the Godhead in leading them there? I know I’ve got some there. Hallelujah! Do you? Imagine Billy Graham’s treasures. Whew! that will blow your mind. But guess what? In an interview on national TV, as Billy was getting older, he wept, confessing, “My life has been a failure.” If Billy Graham’s life is a failure we are all going to Hell.

It’s Not Complicated

/in /by

Colossians 2:6-8 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.7 Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

Juxtaposition is defined as the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. In the Scripture passage above you see just such an example. What are the two juxtaposing examples? Number one: Col. 2:6 “…[so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him…” Number Two: Col. 2:8 “See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).”

Can you see it? Put simply, the first examples’ emphasis is on being in union with Jesus – seeking to be conformed to Jesus – in every way. In other words in relationship. The second example, emphasizes philosophy, intellectualism, and tradition. In other words, “the elemental teachings of the universe” that disregard Jesus and His Word. If you can imagine a scale which weighs two objects. On one side of the scale is the King of the Universe, His reality, His Presence, His revelation and illumination. On the other side the philosophy, intellectualism, and the traditions of men. Which of the two sides of this scale carries the most weight for you?

I’ve got a confession to make. I am impressed by intelligence. It’s a weakness of mine that has often proven to be detrimental, especially in regard to ministry. I have a tendency to elevate it above the Holy Spirit and His Word. I’m like a fish attracted to a shiny lure, or a moth to a flame. At other times I can fall for physical appearance, or impressive talents. What does this divulge about me? This is the human condition. Yet, Paul warns the Colossian believers against it. He states in Col. 2:2-4 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.4 I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.

Did you catch what Paul wanted to see occur in their lives? That they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One)….With Who? Jesus! Why does he write this? “…in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.…”

Jesus warned us! Paul warned us – that the Last Days would be a time of great deception. Brothers and sisters we have arrived! With the birthing and dawning of AI we have yet to see how our culture, Christians, and the populations of the world are about to be exploited and deceived. Jesus warned that if these days had not be cut short that even the very elect would be deceived. In fact the exploitation is already occurring. Remember the subliminal suggestions we were made aware of in the 1980’s? Guess when they began to be used? 1957. Let that sink in. That was sixty-eight years ago. What’s available to them now?

What’s the solution? Know the Truth! He’s a Person. His Name is Jesus. Know the Word of God. Know the activity of the Spirit in your life. The fullness of the Godhead and the Word of God will not mislead you. Just be sure you take the full council of the Word of God. Be alert to the fact that when man has to reinvent terms the Scripture has been touting all along you can rest assured that the twisted complexities of our sin, defected soul is at work. Be alert! Be alert! Watch and pray isn’t a suggestion.

Overtaken

/in /by

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, “Where is Bannister?” As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, “If I hadn’t looked back, I would have won!”

The prophet Zechariah prophesies to the people of Israel to repent, turn to God, and learn from their spiritual fathers. He states in Zechariah 1:6 But My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not overtake and take hold of your fathers? So they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts planned and purposed to do to us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so has He dealt with us. What is he talking about? The “words” he refers to regards the predictions the prophets had made if the people of God did not repent, and return to God. Yet, they would not change their thinking. They would not change their lifestyle. They glibly spoke as if they heard the message but continued confident that tomorrow would never come. In other words, they failed to give careful thought examining their own lives in light of the Word of God.

Romans 1:24-25 the Apostle Paul spoke prophetically stating, “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it).” Over the years preachers, prophets, and pew sitting Christians have quoted T.L. Osborne who stated, “if God doesn’t judge America he needs to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Unfortunately, the truth isn’t that He might judge us. Presently, He is judging us. Just turn on the TV, or computer, tuning into the latest news and you will quickly discover our culture is unravelling. Saul Bellow has captured the spirit of our age well when he said, “But what is the philosophy of this generation? Not God is dead, that was passed long ago. Perhaps it should be stated, “Death is God!”

So what do we do? Assume the position? Bend over, grab your ankles, and kiss your bum goodbye? Absolutely not. The truly called preachers, and sidewalk prophets aren”t just preaching a message of doom and gloom, or some dark fatalism. No! They pray and trust the mercies of God. True prophets pray for the nation and people they are warning. Ezekiel 22:30 states, “And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” What does he mean by saying, “..build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land…”? He means He couldn’t find anyone to stand between the sinful, unrepentant hearts of the people of Israel and God’s looming, final judgment. Yet you might protest, “Robert I have tried that and it doesn’t work.” Let me ask a simple question, “When’s the last time you met for corporate prayer at your church?” I dare you to call ten churches and inquire when they have corporate prayer specifically interceding for the nation. Then ask, How many people attend the meeting and pray?

What do we do? Paul gives us a clue in Philippians 1:9-10 stating, 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best… D.A. Carson in his book, Praying with Paul punches us in the face with enlightening truth when he states, “But as one reads on, it becomes clear that, at least in this prayer, the love for which Paul prays is not an end in itself but a means to an end. Paul tells the Philippians that he prays that their love may increase “so that [they] may be able to discern what is best” (v. 10). So although Paul is here praying that the Philippians’ love may increase, that petition is so tightly cast with a different end, namely, that they may discern and approve what is best, that it is no less fair to say that Paul is praying for what is best, for what is excellent.” 5 He continues building his argument stating, “What is immediately clear, however, is that Paul’s prayer spells the death of entrenched mediocrity, of smug self-satisfaction, of contentment with our own excuses. Paul prays for what is excellent.”   Carson adds, “He prays that believers may discern and approve what is best, that is, that they may experientially test and thereby approve what is best.”  

This chapter, and these paragraphs in particular seem to crown Carson’s thesis. Carson correctly diagnosis the issue in the Western church. Metamorphically speaking I would say that the church as a whole has a “heart condition.” Utilizing Carson’s insights and the Apostle Pauls’ prayer we have become prayerless because our love has not “abounded more and more,” (Php. 1:9) and because our love has not “abounded more and more” we do not know how “to discern what is best.” (Php. 1:10) Praying is obviously God’s best in that true prayer is the profoundest expression of faith. We know from Hebrews 11:6 that we cannot truly please God apart from faith.”

How do we address the judgment of God on our nation? You can begin praying with the Apostle Paul that your love, our love, the American church’s love, my love – may abound more and more – that we all might discern what is BEST – namely that we might return to praying corporately.

The King Who Makes Your Bed?

/in /by

Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…”

When we were dead spiritually to the things of the Spirit and the Word of God – Jesus made us ALIVE by the Spirit. But how did He make us alive? How is He making us alive? Any quick read of Ephesians 2 will cause you to notice one common theme arising from Paul’s focus. What is that theme? – Eph. 2:5 “…[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).”

Eph. 2:7 “He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor)…”

Eph. 2:8 “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith…”

Grace is Paul’s theme, and it is Grace that saved us, is saving us, and will save us. But how would you illustrate this Grace? There’s a beautiful book I have been reading for seminary from the Puritan Classics (Puritans existed back in the 16th and 17th Centuries – think the Mayflower) entitled “The Blessed and Boundless God” by George Swinnock. Swinnock illustrates Grace in a beautiful way. In fact if you read and picture it carefully it should grab a hold of your heart – like it did mine. Swinnock writes, “We would think it a great grace…” Stop right there. We would think it a great grace if what? “For a human king… to take care of a poor beggar; to provide him with food, shelter, medicine, and safety; to supply him in all his needs, support him in all his weaknesses, protect him in all his dangers, and deliver him in all his distresses; to spread his table, provide his food, clothe his body, and make his bed; to protect him, counsel him, and assist him. The King of kings (to whom all earthly kings are but dirt and dung) does more than this!” Swinnock continues, “Oh what grace that the incomparable God (who has millions of glorious angels serving Him) should serve poor worms!” Imagine a king that makes paupers beds and spreads their tables. Is this even fathomable or possible?

What is Grace? Your King, the KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords – spreading your table? Making your bed? What kind of King is this? Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…” In other words this King wants to fellowship with us. This King – who spreads your table, and makes your bed – brings you into union, oneness, with Jesus. Everything that belongs to the King belongs to you; belongs to me. When a man marries a woman everything that belongs to the man now belongs to the wife and everything that belongs to the wife belongs to the husband (unless you have a “pre-nup”). When Jesus united you to Him – He “married” you. All your sins, shame, condemnation, failures, iniquities, transgressions, etc. – became His. But guess what? Everything that is His now belongs to you!!! His righteousness, His resurrection power, His innocence, His purity, His holiness, His Glory, His Kingdom, His dominion, His inheritance, this earth. EVERYTHING… belongs to all those who are in fellowship and union with Christ by the Spirit; by His Word; in and through His precious promises. That’s My King! As S.M. Lockridge once asked, “Do you know Him!?”

Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye and make you want to shout, I really don’t know what to do to help you. As the Apostle Paul added, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ….?” (see Rom. 8)