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Confession & Declaration 33

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Romans 8:29 NLT For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 2:11 NLT So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

The take away from both of these passages of Scripture is that Jesus is our brother. What’s more profound that that? You’ve been adopted…. by the Creator of the Entire universe. Ephesians 1:5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

In one of the past confessions and declarations we discovered that we are co-heirs with Jesus. Now in hindsight I should have covered this topic first – then expounded on the fact that as adopted children we now have an inheritance. But I digress. My hope is that you are seeing the interconnectedness of it all. Paul refers to it as the Great Mystery of God (“mega – musterion” or the “musterion basileia ouranos” = “Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven“). The Great Mystery is that through Jesus, the Father is getting the Forever Family He’s always wanted. On top of that? He’s rolling back the clock of the restoration of all things – or former things. The former things are going to become new – again. In other words: He’s not just getting the old band back together again; the duet singing group of Adam & Eve. Nay, nay, nay. He is building a “Von Trapp Family Singers Group.” You know, “The Hills are alive with the sound of music,” and “doe, a deer a female deer, ray, a drop of golden sun,” and so forth. (Now you are going to be humming that song all the live long day). Our Father is putting together a new band – a family band. And Guess what? Jesus has the lead vocals.

As sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve – through Jesus, we get to pick up where our grandparents left off. We get to inherit the Father’s business, and co-reign with Jesus.

Another thing we need to understand and receive is that Jesus is our Elder Brother. Now that is pretty powerful. I don’t know about you but I did not grow up with an older brother. I was the older brother and I had a younger sister. One thing I can tell you about that relationship is that we had a typical brother and sister relationship. We loved each other, but boy could we have some arguments. But here’s the thing: it was one thing for me to get angry at my sister – but you had better not mess with my sister. Or it was going to be a really bad day.

Which reminds me of a dog we had for over 15 years. Her name was Maggie. Near the end of her life we got her a companion friend – we named Toby. Maggie and Toby were as different as night and day. Maggie was the elder dog, more Grandma than Mom, to our puppy Toby. And as dogs go, and especially as puppies and elder dogs go, Maggie had to “school” Toby in knowing his place. Which often wasn’t pretty. Maggie was a quiet, shepherd mix. Yet she was quick to put you in your place with her ferocious bark. Which, as you can imagine, was used quite frequently, on the white, spunky, cockapoo puppy, Toby. As Maggie grew older though, she developed hearing loss, dementia, and a little blindness. What’s amazing is that little Toby became her eyes and ears. Jackie tells of a time when she was out walking the 2 dogs, and a bigger, more aggressive dog went to attack Toby. Guess what happened? You guessed it. Maggie came to Toby’s rescue. She was quick to get between Toby, and the aggressive dog, taking an agressive stance, with hair raised, and teeth clenched, growling, and snarling. (You know who won that battle). Funny thing is that Maggie expressed her pride, and confidence through her tail. The happier and more confident she was the tighter her tail would curl. After that throw down, Maggie’s tail was wound tight with delight. She showed the other dog who was boss. It was as if she were saying, “I can bark at this dog – but not you. This is my dog! So back yourself off to what ever hole you crawled out of.” What a crack up.

But here’s what you need to get: Jesus is your Elder Brother. He’s your “Maggie” and you’re His “Toby.” You belong to Him and anything that attempts to get between you and Him – is going to have a really bad day. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and as C.S Lewis states in the Chronicles of Narnia, “He’s not a tame lion.”

Declaration 33: Lord Jesus, my Elder Brother, Who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! I praise Your Name that You are not a tame lion. You are wild at heart, untamed, and extreme – going beyond what is usual and expected. Hallelu-Jah! Thank you for adopting me into Your Forever Family and making me Your own. Thank You that through Your Blood and Body You get between me and the enemy. Thank You that You let him know that I am Yours, and he can’t have me. You are my Big Brother – what can satan or man do to me? Thank You for restoring all things and re-forming me into Your image. Thank you that I have overcome the roaring lion, satan, by the Roaring Lion of the Lamb of God. Thank You that You are my Lion, and I, Your Lamb! Thank You Jesus! I praise Your Holy and Wondrous Name!

Suddenly?!

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Yesterday’s service was a reminder of all the many blessings that God gives us usually when we least expect them. They come upon us suddenly. In Psalm 40:1 David writes, “I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 23 has David walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Yet repeatedly circumstances will be turned for the better as the one who placed their trust in God is delivered. Psalm 23: 4-6 continues with: Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

In spite of the threat of the SHADOWS of death Jesus, His Shepherd, is with him. You may be tempted to say, Now hold on a second Robert. David didn’t know about Jesus. I beg to differ. For in Psalm 22 he saw His crucifixion and in Psalm 110:1 he wrote: The LORD said to my Lord sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool. David, the “sheep,” knows to look for the Table the Lord had prepared for him in the midst of his enemies. (Just a thought but in the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan is slain by the witch on a stone table) David realizes goodness, mercy, and unfailing love are following him and have his back. For Jesus, His Shepherd is Goodness, Mercy, and Unfailing Love. Psalm 40 goes on to say: I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.2 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.

The surprise of Psalm 40? Psalm 40:7-10 Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart.9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly [tidings of uprightness and right standing with God]. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.10 I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not hid away Your steadfast love and Your truth from the great assembly.

The Surprise is Jesus. The One Who came in the Volume of the Book. How “loud” was that Volume? Isaiah 48:3 I have declared from the beginning the former things [which happened in times past to Israel]; they went forth from My mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass [says the Lord].

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

Luke 2:13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,..

Even Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was described as a suddenly: Acts 9:3 Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him,…

The Volume from that Book came loudly and suddenly. The month of November should be a month of Thanksgiving for all of the “suddenly-s” the Lord has brought our way and all the “suddenly-s” that are yet to come. Our church has been so blessed by the Lord with “suddenly-s” in growth, in financial provision, healings, miracles, salvations and answered prayers. Take special time this month to remember the blessings and provision of God. There are so many that they far outweigh the bad. And remember the warning in Mark 13:35-37 Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming—in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning—36 [Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep.37 And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!

Be alert, watching for the suddenly-s.” May He find us watching and thankful – always.

The Last Battle

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Friday, October 25, 2019

What’s a Christian fanatic? Can a person survive after being set on fire? Is it possible to be on fire but not consumed?

When I was a younger man I couldn’t stand fanatics. That is until I became one and realized that a fanatic was simply someone who loved Jesus more than I. After encountering Jesus I wanted to change that – but how? 

Numbers 14:44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country; however, neither the ark of the covenant of the Lord nor Moses departed out of the camp.

In this passage the Children of Israel had listened to the report of the spies who had gone into the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua had faith for the promises of God, whereas the rest of Israel chose to believe the bad report. As a result they were condemned to continue wandering around the wilderness till they died. What’s really sad is that after they receive this rebuke and condemnation they presumptuously chose to go up into the “heights” of the promises. Unfortunately, presumption never secures the promises of God leading to destruction and ruin. 

It’s interesting to note that the Mountain of God went by two names: Horeb and Sinai. Both names were used for the same Mountain. For years I puzzled over the meanings of the two words. I discovered Horeb means the “sword that brings desolation” whereas Sinai means the “one on fire.” While seeking to wrench some meaning from its symbology I finally reached the end of my mental, or soulish abilities. Instead I chose to seek the Lord in prayer regarding it’s mysteries. As I sought the Lord I reached the conclusion that the two names were symbols of our two natures: Horeb, the older name, referred to our Soul Man, whereas Sinai, referred to the younger, Spirt Man. Which should cause us to ask: Do I want to live my life according to Horeb, the “Sword that brings desolation?” IN other words, Do I want to live a life that leads to “destruction, and judgment” or do I want to live my life according to Sinai? Do I want to become like the “One on Fire…but not consumed?” If you would recall that the burning bush of Moses was located just at the foot of this Mountain. Here Moses observed a bush on fire but not consumed. At the end of Revelation we discover Jesus as the Burning Man – on Fire but not consumed. (Revelation 1)

As we come to the base of God’s Mountain we have a choice to make. Which mountain will we choose to ascend? Scripture repeatedly asks, Who will ascend the Mountain or Hill of the Lord in Psalm 15, and Psalm 24. Yet in Isaiah 2:3 the unanswered question appears to be answered as the prophet observes: And many people shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law and instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

What changed? What changed was that only One was worthy to ascend the Mountain of the Lord – only One. Jesus, our Conquering King, ascended the Hill of the Lord and made the way for us to follow into the Throne Room of God’s Presence. We must remember that there are only two ways to ascend. The first path is very wide, and popular. It is motivated by the presumption of the soul – mind, will, emotions and personality. From this path presumptuous souls assert themselves in the hope that somehow they can come into the Presence of God through knowledge, will power, sentiment and emotions. The personality of self- focused, self-centeredness asserts, and flaunts itself before a Holy God condemning itself to a life of separation from God. Fortunately God has made a way to the top of that Mountain through the Burning Man – Jesus. It’s path is narrow, and few find it. It’s not very flashy or popular. On the surface it appears to be insignificant, and can be easily overlooked. Yet through living a life in pursuit of Jesus we discover that this path is the greatest of them all. Here we face His Fires consuming our self-centered, presumption. Here we watch as our souls squirm, and struggle to be wrenched free from control. Yet here on His “Cross-Path” we may stumble, and even fall, but His Rock Strong arms are always there to lift us up, encouraging us to ascend higher. Blazing love beckons to us to progress from walking to running, to soaring on eagles wings. And why wouldn’t we? Who can resist the Eyes of the Blazing One – the Lover of our souls calling us higher, and higher. As C.S. Lewis wrote in the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now…Come further up, come further in!” This truly is the battle of the last days.