Posts

The Foolishness of God

/0 Comments/in /by

1 Cor. 1:27-31 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

Our culture, and humanity tends to gravitate to the strong, intelligent, talented, and beautiful people of the world. We value these things, celebrating them and paying big bucks to be entertained and impressed by them. But according to the passage above they are not usually God’s first choice. Can God use those people? Absolutely. But His track record from the Bible reveals time and again that He usually chooses the underdog.

Now one example of the “foolish” choices God made was in tasking a group of nomadic, ex-slaves to march around a city, blowing rams horns, and shouting to win a battle. Sure, we know from Scripture, the “Battle belongs to the Lord.” (1 Sam. 17:47) – but in everyday reality we tend to gravitate to the strong, intelligent, talented, and beautiful people of the world to save the day. God is not our first choice. And you can rest assured that the slim minority that believe Jesus actually communicates to them are oftentimes a little anxious about asking Him about His solution to the mountain of a problem they may be encountering. Why? Because they are a little fearful that He might ask them to do something that to a watching world isn’t going to be cool. It’s actually going to make them look foolish; make us look foolish; or make me look foolish.

But guess what? If you are in one of the groups above: foolish, weak, lowly, despised, unpopular, ugly, average, and not very talented – you are not only what God chooses, you are what God accompanies. The closest I ever feel to God is usually when I am at the low point of feeling like one of the above. Oddly enough, that’s when I see Him move on my behalf; when I see Him answer prayer. This is why God despises self-righteousness, or do it yourself righteousness. Why? It’s substitute righteousness. It’s replacing Him. It’s not humble, or teachable, and it’s definitely not meek. It’s full of SELF – not God. Self – Righteousness is Self-Powered. It is SELF – willed, and a self-willed person is the opposite of a meek person. Meekness is quite the opposite. The original meaning of meekness is drawn from the usage of bridles placed on horses. The horse is a powerful animal that has the potential to kill any man. Yet, this powerful animal willingly submits to the bridle often bowing its head to cooperate with its master. Could it be that’s why prayer is so important to the Lord? He’s looking for those who are wiling to bow their heads to their Master; to bow their heads in prayer; to bow their heads in willing submission to things that offend logic and reason. Could it be that’s why He leads us to do the foolish things to see if we will bow our heads in submission and trust?

What Jericho are you facing? Are you willing to inquire of Your Master? To ask for His strategy or plan to address your problem? Are you willing to bow your head and submit to your Master; to His strategy, and plan? Or will you find yourself with those who surely stood behind the walls of Jericho’s impenetrable fortress mocking?

The Mandate!?

/0 Comments/in /by

2 Kings 19:35 And it all came to pass, for that night the Angel of the Lord went forth and slew 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when [the living] arose early in the morning, behold, all these were dead bodies.

One angel of the Lord killed 185,000 men – single-handedly! But this wasn’t just any “angel.” He is designated as the Angel of the Lord. Many scholars believe He is the same Angel mentioned in Joshua 5:13-14 When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? 14 And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord’s host have I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What says my Lord to His servant? Now let me ask a silly question: Why would an “Angel” that can kill 185,000 men invite Joshua and the army of Israel to join Him and other angel warriors in “attacking” Jericho?

Part of the answer to that question is found in the original mandate given to Adam and Eve: Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. Genesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. Thus, God was leading Israel back to the original mandate: subdue, tend, guard, and keep. 

Mandate is defined as an official order or commission to do something; and the authority to carry out a policy or course of action; A mandate is the power granted to a person or body to exercise authority on various matters affecting a jurisdiction or populace. Thus, the original mandate given to mankind was to be involved in the specifics mentioned above. Through the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts, Joshua was being led to co-partner with the Armies of Heaven in the advancement of God’s Kingdom on earth. (Sound familiar?)

Ultimately, the Angel of the Lord and angelic armies did not “need” the assistance of Joshua and the armies of Israel. From the beginning of creation God had planned a partnership between Heaven and earth; between the “son’s” of Heaven and the “son’s and “daughters” of earth. What was God’s long range goal? Rom. 8:19, 23 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].…And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons). The “warfare,” trials, tribulations, and obstacles are what God, the Father, uses to mold us into our final destination: co-reigning and ruling with Jesus.

Several years ago I was doing a study of the Beatitudes and came upon the third beatitude: “blessed are the meek for they shall in merit the earth.” That week I saw Psalm 37 in a new light. Five times it repeats this promise: Psalm 37:9 ...but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. Psalm 37:11 …But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth….Psalm 37:22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth…Psalm 37:29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land….Psalm 37:34 Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land…

Exasperated I remarked to the Lord, I am not wanting to inherit the earth. I just want to be with You. His reply? In the last days where am I going to be? Startled, I replied, On the earth! Followed by, I want to inherit the earth and be with You! God gives us the “Jericho’s” to make us into sons and daughters who will co-reign with Jesus. Hebrews 5:8-9 states: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,…Jesus learned? Jesus was perfected? If Jesus had to go through these things should we expect anything less?

Some questions to ponder: Are you learning? Are you being perfected becoming like Jesus? Are you obeying while you are suffering? Will you be with Jesus when He returns to earth to rule and reign?

Who or What is Your Jericho?

/0 Comments/in /by

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho [a fenced town with high walls] was tightly closed because of the Israelites; no one went out or came in. AMPC

Jericho was the first fortressed city that Israel encountered in their advancement into the Promised Land. It was the first thing that stood between them and the manifestation of their inheritance, and their promises from God. And it was the first thing they were going to have to fight through to break through into all God had for them.

I don’t know about you but I hate conflict and confrontation. Unfortunately, it’s what all the saints of Jesus are called to. The Pre-incarnate Jesus is mentioned in Joshua 5:13-15 and He is described as a Man…with His drawn sword in His hand and Prince of the Lord’s host. King David referred to God, the Father as Lord of Hosts, or Lord Sabaoth, literally interpreted as Lord of Angelic Armies. If you consider yourself a lover and not a fighter – think again. You are called to both. Even the title assigned to Jewish people, Israelites, is an indicator of Jesus’ followers job description. If you remember, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, because he had wrestled with God and overcome. In other words, Jacob had to wrestle or “fight” God for the blessing.

Jericho was tightly closed because the Prince of Heaven’s Armies, as well as His warriors, were just outside its walls. Now that is an interesting thought. Jericho being tightly shut because King and Warrior Jesus, and His people, are just outside getting ready to conquer and cause its walls to fall in submission, and surrender.

But here’s another thing to consider: In the spring, when kings go forth to battle,….2 Samuel 11:1. In Biblical times wars were going to be fought in the spring time. Guess what? Not a whole lot has changed. Ecclesiastes reminds us that To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:…(Eccl. 3:1) We are presently in one of God’s Biblical seasons. There are seasons, or cycles of manifestation, or mountaintop highs, and then there are seasons, or cycles of wildernesses, or valley lows. And presently, we are in a season, or cycle of warfare – spiritual warfare to be more exact. But there’s a sad verse that follows 2 Samuel 11:1 and its this, One evening David arose from his couch… (2 Samuel 11:2) HIS COUCH? What was David the giant-killer, lion smashing, bear stomping warrior of God doing on a couch? He was sending others to battle. He was being tempted to lust after his next door neighbor’s wife. It did not end well for David. It’s true All things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) but that doesn’t mean you are going to be unscathed by the poor decisions you have made.

Why do I bring all of these things to your attention? Because now is time when you are called to battle for what God has promised you. In this season, who or what is your Jericho? Who or what is tightly closed to you because you brought Jesus to the fight? Is your Jericho a person, a circumstance, a healing, or a broken-hearted hurting? Is your Jericho an unfulfilled promise or prophetic word you have yet to see manifested that was given years or decades ago? What would happen if you listed those and presented them to the Lord as something to fight towards, and for? What would happen if you got off the “couch” circumstances have assigned you and began to thank God for the unseen as if it is seen?

You might be tempted to think, Well I’ve been dealing with this for decades; I’ve been waiting for the manifestation of this promise for decades. But let me ask you a question, Have you waited for 40 years? Wilderness, wandering Israel had. Have you waited as long as Jesus? He’s still waiting on the Father to answer some of His prayers. Besides, what other plans do you have? Get off your “couch of resignation” and armor up for the fight. We just celebrated Jesus’ fight for our salvation. Fight from victory not towards victory. If you are fighting for victory you have already lost the battle. You aren’t fighting from a place of faith but from unbelief. Ask forgiveness for that and press on. Stand up in and through the finished work of the Cross and Resurrection. Put your trust in His Blood and begin to rigorously give thanks for the unseen as if it is seen.