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Tailgating

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For many fans of organized sports the term “tailgating” evokes images of stadium, or arena parking lots. Truck tailgates, or car trunks are dropped or popped open for the purpose of grilling, barbecuing, and consuming favorite foods and beverages. Family, friends, and die hard fans usually don their favorite teams’ jerseys, while proudly displaying accompanying colors as expressions of loyalty. What’s really interesting is that the term and practice of “tailgating” can be traced all the way back to the Civil War. Believe it or not people would bring picnic lunches to watch blue and gray uniformed soldiers kill and maim each other – for entertainment. Coincidentally the term has also been borrowed to describe another “war” which is not so civil that occurs on streets, roads and highways throughout the United States. Obviously, this alternative usage describes the practice of not leaving sufficient stopping distance between a driver and a car being followed. This creates the possibility of a collision if the followed vehicle stops suddenly. Often the offending drivers vehicle is used as a weapon to bully, or punish the slower driver into surrendering a coveted lane. (Remember the archaic, “regulatory” signs: PASSING LANE ONLY?) Ultimately the polite message was and still is, MOVE IT or LOSE IT! The not so polite message is usually accompanied by hand waving, vulgar gesturing, and, or blaring horns.

Last night while driving home I experienced this “pastime” firsthand. (No, I didn’t drop the tailgate of my truck and grill some brats and burgers). As I sat at a red light a driver – who needed corrective lenses, or a sobriety test slowed his vehicle within inches of the rear bumper of my truck. Once the light turned green I accelerated to the posted speed limit (suggested limit?) – generously exceeding it by five miles – discovering my actions were not sufficient. The bullying continued, while not so civil images danced through my mind like a barrage of cannon balls and firing muskets. Somewhere in the midst of my fantasy civil war reenactment a still, small, GENTLE Voice spoke: But one thing I do – forgetting what is behind…Which reminded me of another passage, Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your Law and NOTHING shall offend them. Ouch! My Commanding Officer was reminding me to let go of what offended me – from behind – and to cease and desist from watching life go by in the rear view mirror turning my attention and focus to what really mattered: His Presence, Peace, and Kingdom. Do you love His Law, His teaching and instruction? Do you have His Peace or is your offense looming larger than His Presence?

Aiming to Please

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C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”

C.S. Lewis echoes the Apostle Paul when he stated that if we have really been born-again of the Spirit, our aim, or life’s focus, will not be on this earth – but on the things of Jesus’ Kingdom. Colossians 3:1-2 If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

What are you aiming for in this life? What do your activities, and energies spent reveal? What do your fears reveal – about this life and the life to come? What do your fears reveal about who or what you really place your trust?

Confession & Declaration 38

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1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!

I remember back in the 90’s I would make reference to this Scripture and the people I was preaching to would look at me like I had grown a third head. We can banter about why this passage of Scripture has been ignored all of these years but what needs to be asked is, “Has true, Biblical Christianity, been replaced with something less revolutionary?” My answer to that question is, “Absolutely!” We rarely blink an eye when we discover that the first believers were called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) and the full implications of that designation. You can imagine the average pew sitter in America replying, “Yeah! So what?” Let me say it in a way that awakens you, “You are Jesus.” Now people’s feather’s begin getting ruffled and they begin thinking you have asked them to saddle up to a trough of poison flavored, Kool-Aid. Now I am not suggesting that we take Jesus’ place but what I am saying is that the modern day Church has lost sight of what we have actually been called to be and do. Let me explain it in a way that you can swallow, or drink it in (Don’t worry – there is no poison in these words). John 14:7-9 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him.8 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father—that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. 9 Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father?

Jesus is making the assertion that He and the Father are One. If you have seen Jesus you have seen the Father. But let’s take this a step further. John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

This passage of Scripture is stating that If we really love Jesus we will do what He says (Sadly, that’s revolutionary enough for some church-goers). If we do what He says then the Father and Jesus will come to us and make their home with us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. If we are temples, then we are homes. And if we are both Who is residing on the inside?

Most would have no problem with that assertion when connected to the exhortation learned when we first trusted in Christ. For many a pastor, or Sunday School teacher would ask, “Do you want to invite Jesus into your heart?” But here is where a profound truth has been buried. Adding the Scriptures together we’ve discovered that if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. The Father and Jesus are building their Home and Temple in our houses, and temples. But the sum total of that equation is: If you’ve seen me – you’ve seen Jesus! If you’ve seen me – you’ve seen the Father. Now that is like a punch in the face. It exposes so many things. It exposes our unbelief. Our lack of experience of this truth as a reality. It exposes the impotent, water-downed version of Christianity that we have been espousing. See the truth of the matter is this, If we are struggling with this foundational, fundamental truth – why would any believe that Christians were made for judging angels?

But let us broaden our gaze and take a look at the bigger picture. Before 100 AD the New Testament Church had grown so exponentially that there were very few citizens or slaves in Rome who had not become followers of Jesus Christ. The government determined that this “cult” must not simply be suppressed but totally annihilated from the known world. They enacted wholesale slaughters of anyone suspected of being a believer. Men, women, and children were rounded up tortured, and killed in horrible, unimaginable ways. But even the threat of suffering, torture, and death was not enough to suppress it. Now imagine that you are the devil and you see this insurrection going down in the world you are the prince of. What are you going to do? What can you do to stop this? It took you some time to recognize that this was the very method that you used to crucify Jesus, and look at how that turned out. So you’ve got to come up with a better plan. Something more subtle, but effective. And he did. In 320 AD, the Roman Emperor, Constantine, made Christianity the state religion of Rome. That was the beginning of the downhill slide of true, Biblical Christianity. Pagans, and unbelievers began joining the ranks of those who had been born-again of the Spirit resulting in the Church, and her message being watered down, and diluted.

Before this time killing Christians was a spectator sport that filled the coliseums. After this royal decree Christianity, and the Church, was reduced to a spectator sport. The Goats, champions of the soulish, or carnal man, took the reigns of the Church, suppressed the sheep, and exalted the intellect over the spirit of man, and the Holy Spirit of God. What was once an army composed of life- surrendered, death-defying, soldiers was now reduced to luke – warm, half-hearted, C- Team bench warmers.

Why is this truth – you will judge angels – a threat to the devil of hell? How do you use this to overcome the accuser of the brothers? Because it exposes the truth that you were made for more than just looking at the back of somebody’s head. You were made to co-reign with Jesus. You were made to judge satan and all his demons of hell. You were made to have dominion and authority over – even them. Can you see why satan has buried this truth? That you were made for more than this life? We have been taught that the final destination for all saints is Heaven. That is not true. That is not Biblical Christianity. You were made for more than a “retirement home” in the sky. You were made to be with Jesus – to be like Jesus – to do the things Jesus did and is still doing. You were made for co-reigning with Jesus and defeating the enemy.

Declaration 38: Father I come before You today asking Your forgiveness. Forgive me for accepting these lies from hell. By Your Grace and Holy Spirit rise up in me that I may become the little Jesus You destined me to be. Give me grace to shake the dust off of this nonsense, and begin loving You and Your Word, doing what it commands. Grant me Grace, to align my life completely with Your Word, so that when people see me – they see You, and the Father. Thank You Jesus, for this amazing gift of Salvation! You truly have made me for more than going to church. You’ve made me the Church to be the Church – the Body of the Resurrected Jesus! Thank You Jesus, that the same power that raised You out of the grave is at work in me – conforming me into Your Image. Thank You Jesus, for Your Precious Word, and Holy Spirit, Who brings its words to life, and brings me to life. Thank You Jesus, that I’ve always known I was made for more. That I’ve always known that their is a destiny and purpose for my existence. Thank You Jesus, for the day we get to line up beside You, and judge the devils of hell who tormented us; who attacked and betrayed us; who lied and deceived us. Thank You Jesus that we get to bring down the wickedest empire of all empires through the Revolution of the Kingdom of God! Thank You Jesus, that this Kingdom resides within me. Your Home is inside of me. I am Your Temple, Hallelu- Jah! Thank You Jesus, for the Blood! Thank You for the Blood! Praise Your Name for the Resurrection Power that courses through my veins! Hallelu- Jah! Hallelu- Jah!