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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?

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)

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Throughout the years of ministry I have sought to teach followers of Jesus their Hebraic roots and their relevance for today. Often, and ignorantly, I will hear statements like, “We are not under the Jewish Law.” or “Are you trying to “Judaize” us?” or “Are you trying to make us Jewish?” Their comments expose an ignorance of God’s Word and the inadequacy of their partnership with the Spirit. (He really is our Teacher)

Born-again, followers of Jesus believe the Bible is God’s Inspired, Authoritative Word. It is the bedrock, and foundation of the things we believe and practice. With that in mind, we hold the tension between no longer being bound by the Old Testament Law – and our freedom purchased from it by Jesus’ sacrificial, Blood. Yet, though we have been set free from the keeping of the feasts, festivals, sacrificial law, and dietary restrictions – there are principles contained in its teachings that still apply. (The Ten Commandments are part of the Law. Yet, we still practice their teachings) Case in point, true, born-again, followers of Jesus believe He is returning to earth to reign a 1000 years. We believe this because Jesus taught it, and Old Testament prophets affirmed its inevitability. Regarding this time the prophet Zechariah wrote: Zechariah 14:16-19 And everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths.17 And it shall be that whoso of the families of the earth shall not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up to Jerusalem and present themselves, upon them there shall be no rain, but there shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite the nations that go not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.19 This shall be the consequent punishment of the sin of Egypt and the consequent punishment of the sin of all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

During the Millennial (1000) Year Reign we will observe and keep the Feast of Sukkot, (Tabernacles, or Booths) and make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts. (All followers of Jesus look forward to that wonderful day) During the month of September or October, a sukkah, or temporary shelter is erected in front of the entrance to our church. And over the years, Crystal Brown, and others have gone about the business of decorating it – for all to see. We do this as a testimony of our belief that Jesus is returning to earth – to tabernacle, or make His permanent home with us. John alludes to this in his gospel account: And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. John 1:14 AMPC

In 2022 The Pew Research Group survey of Americans revealed a surprising 55% of adults, including three quarters of Christians, say Jesus is returning. Pew Research observed: Respondents who said they believe Jesus will return to Earth were also asked how certain they are that this will happen during their lifetime. One-in-ten Americans say they believe the second coming of Jesus will definitely or probably occur during their lifetime, 27% are not sure if Jesus will return in their lifetime, and 19% say the return of Jesus will definitely or probably not occur during their lifetime. That’s a considerable amount of people. Sadly, of those Christian respondents, how many are actually cognizant of the Old Testament prophecies that testify to the fact that we will celebrate this Biblical Feast with Jesus? Are you ready?