JUNIOR DESOUZA MINISTRIES
Psalm 121:1,2
Junior's Teachings
Is Cosmetic Surgery A Sin? (July 23, 2008)
The Rainfall Makes The Riverflow (July 8, 2008)
Visionary Mapping (July 3, 2008)
Parenting 911 (June 23, 2008)
Looking For An Opening: Entry Strategies (June 15, 2008)
Possessing The High Place (June 5, 2008)
Thou Shalt Enjoy Life! (June 2, 2008)
The Prophet's Wilderness (May 19, 2008)
Faithful, but not Fruitful (May 8, 2008)
Authentic Masculinity (Apr 27, 2008)
Legislating Second Heaven (Apr 19, 2008)
The Gift of Discernment (Apr 14, 2008)
The Anatomy of Addiction (Mar 30, 2008)
Pregnant with Twins (Mar 27, 2008)
Satan's Four Eschatological Structures, Pt 2 (Mar 19, 2008)
Satan's Four Eschatological Structures, Pt 1 (Mar 15, 2008)
Black, White, & Gray (Feb 19, 2008)
Forgiveness...can I truly forgive? (Feb 13, 2008)
Protect Your Identity (Feb 2, 2008)
Is Cosmetic Surgery A Sin?
Opening Statements
Many Christians long to know what the Lord really thinks about cosmetic surgery and medical enhancements. A good number silently wonder, though, reluctant to voice such questions for fear of branding as "superficial" or "worldly". And, this is not an exclusively female concern, as many Christian males silently contemplate hair replacement, muscle implants, botox, and other works. Remember Absalom? He was the most beautiful man in all of Israel, yet his soul was as dark and demonized as could be. He plotted the murder of his own godly father, King David, led a nationwide coup d'etat to accomplish it, and committed sexual sin in broad daylight for the entire nation to see (2Sam 14:25, 15:1-14, ch 15-18). Flawless externally, repulsive internally. 1Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:10, and Revelation 2:23 tells us God prioritizes motive over behavior. He does not ignore behavior, rather, He prioritizes motive in His evaluation of behavior. This is a hard concept for some to digest, but one that is crucial to our understanding of Jehovah. Humans are limited judges, seeing mainly external behaviors that can be measured (words and actions). It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to identify motives; not to mention, such an endeavor is risky. God prizes purity and integrity of motive. The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart! James 4:1-3 says God would lavish many good gifts on us, but sometimes puts our blessings on pause because of wrong motives in us that must first be rectified. Then He will un-pause their delivery (1:17). Another principle that must be mixed in the blender is that of sound financial management. Several scriptures show that God values this (Lk 16:10-12, Pr 21:20). He wills that we manage our resources in a way that meets our needs, blesses others, and funds the kingdom. It is not acceptable to apply money to a temporary enhancement while withholding money from that which can permanently change lives in Christ. On the other hand, if a Christian has their financial priorities in order, and has sufficient supply to fund the physical enhancements, Scripture affirms the attainment of personal desires and rewards (Deu 12:20-22, Ps 20:4,5, Jn 15:7). Therefore, the question to ask here is, Have I been faithful to biblical financial priorities? Am I financially capable of allocating money to cosmetic work? Some physical changes people desire can and should be attained by modifying our lifestyle. Scripture emphasizes a healthy lifestyle, or as some call it, divine health. Some Christians use and abuse plastic surgery much like they do miraculous healing...instead of learning discipline and diligence to cultivate healthy habits, they run to the doctor or the prayer line to get "fixed" instantly. This is why many Christians do not get healed miraculously. It is not because of faithlessness or because God took a power nap after the apostles died. It is because He is wanting us to create the changes ourselves through a healthy life. This is the law of sowing and reaping God Himself established. By consistently sowing healthy choices we can reap a healthy and reformed physique. Many people, Christians included, are running to liposuction and tummy tucks instead of conquering laziness to change their body the responsible way. Therefore, the question to ask here is, Can I create the same physical changes in a non-surgical way, by improving my lifestyle, eating, and activity level? Am I exploiting cosmetic surgery and seeking the easy way out? Would God rather me change my physicality through discipline and diligence? Some Christian philosophies degrade the body as being entirely evil and unimportant. This is only partially true. The body is corruptible (2Co 4:16), unredeemed (Ro 8:23), inferior to our spirit (Php 3:21), and cannot produce salvation (Jn 6:63, Php 3:3). However, it is not unimportant or irrelevant. In fact, Scripture affirms several ways in which the body is important and relevant for earthly life.
The extreme answers of ultra-conservative Christianity are hard to take seriously, always inventing one more thing Christians "should not" do, as if kingdom life is a list of Cannots, Do Nots, and Should Nots. The extreme permissions of liberal Christianity are equally non-credible, as if kingdom life is a boundless free-for-all charged to a grace Mastercard. Thankfully, the wisdom of God is not found in such bi-polar rationale.
Scripture reveals the general will of God, so we must plumb it carefully for answers. Since it does not directly address cosmetic surgery as such, we have to collect all the relevant truths, principles, and doctrines, then harmonize them responsibly to establish legitimate options. O nce biblically-legitimate options are established, the Spirit's personal guidance will lead each individual into selecting the best choice for their life.
Many people desire cosmetic enhancement to "fix" blemishes and defects in their soul. Their inner life nags and hurts. To them, physical beauty is the external solution to an internal problem. Just the opposite...it is the soul that needs surgery and not the body!
Contemporary culture has enshrined physical perfection, and why? To sedate a deeper desperation for healing, peace, fulfillment. Proverbs 19:22 (NIV) says what a person ultimately desires is unfailing love, not physical perfection. Therefore, the question to ask here is, Am I trying to create a perfect body to attain a perfect soul, or rather, to fix a broken soul? Even if the answer is yes, this does not reveal cosmetic surgery to be sinful. Rather, it reveals the person's priorities to be misplaced. Were the Christian to rectify this and reprioritize their values, yet still maintain a desire for cosmetic work, other principles would have to be considered.
Therefore, the question to ask here is, What are my deepest and truest reasons for wanting cosmetic work, and have I shared them honestly with God in prayer? Those motives may be positive, negative, or neutral. More than Jehovah is preoccupied with external enhancements, He is concerned with our deepest becauses.
First of all, our body is the jar of clay by which we hold and express God's treasure (2Co 4:7). It can be trained and habituated to become an instrument of righteousness (Ro 6:13, 1Ti 4:7). It can illustrate spiritual truths (Ro 1:20). When healthy, it can make us live longer and more enjoyably, "lengthening our days" and invigorating us with vibrancy. When beautified, it can open doors for us like Esther and David (Est 2, 1Sam 16:18), or create social influence for us like Absalom (2Sam 14:25, 15:1-6), or enhance our sexuality (SS 1:15,16); all this because man favors the outward appearance (1Sam 16:7). Therefore, the question to ask here is, Can cosmetic work somehow enhance my earthly life, or certain areas of it?
The Rainfall Makes The Riverflow
Hello overflowing church!
The Water Cycle
The water cycle is simply the circulatory process water goes through in the earth's atmosphere. The cycle has four essential stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and dispersion. Evaporation is when the sun heats the water on the earth's surface, causing it to vaporize and rise to the skies as water vapor. Condensation is when this rising water vapor rematerializes into water droplets, or clouds, in the sky. Precipitation is when enough water vapor has rematerialized and accumulated in the clouds, overwhelming it with moisture, therefore releasing rain back down to the earth. Dispersion is when this rainfall overflows the rivers, and as a result, the rivers disperse or distribute their water all over the earth through streams, tributaries, and creeks.
The Spiritual Water Cycle
For this to make better sense, let's walk through the spiritual water cycle backwards.
Dispersion John 7:37-39 says the Spirit inside us is like a river that flows and overflows. In other words, He disperses His living water all over the world through us. And that's what we want more of, powerful flow and overflow everywhere we go. Precipitation For riverflow/dispersion to happen, there must first be precipitation. Spiritual precipitation, that is. Isaiah 44:3 says when the Spirit manifests His presence upon us, it is like rain falling from the heavens. Remember our statement, the rainfall makes the riverflow. This is from Psalm 65:9 (NKJV): You visit the earth and water it...the river of God is full of water. The context is literal, referring to the physical, but the imagery is imported to the spiritual in other passages. Consequently, the Spirit is likened to a riverflow (Jn 7:37-39) and a rainfall (Isa 44:3).
Let me flesh this out a bit more. Occasionally I come across a Christian that says, "Junior, I want the Spirit to use me in greater and more powerful ways, but how do I get Him to do it? My response is always the same: "The rainfall makes the riverflow. If you want the Spirit's river to overflow through you in amazing ways, you have to constantly be in His rainfall. Do you spend quality time daily in the rainfall of the Spirit?" Their answer is usually the same: "Sometimes...occasionally...I'm pretty busy...It's hard for me to get up early..." To which I reply: "Rainfall only happens when there is evaporation."
Visionary Mapping
Thank God for maps!
Recently, while in Colorado with my parents, I came upon a new appreciation for maps. My mother had just accepted a teaching position at Air Force, so I tagged along to move her in and cheer her on. As we entered Colorado Springs, though, we got lost. Thank God for maps! After analyzing the city map, we were able to find the right road and direction that led to our destination. I remember announcing to my parents, triumphantly, every approaching crossroad and landmark, assuring them we were right on track. I was amazed at how this piece of paper, this map, could tell us what to expect next, could assure us we were on the right road to our ultimate destination. Then the Spirit turned my light on with two words: visionary mapping. As I pondered this phrase, I began to understand a massive spiritual truth in new dimensions.
A visionary map is the spiritual equivalent of the physical one. It is a God-given mental overview of our ultimate destiny, and, all the smaller destinations along the way. This is what it means to live by vision, for without vision we perish, or get on the wrong road to the wrong destination (Pr 29:18 KJV). With visionary mapping, the Spirit periodically overviews our distant and immediate future to us (Jn 16:13, Isa 46:10), creating a maplike overview in our mind. Such divine previews enable us to live at an altered state of confidence and conviction, regardless of contraindications from within or without.
For example, I know my own ultimate destiny, the pinnacle of Junior's life purpose. However, I also have several smaller destinations that I must reach before I can ever fully actualize the big one. My ultimate destiny and all the smaller ones along the way combine to form Junior's visionary map. This "map" provides a mental overview I can chew cud from until it materializes in reality. It dictates all of my relationships, surroundings, and decisions, for they must accommodate and harmonize with my map. This provides tremendous protection and direction. It also provides restful simplicity. It is how God keeps us on the path of divine destiny.
We see visionary mapping in David's life. His ultimate destiny was to be king of Israel (1Sam 16:1-13), however, he had several minor destinations along the way. He spent time as a psalmist for King Saul (16:14-23), a military commander (18:5), a leader of four-hundred disenchanted (22:2), a cave-dweller (24:3), a servant-soldier for King Achish of Philistia (ch27), and others.
As you and I read First and Second Samuel, we see a hindsight overview of David's life. Visionary mapping, though, is David seeing a foresight overview of his own life. He foresaw his ultimate destiny as king, as well as the minor seasons and destinations along the way. Generally speaking, he knew what was next, what to expect, and this reassured him he was on the right road, though it be rocky and rough. He had a divine map for his own future. David himself alludes to this: he guides me in paths of righteousness...He will instruct him in the way chosen for him...lead me, O LORD...lead me in a straight path...lead me in the way everlasting (Ps 23:3, 25:12, 5:8, 27:11, 139:24).
We can and must download our life's map from heaven. However, this depends almost entirely on our daily intimacy with Jesus and our consumption of Scripture. The closer a person walks with Jesus, the clearer and more specific their visionary map will be. Their distant and immediate foresight will be more detailed and more accurate. Those that walk inconsistently or half-heartedly with the Lord will not enjoy clear visionary maps, or the blessings they secure. Parenting 911
Children conform to what they see and hear repeatedly. They live by a subconscious premise that dad and mom are gods. Every touch is felt twice as deep...every word replayed twice as much...every absence languished twice as long. Walk gingerly!
People recreate their parents' relationship in their own romantic life. Of course, this is not always true, but it happens enough to constitute a predictable trend. Girls drift toward boys that reflect their father/father-figure, boys drift toward girls that reflect their mother/mother-figure, and both sexes drift toward a relationship that mirrors their parents'. Scripture alludes to this phenomenon as generational impressioning, and can be used for good or evil. Consequently, the first and greatest impression parents must imprint on their children's tabula rasa is a wholesome and fulfilling marriage. When spouses consistently treat one another with deep love and respect, the child's imagination previews what he can recreate for himself. If you don't graphically define romantic love for your children, Desperate Housewives will.
TIPS: Show affection around your children. Let them hear you say "I love you" and "You mean the world to me" and "You are an amazing husband/wife" and other verbal strokes. Have weekly dates and explain to them what and why. Defer to one another in the little things, like handing over the remote control or relinquishing the thermostat (kids notice all this). Do not dispute in front of them. Never jokingly embarrass or belittle one another. Most importantly, let them see you praying and seeking Jesus together, as a couple.
Genesis 1:27 states that, from within Himself, God made two separate human genders. Together, male and female would comprise and reflect His total image. God is capable of both fathering (Isa 9:6) and mothering (66:13), of steadfastness (40:10) and sensitivity (v11). (NOTE: God nevertheless defines Himself in the masculine, as "Father" and "Son" and "His Spirit".)
We need both male and female traits, then, to be whole and balanced like our Creator. This does not minimize gender, for gender dictates which sex will be dominant and definitive in our psychobiology. It does, however, call us to a practical gender-balance. For example, extreme maleness detaches a person from sensitive qualities--how many unfeeling and non-nurturing people do we know? These people have overdeveloped maleness and underdeveloped femaleness (like Jezebel). Likewise, extreme femaleness detaches a person from steadfast qualities--how many spineless and exploitable people do we know? These people have overdeveloped femaleness and underdeveloped maleness (like Ahab).
Gender is our God-given psychobiology, gender-balance is a practical fluidness to move back and forth between sensitivity and steadfastness. A gender-balanced person is functional in both male and female nuances, yet lives primarily through their God-given gender. King David is probably the best example in all Scripture of a gender-balanced person. He showed amazing fluidity to be both sensitive and steadfast, yet was unmistakably a man's man.
TIPS: Sensitivity By example and entreaty, motivate children to share their feelings and become comfortable with heart-talk. Validate and reward them verbally when they do. Help them see that "stuffing" is harmful, as is communicating only from the head. Encourage them to listen to others with empathy and validation. Affirm their tears and encourage them to cry when necessary. "Strong people don't cry" was born in a satanic strategy meeting somewhere in Plasticville. Jesus wept often (Heb 5:7). Develop their physical affection by being affectionate with them. If you are not affectionate for personal reasons, resolve it and become affectionate. Hear that dads? Steadfastness Let them see you standing and speaking against evil and injustice in appropriate ways. Have clear moral principles on which you will not vacillate, and motivate them to do the same. Make hard decisions with their knowledge (when appropriate), explaining what and why. Help them ignore their feelings and do what is best when the two are in conflict. Show them that knowledge and wisdom are the essence of strength (Pr 24:5), and a strong backbone comes from a strong mind. Therefore, read around them, to them, and with them things that have value and substance.
Just as each child has a God-given gender, so also each child has a God-given personality, or unique self-expression. Personality can be quantified to a degree. Gary Smalley has done a good job for the church in simplifying and Christianizing the four basic personality types. After all, God Himself has four basic attributes from which the four personality types flow (Gen 2:10, Eze 1:10, the four gospels, etc.).
It is important to emphasize, however, that within the four arch-types there are idiosyncrasies and subtleties unique to the individual. In this way there is no one in the whole world like us! Each of us is truly a divine masterpiece! Parents are not to create "mini-Me's" of their children. The tragedy with life after The Fall is that children were fashioned in the image of their parents (Gen 5:3), instead of the image of God (v1). Every child is carrying a unique expression of God in them, fearfully and wonderfully fashioned by the Maker's brilliance. Parents are to do anything and everything they can to let their child's divine personality breathe and blossom. You may not know what it is, they may not know what it is, but neither of you will ever know what it is if you force a duplicate of yourself on your child. They are your child, but they are not you!
Ephesians 6:4 commands parents, at the father's pilotage, to raise children in the training and truth of the Lord. This command fascinates me, since genuine godliness cannot be imposed or forced (1Sam 8:1-5). Therefore, parents are to train their children in godly habits, in the hopes and prayers that one day they will embrace it in their heart. Note the difference in habit and heart. Parents cannot do the heart part. Only the Holy Spirit and the child's own freewill can give godliness an everlasting home in the heart. By developing godly habits in your children, though, you are making it much easier for them to one day embrace it as their own.
Some sidenotes. First, children are more likely to embrace the Lord if He is presented to them delicately. Fear, guilt, and coercion produce temporary compliance, but permanent rebellion. Secondly, children are more likely to embrace the Lord if they sense "it works" for their parents. Children are irrational, yet highly practical, they think in terms of toys and objects. They will evaluate your God, then, by how well He works--like a toy. Parents, does your relationship with God "work"? Are you positive and optimistic? Are you selfless? Are you honest? Are you inspiring? Even children can x-ray hypocrisy.
TIPS: Train them to elevate Scripture. Saturate your home with verses (Deu 6:6-9). The Spirit will pull your children's eyes to a certain verse at just the right time to create a personal experience. When discussing Scripture, don't preach at them, use personal testimonies (Ps 78:4) and creative parables (v2,3) that arrest their imagination. You'll have plenty of opportunities to discipline with the Word when they test your authority. Train them to pray and worship daily (Col 4:2). Don't push them, simply place them in the Presence and set the example.
Train them to honor all legitimate authority (Ro 13:1-7). Train them to have integrity (1Chr 29:17 NIV, Jer 17:10), not perfection. Train them to give freely (Lk 6:38). Train them to admit fault and failure humbly (Jas 5:16), and to forgive from the heart (Mt 18:34,35). Follow the Spirit parenting through you.
Many good, even godly, parents stumble here. Godly training is central, but it won't cook you dinner, do your laundry, iron your clothes, get you in shape, balance your checkbook, give you good hygiene, charm you with social skill, or teach you other practical life skills.
Scripture calls for excellence in basic life skills. Solomon said "ointment and perfume delight the heart" (Pr 27:9 NKJV), praising hygiene that welcomes. He also said, "Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil" (Ecc 9:8), praising clean clothes and good self-presentation. Jesus echoed Solomon, even while fasting (Mt 6:17). Proverbs urges sound money management (Pr 21:20), graceful social skills (Pr 12:18, 15:30), and diligent work (Pr 12:24, 21:5). Parents, then, are responsible for tutoring their kids in all these. Children well-schooled in this regard have high self-efficacy to manage the housekeeping side of life well.
Those who relate with the wise become wise, but those who relate with fools suffer (Pr 13:20). Psalm 101 is an excellent passage about prioritizing good and godly relationships, while distancing from harmful ones. Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians and us that bad company corrupts good character (1Cor 15:33). Ecclesiastes 9:18: ...one sinner destroys much good. Parents have the calling to maintain wholesome company themselves, then educate their children to do the same.
For several years I did youth ministry. The cycle was predictable and frustrating: a young person would catch fire for the Lord, walk with Him for a time, then start deteriorating spiritually as they prioritized negative relationships over wholesome ones. To be blunt, many Christian parents are flimsy in this area. To not alienate their children, they become invertebrates, spinelessly indulging their kids' destructive "friends" and romantic choices. After children become independent adults, they are free in God's sight to make their own choices without parental endorsement. However, as long as they are under the parental canopy, parents are under Scriptural orders to sift their kids' relationships for them, even more, to educate them thoroughly on the whats and hows of wholesome company.
Children yearn to know their living perimeter is secure. Because of their smallness and lack of resources, they inherently sense their own vulnerability. Consequently, their eyes look intently to mom and dad for insulation and safeguard. When they perceive their living environment is secure, they settle emotionally and gain the ability to trust. Ultimately, they transpose this trust onto God, believing He can secure just as mom and dad did. Children need to feel safe to develop well. Unsure children turn into unsure adults, constantly looking about, obsessing that fear and danger loom around every corner.
TIPS: I urge parents to do whatever necessary to create security in their children's living environment. An alarm system? Sensory lights? Watchdog? Moving to a new location? Having an emergency action plan? Important phone numbers? Verbal reassurance? Different families will need different solutions, but find them! Tighten the security of your child's environment, and they will learn to trust in you, and one day, in God. Jerusalem was God's holy city and dwellingplace, yet even it had citadels, watchtowers, ramparts, and high walls (Ps 48:12,13). Why is your child's dwellingplace any different?
Proverbs 13:22 says, A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. Proverbs 19:14 says, Houses and wealth are inherited from parents. Familial inheritance is something long lost in many contemporary Christian circles. In biblical culture, parents were responsible for accumulating and reserving a material inheritance for their children, even their children's children! This is tough meat to chew for many American Christian parents. Let's look at Scripture.
TIPS: Proverbs 13:22 and 19:14 presuppose financial/material prosperity. For, parents cannot take out a financial/material inheritance for their children if they are impoverished or barely surviving. Now let me be very clear: I am NOT a believer in this greedy, materialistic, hyper-prosperity theology that many are chasing. It is simply Christianized materialism. Having said that, understand there is a consistent biblical truth that places financial capability with God's people (Deu 8:18, 28:12, Ps 112:3, Pr 3:9,10, 8:18,21, Ecc 2:26, 5:19, Mk 10:29,30, 1Ti 6:17, 3Jn 2). If you do not believe it, pray for it, and strategize for it, how will you ever prosper enough to leave an inheritance for your kids? Start believing, praying, and strategizing about how you can access God's financial inheritance for you as a Christian and Christian parent. Your signature strengths, talents, and gifts are a good starting point (1Sam 16:18-22). So is giving consistently (Pr 3:9,10).
Finally, just as children evolve into adults, so also parents must transition fully through parental roles and stages.
Role 1: The Controller This is the "do-don't do" stage of parenting, which covers babyhood, toddlerhood, and childhood. During these years parents essentially "control" everything pertaining to the child. They monitor and micromanage them closely, constantly saving their life!
Role 2: The Authority This is the "coaching" stage of parenting, covering pre-pubescence and adolescence. An athletic coach does two things: establishes/enforces the team's playing system (boundaries) and encourages player creativity and autonomy within that system (freedom). So also parents "coach" their children during adolescence. They are to establish the system by setting clear boundaries and defining their authority (like curfew times, hang-out locations, friend requirements, media allowances, personal health, and so on); and, they are to allow much freedom and flexibility within that system. It's also like shepherding or herding. The shepherd fences in his pasture, setting boundaries the animals cannot exceed. Within those boundaries, though, they can roam and graze as they please. This stage redefines the parental role from total control to general authority, allowing the child to practice life and individuate in safe pasture.
Role 3: The Friend This is the "co-equal" stage of parenting, and covers adulthood. This is where parents fully recognize, in word and deed, the independent adulthood and co-equal friendship of their child, celebrating their child's launch into adultness. The total control stage of childhood is expired, the general authority stage of adolescence is expired, and now the friend stage is in effect. Many parents extend stages 1 and 2 into their child's adulthood, attempting to "fix" certain past parenting mistakes. Doing so invites tension, disorder, even demonic antagonism, as this is not God's blueprint. If parental mistakes are perceived at stages 1 and 2, ask God to fix it. Be humble and make restitution if necessary and possible, but look ahead toward His restoration. Transition!
Looking For An Opening: Entry Strategies
The Call To Enter
Jesus told the church at Philadelphia: See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut (Rev 3:8). Though the nature of that door was unspecified, we are told that an opening, and an implicit call to enter, was presented to the Philadelphians.
Our entire Christian lives demand habitual entry into God-ordained places. Like the Philadelphians, God calls us to enter, and more importantly, to find the opening. Psalm 105:13 says Israel went from place to place on their journey to the promised land. These places progressively lead to our destiny too. They cannot be skipped or sidestepped, for, at each place, we lose a bit more of what we do not need and we gain a bit more of what we do.
These "places" can be just about anything: a relationship, job, wisdom, opportunity, financial state, geographical location, power, freedom, a personal desire--anything. Keep that broad definition in mind; place is simply a word picture. As we commune with God daily, He will illuminate our next place to us and calls us to enter.
Keyholders are golden. They are door-openers, people God has set in our life to give us entry into our next place. After being emotionally debilitated for many years, the Lord sent an amazing Baptist pastor into my life. Not only did he bring me life-changing healing through his personal friendship and ministry, he also financed my professional Christian counseling and ongoing discipleship for over two years. I was needing entry into a place of emotional wholeness, and this pastor was God's keyholder. Those years were the single most important years of my Christian life.
Some entries require keyholders. Find God's keyholder. Oh yeah, one more thing...your keyholder may the last person you want it to be. God won't change your keyholder to accomodate your issues--change your issues to accomodate your keyholder.
David sought entry into Jerusalem to capture Zion (2Sam 5:6,7). The problem is, it was heavily guarded by the Jebusites. Direct entry was impossible, he had to use a type of "back-door". That back-door was a water shaft that secretly led into the city (v8). David exploited it and entered. Joshua's two spies sought entry into Jericho to survey it (Jsh 2). However, Israel's military reputation preceded them, causing Jericho to be on code-red alert. The spies certainly could not enter the city as such, they needed a back-door. That back-door was a prostitute named Rahab (v1). They went to her and entered in.
God sought entry into Gentile high places with the gospel. He needed a back-door, so he let his evangelists get arrested as criminals (Mt 10:18). Not pleasant, but nonetheless a back-door entry. Similarly, God has been seeking entry into Muslim nations for many centuries. Many of these nations have been tightly shut to Christian influences. Recently however, the Lord has found Himself a back-door through sports, internet, and television. Over 600 Muslims are now being saved daily.
Some entries require back-doors. This is mainly true of places that are heavily guarded by demonic watchmen and human obstacles. Ask the Spirit to show you the back-doors and underground water shafts. In other words, how can you enter indirectly, undercover, disguised? Once you're in you're in, the Lord will sort things out from there.
"The Providence Strategy"
Providence refers to God's unconscious guidance of mundane events. Providential events are subtle and seemingly normal, yet their orchestration can only be attributed to God. For example, meeting a certain person, stumbling upon an unexpected opportunity, a timely song on the radio, visiting a church and hearing exactly what you need, and so on. Providence unconsciously places us at the right place at the right time. Such events seem to be part of life's ordinary flow, but a closer look reveals God pulling strings behind the curtain. Some entries require providence to create an opening.
Jacob sought entry into a marriage with someone within his larger family system (Gen 28:1-5). He journeyed to Paddan Aram, a totally foreign land to him. How would he find his relatives? A wife? He trusted God to providentially pull strings and move pieces. Sure enough, Jacob walks right into an amazing scene filled with divine fingerprints (29:1-12). He entered in. Isaac also sought entry into a marriage. His story in Genesis 24 also centers on providential happenings, giving him entry into Rebekah's romance. The first seven chapters of Esther contain perhaps the greatest examples of providence in all of Scripture. Because of it, Esther entered the palace as queen, the Jews entered deliverance, and Mordecai entered honor and recognition.
"The Personal Quality Strategy"
Esther sought entry into a marriage with Xerxes. God gave her a personal quality that could create her own opening--physical beauty. She developed it and wielded it. Thus, her gift opened her way and she entered (Est 2). David sought entry into Saul's service. God gave him personal qualities that could create his own opening--musical talent, speaking ability, and physical beauty (1Sam 16:18). His gifts opened a way and he entered (v21,22). Paul sought entry into the apostolic circle (Gal 2:1-10). God gave him a very unique apostolic quality (Gentile frontrunner), which the other apostles quickly recognized (v7-9). His gift opened a way and he entered.
Some entries require that we develop and wield our God-given personal qualities to enter. What personal quality, grace, strength, talent, or skill do you have? Your gift might be the very thing God wants to use to open your door. Present it confidently if it be so.
"The Conflict Strategy"
God sought entry into Philistia in Samson's day, for they were ruling over Israel. Scripture makes a fascinating statement (Jud 14:4): ...the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines. God was looking to pick a fight! He wanted entrance into Philistia (through a person) to break their back from within. Direct provocation was the only way in. Samson was raised up for this purpose. Most of Israel's promise land entrance happened in this way, through direct military conflict. 1Corinthians 11:19 is very enlightening concerning this: No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. Some levels of public favor can only be entered through direct conflict with others!
Some entries, then, will require such interpersonal battles. Ecclesiastes 3:7,8: ...a time to speak...a time for war. This does not mean being rageful, hateful, or unChristlike. It does mean some entry points are guarded by difficult people, and those difficult people have to be contended with and nullified head-on. Rebuking spirits won't do much good here, because it is a difficult person that must be contended with. Not all difficult people are demonized, some are simply emotionally troubled by lingering issues. There is a way to have social conflict that is straightforward and bold, yet Christlike and non-personal (Ac 15:2). Someway, somehow, such conflicts either change the door-blocker for the better or remove his ability to continue blocking your entry.
"The Wisdom Strategy"
This strategy is the polar opposite of The Conflict Strategy. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego sought entry into Nebuchadnezzar's service. The only way they could enter was if they displayed superior wisdom that could somehow benefit the king. In other words, they needed to have multiple streams of functional intelligence that could enhance his administration's effectiveness. And they did (Dan 1:17). Because of it, "they entered the king's service" (v19). Similarly, Joseph sought entry into his destiny as ruler of Egypt. His entrance strategy? He displayed superior wisdom (Gen 41:39,40).
Wisdom is the missing link to success for so many people, leaders, ministries, organizations, nations. There is position and power and talent, but none of it will fly or fly long or fly high without wisdom. Wisdom opens many God-places. Ecclesiastes 7:19: Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city. Wow! Even if a person does not have the actual gift of verbal wisdom (1Co 12:8), if it is required for entry, God will stream it to the persistent seeker (Pr 2:1-6, 8:17, Jas 1:5).
Solomon contrasted wisdom, war (The Conflict Strategy), and entry. Ecclesiastes 9:16,18: Wisdom is better than strength...Wisdom is better than weapons of war. There is a time to enter with war and conflict, and a time to enter with wisdom and diplomatic intelligence. David entered many places through war, and Solomon entered many places through wisdom. Entering with wisdom is the ideal or "better" (less messy), but entering with war is the occasional reality. You and the Spirit figure it out.
"The Environment Strategy"
Sometimes the opening is an environment. If we just get in this or that environment, we will enter our next God-place. I have seen this strategy so clearly in my own life. I was a professional soccer player. However, my entry into that place did not happen until I changed my playing environment. I needed to leave the youth team I was playing for in a small and limited city, and play for a youth team that had excellent players and pro-level coaches. Within three years doors were opening for me to play pro.
I also see this dynamic at work in ministry. Many aspiring ministers have God-dreams of great influence and broad ministry. At the same time, many of them are unwilling to leave their current spiritual environment and relocate to a richer one where openings would appear left and right.
Part of David's destiny was to be an unbeatable warrior. To enter, he needed to relocate into Saul's service where he could develop in such a thick military environment. He changed environments (1Sam 16:14-23, 18:2), developed quickly (18:5), and entered his God-place (18:13,14). In some situations, the entry is in a certain environment. Find that environment, get in it, and the opening will appear.
Israel sought entry into the promise land. Before advancing on Jericho and the rest of Canaan, God required them to be consecrated and circumcised (Jsh 5:1-8). Afterwards, they entered in. Psalm 118:19,20 connects consecration and entry: Open for me the gates of righteousness...This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter (underline added). Isaiah 26:2 says the same: Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith (underline added).
Some entries require a greater consecration. Our current level of godliness is less than the place we are entering, therefore, we must grow in godliness to gain entry. The gate of the Lord opens to the righteous! Repent, make restitution, change, break the habit, seek and give forgiveness--clean house!
"The Humble Service Strategy"
David sought entry into Philistia to escape Saul (1Sam 27:1-4). Yes, the same Philistines that David killed ten thousands of (18:7, 29:5). To gain entry, David humbly served King Achish in any way he could (27:5,12), even fighting for him (29:1,2,6). Jesus mentioned The Humble Service Strategy in Luke 14:7-11, telling us to gain exaltation and entry by assuming the lowest place of humility and servitude.
Some entries require us to go low. We must be willing to humble ourselves as low as necessary to get in the door. A famous Christian leader tells her story of entering her teaching ministry. After approaching her pastor with the desire to teach, he told her to clean the church bathrooms. He gave her more menial responsibilities that tried her humility. After passing them all, she was given a teaching role at her church, and eventually, the world. Try going in low!
Israel sought entry into the promised land via the Jordan River at flood stage (Jsh 3). It was an impossible task on every level, only a genuine miracle from heaven could get them across. God intervened, and His hand stopped the rushing river so the people could cross over on dry ground (v15-17). Israel sought entry into Jericho (Jsh 6). It was an impossible task on every level, only a miraculous intervention from God could accomplish it. By the descent of God's hand the wall collapsed, and Israel entered (v20). God Himself sought entry into the earth as a God-man to accomplish redemption--an impossible endeavor on every level. Only a miracle. The Holy Spirit supernaturally impregnates a virgin by which perfect Divinity would be clothed in perfect humanity: the God-man, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, God in the flesh.
Some entries require a raw miracle. No keyholder, no conflict, no wisdom, no environment, no consecration, no personal quality--nothing--can create an opening. If God doesn't do a 100% bona fide miracle it won't happen. In such cases, we are to fast and pray and cry out to God Most High to do what only He can do!
Possessing The High Place
Hello victorious church!
| What is the history of the high place? The history of the high place revolves around the highest of all high places: Mount Zion. There are two Mount Zions in Scripture, the high hill in Jerusalem where David's citadel and Solomon's temple existed (2Sam 5:7, Ps 74:2,3, Mic 3:12), and the celestial mountain in heaven where God sits enthroned (Heb 12:22, Rev 14:1, Isa 14:13, Eze 28:14,16). The celestial Mount Zion is our focus. You know the story. As the anointed, ordained, guardian cherub of God's throne, Satan dramatically beheld the most glorious high place in existence (Eze 28:14). Day after day, he frolicked in inconceivable Glory, "on the holy mount of God...walked among the fiery stones" (v14). Eventually, an equally inconceivable thought flickered in his imagination: "I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain" (Isa 14:13). Satan coveted the high place. After rounding up and corrupting a third of the angels, a coup d'etat was attempted, and defeated, after which Satan was driven "in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones" (Eze 28:16). Of course, God retained Zion's high place, but things have never been the same since. For, Satan was kicked out of heaven and thrown to the earth along with his helpers, "How you have fallen from heaven, O Lucifer...How you are cut down to the ground" (Isa 14:12 NKJV). Thus begins the saga of the high place. |
| Why is there a conflict for the high place? As you can imagine, Satan's shoulder was chipped for the high place, and he wears that chip rabidly here on the earth. So what was his therapy? Filled with anger and wounded pride, he immediately went after Adam's high place: ruler of earth (Ps 8:6, 115:16). He succeeds in overthrowing Adam (Gen 3), and earth's high place changes seats to Satan (Lk 4:6, Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). As humanity's population increased, Satan's demons were given their own high place, such as the demon-prince of Persia and the demon-prince of Greece (Dan 10:13,20). At some point, an elaborate demonic hierarchy was established to rule every sphere of earthly life (Eph 6:12), from large international organizations to small family clusters. In conjunction with the sinfulness of people, you can see why our world is so jacked up! Enter the people of God. Hallelujah! Praise God for the church! The church (Old Testament and New) is under divine promise that she would possess the high places. See the conflict? Two rear-ends can't sit in the same seat. Abraham was promised to occupy the high place as father of many nations, and Sarah as mother, with kings coming from them (Gen 17:5,16). Isaac and Jacob inherited the same promise. Joseph subdued the high place everywhere he went. In Potiphar's house, he became manager of the entire household, second-in-charge only to Potiphar (Gen 39:1-6). In prison, he became superintendent of all the prisoners, second-in-charge only to the warden (v20-23). In Egypt, he became ruler of all Egypt, second-in-charge only to Pharaoh (41:39,40). The greatest and most direct pronouncements of God pertaining to this are in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV): And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath. Deuteronomy 33:29: Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places. The New Covenant grafts the Gentile church into Israel's total inheritance. Paul says we, Gentile Christians, are "heirs together with Israel" (Eph 3:6) and that we are now nourished by the Jewish root (Ro 11:17,18). We are not only conquerors who subdue (8:37), but kings who sit in high places (Rev 1:6). In fact, we are seated in the highest high place with Christ Himself (Eph 2:6)! Isaiah foretells the last-days church will be incredibly powerful, possessing an overwhelming portion of earth's high places (Isa 2:2). Micah foresees the same thing (Mic 4:1). Obadiah put it like this (Oba 21): Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the LORD's. Who will run with such promises? This is the conflict for the high place. Satan covets it, the church is heir to it. A epic collision brews. |
 How do I possess the high place? Own the promise. We will not pursue what we think we should not have. We are heir to the high places of the earth. Own the scriptures from the previous paragraph. The more you reflect on them, the more a holy aggression will heat up within you to subdue the high place God intends. Own your inheritance! Obey the command. It's more than a promise, it's a command. Israel was ordered to destroy the high places of the enemy (Num 33:52, Deu 12:2, Ps 150). Hezekiah did so (2Ki 18:4), also Josiah (23:19,20). Proverbs 21:22: A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. You and I are under orders to pull down the enemy's high place and replace it with a kingdom high place. Manasseh did such high place replacement (2Chr 33:17). Amos, Micah, and Nahum all saw God treading the high places of the earth (Am 4:13, Mic 1:3,4, Nah 1:5). If we know and intimately bond our souls with God daily, we also will tread the high places. His nature and being will possess us and possess through us. Start praying and fasting deliberately for a high place, even if you're not sure of your field. Pray Isaiah 64:1-3. Isaiah 58 hails the results of fasting, one of which is the Lord causing us "to ride on the heights of the land" (v14). Speak God's Word. God Word in your mouth, His voice in your voice, subdues the high place. Psalm 29 says the voice of the Lord "is over the waters" and "powerful" and "breaks the cedars" and "strikes with flashes of lightning" and "strips the forests bare". Psalm 138:2 (NIV) says God has exalted above all things His name and Word. Ecclesiastes 8:4 says "a king's word is supreme". God told Joshua he would possess the land if only he never stopped speaking the Word. Declare God's Word privately and daily. Declare it within the environment you seek to possess, at the right time and in the right way. Weave it indirectly into conversations--it will still have the same overcoming effect. Micah 6:1: Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Isaiah 33:15,16 says the godly and honest believer "will dwell on the heights...the mountain fortress". The height we seek to possess is beyond our present character. If we grow in godliness, though, when our character matches the high place requirement the mountain will be given us. Watch for the hand up. Mark 3:13 says Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Himself twelve disciples. See the symbolism. Jesus is already on our mountain. He will call us up the mountain and set us in place through certain people. Watch for the hand up! Look for your Mark 3:13 ascension. Be wild! Psalm 104:18 says "the high mountains belong to the wild goats" (also Job 39:1). To possess the high place, you must be a wild goat! You have to get over some reservations and insecurities. You have to abandon some comfort zones. You have to break out of the social box and be a bit adventurous. The high mountains belong to wild goats! Find your calling and get good at it. Daniel went high in Babylon because he was masterful at interpreting dreams. Esther won Xerxes' passion for a queen because she was a bombshell beauty. Cornelius became centurion because he was adept in military. This is practical Christianity folks. Find your calling and get good at it. Is it to be a lawyer? Mechanic? Model? Schoolteacher? Speaker? Actor? Clergy? Whatever it is, find it and be good! Learn, train, practice, study, observe, ask--daily. Check this scripture out, Proverbs 12:24: Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. Did you hear that? Diligent hands possess the high place! |
Thou Shalt Enjoy Life!
If you were the most luminous mind in the world, and you were to write a brief discourse on life near the end of your days, and you knew trillions upon trillions of people throughout world history would read it, and you knew the Most High God would supernaturally perfect your every word, what would you say? The book of Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon around 1000 BC, fits that unparalleled profile.
This Solomon said many times in his last-days journal, enjoy life! In fact, he said it around ten times (Ecc 2:24,25, 3:12,13, 5:18-20, 8:15, 9:7-9, 11:8-10). Simple counsel. How eye-opening.
 "Vanity! Meaningless! Chasing the wind!" Solomon uses this colorful expression over thirty times in Ecclesiastes. There is a message in it: we also must have "vanity awakenings", seasons whereby we truly taste and own the meaninglessness of life without God as our Center. Enjoying life is elusive. This is because it cannot happen without several disillusionments first. Solomon/God is urging this in Ecclesiastes. As Spirit-led Christians, God will engineer, or permit, certain circumstances so that we descend to this very necessary place of vanity awakening. We don't have to wait until our death-bed like Solomon, though. We can hasten these awakenings by understanding Ecclesiastes, recognizing their arrival, and accepting them fully. Solomon gives us ten earthly realities that we must awaken to and be disillusioned by if we are to be free to enjoy life incredibly: 1--Nature is more powerful than man. (1:3-11) Nature is a perpetual and powerful cycle that cannot be stopped, undone, or controlled (v3-10), yet man lives a short time then is gone and forgotten (v11). Hurricanes, earthquakes, stormy seas, shark attacks, and other impositions of nature drive this reality deep within. 2--Some problems can never be fixed. (1:15, 7:13) God cannot violate His Word, dishonor man's dignity of choice, or casually reverse every negative consequence. He abides by the very laws He created to govern earthly life. Some problems can never be fixed; eventually this will make us cry "Vanity! Meaningless!" < |