Junior's Teachings I
Old & New Testament Prophets, Pt 2 (September 10, 2008)
Old & New Testament Prophets, Pt 1 (September 3, 2008)
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)
Old & New Testament Prophets, Pt 2
The Old It doesn't take very long for even the surface reader of Scripture to notice the hard-nosed and hard-hitting acidity of the Old Testament prophets. They not only stepped on your toes, they crushed your feet to bring you to your knees! Such righteous indignation was the foreground of Old prophetic ministry. They had a pre-cross prophetic expression. Consider even this small, random sample:
Amos prophesied to Amaziah that his wife would become a prostitute in the city, his children would be slain, and he himself would die in a pagan land (Am 7:17)-Amaziah's recompense for disdaining the prophet's ministry. Nahum opens his prophetic speech by establishing an angry and vengeful Jehovah, as does Micah and Zephaniah. John the Baptist, though he appears in the New Testament, nonetheless ministered in the last days of the Old Covenant system. Consequently, we see him endowed not only with the spirit of Elijah, but also the spirit of all the Old prophets: hostile preaching and fixation on God's imminent wrath. We see this in his provocative and unsettling word-picture: a razor-sharp ax ready to cut down and burn every unrepentant Jewish soul (Lk 3:9). What is a pre-cross prophetic expression, and, why so harsh?
More than any other ministry type, prophets express the immediate attitude of God. The Spirit of prophecy manifests His own mood through the prophet, giving him more than just a prophetic word, but also a prophetic mood that expresses the attitude of God toward the target audience. Therefore, the Old prophets were expressing God's attitude toward humanity (including Israel) in the pre-cross era.
In the pre-cross era, God's holy grudge against sinful mankind was still unresolved. The cross had not yet happened to pacify and subside His anger. Since prophets manifest the immediate attitude of God, they shared in His grudge. From their calling to their death, they carried and expressed this divine hostility-Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Micah all plainly stated the hand of the Lord gave them a holy bitterness and anger of spirit (Jer 15:17, Eze 3:14, Mic 3:8,9). Their in-your-face messages, stern demeanor, and super-intense ministry tactics all reflect a pre-cross prophetic expression flowing from an unsatisfied holy God.
The New Praise the Lord for the cross! Thank God with me! Jesus' marvelous act on the cross accomplished much more than we sometimes gather. The sin debt of mankind was fully paid for. Atonement was perfected and provided. The Trinity's holy grudge could now subside and taper. It is finished! triggered an eternal change in God's mood toward humanity, and especially His people. Should not such an epochal event create changes in every aspect of reality, prophecy included?
Ponder the sunny demeanor of 1Corinthians 14:3 in light of the cross...New prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts the people of God. Similarly, ponder the prophesying of Judas and Silas (Ac 15:32), or the Corinthian prophets (1Co 14:31), and how they express that sunnier side of prophecy. Contrast this New prophetic aura with that of the bitter-herb savor of Micaiah or Ahijah or Obadiah. In the Old era, righteous indignation was the prophetic foreground, expressing God's pre-cross attitude. In the New, such indignation is the background, His grace the foreground, expressing God's post-cross attitude. See Hebrews 12:18-24...Old prophets expressed the darkness, gloom, and terror of Mount Sinai, New prophets express the joy, redemption, and newness of Mount Zion.
OT prophets: Jewish
Acts 2:17,18 connects prophetic ministry with the global outpouring of the Spirit. Acts 11:27-30 shows prophets bridging the gap between Christian Jew and Christian Gentile. Agabus and his prophetic team travel from Jerusalem to Antioch to declare a coming famine, which resulted in the predominantly Gentile church (Antioch) sending aid to the predominantly Jewish church (Jerusalem/Judea). Acts 13:1-3 shows primarily Gentile prophets commissioning Barnabas and Saul, Jewish apostles, to evangelize the Gentile world. Acts 15:22,32 show Jewish prophets, Judas and Silas, being sent to prophesy to a predominantly Gentile congregation (Antioch). Acts 19:6 shows Ephesian-Gentiles prophesying before a Jewish apostle, as does the Tyrian-Gentiles in 21:4. We can see Luke's consistent observation in Acts: New prophecy serves as an emulsifier for the global church.
Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:4,22 that prophecy is primarily for the church. Even more so, he tells us prophets are essential to the maturation of the church (Eph 4:11-13). Since we know the New Covenant church is multi-ethnic and global, we can see how the New Testament prophetic gift possesses a unique globalizing power. What Moses, Nathan, and Malachi could not do, Agabus, Judas, Silas, and every other New prophet can: unify the nations in Christ.
OT prophets: adversarial relationship with the faith community
Old Testament prophets possessed an adversarial relationship with the faith community. In general, they did not have a peaceful coexistence with the larger Israelite community. There are numerous reasons for this. One, they were God's theocratic representatives in the pre-cross era of divine hostility. Consequently, they were caught in the middle of a tense relationship between God and His pre-cross people. Two, Old prophets were authoritative enforcers of the Mosaic Law. They were Jehovah's policemen, sin-seekers and heresy-hunters. Thus, they typically incurred the "bad guy" label (Hos 9:7,8, 1Ki 18:17,18, Am 7:10-13, Jer 26:7-11). Three, when they did come across sin and disobedience, they exposed it forcefully and specifically, calling out names, places, and details. There was no gracious confrontation process we see in the New era (Mt 18:15-17, Tit 3:10). Unless you were as humble as David after Nathan torched him for his sin, you simply kept an aggravated distance from these prophets and they from you.
The New New Testament prophets are not supposed to have an adversarial relationship with the church as the Old prophets did with Israel. They are to have a harmonious relationship with the faith community. There is to be a balanced and compatible co-existence. There are a few reasons for this, correlating with the reasons mentioned above.
One, New prophets are in a divinely-pacified post-cross era, and therefore, no longer caught in the middle of a tense relationship between heaven and earth. Two, New prophets are not authoritative enforcers of a harsh Old Covenant, but anointed dispensers of a joyfully gracious New Covenant (1Co 14:3,4,31, 2Co 3:7-11, Heb 12:18-24). Three, New prophets might prophetically address sin, but they are not to do so in the Old manner. Prophetic corrections pertaining to individual Christians are to be submitted to the Matthew 18:15-17 process. Prophetic corrections pertaining to elders or high church leaders are to be submitted to the 1Timothy 5:19 process. Prophetic corrections-that are serious and non-typical-that pertain to a church or ministry or group are to be privately submitted to the appropriate leadership for consideration and further protocol (1Th 5:12,13, 1Co 16:15,16). This certainly does not negate audacity and boldness in prophetic correction and rebuke (1Co 14:24,25). Not at all. Rather, it simply means the demeanor and presentation possess an undeniable post-cross sunshine. It has a much more positive and winsome spirit.
Corrective prophetic protocol in the New era makes every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). In fact, all prophetic initiatives in the New are to make every effort to preserve harmonious relations with the faith community and with all people (Ro 12:18, Heb 12:14).
OT prophets: social separation from the faith community
The New How different is the New! New prophets are to be fully integrated into the faith community. This is fellowship. How can a prophetic Christian fulfill all the "one anothers" in the New Testament if they are not vitally integrated? The Bible tells all Christians to serve one another (Gal 5:13), pray for one another (Jas 5:16), encourage one another (Heb 3:13), teach one another (Col 3:16), confess to one another (Jas 5:16), and on and on. Above all, it tells us to love one another deeply, from the heart (1Pet 1:22). John had very strong words against those who despise fellow Christians (1Jn 2:9-11), or separate themselves from the fellowship (v19). In light of the "one anothers", we can see New prophets are not to be social separatists. (This certainly does not mean prophetic Christians should not have prophetic communities to support and sharpen one another. Such is legitimate and good. We see this is in Acts 11:27, with Agabus leading such a group.)
Remember Hebrews 12:18-24? New prophets do not carry the separatist spirit of Sinai, they carry the joyful assembly spirit of Zion. The curse has been removed from the born-again people of God because of the cross, He can now integrate Himself fully with them (Gal 3:13,14). Prophets no longer need to illustrate the chasm separating God and His pre-cross people, because that chasm is gone! New prophets are to illustrate this new reality through integration, fellowship, friendship.
Old & New Testament Prophets, Pt 1
So let's talk about prophets. Key differences separate Old and New Testament-era prophets. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these differences, and even more so, what these differences imply. By microscoping and contrasting these two prophetic orders, New prophets can better educate and adjust themselves to fully realize their post-cross prophetic identity. In so doing, ministerial fruitfulness can be maximized in this present New Testament church age, which is, undoubtedly, boundlessly different from the Old Testament Jewish age.
The Old Without a doubt, the most crucial difference separating Old and New Testament prophets pertains to their purpose. The purpose of Old prophetic ministry was to receive and speak divine revelation that would be recorded as the Old Testament Scriptures. God was entrusting over half of His Bible to those prophets! The New Testament recognizes and affirms this: Jesus (Mt 22:40), Paul (Ro 1:2, 16:25,26NKJV), Peter (2Pet 1:19-21).
New Testament prophecy does not receive or write more Scripture, nor does it replace the existing and complete Scriptures. Paul is stiff on this point (1Co 14:37,38), and John's final words certainly reach farther than just his own book of Revelation (Rev 22:18,19).
OT prophets: ministered infallibly, with 100% perfection
Deuteronomy 18:20 presents the standard of Old prophetic ministry as perfection. Prophets would be executed not only for prophesying in the name of a false god, or prophesying incorrectly, but also for prophesying anything God Himself did not initiate, even if it was technically correct (Deu 13:1,2). God would never demand such a ridiculous standard without also providing a miraculous undergirding for His true prophets to fulfill it.
1Samuel 3:19,20 (and 9:6) illustrates this. God Himself ensured that not one of Samuel's prophetic words fell short, and because of his prophetic perfection, all Israel recognized he passed the Deuteronomy 18:20-test. Isaiah 44:26 says the same, that God Himself fulfilled and performed all the prophetic words of His true Old Testament prophets. Jeremiah 1:12 reiterates, saying God personally watched over Jeremiah's prophetic word to fulfill it. Because of their unparalleled purpose (establish Scripture), Old prophets likewise possessed unparalleled ministerial quality (infallibility). God Himself guaranteed this by miraculously undergirding their every word.
The New New Testament prophets, on the other hand, are not ministerially infallible. Their prophesying might possess partial or total inaccuracies. New Testament Scripture shows us this. The believers at Tyre prophesied to Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Ac 21:4). This was a partially inaccurate word, because Paul himself felt compelled and bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (20:22NIV), which he in fact did (21:17). Yet Acts 21:4 says they spoke by the Spirit. How can both be true? The explanation: the Tyrian believers received a genuine revelation from the Spirit concerning Paul's suffering and imprisonment in Jerusalem, yet they misinterpreted and misapplied the revelation to say Paul should not go to Jerusalem at all. Genuine revelation...faulty interpretation...faulty application. I'm sure we can all relate.
Agabus also prophesied partially inaccurately in Acts 21:10,11. Paul was indeed arrested, this part was accurate, but he was not arrested by the Jews and handed over to the Romans by them. Verses 32 and 33 (and 23:27) tell us Paul's life had to be forcibly saved by the Roman soldiers, who rescued him from the abusive Jewish mob who would have torn him to shreds and killed him.
Paul joins Luke in his cognizance of prophecy's potential fallibility in the church age. In 1Corinthians 14:29, he tells believers to judge, evaluate carefully, and thoroughly sift (Gk diakrino) prophetic words that are spoken. In 1Thessalonians 5:19-22 he says the same, telling the church to separate the good from the bad in prophecy, while remaining open and positive towards prophetic ministry in general. New prophecy, and all spiritual gifts, can be like a poor reflection in a mirror (1Co 13:2), especially when used by the spiritually non-mature or inexperienced. The good news is, prophetic Christians can develop and advance in their prophetic faculty, learning to minimize perceptive dilution to consistently prophesy reliably and accurately.
OT prophets: possessed absolute authority
This absolute authority connoted their prophetic word was the final authority from God in all of Israel-it was to be obeyed without hesitation or question. There were no ifs, ands, buts, whys, howevers, or therefores. There was no personal testing, evaluation, or "praying for confirmation" when a prophet of Yahweh prophesied. If he/she was attested as a true prophet of the LORD, his every prophesied word was divine law (Deu 18:18,19, Isa 8:20, Jer 6:19). When necessary, these prophets demonstrated superhuman miraculous powers to enforce their authority and protect their mission (Num 16:1-35, 1Sam 12:18, 1Ki 13:1-6, 20:35,36, 2Ki 1:10,12, 5:20-27, Eze 11:13). Check out these specific passages concerning this.
The prophet Moses said if anyone did not fully obey the Old prophet's word, God Himself would hold that person fully accountable (Deu 18:15-19, esp v19). The prophet Samuel said that to disobey the prophet's word was equal to the sin of witchcraft and idolatry (1Sam 15:22,23), both of which were punishable by death (Lev 20:6,27, Deu 13:6-11). An unnamed prophet caused King Jeroboam's hand to instantly wither because he tried to arrest him after he prophesied (1Ki 13:1-6); the same prophet instantly restored the king's hand back to life just moments later. The prophet Elijah's absolute authority is seen by his commanding the people to seize and slaughter eight hundred and fifty false prophets (1Ki 18:40); we also see it by his calling fire from heaven to destroy two companies of soldiers who tried to arrest him while he was praying (2Ki 1:10,12). His prophetic word could literally prohibit or permit rainfall for years on end (1Ki 17:1).
A man was killed by a lion because he disobeyed a simple prophetic request from a prophet (1Ki 20:35,36). Gehazi and all his descendants were sentenced to leprosy forever because he lied to the prophet Elisha (2Ki 5:20-27). An unnamed prophet told King Amaziah that God would destroy him because he ignored his prophetic advice (2Chr 25:15,16). The prophet Isaiah told Israel that merciless divine breaking (judgment) would come to them because they rejected his prophetic word (Isa 30:12-14). The prophet Jeremiah declared that he personally possessed God's wrath to pour out all over Israel (Jer 6:10-12,17-19). The prophet Ezekiel actually killed a person simply by prophesying (Eze 11:13). Now that's absolute authority!
Once again, this absolute authority accompanied the Old prophets to safeguard the establishment of the Old Testament Scriptures. Without such authority, Israel would not recognize and canonize their writings as truly Holy Scripture. With this authority, however, it was undeniable that the Most High God had indeed called them to author His Word.
The New New Testament prophets, on the other hand, have a lesser and different type of authority: relative authority. New prophecy is not the indisputable final authority, as Old prophecy was. The completed Scripture is now the supreme law of God's people (1Co 14:37,38, 2Pet 3:15,16, Rev 22:18,19). All New prophecy is to be screened and tested by the hearers: tested for divine authenticity (1Co 14:29, 2Th 2:1-3, 1Jn 4:1-6), tested for agreement with Scripture (1Co 14:37,38), and tested for the accurate/good, and if necessary, sifted for the inaccurate/bad (1Th 5:19-22). New prophecy, then, is accountable to Scriptural, personal, and governmental evaluation. Such comprehensive judging of New prophecy signifies its demotion in the area of authority. We no longer see that "do-or-die-without-question" badge the Old prophets wore.
Though New prophecy has divinely-instituted boundaries, it nonetheless possesses a relative authority. This means New Testament prophetic authority is relative to the authenticity and accuracy of the prophesied word, and, possesses authority over its situational target only. In other words, prophecies, or portions of prophecies, that are found to be genuine, possess authority only over the intended recipient (particular person, group, church, nation, organization, etc...). Paul had no obligation to obey the prophetic directive at Tyre since it was tested and found to be partially inaccurate (Ac 21:4,17, 20:22). On the other hand, the Antiochan church was under all divine obligation to obey the word spoken there, because, after fasting and prayer, the directive was proven to be authentic and accurate (Ac 13:1-3).
Herein is where Old and New prophecy greatly differ. True Old prophets and their prophecies did not need to be re-tested every time they uttered-authenticity was assumed. If the prophecy came from a recognized true prophet, the word was to be immediately and indisputably accepted by all Israel, or God would hold the rebel severely accountable. New prophecy, though, requires testing to happen every single time a message is prophesied, no matter who the communicator is (1Co 14:29, 1Th 5:19-22, 1Jn 4:1-6). Once confirmation has been attained, then that individual or group is accountable to that word, and that word possesses authority over them and only them.
In summary. Old prophecy possessed a theocratic, absolute authority over all God's people, was not subject to continuous testing, and was above/over God's people. New prophecy possesses a relative, situational authority, is subject to continuous testing, and is therefore on equal ground with God's people.
OT prophets: external revelation
For example, God spoke to those prophets in a direct audible voice, dictating exactly what to say and write. Sometimes He showed up in human or angelic form and spoke as two friends would. Sometimes He sent angels to appear on His behalf and dictate the message. Sometimes He spoke through dramatic physical visions, telling them simply to write exactly what they saw. Though He did reveal Himself and inspire Scripture in a few other, more subtle ways (guided observation, subconscious inspiration, etc.), external revelation was nonetheless the main form of Old prophetic revelation. The Old Testament is covered with such easy-to-not-mess-up revelatory encounters. The prophets did not always understand all of what they were encountering (Dan 8:27, Lk 10:24, 1Pet 1:10-12), but what they did encounter was clear and easy enough to communicate without errors. This explains, in part, how the Old prophets were enabled to minister with 100% infallibility.
The New God communicates with New Testament prophets, in general, through internal revelations. The messages typically come in less direct, more subtle ways from deep within their inner man. Certainly God might speak externally if He desires, as in a physical vision (Ac 2:17,18, 9:10-16) or angelic appearance (Heb 13:2), yet I refer to the typical and most predictable form of divine communication in the New era as indicated in the New Testament.
New prophets perceive the Lord no differently than the average Christian-internally. Ephesians 1:17,18 is a key passage in this regard. Paul's prayer was that we would experience the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, the eyes of our hearts being enlightened (Colossians 1:9 reiterates this). In other words, internal revelation. He wrote to all the Christians at Ephesus, which included the prophets (4:11). This suggests a certain norm and predictable form of divine communication.
illuminated Scripture.....2Ti 3:16, Heb 4:12; Lk 24:45
impression (distinct mood or thought).....Ac 15:28, Ro 8:16, 1Co 2:16
compulsion (strong desire or "burden")...Php 2:13, 1Co 15:10
words/phrases.....Ac 13:1-3
In the Old era, the Lord came to the prophet from outside (external revelation); in the New era, the Lord seeks to come through the prophet from the inside (internal revelation). Once again, this is because the Spirit now indwells the Christian, and therefore, He communicates with them from His residence-within.
Is Cosmetic Surgery A Sin?
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.
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. Once 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?
1Thessalonians 5:23 tells us God is at work in our spirit, soul, AND body. This doesn't mean He is just retraining our brain for holy purposes, it means He is sanctifying and restoring all of what we are to a preFall excellence-spiritually, soulically, physically. As I felt the bitter tears of the show's contestants (some were born-again Christians), and as I pondered 1Thessalonians 5:23, I realized our physicality is one-third of our self-image and overall identity. Our spirit, or new nature in Christ, is our foundational identity and operating center. Our soul, or unique emotional-mental design, is built on top of that. Our body is the final third. God created us spirit, soul, and body, each aspect contributing something unique to our overall personal worth. If our physicality is lagging behind or languishing somehow, it can and will affect our self-image, social image, and spiritual image in some way.
When I saw the incredible changes in The Ugly Duckling contestants, how it tremendously elevated a part of their overall worth, how it affected their soulical and spiritual lives, I understood that we Christians have become extreme in hallowing modesty yet shunning physicality's positives. In some situations, cosmetic work can be a major blessing and restoration. Therefore, the question to ask here is, Though it is not foundational and central, how can physicality contribute to my overall self-image and identity?
immorality and zero standards, Christians tend to overcompensate with hyper-modesty, equating tasteless apparel, overweightness, and physical mediocrity with being spiritual. Moreover, I have seen many unusually attractive Christians persecuted in churches. They are fit, fashionable, attractive, AND hungry for Jesus, but to some they are "still in the world" or "young in Christ". Such an attitude overlooks many scriptures, also seeming to betray a certain jealousy.
Scripture freely validates physical beauty, and how that beauty affected people's lives, for good and evil. Absalom and Jezebel were presented as highly attractive, yet they both misused their beauty for evil, Absalom to influence the nation and lead a revolt against his father (2Sam 14:25, 15:1-14), Jezebel to manipulate a man of God (2Ki 9:30) and masses of people (1Ki 18:19, 21:8-11). Sarah was called "a very beautiful woman" (Gen 12:11-16), and she made Abram very wealthy because of it (v16). Granted, Abram's proposal might not be considered noble (v11-13), but we can still see the power of beauty to bless in the story. Scripture calls Rebekah "very beautiful" (24:16, 26:7). Scripture goes even further with Rachel, saying she was "lovely in form" (translation: a great body) and "beautiful" (29:17). Scripture says David had a "fine appearance and handsome features" (1Sam 16:12) and was a "fine-looking man" (v18). Song of Songs celebrates physical-sexual appeal entirely, and, we all know Esther mesmerized Xerxes and stole the queenship with her beauty (Est 2:1-18). Solomon said to "let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil" (Ecc 9:8), referring to excellent self-presentation. He also said "ointment and perfume delight the heart" (Pr 27:9 NKJV). Jesus said to have good self-presentation even when you are fasting (Mt 6:17). The Bible affirms good self-presentation and the social influence it can create for good. Therefore, the question to ask here is, Am I being bashful or timid about enhancing my appeal? If Scripture celebrates beauty appropriately, how can I do the same personally? How can I wield beauty's influence for good?
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!" 3--Hedonism will never fulfill. (2:1,2,10, 6:1,2) Pleasure is a blessing, and we are biologically designed to experience all kinds. Perhaps the rudest awakening of all is when hedonism leaves us still wanting. 4--Workaholism will never fulfill. (2:4-6,10,11) Productivity and accomplishment are blessings, and we are destined for them. The vanity awakening here is, even after glorious achievements, our heart still beats for more blood. 5--Materialism will never fulfill. (2:7,8, 5:10,13-15, 6:3-6) Financial capability is necessary for earthly life and kingdom practicalities. However, we finally reach disillusionment when, after years of emotional investment in possessions, we are left still wanting. 6--We are all going to die. (2:12-16, 3:19,20, 5:15,16, 7:2) Mortality is a gift from God. Without it, we could never lose our corrupt flesh in exchange for incorruption, regaining access to the tree of life. Nevertheless, mortality implies loss and grief, causing many to deny its reality at all costs. Solomon said funerals help us reach that vanity awakening fairly quickly (7:2-4). 7--Life happens in seasons. (3:1-8,17, 7:14) Life is change and change is life. Life happens in seasons, segments, and sequences. Owning and accepting life's transitional essence is a vanity awakening that must happen. 8--Some things can never be understood. (3:11, 7:23,24, 8:16,17, 10:14, 11:5) Much can be understood about God and life (Jer 9:24, Pr 25:2, 1Co 2:12). Some things cannot. There is a certain I-don't-know we must all come to accept. 9--There will always be some bad leaders. (3:16,17, 4:1,13, 10:6,7,16) Some bad apples at the top will always be: bad politicians, clergy, parents, bosses, teachers, coaches, older siblings, and so on. This has ruined many hearts toward authority, but they can be healed through a vanity awakening. 10--Not everyone will like you. (4:4,16) Everyone does not have to like us, just the right person! Unfortunately, many people have to descend into disillusionment before they can accept this. Such things will be. Vanity awakenings free us to enjoy life!
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Enjoy eating and drinking (2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 9:7, 10:19)
 Enjoy people (4:8-12, 9:9) |
 Enjoy God (12:1,6,13) Enjoy God. What else can I say? Spend time with Him and celebrate Him daily! Lavish your attention, adoration, admiration, appreciation, and affection on Him daily. Find your delight in Him (Ps 37:4). Find eternal pleasure in Him (Ps 16:11). Enjoy Him! |
Enjoy life friends! There is much to enjoy!
The Prophet's Wilderness
THE PROPHET'S WILDERNESS
The desert experience, or wilderness, is God's mandatory prerequisite to the prophetic calling. A prophetic person never looks worse than while he/she is in-desert; and, he never looks better than when he emerges as gold, mature in character and ace in prophesying. Even though all Christians experience certain desert seasons, the prophet's wilderness is unique in that it is typically longer in duration and broader in revelatory production.
A prophet's greatest enemy is himself, not Jezebel or religious crustiness or a satanic nemesis. Giftedness has greater power to lure a person into prideful self-sufficiency than the Deceiver himself. Many profoundly gifted prophesiers have shipwrecked their lives and ministries through such self-reliance or gift-reliance, drifting away from daily dependence on Jesus Himself. Such prophets are runaway trains racing toward a head-on collision with humbling and reckoning.
Hosea 2:14 tells us God uses deserts to cultivate intimacy with us: I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. The prophet's temptation is to become so intercoursed with his gift so that he forsakes sweet intimacy with the greatest Gift of all, our First Love Jesus. The greatest commandment is not, "If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it" (Ro 12:6); it is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength" (Mk 12:29,30).
Deuteronomy 8:2,3 tells us the desert trains and sharpens our spiritual hearing, making us acutely accurate in perceiving God's voice. Hosea 2:14 says God "speaks tenderly" in the desert, and Psalm 29:8 says "the voice of the Lord shakes the desert". Luke 3:2 shows us how prophetic messages come to the prophet in the desert. God loves to open up and talk in deserts! Consequently, we learn how to hear Him.
Prophetic power captivates to such a degree that character problems can be obscured and overlooked. Christian history is stained with almost-prophets who shipwrecked their lives and ministries through egocentrism, emotional mismanagement, pernicious habits, wildfire appetites, unhealthy relationships, major doctrinal deviations, and so on.
We all come from Egypt, a place of sin slavery. We all need multiple deserts to get Egypt out of our psycho-emotional root system. Some of the most destructive people in all of Christianity are not false prophets, but true Christian prophets who are unwilling to declare war on personal sin patterns. They possess a measure of prophetic grace that draws followers, yet they wind up damaging those very followers through their dysfunctions. They leave many wounded in their wake, hurting prophecy's cause and credibility as well. If you read David's psalms that he wrote while living in desert places, you will find him consistently mentioning personal sins, inner healing, breaking codependence, and so on. The wilderness transforms character! The time is fading fast when low character prophets are allowed to minister publicly. Churches are tightening their grip on who holds the mic, being led by the Spirit to place a higher premium on character quality and soundness.
The Lord said in Jeremiah 17:5,6 that He uses the desert to deal with codependence, people-pleasing, and fear of man. Of all ministries, the prophetic is probably most easily polluted by codependence. Stories litter the Old Testament of false prophets telling people what they wanted to hear simply to gain their approval. They muddied the oracle of the Lord, prophesying from their imaginations and emotions.
One recurring problem I continually bump into is the lack of prophetic individuation. I weary of hearing uniform "prophetic words" that are not very prophetic. Rather, they are more of a regurgitation of the current spiritual fad. These "prophecies" are thoroughly unmoving, fail to bear witness within, and exploit the ideals of immature Christians. Sometimes I ask myself, "Does God not have more to say? Either He is not very relevant and original, or some of these prophesiers have a high flesh-mixture diluting or blocking the authentic word." I am well aware that God speaks thematically and consistently. Equally so, He speaks with uncanny relevance and uniqueness in different contexts. We need greater prophetic individuation.
The wilderness increases our prophetic power. As crucial transformations happen, the Spirit has more liberty to rest upon us in stronger measures. Check out the subtle symbolism in Song of Songs 3:6: Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? When Jesus came up from His desert experience, He was encompassed by the smoke of God's glory, perfumed with powerful anointing for ministry (Lk 4:1-19). Psalm 92:10 says something similar: ...fine oils have been poured upon me. This fresh oil of power came upon the psalmist because he battled his enemies and overcame (v11), he grew spiritually very much (v12), and he made God his intimate dwellingplace (v13).
Faithful, but not Fruitful
Luke 1:5-7 faithful, but not fruitful 
Authentic Masculinity
In Genesis 1:26-28, God directed Adam to administrate his new world. He was to define it (2:19,20), then assert dominion over it. Adam was the prototypical male: a leader. 
Legislating Second Heaven
Three Heavens...The Bible speaks of three heavens: the sky (Gen 1:1, 2:1,4), the spiritual world (Eph 3:10, 6:12), and God's literal dwellingplace (2Co 12:2, Eph 1:20). Second heaven, or the spiritual world, is the playing field of God's kingdom and Satan's counter-kingdom. Whoever controls second heaven determines reality on earth. If we want to subdue our environment with God's reality, we have to legislate second heaven. Here's how.
Ephesians 6:18, Jude 20, and Romans 8:26,27 tell us to pray in the Spirit. This includes any and all Spirit-guided prayer (Scripture-led, miscellaneous promptings, tongues, etc...). We cannot legislate second heaven without the Spirit. He knows the situational will of God, He knows the enemy's strategies, He knows all the facts, and only He can infuse this information into our prayer life so that we are dictating spiritual world activity and environmental direction, and not vice versa.
The Gift of Discernment
EAGLE-EYES OF THE KINGDOM
Christians with the gift of discernment have penetrating eyes like eagles. They easily identify where people are "really comin from" and what's "really goin on". However, just as an eagle's face conveys irritability and smugness, so also discerners need to be careful to avoid impatient judgments and self-righteousness. 
The Anatomy of Addiction
Pregnant with Twins
There are many applications from Rebekah's story. As we take a look at a few, I think you will see why God set her up as He did. Her twin pregnancy served a far greater purpose than simply "having children".
The future-present conflict Probably the greatest internal conflict we will have is between future and present. Solomon addressed these twins. Solomon said God has also placed in us vision and passion for the present (Ecc 3:12,13). He says it is the "gift of God" to be happy on the earth, to eat, drink, and be satisfied. He says it again in 5:18,19. Not only this, Ephesians 2:10 says we each have a unique earthly calling in Christ to fulfill, further intensifying our passion for the present. Future and present, divine conceptions jostling within us. However, just as Jacob was given place over Esau, so also future will eventually win out over present, for we will live in eternity with Christ forever. The spirit-soul conflict Another monumental conflict is between spirit and soul. How these twins fight within! 1Thessalonians 5:23 says we are spirit, soul, and body, a human trinity in God's image. Our spirit is our innermost person: here we are born-again (Jn 3:5,6), here the Spirit indwells us (Ro 8:16, 1Co 6:17), here resides the conscience (Ro 9:1), here we are totally righteous and perfect (Ro 8:10, Heb 12:23), here we intuit the physical and spiritual world around us (Mk 2:8, Job 32:8). The spirit of the redeemed believer is the lamp of God and godliness inside (Pr 27:20 NKJV). Hebrews 4:12 says our spirit and soul need to be divided (distinguished) by the Word of God. Our soul is our heart/emotions (Ps 84:2), mind/intellect (Ro 7:23 w/1Pet 2:11), and will/choices (Job 7:15 NKJV)--also a type of trinity. The soul is often summarized metonymically as "the heart" (1Pet 1:22 NKJV) or "the mind" (Ro 7:23 w/1Pet 2:11), depending on which aspect of the soul the writer is emphasizing. Our soul is where our life experiences are accumulated and where our life patterns are set.
Satan's Four Eschatological Structures, Pt 2
Before we respond to each structure individually, there are some fixed truths we have to glance over about God's eschatological program.
The Bible says the last-days church will be victorious, powerful, and globally recognized. This is interesting in light of the four structures we've addressed. The church will rule and feast in the midst of her enemies (Ps 110:2, 23:5), in a similar way to the first-century church, but more so.
strategic Christians: Christian entertainers and producers
strategic Christians: intercessors, athletes, servants/helpers
strategic Christians: Christian broadcasters
Satan's Four Eschatological Structures, Pt 1
Before I serve the real meat of this teaching, I think I need to demystify Satanology and demonology. Christians, even strong ones, often get spooked when they really think of Satan. Bizarre images like pentagrams, 666, terrifying creatures, black lipstick, blood, human sacrifice all overstimulate our imagination and activate our natural fear response. Consequently, some live with a latent apprehension that someway, somehow, sometime "the devil is gonna get me". Therefore, let me set a background.
spirit: prince of Greece
spirit: spirit of prostitution
spirit: prince of Persia
spirit: lying spirit
Black, White, & Gray (Feb 19, 2008)
THE BLACK-N-WHITE Biblical Christianity is defined by its "black-n-whites"--the essentials, indispendables, non-bendables. These absolute truths define Christianity, and without them there is no Christianity. No matter what denomination, church, group, or movement a person is a part of, it is authentic biblical Christianity if these historic black-n-whites are present.
The following truths are the absolute lowest common denominator uniting true Christians of all shades. These are not simply my thoughts or opinions, they are the historic Christian backbone that has existed since the New Testament's inscripturation. They come from the plainest, most common sense reading of the most repeated and most emphatic Scriptures of the Bible.
Forgiveness...can I truly forgive? (Feb 13, 2008)
THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY Jesus said the absolute highest level of spiritual maturity possible was defined by forgiving, loving, and blessing one's enemies. Wow! Let me say that again, since it is one of the most important statements we will ever hear: the absolute highest level of spiritual maturity possible is defined by forgiving, loving, and blessing one's enemies.
Okay, now that we all have been humbled, let's unpack this. Take a good look at Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus said to love and pray for our persecutors/enemies (v44). He finishes His thought by saying that the person who genuinely does this consistently is "perfect" like God (v48). Of course Jesus does not mean perfect in a literal way, He means "perfect" (with quotation marks), or ultimate spiritual maturity. Other verses use "perfect" in this "ultimate maturity" sense (Jas 3:2, 2Co 7:1). Put simply, Jesus is telling us that the highest heights of spiritual development are defined by this one essence: the ability to truly forgive and love those that wrong us, in whatever way that may be, consistently. This is the glory and pride of authentic Christianity.
Jesus modeled this. On the cross He prayed (Lk 23:34), "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." If you can't relate with the sinless Son of God, relate with Stephen, a clay human just like us. As he was being violently stoned to death, he spoke these amazing words (Ac 7:60): "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Paul also reached this level of Christian maturity. After being deserted and betrayed by everyone closest to him, he spoke these words of forgiveness (2Ti 4:16): "May it not be held against them."
MY CONFESSIONS I have some confessions to make. I have been in ministry for 11 years, and about half that time I was climbing the wrong ladder. My life and ministry mostly revolved around being "the greatest". It is only because a mustard seed of my motive was pure that the Lord suffered long with me. Isn't it amazing how He focuses on the 1%-mustard seed of sincere faith in us, while looking patiently upon the 99% of selfish ambition? We owe Him more than we could ever repay.
Protect Your Identity (Feb 2, 2008)
Our identity is our self-definition; it is who we believe we are at the epicenter of our being. It is from this wellspring that we feel, think, choose, and act. Because our identity is so foundational, we can be sure the Lord wants us to get it right and nail it down. We can also be sure that the old person, other people, the world, and the enemy will seek to mislabel and redefine us according to their agenda. We must jealously protect our identity in Christ, and that begins by stripping away the five most common false identities.
False Identity #1: family-based identity (codependence & people-pleasing) Many have defined themselves by what their families have impressed on them, whether positive or negative. For the first fifteen years or so of life, we internalized whatever our families rewarded or reinforced. These things became our self-beliefs, or identity. The problem enters when certain of those beliefs, expectations, and messages are somehow faulty. These faulty aspects of a family-based identity prevent us from fully enjoying our glorious new identity in Christ. God told Israel, and us, to not dictate themselves by sinful family ways (Eze 18, 20:18,19, Dan 5:18-30).
False Identity #2: people-based identity (codependence & people-pleasing) We can also define ourselves by people outside of family--friends, romantic partners, co-workers, teammates, anybody. If we are not vigilant, we can be lulled into conforming to someone else's lifescript. Often when people are unsuccessful at conforming us, they resort to "labeling" to make us second-guess ourselves. The danger? If we second-guess our true identity we become double-minded. If we become double-minded, our prayers becomes unanswerable (Jas 1:6-8). Jezebel's last-ditch effort to stop Jehu was to attack his identity and sarcastically label him "Zimri", a traitor and murderer (2Ki 9:31, 1Ki 16:15-20). Joseph's own brothers attempted to dismantle his sense of identity (Gen 37). Job's wife cursed his identity (Job 2:9,10, 27:5,6). We must grip tightly the identity the Lord has conferred on us by His Word and His Spirit, even in the face of compromising and contradicting persons around us.
False Identity #3: performance-based identity (perfectionism & workaholism) In 1948 a "Human Manifesto" was declared as the philosophy of the age in the western world. This secularist pseudo-truth infected every cell of western society, including Christianity. Put simply, it deified--yes, deified--the human ability to perform and achieve. The result? A skewed attitude along these lines: I am only as good as my performance...If I perform well, I am well. We all have been affected by this performance-orientation, an orientation that leads to trivial competition, comparison, and contention. Workaholism and perfectionism are two flashing lights that one has believed this humanist lie. We are to be grounded and founded in "I am" and not "I do".
False Identity #4: money-based identity (materialism & opulence) Money/possessions can also be misused. Nebuchadnezzar had a money- and possessions-based identity (Dan 4:4,27-30). It was the object of his pride for which he was judged. Though it is certainly not wrong to have financial and material abundance (Ecc 5:19), it certainly is to found an identity upon it (1Ti 6:10,17).
False Identity #5: appearance-based identity (narcissism & vanity) Finally, some found their identity upon physical appearance. This explains the cosmetic surgery craze whereby millions pursue angelic beauty. I am not arguing for or against cosmetic surgery, but I am arguing against a self-worth set squarely on appearances. Narcissus, the renowned character of Greek mythology, obsessed over his beauty so much so that he killed himself to be one with it. Scripture encourages us to be excellent in our external upkeep and presentation (Pr 27:9 NKJV, Ecc 9:8, Mt 6:17). It even records examples of God using physical beauty for His purposes (1Sam 16:18, Est 2:1-18). However, it is deceptive and fleeting as a personal foundation (Pr 31:30).
All counterfeit identities are simply illegitimate ways of experiencing three things: love, blessing, and purpose. Every human heart relentlessly and instinctively pursues this. Wonderfully, our identity in Christ is exactly these three things!
True Identity: "I am beloved in Christ" In Christ, we are loved fully and freely. He gave birth to us spiritually (Jn 3:5-8, 1Jn 4:7). He made us His sons and daughters (Ro 8:14-16, 1Jn 3:1,2). He has lavished His love all over us (1Jn 3:1). He has poured His love into our hearts (Ro 5:5). Because we are His beloved children, we have several amazing privileges: we are complete or "full" (Col 2:10)...we are one with Him (1Co 6:17)...we have Christ's new nature (2Co 5:17, Heb 3:14)...we have direct access to Him (Eph 2:18, Heb 10:19-22)...we are eternally hidden and protected (Jn 10:28,29, Col 3:3)...we are royalty/heirs (Ro 8:17, Gal 4:7, 1Pet 2:9, Rev 1:6 NKJV)...we are citizens of heaven (Php 3:20).
True Identity: "I am blessed in Christ" In Christ, we are blessed spiritually and practically. Ephesians 1 opens by saying we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (v3). Romans 4 speaks of the "blessedness" of the saved (v6-9). 2Corinthians 1:20 says every promise for the saved is YES! Several Scriptures emphasize our blessed-identity (Ro 10:12,13, 1Co 9:23, Gal 3:8,9). This means a few things. First, it means we are blessed with a new identity upon salvation (Eph 1:3-14), as we have already discussed. Secondly, it means we are blessed with internal power by the indwelling Holy Spirit to live out our identity in real life (Eph 3:20). In other words, we are blessed to fulfill the authentic Christian life...blessed to worship, obey, change, love, give, help, and be truly Christlike. Thirdly, it means we are blessed with more than enough practical resources to facilitate our spiritual life on earth. This refers to food, clothing, shelter, transportation, money, physical health, and so on (Php 4:19, 1Ti 6:17, 3Jn 2).
True Identity: "I am built in Christ" In Christ, we are built purposely and strategically. We each have a specific design to fulfill a specific destiny. Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 1Peter 4:10 tells us we each have been given gifts that God has built into us spiritually. We each have a purpose in the kingdom and in the earth! As we actualize our beloved-identity and blessed-identity, we will see our built-identity emerging. We will have maximum influence on our environment because we are functioning true to our built-in design. Only you can uncover your design and destiny. Do it! And protect it once you do.
This, my brothers and sisters, is what we are to define ourselves by, revolve ourselves around, and consume ourselves with. Protect your true identity!