When you read big chunks of Isaiah, you begin to get a feel for what God is saying and the great promises found in the chapters of the 50’s. What great promises! There are so many things that the Lord wants to give us including an everlasting joy, but it was Isaiah 55 that hit me. It is where we are as a church.
Isaiah 55:1 (NIV84) — 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
How in the world are we going to buy without money? Who will provide for us? Look at the first line, “come, all you who are thirsty”. Are you thirsty? That is the key! Do you thirst for God? When you do you realize you have nothing to trade for His supply, for His goodness, for His forgiveness!
Isaiah 55:2 (NIV84) — 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
We chase after things that satisfy us and we don’t find them! God wants to give us what is good! Our souls will delight in the richest of fare! Up until this point there has been a lot of judgment and Assyria has taken God’s people captive, but after the redeemer comes, there will be no more captivity except that which we ourselves enter into. God tells us to come out – He wants to satisfy us. Did you get that? He wants to satisfy you! Tell Him you are thirsty for that, and then tell Him what will satisfy you. You may think about money or beauty or material things or correcting circumstances, but if your soul is satisfied, you will live on a level of satisfaction that no outside circumstances can shake.
Cory Asbury’s song: “My soul sings, my soul sings, my soul sings, how I love you.”
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
October 25
President Clinton instituted a policy that in the White House, people were allowed to "dress down". Dressing down for the White House was basically that men didn't have to wear ties. People still looked sharp, but not so formal. He was trying to change the culture of the White House. He tried to change the culture, by changing the atmosphere which would change the climate of things. Once he had climate change, then the culture would follow. Boy did he take some flack! He was rocked over it and probably decided that it wasn't worth the trouble. The ties and jackets eventually became a fixture – again, but there was a change that trickled down into some of corporate America. Casual Fridays are still happening across this land. Even though He didn’t completely change things, there was an effect that has lasted.
God wants to change the culture of His church. He is pouring out His Spirit in ways that changes the atmosphere. The question is whether or not we will respond and give way to what He is doing. Unlike casual Fridays or being able to eat in the White House Cafeteria with the President, we are talking about the Kingdom of God, and God is trying to show us He wants more of its effect on the earth! He wants us to live supernaturally! In fact, He wants supernatural living to become natural for His people! So when you notice a difference in the atmosphere, a different climate, like a different season is coming, then become a part of the culture shift. Don’t fight it like a young man fighting the fall temperatures by maintaining his short and flip flops attire, but enjoy the move of God and become raptured in it.
God wants to change the culture of His church. He is pouring out His Spirit in ways that changes the atmosphere. The question is whether or not we will respond and give way to what He is doing. Unlike casual Fridays or being able to eat in the White House Cafeteria with the President, we are talking about the Kingdom of God, and God is trying to show us He wants more of its effect on the earth! He wants us to live supernaturally! In fact, He wants supernatural living to become natural for His people! So when you notice a difference in the atmosphere, a different climate, like a different season is coming, then become a part of the culture shift. Don’t fight it like a young man fighting the fall temperatures by maintaining his short and flip flops attire, but enjoy the move of God and become raptured in it.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
October 22
I read this today - I thought you might enjoy it!
The word of God was never meant just to be remembered, but also to be experienced and assimilated until it becomes flesh and walks among us as it did in the days of Jesus. If knowing the Bible were synonymous with knowing God, the Pharisees and Scribes would have rocked!
Oh that we would allow it to take over us - that when we speak it, lifeless things would come alive and cloudless skies would rain!
The word of God was never meant just to be remembered, but also to be experienced and assimilated until it becomes flesh and walks among us as it did in the days of Jesus. If knowing the Bible were synonymous with knowing God, the Pharisees and Scribes would have rocked!
Oh that we would allow it to take over us - that when we speak it, lifeless things would come alive and cloudless skies would rain!
Friday, October 21, 2011
October 21
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV84) — 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
How have we forgotten this? Honestly! Prophecy is fun, exhilarating and a wonderful chance to partner with Almighty God! How great is our God?! How have we forgotten this exhortation?
1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV84) — 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
I can only start a fire – which is by the Holy Spirit. You have to continue it. The culture cannot be changed by one man, although one man can begin the change. I am leading a change, creating an atmosphere, but you have to be a part of the culture shift. Leaving the fire to itself is saying that you want it to go out. In other words, not becoming a part of the shift, or in this case obedience to the Word of God, is the same as saying I don’t want it to happen. The Word is telling us to especially desire prophecy and to be eager to prophecy. That is the culture that we want at Hope OC.
When I was a child I remember when my mom would take me to Disneyland. We usually went every other year. In the days leading up to going, I would be so eager to be there. I wanted to ride the rides and experience all Disneyland had to offer. I was VERY desirous of Disneyland! Maybe you can relate to that, or maybe it was something else for you. Church, that “I want to go” or “I can’t wait to go” feeling inside of me (us) is so similar to what God wants us to have for the gift of prophecy. Ask Him for a Word – be eager to get one and then give it away! Partnering with God is like hitting the jackpot!
How have we forgotten this? Honestly! Prophecy is fun, exhilarating and a wonderful chance to partner with Almighty God! How great is our God?! How have we forgotten this exhortation?
1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV84) — 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
I can only start a fire – which is by the Holy Spirit. You have to continue it. The culture cannot be changed by one man, although one man can begin the change. I am leading a change, creating an atmosphere, but you have to be a part of the culture shift. Leaving the fire to itself is saying that you want it to go out. In other words, not becoming a part of the shift, or in this case obedience to the Word of God, is the same as saying I don’t want it to happen. The Word is telling us to especially desire prophecy and to be eager to prophecy. That is the culture that we want at Hope OC.
When I was a child I remember when my mom would take me to Disneyland. We usually went every other year. In the days leading up to going, I would be so eager to be there. I wanted to ride the rides and experience all Disneyland had to offer. I was VERY desirous of Disneyland! Maybe you can relate to that, or maybe it was something else for you. Church, that “I want to go” or “I can’t wait to go” feeling inside of me (us) is so similar to what God wants us to have for the gift of prophecy. Ask Him for a Word – be eager to get one and then give it away! Partnering with God is like hitting the jackpot!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
October 20
Watching the prophetic moving last night at Life was awesome! Many, even most had words and visions for one another! How great is our God! I am so proud to pastor such responsive people! It truly was wonderful!
We often teach things in the church and then go on to the next subject. The heart of God is for us, when we gather, to build up, encourage and edify one another. Of course that is my job as well, but it is not ONLY my job/ministry. I don’t mean that I have other things to do, but YOU are gifted to be involved in the supernatural ministry of the prophetic. It is amazing to be the one to speak into people’s lives via a Word from the heart of God. That is what we can do! If we will continue in doing it, it will become common place and even expected. Imagine that, expecting God to do something that He told us to be zealous to do! He will do it! Seek Him and pursue prophetic words from heaven – He will give them – He committed Himself to do just that. “Every one of you has a prophetic word”. Imagine a church where you are excited to go to because you are sure to get a Word from God. How awesome would that be?
We often teach things in the church and then go on to the next subject. The heart of God is for us, when we gather, to build up, encourage and edify one another. Of course that is my job as well, but it is not ONLY my job/ministry. I don’t mean that I have other things to do, but YOU are gifted to be involved in the supernatural ministry of the prophetic. It is amazing to be the one to speak into people’s lives via a Word from the heart of God. That is what we can do! If we will continue in doing it, it will become common place and even expected. Imagine that, expecting God to do something that He told us to be zealous to do! He will do it! Seek Him and pursue prophetic words from heaven – He will give them – He committed Himself to do just that. “Every one of you has a prophetic word”. Imagine a church where you are excited to go to because you are sure to get a Word from God. How awesome would that be?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October 19
It has been quite some time since I have entered a blog post. It seems that the new groove that God has asked of me isn’t as easy as one might think. It takes so much more effort to change what you have been doing compared to the amount of effort that it takes to continue in a certain direction. Honestly, it was great to have the blog subject picked for me every day by the scripture I read. The Holy Spirit did need to quicken me to the portion of scripture or subject matter within the scripture to write on, but it was much less effort than asking God what the next post is to be.
I do feel bad for those of you who do look to the blog for encouragement. My apologies go out to you. I have found that this new order of things is very difficult and takes way more effort than before.
Just yesterday I was talking to the Lord about this and feeling like I have failed Him. I want to go back to the old way of doing things because it was, well…. Easier. He isn’t too concerned with how easy it is for me, He has a plan that He wants me to carry out. That plan includes difficulty and that difficulty is going to stretch me and build into me what I need for the future.
I can’t help but ask you if you are supposed to be attaining your next level by changing what you have been doing. Maybe not, but if you stop and listen, maybe God is asking you to go to the next level of difficulty, the one that requires more depth and more sacrifice. Why not go for it? If you fail at it at first, just keep going! His grace is enough!
I do feel bad for those of you who do look to the blog for encouragement. My apologies go out to you. I have found that this new order of things is very difficult and takes way more effort than before.
Just yesterday I was talking to the Lord about this and feeling like I have failed Him. I want to go back to the old way of doing things because it was, well…. Easier. He isn’t too concerned with how easy it is for me, He has a plan that He wants me to carry out. That plan includes difficulty and that difficulty is going to stretch me and build into me what I need for the future.
I can’t help but ask you if you are supposed to be attaining your next level by changing what you have been doing. Maybe not, but if you stop and listen, maybe God is asking you to go to the next level of difficulty, the one that requires more depth and more sacrifice. Why not go for it? If you fail at it at first, just keep going! His grace is enough!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
October 6
Worship #4
The very word used for worship in the Greek is a verb (proskuneo) which means to come toward, to bow down, to kiss, to adore, to worship… It is a verb first and foremost. Remember that song by DC Talk, “Love is a Verb”, well let’s write a new one, “Worship is a verb”. It is something you do, something that others can see you are doing. As we discussed before, it is not an act of singing (although it could be), but it is a way of living. It is a constant in our lives that is too often segmented to church and singing. However you look at it though, you and others should be able to see it and tell me what it looks like.
You might say that John 4 says that Jesus said we should worship in spirit. How do you see that? Glad you asked. There is no disconnect between your spirit and your body (or for that fact any other part of you). Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Who you are inside is what shows on the outside because they are one and the same person. You can’t be “worshiping” God in your spirit and be a cranky critical person. The two are juxtaposed to one another. It’s is like saying I have faith that God will supply and having a nervous breakdown with worry that you won’t make your mortgage.
All of this is to say this: The spiritual shows up in the physical. In other words, what is going on spiritually with you, will manifest (show – be brought to light – revealed) in the physical realm for all to see. When we sing in worship and you sit with your legs crossed looking around wondering when the music is going to stop – you are NOT worshipping! You might say do I have to act like a wild Pentecostal to be worshipping? No, you have to act like what your spirit is doing! The acts of raising hands, dancing, kneeling, laying prostrate, clapping, shouting, singing, praying, waving and the like are done to express the inward function of your spirit and your now engaged mind, will and emotions! They in turn engage the body so what is going on in your spirit is SEEN. You may weep, you may laugh or everything in between, but you will DO something if you are worshipping the Lord. Some may say that you don’t have to do those things. I would so strongly disagree because of what the scripture has to say about it. We are so tied up with worldliness and our own ideas that we are held back from a full submission of our TOTAL personhood in worship in the context of a church (type) worship time. Let go people of God! Get recklessly abandoned to the One who deserves more than you can give or do!
There is a bleed over of course. What bleeds over to what, I don’t know. But if people can’t worship at church fully engaging all of themselves, they usually can’t live a life of worship. Maybe it is vise-versa, but either way the principle is true. What is happening in the spirit of a man, manifests in the physical. In fact what is happening in the spirit realm is manifested in the physical realm.
The very word used for worship in the Greek is a verb (proskuneo) which means to come toward, to bow down, to kiss, to adore, to worship… It is a verb first and foremost. Remember that song by DC Talk, “Love is a Verb”, well let’s write a new one, “Worship is a verb”. It is something you do, something that others can see you are doing. As we discussed before, it is not an act of singing (although it could be), but it is a way of living. It is a constant in our lives that is too often segmented to church and singing. However you look at it though, you and others should be able to see it and tell me what it looks like.
You might say that John 4 says that Jesus said we should worship in spirit. How do you see that? Glad you asked. There is no disconnect between your spirit and your body (or for that fact any other part of you). Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Who you are inside is what shows on the outside because they are one and the same person. You can’t be “worshiping” God in your spirit and be a cranky critical person. The two are juxtaposed to one another. It’s is like saying I have faith that God will supply and having a nervous breakdown with worry that you won’t make your mortgage.
All of this is to say this: The spiritual shows up in the physical. In other words, what is going on spiritually with you, will manifest (show – be brought to light – revealed) in the physical realm for all to see. When we sing in worship and you sit with your legs crossed looking around wondering when the music is going to stop – you are NOT worshipping! You might say do I have to act like a wild Pentecostal to be worshipping? No, you have to act like what your spirit is doing! The acts of raising hands, dancing, kneeling, laying prostrate, clapping, shouting, singing, praying, waving and the like are done to express the inward function of your spirit and your now engaged mind, will and emotions! They in turn engage the body so what is going on in your spirit is SEEN. You may weep, you may laugh or everything in between, but you will DO something if you are worshipping the Lord. Some may say that you don’t have to do those things. I would so strongly disagree because of what the scripture has to say about it. We are so tied up with worldliness and our own ideas that we are held back from a full submission of our TOTAL personhood in worship in the context of a church (type) worship time. Let go people of God! Get recklessly abandoned to the One who deserves more than you can give or do!
There is a bleed over of course. What bleeds over to what, I don’t know. But if people can’t worship at church fully engaging all of themselves, they usually can’t live a life of worship. Maybe it is vise-versa, but either way the principle is true. What is happening in the spirit of a man, manifests in the physical. In fact what is happening in the spirit realm is manifested in the physical realm.
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