An Army Is Rising

"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side."
                                                                                       James Russell Lowell, "The Present Crisis"




Each day it becomes more apparent that the answers for the woes of our nation will not be found within the arena of politics. As much as I believe in the  power of prayer and in the responsibility as believers to pray for our leaders, I still find myself at times at a loss for words at some of the machinations we are witnessing in this presidential cycle. It would appear that there are no boundaries of decency or principle that are collectively held in high esteem, let alone guarded or considered sacrosanct.

While I recognize that we are living in turbulent times, it is even more unsettling to observe so much compromise and justification for behavior that ought not be excused. Additionally, we are becoming more fractured and splintered everyday and there is little or no tolerance for people with varying opinions. In my lifetime I cannot remember a time where there was this much tension or where the campaigns were as bizarre as we have witnessed during this year.

The problem in our nation is spiritual blindness. Many do not see just how far we have strayed from God's Word and from His will  for our country. As a result, we are already paying a high price as violence and perversion increase while morality and decency are rapidly diving in a downward direction. Patiently, God continues to give us chance after chance to return to Him with our whole hearts but the majority prefer to find alternative solutions.

The prophet, Jeremiah, found himself living in similar circumstances. When Jeremiah was born, the most wicked king who had ever reigned in Judah sat upon the throne. His name was King Manasseh. The Bible tells us that King Manasseh was an idolater who "seduced [the people of Judah] to do more evil than the nations did that God destroyed" (2 Kings 21:9).

After Manasseh died, his evil son Amon continued in the evil practices of his father. Not only was there idolatry, but there was a blatant disregard for God's law and the practice of child sacrifice. Perversion of all that was true and right permeated this nation to the point where it appeared that there was no hope for this country that once had followed God.

In 639 B.C., some of Amon's servants rose up against him and assassinated him. Amon's son, Josiah, at the age of eight years old, became king. because he was so young and he had godly counselors like Hilkiah,  Josiah began to seek the Lord. Ultimately, he brought reformation to the land, but  transformation did not occur because the people still refused to repent. Therefore, God sent word that judgment was gong to come to their nation.

It is impossible for a nation to continually defy God's laws and His ways and without eventually paying a steep price for it. Because God is so patient with us it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that God will not judge our sin. However, this is a perilous fallacy. The German writer, Friedrich von Logau describes it this way, "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all."

After Josiah died, there were three kings who followed that led Judah back into immorality and idolatry. However, God was on the throne and He had a solution for Judah, just as He does for the United States. God called Jeremiah to stand against his culture and speak God's truths to them. To assist Jeremiah to bear up against his adversaries, God gave him three promises of what He would do: two visions and the words, "And they shall fight against you, but they shall not [finally] prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you" (Jeremiah 1:19).

The first vision God gave Jeremiah was of a branch of an almond tree (Jeremiah 1:11-12). The Hebrew word for almond tree is saqed. The most similar word to that in the Hebrew language is soqed, which means "to watch" or to "be awake". God was assuring Jeremiah that as he spoke God's words that God would always be awake to watch over His Word and to fulfill it.

The second vision God gave to Jeremiah was of a boiling pot that was tipped from the north to the south. This meant that God was going to use the nation of Babylon to be an instrument of wrath and judgment to Judah. But even in the midst of that, God gave Jeremiah a promise. He said, "For I, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land- against the successive kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome]" (Jeremiah 1:18).

Jeremiah had a very tough decision to make but he said "yes" to God and answered God's call on his life. In doing so, Jeremiah had to forsake the opinions of man because his calling opposed the will of the people. Jeremiah was probably the most unpopular prophet in all of Jewish history and his days on this earth were definitely difficult. If you measured his ministry by human standards, you would probably conclude that he was an utter failure. In God's eyes, however, Jeremiah was a huge success. His name even means, "God will exalt".

Today, in our nation, I believe God is calling forth people who will wholeheartedly make the same tough decision to stand for righteousness and truth. The book of Proverbs tells us that "Righteousness and justice are the foundation [of God's throne]; mercy and loving-kindness and truth goo before [God's face]" (Proverbs 89:14). Individually we will make our choice, but corporately, with God, we will stand.

God is calling forth His army. The battle is real and so is the war, but God is the Commander-In-Chief that we can count on! The prophet, Joel, tells us that "the Lord thunders His voice before His army, for His host is very great, and [they are] strong and powerful who execute [God's] Word" (Joel 2:11).

This is the time that we truly need to seek God's face and adhere to His Word. We need Jesus in our heart with nothing that separates us from His protection. We are clothed in the armor of God with the sword of the Spirit in our hands. Then, we are silent and listen for our instructions, for our General has the strategies for victory and the individual assignments to accomplish His plan. Appointed for such a time as this, God's army is rising up all around the earth equipped and ready to speak and perform His Word!


"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."
                                                                                                    Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Keep The Fire Burning

"Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud and oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil."
                                                                                                                        (Isaiah 33:14:14-15)




Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). We are called to dwell within that fire with hearts that are ablaze through the receiving and giving of a holy love in Christ. Moses was the first example of one who was called to abide within the divine nature of God found at the top of Mount Sinai. We are told that "the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on top of the mountain" (Exodus 24:17).

It is love that compels us to burn with fire for God. It is not within our human nature for this to occur but the Holy Spirit within us continually calls us to the flame of Christ. Communing with a holy God requires that certain aspects of our thinking and our lives need to be burned up by God's divine fire. This fire is a perfect blend of both God's love and His righteousness.

We become like God when we walk in the balance of love and righteousness. When the love of God burns passionately in our hearts we will bear the fruit of holiness. Conduct will follow character and character will follow love.

One disclaimer: when we walk in true devotion and carry the fire of Christ our faith will certainly be tested. God allows this testing to bring out the best in us, but Satan tempts us in order to bring out the worst in us. At times, our lives can feel like we are the rope in the middle of an intense game of tug of war.

The key to victory is the side of the rope on which we focus. If we focus on the difficulties, challenges, and set-backs, it is easy for our fire to be quenched. But, if we focus on what God is doing and on the victories, as well as the sweetness of our relationship with Jesus, our fire will burn brighter and brighter.

Focusing on the good is what Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy instruct us to do. They write, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22).

If you notice, the above verses emphasize consistency in our walk. They use the words "always" and "without ceasing" and "everything". Consistency in our walk means we learn to forsake: grumbling, useless regrets, and complacency. We develop meaningful righteous routines because we confidently understand who we are in Christ.

According to Merriam-Webster, the word consistent means "possessing firmness or coherence; marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity: free from variation or contradiction; showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom; tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated". If we do not develop consistency in our walk with Christ, we will never witness the miraculous that He desires to pour out upon us. And, the absence of seeing God move in our behalf predisposes us to discouragement, because in our hearts, we've always known we were destined for more.

Stoking the fire in our lives requires commitment and effort. An analogy is as follows: In the year of 1741, Benjamin Franklin developed the first wood-burning stove, called the Franklin stove. It was a metal-lined fireplace which had a hollow baffle in the rear to transfer more heat into the air. This provided warmth throughout the whole house with less smoke than an ordinary fireplace.

Subsequently, other wood-burning stoves were produced to improve the efficacy, but there are commonalities to all of them from which we can glean valuable insight. The most important aspect is that they all require continual attention and effort. Wood has to be chopped and stacked and loaded into the furnace. Someone has to be available at all times to supervise, maintain, and fill them several times a day and even during the night. Safety precautions are taken continuously, such as utilizing carbon monoxide detectors.

The same is true for the fire that God places within us. Constant effort is required. We fan the flames of passion through: worship, prayer, fellowship, and studying God's Word. We have been gifted with a rare and precious commodity that requires that we value it and guard it above all other things in our lives.

This is especially true when we find ourselves right smack dab in the middle of trials, tensions, and turmoil. This is the time we have to step up our game and intentionally seek out godly counsel and reinforcement. This comes in the form of godly servants who worship God both in Spirit and in truth.

There is so much in the world and through the enemy of our souls that want to snuff out the flame inside of us. It can come boldly knocking on the door or insidiously weaving its wicked head through unsuspecting means (or people). Either way, it must be obliterated and not tolerated for even one second!

God is good and He is faithful. He is never more pleased than with a passionate people engaged in a true Kingdom mindset. Regarding the angels, who are also created beings, God said, "He makes His angels winds, and His servants a flame of fire" (Hebrews 1:7). Regarding man, God sent tongues of fire that appeared to them and settled upon each one of them (Acts 2:3). God has given us everything we need to be on fire for Him; it is diligence and consistency that will keep the fire burning in our lives!


"In the midst of the living creatures there was what looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright and out of the fire went forth lightening."
                                                          Ezekiel 1:13

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Christ's Letter

"Clearly you are a letter of Christ... written, not with ink but by the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
                                                                                                                                  2 Corinthians 3:3




Throughout the Bible, God's word reads like a love story written from a loving Father to the children He is passionate about and adores. The storyline is simple in that what God wants is a loving relationship with the people He created. Over and over, God pursues His children and repeatedly tries to make them understand just how much He loves them and desires to dwell with them.

In the Old Testament, after God fulfilled His promises to the Israelites by freeing them from the oppression and slavery in Egypt, He "adopted" them at Mount Sinai as His special treasure. et, God had even more for them than that. He then went on to fulfill the remainder of His promises to them by coming into the camp of Israel to dwell among them (Exodus, Ch. 25-40).

Dwelling with His people was the ultimate privilege for them but it also brought with it great responsibility. When God summoned Moses to ascend Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:12), He instructed Moses to write down the ten commandments on two tablets of stone, which represented a renewed covenant that God was establishing with His people (Exodus 34:28).  A cloud of glory rested on that mountain as God gave Moses an intimate, personal glimpse of Himself. This provided Moses with a new vision of the presence and glory of God which would allow him to fulfill his purpose and destiny.

As magnificent as the old covenant was or God's people, it still had limitations. It provided boundaries and protection for God's people but it did not have the power to change their hearts. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the day when the law of God would be written in the hearts of man (Jeremiah 31:33), penned by the very hand of Jesus. Additionally, God promised to give hearts of flesh to replace their hearts of stone (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26).

The new covenant that Jesus established was far superior to the old covenant. It provides us with the terms we need to have a relationship with God. This covenant is always centered on Jesus and His work accomplished on our behalf. This powerful covenant brings with it both liberty and transformation.

A covenant is a contract that is legal and binding. The word covenant means "an arrangement made by one party with plenary power which the other party may accept or reject but cannot alter" (Moulton and Milligan). Therefore, either we come into agreement with what God has established (or we do not), but our choice can never change the contract, itself.

When we accept God's covenant for our lives, we become living epistles that point the way to Jesus. The apostle, Paul, describes our lives as letters that has been narrated and scribed by Jesus, himself. We have been given hearts of flesh and the Holy Spirit is continually providing the manuscript for us to live the life that God has designed for us.

Think about that for a moment. You are a letter that Jesus is writing for other people to read. It is not a boring letter, either! It contains a theme, a plot (conflicts or struggles), a climax, a style, a tone, a setting, and characters. There will inevitably be defeats along the way but, in the end, when we are in Christ, we will be victorious. It is impossible for Jesus to lose.

As living epistles, we know that God is writing a message for His glory. And, He does not waste a single thing either. He will take every circumstance, passion, talent, and person in our lives to reveal to us that we ae under the redemptive power of His Lordship.

When we allow the fullness of Christ to dwell within us (Ephesians 4:13), it becomes all about His life in us. This gives the Holy Spirit free reign to write the manuscript of His choosing. This will inevitably be a witness for Christ in a message written for His glory.

Have you thought about the letter Jesus is writing about your life? Have you identified the theme, or plot, or climax? Are you allowing others to read what Jesus is writing?

Do you see yourself and your life in the same way that God does? Or are you too busy doing your own thing? Think about Jacob. After a lifetime of scheming and conniving, he knew that he did not want a life devoid of God's blessings. God literally showed up for Jacob and started a wrestling match with him. Then He asked Jacob, "'What is your name?' To that, he responded, "'Jacob'". His name literally meant "supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler". Yet, that is not what God saw when he looked at Jacob. God said, "'Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed'" (Genesis 32:27-28).

After that, God commanded the blessing on Jacob's life. It was when Jacob finally surrendered to God that he became strong. G. Campbell Morgan called Jacob's experience "the crippling that crowns". He also interpreted the name Israel to mean "a God-mastered man". For some of us there is a wrestling that must occur in order for us to fully submit to the calling God has placed on our lives.

When God does rule our lives, He can trust us with His power. Only those who are under His authority have the right to exercise His authority. When it is God that we truly serve, we become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

Jacob lost the battle but he won the war. The same is true for you and I. There are times when God will allow our weaknesses, struggles, and mistakes to be front and center in our lives. He will, however, transform them into strengths by His power.

Life is messy and so are our stories (the letter Christ is writing about you and me). When we live in light of the facts that we are loved, accepted, and given a new name, the details of our stories will make more sense. It's not about living a perfect life; it's about living in relationship with Him and becoming a Living Letter that He has penned!


                      "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
                                                               John Piper
                           
                                                          

 

It Is Springtime!

"For Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come."
                                                                                                                  Song of Solomon 2:11-12




Spring symbolizes an awakening and a newness of life. This renewal of life bursts forth from a barren ground and the harsh effects of a cold winter. As the grass and leaves deepen in their hues of green, so do the erupting buds and blooms remind us that all around us is the revival of life.

New birth and growth bring joy and hope to our lives as we drink in the rich colors and beauty that God has given to us in this season. Plans and projects that were put on hold during the dreary winter months are once again remembered as dormancy is discarded and regeneration marches forward. Preparations begin to usher in the beauty of this new season.

During this season, we remember Jesus' death and the significance of how He provided salvation for humanity. This is the appropriate time to reflect upon our calling and election and to be confident in our eternal standing with God. Just as we implement a good spring cleaning in our homes, it is even more important to allow the Holy Spirit to show us the places in our hearts and lives that need to be cleansed.

The time in which we celebrate Jesus' resurrection also coincides with the revival of life that we see in the earth. Death is replaced by life and we can tangibly see that the winter is past. Solomon speaks of the flowers that appear on the earth as early evidences that a new season is at hand. This is God's visible demonstration of His desire to bless His children.

Another obvious sign of spring that Solomon references is that the birds return after a long winter and announce their presence by bursting forth in glorious song. This springtime melody reminds us that this is a celebratory season of worship. We focus on the fact that God is doing a "new thing" and we worship Him in thanksgiving and praise.

The old is gone and the new has come. Even though pruning is required in this season, we are cognizant of the benefit of it. After the dead places are eliminated, as well as the places that are overgrown and undernourished, we understand that beauty will be its' replacement and that we will be stunned both by God's creativity and His splendor. Whatever we allow God to prune from our lives will yield a greater harvest, declaring all the more the glory of our God.

Isaiah tells us that even the desert will blossom. He says, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose and the autumn crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing"(Isaiah 35:1-2). He goes on to say that the land can have its glory because, in actuality, it is God revealing His glory.

There are many ways that God can reveal His glory. We see it in His elevated position over the universe (Psalm 57:5). The heavens reveal God's glory (Psalm 19:2). God's saving acts towards mankind reveal His glory (Isaiah 40:5). God created us so that we would bring Him glory through our actions and honorable characteristics (Isaiah 43:7). His glory fills the earth (Habakuk 2:14). And, God's glory can be seen "like a consuming fire on top of the mountain"(Exodus 24:17). Therefore, God is the "King of glory"(Psalm 24:7-10).

If the past season you have been in seems like a dry desert, just know that there is no greater backdrop for God to reveal His glory in your life. David penned this truth when he wrote,"You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide them with grain when You have so prepared the earth. You water the field's furrows abundantly, You settle the ridges of it; You make the soil soft with showers, blessing the sprouting of its vegetation. You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness"(Psalm 65:9-11).

During this year of Jubilee, we will see showers of God's blessings. Ezekiel tells us that God says, "I will bless My people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing"(Ezekiel 34:26).

For many in the body of Christ, this last season has been a difficult and tumultuous one. The shaking that has occurred has left many people feeling very shaken. Yet, within our grasp we still hold the key to our future and to our destiny. The book of Hebrews says, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Hebrew 12:28). Focus on that which has not been shaken out of your life because what we still hold in our hands is what God is going to use for His glory.

As we trust Christ more and more and seek His wisdom and guidance, we will begin to see with clarity what it is that we hold in our hands. Revelation will accompany our gift and we will know that whatever it is, it will be used for our good and for His glory. If you are not certain what it is, ask God to show you what you hold and then ask Him to touch it with His resurrection power.

We will witness God birthing a new thing in our lives. He will reawaken the things that look dead or dormant. Jesus says, "See, I make all things new. And He said, 'Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine)'" (Revelation 21:5).

Speak blessings to those places in your life that need God's touch. Declare to the mountain of obstacles to be removed and cast into the sea (Matthew 21:21). By faith, we will jubilantly see that the season is no longer a cold and barren winter. Instead, we will see the beauty and life that can only be found in the season called Spring!


             "He sends forth springs into the valley; their waters run among the mountains."
                                                              Psalm 104:10