Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

Many of us desire, seek, pray "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN". We want the power and reality of the Kingdom of God to come bursting into our present. Is this wrong? No. There is a reality in heaven going on that perhaps we should take some time to visit as the genocide of Christians is taking in the Middle East.
   
 Revelation 6: 9-11 tells us:

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the people slaughtered because of God’s word and the testimony they had. They cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?” 

Wait! There are souls under the altar crying, HOW LONG. They are crying for justice, crying for the day when King Jesus will right every wrong. These are Kingdom prayers and as our Lord taught "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, let us cry HOW LONG LORD until you avenge the blood of those who live on earth. 

As history repeats itself our view and understanding of the Body of Christ must expand beyond our church walls, preferences, language, nationalities,tribalisms and church tradition. We must remind ourselves of the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians; there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. As part of that one let us discern the times and seasons, mourn with those who mourn, praying... How long, Lord?


In Him,
Jeannette 
 

Sunday, October 6, 2013

IN THE MIDST OF "DELUSIONAL" MEN

Years ago there was a young man in our fellowship that decided he was going to venture out and start his own business. Throughout his being a part of our community my husband had encouraged and supported this man in his endeavors. In spite of the fact that others considered him socially awkward my husband saw a man in need of affirmation and fellowship. One day this man came to our home offering his professional services and after some consideration we had to decline. The moment my husband let him know we were not interested his demeanor changed. Obviously offended he decided he was going to tell my husband what he really thought of our community and his pastor. Sitting in our living room he looked straight at my husband and said, "When are you going to realize you are delusional?"  He went on to question the call of God, in my husbands life, and "exhorted" him to give up.

Why did this man think my husband was delusional? Was it because our community was not in the hundreds or thousands? Could it be my husband did not fit a certain mold for today's pastor or leader? Was it that my husband never managed a successful business or served as an executive in a fortune 500 company? It was obvious his words, spoken from hurt and rejection, were meant to humiliate.

Since the month of October is pastor appreciation month I thought I would give a big shout out to all the men and women who have been told they are "delusional" for following the call of God. 

Just this past week I was in Kalamazoo attending a conference with pastors from around the country. During one of the breakout sessions I heard the stories of men and women who have given their lives to serve God and others. As these servant-leaders shared their stories, with authenticity and transparency, tears starting streaming down my face. But, why was I crying? In each story there was a common denominator that spoke to a deep place within my spirit. What touched me were the hearts of shepherds who are willing to give anything and everything to answer the call of God.

Story after story I heard the familiar burden of true shepherds. These are the unknown soldiers, serving in the trenches, who cannot abandon the call to serve. Many of these men ,according to western church thinking, fall into the category of delusional, unsuccessful, ill-equipped and failures. But I would suggest the following:

  • These are the men who have prayed and pleaded, before God's throne, for our families. Would any person selflessly do this?
  • These are the men who study God's Word so, above all else, our souls prosper. Is that not worth more than gold? 
  • These are the men, with the eyes of a shepherd, who see us wandering before we realize we have strayed. Are not their words of counsel and wisdom worth paying attention too? 
  • These are the men who in spite of adversity, disappointment and hardship endure to the end. Shouldn't we encourage and support them along the way?
  • These are the men who give of their own limited funds to help you pay your bills when your in need. Did you know that?
  • These are the men that rejoice with you when your child is born, you get a job promotion and your children marry. Ask yourself, when was the last time you rejoiced for your pastor?
  • These are the men who will admit they are far from perfect and, at times, will make imperfect decisions. Are they not worthy of our mercy and patience? 
  • These are the men that, when the phone rings at 5:30 am, are willing to get out of bed and meet with you as well as minister to your need. Would we do the same?
  • These are the men that, when they are on vacation, will always answer your distressing phone call and never let it go to voice mail. Are we on call 24-7?
  • These are the men that sacrifice their lives, and family needs, for a salary that rarely covers their living expenses. Would we do the same?

Monday, September 2, 2013

Holy, Holy, Holy......


When I was in my early twenties and began my search for truth and peace I lived several blocks away from Harvard University. The area was a hub for humanistic thinkers and a breeding ground to indulge in eastern philosophies, from restaurants to reading rooms, all doors led to “god’s love”.



For someone who was broken, depressed and desperately longing for love and peace it was like walking into a maze hoping to find the right path.  I remember someone recommending the Course of Miracles, they said this should help me find what I needed, forgiveness which would lead to love. The book was designed to help me achieve spiritual formation.



 One night my roommate invited me to go meditate with a group who promised we would feel love and peace like never before.  There we sat legs crossed eyes closed in front of some god chanting ohms for an hour. Needless to say I walked out the same way I walked in, empty, depressed and desperate. No love, no peace, no forgiveness.Why?



What I didn’t know was I couldn’t find or understand the true love of God until I had a divine encounter with the holiness of God.  Today, many false voices claim the love of god but only biblical truth declares a HOLY GOD.



The book of Isaiah tells us that the Prophet saw the King, the Lord of Host, and his kingdom, the King was on a throne and the train of His robes filled the temple. He saw the power of God and he saw the glory of God. He saw the angelic beings worshiping Him saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty…”



What was Isaiah’s response:

           

Isaiah 6:5



Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.





What struck me about this passage and I would be bold enough to say struck Isaiah was that he saw that God was holy.  We all have heard so many teachings on the love of God but so few about the holiness of God.  I suggest that if we really meet GOD the first thing we will notice is He is a Holy God, unlike any other.  Can we truly understand the love of God without seeing his holiness?

 
What would you say is the most fundamental character of God? My answer, God’s holiness because the WORD tells us so.  When we see this Holy God our first reaction isn’t to run to Him, but run from Him.  We cry just like Isaiah and many others did, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Without an understanding of His Holiness how can we realize we need to be cleansed.



 I was searching for peace and love when I truly needed a revelation of the Holiness of God in my life.  If I had not encountered His Holiness I would have never experienced His love.



There is a divine order that starts with the realization that God is Holy. We cannot love God until we have seen Him as Holy.



This is the pattern of worship in the throne room "Holy,  holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come."

Let His Holiness do the cleansing so that Love can do the restoring. 
 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND


Nested in the history of Israel we find the story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. They were an abominable duo who did more to defile the land than any leaders before them.(1 Kings16:33). Their ungodly reign caused the faithful of God to be burdened with the consequences of their idolatry. Jezebel had the prophets of the Lord killed and was desperately seeking to kill the prophet Elijah. (1 King 18:13). Clearly, Ahab and Jezebel were no friends of God or of His people.

Such was the prosecution of the prophets that King Ahab had men hunt nations and kingdoms in search for Elijah to end his life.  The Bible recounts of a day when the Lord spoke to Elijah telling him to present himself to King Ahab. How would you like that calling? Here he had been protected of the Lord and know he is being asked to meet Ahab face to face. (1 Kings 18)

Can you picture this great confrontation? The arrogant wicked King sees Elijah and has the audacity to say  “O troubler of Israel”. Elijah responds with the boldness of a lion proclaiming Ahab is the trouble- maker because he has forsaken the Word of the Lord and followed the baals.  Elijah tells Ahab, gather the people of Israel and the prophets of baal and asherah to Mount Carmel.

 Elijah stands before the people and in a proverbial sense DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND saying:

 “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1st Kings 18:21).

 Now God’s people had not completely stopped following Him.  History tells us they tried to follow God and the false gods of the day. Elijah’s words were clear, concise and left no room for interpretation.

The Bible says that after Elijah spoke the people of God answered him not a word. 

Elijah than challenges the false prophets saying let’s make sacrifice, you call on your gods and I will call on the name of the Lord. The one who answers by fire HE IS GOD!

Baal didn’t answer then Elijah prepares the sacrifice and prays this powerful and amazing prayer:

"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."(1 Kings 18:36-37)

As Elijah finishes his prayer the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice down to the wood, stones and the dust.  The people of God saw this and fell on their faces saying:

The LORD, He is God! The Lord He is God!

In an instant they went from faltering between two opinions to proclaiming HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD.

 GOD’S drawing a line in the sand is not about hate, intolerance, inequity, injustice, unfairness and single mindedness. It’s about LOVE, HIS LOVE for HIS people, plan and purposes. 

In His mercy, loving-kindness He revealed Himself in power so that Israel’s heart would turn to Him.

Have the voices of today brought you to falter? Has the accuser of the brethren caused you to doubt? Do you have little strength left?

The Lord is calling‑ rebuild the altar of your broken heart and tell the world:
              HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD…

Saturday, March 30, 2013

The Kingdom; True Freedom and Equality

 
Years ago I was at women’s meeting and the older women were talking about the decline of morality in our society.  As a young women in my early twenties I did not realize the urgency and importance of the conversation.  As I heard them talking about the end of the age being upon us I was literally thinking some of the comments were hyperbole and completely outlandish.  More than two decades have passed since I sat in the midst of those godly women and have come to realize that even their worse hyperbole can’t come close to the decline we are currently seeing today.

Only two in a half decades have past since that conversation and there has been a complete redefinition of truth, morality, how humans communicate, connect, entertain, educate and the list goes on and on. But the greatest concern I see is the church conforming to this redefinition and encouraging disciples to evolve since society is evolving. It’s a terrible day when alleged theologians, pastors and teachers are taking the Word of God and redefining it’s meaning in the name of love.

The message of the Kingdom of God is far more powerful and liberating than the co-exist rant our modern evolving society so easily embraces.  There is a depth to the absolute truth of the message of gospel that resonates in the spirit of man. What society has done is dilute the truth with its man made philosophies tearing down its original purpose which is to bring freedom to humanity.

The truth is the Kingdom message is one of true equality. The book of Galatians tells us there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Lord has no favorites however he does not rule His Kingdom like a democracy nor does He accept everyone’s opinions about anything and everything.  The message of the Kingdom does mean there are no ethnic, geographical, cultural or moral barriers for those who have repented by turning away from that which God calls sin. Only then is true forgiveness extended and a NEW LIFE IN HIM begins. When we are His and live according to the reality of the Kingdom we become a regenerated man, by the Spirit! How’s that for equality and acceptance!!!!! Now that is how God’s love wins!

To all contemporary thinkers, theologians, pastors and seekers who boldly declare freedom is found in the message that no longer stands on the infallible Word of God I would like to echo the words of George Orwell.

         “The more I hear people screaming freedom, freedom, the more I hear their chains rattling.”