Jan 3 2012

Hurricane God

There is a vacancy in the Church, and it is very disturbing. Our churches have operated on nothing, for so long, we think what we see as normal isn’t even close. We should compare ourselves to the young and zealous Church in the early chapters of the Book of Acts. And when we do, we see our emptiness.

There is something though. We can shun defeat in this matter. The Holy Spirit often enters into our world, through “objectionable” and foolish ways. What we do with people who do not mesh exactly with our theology can really determine our personal relevancy.

Our churches should be places where we directly (and specifically) encounter the Lord God. Our elders, and our ushers, should be handing out life-preservers, and flares. Rafts, of course, should be readily available. For who can know what will happen when we make “first contact” with the Living God, all provision for survival should be made. Agape love can completely undo us.

When “Hurricane God” rips into us full blast, we will have to decide whether to take Him in His tumultuous power, or shed what we know for what we will be content with. We will often tolerate very little, to see that our life isn’t turned upside down. Perhaps we reason, or think that this is the most terrible thing that could happen to us.

But His special grace just can’t be factored out, or eliminated. He slams us with divine love. Something akin to a deep agape love now being poured on us, and we are fully saturated in it all. In this place, we can so easily ignite. We are now on fire, when the Father touches us.

Jun 21 2011

Becoming a Gentle Person

“The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.” –A.W. Tozer

“The higher people are in the favor of God, the more tender they are.” –Martin Luther

“Rudeness, yelling, anger, and swearing are a weak man’s imitation of strength.” –Author Unknown

“Perhaps no grace is less prayed for, or less cultivated than gentleness. Indeed it is considered rather as belonging to natural disposition or external manners, than as a Christian virtue; and seldom do we reflect that not to be gentle is sin.” –Bethune

“Gentleness is an active trait, describing the manner in which we should treat others. Meekness is a passive trait, describing the proper Christian response when others mistreat us.” –Jerry Bridges

Gentleness means recognizing that the world around us is fragile, especially other people. It is recognizing our own capacity to do harm and choosing instead to be tender, soft-spoken, soft-hearted, and careful.

Perhaps this idea of becoming careful brings us the closest. People who know exactly who they are become the most gentle of human beings. They now live for others, and show a deep-seated care for even the “least.”

Gentleness (crossquotes.org)

Jan 4 2011

Grace That Teaches

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

- Titus 2:11-12, NIV

The grace of God has a tremendous visibility. It is seen by all. It is not sophisticated, and you don’t have to jump through any ‘hoops’. Everyone can see it. However, there are a couple of things that will block it. The sins of ungodliness, and the passions of this world system. These will short-circuit His grace.

It is ‘grace that teaches’. We learn and take our lessons from handling God’s grace. We receive our education from that grace, it tutors us and we grow in understanding as we understand His love for us. Grace comes, and we take our lessons. We begin to understand others, and get a handle on life and all its imponderables.

Grace educates, but not legalism. The Law has absolutely no ability to educate our hearts and minds. But God’s untiring mercy explodes on us, and we begin to download all that He offers. Learning grace expands us, and we develop abilities that we never dreamed of. We start to do things that amaze us.

One of the most amazing things is that we learn to say, ‘No!’ This is perhaps the ultimate ability–to just say no. Saying ‘no’ means we will not step in that particular direction. We won’t travel down that road. ‘No!’ is in a sense is saying, ‘Yes!’ to what God wants. Learning to do that is what we are doing here.

Grace is so gentle, and she is a perfect teacher. She teaches me to be merciful and forgiving. All that she has, she imparts to me. When I receive from grace myself, I become gentle and joyful and kind. When I receive from grace, I become a much more fulfilled Christian.

There are things that work contrary to this. Ungodliness and the lusts made by this world’s system. The dynamic of grace gets turned-off when we get diverted into these sins. And this happens all the time, it seems. But developing a self-controlled, upright and a godly life will give us a deep and eternal perspective. We are not created for living in a garbage dump. We are royalty–we are meant to rule and reign, as Kings and Queens. We have been readied by Grace for this place.

Nov 16 2010

Jesus is Leaving Us?

But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.

John 16:7, CEV

Someone is thinking. Jesus has an awareness of exactly how it’s going to unfold. He understood that by departing from the disciples, He would open up the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to common people. Jesus is thinking about what is best. He isn’t vacillating. It seems very opposite, He must leave in order to bless. IDK, but in my mind, for me– give me Jesus!

But there is a grace which definitely inundates us. We stand with each other, soaked to the skin by mercy and love. But this is what Jesus promised. This sudden cloudburst of ‘goodness’ on us drenches us throughly. We must learn to accept the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. His presence ‘enriches’ us beyond human comprehension. He brings ‘gifts’ that astound us.

I know we figured otherwise. But the ministry of the Holy Spirit more than doubles the work of Grace in our hearts. But we don’t say this to diminish Jesus’ work in any way. Rather, we understand the economy of God, and we know the common currency of the spiritual moment. And the Holy Spirit is golden.

Jesus declares ‘what is best for you’. But within me, after studying the Gospels, I want Jesus. But He contends that there is something even better. Now who am I to dispute that? Jesus declares that a ‘Helper’ or ‘Advocate” will come to us, and lead and then bless us. We have never knew a helper; what does He do? He is an advocate–what is that?

The Holy Spirit has been officially assigned to us. I remember the TV of my youth. ‘I Dream of Jeannie“, about 1966, (Now that goes way back). You see Jeannie was assigned to Larry Hagman . She lives to meet all his needs. She is there to do all that the situation requires. Now this is a trifle bit ‘reaching’, but she is there to help, strengthen, and watch over Larry.

The Holy Spirit is there for us. He directs and completes us. Life without His influence we would not recognize. We would be stripped of any goodness and grace. It is good that Jesus left to send the Spirit. Our lives would be ‘hollowed’ and vacant without Him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Dream_of_Jeannie

Sep 27 2010

Nothing, But Leaves

And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, forit was not the season for figs. Mark 11:13

We make the estimation that if we want figs, now is the moment. Fruit trees, in my humble opinion, are finicky and very much underappreciated. My father-in-law has a tree that he has grafted four other fruits on, essentially spreading out an exquisite harvest over the entire summer. Jesus was gravitated to this particular tree. He went to it, anticipating some good fruit– figs.

The tree had nothing. He looked up and through the leaves. There was absolutely nothing to be found. Jesus comes to us, and we open up to Him, to share our fruit. But, there is nothing.

The secret to embracing this scripture is in one word: Disappointment. Jesus was disappointed when he examined the tree. The fig tree represents Israel, which had zilch to offer the spiritually hungry. To focus on fruit was a lost cause, for it had nothing to give anyone. To be sure, there was a whole lot of green leaves, and from a distance it looked wonderful.

The church, on the other hand, is to be fruitful. The fruit is produced in a whole other way. The churches fruit is to be readily available, and completely accessible to everyone who is hungry. Our energy should not be seen in leaf production that looks really good. We are to produce fruit.

We are totally different. We are to give food to the hungry, refreshment to the weary, comfort to the sorrowing, and to meet the souls that come expecting. Our fruit has to be readily available to every seeking soul that comes along.

It’s not about us, the tree. That is the confusion in the covenant people of Jesus’ time. It is the fruit, rich and luscious that is the focus. Not leaves, or branches, or trunk– but fruit. Show me the fruit! FRUIT! That is the mark of authenticity.

Our Lord asks that we become people that are always in season. When Jesus faced down the fig tree, it wasn’t ready. It could not deliver. As New Testament believers, filled up with the Holy Spirit, (in a way incomprehensible to Old Testament believers), are to be fresh and fruitful. There should be no off-season. We are to be ready for anyone, at anytime. His Spirit flows through us. He has made us green, and full of fruit.

“that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” Col. 1:10

Sep 2 2010

Green Olives

A Green Olive Tree

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God, forever and ever.”

Psalm 52:8, ESV

It is important that we can properly identify ourselves. The psalmist knows what he is. There is no confusion in his thinking, and he has a zero vacillation factor. “I am like–the comparison, to a green olive tree, –the reality.” FYI, he isn’t talking about green olives (my fridge has a jar or two), but a tree that is green (full of fresh life). He marks himself, identifying himself of being a flourishing and productive tree. This makes sense when we compare possibilities of what the many types there are.

He puts himself in “the house of God”. “Planted”–the idea of being fixed in a spot. And living, ”growing, lush and green”. He is not your “run-of-a-mill” olive tree. He is planted, and positioned, in an incredibly rich place, right in the temple, God’s house. Now it is one thing to flourish– but another thing to be that way in the ultimate prime spot. It is good to see this. There is a generousness about having a place in God’s house. It is as good as it gets!

There is a “trust” that we can see that the psalmist has. It has to do with love. Not so much of my love for Him, but His love for me. It takes confidence to think this way. I confide, and then settle myself in His love. He loves me! (and I know it!) The psalmist emphasizes a love that has an eternal understanding, “forever and ever”. Now most of us are aware of a love that has limits and distinctions. But this kind of love is the “firehose” kind of love. It can peel paint off a car.

A fresh olive tree. A desirable thing. But planted right in the middle of God’s house. That is an amazing thing! We have the soil, precious soil. And we have the location, right in a wonderful spot. This is as good as it gets! We have the most envious spot in the garden. As a clinically depressed person, this comes as a terrifically great news!