The preaching places of Jesus
It is interesting to think about the preaching spaces of Jesus. The Sermon on the mount was done on a hill in Galilee - His most important teaching was done in an open space, most of His other"sermons" and teachings recorded was either outdoors or in intimate close quarters. Defending the women caught in adultery, he was writing on sand. In Peter's boat, again "preaching" to the shoreline of people gathered. Outdoors where he broke bread, for the multitude, he was preaching in an open field of people who came to hear his voice, they were then seated in groups of 10. I think of the long dialogue he had in the upper room with his disciples before he died.
When he was indoors, it was in intimate private locations. In the home where he healed the paralytic, he was also "preaching" there. He definitely was was a street preacher/teacher, something John Wesley was known for in his day. (My favourite story of Wesley has of him preaching, being harshly and physically threatened and swimming a across a cold winter lake before preaching again with fire, to people on the other side.) I see Jesus having that passion, being treated badly in Nazareth, he goes back there to preach in whatever Nazarene home or space he can find. Thing is, he was regularly thrown out of synagogues.
Preaching or dialoging?
Another significant spot where he "preached" I used the inverted commas because most of His "sermons" were more like dialogue in a film, in which he responded to life and situations which cropped up. The long stretch of red dialogue in John 15,16 and 17 where he gives his death speech is peppered with the questions of the disciples. "what do you mean by such and such? we don't understand!?"
Also when explaining the mystery of the kingdom the parable of the sower, that passage is peppered with his disciples asking "what is the meaning of this?" behind closed doors. I love the sense of small group intimacy. I imagine that they with hushed and eager enthusiasm leaned forward to hear the explanations from their master, the truths of the kingdom. Jesus responded to their questions and their hearts, "because you are hungry to know, you will have more."
Re-looking at "preaching" and "discipleship"
I think we have to seriously rethink "preaching" as we know it. We have to rebook at "discipleship" because it appears that everyday life and in everyday locations, was the ground which Jesus used to "disciple people" not within the walls of a mass organization as we know it. Prayer was another thing frequently done outdoors with Jesus.
"Preaching" to Jesus I think was a thing interwoven in the ordinary. It was just Jesus having an informal to-and-fro with everyday people about the truths of His Father. There were questions, there was response from the Master. There was participation of the disciples as they asked questions. It seems that the process was dynamic, it flowed and changed according to their hearts. "You cannot bear this now, So I won't share it with you".
It was done when opportunity presented itself, Jesus would preach according to the need of the circumstance. When the woman was caught in adultery, he took the opportunity to rebuke and teach the most beautiful scripture ever. "He who is without sin, throw the first stone" and "I do not condemn you, go and sin no more" was not a "sermon" made in the four walls of "church" one was a harsh rebuke to his fiercest enemies who came to test and challenge Him the other was comfort spoken, face to face with the life of one he saved.
Nicodemus wanting to hear him didn't even get a chance to ask his a question. "Rabi, no one can do these things unless he comes from God." Jesus gave him john 3:16 which we now preach in "churches". It was orginally spoken in a house to someone at night because that person was afraid of his "church". Ironic.
I suspect making disciples and "preaching" should be the same. Spontaneous, opportunistic, intimate, in small groups, participatory, informal, peppered with questions, occasionally having food. (the last supper was their dinner).
Re-looking at worship
Where is the "worship service" in the new testament? the lights, stages, music, "worship leader", projector screen and lyrics? Where was "worship"? It was when people encountered the master and leaving with reverence in their hearts and made a change in their life. Doing what He said. That was worship.
Preaching, discipleship, worship, I suspect should look more "de-churched" and more ordinary, more like the everyday life we live 6 days a week.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
What does Jesus have to do with our modern expressions of what is commonly known as church?
What Would Jesus Do Today?
What do massive buildings and leadership conferences have to do with the church? Not much.
Jesus would have done it.
Americans still believe in Jesus. Not everyone, of course, but most. In fact, the numbers shock people who thought we’d left all that silly Christmas story stuff behind: Two-thirds of Americans say they believe the whole thing. The shepherds, the manger, the virgin birth, the magi, all of it.
But you wouldn’t know that from our traditional media, or even Internet culture. And it’s worth saying, too, that what we really believe is not what we tell a pollster; it’s what we do. We can check all the high-minded or religious boxes, but our actions (like what we do with our money) can give us away.
But Americans remain incorrigibly religious. As a guest speaker, I shared data like this with a group of teenagers at an evangelical church. “So Americans say they believe in Jesus," I said. "Americans believe in the Holy Spirit. Americans believe in God. So why aren’t they flocking to church?”
[READ: Our Call to Work]
Thoughtful silence. And then a lone young man ventured a guess: “Maybe they don’t like us.”
I think he’s on to something.
Time magazine recently named, as its “Persons of the Year”, “The Ebola Fighters,” and the glowing article is largely about Christians, evangelical ones even. They’re Christians who don’t keep their faith private. Instead, they bring their faith to bear with their very lives.
Has the mainstream media suddenly found Jesus? Doubtful. What’s more likely, I suspect, is that they found Christians doing things that are stunningly, beautifully compatible with Jesus, Himself.
Frankly – and I’m writing this as a Christian, myself – so much of what we do isn’t so compatible. I’m not talking about the obvious, here: The lack of forgiveness, the anger toward our enemies or a preoccupation with politics and the levers of power. I’m talking about the things we’ve grafted into church culture: Everything from massive building projects to stage spectacles to our emphasis on “worship services” to corporate-type power structures to Christian celebrities and consumerism.
[SEE: Editorial Cartoons on Ebola]
To my non-Christian friends, I can only say, “You know what? I don’t get it, either.”
I don’t see the connection. It doesn’t make million-dollar theater buildings evil, of course. It’s just that it’s not easy to see how the actual ministry of Jesus, the actual values of a God who came with good news for the poor, who chooses the humble, who favors the weak over the strong, led to, say, pastors-as-CEO’s or a hundred “leadership conferences.” Didn’t Jesus talk a lot more about following?
Perhaps you’re a Christian for the trappings of church culture. That’s okay. It just doesn’t do it for me. Ultimately, I’m doing this “Christian thing” not because I love a powerful teacher or Christian pop or even Handel’s "Messiah." I’m in it for Jesus. He’s the one that attracted me, and still does.
So when I see people acting like him, I’m drawn in. When I read about others running away from Ebola and death, but Christians running toward it, something clicks. Something looks familiar.
[READ: Jesus Is Your Reset]
In Liberia, Christians converted a chapel intended for “worship services” into an Ebola ward for the sick and dying. When I read this, I don’t think, “But where will they hold their worship service?” Instead, it’s, “Now, that’s ‘worship’, and ‘service’ I easily understand. That looks like Jesus to me.”
I recognize the Jesus who, when no one else would touch lepers, touched lepers. The Jesus who healed in the synagogue. That Jesus. I recognize him.
Jesus didn’t prioritize safety, and he didn’t dissociate from those in pain. Perhaps that’s why, when a third-century plague ravaged the Roman Empire, Christians were known for refusing to leave. While many people left their own family members to die, followers of Jesus willingly stayed to die with them, and the church grew.
Oh, this isn’t a “church growth” strategy. It’s a death strategy. And it looks a lot like Jesus.
Maybe others recognize this, too, including people who would never publicly identify with us. And maybe, rather than dismissing non-believers with disdain, we might wonder why they, too, stand up and take notice of a Christianity worthy of the name “Christ.” After all, we believers may remember, he was sent into the world not to condemn it, but to redeem it.
[READ: Christmas Compassion]
There’s a line from "The Village," a film about a blind woman who risks a journey for a friend: “She is more capable than most in this village. And she is led by love. The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.” Two-thirds of Americans still believe that 2,000 years ago, in and out-of-way, dirty, where-you-least-expect-it kind of place, people knelt before love.
And, many, if they really see it still will.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Why I believe in a non-denominational style of Church
There are several interesting patterns of group behaviour I observed in my journey through several church cultures, having been up close and exposed for long periods of time (the shortest of which is 2 years). These are my observations gleaned from having been immersed in a range church cultures ranging from Reform to Armenian, conservative to pentecostal, family churches to medium size/growing, and 'prosperity gospel' megachurches.
Each community and group will hold a particular slant and view on scriptures and each will hold a 'sacred cow' of doctrine and teaching, shunning its polar opposite view. Examples encountered: a reform community will favour the sovereignty of God over definite requests for miracles and God's intervention, pentecostals sometimes favour 'contending' and spiritual warfare for breakthroughs over submitting to God's sovereignty. Pentecostals always pray for the Holy Spirit's intervention, over the use of logical scientific problem-solving. Conservatives will favour the use and application of logic to everyday problems and eschew the miraculous or the communications and leading of the Spirit of God. Prosperity gospel adherents will boldly ask for blessing, but have no teaching on Godly suffering. Conservatives will hardly pray for material blessing or healing, but emphasise the role of trials in shaping Godliness.
Each camp sees clearly and fears the errors and pitfalls of the opposing camp and holds their own stand to be true and right. What I have marvelled at when observing these cultures up close is that to a certain extent all of them are correct, each denomination has been given a particular conviction out of scripture to teach and perpetuate. These groups fail to see that the people in the opposing camp are brothers in Christ also. Sometimes these differences are emphasised for the sake of maintaining a distinctive culture which they would hold to be God ordained, to the growing alienation to the rest of the body of Christ.
What boggles the mind is that each camp fails to see that all God's truth is held in tension with a seemingly opposing truth in scripture. For example, to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance is scriptural but it does not exclude the use of logic and wisdom, understanding and medical science to the solving of human problems, especially when encountering problems like diseases. When a brother encounters a disease, all the above approaches should be used, and not one to the exclusion of another. Another example, when encountering a brother in extreme trial, be it disease or a discouraging financial situation, one should pray with definite requests for healing, for God to make a way in that person's finances, persisting to ask God in faith for a breakthrough but this does not exclude leaving room for God's sovereignty and believing that He is still in control over the situation and may have reasons for not moving as quickly as we might like for Him to. This way, the brother we are fighting for is not discouraged by the attitude of another brother who defers to the sovereignty of God and gives up the fight up and saying 'it is all up to God', because there is someone who is persistently praying for deliverance, yet we must also admit we don't know God's sovereign will in a particular situation and should seek to know His heart.
Anyway this is all a very long-winded way of saying that one big reason why I embrace a more organic approach to church is because in an organic context, what you believe does not matter as much as the bigger goal of practicing the love of God towards one another. And the love of God dictates that I listen to your particular stand on scripture, even if it is opposed to my own, as long as it is biblical. For the sake of unity, the love of God dictates that I bless and encourage the one who does not hold the same view as I.
The beauty is that in such a 'non-denominational' setting, the practice of listening to one another keeps us all 'in balance'. The goal is not to conform everyone to my particular stand or interpretation of scripture, but to see all the diverse pieces of God-given convictions building up the body of Christ when each person contributes his piece. The result is an amazing diversity of perspective which reveals the multi-faceted wisdom and glory of God. Ultimately what matters most in an organic context is that we keep to the scriptures, that we practice the love of God towards one another through humility and listening, and that we journey on to follow Christ together.
These blogposts articulate well particular aspects of how organic communities operate. 'Approved ones in a divided Church' by Dan Herford the author discusses the distinctives of Christian humility and love and despite doctrinal divisions and John Zens 'The Mind of Christ in Our Life Together: All of Christ Through All the Voices' which talks about the practice of listening to one another in an organic context. Keith Giles 'Making decisions in an Organic Church' talks about the leadership of the Holy Spirit in organic communities. Dan Herford blogs about how we all like certainty, but need to take into account different convictions because we don't know everything here: "certain problems"
Each community and group will hold a particular slant and view on scriptures and each will hold a 'sacred cow' of doctrine and teaching, shunning its polar opposite view. Examples encountered: a reform community will favour the sovereignty of God over definite requests for miracles and God's intervention, pentecostals sometimes favour 'contending' and spiritual warfare for breakthroughs over submitting to God's sovereignty. Pentecostals always pray for the Holy Spirit's intervention, over the use of logical scientific problem-solving. Conservatives will favour the use and application of logic to everyday problems and eschew the miraculous or the communications and leading of the Spirit of God. Prosperity gospel adherents will boldly ask for blessing, but have no teaching on Godly suffering. Conservatives will hardly pray for material blessing or healing, but emphasise the role of trials in shaping Godliness.
Each camp sees clearly and fears the errors and pitfalls of the opposing camp and holds their own stand to be true and right. What I have marvelled at when observing these cultures up close is that to a certain extent all of them are correct, each denomination has been given a particular conviction out of scripture to teach and perpetuate. These groups fail to see that the people in the opposing camp are brothers in Christ also. Sometimes these differences are emphasised for the sake of maintaining a distinctive culture which they would hold to be God ordained, to the growing alienation to the rest of the body of Christ.
What boggles the mind is that each camp fails to see that all God's truth is held in tension with a seemingly opposing truth in scripture. For example, to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance is scriptural but it does not exclude the use of logic and wisdom, understanding and medical science to the solving of human problems, especially when encountering problems like diseases. When a brother encounters a disease, all the above approaches should be used, and not one to the exclusion of another. Another example, when encountering a brother in extreme trial, be it disease or a discouraging financial situation, one should pray with definite requests for healing, for God to make a way in that person's finances, persisting to ask God in faith for a breakthrough but this does not exclude leaving room for God's sovereignty and believing that He is still in control over the situation and may have reasons for not moving as quickly as we might like for Him to. This way, the brother we are fighting for is not discouraged by the attitude of another brother who defers to the sovereignty of God and gives up the fight up and saying 'it is all up to God', because there is someone who is persistently praying for deliverance, yet we must also admit we don't know God's sovereign will in a particular situation and should seek to know His heart.
Anyway this is all a very long-winded way of saying that one big reason why I embrace a more organic approach to church is because in an organic context, what you believe does not matter as much as the bigger goal of practicing the love of God towards one another. And the love of God dictates that I listen to your particular stand on scripture, even if it is opposed to my own, as long as it is biblical. For the sake of unity, the love of God dictates that I bless and encourage the one who does not hold the same view as I.
The beauty is that in such a 'non-denominational' setting, the practice of listening to one another keeps us all 'in balance'. The goal is not to conform everyone to my particular stand or interpretation of scripture, but to see all the diverse pieces of God-given convictions building up the body of Christ when each person contributes his piece. The result is an amazing diversity of perspective which reveals the multi-faceted wisdom and glory of God. Ultimately what matters most in an organic context is that we keep to the scriptures, that we practice the love of God towards one another through humility and listening, and that we journey on to follow Christ together.
These blogposts articulate well particular aspects of how organic communities operate. 'Approved ones in a divided Church' by Dan Herford the author discusses the distinctives of Christian humility and love and despite doctrinal divisions and John Zens 'The Mind of Christ in Our Life Together: All of Christ Through All the Voices' which talks about the practice of listening to one another in an organic context. Keith Giles 'Making decisions in an Organic Church' talks about the leadership of the Holy Spirit in organic communities. Dan Herford blogs about how we all like certainty, but need to take into account different convictions because we don't know everything here: "certain problems"
Thursday, December 25, 2014
“Seeing Him who is unseen, He endured”
Hebrews 11: 26
Considering the reproaches (disapproval) of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he (Moses) was looking to the reward.
This passage talks about Moses. An interesting point to consider - where is Christ in the passage of Moses in exodus, how did Moses choose the reproaches of Christ? When Christ is only mentioned much later, when and where did Moses choose the disapprovals the disdain that belong to Christ?
The simple answer was that he chose to be identified with the struggle of the people of God, rather than to be identified with his princely position status in Egypt. It was in that moment which he said ‘enough is enough’ and he killed that Egyptian man. That was his moment in which he choose his identity as a Hebrew, and he identified with Christ , because Christ is identified with His people. And the sufferings that God’s people were enduring in Egypt, those sufferings are the rejections and sufferings of Christ as well because Jesus is so closely identified with His own. ‘if you bless one of the least of these you bless me’ – referring to the poor of this world.
“For he was looking to the reward.” That was His motivation to give everything up. He perceived that God would reward him one day for all the troubles which he voluntarily took upon himself by identifying with God’s people. I’m not sure that I would give up all the riches of this world if I had it. It takes a strong man to choose the sufferings of slavery and that position of shame and ignominy and disdain, rather than the riches of this world which were is in his hand. Real and tangible, to exchange those for something invisible, something perceived in the spirit realm. That perception had to be strong for Moses, it had to be real to him for Moses to give everything up. Moses had a real glimpse of eternity, where God would reward at his throne everything given up for the cause of Christ. All the trouble we voluntarily take up for allegiance to Jesus for our loyalty to him will be rewarded by God.
Matthew 5 : 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God’s way of saying yes you are chosen to be close to my throne and live in my presence is ironic – is to give his prophets rejections of many kinds. It is His way of saying yes I have chosen you to bear this for Christ to bear rejection, to be tested and to be close to me, as the prophets of Israel dwelt close to God’s heart and bore the brunt of rejection from man. What Moses was thinking might have been something like –‘all the riches of this world are empty but to know God to truly experience Him is life and true fulfillment.’
But how does one bear up under constant rejections – which Moses also went through later in the wilderness journey at the hands of the Children of Israel.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Considering the reproaches (disapproval) of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he (Moses) was looking to the reward.
This passage talks about Moses. An interesting point to consider - where is Christ in the passage of Moses in exodus, how did Moses choose the reproaches of Christ? When Christ is only mentioned much later, when and where did Moses choose the disapprovals the disdain that belong to Christ?
The simple answer was that he chose to be identified with the struggle of the people of God, rather than to be identified with his princely position status in Egypt. It was in that moment which he said ‘enough is enough’ and he killed that Egyptian man. That was his moment in which he choose his identity as a Hebrew, and he identified with Christ , because Christ is identified with His people. And the sufferings that God’s people were enduring in Egypt, those sufferings are the rejections and sufferings of Christ as well because Jesus is so closely identified with His own. ‘if you bless one of the least of these you bless me’ – referring to the poor of this world.
“For he was looking to the reward.” That was His motivation to give everything up. He perceived that God would reward him one day for all the troubles which he voluntarily took upon himself by identifying with God’s people. I’m not sure that I would give up all the riches of this world if I had it. It takes a strong man to choose the sufferings of slavery and that position of shame and ignominy and disdain, rather than the riches of this world which were is in his hand. Real and tangible, to exchange those for something invisible, something perceived in the spirit realm. That perception had to be strong for Moses, it had to be real to him for Moses to give everything up. Moses had a real glimpse of eternity, where God would reward at his throne everything given up for the cause of Christ. All the trouble we voluntarily take up for allegiance to Jesus for our loyalty to him will be rewarded by God.
Matthew 5 : 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God’s way of saying yes you are chosen to be close to my throne and live in my presence is ironic – is to give his prophets rejections of many kinds. It is His way of saying yes I have chosen you to bear this for Christ to bear rejection, to be tested and to be close to me, as the prophets of Israel dwelt close to God’s heart and bore the brunt of rejection from man. What Moses was thinking might have been something like –‘all the riches of this world are empty but to know God to truly experience Him is life and true fulfillment.’
But how does one bear up under constant rejections – which Moses also went through later in the wilderness journey at the hands of the Children of Israel.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
This verse is interesting. Comparing to the historial record in Exodus 2:14 and 15
…“Who made you a [r]prince or a judge over us? Are you [s] intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and [t] settled in the land of Midian…
What history records – a fearful Moses fleeing for his life, God records differently – “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King”. True enough the record in Exodus does not clearly state that he was afraid of the king. He was afraid that the Jews would know of his murder. But in Hebrews God sees the incident and sees the man’s faith in the forefront. In the midst of the chaos the turmoil, the fleeing in a moment for his life, God saw his faith in God that God would keep him from the king and sustain him in the wilderness, that his life was ultimately in the hands of God and not the King. Likewise, God sees our fears and failures much differently from how we see them, he sees the faith we exhibit towards him. The actions the reveal what little faith there is, in the midst of fear and confusion.
In one line, the author of Hebrews talks about Moses’ season in the wilderness, that’s 40 years in a single sentence in verse 27, because the next sentence in Hebrews talks about the Passover – that’s 40 years later.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Long before Moses saw the burning bush, Moses was a man of faith who kept close to God for 40 years, as a shepherd in the wilderness. Moses kept the eyes of His faith fixed on God while he waited upon Him those 40 years. The only way that he could have endured so long as a shepherd was that He kept his faith. He kept his heart fixed on being with God.
For us to be bold and unafraid in fearful circumstances, one thing is needed. To see God. To pray that He gives the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, to give fresh vision, fresh perspective of who He is, for God to be in our hearts in our minds in our lives. The blessing of open eyes and an open heart to see God gives strength will nourish us through dry and weary seasons till we mature and come into what the lord wants us to do.
…“Who made you a [r]prince or a judge over us? Are you [s] intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and [t] settled in the land of Midian…
What history records – a fearful Moses fleeing for his life, God records differently – “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King”. True enough the record in Exodus does not clearly state that he was afraid of the king. He was afraid that the Jews would know of his murder. But in Hebrews God sees the incident and sees the man’s faith in the forefront. In the midst of the chaos the turmoil, the fleeing in a moment for his life, God saw his faith in God that God would keep him from the king and sustain him in the wilderness, that his life was ultimately in the hands of God and not the King. Likewise, God sees our fears and failures much differently from how we see them, he sees the faith we exhibit towards him. The actions the reveal what little faith there is, in the midst of fear and confusion.
In one line, the author of Hebrews talks about Moses’ season in the wilderness, that’s 40 years in a single sentence in verse 27, because the next sentence in Hebrews talks about the Passover – that’s 40 years later.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Long before Moses saw the burning bush, Moses was a man of faith who kept close to God for 40 years, as a shepherd in the wilderness. Moses kept the eyes of His faith fixed on God while he waited upon Him those 40 years. The only way that he could have endured so long as a shepherd was that He kept his faith. He kept his heart fixed on being with God.
For us to be bold and unafraid in fearful circumstances, one thing is needed. To see God. To pray that He gives the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, to give fresh vision, fresh perspective of who He is, for God to be in our hearts in our minds in our lives. The blessing of open eyes and an open heart to see God gives strength will nourish us through dry and weary seasons till we mature and come into what the lord wants us to do.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
The value of prophetic insight
1 Cor 14
3 But a person who has the gift of prophecy teaches in a way that builds up the community, draws them near, and comforts them.
Paul talks about the limitations of the gift of prophetic insight into the will of God and His ways and the things of the Spiritual world in 1 Cor 13. For when the Kingdom of God comes in fullness, that which 'revealed in part' will be done away with. 1 cor 13 v 2 What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with 'knowledge and insight to all the mysteries', or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? If so, I am nothing.
Then he then goes back in 1 Cor 14 to re-establish the value of the prophetic word. In this chapter he places value on the prophetic word more than the teaching gift.
If I may paraphrase his thoughts on the matter, it would be this – that Love is to be the over-riding spirit of all believers. In that Spirit of Love, God’s people should seek to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, to perceive and penetrate into the Spiritual world – where God reigns, to understand God’s will and act on God’s will and to reveal his will in this world through obedience. God’s people should, through much prayer in tongues endeavor to uncover the solidness of God’s will, and through spirit-taught and spirit-led words, draw people to the heart of God.
The prophetic gift and prophetic words are a penetrating Gift. It is penetrating insight into God’s heart. It is the ability to sense what the Spirit of God desires, it is insight into the heart of Jesus and the Father. Speaking out this revealed insight releases empowerment to the people of God to follow the leading of the Spirit of God.
Why is this gift so important in the Church? Because of darkness which surrounds us and the confusion of living in this murky world day by day. Spiritual vision and insight is only important when you can’t see where you are going and are lost in confusion. It is precisely this which Paul is hinting at in 1 cor 13 – “now I only see dimly in a murky mirror.” Life is like that. Life on earth has a way of obscuring God’s will and heart for our lives. Many believers have no idea where they are going in God’s Spirit. if you don’t know where you are going, then you will be easily discouraged and dissuaded off course. Without prophetic insight, people go astray. They cast of their restraint. But people who know the objectives that God has set for their lives are able to endure and press towards it.
Prophetic insight gives people that clarity, and releases that endurance to press towards the outcomes which God has declared. ’Yes I want this situation to be redeemed, my will be revealed in this situation, continue to press forward in faith for this’. Clarity and certainty of what God wants is of great value, it releases faith in us when we perceive the heart of God towards a matter, when God has spoken clearly to us about a situation we can handle it with much confidence without being blown off course.
It seems that the main way into prophetic insight is prayer, especially praying in the spirit.
1 Cor 14:4, 13-15
4 Those who speak in an unknown language only strengthen themselves…
13 So anyone who speaks in an unknown language should pray for the ability to interpret …15 What do I do then? I pray. I pray with my spirit but also with my mind engaged; I sing with my spirit but also with my mind engaged.
Prophetic teaching is defined by specific and penetrating insight, and is of a different value from the teaching gift which teaches the application of the general principles of God’s word.
Prophetic teachings contain the authority of God’s voice, towards his people and are a direct communication of His heart towards people. It carries with it the power and authority of God. It is the open invitation, the voice of God calling for alignment and obedience to His present moment directive for any particular person. In the spirit it is a weighty, heavy and powerful thing. With a prophetic message the grace and power of God is released to people to come into line with God’s kingdom and will. It releases repentance for people to walk close to God where they have gone astray, and alignment back to His will where they have gone off tangent. An accurate prophetic word reveals the awesomeness of God, the depths and width and breadth, the wisdom and majesty of God. That’s why Paul says seek the prophetic gifts above all other gifts to build up the church.
Prophetic gifts are penetrating into situations and people. “The secret sins of people are revealed”. In the seeing of the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of truth, people’s hearts are uncovered. The prophet speaks a piercing of God’s truth into the heart and causes the kingdom of God to be directly experienced by people. God sees the true nature of all things, cutting through the misdirection and confusion which is so prevalent in life. To treat a disease, the most important part of medical science is correct diagnosis. God is the holder of all mysteries and all dark secrets are as plain as day to Him so if you want to know how to handle a perplexing situation or know the truth of a matter why not ask Him for prophetic insight?
We should value the insight of God, and cherish the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul says seek insight of God's will among all the other gifts of God so that as a people you can draw close to Him and walk in His will. Be willing to live in full obedience to everything He shows us for it is in that way that we can live and move in the power of the Holy Spirit and be aligned to his heart and will for our lives.
Might i add that prophetic insight determines tactical priorities and helps us to understand what God is saying and helps us to determine that which is most essential versus that which is good have and do, at different seasons and times -'spiritual gift of wisdom'. Doing those things he says will yield the most fruit rather than getting distracted on other priorities. Refer to mary vs martha. Fruitful and spirit led versus activity without insight. Thats why the church needs more prophets again for it is the foundation of the prophets and apostles which build the church not the teachers/pastors. According to Ephesians. IMHO most ministries are led by teacher pastors who create an environment of distracted service without spiritual and mighty fruitfulness. I myself am waiting for when God's prophets arise to take back the leadership pole of the people and will follow as He directs.
3 But a person who has the gift of prophecy teaches in a way that builds up the community, draws them near, and comforts them.
Paul talks about the limitations of the gift of prophetic insight into the will of God and His ways and the things of the Spiritual world in 1 Cor 13. For when the Kingdom of God comes in fullness, that which 'revealed in part' will be done away with. 1 cor 13 v 2 What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with 'knowledge and insight to all the mysteries', or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? If so, I am nothing.
Then he then goes back in 1 Cor 14 to re-establish the value of the prophetic word. In this chapter he places value on the prophetic word more than the teaching gift.
If I may paraphrase his thoughts on the matter, it would be this – that Love is to be the over-riding spirit of all believers. In that Spirit of Love, God’s people should seek to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, to perceive and penetrate into the Spiritual world – where God reigns, to understand God’s will and act on God’s will and to reveal his will in this world through obedience. God’s people should, through much prayer in tongues endeavor to uncover the solidness of God’s will, and through spirit-taught and spirit-led words, draw people to the heart of God.
The prophetic gift and prophetic words are a penetrating Gift. It is penetrating insight into God’s heart. It is the ability to sense what the Spirit of God desires, it is insight into the heart of Jesus and the Father. Speaking out this revealed insight releases empowerment to the people of God to follow the leading of the Spirit of God.
Why is this gift so important in the Church? Because of darkness which surrounds us and the confusion of living in this murky world day by day. Spiritual vision and insight is only important when you can’t see where you are going and are lost in confusion. It is precisely this which Paul is hinting at in 1 cor 13 – “now I only see dimly in a murky mirror.” Life is like that. Life on earth has a way of obscuring God’s will and heart for our lives. Many believers have no idea where they are going in God’s Spirit. if you don’t know where you are going, then you will be easily discouraged and dissuaded off course. Without prophetic insight, people go astray. They cast of their restraint. But people who know the objectives that God has set for their lives are able to endure and press towards it.
Prophetic insight gives people that clarity, and releases that endurance to press towards the outcomes which God has declared. ’Yes I want this situation to be redeemed, my will be revealed in this situation, continue to press forward in faith for this’. Clarity and certainty of what God wants is of great value, it releases faith in us when we perceive the heart of God towards a matter, when God has spoken clearly to us about a situation we can handle it with much confidence without being blown off course.
It seems that the main way into prophetic insight is prayer, especially praying in the spirit.
1 Cor 14:4, 13-15
4 Those who speak in an unknown language only strengthen themselves…
13 So anyone who speaks in an unknown language should pray for the ability to interpret …15 What do I do then? I pray. I pray with my spirit but also with my mind engaged; I sing with my spirit but also with my mind engaged.
Prophetic teaching is defined by specific and penetrating insight, and is of a different value from the teaching gift which teaches the application of the general principles of God’s word.
Prophetic teachings contain the authority of God’s voice, towards his people and are a direct communication of His heart towards people. It carries with it the power and authority of God. It is the open invitation, the voice of God calling for alignment and obedience to His present moment directive for any particular person. In the spirit it is a weighty, heavy and powerful thing. With a prophetic message the grace and power of God is released to people to come into line with God’s kingdom and will. It releases repentance for people to walk close to God where they have gone astray, and alignment back to His will where they have gone off tangent. An accurate prophetic word reveals the awesomeness of God, the depths and width and breadth, the wisdom and majesty of God. That’s why Paul says seek the prophetic gifts above all other gifts to build up the church.
Prophetic gifts are penetrating into situations and people. “The secret sins of people are revealed”. In the seeing of the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of truth, people’s hearts are uncovered. The prophet speaks a piercing of God’s truth into the heart and causes the kingdom of God to be directly experienced by people. God sees the true nature of all things, cutting through the misdirection and confusion which is so prevalent in life. To treat a disease, the most important part of medical science is correct diagnosis. God is the holder of all mysteries and all dark secrets are as plain as day to Him so if you want to know how to handle a perplexing situation or know the truth of a matter why not ask Him for prophetic insight?
We should value the insight of God, and cherish the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul says seek insight of God's will among all the other gifts of God so that as a people you can draw close to Him and walk in His will. Be willing to live in full obedience to everything He shows us for it is in that way that we can live and move in the power of the Holy Spirit and be aligned to his heart and will for our lives.
Might i add that prophetic insight determines tactical priorities and helps us to understand what God is saying and helps us to determine that which is most essential versus that which is good have and do, at different seasons and times -'spiritual gift of wisdom'. Doing those things he says will yield the most fruit rather than getting distracted on other priorities. Refer to mary vs martha. Fruitful and spirit led versus activity without insight. Thats why the church needs more prophets again for it is the foundation of the prophets and apostles which build the church not the teachers/pastors. According to Ephesians. IMHO most ministries are led by teacher pastors who create an environment of distracted service without spiritual and mighty fruitfulness. I myself am waiting for when God's prophets arise to take back the leadership pole of the people and will follow as He directs.
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Modern Christianity A glut of knowledge and a shortage of love
1 Corinthians 8: 1 Knowledge promotes overconfidence and worse arrogance, but charity of the heart (love, that is) looks to build up others. [2] Just because a person presumes to have some bit of knowledge, that person doesn't necessarily have the right kind of knowledge. [3] But if someone loves God, it is certain that God has already known that one. …
Christianity today is weak. Not because of a shortage of knowledge but because of an oversupply of knowledge but the lack of practice of the genuine love of God. We are knowledgable but arrogant. We would sooner take the place of honor than be brought down low into dishonor for the cross of Christ and for Jesus name. We would sooner act as the boss as our lord and master Jesus would than to take up towel and serve to refresh others as the master would as the lowest servant in the house without honor without position with shame and many times without any recognition. If you start behaving like the lowest servant in the house do not be surprised if some in your house especially proud believers start treating you as such. But serve the master and do not become a slave to please men.
We lack discernment to differentiate false teaching and truth, to discern applications between teachings and apply our knowledge. We lack wisdom to know Gods way of love which is discovered through practice to live and serve others.
We would rather let others heal the woulds of the hurting than to take the time effort and trouble and finances to promote the healing of the weak and infirm and broken. The broken emotionally and physically and spirituall need care and love and much humility to treat. Festering wounds do not need the band aid of 'read your scripture or just pray'. Such Platitudes make things worse.
The broken need shepherds who will wash the wounds of the broken with much consistency and long term commitment to the healing of their sheep. To heal the wounds of the hurting by their friendship and by their acts of service, kindness and love. Praying for some one is great but a practice act of service and love and provision is better. Today we are arrogant with knowledge weak in power and have a great shortage of love service humility and the power of God.
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
Faith does not exist for us to obtain things it exists for us to live out.
faith exists not for us mainly to obtain things. Faith is a way of life, with connecting with the spirit world, a way to connect primarily with God, a lifestyle and a way of living, a perspective
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