The judgment of God is a sadly a taboo topic in the Western Church. Many dodge the subject, some over-emphasize, while others dismiss it altogether. More baffling than the wide spectrum of opinion is the idea that people instinctively understand what 'judgment' is.
My goal in this post is to wipe away the confusion of this topic and to highlight Jesus. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome, we will "consider the goodness and severity of God". Knowing Him is the only way to ensure a correct understanding of His judgments. The only reliable path in knowing Jesus is through His Word, the Bible. Therefore, that will be the exclusive source I will quote from. No other book, transcript, movie or person is sufficient.
In approaching this theme, I will break down His 'judgment' into three categories, followed by a brief definition and will end with a more thorough Biblical definition of each.
What is judgment? Judgment is the method by which Jesus' cleanses and purifies the world in order to create a context for love and right living before God (righteousness) to abound.
Why does Jesus judge? Jesus judges because He is committed to love. Wickedness is essentially the opposite of love. Jesus removes wickedness to ensure love comes to its fruition.
How does He judge? Jesus judges in every way that removes wickedness from our lives, whether individually or corporately - no matter the cost at times.
I will write a separate note (blog post) concerning each point. However, in starting this series, I want to magnify Jesus and His tender heart as He mercifully cleanses the Earth of its filthy stain of sin.
A true judge must be dedicated to justice. This attribute is at the center of the heart of Jesus. He loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He desires that the orphan and the widow are taken care of and that the poor of the Earth would be provided for. He sets His face against the prideful and resists the oppressor. He is the premier example of what justice looks like. He is the model of human aid. He is love.
Peering deep into the heart of Jesus, we now turn our gaze towards the Bible. One of the most famous passages in the whole of Scripture is also one of the most misunderstood practically. About 3,400 years ago, Moses asked God a question that forever changed how humans understand Him. The prophet cried out from the depth of his heart, "Show me Your glory!" In remarkable humility, God quickly responded. In the midst of Israel's grumbling, complaining, and adultery, God gave His most descriptive and transparent self-discloser of Himself yet: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Most of us have been in a relationship before, or are currently in one. Do you remember the vulnerability you felt when you were about to tell your loved one the dearest and most intimate aspect of your life? You were sharing the most valuable pearl of yourself with them. It is so precious that only a few people are invited to partake in that knowledge. This analogy, although poorly, paints a picture that depicts the stirring emotions within God during these precious and history-making moments. Before this real day, mankind had not yet known His personal Name. The people of Israel knew Him as the God of their fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). This would be the same as knowing your father only as "Dad" instead of "Walt", for example. This was much more than a dry, emotionless and stoic conversation; God unveiled His very unique character to fallen men. We have to catch the reality and the emotion of Jesus revealed in the Bible!
Looking at His statement, we find ten unique aspects that describe who God is and what He is like. It is within knowing Him that we find clues that help us understand His judgments.
His personal name (Yahweh)
He is compassionate
Gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding in love
Abounding in faithfulness
Maintaining love to thousands
Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin
He does not leave the guilty unpunished
He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.
Look at your life as you read this stunning qualities about Jesus. He gave one of His most precious gems to a people who He knew would reject and scorn Him throughout history. Within that context, He remained compassionate to her. His heart was continually filled with grace towards her. When she ran and committed adultery with the 'gods' of other nations, He was slow to anger. While she hated Him, He abounded in love for her. While she was faithless, He remained faithful and proving this by maintaining love towards many. He is one who loves to forgive, and remove the filth of wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Most of us shelter and keep hidden the precious gems of our hearts, especially from people who we know would hurt us. In the midst of pain, most of us would respond in hurt and lash out. We quickly forget compassion. Instead of looking at the reach of weak love from our closest friends, our gaze can quickly switch into looking at what we can blame them for. We can despise giving grace. If we are cut off driving the road, many of us would respond in frustration, not patience. Do we see how different Jesus is than us? More than 'choosing the right' way to respond, this is Jesus. He is, the very definition, of love. This is His delight. This is His desire. It brings Him joy to suffer long with broken humanity. This is what makes Him the merciful judge!
Now - pretend your in a court room. Your case is being decided. Your were mugged and your car was stolen. The man who did it stood to your right. Giving the evidence, he is clearly guilty. The light shifts to his direction. He admits he beat you up and stole your car, but does not blush, show embarrassment, or consider it wrong. From his response, everyone can clearly discern the desire in him to continue doing wicked acts is thriving. The judge looks at the information given him. Tension builds in the room as the verdict is mere moments away. The case is clear: the man is obviously guilty and must be punished for his wrong doing; especially in his lack of sorrow. In deep expectation, the judge raises his mallet, looks to the defendant and says, "Guilty, but I will not see that you are punished." While slamming his wooden instrument on the table, he ends the meeting by shouting, "Court dismissed!"
This judge is no judge at all. By releasing this criminal back into society, he would continue wreaking havoc on future victims. The man should have been put behind bars, to ensure the safety of the public. If justice is, in part, ensuring the safety of the general public, this judge is the one who is guilty of crime.
Praise Jesus He is not like this corrupt judge! While being merciful beyond understanding, He desires that justice is played out in every sphere of live and in society. While forgiving sin and wrong towards those who turn to Him, to the unrepentant (meaning, to those who do not change their ways), He punishes them - for their own sake and for the sake of others.
The last character that Jesus revealed of Himself is difficult to initially understand 3,500 years estranged from its context. Let me illustrate: crime is more than rebellion against a law, but against God Himself. This is called sin. Sin is disobedience towards God. The reason why children are included in punishment is because of the effects of sin. Sin is not personal, it is corporate. Sin effects land (animals, even), entire gatherings, and your children. In the same way that some illnesses are passed down through family lines, so are common strings of sins, and their just due: punishment.
There is a reason why there were seven positive attributes and only two negative given. Jesus is highlighting His pleasure in being patient, slow to anger, and forgiving sin. There does come a point where an individual, or a group of people, come to a point in which they refuse Him and His ways. In that context, He, because He loves, removes them from the scene to protect others and to allow love to once again flourish.
This is an elementary look into the gentle heart of Jesus that burns with passion for justice.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
My Story of Healing: By, Jonathan Pollard
Hello Everyone,
I know many people have been waiting on this story to come out, and I give you my apologies for taking so long. Well as you all know recently I had a encounter with the Lord where the Lord healed my body from Guillain-Barre syndrome, what GBS (Guillain-Barre syndrome) is, is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. GBS has killed many, and left many disabled for life. My cousin Gus Dean has had GBS for 8 years and still has not recover, and some recover fully in about a years time. But as you know Jesus healed me and here is my story.
"Suffering comes before glory, and a cross before a crown". This was my slogan and it couldn't be more true. In the midst of all the madness, I was looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looked back at me with that gaze tells me I am loved suddenly I knew my King had me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. So I looked into the middle of the storm and I found wisdom looking right back at me and was filled with joy and peace. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name.
I came down with this sickness around the first of March, I had a really bad cold for a little over a week, it was thee worst cold I have ever had in my life. But with out health insurance I was not about to go to the doctor so I just took normal cold meds drunk allot of water and slept allot. After a week of having this cold i noticed that I did not feel any better, in fact I was feeling worse. I noticed that I was starting to get a shape pain in my left knee, a few hours after noticing this the pain was sharpening and moving to my right knee, so i just took some Ibuprofen and went to sleep. The next morning when I woke up my feet felt like they where asleep, there was a tingling in both feet and pain in all my joints. I knew something was not write when it progressed all day up my legs, noticing my arms and legs were getting really weak, and my whole body was feeling cold I went to the ER. After sitting in the waiting room for about 6 hours, all they did was test my sugar and told me i could be having a reaction to my cold meds and sent me home. The next few days I just slept and drunk allot of water. Four days later my face was numb all over, i could not move my lips, I could hardly blink, and was in so much pain that I went four days without sleep. I chose to go to another Doctor, he ran allot of test and came up with nothing at all. He sent me to a neurologist at a local ER. Soon after I got there they told me that they were afraid for my life and i was going to be in the hospital for a long time. A few hours later they told me it was GBS, and my heart sunk. I knew how serious it was and how painful it was going to be.
That morning as i laid in the bed I felt the peace and comfort of God overshadow my bed and I slept for the first time in four days. When I woke up I could not feel any of my skin, and i could not out any pressure on my feet at all. But no fear hit my heart at all, I knew i was in the Lord's hands and that He had me. Little did i know He was going to use this event to change my whole life.
One of the leaders at the House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, had a encounter with the Lord where she was caught up into the heaven and saw the Lord working on the brides heart as she was laying on a hospital bed, the Lord said He was "reviving Her and getting the toxins out." I had no idea how much this would really be true in my life when I heard it, but just a month or so after it was spoken I found myself laying on a hospital bed about to go under the surgery of the Lord.
"Pain has been to me a sweet companion, leading me on a journey into the mystery of the Man who walked this road before me."
A few years after I had gotten saved, I was really hurt by the spirit of religion, my church was full of young people who had been set on fire for Jesus, and it was also full of elders who did not like us at all. After two years the pastor's falls into adultery the church cast them out, and runs their names into the ground then splits down the middle everyone talking about everyone, making up lies on one another. Rumors where flying around about me that I was in Kansas City backslidden and depressed. This put such a bad taste in my mouth against the church. I had little love in my heart for the bride of Christ.
So here I am for the first time in my life laying in a bed helpless. I could not do anything on my own, i couldn't use my lips to talk, all my words were mumbled and no one could really understand what I was saying, I couldn't walk, feel how hot or cold a room was, all my strength was gone, I couldn't even close my eye all the way, eating and drinking was a work out for me. People would come into my room see me and just start crying because of my condition. I felt useless. It was in that place when I was brought to the lowest of lows where the Lord began to work.
See suffering comes before Glory and a cross before a crown, if you want to follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your own abilities to do a,b, and c and learn to trust in who he is. I found myself the first night in the hospital feeling sorry for myself and wanting it all to be over and in the midst of that the Lord came and met me. The lights went off and I looked up and said "You are God, your leadership is perfect, you have never lead anyone wrong. You are in control of all things, here I am teach me what you will." I just began to think upon the divinity of Jesus, and as I began to think upon who He is the worry, fear, self-pity, false humility just began to fall right off of me. I came to grips with the suffering that I was in the midst of and I simply prayed "Jesus teach me what you will". As I began to look at Him I
could feel Him looking at her (His bride), and I am going "Jesus you are beautiful"
and Jesus is going "jonathan, not only am I beautiful look how beautiful and lovely my bride is." "Isn't she beautiful watch her love me." This would take me so off guard because I really did not believe that Jesus thought the church was beautiful right now. I thought He was mostly angry at her and He only really loved her because He had to, and at the end of the day He was going to send most of the people in the Church to hell. As this began to happen, nurse after nurse would come in and for some reason they were mostly spirit filled believers. They would just encourage me and pray over me, and as they did it just began to slowly soften my heart to the bride, my phone was ringing off the hook with churches full of people praying over me, believers from all over the nation started sending me emails, people whom I did not know were contacting me, and letting me know that they were praying, and Jesus was using them to show me that the Bride of Christ is beautiful and that in the midst of all the funk that is in her, He is moving and He is working and she is coming to life. Jesus broke my heart for the bride and brought me to repentance over the period of a few weeks and now I can truly say the bride of Christ though dark is being called lovely by her Husband and she is getting the water of the word poured on her and she is coming to life. Jesus is waking His bride up in this nation.
I know many people have been waiting on this story to come out, and I give you my apologies for taking so long. Well as you all know recently I had a encounter with the Lord where the Lord healed my body from Guillain-Barre syndrome, what GBS (Guillain-Barre syndrome) is, is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. GBS has killed many, and left many disabled for life. My cousin Gus Dean has had GBS for 8 years and still has not recover, and some recover fully in about a years time. But as you know Jesus healed me and here is my story.
"Suffering comes before glory, and a cross before a crown". This was my slogan and it couldn't be more true. In the midst of all the madness, I was looking right into the eyes of the Lion and asking the Lamb to come work, an as He looked back at me with that gaze tells me I am loved suddenly I knew my King had me. For every season of this life that we walk in has trails and test that await us. Some harder than others, some easy, some seem so big that you can't see a way around it, some are so small that you forget its even there, some friends just come and go like the seasons of the life, but the revelation you receive in the testing of our souls will last for eternity, always look for the word of Lord and the light in the dark room. The spirit of revelation lays beneath brokenness and hard times, so keep the faith and never stop running. No matter how bad things get on this earth and in our lives Jesus is still God therefore we win. So I looked into the middle of the storm and I found wisdom looking right back at me and was filled with joy and peace. Everything He does no matter how big or small is beautiful. I trust in the one who makes the invisible visible. Full of compassion, He took on our frame, leading us into the beauty of His name.
I came down with this sickness around the first of March, I had a really bad cold for a little over a week, it was thee worst cold I have ever had in my life. But with out health insurance I was not about to go to the doctor so I just took normal cold meds drunk allot of water and slept allot. After a week of having this cold i noticed that I did not feel any better, in fact I was feeling worse. I noticed that I was starting to get a shape pain in my left knee, a few hours after noticing this the pain was sharpening and moving to my right knee, so i just took some Ibuprofen and went to sleep. The next morning when I woke up my feet felt like they where asleep, there was a tingling in both feet and pain in all my joints. I knew something was not write when it progressed all day up my legs, noticing my arms and legs were getting really weak, and my whole body was feeling cold I went to the ER. After sitting in the waiting room for about 6 hours, all they did was test my sugar and told me i could be having a reaction to my cold meds and sent me home. The next few days I just slept and drunk allot of water. Four days later my face was numb all over, i could not move my lips, I could hardly blink, and was in so much pain that I went four days without sleep. I chose to go to another Doctor, he ran allot of test and came up with nothing at all. He sent me to a neurologist at a local ER. Soon after I got there they told me that they were afraid for my life and i was going to be in the hospital for a long time. A few hours later they told me it was GBS, and my heart sunk. I knew how serious it was and how painful it was going to be.
That morning as i laid in the bed I felt the peace and comfort of God overshadow my bed and I slept for the first time in four days. When I woke up I could not feel any of my skin, and i could not out any pressure on my feet at all. But no fear hit my heart at all, I knew i was in the Lord's hands and that He had me. Little did i know He was going to use this event to change my whole life.
One of the leaders at the House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, had a encounter with the Lord where she was caught up into the heaven and saw the Lord working on the brides heart as she was laying on a hospital bed, the Lord said He was "reviving Her and getting the toxins out." I had no idea how much this would really be true in my life when I heard it, but just a month or so after it was spoken I found myself laying on a hospital bed about to go under the surgery of the Lord.
"Pain has been to me a sweet companion, leading me on a journey into the mystery of the Man who walked this road before me."
A few years after I had gotten saved, I was really hurt by the spirit of religion, my church was full of young people who had been set on fire for Jesus, and it was also full of elders who did not like us at all. After two years the pastor's falls into adultery the church cast them out, and runs their names into the ground then splits down the middle everyone talking about everyone, making up lies on one another. Rumors where flying around about me that I was in Kansas City backslidden and depressed. This put such a bad taste in my mouth against the church. I had little love in my heart for the bride of Christ.
So here I am for the first time in my life laying in a bed helpless. I could not do anything on my own, i couldn't use my lips to talk, all my words were mumbled and no one could really understand what I was saying, I couldn't walk, feel how hot or cold a room was, all my strength was gone, I couldn't even close my eye all the way, eating and drinking was a work out for me. People would come into my room see me and just start crying because of my condition. I felt useless. It was in that place when I was brought to the lowest of lows where the Lord began to work.
See suffering comes before Glory and a cross before a crown, if you want to follow Jesus you must die to yourself and your own abilities to do a,b, and c and learn to trust in who he is. I found myself the first night in the hospital feeling sorry for myself and wanting it all to be over and in the midst of that the Lord came and met me. The lights went off and I looked up and said "You are God, your leadership is perfect, you have never lead anyone wrong. You are in control of all things, here I am teach me what you will." I just began to think upon the divinity of Jesus, and as I began to think upon who He is the worry, fear, self-pity, false humility just began to fall right off of me. I came to grips with the suffering that I was in the midst of and I simply prayed "Jesus teach me what you will". As I began to look at Him I
could feel Him looking at her (His bride), and I am going "Jesus you are beautiful"
and Jesus is going "jonathan, not only am I beautiful look how beautiful and lovely my bride is." "Isn't she beautiful watch her love me." This would take me so off guard because I really did not believe that Jesus thought the church was beautiful right now. I thought He was mostly angry at her and He only really loved her because He had to, and at the end of the day He was going to send most of the people in the Church to hell. As this began to happen, nurse after nurse would come in and for some reason they were mostly spirit filled believers. They would just encourage me and pray over me, and as they did it just began to slowly soften my heart to the bride, my phone was ringing off the hook with churches full of people praying over me, believers from all over the nation started sending me emails, people whom I did not know were contacting me, and letting me know that they were praying, and Jesus was using them to show me that the Bride of Christ is beautiful and that in the midst of all the funk that is in her, He is moving and He is working and she is coming to life. Jesus broke my heart for the bride and brought me to repentance over the period of a few weeks and now I can truly say the bride of Christ though dark is being called lovely by her Husband and she is getting the water of the word poured on her and she is coming to life. Jesus is waking His bride up in this nation.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Information for England: Jonathan Pollard
Dear Friends of Jonathan Pollard
I am writing to you on behalf of Jonathan Pollard to tell you about a wonderful opportunity that has arisen for Him to travel to the UK this fall to participate in several significant national prayer events for revival in that nation.
Over the last 10 months, the Lord has been pouring out His Spirit in an increased measure at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, and we have seen literally thousands of people, saved, healed and delivered by the hand of God during our IHOPU Student Awakening services.
Jonathan has not only been powerfully touched by the Lord through this move of the Spirit, but has also served in an amazing way during the services, by ministering tirelessly to visitors from all over the world and in praying for an increased outpouring of the Spirit both locally and internationally, as many of you know he was healed for the nerve condition that left him in a wheelchair, and the Lord wants to release that healing all over the earth.
As I am sure you are aware, the Lord has given Jonathan a heart to see the nations transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Recently, the Lord opened a door for me (Wes Hall) to take a team of musicians, students, and ministers from IHOP-KC to the UK at the end of October. We will ministering in several strategic locations in England over a period of two weeks. We will be conducting “revival” services, teaching on prayer, and, most importantly, praying for revival throughout the land.
In light of the many prophecies that have been given over the last months concerning a fresh move of the Spirit that is coming to the UK, I believe this will be a highly significant trip for that nation, and I am excited to take a team of around 20-30 gifted and able IHOPU students and ministers, who have been immersed in an environment of prayer and renewal to serve at these events.
Due to the size of the team we are taking, each student and minister has committed to raise the funds to cover their round-trip flight from Kansas City to the UK in addition to one or two nights of accommodation and any incidental expenses that may be necessary. The host churches in the UK will be covering food and accommodation for the majority of the trip. 1,500 dollars should cover the whole trip.
I would like to invite you to be a part of this exciting ministry opportunity by partnering in prayer and financially towards the cost of this trip on Jonathan's behalf. I believe that we will see souls saved and the Kingdom expanded as a result of what the Lord does this fall in England.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel!
Sincerely,
Wes Hall
To contact Jonathan email him at pollardjonathan@gmail.com
I am writing to you on behalf of Jonathan Pollard to tell you about a wonderful opportunity that has arisen for Him to travel to the UK this fall to participate in several significant national prayer events for revival in that nation.
Over the last 10 months, the Lord has been pouring out His Spirit in an increased measure at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, and we have seen literally thousands of people, saved, healed and delivered by the hand of God during our IHOPU Student Awakening services.
Jonathan has not only been powerfully touched by the Lord through this move of the Spirit, but has also served in an amazing way during the services, by ministering tirelessly to visitors from all over the world and in praying for an increased outpouring of the Spirit both locally and internationally, as many of you know he was healed for the nerve condition that left him in a wheelchair, and the Lord wants to release that healing all over the earth.
As I am sure you are aware, the Lord has given Jonathan a heart to see the nations transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Recently, the Lord opened a door for me (Wes Hall) to take a team of musicians, students, and ministers from IHOP-KC to the UK at the end of October. We will ministering in several strategic locations in England over a period of two weeks. We will be conducting “revival” services, teaching on prayer, and, most importantly, praying for revival throughout the land.
In light of the many prophecies that have been given over the last months concerning a fresh move of the Spirit that is coming to the UK, I believe this will be a highly significant trip for that nation, and I am excited to take a team of around 20-30 gifted and able IHOPU students and ministers, who have been immersed in an environment of prayer and renewal to serve at these events.
Due to the size of the team we are taking, each student and minister has committed to raise the funds to cover their round-trip flight from Kansas City to the UK in addition to one or two nights of accommodation and any incidental expenses that may be necessary. The host churches in the UK will be covering food and accommodation for the majority of the trip. 1,500 dollars should cover the whole trip.
I would like to invite you to be a part of this exciting ministry opportunity by partnering in prayer and financially towards the cost of this trip on Jonathan's behalf. I believe that we will see souls saved and the Kingdom expanded as a result of what the Lord does this fall in England.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel!
Sincerely,
Wes Hall
To contact Jonathan email him at pollardjonathan@gmail.com
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Jeremiah and the end of the age (In Short)
I receive words almost every week that the Lord is going to open up "The Book of Jeremiah" to me. Note none of these people know that I have had encounters with the book dealing with the end of the age. Dreams about being hated in Israel, hung from tops of buildings stones thrown at my head. It's been said that Isaiah presented the suffering servant but Jeremiah incarnated the suffering servant.
About two years ago now, I was in Alabama for a short season helping set up prayer meetings and an internship, and Jeremiah's book kept being highlighted to me over and over again. So I decided to embark on a journey with this book while I was in Alabama. Needless to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Two months later I found myself kinda depressed and thinking everyone was evil.
My first time through the book I really got caught off guard with how intense the book is. Touched in chapter one by the Lord marking a youngster, rebuked in chapter two by the Lord saying "the prophets prophesied by "baal"". I was roaring threw the book finding myself on the floor repenting more than touched by the kindness of Jesus. Two months in I was kinda depressed, not fun to be around, and thought all men were evil (which we are). I had to just get it over with and speed read to the end and kinda shut off my emotions. No one was liking me anymore. So I completely missed the reality of the book the first time through. The point of the book of Jeremiah is the kindness of Jesus and the tug of war in His heart of being a just judge and desiring to display mercy.
The way the book starts is just so moving to me. A youth just seeking after the Lord and He gets to become apart of History. This young guy on a hill just praying and then suddenly the word of the Lord comes to him and He is forever changed. The Lord breaks off disqualification and tells him "My words are with and in you". Then starts the address to Israel with "I remember you in the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after me in the wilderness." "what injustices have your fathers found in Me, that they are so far gone from Me?" "They do not say, "where is the Lord who brought us from Egypt?"" The tenderness and brokenness of the Lord's heart is so clearly displayed in Jeremiah two. You can feel the hurt in the questions of "what injustice have I done to deserve this rejection." Him reflecting back on the days when Israel was coming after Him and following Him in the wilderness. He is longing for them to return to Him and be with Him again. But they are two far gone to turn to Him, the prophets are not giving the people the word of the Lord, they are saying peace and safety, blessings and prosperity. When destruction is on the door step and the heart of the Lord is broken over it. Jeremiah comes out of no where with a word going totally against the grain of the popular words of the hour. Rejected, beaten, hated, left for dead, He stood before kings yet was a mockery among the son's of Israel, and at the end of His life the rest of the world was counted not worth of him though he was a reproach among men.
I believe that this book is such a picture of the end of the age and the prophets that will come forth. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 "when they say peace and safety sudden destruction will come." I can just see in my mind and in the scripture with the wave of deception that coming, and the great falling away, the heart of the Lord going "Oh i remember you in the kindness of your youth when you went after me. What injustice have you found in me?" With destruction at the door the people turn to the mark instead of Jesus and the judge does what a judge does He brings forth justice. Just like in Jeremiah's day the Lord said, "Don't pray or fast for this people I won't hear you." In that day when those people take that mark, the Lord will say, "Do not pray, do not fast for this people, its to late."
This is way the book so grabbed me, because it took me on a journey of the heart of the Lord at the end of the age. A merciful King and a just Judge in one being called God.
Jonathan
About two years ago now, I was in Alabama for a short season helping set up prayer meetings and an internship, and Jeremiah's book kept being highlighted to me over and over again. So I decided to embark on a journey with this book while I was in Alabama. Needless to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Two months later I found myself kinda depressed and thinking everyone was evil.
My first time through the book I really got caught off guard with how intense the book is. Touched in chapter one by the Lord marking a youngster, rebuked in chapter two by the Lord saying "the prophets prophesied by "baal"". I was roaring threw the book finding myself on the floor repenting more than touched by the kindness of Jesus. Two months in I was kinda depressed, not fun to be around, and thought all men were evil (which we are). I had to just get it over with and speed read to the end and kinda shut off my emotions. No one was liking me anymore. So I completely missed the reality of the book the first time through. The point of the book of Jeremiah is the kindness of Jesus and the tug of war in His heart of being a just judge and desiring to display mercy.
The way the book starts is just so moving to me. A youth just seeking after the Lord and He gets to become apart of History. This young guy on a hill just praying and then suddenly the word of the Lord comes to him and He is forever changed. The Lord breaks off disqualification and tells him "My words are with and in you". Then starts the address to Israel with "I remember you in the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after me in the wilderness." "what injustices have your fathers found in Me, that they are so far gone from Me?" "They do not say, "where is the Lord who brought us from Egypt?"" The tenderness and brokenness of the Lord's heart is so clearly displayed in Jeremiah two. You can feel the hurt in the questions of "what injustice have I done to deserve this rejection." Him reflecting back on the days when Israel was coming after Him and following Him in the wilderness. He is longing for them to return to Him and be with Him again. But they are two far gone to turn to Him, the prophets are not giving the people the word of the Lord, they are saying peace and safety, blessings and prosperity. When destruction is on the door step and the heart of the Lord is broken over it. Jeremiah comes out of no where with a word going totally against the grain of the popular words of the hour. Rejected, beaten, hated, left for dead, He stood before kings yet was a mockery among the son's of Israel, and at the end of His life the rest of the world was counted not worth of him though he was a reproach among men.
I believe that this book is such a picture of the end of the age and the prophets that will come forth. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 "when they say peace and safety sudden destruction will come." I can just see in my mind and in the scripture with the wave of deception that coming, and the great falling away, the heart of the Lord going "Oh i remember you in the kindness of your youth when you went after me. What injustice have you found in me?" With destruction at the door the people turn to the mark instead of Jesus and the judge does what a judge does He brings forth justice. Just like in Jeremiah's day the Lord said, "Don't pray or fast for this people I won't hear you." In that day when those people take that mark, the Lord will say, "Do not pray, do not fast for this people, its to late."
This is way the book so grabbed me, because it took me on a journey of the heart of the Lord at the end of the age. A merciful King and a just Judge in one being called God.
Jonathan
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Apostle: Word study.
Word: Apostles: ἀπόστολος, apostolos.
In the Greek and a list of scriptures.
ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ (s. ἀποστέλλω). In older Gk. (Lysias, Demosth.) and later (e.g. Posidon.: 87 Fgm. 53 p. 257, 21 Jac. [Strabo 3, 5, 5]) ὁ ἀ. is a naval expedition, prob. also its commander (Anecd. Gr. 217, 26). τὸ ἀπόστολον with (Pla., Ep. 7, 346a) or without (Vi. Hom. 19) πλοῖον means a ship ready for departure. In its single occurrence in Jos. (Ant. 17, 300; it is not found elsewh. in Jewish-Gk. lit.) it prob. means ‘sending out’; in pap mostly ‘bill of lading’ (s. Preisigke, Fachwörter 1915), less freq. ‘certificate of clearance (at a port)’ (BGU V §64 [II a.d.]=Gnomon des Idios Logos). It can also be ‘letter of authorization (relating to shipping)’: Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 443, 10 (15 a.d.); PHerm 6, 11f (cp. Dig. 49, 6, 1 litteras dimissorias sive apostolos). In contrast, in isolated cases it refers to persons who are dispatched for a specific purpose, and the context determines the status or function expressed in such Eng. terms as ‘ambassador, delegate, messenger’ (Hdt. 1, 21; 5, 38; Synesius, Providence 2, 3 p. 122a ἀπόστολοι of ordinary messengers; Sb 7241, 48; BGU 1741, 6 [64 b.c.]; 3 Km 14:6A; Is 18:2 Sym.). Cp. KLake, The Word Ἀ.: Beginn. I 5, ’33, 46–52. It is this isolated usage that is preferred in the NT w. nuances peculiar to its lit. But the extensive use of ἀποστέλλω in documents relating to pers. of merit engaged in administrative service prob. encouraged NT use of the noun, thus in effect disavowing assoc. w. the type of itinerant philosophers that evoked the kind of pejorative term applied by Paul’s audience Ac 17:18.
① of messengers without extraordinary status delegate, envoy, messenger (opp. ὁ πέμψας) J 13:16. Of Epaphroditus, messenger of the Philippians Phil 2:25.—2 Cor 8:23.
② of messengers with extraordinary status, esp. of God’s messenger, envoy (cp. Epict. 3, 22, 23 of Cynic wise men: ἄγγελος ἀπὸ τ. Διὸς ἀπέσταλται).
(שָׁלִיחַ; Schürer III 124f w. sources and lit.; Billerb. III 1926, 2–4; JTruron, Theology 51, ’48, 166–70; 341–43; GDix, ibid. 249–56; 385f; JBühner, art. ἄ. in EDNT I 142–46). In Christian circles, at first ἀ. denoted one who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited: Paul freq. calls himself an ἀ.: Ro 1:1; 11:13; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1f; 15:9; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2 Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1.—1 Cl 47:1. Of Barnabas Ac 14:14; 15:2. Of Andronicus and Junia (less prob. Junias, s. Ἰουνία) Ro 16:7. Of James, the Lord’s brother Gal 1:19. Of Peter 1 Pt 1:1; 2 Pt 1:1. Then esp. of the 12 apostles οἱ δώδεκα ἀ. (cp. ParJer 9:20; AscIs 3:21; 4:3) Mt 10:2; Mk 3:14; Lk 22:14 (v.l. οἱ δώδεκα); cp. 6:13; 9:10; 17:5; Ac 1:26 (P-HMenoud, RHPR 37 ’57, 71–80); Rv 21:14; PtK 3 p. 15, 18. Peter and the apostles Ac 2:37; 5:29. Paul and apostles Pol 9:1 (cp. AcPlTh Aa I, 235 app. of Thecla). Gener. the apostles Mk 6:30; Lk 24:10; 1 Cor 4:9; 9:5; 15:7; 2 Cor 11:13; 1 Th 2:7; Ac 1:2; 2:42f; 4:33, 35, 37; 5:2, 12, 18, 34 v.l., 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4; 2 Pt 3:2; Jd 17; IEph 11:2; IMg 7:1; 13:2; ITr 2:2; 3:1; 7:1; IPhld 5:1; ISm 8:1; D ins; 11:3, 6. As a governing board, w. the elders Ac 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4. As possessors of the most important spiritual gift 1 Cor 12:28f. Proclaimers of the gospel 1 Cl 42:1f; B 5:9; Hs 9, 17, 1. Prophesying strife 1 Cl 44:1. Working miracles 2 Cor 12:12. W. overseers, teachers and attendants Hv 3, 5, 1; Hs 9, 15, 4; w. teachers Hs 9, 25, 2; w. teachers, preaching to those who had fallen asleep Hs 9, 16, 5; w. var. Christian officials IMg 6:1; w. prophets Eph 2:20; D 11:3; Pol 6:3. Christ and the apostles as the foundation of the church IMg 13:1; ITr 12; 2; cp. Eph 2:20. οἱ ἀ. and ἡ ἐκκλησία w. the three patriarchs and the prophets IPhld 9:1. The Holy Scriptures named w. the ap. 2 Cl 14:2 (sim. ApcSed 14:10 p. 136, 17 Ja.). Paul ironically refers to his opponents (or the original apostles; s. s.v. ὑπερλίαν) as οἱ ὑπερλίαν ἀ. the super-apostles 2 Cor 11:5; 12:11. The orig. apostles he calls οἱ πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀ. Gal 1:17; AcPlCor 2:4.—Harnack, Mission4 I 1923, 332ff (Eng. tr. I 319–31). WSeufert, D. Urspr. u. d. Bed. d. Apostolates 1887; EHaupt, Z. Verständnis d. Apostolates im NT 1896; EMonnier, La notion de l’Apostolat des origines à Irénée 1903; PBatiffol, RB n.s. 3, 1906, 520–32; Wlh., Einleitung2, 1911, 138–47; EBurton, AJT 16, 1912, 561–88, Gal comm. 1921, 363–84; RSchütz, Apostel u. Jünger 1921; EMeyer I 265ff; III 255ff. HVogelstein, Development of the Apostolate in Judaism, etc.: HUCA 2, 1925, 99–123; JWagenmann, D. Stellg. d. Ap. Pls neben den Zwölf 1926; WMundle, D. Apostelbild der AG: ZNW 27, 1928, 36–54; KRengstorf, TW I 406–46 (s. critique by HConzelmann, The Theol. of St. Luke ’60, 216, n. 1), Apost. u. Predigtamt ’34; J-LLeuba, Rech. exégét. rel. à l’apostolat dans le NT, diss. Neuchâtel ’36; PSaintyves, Deux mythes évangéliques, Les 12 apôtres et les 72 disciples ’38; GSass, Apostelamt u. Kirche … paulin. Apostelbegr. ’39; EKäsemann, ZNW 40, ’41, 33–71; RLiechtenhan, D. urchr. Mission ’46; ESchweizer, D. Leben d. Herrn in d. Gemeinde u. ihren Diensten ’46; AFridrichsen, The Apostle and His Message ’47; HvCampenhausen, D. urchristl. Apostelbegr.: StTh 1, ’47, 96–130; HMosbech, ibid. 2, ’48, 166–200; ELohse, Ursprung u. Prägung des christl. Apostolates: TZ 9, ’53, 259–75; GKlein, Die 12 Apostel, ’60; FHahn, Mission in the NT, tr. FClarke, ’65; WSchmithals, The Office of the Apostle, tr. JSteely, ’69; KKertelge, Das Apostelamt des Paulus, BZ 14, ’70, 161–81. S. also ἐκκλησία end, esp. Holl and Kattenbusch; also HBetz, Hermeneia: Gal ’79, 74f (w. additional lit.); FAgnew, On the Origin of the Term ἀπόστολος: CBQ 38, ’76, 49–53 (survey of debate); KHaacker, NovT 30, ’88, 9–38 (Acts). Ins evidence (s. e.g. SIG index) relating to the verb ἀποστέλλω is almost gener. ignored in debate about the meaning of the noun.—DELG s.v. στέλλω A. EDNT. M-M. TW. Spicq.
My thoughts.
Looking through the different contexts of how this word is used for instance 1 or 4:9 "For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." 1 Cor 12:28 "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues." 1 Cor 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 2 Cor 11:5 "But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles.""
When using the term "apostle or "apostles" It seems Paul makes it clear that they are the highest office. But at the same time he also makes it clear that they are last in every category. 1 Timothy Paul says that he is "the chief of all sinners" but at the same time he is the top apostle of his day. Seems like He is contradicting himself right? No not at all, I believe what Paul is getting at is one of the primary principles in the kingdom of God "the first shall be last". The lead apostle is the lowest of the low, first in leadership and responsibility but last in popularity, recognition, and worldly esteem. Jesus being the very head of the church God in the flesh says in Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The office if a apostle like the four offices in the five fold ministry exist for serving the body in equipping the saints to the work of the ministry. (Eph 4 11-12) The definition of "ministry" or "to minister" is this "serve, servant, service, servitor, waited".
As a whole the Office of an apostle can be summed up like this, The Apostle is the head of the earthly church, giving their lives in servant-hood preferring other before themselves, and being the lowest of the low on the earth.
By. Jonathan Pollard
In the Greek and a list of scriptures.
ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ (s. ἀποστέλλω). In older Gk. (Lysias, Demosth.) and later (e.g. Posidon.: 87 Fgm. 53 p. 257, 21 Jac. [Strabo 3, 5, 5]) ὁ ἀ. is a naval expedition, prob. also its commander (Anecd. Gr. 217, 26). τὸ ἀπόστολον with (Pla., Ep. 7, 346a) or without (Vi. Hom. 19) πλοῖον means a ship ready for departure. In its single occurrence in Jos. (Ant. 17, 300; it is not found elsewh. in Jewish-Gk. lit.) it prob. means ‘sending out’; in pap mostly ‘bill of lading’ (s. Preisigke, Fachwörter 1915), less freq. ‘certificate of clearance (at a port)’ (BGU V §64 [II a.d.]=Gnomon des Idios Logos). It can also be ‘letter of authorization (relating to shipping)’: Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 443, 10 (15 a.d.); PHerm 6, 11f (cp. Dig. 49, 6, 1 litteras dimissorias sive apostolos). In contrast, in isolated cases it refers to persons who are dispatched for a specific purpose, and the context determines the status or function expressed in such Eng. terms as ‘ambassador, delegate, messenger’ (Hdt. 1, 21; 5, 38; Synesius, Providence 2, 3 p. 122a ἀπόστολοι of ordinary messengers; Sb 7241, 48; BGU 1741, 6 [64 b.c.]; 3 Km 14:6A; Is 18:2 Sym.). Cp. KLake, The Word Ἀ.: Beginn. I 5, ’33, 46–52. It is this isolated usage that is preferred in the NT w. nuances peculiar to its lit. But the extensive use of ἀποστέλλω in documents relating to pers. of merit engaged in administrative service prob. encouraged NT use of the noun, thus in effect disavowing assoc. w. the type of itinerant philosophers that evoked the kind of pejorative term applied by Paul’s audience Ac 17:18.
① of messengers without extraordinary status delegate, envoy, messenger (opp. ὁ πέμψας) J 13:16. Of Epaphroditus, messenger of the Philippians Phil 2:25.—2 Cor 8:23.
② of messengers with extraordinary status, esp. of God’s messenger, envoy (cp. Epict. 3, 22, 23 of Cynic wise men: ἄγγελος ἀπὸ τ. Διὸς ἀπέσταλται).
(שָׁלִיחַ; Schürer III 124f w. sources and lit.; Billerb. III 1926, 2–4; JTruron, Theology 51, ’48, 166–70; 341–43; GDix, ibid. 249–56; 385f; JBühner, art. ἄ. in EDNT I 142–46). In Christian circles, at first ἀ. denoted one who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited: Paul freq. calls himself an ἀ.: Ro 1:1; 11:13; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1f; 15:9; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2 Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1.—1 Cl 47:1. Of Barnabas Ac 14:14; 15:2. Of Andronicus and Junia (less prob. Junias, s. Ἰουνία) Ro 16:7. Of James, the Lord’s brother Gal 1:19. Of Peter 1 Pt 1:1; 2 Pt 1:1. Then esp. of the 12 apostles οἱ δώδεκα ἀ. (cp. ParJer 9:20; AscIs 3:21; 4:3) Mt 10:2; Mk 3:14; Lk 22:14 (v.l. οἱ δώδεκα); cp. 6:13; 9:10; 17:5; Ac 1:26 (P-HMenoud, RHPR 37 ’57, 71–80); Rv 21:14; PtK 3 p. 15, 18. Peter and the apostles Ac 2:37; 5:29. Paul and apostles Pol 9:1 (cp. AcPlTh Aa I, 235 app. of Thecla). Gener. the apostles Mk 6:30; Lk 24:10; 1 Cor 4:9; 9:5; 15:7; 2 Cor 11:13; 1 Th 2:7; Ac 1:2; 2:42f; 4:33, 35, 37; 5:2, 12, 18, 34 v.l., 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4; 2 Pt 3:2; Jd 17; IEph 11:2; IMg 7:1; 13:2; ITr 2:2; 3:1; 7:1; IPhld 5:1; ISm 8:1; D ins; 11:3, 6. As a governing board, w. the elders Ac 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4. As possessors of the most important spiritual gift 1 Cor 12:28f. Proclaimers of the gospel 1 Cl 42:1f; B 5:9; Hs 9, 17, 1. Prophesying strife 1 Cl 44:1. Working miracles 2 Cor 12:12. W. overseers, teachers and attendants Hv 3, 5, 1; Hs 9, 15, 4; w. teachers Hs 9, 25, 2; w. teachers, preaching to those who had fallen asleep Hs 9, 16, 5; w. var. Christian officials IMg 6:1; w. prophets Eph 2:20; D 11:3; Pol 6:3. Christ and the apostles as the foundation of the church IMg 13:1; ITr 12; 2; cp. Eph 2:20. οἱ ἀ. and ἡ ἐκκλησία w. the three patriarchs and the prophets IPhld 9:1. The Holy Scriptures named w. the ap. 2 Cl 14:2 (sim. ApcSed 14:10 p. 136, 17 Ja.). Paul ironically refers to his opponents (or the original apostles; s. s.v. ὑπερλίαν) as οἱ ὑπερλίαν ἀ. the super-apostles 2 Cor 11:5; 12:11. The orig. apostles he calls οἱ πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀ. Gal 1:17; AcPlCor 2:4.—Harnack, Mission4 I 1923, 332ff (Eng. tr. I 319–31). WSeufert, D. Urspr. u. d. Bed. d. Apostolates 1887; EHaupt, Z. Verständnis d. Apostolates im NT 1896; EMonnier, La notion de l’Apostolat des origines à Irénée 1903; PBatiffol, RB n.s. 3, 1906, 520–32; Wlh., Einleitung2, 1911, 138–47; EBurton, AJT 16, 1912, 561–88, Gal comm. 1921, 363–84; RSchütz, Apostel u. Jünger 1921; EMeyer I 265ff; III 255ff. HVogelstein, Development of the Apostolate in Judaism, etc.: HUCA 2, 1925, 99–123; JWagenmann, D. Stellg. d. Ap. Pls neben den Zwölf 1926; WMundle, D. Apostelbild der AG: ZNW 27, 1928, 36–54; KRengstorf, TW I 406–46 (s. critique by HConzelmann, The Theol. of St. Luke ’60, 216, n. 1), Apost. u. Predigtamt ’34; J-LLeuba, Rech. exégét. rel. à l’apostolat dans le NT, diss. Neuchâtel ’36; PSaintyves, Deux mythes évangéliques, Les 12 apôtres et les 72 disciples ’38; GSass, Apostelamt u. Kirche … paulin. Apostelbegr. ’39; EKäsemann, ZNW 40, ’41, 33–71; RLiechtenhan, D. urchr. Mission ’46; ESchweizer, D. Leben d. Herrn in d. Gemeinde u. ihren Diensten ’46; AFridrichsen, The Apostle and His Message ’47; HvCampenhausen, D. urchristl. Apostelbegr.: StTh 1, ’47, 96–130; HMosbech, ibid. 2, ’48, 166–200; ELohse, Ursprung u. Prägung des christl. Apostolates: TZ 9, ’53, 259–75; GKlein, Die 12 Apostel, ’60; FHahn, Mission in the NT, tr. FClarke, ’65; WSchmithals, The Office of the Apostle, tr. JSteely, ’69; KKertelge, Das Apostelamt des Paulus, BZ 14, ’70, 161–81. S. also ἐκκλησία end, esp. Holl and Kattenbusch; also HBetz, Hermeneia: Gal ’79, 74f (w. additional lit.); FAgnew, On the Origin of the Term ἀπόστολος: CBQ 38, ’76, 49–53 (survey of debate); KHaacker, NovT 30, ’88, 9–38 (Acts). Ins evidence (s. e.g. SIG index) relating to the verb ἀποστέλλω is almost gener. ignored in debate about the meaning of the noun.—DELG s.v. στέλλω A. EDNT. M-M. TW. Spicq.
My thoughts.
Looking through the different contexts of how this word is used for instance 1 or 4:9 "For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." 1 Cor 12:28 "And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues." 1 Cor 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." 2 Cor 11:5 "But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles.""
When using the term "apostle or "apostles" It seems Paul makes it clear that they are the highest office. But at the same time he also makes it clear that they are last in every category. 1 Timothy Paul says that he is "the chief of all sinners" but at the same time he is the top apostle of his day. Seems like He is contradicting himself right? No not at all, I believe what Paul is getting at is one of the primary principles in the kingdom of God "the first shall be last". The lead apostle is the lowest of the low, first in leadership and responsibility but last in popularity, recognition, and worldly esteem. Jesus being the very head of the church God in the flesh says in Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The office if a apostle like the four offices in the five fold ministry exist for serving the body in equipping the saints to the work of the ministry. (Eph 4 11-12) The definition of "ministry" or "to minister" is this "serve, servant, service, servitor, waited".
As a whole the Office of an apostle can be summed up like this, The Apostle is the head of the earthly church, giving their lives in servant-hood preferring other before themselves, and being the lowest of the low on the earth.
By. Jonathan Pollard
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Awakening and renewal - the big picture. By. Joshua Hawkins
The Lord is clearly moving in an unusual way in our world today. From churches and college campuses in Kansas City, Texas, and Atlanta to New England, Redding, California, and many places even across the globe, there is an unprecedented move of the Holy Spirit taking place. God is revealing Himself to His church as the joyful Father that loves to heal bodies and restore our hearts to the place where we truly believe in His love for us.
I love the extended meetings we’ve been having here at IHOP-KC. The Holy Spirit touches us in so many different ways. Some are weeping, some laughing, some completely overwhelmed by the Lord just laying on the floor, and some clearly being shaken around by angels or something, who knows… (See this blog category page for more of my thoughts on “manifestations” of the Holy Spirit) The Lord has healed many bodies and even more hearts to receive and believe His love. Just as Jesus said, the “wheat” and the “tares” are both growing up together (Matthew 13:30), and as Peter said that times of refreshing will come from the Lord’s presence (Acts 3:19), I believe that we will continue to see seasons of refreshing, renewal, healing, and revival that will increase in scope and intensity prior to the Lord’s return. I believe the meetings will even go to some of the stadiums of the earth where many will witness visible, open displays of God’s power and presence.
Good meetings in stadiums are not the final intentions of the Holy Spirit’s stirrings today. In these days (and those days when good stadium meetings come) we are experiencing extraordinary signposts, markers, and witnesses to the ultimate end – the restoration of all things. In the midst of the great revival in the book of Acts, the apostle Peter and the rest of the Jews in Jerusalem understood that revival was not the “end” and that there was still a coming day in the Lord’s heart (Acts 3:21) – a day He has been waiting on now for over 6,000 years. It is the day in which the One from the line of David would return to the earth to establish the kingdom of God. It is the day in which the promised Seed (Genesis 3:15) would openly initiate the process of defeating death and restoring all things in the heavens and on the earth to their original glory.
The Lord plays “multi-dimensional chess”, but is always working with this end in mind. With that in consideration, we can look at what the Holy Spirit is doing and realize it is not disconnected from His ultimate plan. Among other "external" reasons which I've addressed in other posts, I primarily see these five main "internal" reasons for the Holy Spirit’s move of power today:
The Father’s heart
The Father is restoring the joy of childlikeness to us as we encounter His love and tenderness. When we understand that the Father truly loves us because we are a son or daughter, we stop trying to earn His approval. Holiness and obedience becomes joyful instead of a dutiful drudgery. And as we encounter His love for us, it allows us to see others with His eyes and love them in the same way.
The compassion of Jesus
Many physical healings are happening as a result of this move of God, and each one is deeply rooted in Jesus’ heart of compassion. Over and over again in the gospels, we see our Lord deeply moved with compassion. As the Chosen One of God to abolish death forever, He released a sign of that coming day when walking into the city of Nain in Luke 7:11-17 in raising a widow’s son from the dead. His compassion was His motivation then, and that same compassion is what motivates Him to heal today, and each one of the healings that we see serves as a signpost to the coming day of the Lord and His glory.
Training in humility
Many of the bizarre manifestations of the Spirit’s presence as seen in the meetings offend the mind and reveal the heart. I’ve written much more on this in several of my other posts on the IHOPU Student Awakening, but I believe that the Lord is beckoning everyone to a new depth of humility and Christ-likeness in this move by:
Inviting those whose body reacts to the presence of God in strange ways to renounce their pride and submit to God’s hand.
Inviting those whose body does not move at all to believe that He is touching them, but just in imperceptible ways.
Inviting those who are confused or distracted to ask for help to set their focus on Jesus, His glory and worth, and His work in people’s hearts and lives.
He is really answering all those prayers we have prayed for humility and to be like Him!
The first commandment being restored to the first place
Right now, the church in the west is more concerned about bigger ministry than about a bigger heart of love towards Jesus. But as we have our eyes opened by the Spirit to see the indescribable worth of Jesus, our hearts are beckoned in greater love and abandonment towards Him, especially in the secret place when nobody is looking. As the Spirit helps us, our time, money, energy, words, thoughts, and gifts will come under the leadership of Jesus so that He truly has the preeminence in all things in our lives (Colossians 1:18).
The restoration of true biblical hope, the hope of glory
The western church today is almost completely disconnected from the New Testament idea of “hope”, minimizing it to an emotion to help sustain us before we have power, dominion, influence, or lasting peace and joy in this age. But the New Testament idea of hope is completely anchored in the age to come, in which Jesus will come, establish His kingdom, and abolish death forever. Signs and wonders, healings, joy, and revival are not manifest evidences of Christ's kingdom breaking in to the earth today, but are something much more important - they are heightened, undeniable evidences to the coming day of the Lord where He will establish His messianic kingdom on the earth, give the saints a resurrected body free of imperfections, and deal with sin and death forever.
If we set our hope on “now” so that we believe that our mandate is societal transformation, great revival, or some great influence of the church on the world in this age, will we be found disillusioned and offended at God if those things do not come to pass in the way we think they will? The biblical hope does not disappoint in any way (Romans 5:5), because the resurrection of Christ and the Spirit living in us guarantees the promises of God (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Cor 1:20). God raised Jesus from the dead as the clearest evidence of His identity as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), and this is what provoked the Jews to believe in His return to make all things new (Ephesians 1:9-10). Every time someone is healed or delivered, every time someone shakes or is overwhelmed by God’s presence, and every time our hearts are filled with God’s joy, God is giving us an undeniable, divine witness to His promise, and this is what anchors us in the hope of the restoration of all things. We must not minimize these witnesses, but see them as divine assistance to propel our hearts deeper in the "hope to which He has called us" (Ephesians 1:18). I have much more to say about this topic, so I’ll write another post about this point later.
My heart is so filled with gratitude for the Lord’s kindness. We’ve never earned anything from Him and we have nothing inherent within us to cause Him to move in the way that He is. He is touching us solely based on His motivation to do so! As we attend meetings where the Holy Spirit moves with power, when we hear testimonies about hearts or bodies being healed, and when we hear stories about people being filled with joy and acting strangely, may we remember these 5 reasons and ask for more of them!
For the original post on Josh's blog go here:
http://www.joshuahawkins.com/blog/2010/03/awakening-and-renewal-big-picture
I love the extended meetings we’ve been having here at IHOP-KC. The Holy Spirit touches us in so many different ways. Some are weeping, some laughing, some completely overwhelmed by the Lord just laying on the floor, and some clearly being shaken around by angels or something, who knows… (See this blog category page for more of my thoughts on “manifestations” of the Holy Spirit) The Lord has healed many bodies and even more hearts to receive and believe His love. Just as Jesus said, the “wheat” and the “tares” are both growing up together (Matthew 13:30), and as Peter said that times of refreshing will come from the Lord’s presence (Acts 3:19), I believe that we will continue to see seasons of refreshing, renewal, healing, and revival that will increase in scope and intensity prior to the Lord’s return. I believe the meetings will even go to some of the stadiums of the earth where many will witness visible, open displays of God’s power and presence.
Good meetings in stadiums are not the final intentions of the Holy Spirit’s stirrings today. In these days (and those days when good stadium meetings come) we are experiencing extraordinary signposts, markers, and witnesses to the ultimate end – the restoration of all things. In the midst of the great revival in the book of Acts, the apostle Peter and the rest of the Jews in Jerusalem understood that revival was not the “end” and that there was still a coming day in the Lord’s heart (Acts 3:21) – a day He has been waiting on now for over 6,000 years. It is the day in which the One from the line of David would return to the earth to establish the kingdom of God. It is the day in which the promised Seed (Genesis 3:15) would openly initiate the process of defeating death and restoring all things in the heavens and on the earth to their original glory.
The Lord plays “multi-dimensional chess”, but is always working with this end in mind. With that in consideration, we can look at what the Holy Spirit is doing and realize it is not disconnected from His ultimate plan. Among other "external" reasons which I've addressed in other posts, I primarily see these five main "internal" reasons for the Holy Spirit’s move of power today:
The Father’s heart
The Father is restoring the joy of childlikeness to us as we encounter His love and tenderness. When we understand that the Father truly loves us because we are a son or daughter, we stop trying to earn His approval. Holiness and obedience becomes joyful instead of a dutiful drudgery. And as we encounter His love for us, it allows us to see others with His eyes and love them in the same way.
The compassion of Jesus
Many physical healings are happening as a result of this move of God, and each one is deeply rooted in Jesus’ heart of compassion. Over and over again in the gospels, we see our Lord deeply moved with compassion. As the Chosen One of God to abolish death forever, He released a sign of that coming day when walking into the city of Nain in Luke 7:11-17 in raising a widow’s son from the dead. His compassion was His motivation then, and that same compassion is what motivates Him to heal today, and each one of the healings that we see serves as a signpost to the coming day of the Lord and His glory.
Training in humility
Many of the bizarre manifestations of the Spirit’s presence as seen in the meetings offend the mind and reveal the heart. I’ve written much more on this in several of my other posts on the IHOPU Student Awakening, but I believe that the Lord is beckoning everyone to a new depth of humility and Christ-likeness in this move by:
Inviting those whose body reacts to the presence of God in strange ways to renounce their pride and submit to God’s hand.
Inviting those whose body does not move at all to believe that He is touching them, but just in imperceptible ways.
Inviting those who are confused or distracted to ask for help to set their focus on Jesus, His glory and worth, and His work in people’s hearts and lives.
He is really answering all those prayers we have prayed for humility and to be like Him!
The first commandment being restored to the first place
Right now, the church in the west is more concerned about bigger ministry than about a bigger heart of love towards Jesus. But as we have our eyes opened by the Spirit to see the indescribable worth of Jesus, our hearts are beckoned in greater love and abandonment towards Him, especially in the secret place when nobody is looking. As the Spirit helps us, our time, money, energy, words, thoughts, and gifts will come under the leadership of Jesus so that He truly has the preeminence in all things in our lives (Colossians 1:18).
The restoration of true biblical hope, the hope of glory
The western church today is almost completely disconnected from the New Testament idea of “hope”, minimizing it to an emotion to help sustain us before we have power, dominion, influence, or lasting peace and joy in this age. But the New Testament idea of hope is completely anchored in the age to come, in which Jesus will come, establish His kingdom, and abolish death forever. Signs and wonders, healings, joy, and revival are not manifest evidences of Christ's kingdom breaking in to the earth today, but are something much more important - they are heightened, undeniable evidences to the coming day of the Lord where He will establish His messianic kingdom on the earth, give the saints a resurrected body free of imperfections, and deal with sin and death forever.
If we set our hope on “now” so that we believe that our mandate is societal transformation, great revival, or some great influence of the church on the world in this age, will we be found disillusioned and offended at God if those things do not come to pass in the way we think they will? The biblical hope does not disappoint in any way (Romans 5:5), because the resurrection of Christ and the Spirit living in us guarantees the promises of God (Ephesians 1:14; 2 Cor 1:20). God raised Jesus from the dead as the clearest evidence of His identity as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), and this is what provoked the Jews to believe in His return to make all things new (Ephesians 1:9-10). Every time someone is healed or delivered, every time someone shakes or is overwhelmed by God’s presence, and every time our hearts are filled with God’s joy, God is giving us an undeniable, divine witness to His promise, and this is what anchors us in the hope of the restoration of all things. We must not minimize these witnesses, but see them as divine assistance to propel our hearts deeper in the "hope to which He has called us" (Ephesians 1:18). I have much more to say about this topic, so I’ll write another post about this point later.
My heart is so filled with gratitude for the Lord’s kindness. We’ve never earned anything from Him and we have nothing inherent within us to cause Him to move in the way that He is. He is touching us solely based on His motivation to do so! As we attend meetings where the Holy Spirit moves with power, when we hear testimonies about hearts or bodies being healed, and when we hear stories about people being filled with joy and acting strangely, may we remember these 5 reasons and ask for more of them!
For the original post on Josh's blog go here:
http://www.joshuahawkins.com/blog/2010/03/awakening-and-renewal-big-picture
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Are you saved? Really saved? Part 1 - Joe Meyer
You feel the cold breeze of the fans surround you as the lights glaring above attempt to blind your eyes. You are sitting in the cold, wooden pew as the evangelist on stage eloquently delivers a message that has drowned this land for centuries. You have heard the language before. You have seen the movies before. All of it rings as a familiar noise in the corridor of your mind. The man with the microphone says the Name of which you have heard time and time again, perhaps since your youth. It is placed on billboards, t-shirts, movie titles, and is even a common swear word: Jesus.
As the man begins to end his sermon, he invites those who wish to invite this Man into their hearts to the front. Feeling awkward because your friends have invited you time and time again to know Jesus, or because you are a little guilty of the bad choices you made, you stand up and slowly walk to the front, facing the floor. Your heart is not racing, nor is your heart wrenching. Tears are not streaming down your face because of the love in which this Man has shown you. You think, "If this is true, at least I'm in." The speaker leads all those who responded to his call in a prayer, and you silently follow. At the end, the preacher says with a large, beaming smile on his face, "Praise God! You are saved now! When you die, you will go to heaven."
Does this sound familiar? This happens in churches every single weekend. My heart grieves so greatly for the souls who are deceived! More than those who have not heard of His famous Name (although, it still burns for them), or for those who purposefully reject Him, but for those who believe that they are saved and are not! Did you know that you can, with your whole heart, mind and soul, believe that you are saved and when death meets you face to face, you will burn in the lake of the wrath of God for eternity? Has that thought ever crossed your mind?
You must ask yourself the question, "Am I saved?" This is a very Biblical question. Let us explore the first Scripture.
Paul writes, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified." Quick background: Paul is writing to a church in the first century. He is writing to a church. This is one of the places that he church planted and saw the fire of God hit. He is writing to a group of people that we would assume are saved (we will develop what 'saved' means in a later part). They saw the raw power of God, heard the apostolic voice, and had a Biblical witness proving that Jesus is the Christ of God. We must ask why Paul, being provoked by the Holy Spirit, asked a church that he labored into for over a year if they were saved. We will not dissect this verse, but we must recognize the point that Paul is making, "You can think you are saved and are not."
Remember Matthew 7 and Luke 13? You can hear all of the sermons, see signs and wonders, know 'the stuff', rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, yet when the door of salvation shuts in this age, and still not be able to enter! How can this be? Consider this example: You are a zealous fan of Micheal Jordan. You know his professional history, bought all of the books about him, wear his jersey and have posters of himself in your room. You are then given the chance to meet him face to face! You run up to him and begin to talk to him. He looks at you and says, factually, "I do not know you." You shutter back, and reply, "Well, wait! I know this, this and this about you - as well as that and that!" He replies in honesty - and in fact, "I literally do not know you."
Have you considered that you could sit in a pew every single week yet Jesus does not know you? You may say, "The most important question to be asked of a man is do you know Jesus?" That is NOT true! The most important question is, "Does Jesus know you?"
Part 2 to come..
As the man begins to end his sermon, he invites those who wish to invite this Man into their hearts to the front. Feeling awkward because your friends have invited you time and time again to know Jesus, or because you are a little guilty of the bad choices you made, you stand up and slowly walk to the front, facing the floor. Your heart is not racing, nor is your heart wrenching. Tears are not streaming down your face because of the love in which this Man has shown you. You think, "If this is true, at least I'm in." The speaker leads all those who responded to his call in a prayer, and you silently follow. At the end, the preacher says with a large, beaming smile on his face, "Praise God! You are saved now! When you die, you will go to heaven."
Does this sound familiar? This happens in churches every single weekend. My heart grieves so greatly for the souls who are deceived! More than those who have not heard of His famous Name (although, it still burns for them), or for those who purposefully reject Him, but for those who believe that they are saved and are not! Did you know that you can, with your whole heart, mind and soul, believe that you are saved and when death meets you face to face, you will burn in the lake of the wrath of God for eternity? Has that thought ever crossed your mind?
You must ask yourself the question, "Am I saved?" This is a very Biblical question. Let us explore the first Scripture.
Paul writes, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified." Quick background: Paul is writing to a church in the first century. He is writing to a church. This is one of the places that he church planted and saw the fire of God hit. He is writing to a group of people that we would assume are saved (we will develop what 'saved' means in a later part). They saw the raw power of God, heard the apostolic voice, and had a Biblical witness proving that Jesus is the Christ of God. We must ask why Paul, being provoked by the Holy Spirit, asked a church that he labored into for over a year if they were saved. We will not dissect this verse, but we must recognize the point that Paul is making, "You can think you are saved and are not."
Remember Matthew 7 and Luke 13? You can hear all of the sermons, see signs and wonders, know 'the stuff', rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, yet when the door of salvation shuts in this age, and still not be able to enter! How can this be? Consider this example: You are a zealous fan of Micheal Jordan. You know his professional history, bought all of the books about him, wear his jersey and have posters of himself in your room. You are then given the chance to meet him face to face! You run up to him and begin to talk to him. He looks at you and says, factually, "I do not know you." You shutter back, and reply, "Well, wait! I know this, this and this about you - as well as that and that!" He replies in honesty - and in fact, "I literally do not know you."
Have you considered that you could sit in a pew every single week yet Jesus does not know you? You may say, "The most important question to be asked of a man is do you know Jesus?" That is NOT true! The most important question is, "Does Jesus know you?"
Part 2 to come..
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