Mark 12:33-34

"... To love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding 

and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, 

is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices". 

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him,

“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

 

     Let me set the context of this passage up for you... Jesus has made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, setting the stage for His eventual trial and crucifixion.  He has already thrown the money-changers out of His Father's House, and then the chief priests, scribes, and elders begin questioning His authority to "do these things".  When they cannot answer His question about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, He refuses to tell them under Whose authority He acts.

     So, now in Mark Chapter 12, we find both the Pharisees and the Herodians (Hellenistic Jews who were more Greek than Hebrew) trying to trap Him in their questions about loyalty to Caesar versus loyalty to God.  We then find the Sadduccees trying to ambush Him about the afterlife (in which they don't even believe).  

     But there's one scribe who has been watching all the arguing and subterfuge, and realizes that Jesus's answers are accurate.  And then He asks a question that shows His heart ... Which commandment is the most important one of all? He is not interested in maintaining his own power or prestige, or in trying to diminish Jesus's authority.  It is in his heart to be obedient to the commands of God and he wants to find out the answer that this man, Jesus, has to this important question.

     Jesus gives a two-part answer to the question:  "The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second [part] is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

     The Scribe recognizes that Jesus has captured the entire substance of the Ten Commandments [given to Moses] in this one answer.  But he goes further... He shows his understanding of Jesus's Truth by declaring that following God's command to love Him and his neighbor is worth more to God than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices established by the Law.  And Jesus's answer to him?  You are not far from the Kingdom of God.

     I want to expound on what I see happening in this extraordinary exchange between Jesus and the Scribe.  What is happening here is what needs to happen in the Body of Christ!  Let me try to explain what I mean... This Scribe has discerned that the laws and rituals of the sacrifices are less than God's commandments to love Him and others.  And as a good Scribe, he would have been familiar with God's exhortation in Deuteronomy 10: Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?  (If you love me, you will obey my commands!)

     Furthermore, although this Scribe may not have come to the full realization that Jesus is the Son of God, he has connected the dots that are leading him to the doorstep of the Kingdom of God.  He has correctly discerned the underlying principles of the Ten Commandments. The first five point to God as the One True God, and that we are to love and seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  The last five commandments exhort us to love our neighbors as we would wish to be loved.

     Then the Scribe realized that these two commandments were greater in God's eyes than any of the rituals or sacrifices that had been instituted when Israel came out of bondage to Egypt.  Those rituals were established to separate the Israelites from 400 years of being immersed in a false god system.  They were meant to be temporary, and God now expected them to have grasped what He wanted to accomplish with them through His covenant.  

     The next dot the Scribe connected was understanding that God desires that we show our love for Him by obeying His commands. What he doesn't know is the next dot that Jesus is getting ready to put before him.  When Jesus tells him that he is not far from the Kingdom of God, our Lord is hinting that there will be more commands coming; that if the Scribe will be faithful to obey these commands [and thereby show his love for God], his obedience will usher in the Kingdom of God.

     Those commands are encompassed in the Great Commission ... Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) ... “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel [of the Kingdom] to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18).

     In both of these Scriptures recounting the Great Commission, Jesus begins by giving them a command ... GO! Do the things I showed you and commanded you to do, and disciple others to do these same things.  And by now, you should know what those things are:  baptizing in His Name; healing the sick; casting out demons; and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom (which includes salvation).

     But the two big points I want to make are these:  1) When Jesus tells the Scribe that he is not far from the Kingdom, He is making the point that it is correct to show your love for God by obeying His commands. And there will be commands, soon to be given to Believers (in the Great Commission), to show the Love of God (by healing both physical and spiritual issues) for all those who have faith in Jesus.  The Kingdom of God will truly be at hand!  2) Sometimes there are truths in the Bible that have to be discerned by connecting the dots.  There is not always a one sentence verse that reveals an easy-to-memorize revelation of God's character or commands.

     Remember, Scripture says it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out (Proverbs 25:2).  The dots that this wise Scribe connected are these:  God commands us to love Him and others ... we show our love for Him by following His commands ... Jesus commands us (in the Great Commission) to do the things He did (healing, casting out demons, preaching the gospel) ... and it brings the Kingdom of God to earth!  

     The question we must all answer is this:  How close am I to the Kingdom of God? 

Current Note:  Since I posted this a year-and-a-half ago, I have noticed a polarization within the Body of Christ, much like there is in our politics and culture. There are those Christians who have been the beneficiaries of the work like Jesus did, and those who insist are keeping with modern religious traditions and doctrines. I am discerning that the gap between those who are connecting the dots and those who steadfastly refuse to look for the connections is becoming a wide chasm. The Kingdom of God is growing on the earth, yet there remain those among the faithful who cannot see it. Please, Lord, remove the veil from their eyes so that we can grow in unity and, together, hasten Your return!

 

How The Announcement Of The Kingdom Impacts The Harvest

     I have recently joined a group of women for a Bible Study taught by Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California. I believe that Pastor Johnson walks in an anointing from God to preach to the Body of Christ that God's Kingdom in Heaven has invaded this earth, and how that should decisively effect our Christian walk.
     The Bible Study is called "God Is Good: He's Better Than You Think".  We are only at Week Three, but we are already being presented with some deep questions that have me examining my ambassadorship for the Kingdom of God. Here's a question that illustrates my point: How does the announcement of God's Kingdom have a direct impact on the size of the harvest of people who respond to it?
     Note that the question posed is actually multi-faceted. We must not only consider what the direct impact is upon the harvest of souls, but how it effects the size of the harvest.  First of all, it is important to recognize that there is a direct correlation between the announcement of God's Kingdom and the Gospel of the Kingdom. It should go without saying that both are announcing the "Good News" that God's Kingdom (the actual realm where He resides) has now made itself known here on earth. This announcement would soon make the Kingdom a reality; becoming apparent by the evidence shown in Jesus's life.  And Jesus would inaugurate the Kingdom message when He began His ministry, preaching "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand".
     The good news of this Gospel Message about the Kingdom coming to earth is that mankind now had a way to be acceptable before God. Prior to Jesus's appearance, man had lived in a state of hopelessness due to how God viewed sin. The Bible makes His holy opinion easy to understand: The soul who sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). But with the emergence of Jesus, mankind now had a Savior who would provide a way out of this eternal death, which was the consequence for our sins against a Holy God.
     All the prophets had foretold of this Savior that would take away the sins of the world and restore man's relationship with God as it had been in the Garden of Eden. Remember: God's Kingdom is where God resides; the realm in which He rules. Between the time man fell into sin in the Garden and the time of this announcement, that kingdom realm had existed only in Heaven. Now, here comes John the Baptist foretelling that this Kingdom is near, rapidly followed by Jesus's appearance and the beginning of His ministry to announce that God's Kingdom was now here! So it's not too difficult to see the immense impact that this announcement would have on God's harvest of souls.
     No longer would man be subject to Laws that were incapable of delivering us from Death. But man would now be able to stand before God in righteousness through believing in the sacrifice He would make of Himself [as His Son, Jesus Christ] on our behalf. By following Jesus's example of living according to the Father's will, the impact on the harvest would become nothing short of miraculous and astounding. Those who would accept and respond to His announcement and ministry would begin to change the world. The realm of Satan here on the earth would come into direct conflict with the people who walked in their authority as members of God's Kingdom on earth. The citizens of Satan's kingdom would diminish, as the citizens of God's Kingdom rose. 
     But if we are going to resemble Christ's image here on earth, then we have to announce more than the deliverance from eternal Death; although, that in itself is worthy of our acclamation and enthusiastic approval. You see, that deliverance isn't realized until the end of our life. So, while that good news of our salvation from Death is responsible for a magnificent number coming into the harvest, I believe we gain staggering numbers when we reveal ALL of the good news that the announcement of the Kingdom generates.
     Think about it: a person recognizes their need of a Savior and accepts Jesus into their heart, repenting for their sins and asking forgiveness. Is that news worthy of sharing? Absolutely! But if the newly saved Christian takes that message to the person who sees the penalty of sin [and their resulting death] as a far-off event, the message may have no immediate relevance. But let's say that we add to that message of salvation. Let's say we share that the reality of the Kingdom of God being present today ALSO gives you access to the power of the Holy Spirit to heal persistent physical/health problems, or to set one free from the bondage of shame, guilt, anger, and unforgiveness, to name just a few of the attacks from the devil. Can you see that we now offer an immediate benefit from our announcement of the Kingdom at hand? Can you perceive that this full Gospel message of the Kingdom might result in a greater number in the harvest -- in other words, the impact on the size of the harvest might be more considerable if we share the complete picture of the Kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven. 
     Who doesn't have a health issue they are dealing with in these perishable bodies? It doesn't matter if it is a simple headache or stage 4 cancer. We want it to go away! And I defy us to find anyone within the Body of Christ who has not suffered at least one attack or violation from the Enemy on their character, their identity, their relationships with others, or the privacy of their body. We may know Jesus as our Savior and rely on our ultimate deliverance from Death, but who wouldn't want to be liberated from the oppressive thoughts and emotions that we carry around with us because of these assaults on our spirits and flesh?  What would happen if Christians could praise Jesus for how He healed them from sexual molestation; loss of self-respect and self-esteem; bullying; abusive parents; or promiscuity and drug/alcohol abuse? Do you think more people would identify with those victories, or a victory over their future death? 
     I'm not saying that the good news of our salvation from eternal death is not an important message to share... it's the ultimate reward! But there is more to Jesus's victory and what that victory looks like in the here-and-now. I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit has revealed to my heart the need of my Savior. I look forward to my glorious resurrection and dwelling forever with the Lord when the new Heaven and new Earth appear. But I am equally grateful that He has set me free NOW to praise Him for delivering me from the bad choices I have made in my life; from the attempts of the devil to kill, steal, and destroy this Kingdom life in the present; and for giving me the opportunity to share this restored life, made in His image. It is my responsibility [and my joy] as the recipient of Jesus's authority and the power of the Holy Spirit to invite others to partake of God's goodness to those who believe in Him. When we share all that we have received from Heaven's invasion of earth, then we can expect to see an impact of righteousness and growing numbers of ambassadors. Let the "Good News of the Kingdom" be realized across the face of this planet, and let all the people shout "Hallelujah!" as our voices join in worship and rejoicing.

Mark 1:15    His message was this: “At last the fulfillment of the age has come! It is time for the realm of God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled Gospel!”
         

The Kingdom and Grace

     This post is the result of some questions I've been asking myself and, consequently, the search through Scripture for the answers. First of all, I would like to state that I am, in no way, questioning the veracity of the Bible, but my goal has been simply to understand it at a higher level. In seeking those answers, my faith in God's Word is even more secure.  And I believe that is pleasing to God ... It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of kings to search it out (Proverbs 25:2).
     Sooo, here is where my search has led me... as I continue with my constant re-reading of the Bible, I am amazed at the new points of interest and significant considerations that are brought to my mind. For instance, how many times have I read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Yet, each time, a new concept jumps out at me that I had thought I understood, but I find myself gaining new insight that adds to my growing relationship with Jesus. After all, He is the subject of these four different points of view of His earthly ministry.
     In my latest readings of these synoptic Gospels, the Holy Spirit has shined His light on the importance of Jesus's good news that the Kingdom of God has invaded the kingdom of Satan here on earth. Furthermore, these scriptures reveal Jesus as our role model of how to do "kingdom living". He inaugurated the pattern we are to follow, and He made it clear that He if we call ourselves His followers, He expects us to carry on [and establish] the work He did. So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly (Matthew 6:33).
     But now my reading has taken me past Jesus's death and resurrection; past the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the commencement of the Church, and into the pastoral letters of Paul. I will tell you that I am reading them with new spiritual eyes and am building on my understanding of God's plan of redemption for mankind. But as I stated at the beginning, my study has not come without questions.

     I admit that I initially struggled with the profusion of letters [from Paul] about the Gospel of God's Grace, and the theology and ethics of "Church living". Riding a high of new understanding on what Jesus meant by "Kingdom living", I will admit that I wanted more from Paul on the teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God and Heaven being near and what that looked like for us. Looking at the Church and the Body of Christ today, I was thinking that we have forgotten Jesus's commandments to love the Father and our neighbors by following His commandments to heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers [the spiritually unclean], raise the dead, and preach the good news that the Kingdom was here. 
     We have forgotten His commandments to set the captives free from the bondage the devil has us in. And I can see the results of that lapse in our obedience to Him in the lives of countless Christians and unbelievers. Instead, I am seeing the Church focus on reveling in God's favor and grace [which is certainly a blessing], while seeing so many Christians suffering in silence due to their lack of knowledge of the authority and power Jesus brought to us with His Kingdom gospel. So, I kept coming back to the question of why Paul spends so much time writing about how the Church is to conduct itself, when there is such a need for Christ's message of freedom?
     While that question plagued me, I also knew that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and the Holy Spirit had something to teach me in this moment; some greater truth that I needed to dig for. And I do not think, by any stretch of the imagination, that I have uncovered all that He wants to teach me, but I think I have begun to uncover some more of the magnificence of God. 
     I had to step back and look at what God was trying to accomplish on His redemptive timeline when these books of the Bible were written. [I will admit that I sometimes get myopic when reading the Word, thinking that it only applies to me in this narrow span of time that is my life]. Yes, the Word is to speak to all mankind across the course of history, but there was a specific purpose for Paul, and a specific purpose for his writings for that time. And they do not come in conflict with the Gospel of the Kingdom!
     My meditation on these concepts of Kingdom and Grace came to a head, so to speak, when the Holy Spirit revealed the connecting link of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6 about first seeking the Kingdom [of God]? Well, I bet most Christians are like me and they stop right there. We are stunned that we've never been taught about seeking the benefits and power and authority that Jesus brought with Him when He instituted the Kingdom in this earthly realm. So we focus on getting up to speed on that new Truth. But look more closely at what Jesus said ... Seek first (chase after) God's Kingdom AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT PROCEEDS FROM HIM. 
     Yes, we are to walk in the power and authority delegated to us from our position in Christ -- our spirits are seated in the heavenly realms with Him. But we are to also live righteous lives as modeled by Him. That righteousness is a recurring theme in Paul's letters. His writings reflect his assignment to tie that concept of righteous living with our position in the Kingdom of God. Over and over he makes this point: When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).... [Timothy] will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go..I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power (1 Corinthians 4:17-21) .... Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9)?

     And perhaps one of the clearest explanations connecting the Kingdom of God and righteous living is found in Ephesians 5:1-7: Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as His beloved sons and daughters. And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for He surrendered His life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance. And have nothing to do with sexual immorality, lust, or greed—for you are His holy ones and let no one be able to accuse you of them in any form. Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary. Instead, let worship fill your heart and spill out in your words. For it has been made clear to you already that the kingdom of God cannot be accessed by anyone who is guilty of sexual sin, or who is impure or greedy—for greed is the essence of idolatry. How could they expect to have an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom while doing those things?
     As I allowed my spirit to meditate on these letters to the various churches, it became clearer to me. Paul's proliferation of writings on righteous living and conduct within the newly planted churches was meant to uphold and fortify the Kingdom of God that had infiltrated this realm; not to replace the purpose of that kingdom's appearance.
     I firmly believe that Jesus's commands to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc. was an established foundation of each church's duties as Christ-followers. (As my wise husband suggested, "Paul assumed each church already knew the Great Commission as assigned by Christ"). Paul's unique assignment was to teach these new followers to walk in the love and grace that Jesus exhibited, at the same time that they walked in the power of the Kingdom that He brought. We must remember that at this time Paul was involved in new churches being planted among Gentiles; people who were not knowledgeable of Yahweh and His moral laws as the nation of Israel had been. His letters to these churches were constant reminders to live this new way of life or forfeit their inheritance of being a part of the Kingdom of God. And today, it is a reminder to us that we are to live by those same standards.
     For all this to work in concert together, it is important to remember that although the Kingdom of God has been fulfilled on earth [realized and achieved with the First Coming of Jesus], it has not yet been consummated [completed, finished]. That will happen when Jesus returns to judge the righteousness of men [as stated in Acts 17:31]. At the time Paul was writing to these new churches, it was not enough to recognize the power [of the Kingdom] in which Jesus had come. It was also necessary to make men aware that walking in His righteousness was part of the package that guaranteed their inheritance in that Kingdom. Today, we need to be just as cognizant of both -- and walking in both. Somehow, we have lost the first part of that equation and today we only focus on Paul's warnings about how to conduct "church living". The coming of the Age of Grace does not take the place of the coming of the Kingdom and our power and authority. In other words, it does not eliminate our assignment to do "Kingdom living" and all that Jesus modeled in healing and deliverance. I believe it is time to receive the full counsel of God. It is not His Kingdom message versus His message of Grace. Rather, it's a dual concept; they are dependent on one another. And what we inherit in eternity as Sons and Daughters of the Kingdom depends on us doing both. 

Acts 20:24-27    "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know". [Paul's message to the elders of the church of Ephesus]. 




 

      

In All Honesty ....

     Today I'm struggling. I feel God is bringing Mark and I to a crossroads in our Christian walk. As many of you know, He has been drumming into our hearts and spirits that His harvest is great and He has far too few laborers to bring all the harvest in before He judges the world. He has brought a deliverance/healing ministry to us and clearly shown us that His Kingdom is at hand and He desires us to preach the gospel of the Kingdom.  We have loved every minute of sharing our passion for what the Word and the Spirit have shown us, and the past couple of years have seen our paths cross many people -- both Christians and non-Christians. And that is where some of my struggle is coming from.
     Why is it easier to live the Kingdom lifestyle with non-believers than with the very people who read the same Bible I do? How can we Christians have so many different ideas of how we are to live Godly lives? I know a good many of the reasons and have most of the answers to those very questions -- denominational doctrines; fear of deception; spiritual immaturity in the Body of Christ; and lack of knowledge of God's full counsel, are just some of them.

     But why is that Christians don't like to be challenged to step out of their comfort zones? How is it that they can even think [or expect] that the Christian life is supposed to be comfortable? And you can substitute "peaceful" or "joyful" or "secure", or any other word that translates as pleasant. Why is it so hard to get them to hear what Jesus preached? I know that the majority of the New Testament is centered around the letters of Paul to the churches. And what Paul has to say is important. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, Paul wrote 13, which is more than any other writer in the Bible. His writings are to compliment and instruct a fuller picture of what the Gospels reveal about the Son of God. And it is obvious that Jesus appearing to Saul on the road to Damascus was to anoint him for a very important job for the Kingdom.
     Yes, Paul has taught us about how we are to treat each other with grace and love, not cause conflict or division in the Body, and to glorify our Lord and Savior. God inspired Paul to write how He desired followers of Jesus to conduct themselves in relation to each other, and to the world. Ephesians 3:8-9 tells us that Paul was empowered [by God's grace] to "boldly preach this wonderful message to non-Jewish people, sharing with them the unfading, inexhaustible riches of Christ, which are beyond comprehension". It was his passion to "enlighten every person to this divine mystery. It was hidden for ages past until now, and kept a secret in the heart of God, the Creator of all". Just what that "mystery" is, is still being debated among 21st century Christians. 
     Most believe it is that God planned for the Church to spread His Gospel message across the world. In other words, the emphasis today is that "the unfading, inexhaustible riches of Christ, which are beyond comprehension" are all centered on the Church and how it is to be conducted. I believe that is why the practice of Grace, Love, Worship, etc. in the Church have taken priority in our spiritual lives.
     I want to make it very clear that those are indeed central to how God wants His Kingdom to be enacted upon the earth. But why aren't we considering that the inexhaustible [abundant, everlasting, immeasurable] riches of Christ also include those things He commanded us to do as His followers and disciples? Jesus said in Luke 4:43 that He was sent to preach the hope of an eternal Kingdom breaking into this realm. "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". And this was God's plan from the beginning to reconcile His creation back to Him. It includes all that Jesus preached and all that Paul taught about how to administer it ... setting the captives free from sickness, disease, demons, death; the revelation of God's kingdom realm available to us NOW to change our hearts; which results in Grace and Love and Worship and Glorifying God in a unified Body called the Church.  It is ALL those things! But somehow, we only want to look at the last part of that equation, and definitely don't want anything to do with the first part.
     And I fully recognize that those characteristics of Grace, Love, Worship, and Peace in the Church are worthy aspects of our Christian experience. But are they to take precedence over what Jesus says are the two greatest commandments? He very specifically tells us to love the Lord our God with "every passion of our heart, with all the energy of our being, and with every thought that is within us [heart, soul, mind, and spirit]. And to love our neighbor as ourselves". And how does Jesus then say we show Him we love Him? By obeying His commandments! And that is emphasized again in His Great Commission to His 12 Disciples [and to all His disciples who would follow him in the centuries to come]: Now go in my authority and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. 

     Here is what is at the heart of my struggle .... we can show grace and love, and experience worship and peace and joy while obeying His commands to go out and make disciples, baptize people, set them free, which is all part of Kingdom living. But if all we want to do is experience the grace and love and worship and peace and joy without doing what He commands us to do, then are we truly obeying Him? Are we living a full Kingdom life?
     I truly and fully understand that not everyone (whether Believer or non-Believer) desires to step out of their comfort zone to do ALL of what Jesus and Paul taught. But how do I continue to walk further on my path without leaving others behind, or offending them because I can no longer limit my experiential relationship with Christ? I know that I can glorify Him in a number of ways -- by the love I show others; by my testimony of what He has done in my life; by extending the Grace He has shown me to another who has stumbled; by even using my God-given talent to write for Him. But that is not all He has commanded me to do! And it is my heart's desire to commit my every act to Him. But my spirit is very clear -- I cannot ignore His commandments to go out and do the things that He did -- no matter how uncomfortable or scary or "against the grain" of modern Christianity it is to do. 
     And, so I now see my Father in Heaven opening new doors to join with others who are interested in going beyond the normal Christian/Church experience, and who are willing to take the next step. I will never stop loving my fellow Christians, but if what Mark and I have shared over the last two-three years does not link our hearts and spirits and Christian walk together, then perhaps we are not the right people to carry His message to them. I do not want the devil to use our differences to alienate us [which would break my heart] or insinuate condemnation [which would be a lie used to separate us]. 
     I simply want to embody the freedom in Christ that He died to give us all. I want to live a life that is pleasing to God, obeying His commands, and being empowered to make His Kingdom a reality to all whom He is calling. That's going to look different for me than it is for you --- after all we are not all going to be hands or eyes or toes. God didn't use the same cookie cutter mold to create us all the same. We are not the same -- our calling may look different, yet none of us are greater than another. But we can give each other permission to be all that God has designed us to be, with no limitations or conditions on our service to the Kingdom. Finally, it is my heart's desire that the Body of Christ be encouragers, not discouragers; teaching each other how to grow in a holy and sanctified understanding of God, and not limiting knowledge to doctrinal theology; and finally to walk in the fullness of a true spiritual relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and not just what makes us feel comfortable in our minds or emotions. 
     I celebrate the journey each of us is on, and praise our God for growing us in His timing. It is my desire to respond to His specific invitation on my life, while encouraging others to seek the path He has designed for them. Our paths may intersect and then separate for a time, and that's okay. In the end, if we stay true to our calling in Christ, we can be confident that we are being joined together [in harmony] to become the dwelling place of God by the Holy Spirit. Let each of us live faithfully to the calling on our lives to follow Jesus, and extend His love and grace to those on a different path. 

1 Corinthians 7:17     May all believers continue to live the wonderful lives God has called them to live, according to what He assigns for each person...

Kingdom Living Is Miracle Territory

     There are some days that I just have to devote to shouting the praises of Jesus! Today is such a day. As I am becoming more and more aware of the demarcation line between me and Christians who do not perceive Kingdom living the same as Mark and I, the greater measure of the Presence of God I find in my life.
     I want to make it clear that I do not see myself as elevated in stature above my fellow believers, by any means! I am being trained to become a co-heir with Christ and I have a lot of carnal issues I need to conquer. And God is making sure I am aware of these areas of the flesh that must be subdued and surrendered, because He is bringing them front and center every day. But with this awareness comes repentance and forgiveness as I discern that I am being prepared to reign with Christ!
     As a Daughter-of-the-King-in-training, I find my daily living becoming more about serving God in the ways of Jesus, than about what makes a successful life in this world. Mark and I are spending less time in meeting the cares of this life, and finding ourselves involved in Kingdom responsibilities. And let me tell you, Kingdom is way more rewarding than the natural world. We find ourselves laughing these days, because it doesn't do any good for us to plan our week around our business or social life, because it is increasingly becoming monopolized by meeting the demands of the Kingdom. And we couldn't be happier or more fulfilled!

     And because we are being obedient to every desire of the Father's heart, we are finding ourselves walking in miracle territory. Let me share.... Several weeks ago we were blessed to be asked to share our understanding of Scripture in regards to the Gospel Message of the Kingdom. We drove three hours to meet with a small group of people who come from different denominational backgrounds, and whom God had brought together through a shared love of dogs. Yes, God can use anything to bring disciples together. This group was headed by a dear friend whose heart has been close to ours in the love of Biblical study. She told us they have been concentrating on prophecy and eschatology, but knew practically nothing about Power and Authority or Kingdom Living. Would we come and share what God had revealed to us? First of all, to be asked to share on those topics is unusual in most Christian circles, so we were excited and willing, but cautious. This wouldn't be the first time that we've tried to present this particular Biblical perspective and been met with doubt and unbelief, if not outright opposition.
     But to our surprise, this group was able to overcome their doctrinal theology and accept Scripture at face value, with no attempts to defend long-held belief systems. They almost approached the truths of healing, casting out demons, and the Gospel of the Kingdom with child-like faith. And that's the reason I think we were all able to witness the miracle I'm about to reveal.  At the end of the meeting, they expressed their gratitude for the teaching, and we expressed ours for their willingness to see what Scripture said. Then we asked if there was anything anyone needed prayer for. 
     Jeannette asked if we would pray for her granddaughter who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had an appointment in two weeks with doctors to do more scans and determine the plan of surgery, going forward. Jeannette said her granddaughter was a believer, but she worried about the sincerity of her relationship with Jesus. We said that all of us could intercede on her behalf and we began to pray.
     Mark and I prayed that her brain would be restored to how God created it; that there are no brain tumors in heaven and it is God's will that there be none on earth. We asked that ministering angels of healing come forth from the throne room of Jehovah Rapha to surround the girl and dissolve the brain tumor. And then I said something like, "Lord Jesus, lay your hands on this child's head and let the power of the Holy Spirit that raised You from the dead, defeat this tumor. (And, in my imagination, I pictured Jesus doing just that). And as a daughter of the King of the Universe, I declare that the doctors will be mystified when the new scans reveal that there is no tumor. We praise you in advance, Jesus, for the work You are about to do. Amen."  It was that simple and that quick.
     Just three days ago we received a phone call from our friend, the leader of that group. She was talking a mile a minute, and when Mark got her to come up for air, we understood her excitement ... after a visit to the surgeon and more scans, Jeannette's grandaughter's tumor was gone! Jesus had healed her and the group was praising Him for the miracle of healing! Of course, we were, too!
    And having a few days to digest this amazing news, I have decided that this group's willingness to be obedient to the Word of God, and to receive it in Truth and Spirit created an atmosphere in which Jesus could defeat the works of the devil. There was no hesitancy on their part to accept that God could do miracles of healing and no hesitation on our part to walk in our power and authority to ask for [and declare] that miracle to take place. God is so good!
     And then just yesterday, we received an unsettling call that Mark's uncle had fallen and broken a vertabrae in his neck and was being transported to San Antonio for serious surgery. As we were driving there, I began to pray... "Father God, I call all bones and vertabrae in the neck to come into heavenly alignment. I walk in the power and authority as a Daughter of the God of the Universe and I declare that this injury will not be serious, and that the medical staff will be singing Your praises all through the hospital and throughout San Antonio as they testify to the healing miracle of You, the One True God. Father, I release the power of the Holy Spirit into Mark's uncle and am believing that healing is taking place right now. Amen." Within two minutes, we got another phone call, telling us that surgery was unnecessary. This break will heal on its own in a matter of a few weeks. Praise God! His answers to prayers are coming quicker and quicker.
     I'm not going to tell you that everything we've asked for has come to fruition so quickly or completely. But I strongly believe the battle is Jehovah Nissi's, and as long as we're willing to get on the battlefield with Him, He will secure those victories in His own timing.
     We have been seeing some difficult spiritual attacks on people's lives that tell us the Enemy knows there is a growing remnant who are in training to defeat the darkness; therefore he is more determined than ever to keep the territory and souls that are his. But along with the growing remnant, I see a growing optimism as Believers step out in obedience [willing to endure frustration, ridicule, and defeat], just as long as they can live their lives knowing they've done their best to walk in Jesus's commandments. Future victories are assured, and miracles are happening! We aren't afraid to walk unconventional paths or step out into unfamiliar territory. We know Who goes before us, Who walks beside us, and Who guides us from our sanctified hearts. Kingdom Living can be a lonely road, but I sense that it's soon going to become known as the Highway to Freedom. And it's all for the glory of God!

Psalm 77:14    You are the [awesome] God who works [powerful] wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the people.

Unity In The Midst Of Diversity

     I am privileged and blessed to walk among a wide range of Believers. And because of the path the Lord is taking me on, I want to appreciate and love them all. And I am finding that one of the easiest ways the devil has to take our focus off the One we proclaim as our Savior is to tempt us to look at our fellow Christians and judge their belief systems regarding the nature of God.
     Mind you, I am not advocating that we accept all the beliefs among our brethren; especially if we discern that they are counter to God's core principles of loving Him and others. And I do not think that it is necessary to accept a particular doctrine or precept just because we call each other "Christian". It is up to each Christian to determine his own theology --- hopefully based on a sincere and thorough immersion in the Word.
     When I use the word Unity, I am not referring to a "one size fits all" understanding of everything about God. Since I believe that He uses each of us for His own divine purposes, we may each possess a unique understanding of a part of His sovereign character that calls for us to walk a different path than another. That's where the Diversity part of my title comes in.
     No, what I am talking about is walking that tightrope of maintaining what God has revealed as His Truth to you, while continuing to love and respect another's different Truth -- realizing that both are coming from our Heavenly Father for His purpose, not ours. Speaking to this concept, Paul says in Romans 14:4, "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand".
     Can you see that we are all servants in the Body of Christ, and He is the Master of us all? We each belong to Him -- even if we are different! The problem begins when we judge each other for our opinions on Scripture, or something as mundane as our preferences in how we worship. Paul goes on to say in subsequent verses, "There is nothing wrong with having different personal convictions about such matters". He tells us that if our fellow Brother or Sister in Christ is doing something different than us, yet doing it to honor the Lord, who are we to judge that? Because when we judge those matters of opinions or preferences, aren't we taking the role that belongs to Jesus alone?
     As Paul reminds us, we will each have our turn to stand before God's judgment seat. We are each going to have to give a personal account of our own life before God. And we are going to have to listen to all the times we spoke in dishonor to another of our brethren. And it doesn't matter if our Sister or Brother sparked the division with a raised voice, or questioned our theology, or accused us of embracing a false message -- we are obligated to walk in love and honor the Body of Christ.
     I will tell you that it is not always easy. I'm sure each of us can recall at least one event when a fellow Christian offended us. And it's easy to only focus on their actions or words that insulted us. But if we can stop and honestly reflect on the bigger picture, we can usually see where they could say the same thing about that event. If we truly have the Holy Spirit in us, then we should be able to see that hurtful words are not spontaneously borne out of a vacuum. That would be the action of a person belonging to the devil. 
     While it has been extremely disheartening to see my fellow Christians judge each other because of their differences, my spirit rejoices when I am in the company of Believers who can honor the value of each other in the Lord's Kingdom, as they accept the diversity among us.  Have we forgotten that the Bible tells us we can't all be hands, or feet, or eyes? That there are many differing parts and functions, but one body? 
      And have we stopped to think that perhaps by listening to our brethren, that we might learn of a new aspect of our Father's Nature and Character? If we limit our understanding of Him to only what we have been taught in our denominational buildings -- or even from what has been revealed specifically to us -- then is it possible that we are missing out on a valuable component of who God is, and how we might grow our area of service to Him? Is it possible that someone else's experience with God might show us a perspective of the Godhead that has not been revealed in our history with Him? And why should that be seen as so harmful to the Body? 
     If we are truly Spirit-filled, then why the fear of something that sounds new? Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 2, "Those who live in the Spirit are able to carefully evaluate all things, and [those things] are subject to the scrutiny of no one but God". In other words, we Christians need to be careful that we are not evaluating our brethren according to our own human wisdom/teachings/knowledge. Who are we to question what has been revealed to another by the Spirit? It is important to understand that True Believers possess the Holy Spirit, who is the presence of Christ in us, and who reveals the thoughts and purposes of Christ to us.  

     It has been true ever since Jesus walked this earth ... the revelation of the Kingdom of God [that our Lord preached] has not been understood by men who declare themselves as the arbitrators or judges of truth, but by those who welcome His truth.  So, no man can humanly understand all the mysteries and character of God, without the Holy Spirit. Those who have the Holy Spirit now possess the ability to perceive Christ’s mind [in all its various and different manifestations] and can enact His purposes on the earth.
     So the next time you disagree with a fellow Christian, stop and discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Is there evidence and fruit of the Spirit in their words and actions? Then consider that Christ is using them for a different purpose for the Kingdom. Don't judge them by human standards, even if those standards carry the Christian label. And if either of you have offended each other, repent to the Lord and ask Him to show you how to love them as He loves them. Even if you are struggling with accepting the journey they are on, love them... simply love them. Don't assume Jesus's role as Judge, but join Him in accepting them as part of His Body, then re-focus on His purpose for your life. I truly believe we can be unified in the midst of our diversity -- and it will strengthen and increase God's Kingdom on earth!

Psalm 119:110-112  The ungodly have done their best to throw me off track, but I'll not deviate from what You've told me to do. Everything You speak to me is like joyous treasure, filling my life with gladness. I have determined in my heart to obey whatever you say, fully and forever!

Searching For The Peace of God

     It was another one of those nights ... I woke up between 3 and 4 in the morning, and couldn't go back to sleep. There wasn't anything big pressing on my soul or spirit, but it was clear that I wasn't going back to sleep soon. I know that this is the time the Enemy likes to sow his lies into my sleepy brain, so I was on guard to take every thought captive. Since this is a regular occurrence for me, and I know that Jesus talks about being prepared in "the night watches" (Luke 12:35-40), I instinctively know that this is a time that God may be calling me to seek Him.
     So, instead of trying harder to go back to sleep, I chose to spend time with Jesus and see what we had to say to each other. Realizing that I was restless and just a little anxious, a spontaneous thought quickly came to my mind in the form of a question ... Did Jesus model for us what "being at peace" looked like? In my natural mind I tried to run that rabbit and see if I could think of any Scripture in the Gospels that spoke of Jesus being at peace or enjoying peaceful respite. I know the Bible talks about the "peace that surpasses all understanding", but did Jesus, Himself, show us what that looks like for us in our Christian walk?
     When I couldn't really think of any example in the Bible, I decided to spend these waking moments visiting with Jesus in the garden of my heart. I got still and quieted my mind. In my spirit, I entered through my garden gate and headed down the path to the bench under the big oak tree where we always meet to sit and talk. But He wasn't there! I had a moment of slight panic, but remembered another time when my soul and spirit were dry and I felt emptied of any divine energy.  At that time, Jesus had instructed me to immerse myself in the river of Living Water, and while floating there, I felt myself getting filled up; the Living Water from the throne of God seeped through my pores and I was restored and ready to serve Him again.
     So, when I didn't find Jesus at our meeting place this time, I immediately thought, "I'll just go to the river of Living Water and see if I can be filled with His peace there". I knelt down by the river and scooped the water up, drinking in its sweet flavor, both physically and spiritually. I couldn't get enough! All of a sudden, I was aware of Jesus sitting on the bank, watching me and smiling. He said, "You've instinctively thirsted for the Living Water, which is the source of your spiritual life. But there's more I want you to understand. You are seeking My peace, but I'm not sure you get the big picture. Let me show you more...".  At that moment, I drifted off to sleep, but in the morning when I woke up, every inch of my flesh and spirit was eager to go to the Word to see if I could find what He wanted to show me.

     I instinctively knew that there was a connection between the peace I was seeking and the Living Waters I had consumed in my garden. So, I started in Galatians, Chapter 5, where I knew peace was mentioned in conjunction with the fruits of the Spirit. It read, But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.

     All of a sudden, the picture was coming into view ... Peace in my life is a fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit. I knew that, but I was beginning to understand that peace was not something I could get or produce on my own, APART from the Holy Spirit. On the contrary -- the fruit was the evidence of the power producing it. In other words, it was the power of the Holy Spirit in me, bringing me into union with Christ that produces the peace. My peace is always found when I am filled to overflowing with the Living Waters!
     Now, I was eager to see if I could confirm that understanding through Scripture.  First of all, I found conviction [in the Psalms] that I was awakened in the middle of the night so that I might meet with Jesus. Psalm 119:147-148 says, Before the day dawns, I’ll be crying out for help and wrapping Your words into my life. I lie awake every night pondering Your promises to me. Psalm 4:4 says, Tremble in awe before the Lord, and do not sin against Him. Be still upon your bed and search your heart before Him. Pause in His presence. And Psalm 16:7 says, The way You counsel and correct me makes me praise You more, for Your whispers in the night give me wisdom, showing me what to do next.
     Now, could I find the connection between thirsting for the Living Water, it's overflowing from my heart, and the peace that I desired? Romans 15:13 spoke directly to me! Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance until you radiate with hope! There it was! The picture of the Living Water coming directly from God as my source of joy and peace! And that peace comes directly to me by the power of the Holy Spirit to reproduce the character of Christ in me!
     You know, sometimes, it is easy to say we understand the Biblical concepts that we've learned in Church. But to really understand is a heart knowledge, not a head or analytical knowledge. I knew peace came from God. And I knew that the Living Water was the Holy Spirit overflowing from my heart. But when I tried to see Jesus displaying that peace as a man, I was chasing after the peace of God in my flesh. Jesus always talked about the Living Water as a spiritual concept, not something that we could accomplish in the flesh. So, it was important that I understand that I can only know true peace when I am functioning out of the overflow of the Holy Spirit in my life. 
     So, now I understood what had taken place in the garden of my heart. In my search for Jesus' peace, I was led to drink of the Living Waters, flowing from the throne of God. Jesus wasn't at our meeting place under the shade of the big oak tree because I wasn't going to get instructions for peace from how He modeled life as a human man. I could only get the peace He knew by being filled with the overflowing joy and peace coming by way of the Holy Spirit, and straight from the fountain of hope, Himself, which is God, the Father. That's why Jesus was waiting for me on the banks that provided the peace I was looking for!
     In summary, I now understand that true peace is not something I can achieve through earthly measures. I can't do enough, have enough, or know enough [in the flesh] to set my soul or spirit at perfect peace. It is only through the presence and overflowing of the Holy Spirit, that I can know the peace that exists in the Kingdom of God. If I may be so bold, I don't believe you can find real peace in the realm of this earth. The key for us, who are living here until called Home, is the discernment that God's peace only exists in God's Kingdom realm. The only way we can experience His Kingdom while still on this planet is in the realm of the Holy Spirit. It all comes down to this ... Divine Peace exists in the realm where God is. God's realm is available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. The power of the Holy Spirit is experienced as the overflowing of the river of Living Water in our hearts. Divine peace -- God's peace -- comes when we submit our hearts to Him and allow Him to fill us with Himself. Instead of looking for outward manifestations of peace, I will now look inward -- because I know that the peace of God, which surpasses all [human] understanding, will guard my heart and my mind because His realm lives inside me. Hallelujah!

Romans 14:17    Because the Kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking [as a human does]. When God reigns, the order of the day is redeeming justice, true peace, and joy made possible by the Holy Spirit. 
     

 
      
      
    

A New Look At The Sermon On The Mount

     How many of you have struggled with understanding the section of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount that is presented in Matthew 5?  It is commonly known as "The Beatitudes" or "Blessings of the Kingdom", and for years I have heard sermons or teachings on this particular portion of Scripture, and have always been left feeling as if the real meaning was missing.
     And then I read Matthew 5 based on the translation from Aramaic, and it was like a window was opened to the Father's heart!  Before I show you the fullness of these important verses, I want to tell you why I think it is relevant to read the Aramaic translation.
    First, I will tell you that after doing extensive research as to what language Biblical scholars believe Jesus spoke, I was surprised to find so much disagreement and controversy.  It was almost equally divided among the experts who believed that Jesus primarily spoke either Aramaic, Hebrew or Greek (from which our English translations are derived).  After weighing all the opinions, I feel confident that this Aramaic translation is relevant for the following reasons...
     I believe that Jesus most likely spoke all three languages, depending on what was appropriate for a particular audience He was speaking to.  Hebrew was most likely the language in which the Scriptures were spoken or taught in the synagogues.  And it was spoken by the scribes, teachers of the law, Pharisees, and Sadducees, or the “religious elite.” So when Jesus appeared before the Sanhedrin, it is reasonable to assume that He spoke in Hebrew.
     Greek was the universal language of that time, and the language that the Romans, who had power over Israel during Jesus’ time, spoke.  It was the language of the political class, so it is quite plausible that when Jesus was taken before Pontius Pilate, He spoke in Greek.
     

 

     Aramaic was a particular Galilean dialect spoken during the late Second Temple period, at the time of Jesus and His Disciples. It was the language of the common people. According to the Associates for Biblical Research, and as written in the Gospels, Jesus' earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. While important events occurred in Jerusalem, the Lord spent most of the three years of His ministry along the shores of this freshwater lake. Here He gave more than half of His parables, and here He performed most of His miracles. Seven of the Twelve Disciples were from the Galilee area, and tradition tells us that the Sermon on the Mount took place on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret. Since Jesus' ministry centered around the common people in this particular area, it is quite logical [to me] to take a look at how this important message would have been delivered in the language they spoke and understood ... Aramaic.
     Before I give you that translation, I would like us to consider that the Sermon on the Mount was presented in the context of being the Constitution, if you will, of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is telling the crowds that the Ten Commandments serve as the Law on earth, but there is a higher concept of the Torah that portrays all that God expects and provides for those who yield to Him.
     In essence, God offers promises of power to fulfill all that He asks of us. In this important Sermon, Jesus puts the emphasis on the inward transformation of our hearts by the grace of God, rather than the outward duty to obey the Law. Jesus is telling all of us that God's Kingdom is available to those who will learn His ways and offer ourselves to Him in full surrender.
     So, let's take a look at what Jesus taught the crowds that day [in Aramaic]...

     What wealth is offered to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For there is no charge to enter the realm of Heaven's Kingdom.
     What delight comes to you when you wait upon the Lord! For you will find what you long for.
     What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you! For you will inherit the earth.
     How enriched you are when you crave righteousness! For you will be surrounded with fruitfulness.
     How satisfied you are when you demonstrate tender mercy! For tender mercy will be demonstrated to you.
     What bliss you experience when your heart is pure! For then your eyes will open to see more and more of God.
     How blessed you are when you make peace! For then you will be recognized as a true child of God.
     How enriched you are when you bear the wounds of being persecuted for doing what is right! For that is when you experience the realm of Heaven's Kingdom.
     How ecstatic you can be when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for Me! Do leap for joy -- since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you. 

     Can you see the bigger picture here? Instead of our English translation that repeats "Blessed art thou", the Aramaic provides independent and separate blessings for each of the Beatitudes. The word for "blessed" in Aramaic is toowayhon, and it implies more than a universal blessedness. It suggests, or intimates, fuller meanings of "enriched, happy, fortunate, delighted, blissful, content, and of course, blessed".
     Now, I better understand the full implications of these blessings. These verses now speak to me of total reliance upon God for everything.  When I wait upon the Lord, I am actually mourning for being away from Him, and I will be comforted when I finally receive what I have been longing for. When I am gentle [flexible], or meek, and claim nothing as mine, everything will be given to me. And I love the connection that is made between righteousness and fruitfulness!
     And I was amazed to find that the Hebrew and Aramaic concept of mercy is that it comes from our innermost being. In fact, the root word for "mercy" is the root word for "womb" -- where we are transformed from spirit being into human being, as Jesus knits us into the womb. (If you doubt this concept, remember that Jesus says He knew us before He knit us in the womb -- I believe as a spirit being, made in the image of our Father). 
     I also understand more fully the concept of being pure of heart, for I will progressively see more of God as I mature in my faith and experience encounters with Him. Then the final verses speak of being persecuted and insulted because of the way we show our love for Jesus! But we are to live in such a way that people will have to lie when they speak evil of us.
     I am so thankful for this new and refreshing translation of the Beatitudes, because it is important that we understand the full picture of Kingdom living.  I will no longer read these verses with a veiled understanding, but can now delight in the picture they paint of how God wishes to bless us if we surrender fully to Him, and seek and embrace His Kingdom. I can only imagine what hope this gave to the crowds of simple and humble people who were hungry for these promises of the Kingdom. I am no different from them, and I suspect you aren't either.  We all long for the hope of Heaven! So now, read this ancient, yet fresh, version of the Beatitudes again, and anticipate all that will be ours when the fullness of God's Kingdom comes with our Savior!

Psalm 130:5    "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope"

The Hope and Expectations For 2018

     Thanks to Charey, one of the faithful readers of this blog, I have been introduced to the writings of Daniel K. Norris, a minister who travels full time bringing a message of repentance and revival, and challenging believers in their walk with God. His desire is to see the Church experience the power and presence of God and yield a harvest of souls for the kingdom. 
     As I read his analysis of a project that he and his family experienced in 2017, I was amazed at how similar our perspective is on what God is doing among the faithful.  So, I wanted to share his testimony, and thought you would be blessed by it as we get ready to enter 2018. Read and contemplate...

     We sold everything (our cars, furniture and home) in 2016 and moved our family of five into a motor home to travel the entire United States in 2017 on a tour we called the Trail Of Fire. This week, we arrived back where we started. We covered 50,000 miles, visited 47 states and connected with 80 amazing ministries.

     This past month, the question I have been asked the most is "What is your biggest takeaway?" Curious?  

     One thing this year has done for us is this: it has given us a national perspective. We didn't just pass through a city or state, we lived there. We didn't just minister in the church. We walked their streets, bought groceries in their supermarkets, sat in their homes and around their tables. We spent time getting to know them and listening to their stories. Our lives have been greatly enriched because so many were willing to share their own lives with us. 

     It's been a blessing! We set out in January of 2017 dreaming about the impact we could make on the nation; however, we never considered the impact the nation would make on us. We have truly been changed by this year for the better!

     Ultimately, we found a great remnant across the land that also carries the same burden for national awakening. These churches, ministries, revival hubs and houses of prayer are strategically positioned across America. They are a faithful battalion of believers that have made seeking a greater awakening for their city a priority.

     This year has greatly encouraged me about the possibilities for national awakening. I believe that true nationwide revival is not just a distant dream, but an imminent reality if we will pay the price. I assure you that though the full breakthrough we've prayed for may tarry, we ourselves are not tarrying in vain!

     So, what was my biggest takeaway from 2017?

     Just as I am encouraged at all we saw and experienced, I also see a tremendous need. I believe the church, as a whole, has lost its eternal perspective. So much of what occupies our present time is making little eternal impact. This must change if we have any hope of true revival.

     This week I came across the following in a book called In Light of Eternity. It is the biography of the late great revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill. At the end of the book the biographer writes the following account. He asked Ravenhill in the last year of his life if he had any regrets. This was his response:

     "If I had spent more time alone with God rather than preaching and planning how I was going to change the world, I would be a very different man."

     Stop and read that again! "If I had spent more time alone with God rather than preaching and planning how I was going to change the world, I would be a very different man." I pray it hits you like it did me!

     Ravenhill was a man with a colossal prayer life. He would often spend entire days locked away in his study in prayer. I've heard unbelievable stories about the prayer meetings he hosted. The man was a giant in prayer, yet here he was, at the end of his mortal life, with eternity in view and his response was, if only I had prayed more and preached and planned less.

     If such a man could say this, how much more should we!

     That quote only reinforced what I had been feeling over the past few months—that so much of what the church world is doing right now is missing eternal intentionality. Let's be honest, we could all say, "If we spent more time alone with God this year, rather than—(preparing that sermon series, watching television, golfing, on Facebook), I would be a different person right now."  

     Interestingly, here we are back where we started, and I find myself confronted with a truth I wrote about one year ago in my book, Trail of Fire. Fifty thousand miles traveled, only to arrive right where we began. I am convinced the Lord gave us this assignment to give us His perspective on a serious need within the American church. This is the key to unlocking national awakening—we must bring eternity into view.

     I said above that much of what the church occupies its time with carries very little eternal significance. Most of what we call "ministry" is really day-to-day maintenance. Granted, this daily maintenance is necessary, and when done properly, it allows us to actually do ministry. However, let's not confuse the two as being the same thing.

     This is true for individuals and churches. Whether it is working a 9-5 just to make one more paycheck so you can make one more payment or if it's one more Sunday so we have one more offering just to keep the wheels spinning one more week, the effects are temporal, not eternal.

     I think back to all the meetings, the plans, the series, the programs, the budgets, the tasks that I let dominate my time and realize much of it could have been eliminated or done more efficiently, allowing more time to pray and truly love others. At one time, I called all of it ministry and was proud of my busy ministry life. Looking back through the lens of eternity, I see so much of that was arrogance. It is only the things that impact eternity that can truly be called ministry.

     This year, I stood by a man and watched as he was born again. What a moment to witness and share with him. I've seen this so many times this year. There is nothing like seeing eternal life come into what was once a broken soul. That moment changed eternity, not just for him, but for his family as well. I think about the orphans in Uganda we were able to help through our giving. Yes, it was a simple thing that simply met a temporary need. However, it also enabled a local church to show the love of Christ to them as well. That moment impacted eternity. This was ministry! We should have, could have done more!

     The key to true eternal impact is found in learning to minimize the maintenance so we can maximize the ministry. This shift is made simple by adopting an eternal perspective.

    Jonathan Edwards often prayed, "Oh God, stamp eternity upon my eyeballs."  He endeavored to live each day with eternity firmly fixed in view. The result was America's First Great Awakening. Ravenhill wrote that were we to be so bold to pray such a prayer, we would likely change everything we do.

     Now, there's a thought. Ravenhill went on further to say, "Five minutes inside eternity and we will wish that we had sacrificed more, wept more, grieved more, loved and prayed more, and given more."  Oh, my friend, if that statement is true, then a great deal must change. If we truly desire to see more in the coming year then we need to start living with eternal intentionality today.

     So what do we do?  Let's start here. Take a moment to evaluate 2017 in light of eternity. What things have you done that will make a difference 10 years, 100 years or even 1,000 years from now? Take a look at your checking account. How much money went into temporary things and how much went into things that will last?  How much more could have been moved toward eternal purposes?  Look at your calendar. How much time was wasted in frivolous activities and how much was sown into eternity?

     I admit, this is a sobering exercise, but it is necessary. Too often, we treat time as if it is something that can be wasted. However, eternity leaves no time wasted. Each second is precious and must be invested wisely.

     Here are three eternal priority shifts we must make this year:

1) Prioritize the Secret Place. Rather than letting that place of prayer and devotion be the last place you run to, let it be the first place. We must tackle each day and every problem from the same starting point. There is no getting around this. Prayer must be paramount.

2) Prioritize the Word. God's Word is eternal, powerful and life-changing, but it does you no good as long as the words sit unread on the shelf. The American church is becoming increasingly and biblically illiterate. If you're a pastor, I encourage you to minimize the trivial sermon series that offer a few verses and take your congregation into actual study of biblical texts. Let's preach the Word and let the Word transform them. Don't just give your people verses, give them the Word. For the rest of us, let me encourage you to adopt a daily reading plan. Get the Word in you!

3) Prioritize Eternity in your Present. Every day is pregnant with eternal possibilities. Most go unnoticed and unrealized. Make it a daily goal to look for one eternal moment in each day. You'll be surprised how many there are.

Eternal intentionality is the key to making 2018 more significant. Eternal intentionality is the key to getting the church on track toward awakening. Eternal intentionality is the key we've been missing. It's time we find it.

     WOW! I feel like I could have written so much of this article! And there are several perspectives that struck me as identical to my views. First of all, I am in agreement that there is an awakening and revival among the faithful remnant of this country. And as I have written, God is now connecting us, making for a bigger impact for the Kingdom of God. 
     Then there is the idea that Daniel Norris presents that the Church has become all about "Maintenance".  I would expound upon that and say it has become a Business. The Church's efforts are too often spent more on budgets and programs, than equipping the saints to continue the work of Jesus.  And I agree with Mr. Norris, that this applies to us as individuals, too.  It is sobering when we look at where we spend our efforts -- both financially and spiritually.  How many hours a day do we spend watching TV versus studying the Word? How much of our money goes towards buying things "of the world" for ourselves versus spending our money to help ministries or individuals that are making a difference for the Kingdom?
     I join with Daniel Norris in challenging myself [and you] with this question:  How much have we sown into eternity? Could I stand before Jesus right now and be proud of how I've invested my time and treasure on earth? 
     And, if you have been reading my blog for awhile, then you will recognize my advice for 2018:  1) Make your prayer life change the atmosphere and display the power of Heaven, so that both you and others have encounters with God.  2) Be ever-mindful of the opportunities to present Jesus to the world. That is our commission! There are 365 days in a year -- how many days were you able to meet that goal? 3) We are all the Church. We don't need to meet in a building to come together and work with Jesus to take back territory from the Enemy and advance the Kingdom.  When two or more are gathered in the Name of Jesus, that qualifies as the Body of Christ. It's all about exhibiting the Power of the Holy Spirit in how we represent Him. Without the power that He walked in, we cannot fulfill our commission.
     So, let's look forward to 2018 and all that we can accomplish for the Kingdom. Let's get excited for what God is going to do across America, and the part we can play when we cooperate with Him. We were born for such a time as this!

Hosea 10:12   Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.