Revelation of the Heart

Revelation of the Heart

Today is likely a good indicator of your relationship with the Lord. Are you fearful today? Has fear of contacting the COVID-19 (C-19) virus paralyzed you? Or how about the plummeting economy, has that fear found a seat in your soul?

Or are you confident in Him?

Many scriptures reveal the heart of a person who trusts in the Lord. Here are some of my favorites:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Psalm 125:1

And then there is Psalm 91. A most beloved psalm. As you read through this psalm, consider that these promises are to those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Excerpts from Psalm 91:

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!"

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, [But] it shall not approach you. 8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, [Even] the Most High, your dwelling place. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

Way back in the 1990s a man gave a prophecy about a leveling earthquake that would hit Portland, Oregon. He had many confirmations; the warnings rang out. Many people left the area. I called a friend who was recognized as a prophet in the Abbott Loop Family of churches. His answer was that God hadn’t told him about an earthquake. He assured me that God wasn’t required to tell him either. He further said that since the Bible says there will be famines and earthquakes in many places, and that hardships will come, and because of the clear warning in the Bible, he and his family had a storage of necessities for both his family and another family for two months. This is wisdom.

About a week ago, I believe the Holy Spirit spoke this to me concerning prayer.

The prayer that was initiated by President Trump on March 15, the National Day of Prayer, is to continue. It is to continue by Christians calling friends and family to pray. Short voice to voice prayers for our country, wisdom for our president and medical experts, for God to intervene and stop the Corona-virus, stabilize the world economy, and protection for our families and friends and the people throughout the world. I saw these as short 30 seconds to 2 minute prayers. It is a two-fold plan from God. First, we know God hears our prayers and that if we would pray God would answer. Secondly, this would also initiate communication between God’s people during the isolation many will feel during this time.

Please consider picking up your phone to call others for prayer. I don’t believe this has to be phone calls, face-time works and so do other means of voice communication. The point is to reach out, pray together, and communicate with your voice and not just a text. I have made some calls and every time there were tears and deep appreciation. So many people are lonely. So many needs, and not just due to C-19.

C-19 has revealed us on so many levels. It has laid out our hearts in full view to ourselves mostly. God already knows us, but we easily deceive ourselves. Trusting God is a choice. Choose the right thoughts and your emotions will follow. Again Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. God is already on the other side of C-19. He knows how to protect us. He is looking for our trust.

Who are you today?

What has C-19 revealed about you?

Do you trust God or are you living in fear and “hordation”?

Choose trusting God. 

And take some time today to talk to God and to others.

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Holiness

Holiness

What has happened to the church? Have we lost our understanding of the darkness and total depravity of sin? Sin is deadly, my friend. God didn’t just make rules because He wanted to, to form a cute little society where streets go one way then another, forming order. No! God made rules because sin is bad. It is evil. Sin leads to death.

How long has it been since you have heard a message on holiness? How long has it been since you have heard a message on fornication? How many people do you know in church that are living in blatant sin? Is there no fear of God before our eyes?

The church has slid into numbness without a cry or whimper from her leaders. Not just the ones who stand at the podium, no, all her leaders: you and me. Do we preach holiness? Do we warn those who are fornicating? No we call it “living together.” Maybe even worse, we don’t even know those in our church well enough to know whether or not they are living for the Lord or not.

Yesterday my husband, George, and I had a conversation about Sunday morning service. What is the purpose of it anyway? We get up early, shower, eat, feed the dogs, rush out the door to horses in order to get to church on time. A little fellowship, “worship,” announcements, message, song, prayer (maybe), then out the door with a “good to see ya” to others. So many messages seem to be so well put together. Listeners can tell time was spent putting sentences together, adding a relevant story or two, and adding a joke, but where is the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Where is the depth? Is the Sunday service supposed to surround a well put together message? Or is it meant, in God’s heart, to be something far different? Better yet, is Sunday service, in God’s heart, even supposed to be the focus? 

In the Book of Acts Christians met often. They went from house to house. They broke bread together. They knew each other. They lived and died together. And because they lived in community they knew each other’s business. The Corinthian church knew about the man who was fornicating with his step-mother. Paul, their apostle, told them to deal with it: expel the immoral—no wicked—person from among you (1 Corinthians 5:13):

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

Do we preach this anymore? Do we even hear this anymore? Do we call sin sin? Sin, I’m afraid, in the church, has lost its sting. Probably better stated, the church has lost her fear of God. Yes, I believe that is it. We do not know God and therefore we do not fear God. We wink at sin and think that it has no impact on us. Oh, but my friends, we are sadly mistaken.

Sin is so dark

Sin is so evil

Sin is so costly to mankind

That God died to set us free from it.

And yet, the church rarely even talks about it.

Something is terribly wrong.

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Prophetic Gifts and the Local Church

Following is an excerpt from “Soaring in the Prophetic.”

Prophetic Gifts and the Local Church

Administration of spiritual gifts varies in each church community. Our focus and energy spent on what matters to God, not our own opinions and wants, leads to a healthy flow of spiritual gifts and community. God warns, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19­21) The whole community of believers has a responsibility to flow with the Holy Spirit, and not to put out our hand to steady Him as Uzzah did at the threshing floor of Kidon. (1 Chronicles 13:9) Many churches have walked away from their call as they have put out their hand to steady the ark, when the ark was supposed to steady them. “Test everything. Hold on to the good” is the remedy for dealing with well-meaning people who miss the mark when they manifest the revelatory gifts and not, “Let us avoid mistakes by never allowing revelatory gifts.”

God sometimes gives extremely pre­­­cise details on how He wants to build and other times He does not. For example, God gave Moses precise instruction for building the tabernacle and all its furnishings. (Exodus 25:9, 25:40) Consequently, the artistic work for the lampstand (Exodus 25) had meticulous details, and yet, God left some room for the artist’s own inspiration. 

Interestingly, Jesus interprets the seven golden lampstands, which John saw in Revelation 1, as the seven churches (Revelation 1:20). Some details in His church are to be meticulously precise and other details flow with the personality of the leaders, and the community of be­­­­­lievers represented. However, a lampstand has the purpose of providing a place for fire—and the Fire was never to go out. This Fire is the Holy Spirit. (Revelation 4:5) People of God—do not put out the Spirit’s fire. As we build, one thing is certain, we must build in such a way that our church is a habitation for Fire—His Fire. As His Fire burns, the natural reaction is for His gifts to manifest. Churches that do not allow for the manifestation of spiritual gifts are quenching the Spirit’s fire; this environment quickly becomes problematic for Spirit-filled Christians, and they will eventually find another church.

Administration for the Holy Spirit’s gifts in the New Testament is much like the lampstand—some precise details, and some broad principles. We should flow with our leaders and fellow Christians. They will miss the mark from time to time, and so will we. If we have an idea, let us share it with our leaders. If they like it, great, if they do not, leave it alone. How spiritual gifts are to flow in churches is not a formula, rather it necessitates an ability to hear God for His plan for each church. God, otherwise, would have given clear and precise instructions in His word, as He did other things. Nevertheless, if we are disgruntled, murmur, and complain, causing division and pain to our leaders, and fellow believers, God will not take it lightly. Let us follow the way of love instead. Work with the church and not against her. When we cannot flow within our community of believers, then it is time to find a place where we can. 

Not all churches are for everyone, but The Church is.

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And the Books Were Opened

And the Books Were Opened

Have you ever been reading through the Bible and thought about what it must be like to have your name written in God’s Word? What an honor. David comes to mind. And Abraham, Zadok (David’s priest—I love him.), John the Baptist, Mary and Martha, and Paul. Their names and heroic acts, because of their faith, will forever be written in the word of God. I admit it stirs me up as I read through places like Hebrews 11’s exploits of faith’s heroes.

Do you know God is writing more books? In Daniel 7, in the midst of this most intense revelation, Daniel says:

“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took [His] seat; His vesture [was] like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne [was] ablaze with flames, Its wheels [were] a burning fire. 10 A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened.”

Daniel 7:9-10

In Revelation 20 we again read of more books:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Revelation 20:11-12

We will be written in God’s books! Not only His book of life, but also His other books. This is something to look forward to or to dread, depending upon how you live your life. Not as to whether or not you won nations to Jesus or gave all you had to the poor. But rather did you love Him, did you trust Him, were you obedient, were you faithful? These are the things that He is writing about in His books. David is remembered as the man after God's own heart. Rarely do I hear of David's military exploits unless someone is systematically teaching through the Bible. Usually it's his heart for the Lord that is heralded.

Rahab is in the Bible. She was a harlot. She had faith. She is in the linage of Jesus Christ—King David’s great great grandmother. Rehab didn’t conquer nations, she didn’t win her city, but she did what was at hand; she hid the spies because she had faith. And God wrote about her.

What would God’s books that He is writing now say about you if you died tonight? Would God write about how you had faith in the midst of trials? Would He write about you giving that $5 or $50 or $500 to the needy even though it hurt? Would He write about how you leaned into hearing the Holy Spirit in order to minister to others, how you waited on Him for the right message to feed your church, or how you loved the people who mistreated you? Would He write about your pray-life and how He heard you and moved mountains and changed lives because you prayed? Or would the books read, “Well she made it after all”?

What will God’s books say about you when they are opened? You can change your story today, if you want to.

It is forever, my friend.

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Biblical Faith: An excerpt from Confronting the Wind

The Blessing of Isaac: Genesis 27

Isaac desired to give Esau, his first born, his blessing. However, Jacob seemingly stole Esau’s blessing through intrigue. The transfer of the blessing was real: Jacob got the blessing. Esau cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry for a blessing from his father, but Isaac said Jacob had already taken it away and Jacob would indeed be blessed. The blessing’s transfer to Jacob was real and it was literal, yet, was given without Isaac’s ability to rescind or annul.

From the account in Genesis it seems like Isaac has authority to command the blessings. However, the OT is always to be viewed from NT illumination. Romans 9 sheds light on this account from Genesis:

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." 13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Romans 9:10-16

In Romans we see God was behind the scenes working His purposes. God ordained the older (Esau) to serve the younger (Jacob). The power to give the blessing didn’t reside within Isaac. If it had, Isaac would have given the blessing to Esau. If Isaac had the power to give the blessing, would he not have had the power to rescind it? The power to root and propel the blessing rested in God alone. Romans 9 further discusses Moses, Pharaoh, and all mankind, Gentiles and Jews alike, in this same light.

Hebrews 11 illuminates Genesis 27 further: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come (Hebrews 11:20). “…concerning things to come” is a prophetic statement. Only God knows and can declare the future¹. Isaiah 46 marries the prophetic with the nature of God—only God:

“Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.”

Isaiah 46:9-11

When something is truly prophetic it is of necessity, then, also, truly from God. Additionally, the word “faith” always carries with it an object, meaning it always carries the assumed [in] with it. Faith is always pointing to an object of the faith. Faith means “faith in…” Faith is always attached to someone or something. For example, if I say “I have faith my house will sell today,” I mean I have faith in either my own intuition, my realtor, news I’ve received, or that God told me it would sell today. We cannot have faith in nothing. Faith is, by nature, attached to someone or something. “I have faith my chair will hold me.” My faith is [in] the structure of my chair. Many people say, “I have faith it will all end well.” That phrase, even by an unbeliever, is stating a belief in God, though they don’t realize it. It is stating that someone is in control of creation and is orchestrating events. (Great tool for evangelism.) So, when we see the words “by faith” in the Bible relating to God’s people, we must add “in God” to “by faith,” rendering, “by faith in God…” Hence Hebrews 11:20 would read: By faith [in God] Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Following through in this line of thinking, when the Bible says “by faith…” we must also acknowledge that God was directly involved. Therefore: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come means: By faith [in God] Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come [for he spoke, prophesying, as directed by God.] Furthermore, we must acknowledge that God is not in the business of being subservient to our words. (Mark 11:23 will be discussed in the next section on the NT.) God is interested in man hearing His words, believing Him, and speaking according to what He has said or is saying. That is the true nature of the power of man’s words: words that originate with God and are in agreement with what He has said or is saying. Our faith must be [in God] lest we step over a threshold, which many others have crossed, into a doctrine of demons: a little-gods theology.

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Why Bother with Gifts?

Why Bother with Gifts?

Why even bother with gifts of the Holy Spirit? They are so messy. Passionate aggressive people abuse them, immature people are like oxen in stalls creating messes everywhere they go, ignorant people reject them, and they are flat out hard to manage for most leaders, so why bother? Often gifts of the Holy Spirit are directed to the corner like a naughty child. After all we don’t want messes and we definitely don't want to offend anyone.

Please reread that last sentence again.

Are we wiser than God?

He is the One who gives gifts—they are gifts of the Holy Spirit!

Ok, then, as some strategize, let’s just have a special place for gifts to operate, like the prayer room or the midweek service or small groups. That way we can still be Charismatic/Pentecostal and still keep the Sunday service a manure-free zone (Proverbs 14:4). 

I love spiritual gifts. I love them on the streets and I love them in the church. The very first time I went to church as an unbeliever, dead in my sins, a man gave a prophecy that was exactly my thoughts. Exactly my thoughts! It was a bland prophecy about the love of God. Really not what anyone would consider a wow prophecy…

except me…

and God.

This morning I was reading Hebrews. Hebrews has been my favorite book for decades having studied it more than any other book. This morning it again surprised me. (Thank You, Lord, for the tasty treat this morning.) 

Chapter 1 opens the curtain by pronouncing that God now speaks to us through His Son, Jesus: the heir of all things, Creator God, the radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of God’s nature, the One Who upholds the universe by the word (rhema) of His power, He made purification for our sins, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. All this couldn’t be framed more magnificently than by the testimony of the Father about His Son in Hebrews 1:8: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”

Now let’s look at Hebrews 2:1-4 (this is what caught me this morning):

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 1:1-4

It’s pretty easy to pass over the details of what the Author is saying without them branding our thoughts, therefore I'll set out an outline. Verse 3 introduces our great salvation. This salvation:

• at the first began to be spoken by the Lord. [Then],
• was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
• God also bearing witness [to this salvation] according to His own will

§  both with signs and wonders,

§  with various miracles,

§  and gifts of the Holy Spirit

According to Hebrews 2, our great salvation is revealed though—gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not just through reading the Bible or through preaching or someone sharing salvation with us. Not to minimize these, but gifts of the Spirit also bear witness to our great salvation. If or when we send the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the corner, we are removing one of the ways in which God Himself wants to reveal His great salvation. This is not just by what is said through these gifts, but also by the very gifts themselves manifesting through people.

Consider this: The New Covenant was provided by Jesus, but it is ratified by the indwelling Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes into a person, He regenerates them and they are born again—without the Holy Spirit’s indwelling no one is born again. Furthermore, when He comes in He also gives gifts. These gifts proclaim that the Holy Spirit is indeed within, which is the hallmark of the New Covenant (Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:31-34). The manifestation of His gifts is far more important to the New Covenant life than giving a prophecy or a word of knowledge. The manifestation of these gifts themselves provide proof of the New Covenant and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

That is pretty awesome!

If you have restricted the Holy Spirit's gifts to the corner, you have done a great disservice to both the church and the lost. It is wrong to do so. Without realizing it you have stunted the growth of the people of God and some who would have received Christ, due to a prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:24-25), didn't. Furthermore, the body of Christ is built up as each member does their work (Ephesians 4:16). Pastoring the gifts of the Holy Spirit takes wisdom and patience, but the increase that comes from the ox far out weights his mess. 

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Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Tongues

Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Tongues

I wrote this for a friend who just received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and thought I'd share it here. 

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is tied to the Feast of Pentecost in the Old Testament (OT) (Acts 2), just as Passover is tied to the death of Jesus Christ (Exodus 12, John 1:29).

Here is an overview of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

We find the Trinity throughout the OT with its first mention in Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” The Holy Spirit’s first mention is Genesis 1:2: The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The difference between the OT and the NT (New Testament) regarding the Holy Spirit is that in the OT He would come upon people and in the NT He came in to dwell permanently. In the OT He would come upon people only for various tasks. There are a handful of times (maybe 5) where the Bible says that the Holy Spirit came within someone and when He did come in, He came in for a task not to stay. Under the New Covenant (NC) when He came in He changed our nature, thus we were born again—a completely new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.)

With that in mind let’s look at the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit differs from being born again. In John 20:22 we read: And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was right after Jesus had risen from the dead and is the first mention of anyone being born again. The disciple received the Holy Spirit and were indwelt by Him (born again). However, to these same disciples Jesus said to go to Jerusalem and they’d get the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:1-5, 8 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4  And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…” 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This Promise of the Father is reference to the fulfillment of Feast of Pentecost in Acts 2 (people today call this Pentecost, hence where the word “Pentecostal” comes from). In Acts 2:1-4 we read that the Holy Spirit came and filled these same people who were breathed on in John 20. This was another experience prophesied way back in Joel 2:28-29 and then through John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8. Luke 3:16, John 1:33) and by Jesus (Acts 1:5). The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is largely associated with speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues accompanied the first time the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2. Further into Acts, tongues accompanied many, not all, times the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (also called being filled with the Holy Spirit) is mentioned.

Everyone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit can speak in tongues though not all do. In 1 Corinthians 14 we find the greatest explanation of tongues and its benefit to the Christian. Tongues is also called “praying with my spirit” in 1 Corinthians 14. Tongues is not the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, but is accompanies the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Some people are confused over the gift of tongues that must be interpreted versus the pray language of tongues. Let’s look at the prayer language first.

The prayer language (praying with/in my/the spirit) is available to all as Paul says that he wished that everyone spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5). Consider that as Paul wrote he was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), so though it was Paul saying he wished… it really is God’s desire that all speak with tongues. The prayer language of tongues is what was seen and experience on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). There were 120 people in the upper room praying together and no one interpreted the tongues. They spoke in tongues and the Holy Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

Now let’s deal with the tongue that must be interpreted. First, 1 Corinthians 12:30 asks: Do all speak with tongues? 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 further discusses the gift of tongues and its usage in the church “service”: If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. This gift of tongues must be interpreted, and yet in Acts 2:1-4 tongues was not interpreted. Paul states that in the church “service” all things are to be done for edification, decently and in order, and with regard to those around you. So if someone speaks in their prayer language of tongues with no interpretation then how are others edified? But, if someone speaks in tongues and it is interpreted, bumping it up to the level of a prophecy, then others are edified. That is the difference between the prayer language versus the gift used in the church. The prayer language edifies the individual, while the gift used in the church, when it is interpreted, edifies the church.

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Seasons: Keep Shoveling

Seasons

“Keep shoveling.”

It’s a hard thing to hear. We are so prone to associating our value with what we are doing. Downtimes with the Lord are hard. It is much easier to see the reward on eternity’s side when sweat is running off our brow, so to speak.

Of Abraham, Romans says that if he was justified by works then he had something to boast about (Romans 4:2). Justification through works is embedded within the human nature. We feel value when we are doing something. We feel justified. We can even myopically look at the scriptures to elevate self-worth through works. I think most of us wrestle with feeling of worthlessness when we aren’t saddled.

Seasons of downtime come. They are beneficial. They give us a break: a needed break. We need our Sabbaths. Not out of a legalistic regiment, rather a sigh—a deep breath—for the soul. Not only are they so, but these breaks have other more important benefits. They tap deep places of our soul; places where important God questions bubble from. These questions lead to clarified vision. But the most important reason for these God-imposed downtimes is that they reorient our spirit that we are justified by Jesus Christ apart from works. And this dear reader anchors our soul.

Recently I have been forced into one of His God-imposed Sabbaths. Daily routines: laundry, dinners, washing the dog, grocery shopping, and cleaning up after my horses was about it for me. I get quite a bit of communion with the Lord and a ton of scripture since I listen to teaching and the Bible virtually all day—such a wonderful blessing. One day while cleaning my horses’ paddock, I was talking to the Lord. “Lord,” I said “What am I supposed to be doing?” His response was clear, “Keep shoveling.” It hit me like a splash of cold water in a warm shower. I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. I was shoveling horse manure. I was pleasing Him.

Enjoy your downtimes. 

Let those deep God questions bubble out of your soul. 

Commune with Him

…and keep shoveling.

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Carry the Torch

Carry the Torch

You used to carry the torch as you ran to the heart of God. Your heart was on fire. You burned with passion for the Lord and for His friendship. You couldn’t wait for the next meeting where you and those around you would together experience the Presence of God. And yet, your closet was your favorite place, just you and Him Face to face.

Photo credits: Aziz Acharki

Now those days are but a glimpse in the rear-view mirror. You are in a different season. Your friends have changed. The reflection in the mirror has changed. Maybe you are in your 50s or 60s or 70s now. You are still devoted to God and deep inside you still have a flame. You still love Him, His Presence, and His fellowship, but where is the fire? As you read this, your heart yearns and longs for His courts as King David longed... 

because you remember. 

You know who you are. You know you are a lover of God. But as time has passed your oil has burned elsewhere rather than to stoke the fire of God within you. Some have made this great exchange—the beauty of God, His Fire, His manifestation, and His closeness for the familiar and the easy. Having eyes like Eli’s, dim and cloudy, eyes that no longer clearly see.

Sure you experience His Presence from time to time when you make time for “behind the closed door.” Or maybe it's just that you only remember when you experienced Him. You know there is more, because you have experienced Him and you know what you experienced was real. It forever changed you. You remember getting touched by God's fire and you watched as your friends did too. You also know that now your meetings are a far cry from the call of the Lord for His church. Where is the Fire of God that used to be in those meetings? Would those around you even understand it you burned for Him again? If this is speaking to you, here is a word from the Lord for you.

Burn anyway.

Carry the torch of the Holy Spirit’s fire anyway.

Pay the price,

and...  
Burn.

Win those around you.

They will see. They can’t help but see. They will want His fire too.

And even if they don’t…

Burn anyway.

Run the race.

As hot as you can for Him,

Until your last breath.

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