The Book of Books

I recently watched "The Book of Eli" and came away with some interesting thoughts. It's amazing how you can walk away from a movie with spiritual insight if we will pay attention. Just for the record: I do not recommend this movie for the whole family because of the language and violence.

The "Book of Eli" is set in an apocalyptic age where water is a valuable commodity and the earth is a giant wasteland. Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is on a journey across the United States carrying the only Bible that survived the aftermath of war. All other Bibles have been destroyed and it is Eli's job to carry this book to a place where it will be safe. The journey is long and filled with danger as he meets a man who wants to possess the Bible as a weapon for control. Interested yet?

Eli's journey comes with a promise of protection and provision from the Voice that led him to the last copy of God's Word. I want you to imagine a prophet with the skills of Chuck Norris who has discovered the promise that "No weapon formed against you shall prosper".

Here is the insight: A day is coming when people will hunger for the Word of God! Those who are fortunate enough to possess God's Word will find His promises true and faithful. There will be no attempt to explain away anything in God's Word. Instead, every Word will be precious to the hearer and unlock supernatural ability as it is received in faith.

News Flash: God's Word operates this way today! For those of us who are fortunate enough to own a copy of the Bible, we are able to unlock great potential. His Word is filled with invaluable promises. We discover the Genesis of life - the history of God's people down through the ages - the miracle of the Incarnation - the Resurrection and the Life - and the true Guide for life. We also discover that "Blessed is the man who hears these Words of Mine!" We don't have to wait for an apocalyptic age for the Bible to be more than a book. All we have to do is read and apply His Word now.

You might be asking "Why is Neal talking about this movie?" I'm sharing this with you to say that too often the world understands what the church doesn't see. We must never forget the precious gift of God's Word. The Bible is more than a book. His Word will endure forever!

Pick up your copy of the Bible today! It's something you can share with the entire family.

Friday Stuff

Hello Friday! I've got a lot of things on my mind today: Sermon Preparation, Conversation I had on the phone this morning, and the Events of the Day. It's shaping up to be a great day.

First of all, I'm continuing in a series of messages from Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount). The application of Jesus' teaching is difficult because we cannot become what He says apart from the work of Holy Spirit. However, the series for me has been cleansing. There is a purity that flows out of the application that is refreshing. I'm thankful that God has led me to share these messages. I'm excited about the God quality of life that is a product of submitting to His Word.

Secondly, I had a conversation with some friends overseas that stirred my heart. It's amazing how God is using the people I know in various places. The book of Acts is coming alive before them with healing(s), signs and wonders, conversions, baptisms, throngs of people looking for a touch from God, and dreams/visions. I am in awe of how God has chosen to use my friends. They have witnessed the Kingdom of God invading their ministry area. I long to see this happen in America as well!

Last of all, we have plans to spend the evening with some very close friends. God has partnered us with people from various places. Some of these people have been placed in our lives to work with while others pray for the work that God has given us to do. Each family and individual is special to us. This evening looks to be another great time of fellowship and growth.

Before I bring things to a close on this wonderful Friday, let me give you something to think about. Have you ever considered that God has made us stewards of His presence? When the Holy Spirit invades our life, we have the same power at work in us that raised Jesus from the dead. This same Holy Spirit that came upon Him at His baptism comes upon us. We are clothed in the same power that Jesus was clothed in. That is why He tell His followers that they would do "greater works"! As you enter into this weekend, walk as someone who is a steward of the presence of God. Carry Him into every situation you face. When you pray - pray as someone who is a steward of God's presence. When you speak - speak as someone who is a steward of God's presence. You can bring God into every circumstance, every relationship, and every environment. This is what Jesus meant when He said, "I am with you always..."

Be Bold! Be encouraged! Be Faithful! God will do the rest - He's with you!

The Pursuit

The topics I have shared over the last couple of days are a result of my own pursuit of God. It is nothing short of wanting to see the kingdom of God evident in my life and in those that God has placed around me. There was a hunger that God placed in my spirit several years ago that has never been satisfied. Although there may have been times that I have nibbled on appetizers - I am far from full.

I have met well meaning believers who warn of the dangers of pursuing spiritual gifts. It's an argument that is based on the concept of idolatry. "If you pursue anything other than God..." (You get what I'm saying) Here's the problem with that mindset: I cannot pursue the gifts unless I pursue the Giver. I cannot seek after the things of God without seeking God. And if we aren't careful this false notion of idolatry will keep us from going deeper with God, experiencing Him at a greater level, and actually seeing the fullness of God come upon our lives.

Paul told the church at Corinth (even with all their problems) to "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts..." {1 Cor. 14:1} When we teach believers that they should not desire/pursue spiritual gifts then we are living/teaching contrary to the Word of God. The "gifts" are nothing less than the "graces" that God has given us to fulfill His kingdom work. We must remember that God's immediate target in our life is salvation but His ultimate goal is to fill us with all His fullness (Eph. 3:19)

Here's what I have discovered in my life: Any pursuit of the things of God always brought me closer to God. My intimacy with the Lord became stronger. My knowledge of His Word grew deeper. My experiences with God became more frequent. Like a good Father, God doesn't turn away from His children. That is why the Bible tells us to "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." {James 4:8}

This is nothing less than a choice to no longer "grieve the Spirit" or "quench the Spirit." I want nothing less that a continual flow of the Spirit of God in my life. I want Him to flow in my service, my ministry, my family, and my walk. I want to operate in all of the things that He wants me to operate in for His glory. I cannot accomplish anything of lasting value apart from His work in me. For far too long we have simply operated in the letter of God's Word rather than the Spirit. We must remember that "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." {2 Cor. 3:6}

My Continuing Education

While walking through a sporting goods store, my son and I came across a Nike t-shirt that read: "If that's your 'A' game then you better get the rest of the alphabet!" While I find that shirt extremely funny when it comes to sports, it's a terrible way to approach the Christian life.

Pay attention to this quote: "The acceptable way of studying Scripture puts the power of revelation into the hands of anyone who can afford a Strong's Concordance and a few other miscellaneous study materials." The whole idea behind this approach is that if I simply put the time and effort into studying the Bible that I can learn some wonderful things. I'm not discounting a disciplined approach to studying God's Word. I'm also not discounting the use of the various study tools. The children of God should read and study the Bible. However, anything that I can get from the Word without God will not change my life. I must remain dependent upon the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible does so much more than just give us formulas for living. Certainly we can discover some principles that can be laid out (A-Z) but this approach simply makes the Bible a road map. The shirt I mentioned earlier states that the "A game" wasn't much so you need to get "B thru Z". Have you ever seen a Christian do the same? When "A" doesn't work we scramble for the rest of the alphabet. When a concept doesn't "pan out" we look for greater concepts. Pay attention to Hebrews 5:12, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." When we allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide through the Word of God then the words on the pages take on a different meaning - they actually come to life!

When we treat the Bible as a road map, we live as though we can find our way through our own understanding of His book. It's like living under the law. We get our list of boundaries rather than living in a relationship. But we are not under the law - we are under GRACE. Under GRACE we don't get a road map...we get a tour guide - the Holy Spirit. He directs, reveals, and empowers us to be and do what the Word says.

Remember that the Bible is the absolute Word of God. It reveals God in all His greatness but it does not contain Him. God is bigger than His book. The danger that comes through some styles of theology is trying to contain God within a system. What we believe becomes much more important than what God is saying and doing. If we live under this type of thinking we will actually reject what God wants to do now. Is God bigger than your belief system? Is God mightier than your understanding of His Word? Most of us would cry out "Yes!" But do we live that "Yes!"? Do we embrace that "Yes!"?

Personally, I only possess an Associates Degree in Religion and Church Ministries. However, under the continuing education of the Holy Spirit, my understanding of God and His Word has gone much further. While I'm a firm believer in learning all you can learn through organized education; there is so much more to learn through the work of God's Spirit. And it is through this type of education that we get far more than a degree - we are actually being transformed into the image of Christ!

A Concept or a Promise?

After spending most of the day at the hospital with plenty of time to think, I came away with a question. Am I believing in a concept or a promise? You see...my father-in-law had an episode yesterday that caused me to think about God and healing. The good news for my father-in-law is that he is doing much better and is on his way home. The good news for me is that I have been encouraged to keep believing God and His Word.

Allow me to explain. I have always believed in God's ability. I don't know of a time where I ever doubted that He was able to heal someone. What I doubted was my part of the equation. I read the book of James in the New Testament and he tells the church very plainly that if there are any sick among us that they should call on the elders of the church, be anointed with oil, and the prayer of faith will bring healing. In my opinion, it's very plain what James is leading the church to do and the results that will come about because of the prayer of faith. What I didn't realize is the hornet's nest that can get stirred up when you begin talking about healing.

The fact is that most of us have known someone who has died because of sickness. Many of those people even had folks who prayed over them. They have followed the prescribed method but nothing changed. And the statement that usually follows is that it must not have been God's will. But am I believing in a concept or a promise? Concepts will fail. Well laid out plans don't always achieve the goal. God's promises never fail!

Believe me when I say that I am not questioning the amount of faith of any individual nor their sincerity. I am one of those people who believed God for a healing and didn't see it come to pass. I am one of those who have asked God "Why?". But I am also one of those people who refuses to value a concept or idea above an experience with results. I didn't stop praying. I haven't stopped believing that God still works miracles. In fact, the lack of "results" has led me to go even deeper. I long for understanding.

I came across a quote that stirred this fire inside of me even more: "Any revelation from God's Word that does not lead us to an encounter with God only serves to make us more religious. The church cannot afford 'form without power' for it creates Christians without purpose." ~ Bill Johnson. It doesn't matter how well I know or understand a concept. My ability to understand and communicate God's Word doesn't change anything. However, if I experience God's Word then something happens that no one can stop!

When we experience the promises of God in our lives it doesn't matter what the world says. If God says someone will be healed, it has nothing to do with a concept of healing but everything to do with God's intervention. When God says that we should call upon the elders of the church for prayer, the healing isn't in the concept but actually flows through our obedience to the thing that God spoke. Our obedience is a display of our faith and faith is the key to unlocking the kingdom of God. But the faith isn't focused on the concept. Let me give you an example. When my brother-in-law was very young he developed a fever that could not be broken. Medication wouldn't even touch it. Ice baths couldn't get the fever to come down. My wife's grandfather (a preacher) drove to the hospital. When he came in to pray he said, "Lord, I don't have any oil but by faith I place my hands on Kevin and ask you to remove this fever." With that he licked his thumb and placed it on Kevin's head. The fever broke. If our faith is in the concept then the concept was flawed. There was no oil used in this approach. But when our faith is in the Healer - He is never flawed!

Let us remember that the Spirit of God never contradicts the Word of God but He is very comfortable in contradicting our understanding of it. We may say that God only works in certain situations but the Spirit of God can quickly change all of that. We may say that certain gifts aren't available for today but the Spirit of God can change our theology. He is the One who will guide us into all truth. All understanding of truth and all application of truth. We must never forget this fact.

As I prayed for my father-in-law yesterday, I literally watched his circumstances change. I watched him begin to recover. There is no doubt in my mind that God touched him. And it is a lesson that I will never forget. What I saw in the hospital was a man laying in a bed. What I heard from doctors and nurses was an evaluation of his situation. What the Spirit of God told me to do was to move beside the bed and pray. I obeyed - God responded - and He gets the glory!

Although I cannot explain the times when I did not witness the healing hand of God; I also cannot explain the times when I have. Healing is God's sovereign work. I have simply abandoned myself to be obedient. And as I walk with God on this journey, I'm praying for God's "will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." I'm looking for an invasion of heaven here and now. I have decided that it will not be my job to explain away the power of God. Instead...I want to be like the Apostle Paul and say that I didn't come to you with persuasive words of man's wisdom but with a demonstration of the power of God! Anyone care to join me?