You Have Been Sent

Luke 4:17-21, "And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' And He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Can you imagine the scene in the synagogue? It's truly one of those "WOW" moments we read about in the Bible. While many marveled at His sayings, some took it as an opportunity to reject Jesus as the Messiah.

Are you ready for another "WOW" moment? This too comes from the Bible, but involves you. In John 20:21 Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you." The same commission that was given to Jesus when He came to this earth has been passed on to us. We have been given the mandate to proclaim the good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, liberty to those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

That a huge task. How is it possible? It's possible in our lives the same way that it was possible for Jesus. At the very beginning of this passage from Isaiah we read the key to unlocking this ministry: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me..." As followers of Jesus Christ, we have this same Spirit - this same anointing. God ensured that His followers, the ones who came to Him through faith in Jesus would be empowered the same way that Jesus was. What is discovered in the life of Jesus is what was lost in the fall of Adam. The ability to walk in authority and dominion has been recovered.

Your faith will take on a whole new dimension when you realize that you were not saved just to go to heaven. When we read Scripture we understand that what God accomplished through Jesus was to set everything back in order. Jesus reclaimed what Adam lost by becoming the sacrifice for our sin and being raised from the dead. He told the disciples that all authority had been given to Him and that He was sending them in that authority. They to walk in the earth as those who had been anointed by God, empowered by the Spirit of God, and enabled by the grace of God. We are to release the kingdom of heaven here on earth. We are His anointed ones! We are His sent ones! It's our turn.

The prophet Joel made it clear that when God's Spirit was poured out that sons and daughters would prophecy, young men would see visions and old men would dream dreams. Every male servant and female servant would have God's Spirit poured out upon them and they would prophecy. This outpouring of God's Spirit is not just for the "select" - God means for all of those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior to walk in His power. While most of us believe the latter part of His prophecy "All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved", many struggle to believe the former (that all may prophecy).

Yes, this means you. If you know Jesus then you have been commissioned. When you received salvation then you also received a calling. You and I are to be the sons and daughters of God walking the earth. We are to proclaim His good news, set at liberty those who are captive and oppressed. We are to preach, teach, heal, and proclaim. Peter told the church that we are a royal priesthood. It was always God's intention to have a nation of prophet-priests who would minister for Him and unto Him. How's that for a "WOW" moment?

Are you ready? The Spirit of the Lord is upon YOU because He has anointed YOU to do this. Take your place child of God among those who are walking in the revelation of who they are in Christ.

A Father's Legacy

I was watching an episode of "The Waltons" with the family last night and heard an incredible quote. In this episode, Ben had purchased a pair of elevator shoes to make himself look taller. After walking around the house without being noticed by the family, he goes to his room. John (the dad) walks in to encourage his son. He says, "When people look only at your outside, it’s them that come up short."

Let me share a couple of observations:
#1 - Why don't they make TV programs like this any more? I remember watching these shows as a child. They were filled with strong family values, wisdom, and were very entertaining. Our children absolutely love watching these old shows with us. AND we are glad to share them!

#2 - Watching this exchange between John and one of his sons reminded me of the importance of speaking truth into your children. They are the legacy that we leave in the earth.

Studies have found that our children get their sense of identity, security, and protection from the father. Men, this is where we have to pay attention. I want you to consider the amount of fatherless homes in America. Is it any wonder that we have countless young people who are confused, seek constant approval from their friends, and struggle to see the truth of who they have been created to be. When the person who is responsible for providing these needs is not involved in our lives, the result is brokenness, emptiness, and despair. I know there are plenty of single moms giving their best to the children, but a strong woman can never make up for the influence of a man.

Identity - I want you to think for a moment about how you interact with your children. What does your son/daughter hear from you. Do they hear how amazing they are? Do we tell them that they are loved, accepted, and that God has purpose for them? If all our children receive from us is negative criticism then they will always have a negative view of who they are. When you read the Old Testament and find fathers blessing their children, they always end up walking in how the father has blessed them. Whether it is negative or positive - our words have power. We hold a great influence over the next generation. Can you imagine a generation that is strong in their identity?

Security - It is still reasonable to consider that in our culture the man is seen as the provider of the home. Even if mom makes more money we tend to look at the dad to be the one who supplies. When we struggle to provide for the needs of the home, then the view of dad can be skewed in the minds of our children. Not only that, but it also clouds our children's view of God. If we cannot trust our dads to provide for our needs when we are young then we will struggle with the idea that God can provide for all my needs in Christ.

Protection - Remember the arguments when we were kids: "My dad can beat up your dad"? Unless there is a body-building mother in the home, we tend to run to dad when we are scared. He is the protector. Our kids need to know that we will risk everything to keep them from danger. They need to know that we will defend them, fight for them, and shield them from the things that will cause pain.

The problems with our kids typically come from these areas. The same can be said about the role of the mother - she tends to handle the areas of comfort, nurture, and teaching. This is why a strong family environment is necessary to help kids become all that God has created them to be. The good news in all of this is that even when we fail to meet all of these needs that if we learn how to love our kids according to their love language that they can still be healthy. There may be areas of struggle but they don't have to go through life completely wounded. I know that when you had kids that you didn't realize you had signed-up for this - but it's our responsibility as parents to provide for all these needs.

Some tips from "The Waltons":
- Slow down your pace. These episodes were filmed in the 70's and reflect a time in America when life seemed to move at a much slower pace. There was always time for the family. They ate together, played together, and talked to one another. Look for the things in your family that cause you to be so busy. Can anything be removed?

- Simplify your life. "The Waltons" also reflect a time when life was much simpler. There is no TV, cell-phones, video games, or Internet. While I am a fan of technology, I'm not a fan of allowing these advances to raise my children. When I need to speak to my son or daughter, I don't want to have to fight the latest Disney show, the phones, or Internet games. I'm also not saying that you have to throw everything away. However, you should be willing to create boundaries. Be willing to change the things that complicate your life.

- Share life with your family. There is always something about these shows that make me envious. It's the quality of life that is discovered. Sure...times were hard, they had to work hard for everything they had; however, the family did not suffer. It's one thing to live with the awareness that nothing is easy but quite another thing to make everything hard. Your kids need you. They need your blessing. They need you to talk to them, embrace them, encourage them, correct them, etc. They need you to speak and share life with them.

***The legacy you leave with your children is up to you. It's not about the stuff you give, the amount of wealth that you create, or the possessions that you pass down. It's about you - giving yourself to ensure that your kids know who they are, are secure in your love, and feel protected. What are you going to leave for them?

A Ministry of Encouragement

1 Corinthians 14:3, "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men."

I want to say thank you to all the people that have brought encouragement to my life. It is my prayer that the Body of Christ understand the significance of this ministry.

Paul's letter to the Corinthian church has given us wonderful insight into the use of spiritual gifts. Due to the abundance of gifts within this particular church, he had to put some guidelines into place to ensure that the body would be edified (built up). It's a shame that many church leaders have used Paul's instruction to create division. Especially considering that Paul wasn't trying to restrict the use of gifts but create an environment where everyone could be ministered to properly.

When used properly, spiritual gifts bring edification. There is a "building up" of the one who operates in them and a "building up" of the one who receives ministry through them. I want to highlight the use of prophesy within the church. Paul states quite clearly that prophecy is to bring:
1) Edification
2) Exhortation
3) Comfort
I love Larry Randolph's take on the use of prophecy. He said, "When relating to God's Church, we are called to be Body-builders, not wife-beaters." In other words, when we minister to the Body of Christ, we should take ensure that we are building up the believers rather than beating them over the head. We must remember that we ministering to the Bride of Christ; therefore, we should make every effort to give honor.

Edification means "to build up." There are other places in the NT where the Greek Word is translated as building. In one instance you could be talking about a physical location like the temple. In other places it is quite clear that God is speaking about the saints. As we consider the use of prophecy within the church, we must make it our aim to build up the believers rather than tearing them down.

Exhortation means "to urge or admonish earnestly." The word is closely associated with edification but different enough to justify the need to clarify. The best way to define the need for exhortation within the body is to prompt and urge the church to draw near to God. The difference between edification and exhortation would be the passion with which we share the word.

Comforting the believer is also a means of bringing encouragement. Its root form means "to come alongside." It also means "to strengthen and to reinforce." To comfort one another is to bring physical, mental, and spiritual refreshment.

I believe it is quite clear that God wants us to bring great encouragement to one another. What is unfortunate is that we seem to only hear those who claim to be prophetic speaking doom and gloom or sharing harsh rebukes with the church. While I understand the need to help steer God's people in the right direction, or we may be dealing with the severity of sin in a person's life; we need to remember that it is the goats that have to be pushed. Sheep will hear the Shepherd's voice and follow.

Why don't you ask God if there is someone that He would like you to share some encouragement with today. Be a voice for our loving God into the life of another individual. You will be amazed at how often the Lord brings great encouragement through you. In fact, when you operate in the prophetic, God will always bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to the believer. Consider coming alongside someone today.

The Divine Nature & The Divine Institution

2 Peter 1:3-4, "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

This past Sunday, I shared with our congregation from 2 Peter 1:1-10. What I am discovering is that we could talk about these verses for months and still uncover some incredible truth. Peter explains to the church that God has provided everything we need for life and godliness through His divine power at work in us. The Holy Spirit along with the grace of God allows me to live a full and holy life. If that wasn't enough, Peter also tells us that through the exceedingly great and precious promises of God that we are partakers of the divine nature. Put that in your faith pipe and smoke on it for a little while!!!

After meditating upon these words last week and over the last couple of days, there is much more at work here than just helping us be better Christians. I was talking with a friend today about how God is restoring his marriage. He and his wife had been going through a very difficult season. In fact, I wasn't sure how this would work out. I have perfect confidence in God's ability to speak to hearts but I was a little unsure about how the other person would respond. The greatest key to seeing this family come out of darkness and into the light as it relates to there marriage is so simple that we tend to overlook the significance: L-O-V-E.

That's right folks...LOVE. I'm always amazed that we struggle to consider that love has this type of power. If we are partakers of the divine nature of God then we have the ability to love as God loves. God is unconditional love - His nature of unconditional love is within us - it is upon us to draw from this nature if we are to manifest His love to others.

1 John 3:11 says, "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." Now I realize that John was speaking to the church but folks we have to make this transition into our marriage relationships. We promise at the beginning of our marriage that we will love one another through a whole lot of "stuff." It is foundational to the covenant of marriage that we never stop this process of love. Once we choose to not operate in love then we are doomed to failure. This man stood and testified that as he learned to love his wife, demonstrate his love for her, and become more concerned with meeting her needs than his own that God began to break through the walls that had been built up over time. Have we learned this principle in our own marriages?

The Divine Nature of God must be married to the Divine Institution of Marriage. It is critical that you learn how to tap into God's love for your spouse. Brotherly love will only take you so far. Erotic love will only carry you for a season. Unconditional love will sustain your relationship for a lifetime! How can it not work when we learn to love one another with the love of God?

I dare you to take this challenge upon yourself. I'm not asking you to "fake it until you make it." I'm asking you to draw from the nature of God that is within you. He will provide you with the love you need. There is a way to forgive, become compassionate, and give mercy to your spouse. There is a vast supply of grace available to enjoy your marriage. It's a matter of seeing one another as sons and daughters of God - recipients of His divine nature - and loving as God loves. It's a matter of recognizing the awesome power of God's love in the world - realizing that He loves us before we ever loved Him - and that His love reached out to us when we were walking contrary to His heart. If God can perform this for a world that had walked away from their created purpose, don't you think He can help you do this in your marriage? I believe He can!!!

I want to encourage you. All is not lost. God is a master of restoration. He knows how to heal the broken-hearted. He understands what is needed to make things new again. This is His heart in salvation and it is His heart for your marriage. You can love again. By His divine power, drawing upon His nature, you have everything you need for a godly life and marriage.

How to start:
1) Repent for believing you could do this in your own power.
2) Pray - ask God to allow His love to flow through you.
3) Obey everything that God tells you to do in the restoration of your marriage.
4) Love - Love - Love - as He does (unconditionally).
5) Praise God for what you are going to receive in your marriage.

Something is Missing...

Well...somewhere is the ever expanding universe of the Internet, I seem to have lost the blog from yesterday. It was a good one too.

Don't you hate to lose things? When it comes to "stuff" - I do a pretty good job of keeping up with things. I used to never lend out books or a CD because I hated the feeling of wondering if I would get it back. Most of the time the item was returned. However, there have been a few items lost over the years.

What really gets me is when you are looking frantically for something only to find it in the first place you looked. You've done that...right? Circled the wagons, went back to the place you started and there it is...waiting on you. If you are a parent then I guarantee that you have been on this journey before:
"Did you look in your room?"
"Where was the last place you put it?"
"Are you sure that you looked in here?"
The seemingly random questions that are typically responded to with a "Yes...I looked everywhere!" Then you get involved with the search, go to the very place that you asked them about, and immediately the item is discovered.

The point is that we can spend a lot of time searching for things that are right under our noses. How many times have people with glasses searched frantically for the item that was placed right on top of their heads. There is a spiritual application here. How many people you know have been looking for themselves for several years now? Or...how many do you know that have tried to find answers in life but continue to come up empty? However, the truth is right in front of them. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."(Romans 1:20) God created the world in such a way that it speaks of His existence. Hear what the psalmist said: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)

The problem is that there have been many people searching, asking questions, and yet never come to the conclusion that there is a God and He cares for me. It's one of the greatest tragedies of human existence. I hope that's not you. I hope that you understand that we have a Creator who longs to have a relationship with His creation. To prove it - He sent His Son into the world. Don't miss this!!! Stop looking for something that is right in front of you. Jesus is the way to knowing the Father.