Wishing You A Merry Christmas

Christmas Break started today. Our kids will be out of school for the next couple of weeks. With that being said, I wanted to let you all know my plans for the blog. I'll be taking the next couple of weeks off as well. We'll get things started back up in the New Year.

Allow me to take this time to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. I pray that your hearts will be filled with joy and peace during this special time. I hope that the time spent with your family will rekindle the hope you have discovered in Christ.

During this season I also ask that you be mindful of those who have suffered such loss during the last few days. Going through Christmas without cherished loved ones is difficult. But I also ask that you be mindful of the blessings upon your own family as well.

May the Lord grant unto you the true wonder of His Son's birth into this world. This is a season of good tidings of great joy!!!

Creating A Kingdom Culture

Over the last few weeks I have been sharing a series of messages about creating a Kingdom Culture. The necessity of this mentality cannot be emphasized enough. We are Kingdom People - as such we cannot be satisfied with the best worldly structures, worldly governments, or worldly mindsets. It's time for the people of God to regain His vision for the church.

Here's what I have shared so far:
To establish a Kingdom Culture, we must understand that it is a...
Culture of Covenant - We serve a covenant God and we must be a covenant people. We do more than just operate on the basis of relationships or membership. Those ideals may seem lofty but they do not necessitate operating outside of our emotions, our natural discernment, or our feelings of right and wrong. Covenant (look it up in the Hebrew) is all about walking through a bloody mess. When I live in covenant with the people around me, I am compelled to see past issues, see past personality quirks, and see past the natural man/woman standing in front of me. I base all of my relationships upon the covenant that God established with me through the Cross. He was willing to establish an eternal covenant with us in Christ. Therefore, we must understand the eternal nature of our relationships. We must also understand that we can walk through anything together.

A Kingdom Culture is a...
Culture of Love - The greatest goals that we can aspire to within the Body of Christ is to Love God, Love Others, and Serve Both. That's it!!! All other goals, all other purpose statements, and all other things that would fight for our attention are secondary. I don't think most people understand how the mentality of the world has crept into the church. It's easy for us to grab hold of the desire for success. And by success I mean what the world defines as successful: Big Buildings, Large Crowds, Nice Facilities, Countless Programs and Ministries, etc. What we fail to recognize is that Jesus stated very simply that the proof of our commitment to Him is found in our love for one another. Trust me when I say that when a church body is willing to walk in love toward God and one another that the people on the outside of that fellowship will take notice. Grace is the atmosphere created by love. It drives out fear, it keeps us from needing to be in control, and it allows us to live freely with one another.

A Kingdom Culture is a...
Culture of Honor - Honor recognizes the greatness that God has placed within every person. In honor we learn how to prefer others. We work hard to step out of the competitive mindsets that dominate worldly institutions. We learn how to relate to one another as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. Honor chooses to view people according to their identity in Christ regardless of whether an individual is having an identity crisis. When we live in honor we create a funnel where life flows into the Body. And we want to be a life giving culture.

A Kingdom Culture is also a...
Culture of Confrontation - Please understand that conflict is not the same as conflict or combat. Confrontation means that I am willing to go to someone who has been overtaken in a fault so that they can be restored. In the Kingdom of God, Confrontation is always about Restoration. We stand upon covenant, we walk in love, and we honor people through the process. The goal of confrontation is not that we have a confrontation. The goal is restoration. This is important because we cannot afford to look at an individual and be satisfied with confronting them. We should find our joy in seeing people restored, seeing them walk in their true identity, and thriving in their relationship with the Lord. I'm not really sure where we got the current model for restoration that we see in most churches. It's as if we want to ensure that people have displayed enough grief and sorrow over their shortcomings before we ever consider allowing God to use them in the Kingdom again. The problem with this model is that it doesn't take into account the unconditional love of God. It doesn't take into account the gifts and callings of God that are (according to Scripture) irrevocable. Rather than walking in a loving/honoring confrontation with someone much of the church has walked around in offense. This has to change.

The last message in this series (which I will share this Sunday) will emphasize the fact that a Kingdom Culture is a Culture of Power. We'll be talking about the necessity of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives and in our midst. We will define the Kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit. This is the way Paul describes it and I think his definition will suffice for us.

Why is a Kingdom Culture important?
Allow me to go back to my earlier statement. Kingdom People cannot be governed by the best worldly mindsets or worldly structures. As a Kingdom People we are to be governed by love, established in covenant, willing to do the "dirty work" of confrontation, and living in honor toward one another. The world is longing to see something different within the church. It should bother us that most of them simply see us as an organization, a business, or a charity. God has a much bigger view of the church than that. We are the Body of Christ in the earth. We re-present Him to the world. We are defining God for people through our words, our actions, and through our love.

May God establish His Kingdom within our hearts. And may we be the ones who fulfill the prayer of Jesus "Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."

A "Word" About God's Love For You

I want to share with you a prophetic word that God used to change my life. I came across this word accidentally...at least I thought it was...it was on a CD that I received from my brother. The Lord continue to speaks to me through a man who is firm in the unconditional love of God. And to be quite honest with you...sometimes we just need to be reminded.


"The Lord says that there is nothing that you can do that would make Him love you more. There is also nothing you can do that would make Him love you less.

He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
He loves you because
That is what He is like
It is His nature to love, and you will always be the beloved.

And His love is unchanging, and He loves you 100%, He won’t love you any better when you become better. He loves you 100% right now, and even if you have no plans to become better, He will still love you 100%; because He loves you, because that’s the way that He is, and even if you don’t want to change, He will love you 100%. Even if you have no plans to walk with Him, He will love you 100%, because that’s His nature. He loves all the way all the time.

His love is unchanging. What will change says the Lord is your ability to receive my love, and this evening I want to cram some more of that ability inside you. So I challenge you says the Lord, open your heart to me, open your heart to me and you will receive more of my love than you’ve ever experience before. I dare you says the Lord, come on, open you heart to me, give me your heart, give me whatever your obstacle is, I’ll take it, I’ll remove it out of the way, because I love you as you are right now. I love you 100% as you are right this moment. I love you as you are, so be loved. You are the beloved, it is your job says the Lord, to be loved outrageously. It is why I chose you, and it is why I set my love upon you, that you would live as one who is outrageously loved. That you would receive a radical love, so radical it will blow all your paradigms of what you think love is. And know says the Lord, I will love you outrageously all the days of your life, because I don’t know how to be any different, this is who I am, and this is who I will always be, this is the I Am that I promised you, I am He that loves you outrageously. And you may love me back with the love that I give you; you may love Me back outrageously, with the outrageous love that I bestow upon you. And know this says the Lord you can only love Me as much as you love yourself.

So My love comes this evening to set you free from yourself, to set you free from how you see yourself. To set you free from the smallness of your own thinking about yourself. My love comes to set you free from rejection, and from shame, and from low self-esteem, and from despair and from abuse. Because when I look at you says the Lord, I see something that I love, and I see someone that I can love outrageously. And I have so much to bestow upon you, so much to give you, so many places to take you in My heart, but you can’t go there unless you allow Me to love you. And my love for you, will break every barrier, bring every wall crashing down, and know this says the Lord, My love damages fear, My love hates fear My love will fight fear it will fight fear in you it will fight fear around you, and if you have fear this evening says the Lord, then know that you have a treat in store, because My perfect love casts out fear, there is no fear where I am present, because My love casts out fear. Beloved, you are My beloved, you are My beloved, and in My love I want you to feel good about yourself.” ~ Graham Cooke {The Inheritance}

I pray that you will be swept away in God's amazing love for you. May your heart always be persuaded that even in times of brokenness, God's love is constant. Be blessed!!!

Walking In His Light

I'm sure I have posted this before (at least some of it) but it bears repeating. After reading the book "Blessed Child" I was confronted with the words of Bill Bright who helped co-author with Ted Dekker. May these words challenge you as well as we seek to see the Kingdom of God established in the earth. I pray that the Body of Christ will once again discover the power of God. I pray that we will not shy away from the work of the Holy Spirit. And I pray that we will once again embrace the Kingdom as a little child.

"...It is the truth that God is indeed alive and still moves in supernatural ways today, whenever He so desires and for His purposes, through the lives of those who love, trust, and obey Him. It's the truth that the source of God's power is found in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, not in man's devices. It's the truth that what we see with our own eyes on a day-to-day basis isn't the half of it. There is indeed a supernatural reality all around us that is just as real as the world we see.

"And most importantly, it's the truth that, when seen through spiritual eyes, a healed heart and transformed life are far more spectacular than a straightened hand or restored sight. These were the themes of the New Testament church, and they must be the themes that guide our lives today. As dedicated believers, we are on a grand adventure that bristles with power and excitement. But I have been saddened again and again at the lack of enthusiasm and zeal among many who claim to be His followers. A lack of first love among His body - the Church.

"The Bible explains that in the last days people will hold to a form of godliness while denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Sadly, many believers do not know of the reality of living a supernatural life through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit...

"...At Campus Crusade for Christ we have noticed that the response in many parts of the world to the Jesus Film in phenomenal. Audiences who see the film say that if Jesus can heal the blind, He can heal them too. And so He does. In face, we have reported situations where people have actually been raised form the dead, and their communities revolutionized by the message that resulted.

"But in the Western world, we are more prone to rationalize and analyze until the true meaning of the gospel is dissipated and often rendered powerless. We become like the churches in Ephesus and Laodicea: we have left our first love and are neither hot or cold. We find it difficult to believe that Jesus would do today what He did centuries ago, while many of our fellow believers across the seas do believe and they rejoice in the fruits of their belief..."

{Blessed Child - Ted Dekker & Bill Bright - pp.349-351}

It is my prayer for you that during this Christmas season that you allow the joy, wonder, and awe of the good tiding of great joy to be birthed anew in your heart. May you be captured once again by the reality of God's power, love, and grace in our lives. And may you find yourself walking in the incredible light of this grand adventure!!!

Gritty Grace...

Romans 3:20-24 "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

I just read an article that reminded me about the necessity of grace in relationships. Here's the link - copy and paste in your browser - & please read: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2012/december-online-only/going-to-hell-with-ted-haggard.html


It's my personal belief that the grace of God is gritty. In other words, it doesn't mind getting it's hands dirty. When we discover the relentless pursuit of God in our lives, the unconditional love that He has displayed, and the demonstration of that love upon the Cross...how can the grace of God be any different?

There's a couple of points that came out of the article in particular that we need to give serious consideration to:

- "It's amazing how much more mercy I give to people who struggle with sins I understand. The further their sin is from my own personal struggles, the more judgmental and callous I become."

- "'Every time you talk to me about God, you explain that he will take me as I am. You say he forgives all my failures and will restore my hope, and as long as I stay outside the church, you say God wants to forgive me. But that guy failed while he was one of you, and most of you are still vicious to him.' Then he uttered words that left me reeling: 'You Christians eat your own. Always have. Always will.'"

- "It would do some Christians good to stay home one weekend and watch the entire DVD collection of HBO's Band of Brothers. Marinate in it. Take notes. Write down words like loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice. Understand the phrase: never leave a fallen man behind."

If we really believe in the grace of God it will be demonstrated in our relationship with God AS WELL AS our relationships with others. The grace of God will allow us to forgive even when we would much rather walk in offense. The grace of God will always lead us to bring about restoration rather than leave people reeling in shame and humiliation. The grace of God will empower us to demonstrate the same compassion that Jesus displayed when He said, "Neither do I condemn you."

How is it possible to sing songs like "Grace Greater Than All Our Sin" and yet not be willing to forgive the people around us? I have determined in my own life that when it comes to the grace of God: I'm ALL IN!!! Will you join me? Will you be willing to love the unlovable? Will you be willing to embrace people at their worse just to demonstrate the grace of God unto them? Will you be willing to forgive people even though their sin seems so offensive? This is the life that Jesus demonstrated to us. AND it's the life that is available to all who walk in the grace of God.

Start a Revolution!!!

During the course of ministry the Lord has allowed me to run I have encountered a lot of people who are looking for revival. Over the last few years I have come to believe that we do not need revival as much as we need a revolution. To revive something by definition means to make something alive again. We are not dead - but we do need something to happen.

A revolution, by definition, dictates a forceable overthrow, a radical change in society and social structure, and a sudden/complete/marked change in something. That "something" that needs to take place is how we operate as the Body of Christ. In particular the "something" that needs to happen is how we respond to the "one anothers" of Scripture. There are at least 54 verses in the New Testament that lead us in how we treat one another.
Love
Honor
Serve
Be at Peace
Forgive
Etc.
Regardless of the version of the Bible you read, you will find these verses from the Gospels and through the epistles. God is quite deliberate in how we live as a community of believers. The love that we display, the honor that we show, the service that we provide, the peace we live in, and the forgiveness we give matters. It's my belief that THIS is the revolution that needs to take place: Every Member of the Body of Christ sharing in the One Anothers of the Bible!

Of course, this type of revolution will require that we operate differently as it relates to structure in the church as well. No longer can we expect one person (a pastor) to fulfill all 54 one anothers. We also cannot expect a particular group (ministry leaders, teachers, deacons, etc.) to be the only ones who take care of these commands. The church as a whole needs to take part. We must recapture the New Testament understanding of the "Body" where every member does their part.

Do I think this can actually happen? Absolutely! I'm a firm believer that anything God commands us to do that He gives us the power to make it happen. Do I believe it will be easy? No. It will not be easy because the of the current structure within most churches. It won't be easy because of the cultures that we have instilled within the church. This age of consumerism within the church will war against everyone fulfilling the one anothers because it will mean that we are no longer looking at what we can get out of the church. We will have to ask "what can I give?".

Let's start a revolution!
Let's make sure that the world will see our love for one another.
Let's ensure that we serve one another.
Let's give honor where honor is due.
Let's become the most forgiving people in the world.
And by all means let us live at peace with one another.

We are the Body of Christ and as His body we re-present Him to the earth. Let's make this happen! The REVOLUTION begins with you!!!

What Gives Us The Right...?

So...this thought hit me this morning like a ton of bricks: How is it possible to have a theology to explain "sinful" behavior but no theology to explain "righteous" behavior? The answer to this question is found in our answer to another question: Does pride dominate your belief system more than truth?

My friend Thom Cooper finished a book last year titled "What's the Meaning of This? (Clarifying Christian Concepts)." The object of the book is to bring clear understanding to a lot of the common words used in the Christian community. Words like love, fear, sin, the glory of God, righteousness, confession of sin, and the new birth. Depending upon your faith background, your understanding of the Word of God, and your perception of the nature of God - your definition of these words could be quite different from mine. The question my friend often asks is "What gives us the right to believe what we believe?" The answer? Ultimately we must allow the TRUTH of God's Word to be the foundation for all that we believe and that truth is found in Christ.

Think about it. How often have we found ourselves arguing over meaningless things simply because we don't want to be wrong? We will go to great lengths to defend what we believe about a particular subject. It's like being a contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" because we will even phone a friend if it means backing up what we believe. The Peanuts cartoon that I posted says it all: "Have you ever considered that you could be wrong?"

Here are just a few areas where I see the church going in circles:
- A greater awareness of the devil than the presence of God
- A greater sense of sinfulness rather than one of righteousness
- A greater belief in judgement instead of the unconditional love of God
- A greater understanding of who we were in Adam rather than who we are in Christ

How is it possible that we have come "so far" in the Christian faith and yet we have missed out on some of the greatest truths in the Bible? I personally believe fear has dominated our thinking more than faith. We have chosen to go along with the theological crowds rather than believe what the Word of God teaches us. We recognize the divisiveness that comes with conflicting beliefs and it keeps us from pursuing what we discover to be true in Christ. I realize that some of you may disagree with what I'm saying but I have seen it happen over and over again. It's much easier to tow the theological lines of the church rather than possess the mindset of God.

One of the basic concepts that Paul taught the church revolves around our identity in Christ. Jesus came as the Last Adam. He came to restore all of mankind to God's original design and intent. He accomplished that through His life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. We have been redeemed. It's a fact that is clearly outlined in the Bible. However, because of our religious background we fail to see ALL that was accomplished in Christ. Have you ever considered that there was a day that you chose to accept Christ but that Christ accepted you at the Cross? Have you ever thought about how much preaching/teaching/witnessing is done to get people "forgiven" but fail to recognize that God chose to reconcile Himself to all of mankind - "not counting their trespasses against them"? These simple questions must lead us to either embrace the truth of the Bible or to continue to accept the theology that has been handed down to us for generations.

I'm hoping that these questions will push you to look deeper. I hope they will force you to ask the Holy Spirit to open up your understanding to the Word of God. I'm praying that you will encounter the truth during this process. This (I believe) is where the Lord is taking His people in this day. It's time for a reformation! Not just a reformation of what we believe but a reformation of how we live as sons/daughters of God. Sure...it may mean moving against some long held beliefs. It may mean questioning some of the beliefs that have long been held has "core values." But what if this is exactly what God is calling us to do? What if this is how we gain the understanding of who we truly are in Christ? I believe it is. AND...I'm enjoying the journey.