October 22, 2007

OUTSIDE THE CAMP

Art Katz talks of a place in God, a place of seeing as we are required to see, that will take absolute abandonment to His entire will for us, something beyond the repentance for our carnality and that in fact confronts our spirituality. Can we give up what we see as good, even wonderful in God, in order to go to the place He requires of us?

We see the outworking of this challenge in the case of Israel's official priesthood as they find Jesus Christ, the Messiah, a challenge to all that they hold to be utterly spiritual and therefore they have him killed to protect what they consider to be of God.

Are we facing such challenges today? I truly believe that many of us are, and have to learn to look at them in this light.

What does it mean to go 'outside the camp' - the place that Jesus went to be crucified?

How does it feel to be on the outside looking in - looking at what is apparently gloriously spiritual. Looking at people seeing apparent signs and wonders, receiving prophetic words that are passed around the Body as the word of the moment, and knowing that none of that is for you.

What is God doing when He begins to take people out beyond all that is familiar in God. Yes, outside the comfort and protection of the walls of the church. Outside the security of being part of a family in God, and doing what seems right and good in building up the Body of Christ.

What is God doing?

It is time to be prepared to be utterly surrendered to His will, reminding ourselves that our model is not the church, or its leaders, but Christ Himself. He was a threat to the church of the time that had become so structured and full of rules and regulations. Suddenly they were confronted with the love of God Himself and did not know what to do with Him!

What is He asking of me and of you? Is He asking that we lay down what is most dear, seemingly most good, in order to follow Him into something even better? Is He calling some outside the camp, to wait quietly, without voices or positions, for His instruction, His Word, His way, His truth, His very life itself?

Is this what it means to be separated unto Him? Is this what it means to give up everything for the sake of the One who gave up everything for us? Is this what it means to go outside the camp, so that something can be accomplished that can be accomplished no other way?

Perhaps there are more questions than answers right now, but they are most certainly questions that need to be asked, considered, and ultimately acted upon.

Grace, dear Jesus, grace, love, more grace, more love ....

October 17, 2007

HIS PLANS : HIS SHAKING

Right now I see us making our way carefully on a VERY narrow path between two huge mountains. One mountain contains great good, and the other exudes great evil. It is a time to hold on to THE TRUTH and not let Him out of our sight. A time to remember that there is no opposite to God - He IS God, and He alone rules and reigns. EVERYTHING else is subject to Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

The Lord is talking to people in captivity and exile, who are probably wondering where their God went to! In this chapter He encourages them to pray: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

We see here that while God is in charge, the people do not find themselves in a very comfortable place - doesn't that speak to us of our lives? However, God is encouraging them to work and pray EXACTLY WHERE THEY FIND THEMSELVES. He doesn't say put life on hold until everything is perfect, because WHEN WE DO THAT WE ARE ROBBED OF TODAY, AND BEGIN TO LOSE OUT ON LIFE ITSELF.

Jesus was the One who came to die for us and also to rise again from the dead and be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and rule and reign in glory with Him.

Jesus was doing miraculous healings and seeing all kinds of wonders, at the same time as men were plotting to betray Him and kill him!

The prophet Isaiah foretold all of this in chapters 52,53,54, and they are full of both pain and promises. Those same chapters can be a map and guideline for us to understand what real life is all about.

THIS IS REAL LIFE - as long as we live in this world we will experience both good and bad, joy and sorrow. We live in a battle zone, and the battle is heating up. However, God remains on His throne, and HE IS OUR WAY THROUGH THIS ZONE, IF WE WILL HOLD ON TO HIS TRUTH HE WILL TRULY MAKE A WAY FOR US TO LIVE A REAL LIFE!

We need to have our minds transformed so that we begin to think differently to what we have been taught. We have been raised in a society that constantly seeks personal comfort, quick fixes, instant gratification. We have been trained to think that this is our object and goal, along with material prosperity.

GOD SPEAKS into the midst of this, and HE BEGINS TO SPEAK DIFFERENTLY!

"I know the plans I have for you …"

THERE IS SOMETHING BIGGER, SOMETHING WIDER, SOMETHING GREATER THAN THIS WORLD.

JESUS SPEAKS (Matt.6:25-34)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink" or "What shall we wear"? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

BASICALLY HE IS SAYING - I know what I am doing, I know everything about you, and I don’t want you to worry about those things. I made you for relationship with me and I'm asking you to trust me, and understand the things that I hold in my heart for you.

Daniel 11:32(b) (Amplified Version) "…but the people who KNOW their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits (for God)."

OUR JOB IS TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE! If we do that He will take care of EVERYTHING ELSE.