Fighting for Relationship

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? "How can two walk together unless they agree?" Often we hear this scripture used in the context of doctrinal or dogmatic issues. It goes something like this. “If you have a position doctrinally that differs from mine, we cannot be in significant relationship due to the difference in our doctrine.” Is this what the Lord intended? Is this what Amos meant when, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he wrote about walking together? Does doctrine trump relationship? Some, I think, would believe so. Yet, Jesus did not seem to. The Jews, Samaritans, and Romans clearly had differing doctrine, yet Jesus waded right into the midst of them, loved them, healed them, and healed their families and servants. He even honored a Roman centurion for his great faith, placing it above everyone who had closer doctrine to Jesus’. Yet Jesus walked with these people whom He clearly had doctrinal issue with. He did confront them, chastise them, even called some of them names. But He did love them. What if our battle was not for doctrine but for relationship? What if we fought harder to establish, maintain, increase, and reestablish relationship than we fought for doctrine (which we really mean for your belief to line up with mine)? After all, isn’t the Holy Spirit the author? Doesn’t He, and He alone have perfect interpretation of the scripture? Have I ever been wrong about doctrine? Whoops. Sorry about that. Am I still wrong about doctrine? Ouch! Which part am I still wrong? The truth is, I do not know. And, I guess, that is the point. So how can I break relationship with one who disagrees with me? …God’s will? Not sure that will fly when I stand before Him. Him, who is the lover of my (your, and the one we disagree with’s) soul. What if we fought the hardest for relationship? What if we trusted the Holy Spirit to work out all the disagreements in an atmosphere of love, and mercy, and gentleness. Do you think it would be easier to find the truth in love? I think Paul may have mentioned that concept… truth in love. It is much easier to find truth in the atmosphere of love. Love is at the core of the heart of God. Truth is produced in love. Love transcends facts and details. There cannot be real truth, without love. No question, Pontius Pilate was a brilliant man. He was schooled in the best schools the world had to offer, yet sincerely and sarcastically asked, “What is truth?” He could not find it. What if I embrace loving you? …valuing who you are? …connecting with you? …especially if I disagree with you? What if I valued our relationship to the extent that I would be willing to fight for it? …fight all of my fear, insecurity, past experience, and understanding of who you are, what you are about, what you are up to, and love you with the love I get from the Father who loves me? What if I did not limit the love of the Father that in is me toward you. What if I not only loved you that way, but the next you I come in contact with? What if I was more willing to fight for relationship than doctrine? What if I stewarded my life in such a way that I was not drawn into the debates over dogma, doctrine, or details? What if I valued relationship with God and God’s people over everything else? What would that look like? I honestly do not know. I know what the fight for doctrine looks like. Thirty thousand denominations in America mean thirty thousand divisions in America. What if I left those who want to fight over doctrine to fight in the dust of the earth? What if I allowed the wind of the Holy Spirit to lift me so I could see those who He loves and so desperately wants a relationship with. What if I loved them with His love, till they taste His love. By the way, I hold to doctrine, I have a belief system. I believe it is right and I am okay telling you what it is and defending it. I just do not think it is the heart of the Father for me to live with, “you are less valuable to me because you believe different than me.” So with that all said, what did Amos mean by, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amplified Version) Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed? (NIV) Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? In other words, you and I cannot walk together unless both you and I want to walk together. The object of their agreement is to walk together, not simply to agree. So, the only condition I have to walk with you is do you and I agree to walk together. Just for clarification if I agree but you do not agree to walk together it becomes chasing or stalking. That is weird. Don’t do that! What about…? Let the Holy Spirit deal with the what abouts. Unless you feel like He is unable to handle the "what abouts". I would really like you to leave a comment, please. Push back, tell me off, agree with some or part. Just let me know what you think.

The Bride in a Fog

This morning I had a brief vision. This is what I saw. I saw the bride of Jesus, the one who Jesus loves. I saw her in a fog. The fog was not dark but light. Even though it was light there was confusion within the fog. This fog, I saw, affected Jesus’ bride. She was confused, hindered, lacked voice, and was small in the eyes of the world. The fog was not able to cause darkness, but it did confuse the bride within the fog. The fog diffused the light to the extent that it was very difficult to distinguish the source of the light. This caused confusion. This confusion caused the bride to misunderstand the source of the light. I saw the bride; those who love Jesus, those within the body of Christ, the true church. They were in the fog. They looked at what they did, their ministry, their worship, their teaching, and their position, their belief system, as the source of light. They believed what they were doing pleased the Lord rather than who they were and whom they loved. Since what each of them was doing appeared the brightest (in a fog you can only see clearly what is near you, hence brighter) they assumed that it was the source of light. They perpetuated, advanced, and promoted what they were doing over what others were doing. The light did not come from doing, but from being part of the kingdom and ultimately the light came from the King. Because they did not recognize the value of relationship nor the love they were to have for each other, the fog continued to get thicker and more diffusing. But, the Lord is raising a vast strong army of those whose hearts are singularly pure toward God. They love with His love and connect with that love. Relationship becomes more important than what each one is individually doing. They will discern and distinguish the source of light, even before the fog clears. Through the connectivity of love in Jesus kingdom, the angelic realm will mirror the formational pattern that is forming on the earth. Love connections form a net of His kingdom. But relationship is the cord, love is the connection of the cord. It is the formation of the kingdom. As relationships form, the once hindered, small bride grows into the beautiful bride of Jesus. She matures and finds her voice in cities, in regions, and over nations. The world will stop and listen when this bride speaks. Her voice will be powerful, and the nations will listen and be discipled by her.

A Father's Choice

I was just studying the life of some famous fathers, King David, his son King Solomon and King Solomon's son King Reheboam.  Because of David, Solomon's life was blessed beyond measure; wisdom that the world looked to, peace, riches that other kingdoms provided, 700 wives and many more concubines (not sure this was a blessing or not).  At about half way through Solomon's reign something changed, he chose to love his blessing more than the One who blesses. His life continued to be blessed. His generation did not pay the price for His change of heart. The price was paid by his son, Reheboam and Reheboam's generation.  Reheboam, at the beginning of his reign was faced with a decision as to how he was going to reign over God's people. To his credit, he sought wisdom from two groups, the elders which loved and served God, and the young men, which loved and served themselves. Many of the elders were from Solomon's and David's courts. They were there when David made chose not to kill Saul, when David brought back the ark, when Israel rose to her greatness. They understood the favor of God that glowed on David because David was head over heels in love with God. David made mistakes, but when it came to choosing He always reconnected in his love relationship with God. Solomon did just the opposite. When his wives asked for their false God's to be worshipped Solomon built their temples. Solomon's heart turned Israel from God. The blessing that should have been flowing to Reheboam and all Israel was stopped. Reheboam chose the advice of the young men. He chose to rule Israel with cruelty and hardship. Israel rebelled and the kingdom split. Ten of Israel's famous twelve tribes chose to be ruled by another. Reheboam lost peace, lost wealth, lost wisdom, but most of all became totally lost from God. David's behavior blessed his son's life. Solomon's life cursed his son. Reheboam led Israel into a split and into generations of failure and dismal existence. Could Reheboam have changed this or did Solomon's sin lock Reheboam into doom? In the same way that David's behavior provided the foundation of God's blessing for Solomon. Solomon's behavior provided the foundation for Reheboam's demise. Solomon, in his position as a father, changed the flow of God's blessing to Israel. Solomon forced the hand of God from blessing Israel. When God's blessing is stopped the curse comes. It is like fresh water coming from a river. When the river is stopped, the saltwater from the sea rushes in. As long as the river flows, the sea is held at bay. Reheboam could have repented (turned away) of the foundation that Solomon built. He chose not to. He was presented with the wisdom of God by the elders who were with David and Solomon. I am certain that God, presented His love to Reheboam through the words of these elders. Reheboam chose. As a father, my greatest ability is my ability to choose. My gifts, talents, favor, wealth, or lack thereof does not seem to be the legacy to the next generation. It is my choices that will build the foundation that the next generation built upon. What if God raised up a generation of fathers that chose Him, that chose to put God, and His kingdom in the right place? Could we change the earth in one generation? Could it be that easy? Could we bring the flow of the river of God to our generation as well as the next generation? What if we figured out how to help the next generation of fathers help the next generation of fathers that helps the next generation of fathers that helps the next generation of fathers and so on? What if God already has it figured out? What if the plan is already in place? What if we, as fathers, grabbed hold of God's plan? That sounds like that would make for some good news. Hmmmmmmm... If you want to push back, agree, add to, take away from, go my Facebook page.

Before the Cross

Phinehas took a javelin in his hand and went after the man into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. What? That stopped the plague? This sounds like something out of Hollywood, not the Bible. Hold up. Let me digress. I was just studying in the book of Numbers, which at first glance can seem like a book of numbers and rules and laws. Yet I have been caught up in the struggle captured in the pages of this book. God is "numbering" His people. He is saying, "I am numbering you, identifying you, as My people." He gives them the law which clearly marks out, "go there", "don't go there"... "Do this", "don't do this". "For now, this is what identifies you as My people." The problem is, sin has affected the earth. Everyone is motivated and affected by it. Now and then there is a slight repreave, but overall the earth is infected with a drug called sin that changes the way everyone thinks, behaves, reacts, and is moved. It would seem that is why the Old Testament is filled with bloody kind of stories like the one mentioned a moment ago. Until Jesus blood was spilled, the earth was not right. His blood is the antedote. It is the reverser of the curse. It changes everything, how we think, behave, react, even how we are motivated. It reveals who we really are. We move from kill or be killed to life abundant, everlasting life. We go from "me, myself and I" to "how can I love you and serve you better?" The blood of Jesus is the remedy. It was the price that had to be paid to free me from the blind sickness of darkness into the open arms of the love of God. That is the root problem, the love of God. Or should I say, the absence of the love of God is the root problem. Without it we can't love right. There is zeal. But zeal is an incomplete derivative of love(agape), a poor substitute. Was Phinehas wrong for killing that man and woman. No! It stopped the plague. It was all they had. It was not until Jesus came that we would have access to love... then everything changes.

The Increase

It amazes me the amount of doom and gloom that I hear coming from the pulpits of America. It is almost as if Jesus is not Lord and does not rule. I realize that there is persecution. I do not mean to minimize the suffering of some. But, it is as if those who are not being persecuted are feeling guilty because they are enjoying a time of blessing. Jesus is Lord! The pharisees mocked Him when He was on the cross. Mark 15:31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They didn't get it... His kingdom was not just Israel. His kingdom was not all of Palestine. His kingdom was not even all of the known world. His kingdom was not even all of time. Jesus died that day. He pierced the veil of death. And then on the way back to life He tore that veil in two. That veil was the separation of the earth and heaven, time and eternity. He tore that veil because He is not just king of Israel. No, He is King of heaven and earth. He is king of time and eternity. Come down from the cross? Not a chance. He finished what He began. He always does. And He rules. Oh, by the way, Isaiah said, "of the increase of His government (kingdom), there shall be no end." There is never a decrease, ever. Doom and gloom...lift your eyes to the hills from where your help comes from. He lives, He rules, He is constantly increasing His kingdom on this planet.

Hosanna! ...really? ...from what? ...to what?

I was just reading about Jesus entry into Jerusalem immediately prior to His crucifixion in Mark 11. Matthew, Luke, and John all are similar but have some varying language. When it is combined it is pretty clear that they saw Him as a new King coming to "hosanna" them. Hosanna - save/deliver/restore us, we pray. In the highest - their request was being placed on the highest rank or order. In other words, they were saying, "Jesus, we recognize you as a king and we ask with everything we have for you to restore/deliver/save us." But in the next week something strange happens. The multitudes go from recognizing Him as a coming King, shouting at the top of their lungs to save us, to shouting, "crucity Him."? Hosanna us! Deliver/restore/save us! From what? From the bondage of Rome? Into what? The greatness of David's kingdom! And yet David himself understood that his kingdom was only a shadow of what was to come. Many thought the fulfillment of David's kingdom was found in Solomon. But Solomon led them into natural greatness but spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkenss will always be followed by natural darkness. David did usher in a tremendous kingdom. He breached time and momentarily stepped into the eternal. But only for a moment. Davidic worship took all into a measure of the presence of God. Yet only for a moment. He tapped into eternal triumph and victory, He tapped into the heart of God. How? Because David loved God with a form of love that would only be clearly seen in his Son. Not Solomon. But his Son, Jesus. The people shouted it, "Hosanna to the Son of David". David was not permitted to build the temple. Because of war? I don't think so. It was because David could not usher in the kingdom of God. He would have momentary glimples of it, but only for moments, only shadows of what was to come. How did the people go from ushering in Jesus as king, to shouting "crucify Him"? Because they wanted a restoration of David's kingdom. David's kingdom, the kingdom that began with Jacob/Israel, was an earthly kingdom. Based on earthly desires. An eros kingdom that I want so I am blessed. Eros, the selfish kind of love. The "me" as the object of my love. Eros always builds for the moment, desires for the now, wants for "my best". It is the antithesis of God's love. It builds kingdoms that are self-serving and will only stand for a short time. Jesus came to restore the Kingdom of God. A kingdom that is not temporary nor self-serving. A kingdom whose point is not victory, worship, even evangelism, but a kingdom that is about restoring man to what he has been hard-wired. Restoring him to the love relationship with God and out of that relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit man can love (agape - the God kind of love) each other. It is only then that the true greatness of man is found. It is only then that the Kingdom of God is revealed. For all creation is groaning for something to change. All creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God, for the revealing of they whose hearts are restored, for they who love (agape) God. Because they love God, they are now equipped to love each other. This is the kingdom that God refused to David but promised to his Son who would come hundreds of years later. Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Isaiah prophesied that of the increase of His government, of His kingship, of His kingdom, there shall be no end. From the moment of the resurrection, His kingdom has been increasing. But that is another blog.

What is the Summum Bonum - The Supreme Good?

Latin? You say... no, I do not hold myself out as a scholar. But, I do enjoy gleaning from the writings of those who are. My spiritual papa, Jack Taylor, mentioned a treatise by Henry Drummond that he was reading. So, I could not help but want to eat what those who have gone before me have eaten. I prepared for a full course dinner. I was not disappointed. To eat from the delicacies of heaven is an unusual banquet here upon the earth, yet as the Kingdom is increasing it becomes a more frequent event. So below is a brief exerpt from the treatise linked above. (touch the title of this blog and it will take you to the full treatise by Henry Drummond)

What is the summum bonum--the supreme good?
For the withholding of love is the negation of the spirit of Christ, the proof that we never knew Him, that for us He lived in vain. It means that He suggested nothing in all our thoughts, that He inspired nothing in all our lives, that we were not once near enough to Him to be seized with the spell of His compassion for the world. It means that:
"I lived for myself, I thought for myself,
For myself, and none beside--
Just as if Jesus had never lived,
As if He had never died."

Join me, if you will at this wonderful banquet of love. Let me know your thoughts.