Warriors

Have you been instructed to put on the full armor of God (Eph 6) everyday when you get up? I have prayed that prayer countless times, dressing myself with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the boots of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. But honestly it has become more of a routine then anything and I believe God showed me yesterday that the reason for putting on His armor is to fight. I was like, oh yeah, duh, but I’ve been doing it more as a dress rehearsal or something. You know dressing up and checking myself out in my spiritual mirror, “yeah this stuff looks good on me.” No, this stuff is intended for the battlefield where I am called to fight and have victory.

Last night I received a phone call that brought the reality of this battle into the forefront of my mind once again. It was a call from a loved one who let me know that they had fallen back into there addiction; this may seem minor to some but I’ve watched this addiction almost kill this person before. I was very upset after I got off the phone and my heart started to break. I broke down in tears but as my anger started to rise I could not cry any longer even though I wanted too. I’ve found out that it’s ok to be mad and I can be real with God no matter what emotional state I’m in. So I started to pray and read His word and was reminded that I am called to fight for the people I love.

We know this is not a physical battle but one that is spiritual in nature (2Co. 10:4; Eph 6) and if God has set me free I am to set others free. He didn’t break the chains off me so I could run out of the dungeon and leave all the other prisoners behind to be tortured and die. I’ve remained passive for too long in my Christianity not fully aware that I have the potential to destroy the works of the devil as Jesus did. 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” There are so many works of the devil that I come into contact with on a daily basis and instead of destroying them I tolerate them. Instead of casting out the demons as Jesus commanded, I want to have a discussion or a “talk” and try to help the person out of what I know. I desperately need God to help me change and I’m thankful that He will. And I realize that we’re not called to do this work independent of God but it’s just as true that God won’t do this work independent of us.

It’s actually quite sobering to think that God wants to set people free through us and if we resist some people may not receive there deliverance, there healing, there food, or even there salvation. “Wait a minute, don’t get carried away, remember you’re not that important” some would say. I know part of me wants to agree with you, but I think it’s also the part of me that is passive and would rather play dress rehearsal with the armor of God instead of actually take up my sword and do damage to the kingdom of darkness. We have a big part to play in this whole thing and when we miss the mark it’s not just us who suffer. There are consequences for everything we do and don’t do.

“Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle”
Ps. 144:1

The Lord is the one who trains us for this battle and just as Jesus walked and taught the disciples, Holy Spirit walks and teaches us, except it’s better for us because He lives in us! The battle is real it’s not just figurative and its people that will either die or live, depending on how we fare. I’ve realized the lack of understanding of the power of God in my life and can see that without His power I may as well just run around screaming at demons hoping that maybe they get scared by the sound of my voice. Jesus says, Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

It makes sense why the enemy would want to deceive the church in this area. If we knew the authority that Jesus died for us to have then he would be in trouble. If we knew that we could tell spirits of depression to leave. If we knew that we could tell spirits of addiction to leave a person, his days of torment would be over in so many people. I know I am an amateur in spiritual warfare but the God who lives in me is an expert. I am in training and I know that I must get understating about Gods authority and how His power operates in a Christian’s life.

We must always remember that our motivation to fight must come from a deep love for God and people. Heidi Baker puts it well, “lovers fight better”. Without being grounded in a revelation of the Father’s heart of love we might as well go back to playing church. When our hearts start to break for people and we receive the Father’s heart for them, then we can be molded by His Spirit and allow Him to empower us for ministry. Jesus was moved by compassion and He answers those who cry out to him. Let’s not be deaf to those same cries in our day.

So going back to the loved one I mentioned earlier. I believe this situation caused something to snap inside of me and I believe it will be for God’s glory. I have decided to persevere in prayer for them until they receive there deliverance. I like the mission statement of Bill Johnson and his ministry, “out of intimacy with God we destroy the works of the devil.” And that’s what it’s about, we fall in love with God and we fight for Him. We are not just common soldiers who fight because they are expected too, no we are called to be warriors and a warrior fights from the heart.

“Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered”
Ps. 68:1

Presence People

So I thought I'd just share a quick tidbit about church today because it ties in with my previous two posts. Yesterday I decided to post one of my past journal entries and the subject was Ex. 33 and this morning my pastor preaches on Ex. 33, fancy that. I love it when God highlights an area of scripture and continues to repeat it over and over in various ways. Ex 33 speaks alot about God's Presence and that is something I could see myself studying the rest of my days.

Since the invitation is truly open to come into God's Presence I want to learn all there is about that! I've experienced just glimpses of the goodness of God but it's enough to have already ruined me for nominal Christian living. When Moses asked to see God's glory, God said He would make all His goodness pass before him, wow. It has been said that God is good but really what does that mean? How good is God? Is He good enough to waste our lives on? Is He so good that we would sacrifice all just to be with Him? How far will we go in our pursuit of Him?

Israel was led by the Presence of God and Moses said that he would not go anywhere unless God went with him. What a great way to lead people. He didn't say we will take the next step once we have all our finances in place. No, he didn't say we will move on once camp is in order and all the people are happy. No, he didn't even say we will go because God's promise lies ahead of us. God even said I will send my angel before you (33:2) but Moses was not satisfied with anything less then God's Presence. What happens when God's people return to this type of Presence driven lifestyle? Where will the church be led if we start to be Presence focused and not man focused? The possibilities are endless.

I daydream of a being part of a people who are so accustomed and sensitive to His Presence that if it leaves everyone mourns and stops everything to get it back. They stop the music, the programs, the agenda, the message and they cry out to the Lord in tears until He returns. Imagine that, join in my daydream for this type of Christian community because I believe it's coming. A people who know there God and seek His face. A people who wont be fooled by the deceitfulness of man or impressed by the wisdom of men but choose to live a different life. Does it make sense that God would be with the people in the OT in a more real and tangible way then today? No, that is crazy, He is still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph. He never changes. He was a cloud by day and a fire by night. His ways are eternal and everlasting. The God who answered Elijah by fire is the same God we pursue today. The God who led the people out of Egypt is the same God who will lead us out of our religious nonsense today. I'm looking forward to where God is taking His church, I want to be a student of His Presence, how bout you?

Life Journal: April 8, 2007
Ex. 33 & 34:10

OK I'm Listening

I listened to a Podcast tonight by Todd Bentley and guess what he preached on? Ex.33 and 34:10, just happens I was meditating on Ex. 33 yesterday. I love how the Holy Spirit highlights things that He wants me to understand.
Todd was preaching on the season of suffering and to embrace the season of suffering and to embrace the cross. He talked about Ex. 33:12,13 and how Moses prayed to the Lord by drawing on his past, "Yet you have said, 'I know you by name and you have also found grace in My sight.'" Moses could intercede like he did because he had such a closeness, such an intimacy with God. Todd said many in the church believe they have the right to intercede when the really don't, they don't have intimacy with Him and still try to tell Him what to do...ouch!
He also talked about 33:18,19 where Moses asks to see God's glory and God answers by saying, "I will make all My goodness pass before you..." So His goodness is a manifestation of His glory.
Todd's message was an honest revealing word that encouraged me to stop resisting what God wants to do in me. There is a cup of suffering to drink and it doesn't appeal to the flesh.
I know this is God wanting me to hear and understand the message displayed in Ex. 33. I've also been reading a book called "The God Chasers" by Tommy Tenney and it just so happens that the chapter I'm on, Ch.4 "Dead Men see His Face", starts out with nothing other than Ex. 33:17-18,20.
Part of me says, wow God is so good to me that He is actually orchestrating all of these various presentations of His word to highlight one area. Another part asks, "why does it take so much confirmation to make me believe and really listen to Him?"Whatever the case is, I know this, it's time to stop and listen. It's time to surrender my own ideas and desires and to receive His will and His words.

Holy Spirit help me know You as my best friend, help me know You Jesus, for real.

Led By His Presence

Life Journal Entry: April 7, 2007
Scripture: Ex. 33:7-23

Ex. 33:7a says, "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp..."

Moses separated himself from the rest of the people to meet with God. I have many friends and people I enjoy being around. I also like to attend Christian events and conferences and prayer meetings but it can be enticing to just camp with the people.
I want to be like Moses and get away from "the camp" if I have to so I can meet with God. I want His actual Presence like in Ex 33:9-11 where a "pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle and the Lord talked with Moses." His manifest Presence has been on the forefront of my mind and I am starting to get an appetite for God's Presence.
In this day and in this country there are countless Christian activities and "things to do" in the Name of Jesus Christ. There are books written on almost every subject, conferences for prosperity, poverty, blessings, sacrifices, heeling's, youth, the prophetic, worship and on and on. There are teachings on podcasts available from all over the world; with just a click of the mouse we can download new sermons, worship songs, teachings, etc. There are modern day prophets with words of prosperity and also words of judgement. Our churches in the West our good at filling up our calenders with meetings, services, studies, classes, teachings, activities, events, ceremonies, concerts and the list goes on.
And personally since I became a Christian almost three years ago I have been a big fan of many of these Christian activities. But the Lord in His mercy has revealed to me, and then reminded me, that if my heart is not grounded and rooted with Him then these things have the potential to draw me away from my relationship with Him.
I'm not saying that these things are all bad, no most all of them are good. But like a quote I recently heard, "the greatest enemy of greatness is good enough" Or i suppose you could phrase it, " the greatest enemy of God's Presence is good Christian activity." I cannot speak for all Christians or anyone else for that matter but I can be honest and true about me.
I know that I have learned way more "about God" then I have actually got to "know Him." I have spent an extremely disproportionate amount of time reading books or the Bible then I have in just being with Him. I have been feeding off of second hand expressions, revelations, and knowledge of God. Instead of being like Moses who had one on one encounters with God, I have been a scavenger of stories and other people's experiences. Instead of seeing the smoke I have been experiencing second hand smoke, second hand glory. I have story after story of other people's testimonies but I want my own!
I believe God has allowed me to hear these things, to hear these stories so I would be hungry myself. He knows my desire and that I will never be content with just observation, with just sitting on the bench. I was created to play in the greatest game in the history of mankind, all for His glory.