Thurlow Switzer: Evolution or Eschatology

• Luke 17:20-21 – “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;  21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" (NKJV).

• John 18:36 – “Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here"” (NKJV).

How are we to understand our times? Of course you know that we are members of the Kingdom of God if we have been born again. By the new birth we enter into the eschatological future of God. In this article I want to use two big words: eschatology and evolution. Eschatology has to do with future hope. Evolution is the big word describing humanistic philosophy and cultural change. What is the difference between an evolutionary philosophy of history and the biblical eschatological understanding of history? 

We will not be exhaustive, but speak only with broad brush-strokes.

Naturalistic Evolution and Supernatural Eschatology are opposite world views. Naturalistic evolution says we are merely drifting into an uncertain future comprised of many factors including the survival of the fittest and the progress of scientific discovery. Supernatural eschatology is the study of God’s sovereignty, direction, and involvement in the world, past, present and future, and the affect of Godly believers taking dominion in life and history in the Name of Jesus.

• Dan 11:32, “The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits” (NKJV). 
• Compare this with Dan 12:3, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (NKJV).

Society, impacted by a secular swing toward evolution as its world and life view, unknowingly entered into an bottomless abyss. Evolutionary thought embraced a philosophy of “hands-off” drift from purpose to aimlessness. God ceased to be the subject acting, and natural unknown factors became the subject acting. In English grammar sentence structure, the subject identifies the actor or agent of the acting (verb). From my viewpoint, whenever society sinks into a maze of subjectless evolution where there is no subject allowed to influence thought and action, it enters into thoughtless chaos. A sentence without a “subject” leaves a vacuum; no one is specifically acting, and things become unclear. In this instance, the subject is God and when God is removed from an ideology, only humans are left to be the subject. The consequence is the vanishing not only of universal justice by divine standards, but also the vanishing of a practical sense of justice and righteousness important to daily life and societal order.

The battle between Marxism and democracy has raged for decades. Ascending into society today is a strong resurgence of Marxist socialistic thinking. Although democracy seemed to win the battle, it is too early to declare Marxism dead, for “democratic-socialism” has taken its place--Marxism under a different name. Both, of course, are accompanied by a rejection of a Christian world view centered in the reality of the Kingdom of God. Historic Marxism was a modern discovery of the world as the plane of history stating that humans can be subjects of their own history. Marxists thought was that the average person should rise up and seize the power of the ruling class. History has revealed that when this happens, then these “average persons” become the new ruling class with the tendency to repress all who do not agree with them. The result is a swing of political power and the influence of a different set of values--hence cultural change with the power of enforcement.

How are biblical Christians to think and what are they to do in the face of this swing? Are Christians too other-worldly conscious and not enough this-world conscious? In its commitment to other-worldly orientation, Christianity over time seemed to lose its relevance for real life for many in the public square. Today Christianity needs to rediscover its relevance to the horizontal aspects of history. Christianity needs a restoration of understanding of what moved and motivated Jesus to declare, “Behold, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Does the Kingdom of God have any earthly meaning and societal implications, especially in light of Jesus’ statement, “My kingdom is not of this world”? Is it possible for the spiritual kingdom of God to affect social thought and cultural norms without becoming political and power conscious, especially in light of what Jesus’ stated, “Indeed, the kingdom of God is within you”?

Unfortunately, in our day this argument has been cast as right wing or left wing politics, while the deeper issue is the distinction between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Man’s human kingdoms centralize power in their own hands; whereas God’s divine kingdom distributes power to the individual who is yielded to God’s Lordship—a power that flows through humans responding in obedience to God.
From a practical and historical view, there are two great areas of human concern, plus a third ultimate concern: (1) the negative problem of suffering (issues of injustice, crime, etc); and (2) the positive need for sufficiency (issues of supply, finances, etc), both of which tend to snuff out a larger issue: (3) the ultimate problem of spirituality and relationship to God (issues of salvation, well being, etc). The problems of suffering and injustice tend to feed the communist orientation for a whole society-wide solution, or at least, the liberal approach with political solutions. The problems of sufficiency have tended to feed the capitalistic orientation for free-flowing enterprise based on supply and demand with a profit motive awakened.  The strengths and weaknesses of each orientation are evident today--each one unable to bridge the great gaps existing in history.

There is however, a current awakening in the Christian community, at least in my heart and as I see it. Are we as Christians involved in influencing and shaping history? Are we players on the world scene; or are we merely waiting to escape and go to heaven? Do we have an adequate understanding of history, or even a biblical theology of history?

Even as Marxism developed a philosophy of history, simultaneously rejecting Christianity, so now a fresh concern arises in Christian leaders to understand how conservative Christianity may have remained in a vertical only (heaven above) viewpoint--paying primary attention to life after death and only dealing with the real life problems superficially, often leaving issues of suffering and sufficiency to the politicians, with their trying to solve problems without a biblical reference.

Perhaps, rather than remaining in a Hellenistic-Platonic heritage with its tendency to separate non-earthy, non-physical realms from earthly, physical realms, Christians need to return to a more concentrated understanding of Hebrew roots and Jewish theology which had a vision of God active in history. The early church’s understanding of eschatology was that God was actively involved through His people in the forward march of history to a final, ultimate, point in which God rules all and all. Christians today need to embrace this understanding.

• 1 Cor 15:22-25, 28 – “22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. … 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (NKJV).

The New Testament Church knew that in Christ Jesus history had been impacted and life on the historical plane forever changed. In fact, the early believers understood history as the powerful enactment of the Kingdom of God now in time. Progressively they anticipated the time when all things come under the Lordship of Christ, leading to the consummation, when “all things were under Him” that “God may be all in all.”

Therefore, we the Church and God’s people must enter into these grand issues of time and space--the negative problem of suffering and injustice, and the ever-present need of sufficiency and supply for the peoples of the world, around us and abroad, even as we maintain a steadfast focus on the need of people to come to salvation and experience the fullness of spirituality in God.

How does this relate to individuals in the local church? Even as we seek to introduce people to God as Heavenly Father and to personal salvation, we must not lose awareness that people around us are going through great suffering and often experiencing critical lack of supply.

• Matt 25:31-40 – “31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. … 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'” (NKJV).

Even as we embrace the vertical (upward) implications of the Kingdom of God--His rule and reign among humans, we also embrace the apostolic (outward) implications of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth as ambassadors of Christ and as His instruments of love and compassion to others.



Thurlow J. Switzer, Logs for the Fire 06-24-2010
Add on to article submitted to Ram’s Horn at Northgate

Rod Levey: The Day of Testing

Gold and silver are great commodities to purchase right now considering the value of the dollar is continuing to fall. These precious metals have great value. However, some of the rare coins being sold and purchased don't have the true amount of gold or silver as you would expect them to have. A lot of coin jockeys have begun pushing older silver coins. The truth is, some of them aren't as valuable as a newly minted American Silver Eagle. The content of the silver in the rare coins could be 25%  less. Additionally, these rare coins sell for 35-45% more per coin. So, essentially, you end up paying more for less. The dealers make you think  that the rare coins have some significant worth.

Unless you do some real investigating, you could fall prey to deception and really be taken. You could pay the price for something that is light in weight or have the proper weight, yet with great mixture. For  the novice or fool making the purchase, you may just get a total counterfeit. There has to be a way of testing the rare coin to see if it is authentic to its perceived identity before you make the purchase. What is its true weight? Is it pure or is it mixed? Is it really a precious metal at all or a counterfeit? What do I know about the person selling this precious coin?

We are living in a day of testing. God Himself is testing! We personally are being tested of the Lord, and we personally need to test the doctrines, spirits, and the men and women who are bringing alleged new things into the body of Christ.  These alleged new things are normally old practices of deception returning.  They are just packaged a little different.

The test is:  are we going to love God, and Him alone, or are we going to run after other gods? God wants to know. He is doing the testing.  He is watching to see who will be content and satisfied with Him and Him alone. He wants a special people called His own who are not running after or needing the mixture or counterfeit.

I would like to look at two tests God initiated that are found in the Old Testament. The first one we will look at is found in Judges chapter 7.

The Israelite army, under Gideon's command, was camped beside the well of Harod (the name means “fountain of trembling”). God said the people were too many to go into battle against the Midianites, lest Israel win this battle, claim the glory for themselves and say they did it by their own strength. God told Gideon to take them down to the water and I will test them there.

This test, that God designed, is at the watering hole (or the place of refreshing). They are going to drink water from the fountain of trembling.

This was a test to see not only how much they would drink, but also their approach of drinking in.  It was supposed to be a time of refreshing, not “slosh-festing”.  God's chosen ones for the battle ahead were: 
1.    The ones who maintained a state of awareness to their surroundings
2.    Those who controlled their intake (you might say they were cautious in their consuming). 

I fully believe God wants us to drink deep of the pure fountain of living waters.  Even then, in our times of true refreshing, God is distinguishing and marking between those who are disciplined and those who are ungoverned.  We  have to be extremely careful because the enemy has a way of slipping into our environment when we aren't observant. Our enemy is extremely deceptive.

It is saddening and disturbing to see brothers and sisters in the Lord drinking in, unaware of the polluted waters they are drinking from. Yes, the enemy has gotten in and slipped a mickey. These polluted waters could be identified as false doctrines, vain philosophies, and as “God's new thing.”

There's an old adage that says, “Nothing new is true and nothing true is new.”

We have a lot of spiritual coin jockeys exploiting the body of Christ. They are presenting their “rare” coins, if you will, and people are paying a big price for mixture and counterfeit. These jockeys are cheaters and deceivers, rare in themselves, in that they are presenting phenomenon. Yes, they are legitimately observing and displaying unusual appearances. What they call “being God” I call another god. I question their source. 

The second test is found in Deuteronomy chapter 13.

Moses is speaking to the second generation; those that are going into the Promised Land. He says to them, “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, “and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' -which you have not known–' and let us serve them,'  “you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”1

Marital infidelity can be defined as unfaithfulness, a violation of covenant, committing adultery. Now let's talk about spiritual adultery. It is committing spiritual intercourse with another god or better said, with another spirit.

We have false prophets and dreamers arising in our midst today from among us. They are seducing God's children to run after and serve other gods and to enter into intimacy with them. These false prophets and dreamers are “rare” and are selling “rare” coins. Enamored with angels and leading people into a state of drunken stupor, these personality driven performers, who have no resemblance of the true apostles, prophets or evangelists of the early church, continue to deceive God's children with their hyper-spiritualism.

Yes, there are mystics in our midst who are mystifying the body of Christ. These “rare” ones are able to flow in the supernatural, yet are unable themselves to reveal the mysteries of God which Paul mentions:  God and man walking together; Christ in you, the hope of glory, both of which are characterized by a holy people not those who are seduced by foreign spirits or by selfish ambitions.  These holy people are totally sold out to God and for God, empowered by His Spirit, with no cravings for any other power except for the power to stay pure and true to Him. God is looking for a people infatuated with Himself and His presence, and with no desire for the imitation. GOD IS TESTING!

God is testing to see who will love Him singularly. God is testing to see if the Holy Spirit He has given us is going to be embraced and obeyed. The test is:  can we be content with God Himself and His ways?

 Here are some questions we need to ask ourselves:  Are we bored with our marriage to God or will we remain faithful?  Do we need to experience something new and exciting? Has our love grown cold? Are we entering into or involved in spiritual infidelity?

We are living in times of testing for a near battle.  We are also living in times of testing for eternity.  My hope and prayer is that we will not compromise in the day of testing.

1Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Lynda Switzer: Keeping One's Heart Loyal to God

The scriptures contain many accounts of saints in the Old Testament and the New Testament who began well with God in their lives, but in their latter years departed from the ways of God. Recently I read the account of Asa, a king in Judah. In 2 Chronicles 14:2, we read that “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” He removed idols and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God. The Lord gave him rest in the land. He called his nation together to build walled cities “because we have sought the Lord and he has given us rest. So they built and prospered.”

Then Zareh from Ethiopia came against Asa and the army of Judah with an army of a million soldiers,   the largest army mentioned in the Old Testament. King Asa cried out to the Lord his God for help declaring that, “we rest on You and in Your name we go against this multitude, O Lord. You are our God: do not let man prevail against You!”

The Lord struck the Ethiopians, and Asa and his army of 300,000 overthrew the Ethiopian army “for they were broken before the Lord and His army.”

Then, in 2 Chronicles 15, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah and he prophesied to King Asa saying, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” King Asa took courage and continued to remove idolatry from the nation. Along with the nation of Judah and King Asa, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh “entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul.” The scriptures record that the Lord “was found by them and Lord gave them rest all around.”

However, something happened in King Asa’s thirty-sixth year as king. Baasha king of Israel came against him. Asa, instead of crying out to the Lord for help and protection, went with treasures from the temple on his own seeking help from the King of Syria. The prophet Hanani rebuked King Asa telling him, “because you have relied on the King of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the King of Syria has escaped from your hand.” Hanani continues to prophesy to Asa that because he relied on the Lord when the Ethiopian army of one million came against him, that the Lord delivered King Asa. The scriptures record that King Asa was enraged with Hanani and put him in prison. Then Asa began to oppress some of the people. Three years later King Asa died not seeking the Lord when his feet became diseased.

In the midst of this account of a tragic end to a good king’s life, God inserts this verse in 2 Chronicles16:9, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. . . “

As I pondered this portion of scripture, the Lord showed me several Biblical values to pursue in growing a loyal heart to the Lord:

1. In the midst of seasons of God’s blessing, He opens doors for us to build for His Kingdom purposes. Let’s be alert and active to these open doors and times of building.
2. Amidst God’s blessings, we are to be ever diligent against the evil one’s tactics and ruthlessly deal with any idolatrous ways in our lives.
3. When troubles, storms, and war come to our lives, our first line of defense is to cry out to the Lord and to affirm our faith and trust in Him. Our victory is in the Lord; it’s not in ourselves and our effort.
4. Listening to and obeying the voice of the Lord brings God’s blessings, His protection, and often, other believers who have a similar kindred heart want to band together with us.
5. The Lord places a high value on a heart that is loyal to Him: a people who seek the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul will be found by the Lord!
6. We must beware lest past victories and spiritual accomplishments lull us into seasons where we stop pursuing the Lord as new challenges come into our lives. As we began in the Spirit walking with the Lord, even so we must continue in the Spirit. We may even hear a prophetic word that calls us back to the foundation of our faith. We cannot despise that word. Instead, we continually need to humble ourselves before the Lord acknowledging that He is our Source and our Strength.
7. 7.    Still today, as in the days of King Asa of Judah, our Lord’s eyes are searching the earth looking for those whose hearts are loyal to Him to show Himself strong on our behalf.

“Lord, I want to be one of those believers with a loyah heart to You that your eyes are searching the whole earth for, living humbly knowing that You are my source; You are my strength; You are my victory. I yield myself afresh to your purposes and I know that only You by Your Spirit can create that loyal heart of faith within me.”

Whether we are new in the Lord or we have known the Lord for many years, let’s continue to cultivate loyal hearts by seeking the Lord with all our hearts and all our souls for all the days of our lives.

Jonathan Switzer: Living in a Big Boy World

My youngest son Peter always wants to do what his three older brothers are doing.  If they go to friend’s houses, he wants to go.  If they go to play in the creek, he wants to go.  If they are riding their bikes or playing in the field across the street, he wants to join.  But that is a problem… much of the time, he simply is not yet ready to keep up.  At some point he realizes that they are too fast for him and, frustrated, he comes back to Mommy and Daddy.

Revelation is the topic at our church these days.  We should notice something.  Depending on how one studies the book it could either produce significant anxiety or a sense of sober, joyful expectancy.  According to Revelation, things are going to get really bad.

Revelation simply turns on the light about the end times.  Yet, turning on the light about how bad things will get could either lead to anxiety and fear or a settled trust in the Lord.

These are the two responses to end times that I would like to contrast: Perfectionism and Truth.  Perfectionism is when we see things wrong and take personally responsibility to make things right.  It can lead to an over anxious fear of not being perfect; as if everything depends on my perfection and ability.  It can suck the life out of people and leave them exhausted, exasperated and hopeless.  It beats a person up with legalism.

Like Peter, my son, the perfectionist must, at some point, admit he just can’t keep up.

Living by the truth is different.  Truth, like perfectionism, also turns on the light.  It exposes how bad things are.  However, a person of truth (as the bible defines it) does not get anxious and strive for perfection.  Instead, he goes to the cross and admits that sin has the world in bondage.  He lets the light shine and admits his need for help.  Truth leads to the cross of Jesus Christ.  It recognizes that we have not only missed the mark but that without help we are incapable of hitting it.  Through Christ’s resurrection power we hunger for righteousness and are filled.

Perfectionism
When Peter is playing legos with his brothers, it usually leads to some consternation.  His brothers, one a full six and a half years older, are able to make very complex and cool space ships, cars and landing pads.  They create without breaking a sweat.  Sometimes, Peter can start feeling like he will never be as good as they are.  Mom and Dad pick up his frustration from the other room as he gets whiney and weepy.  Sometimes, he will even start lying to his brothers about what he can do.  Then, maybe he will lash out at them and hit them for correcting him about something.  Patiently, Mom and Dad are training him to rest in God’s love and do right.

Perfectionism only turns on the light about how far we missed the mark.  It deceives us.  It conveniently (or savagely) ignores the fact that we are incapable of fixing our mess.  It is very similar to the news media, either on the right or the left.  Both tend to share the story from their side’s perspective.  They conveniently leave out facts that might soften the story’s finger pointing.  They are crafty.  Yet, they act like they show the full truth.

In the same way perfectionism only highlights how far we miss the mark.  It cruelly leaves out the part that we could never fix the mess we’ve made.  It deceives through partial truth.

You see, pride and insecurity are opposite sides of the same coin.  When we become overly perfectionist, it leads to fear and insecurity about the future.  All of which, leads us to think we should be able to fix our own problems.  At which point, the fear coin flips over and reveals the arrogant pride lying underneath: we should try to fix this all by ourselves!  Then, we lash out in immaturity and selfishness.

Remember, when we die to the flesh, to the old man, we are resurrected with Christ.  In that case it is no longer us who lives but it is Christ living in us.  The emphasis on the daily cross is an emphasis on a daily exchanged life; Christ living in us.

Only the Strong Survive?
The wii is another area where Peter struggles to keep up.  His brothers, naturally understand games faster, or have simply played longer.  They almost always finish way before he does or are several levels beyond him.  We have taught his brothers to cheer him on when they finish and help him along.  Nevertheless, they are still learning to consistently do so and can get impatient.  Again, Peter can suddenly start crying saying things like, “I just can’t do it!”  Or again, he will yell at his brothers for not waiting for him or helping him.  Again, Mom and Dad step in to patiently teach Peter to be at peace and his brothers to share and help.

There is a big difference between an evolutionary approach to life versus a Christian approach.  Evolution teaches survival of the fittest.  To which, there is some truth.  For example, righteousness alone will ultimately survive.  In that sense, only the fittest will survive; Christ and those who follow Him.

But, that is the point: weakness versus strength is not the whole story.  The rest of the story is that Christ came to the weak, poor, orphan and widow to save, redeem and strengthen them.  So, yes, first, we need to live according to what is most likely to survive; i.e. righteousness.  But, then righteousness must be balanced with our inability to be righteous; our need of a savior.

Nevertheless, evolutionists think we are on our own and must fix everything ourselves.  They see industrialism destroying the environment and they think like an evolutionist. Anxiously they say, “We must stop all drilling and imposes major controls!”  The fear leads to arrogant over-control and sucks the life out of economies leading to greater poverty and weakness.  In the same way, an evolutionist sees endangered species and begins to fear.  Anxiety leads to obsessive, one-issue only shame tactics attempting societal change; like unnecessary restraints on ANWAR drilling.  They do the same with poverty and wealth.  They see the disparities and anxiously try to equalize things with bad, unsecured loans.  In each case, the fear leads to hasty, over-obsessive, control efforts to fix what man cannot fix.  They see health care disparities and impose consistently failed utopian dreams.

Unfortunately, right-wing unbelievers also do the insecurity/pride flip routine.  They see controls placed on business and their liberty-cry can carry an arrogant disregard for honesty, integrity and morality.  They deny that sexual immorality causes a nation’s slide into corruption.  After all, sex sells!  Further, they miss the connection between abortion, disregard for human life and Wall Street/Big business bowling over the “little guy” in the name of profits.  Greed has the potential to become almost a virtue.  Their anxiety brings an irrational push for complete freedom from all restraints.

In this sense, the right and the left both share responsibility for our current pre-apocalyptic economic and political situation.  Christians must prophetically speak to both.  We need Christ to turn on the light.  Otherwise, the anxieties of unbelievers will drive them inevitably into not just extreme verbal conflict with one another but, according to scripture, into armed conflicts as well.

Then come apocalypses like the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 or modern Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.  Certainly, today, North Korea, Venezuela, Israel and Iran all threaten to explode at any moment.  Here in the USA, political discourse has turned very bitter and news media wars threaten to stir passions beyond civility about tea-parties, taxes, race and justice.

Living by the Truth

Mom and Dad have learned to talk with Peter regularly.  We say, “Peter, you are four years old aren’t you!”  He smiles back and says, “Yes, I am, I really am!”  Then, mother says, “Do you know that your three older brothers were all four years old one time?”  Peter eyes start moving back and forth as he thinks about his older brothers being his age.  Dad speaks up and says, “Do you know that when your brothers were your age, they played legos just like you do?  For a four year old, you are doing a great job!”  Peter starts to get it and confidently says, “Yeah, When I am 6 I will be able to make lego spaceships that fly really fast and go way up into space!”  Mom and Dad smile encouragingly and Mom says, “You are a great four year old and when you turn six you will be the greatest six year old we know!”

Anxiety is the ruling passion behind perfectionism.  Living by the truth is different.  It turns on the light but also recognizes that alone we are incapable of fixing our situation.  Therefore, the truth person chooses to go to God asking for His help and wisdom.  He chooses to simply be obedient to God’s commands trusting God to take care of the rest.  He recognizes that there is only so much that a man can do.  He remembers the example of great men of faith like Moses, Joshua, David and Daniel.

Faith and rest are the ruling passions behind truth.

Not Complacency or Compromise
Note that Faith and rest are NOT equal to complacency and compromise.  Though, there are many who would say so.  They say we should be as driven as they are.

Instead, the truth turns on the light, acknowledges the failures and then obeys God.  Such simple obedience is very proactive.  There is no better way to handle a situation than to obey the Lord.  When counseling, I often say, “I have no hope for this situation unless we do it God’s way.”  Faith leads to diligent obedience.  Then, God keeps His promises to show us favor.

So, when we look at the failing economies around the world, when we see the moral decay and corruption rampant in business, society and politics, we need not choose fear and anxiety.

This is the reason for Jesus’ Revelation to John and the Olivet discourse.  Jesus turned on the light about how bad things were and are going to get.  However, when he turned on the light he fully turned it on.  He was clear about how limited are our change efforts.  Further, He was clear about God’s direct role opening the seals and overseeing the blowing of trumpets and pouring out the bowls of wrath.

Obedience and Patience Endurance
He was also clear about our role.

Peter is just now in the process of learning to read.  Just the other day he learned to read the word STOP.  So, of course, now, we always point it out on the road signs around town.  However, he is not so sure that he likes to practice reading.  When Dad says its time to read, he says, “Do I have to?  I don’t want to read now.”  But, then he perks up remembering that he gets some smarties for every page of reading he does.  He will quickly go and get his book and say, “Okay, daddy, where are we?  Let’s do this page!”

When the apocalypse happens, we too are to simply obey and endure patiently.  That means we are to go on preaching the gospel to all nations, making disciples, loving our neighbor as ourselves, taking care of the poor, orphan and widow and growing in our understanding of God’s love toward us in Christ Jesus.  We are to go on taking up our cross daily, putting off the old and putting on Christ.  We are to forcefully advance the Kingdom through faithful integrity and meek endurance.

God will be taking care of the rest.  He will bring down the beastly greed and power driven governments.  He will bring down the greedy, immoral harlot business structures.  He will judge the nations.  He will use the simple obedience of His saints to expose the wicked tyrants and their followers.  He will use the simple obedience of His saints to confound the world’s wisdom.  He will improve the environment, propagate animal species and provide for the poor.  He will cause the meek to inherit the earth.

Summary
So, as we face world-wide financial break down and pervasive political unrest, let Christ’s Revelation to John turn on the light.  Like Peter my son, we are not able to keep up with the “big boys” (God, Satan, Beasts and angels).  But let us not get anxious.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  We need not be perfect.  Rather, let’s reject anxiety.  Let’s reject fear which leads to arrogant, misguided efforts to fix the mess.  We are in way over our heads here.

Let’s embrace the cross and admit our failure and weakness.  Let’s put off the old man and put on the new.  Let Christ now live in us with resurrection power.  In Christ, we are overcomers!  Then let us trust God to do what he promised in Revelation, powerfully judge the wicked and faithfully bless those who trust Christ.

One day, Peter will stand shoulder to shoulder with his brothers in sports, business and life!  Today, he already does so in his parent’s hearts.

Jonathan Switzer: The Church vs. The Kingdom of God

We often hear about how important it is that the church not be self-focused but rather outward focused, trying to reach the lost and care for the outcast and broken.

But, I found that when the Bible talked about church the Bible itself tended to be internally focused. Maybe that's why its so easy for the church to get internally focused!

At the same time, however, the Bible is clear that we should be reaching out.  So, if it is not the church reaching out, Biblically, then who or what is it?  What I found was that in the Bible the internal appears to be emphasized when describing the church and external when describing the Kingdom of God.

I think the distinction is worth our attention. Let’s start with the church.

Church - Internal
The church was first built on Peter’s confession of Christ, son of the Living God (Matt 16:18). It cannot be separated from Christ. Therefore, Paul observed appropriately, the church has been sanctified in Christ and is called to be holy (1 Cor. 1:2). Specifically, Paul said Christ is over everything for the church (1 Cor. 1:22). Christ is literally the head of it (Eph 5:23, Col 1:18) and God will get glory through it (Eph 3:21).

Christ's Headship
Christ’s headship of the church is very intimately illustrated by human marriage. As the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands (Eph 5:24). Husbands should love their wives like Christ loves the church who presents her radiant to God by washing her with the water of the Word (Eph 5:25-27). In this way, Christ feeds the church like it was his own body (Eph 5:30). He assures that the members names are written in heaven (Heb 12:23). We are even told that Jesus holds the angels of the churches in his hands. He walks among the churches and speaks to them words of encouragement and correction (Revelation 1-3).

Church's Power
But, here is the most public part of the Bible’s teaching on the church. With Christ at its head, the gates of Hell shall not stand against the church (Matt 16:18). In fact, God’s intent is that through the church His manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:10). The church is definitively the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15). Christ is central to that truth.

Internal Training
Therefore, what Christ speaks to the church is important; which turns internal again. Christ teaches His church through people. It was taught by Paul (1 Cor. 4:17). But there are others. God appointed Apostles, Prophets, teachers, workers of miracles and other gifts in the church (1 Cor. 12:28ff). Nevertheless, it is edified by prophecies and intelligible communication from all members of the body (1 Cor. 14:4). We all should excel in gifts that build it up (1 Cor. 14:12). As we do, we should remember that five intelligible words in it are better than 10,000 in tongues, though we must never forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:19). In this way, hymns, words of instruction, revelations, tongues and interpretations should be done for strengthening it (1 Cor. 14:26). Nevertheless, elders who direct it are worthy of double honor, especially preaching and teaching (1 Tim 5:17).

Internal Standards
This leads us to some basic issues of maintaining the internal standards of the church. We are told by Christ that the church should expel all who refuse to deal with the truth (Matt 18:17). Though, we should be careful to work the full process in Matthew 18. Nevertheless, we should judge those inside not outside (1 Cor. 5:12). We are even told that men of little account are capable judges for internal disputes (1 Cor. 6:4).

There is a balance when enforcing these internal disputes. We are taught that one believer’s freedom should not be used in a manner that causes another to stumble in the church when dealing with disputable matters. (1 Cor. 10:32). In this way, the church should not be divided (1 Cor. 11:18). It should not be a place of pride, fighting and running over the weak but everything in it should be done in a fitting and orderly way (1 Cor. 14:40).

Internal Leadership
As an apostle, Paul filled up in his flesh what was lacking for Christ’s body, the church (Col 1:24). To make sure good leaders followed Paul’s example he said, if a man can’t manage his family he shouldn’t be asked to manage the church (1 Tim 3:5). Tough decisions need to be clarified by leaders; like the importance of only helping those widows really in need not those with believing family members (1 Tim 5:16). Those same elders also wield significant spiritual authority. We are told they will pray over the sick, anoint with oil in the name of the Lord and their prayers offered in faith make the sick well (James 5:14),

Summarizing the Church
This internal vision of church is so important. The church is the holy bride of Christ which is stronger than the gates of hell and shows wicked spiritual powers in high places God’s wisdom. The church is taught, edified and built up by spiritually gifted apostles, prophets and elders as well as spirit-filled average members. The church carefully upholds the truth, judging those inside not out, solving disputes and gently giving grace about disputable matters. The apostles, elders and leaders, by managing their own homes, are proven worthy of making difficult church management decisions and wielding the spiritual authority to heal believers.

However, before Christ appeared to him, Paul persecuted the church (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal 1:13). In fact, in many places in Acts it appears the church is on defense against persecutions instead of on offense proclaiming the Kingdom of God. After Christ appeared to him, however, Paul both ministered internally to build up the church and also boldly proclaimed the Kingdom of God publicly.

This powerful vision of a loved, equipped, credible, holy and diligent church appears to be the nurturing soil for growing up believers who forcefully proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God.

Kingdom of God - External
Contrast what we just studied about the church with the outward, public nature of what the Bible teaches about the Kingdom of God.

Preached Everywhere
Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom of God (Lk 4:43). He spoke about it everywhere (Lk 9:11). He even told one man to forget about burying his father and go proclaim it (Lk 9:60). He sent the disciples to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick (Lk 9:2, 10:9). He said that the law and prophets are no longer proclaimed but rather the Kingdom of God into which many were forcing their way (Lk 16:16). Philip preached it publicly (Acts 8:12). Paul argued persuasively about it (Acts. 19:8; 28:23ff). Jesus preached, “the Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe” (Mk 1:15). It will be preached in all the earth and then the end will come (Matt 24:14).

What is the Kingdom of God?
So, what exactly is the Kingdom of God? It does not come with careful observation but rather is “within you”. (Luke 17:20-21) Though it was proclaimed by Christ and the disciples, it is not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor. 4:20); It is not about eating and drinking but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17). Flesh and blood cannot inherit it (1 Cor. 15:50). Some of Jesus’ day lived to see it come in power (Mk 9:1, Lk 9:27). After the last supper, Jesus’ next drink of wine was in it (Mk 14:25). Whatever we leave for the sake of the Kingdom of God we will receive many times as much in this age and the one to come (Lk 18:29-30). Demonic deliverance shows that it has arrived (Lk 11:20) In fact, Christ said that no one who puts his hand to the plow (of the Kingdom) and looks back is fit for it. (Lk 9:62) At the end of the day the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God inside a person’s heart. When we seek it first, all other things are added to us.

Secrets of the Kingdom
However, the secrets of this Kingdom of God are only given to disciples of Jesus (Mk 9:47). In fact, the keys of it are given to the disciples (Matt 16:19). A person can not see it unless born again (John 3:3-5). They can not enter it unless born of water and spirit. In one secret, for example, it is compared to a man who scatters seeds on four different types of soils each producing different kinds of harvests (Mk 4:26). The path produced no growth with seeds eaten by birds. The rocky soil produced shallow quick harvests that failed. The weedy soil produced fruitless harvests. The good soil, however, produced 30, 60, 100 fold harvests.

The Kingdom of God was also compared to a mustard seed that is the smallest of seeds yet largest of full grown plants (Mk 4:30). It is like a treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, the owner of a house that lost a valuable coin and a net let down into a lake (Matt 13). It’s like a King settling his accounts with his servants. It’s like a generous landowner hiring workers throughout the day. It’s like ten virgins with lamps. Finally, it was then compared to a little bit of yeast that makes a whole loaf rise (Lik 13:18-21).

Who Gets Into the Kingdom?
Though, we must go through many hardships to enter it (Acts 14:22), when warning about temptations to sin, Jesus said it was better to have one eye in the Kingdom of God than to have two eyes in hell. (Mk 9:47). It is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Mtt 19:24; Mk 10:23; Lk 18:24-29). In fact, tax Collectors and prostitutes are entering ahead of Pharisees (Matt 21:31). It belongs to little children and should be received like a little child would (Mk 10:14-15; Lk 18:16-17). A wisely answering teacher of the law was not far from it (Mk 12:34). Jesus said, it belongs to poor (Lk 6:20; James 2:5). In fact, the least in it is greater than John the Baptist who was greatest among those born of women (Lk 7:28).

On the day of the Kingdom of God it will be bad for those who reject it (Lk 9:11). There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth among those thrown out of it when Abraham, Isaac and Jacob come with it (Lk 13:28). However, people will come from East and West and take their place at its feast (Lk 13:29). Blessed is the man who will eat at its feast (Lk 14:15). Jesus told the story of a man who gave a banquet and people gave excuses why they would not come. (Lk 14). As a result, the wicked will not inherit it or enter it (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal 5:20).

The difference between Church and the Kingdom of God
Ultimately the difference between the church and the Kingdom of God is very subtle but important. The church is geared more internal, focused on Christ’s nurture and being built up, maintaining internal order and care and reflecting holiness in Christ. The Kingdom of God, however, appears to be much more public, being proclaimed to the world, forking roads and calling for repentance. Though the church manifests the wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in high places with the gates of hell not prevailing against it, it is not the church that is forcefully advancing, sowing seeds on all soil types, making the whole loaf rise and inviting people to the banquet. Rather, it is the proclamation of the imminent Kingdom of God that does all that. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God is accompanied by many parables or illustrations designed to magnify why someone should choose it. When the Kingdom of God is rejected there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is what Jesus and the disciples preached publicly followed by signs and wonders.

Summary
The church is in the Kingdom of God. However, the church does not proclaim the church, but rather the good news of the Kingdom of God and Jesus, it’s King. It is the Kingdom of God and King Jesus that we take to the world. Those who accept it are then brought into the church to be edified and equipped by Jesus’ gracious care.

In sales they say sell the sizzle, not the steak. The Kingdom of God is the sizzle. (Though, that is much too worldly an idea.) The Kingdom of God and it’s King Jesus is what we proclaim to the world. What they get when they accept the Kingdom is the Spirit of God, salvation, forgiveness, redemption, adoption, fellowship in the church and so much more.

Alanna Jennings: Spiritual Gardening - Part 6 "The White Pathway"

Spiritual Gardening – Part 5
“The White Pathway”
Alanna Jennings


One night in November, I was too busy to notice that there was another “White Night” painting the earth with its glow (see Part three of “Spiritual Gardening” for more on a “White Night”). It wasn’t until I started to climb into bed that I noticed the white slivers of moonlight seeping through the slats of the drawn blinds. Being unable to resist taking a chilly, autumn walk through my garden by moonlight I crept outside, knowing all the while that the last of the flowers were gone, and that I would find nothing but leaves awaiting me.

To my surprise, I found much more than dead leaves and the stalks of dead flowers. There, bisecting my garden, as usual, was the white, marble walkway that goes unnoticed all summer long, as my attention is on the flowers, and those marble stones are merely something to walk on.

Once again, I was struck by the awesome thoroughness of the Master Gardener, who ensures that there is beauty and glory and provision in His “Planting” all year long. How comforting it was to see that my natural and spiritual gardens have a clearly delineated path for me to follow in all the seasons of my life.

How encouraging it is to know that when all around me seems to be swallowed up in death; when my plans and dreams fail to bloom; when something I have poured years of effort into is past it’s time of fruitfulness and it’s time to let it die a graceful death; or in the “dark night of the soul”; the Light of the World is still there, illuminating the pathway before me. It may not be an easy pathway, in fact, I can guarantee you that it will not be. If the way before you is a wide one, choose another path as quickly as you can, for we are told to:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt 7:13-14

And, by the way, not just any narrow way will do. Make sure that you are on the way appointed for you, and not on someone else’s path. Robert Frost so beautifully portrays for us “two roads diverged in a yellow wood”, and reminds us of our inability to travel but one. I would propose to you that we are tempted by the world in which we live, with more paths to choose from than perhaps any other generation in history.

And so, how to choose? The Prophet Jeremiah relayed the word of the Lord to the people of God in Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls”. True peace will never be found on any other pathway than the path of obedience. I suggest you find out what God wants you to do, and then do it. You will never know true and lasting peace until you do. And, by the way, the ‘Pathway of Obedience” is a daily journey, that can only be taken by making daily, Godly choices, and walking out each days assignments. Tomorrow’s assigned pathway is often not revealed until you have completed today’s journey.

Though the pathway set before us is rarely easy, the choice is pathway is rarely difficult. It basically comes down to two choices:

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deut 30:15-20

I beseech you to choose life dear friends. The pathway of obedience set before you today may be one of mountains and valleys; you may even encounter a few lions and tigers and bears – OH MY! However difficult the way, rest assured that you will overcome (it is your destiny), as long as you are in His yoke, and not one of your own making.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

Daniel Switzer Ed.D.: Who is this King?

One of the titles that we have for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that of King. We generally think of a King as one who orders around his subjects and underlings in a peremptory manner. However, when we begin to dig deeper into what kind of King Jesus is, we get a very different picture. In this article, I would like to share a few thoughts about the kind of King Jesus Christ is.

Proverbs 28:12a says, “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation” (NIV). There is great rejoicing when righteous leaders are victorious. As God’s citizens, we can rejoice today because our King—Christ himself—has triumphed. He is a victorious and righteous King—indeed a Good King!

A Great King of Hope—the Lifter of our Head!

Sometimes I work with a child and perhaps that child has done something wrong and is ashamed. Perhaps the child is shy or has experienced some kind of defeat. What invariably happens is that the child places his head down; the child’s whole countenance—head, eyes, face, and mouth—points downward. I sometimes proceed to lift up the child’s head.

The same thing can happen to us as children of God. Perhaps for whatever reason our countenance is downcast. Our encouragement level is depressed. In those times we can remember Psalm 24:7-10, which describes the triumphal return of our King to the city and its corresponding effect upon his citizens:

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. (NIV)

Who is this King—this Jesus? Mighty and victorious, He is the great King who lifts up our head, lifts up our countenance, and gives us hope even amid difficulty. This hope is one that is firm and secure, an eternal anchor to our soul; this King gives real hope that makes a real difference in our outlook—every day of our lives! He is a King who fights victoriously for His people—He is mighty in battle!

You can imagine what it must have been like for a victorious king to return to his city. Rejoicing, the people would lift up the city’s gates and doors to receive their king with great adulation. My question to you is “What are your gates? What are your doors? What are you letting into your city? Who are you letting into your heart?” With the doors of your eyes, your ears, your mind, and your heart—with your entire being, let in King Jesus. Receive this King with unadulterated rejoicing. This King is the Lifter of Your Head. He gives us true hope amid all of our difficulties!

Psalm 25:15 shows how this King can lift up our head when we are facing trials: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” So often when going through tribulation, we are tempted to look down and get immersed in the problem. We focus on the trap, the mess we have gotten into, and do everything we can to extricate ourselves from that situation. God’s Word counsels us to do the opposite: to lift up our head and fix our eyes not on the problem but on our King—Jesus—because He is the only one who can free us from the trap.

A Victorious King Who Gives Gifts!

Not only is he a victorious King—a conquering King who wins great battles on our behalf, Jesus is also a different king. Upon his return from The Great Victory, instead of being showered by his people with gifts, this King gives his people gifts! Normally, upon return from a victorious battle, a conquering king would parade through the city streets with his prisoners in tow and the people would bestow him with gifts. Well, this King Jesus returns with captives in his train, but instead of being showered with gifts, he does things in reverse—He gives gifts to his citizens. He gives gifts to his children. He gives important gifts to you and to me.

Ephesians 4:7-8 says, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’”
When King Jesus returned from his great victory over Satan and all the spiritual principalities that are now defeated foes, He gave his people gifts. And these grace gifts are for a purpose!
Why does He give us gifts? Why does this King Jesus give his children gifts? What do all children want to do? In our school’s first and second grade classroom, there is a place where the students can measure their height to see how tall they have grown. They are able to see how much they are growing throughout the course of the year. Of course, children want to grow up; they want to grow up physically and in every other way. They want to grow up physically, mentally, spiritually, relationally; in short, they want to become more and more mature.

In the same way, God gives us his children gifts so that we can grow up—so we can grow to maturity in Christ. He desires us to grow up spiritually as a Body into the full stature and character of Christ. Jesus—the Great King—uses grace gifts, or equipping gifts, to do just that. He calls us to use our gifts for His use—to help us to grow.

Ephesians 4:12-13 says that God gave us gifts “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Far from an individual focus that so oftens occurs when we receive material gifts, these equipping gifts are for a community focus—to build up the Body of Christ! In other words, these grace gifts make us others-focused as opposed to self-focused. These equipping gifts help us to reach the goal Christ has for us together as a Body—to be unified in the faith and in knowing Christ.

As we mature in Christ, we will show the balance of Christ’s character—full of grace and truth. We become fully grown in Christ and are not easily shaken like infants because we hold firmly to the sound Word of God. And all of the members of the Body are used in order to enable this process of growth to occur. “The whole body . . . grows . . . as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16). In the Kingdom of God, growth occurs as the whole body—not individual parts of the body—grows together in love.

The King asks us today: What gift have I given you? Are you using it to build up my Body? I encourage you to understand that we grow as we also help our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow. This Great King Jesus has given us special gifts, and He calls us to use them to help others to grow up into Christ. This King is a different King—He is the Lifter of our Head and He gives us gifts for a purpose—to build up the Body of Christ—all for His glory! Indeed, we serve a great King!

Rod Levey: The Day of Delay

THE DAY OF DELAY

Sometimes we don't know what to do in the delay. You're waiting for a loved one and they're held over at a connecting airport because of bad weather. Supper is on the table and you're waiting for your husband to get home from work; he should have been home forty-five minutes ago but he's caught in traffic. Let's turn it up a notch. You need a miracle and it's not happening. Your church's finances are on tilt, you need a job, a healing, etc. We can go on and on. The bottom line is we need Jesus to show up on the scene and we need Him to arrive now or preferably yesterday.

How are we going to conduct ourselves while we wait for Him to show up? Do we become casual and lazy? Do we work something up in our own strength? Do we compromise and take something close enough? These are very legitimate questions we have to ask ourselves.

Abraham was promised by God that he would be the father of a multitude. Abraham and his wife Sarah were both well along in age. I think it would be safe to say past child bearing years. They devised a plan because they couldn't wait for God to move. They chose to do things their way. We all know that Abraham went into his wife's maidservant, she conceived and birthed a son by the name of Ishmael. Ishmael was blessed of God and became a great nation; however, he wasn't God's original plan. What Abraham and Sarah had done in their own timing and in their own strength became more than they bargained for.1 This is definitely building on a wrong foundation. If we do these things the end result is normally a nightmare.

If God isn't moving or moving fast enough, do you manipulate things or take things into your own hands to produce something that looks like His creation on the outside but was never of His genesis?

Saul was set in as king because the elders of Israel wanted a king like all the other nations.2 After Saul was anointed as king Samuel gave him direction to go down to Gilgal and wait for his arrival.3 Upon his arrival, Samuel was going to tell Saul what he should do.

Saul waited the appointed days in Gilgal and Samuel didn't show up, therefore, King Saul took things into his own hands.4 He felt compelled, or we could say he forced himself, to present a burnt offering, the very thing that Samuel was suppose to do. Samuel arrived and appeared to be a bit perturbed and asked Saul what he had done. Here are Saul's reasons, or what are really excuses, why he did what he did: 5

1. He saw the people were scattered from him.
2. Samuel didn't come within the appointed days (he did finally arrive on the scheduled day).
3. The Philistines gathered for war against Israel.

Things didn't look too good in the natural.

We, as leaders in the community of The King, should realize that God will delay His coming to see if we will trust and obey Him, or work something up that appears to be very spiritual in the delay. He's looking for those who will obey Him and wait for Him no matter what it looks like or what is surrounding them.

When God delays, do you get moved by what you see or don't see around you in the natural? Can you hold your position and not be moved to enter into spiritual activities that you shouldn't be? God is looking for those who can keep their head in the midst of pressure and His delaying.

In the parable of the Ten Virgins they all slumbered and slept as they awaited the bridegroom. They nodded off.7 This particular setting doesn't depict them in a place of rest, which would be good, but rather a state of idleness and laziness. They enjoyed the life of ease. They kind of got caught off guard when the call came that the bridegroom was coming. The foolish virgins certainly had not made purchases while they had the time and opportunity to. They were lacking the oil which was necessary.8 I'm sure they were wishing they would have done things different after they showed up late and the door was shut.

As Jesus delays His return, are you in a place of passivity or activity? Oil (the Holy Spirit) increases in our lives as we actively surrender to the Lord and walk in obedience to His will. This is a costly affair in which we can pay now or pay later.

After Moses, who is a type of Christ, spent time with God up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, he came back down only to find that the congregation got a little antsy. Moses was taking too long. In the postponement they started to partake of, or join in, some activity that was impure. They were playing with fire. God's Word says that the Israelite children sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. This playing was a form of spiritual fornication. The children of God were now flirting with, or making sport with, another god (spirit). God's children were in a state of defenselessness. Their spiritual discernment was void. They entered into a state of looseness. They had abandoned themselves to the experience at hand. They had cast off all restraint. I'm sure there was great excitement and stimulation as they “worshiped”.9

There is much available in these days to dabble in while we wait for our Lord's return. Ezekiel speaks of a people set apart to God who will teach between the holy and the unholy and will cause the people of God to discern between the unclean and the clean.10 This is relevant for us in our day.

What are you joining in on? What will you join yourself to, or allow to be joined to you? We all so desperately want God to move in our midst. We all desire something fresh in God. I'm afraid we will jump on board with just about anything that makes itself available if we aren't careful and in an attitude of testing the spirits.

There are “moves of the Spirit” going on right now as you read this, in different parts of the body of Christ. My question is this: are the children of God sitting down to eat and drink of the flesh and blood of Christ;11 which would mean walking in the way of the cross displayed by crucifying their flesh, or are they sitting down to fulfill the lusts of their flesh and of their idolatrous spirits with something termed “this is God”?

The works of the flesh are laid out clearly in Galatians 5: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, to name a few. Please understand, all these mentioned are also attainable in the spiritual dimension. We need to be aware that all of this above mentioned spiritual idolatry is happening all around us. We have outward image worship taking place and magical mystics are on the loose. There are so called “men of God”, manifestations and angels that are taking a place of preeminence above Christ. There is an increase of spiritual uncleanness throughout the body of Christ like I've never seen.

As the Lord delays His return many are running after the experience(s) of some god (spirit). Others are running after the experiences of God instead of the God of the experience(s). What will our choices be?
My hope and prayer is that we will not compromise in the flesh or the spiritual in the day of delay.


1 Genesis chapters 15,16,17
2 1Samuel 8:4-5
3 1Samuel 10:1, 8
4 1Samuel 13: 8-9
5 1Samuel 13:11-12
6 Judges 7:4
7 Matthew 25:5
8 Matthew 25:8-9
9 Exodus 32:1, 6, 25
10 Ezekiel 44:15, 23
11 John 6:53-56