Godly Imagination - June 24, 2018

II Corinthians 10:5 - We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 

When our grandson was younger, I remember the joy watching him as his young mind would take him from one pretend instance to another. He might be a policeman one moment, and then a race car driver the next---all depending on his imagination. A child's make believe is innocent and full of wonder as they create various roles and circumstances. The operative word here is "create." Children's imaginations are empowered by creativity, often in a more simple manner than their adult counterparts. They do not limit themselves with what might seem ridiculous and far-fetched to grown-ups. Their faith is full of incredible possibilities. That is why Christ said we must have faith as one of these little ones to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:14). When imagination embraces faith, there is creation. God demonstrates this in the creation story when He imagined and then spoke things into being (Genesis 1). Just as the Father created, so He desires His children to do likewise.

Jesus gave us what appears to be a "ridiculous" example of godly imagination when teaching His disciples about faith. In Mark 11:21-23, the Lord tells his followers to first "have faith in God." Then, he uses the following example: "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." Some might suggest this is rabbinic hyperbole -- just an exaggeration to get across his point. However, I believe the Lord is doing more in this example. By using an extreme, or seemingly ridiculous illustration to some, Jesus is expressing how faith is only limited by our imagination. As believers, once we align our thinking with the Father's desire, then we are unlimited in possibility. Even so, Jesus was always in agreement with His Father's imagined desires as He said He only did those things which He saw His Father in heaven doing (John 5:19). Just as Jesus limited Himself to His Father's imagination, so also Jesus desires us to come into agreement with the Father through the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). Then, no matter how outlandish the will of the Father may seem, we know it is doable according to the working of grace through faith.

Paul understood this dynamic when he spoke to the Ephesians concerning their spiritual maturity. The bulk of the third chapter of Ephesians is Paul affirming his stewardship to the church at Ephesus and their need to understand their spiritual heritage in Christ. Directly after his prayer for these brethren, Paul declares the incomprehensibility of God's imagination. He states: "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20). Just imagine! The abundance of God's thought and imagination are only limited by the power of God working in and through us. Once we agree with God's creativity and allow Him to move through us, then we begin to experience the richness of His will for humanity. What we once thought impossible, He begins to manifest instances of His creative power. For example, the person we once believed could never be saved is now walking with Lord and praising Jesus! Or, the paralytic who doctors believed would never walk again is now running, jumping and glorifying God! Some might scoff, believing these to be ridiculous impossibilities. However, Jesus told us only to have faith and then the Holy Spirit would give us the imagination to believe for these things and much more.

Beloved, it is time for the church to once again return to believing in the impossible. The Body of Christ must once again become dreamers that dare to create impossibilities which only faith can secure. We must once again become as children and exercise the God-given imagination within us to secure great things for the kingdom of God. When we refuse to be limited by what might seem ridiculous to some, then we are touching the mind of God and creating situations where anything might happen. All we need to start is that simple child-like trust that must be drawn out of the heart of believers. Then, we must imagine great things to be done for God's glory. May Christ have His way in this regard with us all.

Heavenly Father, cause our imaginations to come into union with Yours. Help us to imagine mountains of doubt and unbelief vanishing as Your faith grows and matures in us. For only as we become children do we really grow up in You. Help us for Your glory and for Christ's sake. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Fathering on Purpose - June 17, 2018

Colossians 3:21 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

Anyone who has been to Israel to see the holy places has certainly visited Jerusalem. On my first trip to the Holy Land in 2011, my wife and I spent a week in in an apartment in Jerusalem, very close to the King David Hotel. Down King David Street where it intersects with Hebron Road was a prayer room named Succat Hallel. In Hebrew it means Tabernacle of Praise. (Succat Hallel has since relocated nearby to Ein Rogel Street.) This is a 24/7 prayer ministry dedicated to raising up prayer intercessors for the restoration of Jerusalem and the salvation of Israel. During my morning run, I would stop and sit in the prayer room as the musicians ministered to the Lord. Through the east-facing windows the walls of Jerusalem would be drenched in the early morning sun. However, the valley between the prayer room and the enormous walls would also be awash in the morning light. This is the valley of Ben-hinnom, or Hinnom as mentioned in the Old Testament---the sight of unspeakable atrocities to children. For whenever Israel backslid into their apostasies, the worship of idols such as Baal, Ashtoreth, and Moloch came to the forefront in Israel's worship. They rejected Yahweh, the Lord God Almighty and made their children "pass through the fire" in the valley of Hinnom. While this began in the days of Solomon, it grew more in acceptability during the time of one Solomon's descendents, King Manasseh.

In II Chronicles chapter 33, we are introduced to Manasseh, son of good King Hezekiah. As good as Hezekiah's reign, his son sought to be diametrically wicked. Among Manasseh's most detestable sins was his worship of Moloch. We read the following where he sacrificed his offspring in the fires of Hinnom, with no apparent pity toward his own: "He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger." (II Chronicles 33:6) Through all his wickedness, he never sought the Lord. At least not until he was taken by hooks into captivity by the king of Assyria. (In the Jewish Talmud, one can read a story how the king placed Manasseh in a copper barrel and began roasting him!) We know from scripture that Manasseh cried out to the Lord and was delivered. In II Chronicles 33:12-13 we read: "When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God." The verses following these tell about Manasseh's "revival" and how he sought to do right the remaining years of his life.

Both in the prayer room those days we stayed in Jerusalem and on subsequent occasions, I have meditated on Manasseh and others like him in scripture who sacrificed their children in the fires of Hinnom. It seems inconceivable to us in our modern world to do such things to our own prodigy. However, how many of us who are fathers or who father children have sacrificed our children in more subtle ways? In sundry fashion, I failed my children when they were growing up, being often more concerned about my sobriety and staying sober rather than getting them to church and raising them amongst other believers. Today, they are products of this subtle abuse. If they do know the Lord, they are far from Him as they walk in a way which seems best to them. My neglect of keeping them centered on the things of God has led to their present-day apostasy. However, like Manasseh, we who have failed our children in the past can only look toward the future. While many of us have inadvertently offered our children up to Moloch by our lack of care and concern in their regard, we can now only look to the future concerning their redemption. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet an important lesson for all of us as fathers to consider: "The LORD said, 'Surely I will set you free for purposes of good ...'" (Jeremiah 15:11). While Jeremiah was set free from a literal prison, how many of us were set free from a spiritual prison? In both instances, the Lord tells us we can no longer serve ourselves, but we must serve "purposes of good." For those of us who are fathers, this means giving ourselves to prayer for our beloved children. And, when possible, devoting the necessary time to them in order to show them they are important. Just as God desires our time, so do our loved ones. It is the one thing, if done consistently, which will show them our love.

I will never forget the emotions I felt when looking over the valley of Ben-hinnom in Jerusalem. I carry that emotion with me always as I pray for my children, desiring their full redemption to God. However long it takes, it matters not. I am devoted to pray and support them until they come into a full understanding of God's incredible love for them. Sacrifices to Moloch have not occurred outside of Jerusalem for millennia. However, unless we as fathers commit to the redemption and restoration of our children, we continue to sacrifice their spirits to this evil demon. May we cry out, day and night, for our children's redemption. Only then, will we be fathering on purpose and seeking good for those whom we love most.

Heavenly Father, teach us as fathers to love as You do. Cause us to father on purpose and commit to seeing our children on fire for You and not on fire for another god through our neglect. May You give us wisdom how to pray and act in this regard. Thank You for Your love for both us and our offspring. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Godly Success - June 10, 2018

Genesis 39:2 - The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

A fellow once shared with me how after coming to Christ, his entire view of success was altered. It is such a joy to witness someone, who only weeks earlier was living for themselves, now to begin to understand the source of true life. No longer was he choosing to pursue monetary gain by driving the most expensive automobile or living in the most lavish house. God had taken this individual and stripped him down to a place of humility, revealing to him what success looked like to the Almighty. There was a gleam in his eyes and light where there was once darkness. This fellow had started down the road of life instead of winding his way down the path of destruction. He saw the importance of succeeding according to God's wisdom rather than that of man's. He had only glimpsed what the Lord had in store for him on his new journey. However, he was convinced now that true success did not depend upon his circumstances. He was beginning to see with new eyes regarding what it meant to be God's winner. 

Winning at life will never mean having or planning for more, whatever that might be. We know from the story of Joseph how the Lord made this young man successful---not necessarily for what he did, but for whose he was. Scripture relates in several instances how Joseph was successful in all that he put his hand to. Does this mean his success was determinant on certain talents and gifts he possessed? Not at all. God may or may not use natural inclinations. However, if He does they will first be sanctified through His purifying fires. In other words, He will not tie success to a man or a woman's gifts without first sanctifying both for His glory. From our lead verse, we can authoritatively state that God did not grant success to Joseph because of his talents or gifts, but He gave him success because God was with him. This principle points out that success, in the case of Joseph and any other, is relationally-bound not circumstantially dependent. What mattered to God was that Joseph trusted in Him, so therefore God prospered Joseph in all he put his hand to (Genesis 39:21). However, over time and through a trusted relationship between the Lord and Joseph, God elevated Joseph's success from a private matter of relationship to the public arena of circumstantial greatness. God confirmed His relationship through this Hebrew slave who continued to submit himself to harsh, unjust treatment. Joseph knew it was not his place to create success. He only knew he must remain faithful to the Lord.

So many of us get this wrong when we first start walking with God. We believe if we are good at making money before knowing Christ, we should do the same for the Kingdom once we get saved. Many a person has set a snare for themselves with this logic. If a spirit of competition and lustful craving for success has been the thrust of a man or woman's life before Christ, how can this be used for God's purposes? This would be like the U.S. Government hiring the Mafia to head the Department of Justice. No matter how good the intent, there is no doubt justice would not be served in the manner it should. If nothing else, the appearances would be wrong. It is the same way with natural talents that may have given us success in the world which are not first surrendered to God for His bidding. Whether He desires to resurrect those gifts or inclinations will be according to His will. Possibly, if someone has made millions in secular pursuits, the Lord would require them to give it away and instead join the foreign mission field. One might say, "What a waste of talent!" That would be the one who does not understand the importance of success through relationship rather than situational success that is so common to us before we came to Christ.

The main thing we can desire in this lifetime is to be successful in God's eyes. Whether we are a prisoner as Joseph, yet at the same time successful in God's mind, will determine our perspective on what it means to win in life. If we are circumstantially inclined to success as Christians, then we will judge ourselves and others by what we have done for the Kingdom. However, if we are rightly related to Jesus, success will take on a whole new meaning. It will be full of expectation regarding not necessarily what God will do through us, but how we will be amazed at what happens to ourselves and others through our intimate relationship with Him. Through our surrendered relationship, God will engineer circumstances in our lives that others will equate as success. However, what is important for us is to see God's success in our hearts as we live for Him. To one day hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," will be the greatest success that any of us will ever know in this lifetime or the one to come.

Heavenly Father, give us eyes to see today what You regard as success in each of our lives. Allow us to become so intimate with You that You prosper everything we touch as a product of our relationship with You. May we know that winning in life is finishing the course with You not for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Love with Faith - June 3, 2018

Ephesians 6:23 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is often extraordinary regarding all the talk of love for God and others in our Westernized Christianity. However, the evidence is just as often lacking. We might sing, "Oh, how I love Jesus!" on Sunday mornings, yet do our actions testify of what we say with our mouths? The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I understand the importance of my faith growing in direct proportion to my love for the Savior. I will state with complete confidence that it is impossible for one's love to deepen with Christ and not experience a growth in faith regarding what Jesus is able to do. If we don't recognize how God's love within us causes us to believe greater things are possible, then maybe the love we are experiencing is simply a sentimental head-knowledge of Christ's character within? For instance, if we are truly growing in love with Jesus, is our love deepening for those whom He loves? Are we going out of our way for others, working kindness in their lives for no other reason then we desire to do so because of Christ's love within? Or, are we spending time in prayer for those with health problems, or those who do not know Jesus, simply because we want to rather than feeling as we should out of obligation? Without faith growing in love, we should certainly reassess our relationship with our Savior and return to the place where our love can once again be renewed (Revelation 2:4-5). 

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of love working with faith. In several instances he uses these two fruits of the Spirit in concert with one another (Galatians 5:22-23). However, Paul generally speaks of love as the root in which faith thrives (Ephesians 3:17). There is a good reason for this, as seen in Paul's letters and also from the Lord's words Himself. Throughout the Pauline epistles we see a theme of love for God and the brethren (the local churches) as one of the major focuses of instruction. Paul tells us the importance to allow faith, hope, and love to abide---but of greatest importance is love (I Corinthians 13:13). To his beloved Timothy the apostle writes: "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (I Timothy 1:5). Paul understood how godly love from a pure heart could produce a good conscience and a sincere faith, but the impossibility of the opposite occurring. Purity and godly faith can only come through love for the Savior, otherwise faith will become self-inflated and defiled, seeking its own rather than building God's kingdom. Love will always safeguard the treasure within a man or woman of God because it will train its affection upon Christ's desires and not upon those of the flesh.

As mentioned, Jesus taught the principle of love before faith quite simply in His statement, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). From this relationship, we understand how faith and hope grow and mature. It would be superfluous for Jesus to say that in order to love more we must believe more. No, He said we must love more, then our faith would spring eternal from our passion for God. A wonderful example of how Jesus wants us to grow in love with faith is His lesson to His disciples when they asked the Lord, "Increase our Faith" (Luke 17:5). Jesus tells them in response how the size of faith is not important as long as it is pure. He tells them faith the size of a mustard seed will do just fine. However, how does one acquire this type of pure faith? He proceeds to tell them the importance of obedience in love in the following verses. In Luke 17:7-10 we see love perfected in obedience, which is the Lord's answer to His disciples regarding their desire for increased faith. True and pure faith devoid of selfishness is only possible through obedient love. And love of this sort only grows over time as we submit to the Lover of our souls. Through this great submission comes greater purification, causing our faith to begin to remove mountains where it once was only capable of removing spiritual debris from our lives.

Many men and women of God have been disqualified in large degrees regarding their ministries because they have sought faith without love for God. Unless obedient love is rooted and grounded in a believers life, seeking faith will only result in frustration. Those who move in great workings of faith may be somewhat successful for a season and may have the appearances of serving God. Yet, if they are not first submitted in love for the Savior, their kingdom will come crashing down. What shall we learn from these? It is imperative we know Christ and His love for us, and then faith will grow in a most supernatural way in our respective lives. We will possess the aroma of Christ (II Corinthians 2:14) rather than an aroma of ourselves. Many will stand before Christ on that day of reckoning and proclaim their love by their faith (Matthew 7:22). However, Christ will say He never knew them because they never allowed their faith to grow from a place of loving Him. However, those who first love Him and obey Him, these are the ones who will see their faith grow according to the will of God. May we all seek to know Christ in this way, obeying Him in love while our faith grows for His glory!

Heavenly Father, may we not seek great faith, but seek to greatly love You. With our desire to know You more intimately and passionately, cause our faith to grow proportionally to further Your Kingdom according to Your will and Your desire. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick