Are you Poor? Who are the Poor?

Good morning insert your name! I really want you to know that I am writing to you because God, who is sovereign (absolutely in control of all things), knows you and it's not by accident that you are joining me here today.  Welcome insert your name.

Yesterday I spent an hour or so with Ivor in a coffee shop (drinking an Americana for the first time) discussing this ministry and also spending some time in prayer.  I'm sure there were some people looking over saying to themselves, "What in the world are those two dudes doing?"  Praying in public can be a bit uncomfortable but I realize that we come to God when and where we are but that's a topic for another post.  We were talking about the I-61 Project and what we are to be doing.  We began to look at the Scripture that inspired the name of the ministry: Isaiah 61.  We began to read the verses slowly and pick them apart carefully.  I want to share with you one part of the scripture and show you what the Lord revealed to us.  Here is the verse.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor."  Isaiah 61:1

Firstly we understand that there is no greater purpose in any ministry than to preach the Good News.  (i.e..  Jesus came to die on our behalf so that, by faith, we can be made right in the sight of God and live forever with him).  Just a quick interlude here.  I think that God does have a sense of humor.  Don't misunderstand me.  I know he is all powerful and can breathe out stars with the word of his mouth but there are times when he makes me smirk.  Do you have a typo that you make almost every time you type a certain word or phrase?  Nearly every time I type the words "Good News" it comes out, "God News".  I always think, "Yes Lord, you are right in saying the the Good News is God News."  It makes me smile.  But I digress.

When Ivor and I looked at this first half of the first verse of Isaiah 61 we had a question. Who are the poor?  Who are these people that God sent Jesus (and subsequently his disciples) to share the gospel with?  Was it the people who lived in poverty?  For sure.  Was it the people who were poor in spirit?  For sure.  So we looked into the Word to see to whom Jesus shared the Good News and also looked to see who Jesus described as "poor". 

The Bible mentions the word "poor"178 times and most often uses the word to describe the physically or financially poor and it certainly directs us to reach out and relieve their suffering but it also describes a person whose spirit is impoverished and whose soul is famished.  Isaiah wrote these words from God in chapter 41:

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst.   But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them."

Are you hungry?  Thirsty, maybe?  Is there a part of you that has sought pleasure, happiness, joy but no matter what you do it seems to pass through your fingers.  Every time you think you have a firm hold on it it vanishes like a mirage on a hot summer road.  Are you rich in your finances but your heart seems poor and lacking?  Maybe you are rich and you say,"Nope.  I'm rich and I'm just fine.  No hunger here.  I have all I need."

Jesus, in revealing himself to John, spoke these words to the church at Laodicea (and subsequently all of us):

"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked . . . " Revelation 3:17

Jesus reminds us that no matter what our IRA or savings accounts look like we may indeed be poor.  Pick up the latest "People" magazine (just once because it has little value except to reveal the truth of the words of Revelation).  Look at the lives of the "rich". Tiger Woods, Lindsey Lohan, et. al.  In God's eyes, "poor" is a thing that lies well beneath the skin, the clothes, the roof of our homes, and the covers of our financial portfolios.  

I was rich once.  I had a big bank account, a big career, and a big ego.  Under it all I was starving.  In the family album I looked like a man with a full plate, a full belly, and a healthy smile.  The portrait of my spirit (if it were painted on canvas) would have shown me sitting in the dirt with a rounded belly of starvation, holding an empty bowl, with a tongue failing to wet my cracked lips.  I was poor.

Here is the good news.  When we are touched by God and begin to see our spiritual portraits we have an opportunity to do what the poor did in Isaiah 41, "search for water".  It's when we begin to understand our need for God, our spiritual poverty, that we seek him.  The Bible says that when we seek him we will find him.  It says that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.  It's like a man lost in the wilderness who is seeking a way out and at the same time there is a rescue party seeking him.  

With that said, I want to conclude today but sharing with you the rest of the words of Jesus to John in Revelation 3:

"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So, be earnest and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me . . . "

Last week we talked about wedding clothes.  Jesus reminds us here again that he is the one who provides the covering for our shame.  He reminds us that his gold is the only true wealth.  He reminds us that it comes through fire, through trials, and through discipline.  He reminds us that we need to repent.  He reminds us that he loves us.  And, finally he tells us that is it up to us to open the door.  He won't barge in but if you are hearing his voice today (and I pray you are) then open the door.  He will feed your soul.  I promise.  

If you are blessed by this Blog I want to ask a favor.  Would you pass the link to your email list or share a link on your Facebook page or on Twitter.  I know there are some who are "poor" in spirit among your family and friends who might need some good news.  Thanks!

Peace insert your name,

David

Do You Have Your Wedding Clothes?

I think I was a freshman in college when a friend and I waltzed into a grocery store to pick up some food for a road trip.  It was mid-summer, hot, and accordingly we were shoeless.  We figured that our feet were cleaner than most people's shoes so we disregarded the big sign on the door that read, "Shirt and Shoes Required".  I guess wearing pants was self-evident.  When we got to the deli section a stern looking man with a red bow tie said, "Fellas, you can't be in here without shoes.  I'm going to have to ask you to leave."  Apparently, we weren't wearing the required clothes to be welcome in the store.  So out we went.  No food.  No road trip.

I've heard a number of people make comments about how they will question or complain to God when they get to heaven.  They have a list of things that they didn't like or didn't understand and they look forward to confronting God with their list.  This assumes two things: 

1) They'll be going to Heaven

2) They'll be able stand in the presence of God.

I want to address both of these things today and I'd like you look inward and see where you stand.  I'll do the same.

If you're going to Heaven (and I hope you are) you better be wearing the right attire.  It would appear that there is a sign (at least figuratively) at Heaven's door that says, "Wedding Clothes Mandatory".  Like the grocery store that required shoes, Heaven requires wedding clothes.  Tuxedo, shiny black shoes, and a cumber bun?   A long Versace gown and Jimmy Choo pumps? Nope.  You must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 

In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus told the parable of a wedding banquet. He was helping his disciples to understand the kingdom of Heaven.  After he described a group of people who were invited but refused to come, he went on to tell how his servants then went into the streets to invite who would ever come, "both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests."  Notice that there were guests who were good and bad and notice also that they weren't even on the original guest list.  But here is where it gets interesting.  Jesus continued:

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The Bible describes a transaction that occurs when we accept Christ and are born again of the Spirit.  God no longer sees us as we are (broken and sinful) but as pure and holy.  Why?  Because all of a sudden we are perfect and no longer sin?  No.  Because we are covered.  Covered with Jesus Christ.  Paul put it this way in his letter to the church at Galatia:

"You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ."

Your wedding clothes will be the Holiness of Christ, the Love of Christ, and the Righteousness of Christ.  How sweet is that!  They'll fit you perfectly but you can't buy them with money and they won't be worn by all.  And, you can take this to the bank:  without them you won't be at the feast.  Do you have your wedding clothes?  

As to the second assumption (i.e. standing in the presence of God) I just want to say that every time in the Bible someone found himself in the presence of God they ended up prostrate and trembling.  Why?  Because God is so much more immense, so much more holy, and so much more awesome than the white haired, grandfather figure we've made him out to be.  When we stand before God (and we all will for good or for bad), the God who breathed out the stars and galaxies, who conjured up DNA, your brain, and blue whales we will not be asking him to explain himself.  I have a feeling that we will say as Isaiah did, "Woe to me! I am ruined! I am a man of unclean lips!"  But maybe, if we are wearing the wedding clothes, we will instead just praise him for the eternity of peace and joy that we just entered into because of the gift of the cross.

If you're not sure that you have on the proper attire for Heaven it's time to ask God for forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  Drop us a note if you have any questions or just need prayer.  That's why we're here!

Peace in Christ,

David

Keep Watch! Be Ready! Wake up!

I'm out of my spiritual rut and ready to press on!  Thanks first to those who prayed for me and for those whose comments encouraged me.  God is good.  It's Saturday and I'm not writing "because it's Saturday" but because the Lord has given me a moment of pause to put forth a word that I believe the church needs to hear.  I know that what I'm about to share is controversial but as I have said before, "search the scriptures to see if what I am saying is true."

I don't know about you but I have felt an increasing sense of urgency over the past year or so regarding the proclamation of the Gospel.  I have sensed a very discernible change in global political, social, and religious climates and a sharp decline in moral values. I have seen small groups of Christians from every denomination and corner of the world on fire for the Lord with a strange feeling of anticipation.  I know that every generation since Jesus ascended to the Father's right hand has believed it is the one to see the return of Jesus for his bride (the Church) but I want to point out some biblical facts to make the point that we are to be ready not just in our Christian walk but in our understanding of the prophetic Word.  For the record it is not heresy to look at the prophetic word and do just that.  I will clarify, up front, that anyone who says Jesus will return on December 13th, 2011 at 3:15pm or any other specific date or time is not of the Lord but Jesus spent a good amount of time laying out the signs of his return and to brush them aside is to the detriment of the Church.  The Jews at the time of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection had a Bible that gave them all they needed to predict the return of the Messiah as well as to be able to recognize him but most of them were asleep and so are many of us.

Although this has been on my heart for at least a year, a faithful servant of the Lord hand delivered me a study of the prophetic plan of God in Jesus' coming to make atonement for sin (the first coming and his death and resurrection) and his second coming (the gathering of his Bride and the judgement of the world for sin).  She also confirmed in my heart that I needed to also be bold and not afraid to go down this road.  This particular study reveals the amazing connection between God's prophetic calendar and the seven feasts of Israel put forth in Leviticus 23.

I have heard it said that we need to just continue on as we always have that since we don't know what day Jesus will return, any discussion of it with regard to prophecy or looking at specifics is tantamount to blasphemy but Jesus was very direct in sharing with his disciples the signs of his coming so that they would be prepared.

In Matthew 24 Jesus gave his disciples a number of things to look for as signs of his coming which you can read for yourself.   In regard to this discussion he said these things:

See, I have told you ahead of time.  (Verse 25)


Now learn this from the fig tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." (verses 32-33)


Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Verse 42)


He then gave them an analogy about an owner of a house that was going to be burglarized.  He said, "But understand this, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not let his house be broken into."  (Verse 43)

Ok, so what's the big deal?  As long as we are doing God's work and personally ready (regardless of whether we die or Jesus returns for his church) what's the difference?  I have two answers to that:

1)  Because Jesus warned us to be looking for the signs of the season because he knows our nature to be sleepy, worldly, complacent, and lazy.  He doesn't want us sleeping spiritually at his return.

2)  Because if we love our neighbor as ourself we will be urgent about their hearing the Good News.  I don't know about you, but I tend to put off studying for a test until it is right around the corner and then I go all out.  We'll it's right around the corner so we need to go all out.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter five Paul also reiterated the fact that we might not know the day or the hour but we should not be surprised by his return.  "But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. . . So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep. . . "

You probably know by now, if you have been following this blog for any length of time, that I am not satisfied with going through the motions because it does exactly what Satan wants it to do: Put us to spiritual sleep.

One last thing.  When Jesus returns for his Church (which we will look at specifically another time) he will come with the voice of the Archangel and the trumpet call of God.  So if you feel a bit sleepy with regard to his return then you might want to listen to this wake-up call.  Enjoy.

The Trumpet Call (The Shofar)

Peace in Christ,

David

I'm Sorry

I have an apology to make.  I have written for fifteen months (66 posts) and have reminded you (as the Lord has reminded me) that our man-made routines can often get in the way of seeing and hearing God.  For most of the last year I have diligently sought the Lord's direction for my posts and he has faithfully provided but I have begun to do what I wanted not to do. . . gotten mundane and predictable.  I'm sorry.


I started this post twice earlier today and both times realized that they were of me and not of God.  I believe they were scripturally true but were not what the Lord delivered today. Actually God didn't deliver anything today until He reminded me that I had been a hypocrite.  I preach fervently about following the lead of the Holy Spirit and the danger of wrought repetition.  I know that when we sit, stand, repeat the words on the screen, and follow the script we planned out days earlier and close our spiritual ears to the voice of God, we often fall short of all that God has for us.  So what have I done?  Just that.  I've written every Saturday morning at the same time.  I've pasted a neat little picture in the upper left hand corner and then hit "Publish".  I'm sorry.


I have urged people to spend more time praying and less time trying to plan and figure things out and my knees have lost their callouses.  I'm sorry.


I love God but I want to love him more.  I love people but want to love them more.  I hate sin but I want to hate it even more.  I like the world way too much.  I'm sorry.


Lord,


Refresh me and fill me to overflowing with your Spirit.  Humble me where I need humbling and show me grace where I have failed you.  


In Jesus name I pray, Amen




Grace, peace, and again I say, "I'm sorry"


David