What Time Is It? Wise-Time

John 17:1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come........"

Jesus was very much aware of his call and mission here on earth. He knew that He had a well-defined period of time in which to carry out the mandate given to Him by His Father. He made the most of His time. He did only what the Father instructed Him to do. He said only what the Father had given Him to say. His time was from the economy of heaven. No wasted effort. No wasted movement. No wasted time.

Now before you think I'm going to lecture you on how you spend your time, I'm not. Why? Because who am I that I should take on such a roll? I do, in my own personal life, have moments that are selfishly spent. I do have minutes and hours that are wasted on frivolous things. Does God keep tabs on my time? I don't know if He does or not. I do know that scripture says He has ordained all my days. He knows the number that I get to live out, but as far as the moment to moment of my day, I do believe that He cares.

This brings up another problem. 
My nature would be to fill it up with so called "religious" activity.
To run around "Doing" for God. It has always been my firm conviction that I should run around "Being" for God instead. To give myself to the task of being who the Holy Spirit is shaping me to be. Letting Him change my character by taking out the deeds of the flesh and replacing them with His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). The doing for Him becomes more effective because I am moving from a place of desire to carry out His call. In other words, if I am being who God wants me to be, then the doing for God will come natural, almost like second nature. 

John Wimber used a phrase that has been a model for the way I view life. 
He referred to life with God as being best lived when we seek out the radical middle.
Not living life in a hyper-spirituality....
Nor living it in oblivious to what God has called us to do...
But in the middle place of balance.
Balance to see souls brought into the kingdom and disciples made.
Balance to stop and watch a sunset with your family.
Balance to see the Power of God come down and heal someone as you have prayed healing on them....
Balance to laugh and play at the pool.
We all need to find that place of balance.
The Radical middle ground of life with Christ.
That's what I'm working on today.....

God on you....
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Simple As Falling Off The Proverbial Log

Psalm 115:1
I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.

"I love Jesus!"
"I love God!"
"I love the Holy Spirit!"
If you want to see some raised eyebrows, proclaim that during a conversation.
The one thing I hear over and over again is "How can you love someone you can't see?"
I pondered that for a while.
I tried to come up with some theological sounding answers. Those never work because it sounds like your trying to intelligent about something that has you stumped also.

So do you fall in love with this Jesus?
Simple.
By hanging out with Him, and with others who already have this love affair going on.
Really? It's that simple?
Yes, it is that simple.
Think about it....
Have you ever met someone, and you may not have even thought about falling in love with them, but the longer you were around them, you found yourself developing an affection for them? Same with Jesus.

You hang around where He likes to hang out. That would be with others who truly love to worship...
Others who truly love to study His word...
Others who truly love to see His Spirit move in their meetings....
You hang out with those folks.....and after a while, you'll find that you've started having these feelings for God. Why did you get these feelings? Because you made a choice to learn how to love.
That is what love truly is....a choice.
We choose to love.
Feelings follow choices in this case.

This relationship that we develop with Jesus is alive.
It changes and deepens as we grow in Him.
But it has to start somewhere and that is where most folks stay. They get saved and then they sit down. They don't pursue Jesus. They don't talk to Him. They don't listen for Him. They don't study His word. They simply receive His offer of salvation and then they quit. No wonder so many folks fall away from Jesus. It's kind of like the little boy who kept falling out of bed every night. His mother was questioning him about why this happened. His reply was, "I guess it's because I fall asleep right where I get into bed."  We fall out of the spiritual bed because we fall asleep right where we entered and do nothing to grow our love for Jesus.

If you make it your desire to love God, then you will.
And there will be evidence of this love that will come back to you. You will have a greater awareness and gratitude for the things that God does to you and for you.
At Vineyard Recovery Church, we are learning how to love God.
We are learning how to love the people around us.
And last, but certainly not least, we are learning how to love ourselves.
If Scripture is right, then as we are learning this concept of loving God, then that is true way to experience God Himself. 
In fact Jesus said that the entire Ten commandments and the prophets hang on this simple thought of loving God.
Now that is something to think about.

God on you...
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Peace And Love

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven.

Looking back over the years, God has blessed me to be a part of some pretty incredible communities of believers. People who were not satisfied to simply be a Christian, or to be a Church member, but wanted something more. Being a part of such groups tends to rub off on you. You see a group dynamic at work that is not bound by legalism, but flies free and unfettered in the wind of the Spirit.

Campus Crusade for Christ was the first group of folks I met who actually trusted me with God's key's to His Kingdom. They took me in and told me that I was part of the movement that was going to usher in a "Jesus Revolution". That we, young people, were not called to sit on the side lines watching, but were to become involved with loving others into a new relationship with Jesus. I started a Bible study with a group of young people from Emma Sansom High School. It was a scary time, simply because I felt like a babe in Christ myself, but it was also a training time for me. It put me into a place in the Kingdom where I had to study the word. More than that, it brought up a hunger to study God's word. Before that time, I thought daily readings and devotionals were all that were required of me. Campus Crusade planted seeds in me that have served me well over the years. Lessons and teachings that still resonate in me today. I am grateful to all the people who loved me enough to tell me that I could "do the stuff" that Jesus did.

Next came Christian Brothers....There another group of folks took me in and made me a part of their family. This time it was the music and the love that were forefront in movement. What music there was. Original tunes of God's love and Jesus' mercy....why original? Because what is now known as Contemporary Christian music was just being birthed. So there weren't any "Greatest Hits" at the time. Every song was new. Every song was about Jesus and our need for Him.  Brook Finlayson's "How Could You Be So Good"   spoke of the amazement and awareness that God could love us beyond measure. Thousands of songs would come from hundreds of singer/songwriters during this time. Little did we know that was turning the soil and planting the seeds that would produce worshipers and worship leaders. But God is like that, isn't He?

The other aspect of this time with Christian Brothers that truly stands out is the simple fact that the traditional church wanted nothing to do with us. We were not out to steal any one's children away from their home church. We wanted to provide a place where people could come and hang out. Pray for one another and spend some time with some really incredible music.  We wanted to be a vehicle that would provide a multi-day music festival along the lines of what Woodstock was. Only without 500,000 showing up. We would have welcomed 500,000 but I'm not sure we were ready to handle such a crowd. But the church saw us as a threat to the young of the community. The only church that truly supported us was Central United Methodist and Bro. George Creel. They provided funds and realized that we were kind of an off shoot of themselves since a number of the members of Christian Brothers were also members of Central. 

Today finds me a part of another family or community of believers who share a common call. A call to love and minister to those who are either in addiction or have started their journey in recovery. A common call fueled by an uncommon love has united us to move out to be the body of Christ in areas others are not comfortable in. God has given Vineyard Recovery some pretty incredible, loving people who desire to see God move in their own lives as well as others. That is what motivates me today....to see God's love manifested and shared with everyone we come in contact with. Those in addiction, their families and their friends...we want them all to meet this Jesus that we have met. We want them to understand that He can change their lives unlike anything else the world has to offer.

The 60's has been referred to as the "Peace and Love" generation. Well, the Beatles sang "All You Need Is Love" and then they broke up. Jesus did more than simply sing about it. He lived it...He died because of it...and defeated the power of death by it. I guess, in that regard, we still are the "Peace and Love" Generation. 
Groovy!

God on you..
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The JUDE Generation

Really good night at VRC. I've been feeling this urgency in my heart and mind for some time now. Haven't been able to define it or give language as to why I was feeling it. Not sure that I can now, but I have been shown something as to where we are headed.

God is using this next season to define not just those who make up VRC, but the whole community of recovery disciples as being a part of a JUDE generation. I've read the book of Jude many times, but never saw the connection between the life of someone in recovery and the 12th step of the Twelve Steps.

Verse 1 - Speaks of those who have been called. Specifically those who have answered the invitation to this new life outside the bondage of addiction. In my estimation, everyone is called, as seen in John 12:32 ( Jesus speaking - "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw ALL people to myself") .
Verse 1 goes on to speak of being separated, or sanctified, by God the Father. Just as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1 about himself being separated TO the gospel. When God separates us, it isn't as much from something, like addiction, as it is TO something. As I've said many times...."It does not work when you're running from something, such as your addiction, if you aren't running toward something, like recovery." 

So we see a people who are called.
A people who are set apart by God the Father.
And are now KEPT or PRESERVED in Jesus Christ. In other words, we become the living, breathing, walking around evidence that Jesus is who He claims to be and that His death and resurrection has created a new type of being who can live in the world, yet not be of this world.

Verse 3 tells us we are to contend earnestly for the faith. To contend---to fight----to protect---to exercise and use the faith that God has entrusted to each of us. Faith that is more than a religious term or phrase. Faith that is more than pretty words on a sunset picture. Truth be known...I'm not going to fight or contend for anything that I don't find value in. We have to realize the power of faith and the incredible privilege that God has given to us to possess such an attribute as faith. Faith has to have legs if it is going to do any good. Faith has to be used and extended toward Jesus if it is going to move us from where we are into a new dimension of living. Faith helps us to see beyond our current lot in life, and enables us to see God himself. 

Verse 20 - We are told that as beloved of God (Isn't that the most wonderful term you can think of? Being called THE BELOVED of God.) we are to build ourselves on our most holy faith. Here again, faith is the mortar/ cement that holds this whole relationship together. Faith binds me to God. Faith moves my feet and causes me to see things as God sees them. As far as I can make out, in this old life you are either building up.......or your tearing down. I think maybe Jude saw the same thing. That there isn't any Status Quo when it comes to living in Christ. Walking such a relationship is always about building up. It is always an upward movement. Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the goal for the prize of the UPWARD call of God In Christ Jesus. 

Now that we've addressed the inward change of this new way of living....
What's next?
We become the "rescue" generation.
We become the "Jude" generation.
Verse 22 - And on some have compassion, making a distinction. But others save them with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.   
Pulling people from the fires of hell.
Rescuing them from the all consuming fires of addiction.
Having a compassion and love for them, to the point that we can do nothing but rescue people.
This is what I believe is the call to Recovery Believer's from God.
You may say to yourself, "Well, hasn't that always been the call? Hasn't God always desired us to do live in this manner?" I guess I could say yes to your question. But I can't help if that is true, then why the urgency? Why does it burn on me to share this now? Could it be that this next season we will see an army.....a JUDE generation take this recovery rescue to a new level? I think maybe we will.

God on you....
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Is It Time?

Quotes From Leonard Ravenhill

"Lesser blessings make us happy. Another bus for Sunday school is all that some ask. A bigger attendance this year at Easter and Christmas elevates the joy of many promotion geared churches....Others boast in a bigger offering for missions.

But I warn you again that the devil and hell fear none of these paltry flesh-born goals. Revival alone shakes the devil's kingdom, breaks his power, robs him of eternal possessions, and releases his captives.

Out of revival alone springs a vanguard of men and women who will eagerly hazard their lives for His dear sake. Revival alone inspires people to carry oversized loads without a murmur, as did their Lord. People who will blaze new trails where souls by the Million now sin in darkness and the shadow of death."

"When we get humble enough...

and low enough...

and desperate enough...

and hungry enough....

and concerned enough...

and passionate enough...

and broken enough...

and clean enough ...

and prayerful enough...
THEN

God will send us a revival that equals and surpasses the 

awakening that was experienced in the days of Charles Finney."

What's Up With All Of This?

Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.........

The one thing you've got to love about the American/ Western church is the P.T. Barnum spirit it carries around. "Let's make it bigger and better! Let's build something that other's will take notice of (and secretly be jealous of us because we have got it going on). More flash....more bang....."we've got to win our share of the demographics (According to church growth guru's).  I've actually heard the "win our share of the demographic" come from the pulpit. It was spoken in the context of our church beating all the other so-called competition. The church in America has become a self-licking ice cream cone. Now don't confuse the church in America with the church that Jesus died for....the body of Christ. Just because you place a steeple on a building and meet on Sunday, that doesn't make you a church. The real church knows no buildings and isn't identified by their dogma or doctrine. The church of Jesus is known by their love for Christ and a passion to make disciples. Jesus never told us to "Go into all the world making converts of the nations." No! We are to make disciples. 

"You sound mad, Michael".
Well, I am.
I've spent the better part of my week talking with other people who have come (for whatever reason) to unload their emotions and anger against the church. I guess you the anger was more directed toward those who make up leadership within a church. I heard stories of manipulation....lying....misleading statements....division and gossip. Such behavior is hidden behind the robes and rituals of the word "church". Before you think me mad...I know that as long as there are people making up a congregation, there will be strife and division...shouldn't be, but there will be. Why? Because the church is comprised of three types of individuals.

1.) The true believer -  loves Jesus to the point that going to church does not comprise the majority of his relationship with Jesus. They are busy through the week helping others. Other's who actually don't darken the door of a church. They do this because they have a love that is pure and divine. They don't work and minister outside the church to draw others into their mix. They do it regardless of whether the ones they minister to every darken a door of a church. Contrary to western thought...Jesus did not go around ministering to the outsider, and when he finished smiled and said, "Hope to see you at synagogue this weekend.....we're going to have a pizza blast and give away prizes." The true believer recognizes the need for community and corporate worship. So within the church they belong to, they tend to gravitate toward others whose heart burns with this Jesus-love.

2.) The church member - These are the individuals who raise their home church and their denomination to a height that should never take place. To them, their church IS the Kingdom of God, rather than a place where the Kingdom will of God is exercised. They have a tendency to look at others who do not march under their denominational flag with great skepticism. Somehow they never have seen the multi-colored flag of the true body of Christ. They hold forth their dogma and doctrine as being the "real truth".  Some are just plain good folk who never saw the larger picture of the body of Christ. That it takes all the flavors of church to complete the understanding. "If you don't believe like we do...then you're not going to heaven."  I remember such a thought existing in the small community I grew up in. In fact, it existed within my own family. From an early age, I was taught that there was a group that met down in the cove and held a camp revival each year, and that I needed to stay away from them. They were different! They didn't believe like we did! Turn out that those renegade believers were from a cult that was called the Methodist Church. Sad isn't it? The church-member gives themselves totally to the structure that is called the church. Instead of connecting with the real life that can only come from God, they have somehow equated church service, and serving within the church, as being what the Kingdom God is truly all about. 

Last, but certainly not least.....
3.) The leadership of the church- This is a heavy title to carry around. One that certainly is not for every one. Whether it be deacon, elder, bishop, pastor, committee member...it carries with it a responsibility that should come directly from God. After all, it is His church, isn't it? In the American church, there is tendency to match up church jobs and duties with those who are seen as being qualified because of the jobs they hold in the workplace. If we have a finance group who oversee the monies of the church, then we need some bankers and investment people. Not much thought, time or prayer is given to seeking God for who He would want to fill rolls and duties. Once again, it is His church, isn't it? Then there is the ultimate roll! The ultimate job title! PASTOR! I don't think most people who answer a call to pastor are ever really equipped to be what people expect them to be. I guess that is the one thing I am grateful for about the Vineyard. John Wimber kind of did things backwards. Whenever someone would come to him and ask to be ordained, John would reply, "Go get the puppies and then I'll give you the papers." By this, he meant go show me that you can pastor then I'll give you the papers through ordination. John's philosophy was very simple. If you can pastor one person, then you can pastor 10. If you can pastor 10, then you can pastor a 100. Here again if you look to scripture to define the roll and duties of a pastor, you'll see that his only job (according to Ephesians 4:13) is for the equipping of the saints (the true followers of Jesus) for the work of ministry (service), for the edifying of the body of Christ. How many pastor's today are currently carrying out this mandate from Scripture? 

Let me say that I am in no way coming at this from a place of perfection.
Within myself, or within my own church......Vineyard Recovery Church. 
We are trying to live as a body of believers who are in touch with their own flaws, but are willing to lay them at the feet of Jesus and be healed. In other words, we are a work in progress. We are very much aware of our need for Christ, and the realization that this is His church. Our only mandate is to follow Him. If He wants to grow us in numbers, then He will show us what to do. I was listening to a tape (Yes Virginia, there are still cassette tapes out there) of Wimber teaching and he made a comment that would surely upset the church apple cart today....he said, "What if God doesn't want your church to grow? What if you are at the place and number that He wants?"  Now this is, in now way, a justification to excuse laziness, or an indictment against smaller churches. To me, it was a truth that not many want to look at. After all, it is His church. He said that unless He is allowed to build it, we who make up the members will labor in vain. Don't want to go there. 

I am constantly on guard within myself to not allow any influence into my spirit and heart that would motivate me to take the church away from Christ. To take it and run it in my own will, all the while attaching His name to my actions. Jesus died for it...He merely has entrusted me with a group of people who are hungry to know that He (Jesus) is real, and that He will do what He has promised He would. 

Thanks for letting me share this morning.
Please be in prayer for the Church.
God on you....
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Pure Freedom Beyond Our Comprehension

Romans 12:2
Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well formed maturity in you.

Isn't that really the heart of having a relationship with God?
Growing up?
Maturing in character?
Allowing the Holy Spirit, through out relationship with Jesus, to remove old patterns of sin and create a new way of living and interaction with the world?
I think maybe the answer is yes.
It isn't about our comfort in life. It isn't about our accumulation of "things" and "stuff".
(Side-note -  God doesn't mind you having "stuff" and "things"....He just doesn't want "Stuff" and "things" to have you).
It's about allowing the economy of heaven to come down and infiltrate every part of your being and your daily life.
That is the change that takes place when we come to the end of ourselves.

Now the funny part in all of this, that old way of living....that old way of thinking, will come back from time to time and try and get through the door to take up residence inside us. IT will come in the form of a single thought....maybe a memory....could even come in the form of an old so called "friend" we use to run with. Small talk between us and that so called old friend carries with it a deadly seed of destruction. It stirs us to romanticize about the old days. It's amazing the power that the human mind has in reconstructing those old memories. When that old nature we use to possess prior to meeting Jesus gets behind a thought, it will turn it into some of the most glorious times of our life. Never mind the pain that was created through out actions. The old sin nature will hide that from view. All we remember is the euphoria of using. Never mind being locked up for extended periods of time. Never mind going through detox while being locked up. Note to self -  Law enforcement and jail time do not make for sympathetic situations when you are detoxing.  

As the Romans 12:2 passage states, we don't allow ourselves to be shaped and driven by the examples  the world around us puts out there. 
Galatians 5:1 reads: Christ has set us free to live a free life. SO take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. In other words, if you have moved into this new life with Jesus, then get a back bone and fight for it. There are forces and demonic spirits that want to draw you back into the darkness. They will come with smooth sounding words coming from honey dripping lips. They will seek to stir up the old passions and desires...you remember them don't you? It's the same passions and desires that started all this mess in the first place. The Galatians verse begins with a declaration of the greatest truth ever ----"Christ Has Set Us Free To Live A Free Life!" 
Free from the destruction of addiction.
Free from the darkness and isolation that sin sought to cover us with.
Free from the penalty of sin...
Free from the power of sin....
Free from the presence of sin....
All of this accomplished by the Strong Hand of Love covering us by our Heavenly Father.






God on you...
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