Last time, I wrote about my disillusionment with the worldly systems of thinking. Basically, our natural tendency is to learn how to "play the game" of the worldly system of thinking. The worldly ways of thinking produce a "survival of the fittest" mentality that go completely opposite of Heavenly wisdom.
However, God has given us an "out" from this type of thinking. Many well-known (and lesser known) Christian saints have talked about the value of detachment from the world. The quickest way to do this as followers of Jesus, is to spend ourselves on behalf of the poor of the earth (who cannot possibly return the favor in the natural).
God gives some incredible promises to those who will spend themselves for the sake of bringing the Gospel to the poor. Isaiah 58 links spending ourselves on behalf of the poor to the revelation of God's glory and healing. Luke 4:18-19 and other passages directly ties the anointing to spending ourselves for the poor.
Other passages such as James 2, 2 Corinthians 8-9 and Hebrews 11 talk about spending ourselves on the poor related building and exercising prevailing faith. Most of all, radically giving ourselves like this deeply touches God's heart.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A love-hate relationship...
The last few days have been really painful and difficult for me. A large amount of anger has been coming up towards various people, things etc. - I've been asking God, where it was all coming from.
The answer I got surprised me: "The cause of your bitterness towards Me is worldly thinking and love of worldly systems."
James 4:4-5 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend with the world becomes an enemy of God."
How does the worldly system of thinking work?
1.) Those who are the most talented, the most beautiful, the most intellectually gifted, the strongest, the fasted, that have special "gifts", have the most wealth, political power, and the most charismatic, are the most important people (VIP's or 'very important people'). Everyone else is just common.
2.) The criteria is corporately as humanity, we value those we can gain the most from. Meanwhile, everyone else is irrelevent. As long as we can gain from these "special people", they are valuable.
3.) When we can no longer corporately gain happiness or something else from them, we will dispose of them and find someone else to please us.
4.) For those in power: "I WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH to stay in power, wealth, and honor (If there is a way for me to stay in power, honor, wealth). The moral laws of humanity no longer apply to me because staying at the top is the most important (even if it means breaking the rules)." This includes a willingness to consult with illegal spiritual activity (occult, demonic, religious activity) if I can get an advantage.
5. For those without power: "I will fight my way to the top (or survive) at others expense if need be." This includes a willingness to consult with illegal spiritual activity (religious activity, occult, demonic)if I can get an advantage. This also includes a willingness to trample or change the righteousness standards to go forward!
Unfortunately, this system of thinking has infiltrated the Body of Christ. We put those who are the most charismatic leaders, supernaturally gifted, and naturally talented on platforms (and give them much money, honor, political power and influence) while not appreciating others like this who are not on the platform. Then we wonder why people on platforms fall into scandelous sin.
This is the worldly way of thinking that justifies:
1.) Billions of people in grinding poverty or under oppressive governments (or both).
2.) The Genocide in Darfur.
3.) The ruling Junta Generals who have closed Myanmar off from others who wish to help because they are afraid they may lose their ability to oppress others.
4.) Kim Jung Il's mistreatment of millions in North Korea.
5.) A Hindu Caste system in India that treats hundreds of millions of people like trash.
6.) Even for "the winners" of this worldly system, emptiness and pain as reported from the testimony of a friend ministering in Hollywood.
7.) Hostility to the Gospel of the Kingdom in Jesus Christ all over the earth putting billions at risk of perishing in the fires of hell forever?
Why is there still ANY love in me for a system of thinking that justifies stuff like this?
"GOD HELP!"
The answer I got surprised me: "The cause of your bitterness towards Me is worldly thinking and love of worldly systems."
James 4:4-5 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend with the world becomes an enemy of God."
How does the worldly system of thinking work?
1.) Those who are the most talented, the most beautiful, the most intellectually gifted, the strongest, the fasted, that have special "gifts", have the most wealth, political power, and the most charismatic, are the most important people (VIP's or 'very important people'). Everyone else is just common.
2.) The criteria is corporately as humanity, we value those we can gain the most from. Meanwhile, everyone else is irrelevent. As long as we can gain from these "special people", they are valuable.
3.) When we can no longer corporately gain happiness or something else from them, we will dispose of them and find someone else to please us.
4.) For those in power: "I WILL FIGHT TO THE DEATH to stay in power, wealth, and honor (If there is a way for me to stay in power, honor, wealth). The moral laws of humanity no longer apply to me because staying at the top is the most important (even if it means breaking the rules)." This includes a willingness to consult with illegal spiritual activity (occult, demonic, religious activity) if I can get an advantage.
5. For those without power: "I will fight my way to the top (or survive) at others expense if need be." This includes a willingness to consult with illegal spiritual activity (religious activity, occult, demonic)if I can get an advantage. This also includes a willingness to trample or change the righteousness standards to go forward!
Unfortunately, this system of thinking has infiltrated the Body of Christ. We put those who are the most charismatic leaders, supernaturally gifted, and naturally talented on platforms (and give them much money, honor, political power and influence) while not appreciating others like this who are not on the platform. Then we wonder why people on platforms fall into scandelous sin.
This is the worldly way of thinking that justifies:
1.) Billions of people in grinding poverty or under oppressive governments (or both).
2.) The Genocide in Darfur.
3.) The ruling Junta Generals who have closed Myanmar off from others who wish to help because they are afraid they may lose their ability to oppress others.
4.) Kim Jung Il's mistreatment of millions in North Korea.
5.) A Hindu Caste system in India that treats hundreds of millions of people like trash.
6.) Even for "the winners" of this worldly system, emptiness and pain as reported from the testimony of a friend ministering in Hollywood.
7.) Hostility to the Gospel of the Kingdom in Jesus Christ all over the earth putting billions at risk of perishing in the fires of hell forever?
Why is there still ANY love in me for a system of thinking that justifies stuff like this?
"GOD HELP!"
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
long time since I've written.
Well, it is day 16 of the 40 days of fasting and consecration at IHOP-KC. Recently, I have been gathering together all of my experiential knowledge related to the prophetic gift and ministry. I have experiences mostly at level 1 and level 2 (and some experience at level 3) but I need that breakthrough in God to begin walking out level 3 or greater in a sustained manner.
Anyway, the fast so far has been about wrapping our face in the mantle of God's name. In layman's terms, its about rooting our identity, our self-worth, our honor, and value who God says about you. This is key to breaking the spirit of confucianism in Asia and releasing the forerunner spirit that will finish the great commission and bring the gospel back to Jerusalem.
Other than the fast, the season is probably TOO EASY in terms of lack of demands on my life. However, there are DIFFICULT circumstances to deal with:
1. The death of Teresa Olson, a personal friend key intercessor at BPLC and in the Twin Cities area.
2. I'm out of position service-wise to walk out my destiny in terms of service position that justifies strategic-level spiritual warfare actions.
3. Dealing with the confucian backlash... yuk! (Possible backlash after a powerful time serving a group from Egypt with some breakthrough reported.)
Underlying the whole thing, God is challenging me over the whole issue of humility. I wrote last blog that God is requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility on my life...the type that is not attainable by living a sustained Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle alone. UGGGHHH.
Anyway, the fast so far has been about wrapping our face in the mantle of God's name. In layman's terms, its about rooting our identity, our self-worth, our honor, and value who God says about you. This is key to breaking the spirit of confucianism in Asia and releasing the forerunner spirit that will finish the great commission and bring the gospel back to Jerusalem.
Other than the fast, the season is probably TOO EASY in terms of lack of demands on my life. However, there are DIFFICULT circumstances to deal with:
1. The death of Teresa Olson, a personal friend key intercessor at BPLC and in the Twin Cities area.
2. I'm out of position service-wise to walk out my destiny in terms of service position that justifies strategic-level spiritual warfare actions.
3. Dealing with the confucian backlash... yuk! (Possible backlash after a powerful time serving a group from Egypt with some breakthrough reported.)
Underlying the whole thing, God is challenging me over the whole issue of humility. I wrote last blog that God is requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility on my life...the type that is not attainable by living a sustained Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle alone. UGGGHHH.
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