Sacrifice

If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I usually post a new blog after a gathering. Of course, this shifts from time to time and I post at a random point. BUT, you guessed it, we just came from a POWERFUL POWERFUL gathering. Honestly? It was definitely unique…at least for me. I’ve spent the past 6 years of my life running with this ministry, both on the platform and off the platform (for a period of time), and I feel like I am just not getting it…what God is doing. Now, don’t take that wrongly. That doesn’t mean I was faking it in the past or what not, but as I sat on the stage and watched youth groups pray for their cities, something truly gripped my heart. I kept going back to a sermon Damon preached YEARS ago about us being blacksmiths…people who were willingly to stay in a fiery, hot, dirty place to make weapons for warriors. Now, that’s intense language, I know. However, it’s fitting due to the state of things in the nation right now. It truly is a war. Our greatest weapon? Him. His blood. His cross. His Spirit. Him. I mean, what else compares to the God who says that He holds the stars in His hands and knows them each by name? I still think we need a revelation on how big God is. I..emphasize I, need a revelation.

So here we are, in a war. The thing about my generation? We love being apart of something that will bring about change, and we don’t want to do it alone. So for us, for me, the average, every day man who works a forty hour a week job, who has bills to pay, who tries to keep a social life (despite my awkwardness, haha), who really loves Jesus, how do I start this whole thing? YOU simply burn. YOU simply become a person given over the will, knife, and plan of God. The Lord has been speaking to me lately about Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac. It’s a pretty darn intense story when think about it. God asking a father to literally sacrifice his son. Can you imagine the psychological and emotional affects Abraham must have been enduring while walking with Isaac and his other guys? What in the world.

Anyways, here’s the thought, Abraham laid Isaac on the altar. But that wasn’t enough. It wasn’t until Abraham lifted up his knife, probably in anguish, despair, yet having faith in YHWH, that God saw, was pleased, and intervened with a ram. I think we’re pretty good at putting things on an altar in a moment. We go to conference, or even seek God in prayer, and in a moment we hear and know that Jesus has called us to cut away some things…..not to be mean, not to be domineering, but because He knows that it will eventually destroy unnecessary weights that hinder us from running with all our guts and fulfilling purpose. So we lay it down…and that’s it. However, I believe God is looking for a knife wielding people. Those who will lay it down publicly, but will do what it takes behind closed doors.

That’s what Abraham did. The story says, Genesis 22, that two servants came with Abraham. I’m pretty sure they weren’t dumb. Abraham was carrying everything necessary for a sacrifice. However, they PROBABLY didn’t know WHAT was being sacrificed. So you see, people may see that something is happening, but only you can truly kill it in a secret place. We’ve got to have the heart that says we will do whatever it takes. And you know where that comes from? Seeing Him. I believe that’s what made Abraham so obedient, the fact that He knew the One who was speaking to Him. When your eyes and ears are attuned, your face set like flint, you just do whatever it takes. I’ve been reading a book entitled The Imitation of Christ by a monk named Thomas a Kempis (he lived a LONG time ag0). He wrote something I loved. He said, “Who wages a stronger battle than he labors to overcome himself? And it should be our daily desire to overcome ourselves, so that we may be made stronger in spirit and go daily from better to better.”

So, one, I’m not telling to go engage in human sacrifice. However, you are both Abraham and Isaac. You are the wielder of the knife and the offering that is pleasing unto God. I, along with you, am simply asking for such a grace for faith and a heart of obedience….and just more revelation of Him that will lead me to do, lay do, witness to, pray for, fast for, etc. etc. whatever He wants.

Making HIM happy is the goal. Let’s do whatever it takes….

Reach

I was a HUGE S Club 7 fan growing up. For those who don’t know, the band was comprised of four girls and three guys that sang together. They were HUGE around the world, but failed to gain a significant following in America…which was sad. Anyways, they had their own show on ABC Family. Woo. They had a song that talked about reaching for the stars.  It was cheesy. But I loved it. Secretly, I wanted to find two other guys and four girls in my grade that would become the next generation of S Club. but it never happened. Sad day, huh? Anyways, that’s a little look into my history of wanting to perform. It truly has nothing to do with this blog. Or maybe it might. Give it a moment and we’ll see….

We had another incredible Gathering this past weekend. Of course, and I think I have said this before on here, I have never left a Gathering saying, “Man. That was horrible and/or average.” He just comes, which in itself is an amazing thing. It reminds of of David saying, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him…” in Psalm 8. He really does care about us, and wants to be found by us…which is the purpose of this blog.

On Friday, a couple of hours before the first service, I got on Facebook to catch everything up. I saw that I received a message from my amazing Grandmother. She was talking about seeing the team dance on TV and how far the Lord had brought me. It was all very encouraging. She also reminded me of some things that happened when I was a child. You see, I wasn’t raised in a “Christian” environment like most southern people. We didn’t go to church, didn’t really associate with “saved people, etc. When I was ten, however, my mom got rocked by the Lord, radically saved, delivered, filled with the Holy Ghost. All of it. It was amazing. I can still remember. Anyways, we would go to church, and all the people would be dancing and lifting their hands. She reminded me of asking question after question about the expressions of worship.

Here’s the kicker. I can remember thinking, “These people are worshiping Jesus. They must have their hands raised so they can touch Him.” So, I would go into worship on Sunday mornings reaching as hard as I could to touch Him. I wanted to worship and touch God. It was such an awesome thought to be reminded of going into the Gathering. I kept saying it over and over in each service, “I just want to worship and touch You!” It all synced together with a verse I had been reading all this week. In 1 John 1:1-3, it says, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life- and the life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and was manifested to us- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” It’s always been interesting to me that John makes it known that he had seen, heard, and interacted with Jesus on a real level. It wasn’t metaphorical. It wasn’t symbolic. He really did.

Jesus wants to be found my us. It’s the bottom line. He wants to be seen by us. To be heard by us. For us to touch His heart. Why is that such a radical concept to us? It’s a complete 180 from the norm of the church. Conferences, services, etc. are put on for the sole fact of people getting what they need. And that’s not bad. It’s not sin. Many are necessary. However, what if we had those special Gatherings, services, whatever you want to call them, that were for the SOLE purpose of touching Him? When did He stop being enough?

It’s a frustrating thought. It doesn’t get me frustrated at other people, but at myself. There are so many tangents I can go on with this, but I think you get the point. Let’s be a people out to worship Him. To love Him…..just because it’s Him. How radical a thought.

Lord, give us a revelation of You.

Love

Simply amazing. I don’t know two better words to describe what this Summer has been. Between the Gatherings, this Finishing Season, being back on the team, and millions (exaggerated, I know) of other things, I just stand in awe of Jesus. He is simply faithful. I actually type that lower-case, but the Word declares Him to be named both Faithful AND True (Revelation 19:11). Therefore, faithful isn’t just an adjective describing His constant nearness to us, which Psalms says is our good (Psalm 73:28), but it’s who He is. It’s just in His nature, along with the many other names that have been attributed to Him this side of eternity. Who knows what we’ll see once were outside our finite mind and forever in heaven with Him. It’s exciting to think about! **Interjection** One of my best friends, Zach  Avery (everyone should go add him on Facebook) wanted me to say hello to everyone. He is a fellow brother on Chosen, and one of the smartest people….ever. He had his wisdom teeth pulled today, so he’s in and out  of reality.

As usual, I wanted to share what Holy Spirit has been speaking to me. He is so open to speak. I’m learning more and more than it’s us that’s just  not open and/or available to hear. This blog is about a subject that has been written about more than ay other topic. It’s had more songs sung about it. It’s had more debate surrounding it. It’s love. Pure and simple love. And not the love that can be generated by our human emotions. I want to find foundation for all this in that simple statement. This love I’m going to be writing about isn’t our love. His love is not our love. His definition is so much more vast and complicated, yet perceived, with Holy Spirit’s help, by the darkest of sinners who call on Him in their time of repentance.

I want to love people. I’m tired of being content feeling above those I deem “spiritually lost” or “not as on fire” as I. It’s so easy to do. I daresay that nearly, if not every, person reading this can recall a time in worship, prayer, church, etc. where you look at a certain individual and feel inwardly justified because you know you’re doing so much better than that person. You know where they are. You know what they’ve done, or are doing. And here you are, loving God. And yet, Jesus warns us of such mentality in Luke 18:9-14. We all have heard some sort of sermon on it. And yet, too easily we find ourselves sitting in the position of the Pharisee. We trust too much in our righteous deeds. I never want to forget that it’s only by, through, and with Jesus that I live, move, and have my being (Acts 17:28) 

I’ve been stuck in the book of 1 John for a few days now. I’ve simply been reading it over and over…sometimes as a whole, and sometimes chapter by chapter. It’s just an important book of the Bible, as they all are, to understand correctly. If we don’t, we just obscure everything that writer says twist it to fit our complacent position. Ok. I wanted to share a specific passage, however, to encourage us as believers. 1 John 4:7-14 says,  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit. We have seen and  testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  A lot to read, I know. But I love those passages! I’m sure many of you recognize a couple of them at least. However, one that always stuck out was the random interjection in verse 12 that no one has seen God at any time. Wait a minute. We’re talking about God being love, and abiding in Him, and Jesus came into the Earth for us…..and BAM! no one has seen God. Oh thanks for that John, we remember that He said that to Moses back in the book of Exodus.

Of course, we understand that John put that in there for a reason. Here, in my heart, is why. The two main themes we find in the book of 1 John is that God is light and God is love. Again, as we started out saying, it’s just who He is. We are very prone to simply advancing this light aspect of God’s nature. Think about it. Nothing hides from light. It’s not possible. And that’s just naturally speaking for us. Imagine the light that come from HIM. Jeez. Revelation 22 makes a small reference to it. However, we cannot emphasize of gospel of light if we’re not ready to be filled and exude the gospel of love. I think that’s why that interjection is there. No one has seen God, John says. Then there’s a semicolon.  Could it be, as the scripture is showing, that though no one has seen God, if we love one another, God abides in us, and then can be seen through us?  After all, Jesus DID say that the world would know that we are Christians by our love for one another (John 13:35) . We get to be the manifestation of His eternal love  for mankind, and through that, release the light of the Gospel that dispels of sin. It reminds me of Jesus going to the demoniac of the Gadarenes. Someone, or some people, placed that man there, actually chained him. And yet here comes Jesus. By the end of the story, with light and love, the man is found sitting at Jesus’ feet fully clothed and in his right mind.

Even as I’ve been writing, I’ve been asking myself, “Why this blog now?” Simple answer. Many of you work secular jobs. Most are going back to high school or college, are about to start it. Let’s set ourselves to TRULY manifest His love in the Earth, by loving each other, and by loving Him. Of course, this practical application of learning to love is sitting at the feet of the one who is Love. People try and try, especially in ministry, to love without having ANY consistent relationship with Jesus. It’s simply impossible. Sure, some people will feel accepted, but will they encounter LOVE? It’s how the homosexual is going to get delivered. How the suicidal will be saved. How the lost will see Him. You’re the way. I’m the way. It’s simply how He wants to do it, so let’s prepare.

I love you guys. (haha, love)