Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 9

It was just over a year ago when we were at the beginning stages of opening the Onething Prayer Center and I was waiting for God to speak to Ann Marie about what we were to embark on. I won't share the story but I will share the outcome because God continues to show up and remind us often of the word He sent to her for us to confirm what He desired for us to do. When I say desired for us to do I do not mean that it was a thus saith the Lord. It was more like choice that we had to make. First he laid out what was before us, what we could do. But it was if He said " you can do this, but don't do it if you can't do this." I guess it would be easier to understand if I share what He gave us. The way this word came was a God story for another day. The relevant part for today is that it came.

Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus says the LORD: “ Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “ But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

Where is the house you will build for Me? And where is the place of My rest? These two questions were being posed to us. They came on the heels of a previous word from God which has a God story as well but is for another time. The word was Isaiah 54:1-6 Spread Out! Think Big! "Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth!You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women." God says so!"Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.You're going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family.You're going to take over whole nations; you're going to resettle abandoned cities.Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed. Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short.You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth, and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.For your Maker is your bridegroom, his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, known as God of the whole earth.You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief, and God welcomed you back,Like a woman married young and then left," says your God.

Spread out! Think big! Anything we were going to do would have satisfied that. We were both unemployed within moments. We had no prospects for doing anything else other than serving out the rest of our lives with this ministry we had served for the past 4 years. Spread out what? We had nothing. Spread out nothing? Think big! Now that was no problem as I have always been a big picture, big thinker type person. But the word established the grounds upon which I was to think big.

I see there is no way to make sense of any of this without more detail so I leave off here with me thinking on the words "Spread out! Think big." No..... this recalling is not about me, these words are for someone who is reading this. Someone who needs direction or encouragement to go for it, whatever that is for you as an individual. Spread out! Think big! Says Your God!

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 8

As I was reading all of Philippians 2 it was as though I was being asked questions by God. The conversation goes something like this.

Ed have you gotten anything at all out of following Me? Ed if My love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then Ed... do me a favor: Agree with others, love others, be a deep-spirited friend. Ed, don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Ed forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand.
Ed I want you to think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus My Son thought of himself. He had equal status with Me but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. Ed, when the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. Ed.... it was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. Ed, because of that obedience, I lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before My Son Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of Me the Father.

Humbling Process....... Ed... it is not in your own strength, for it is Me Who is all the while effectually at work in you (humbling you), both to will and to work for My good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 7

My outer collapses take place because my inner strength cannot sustain them.

Philippians 2:13 -14 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

These verses give me a clear picture of the degree of inner strength I have. It's also clear that grumbling, faultfinding, complaining, questioning and doubting are not God's will and doing them does not bring Him pleasure, satisfaction and delight.

It is so easy to get into form and function in our everyday lives of Christian living. It becomes even easier when working in ministry as an occupation. For over a year I have come to this incredible place called Onething Prayer Center. It is a place of rest, refreshing and restoration. The presence of God can overwhelm you at times. You would think that I would spiritually be in such an incredibly different place from last year.

Yet as I take inventory, I am afraid that is not the case. Last year I did a 40 day fast that I believe prepared me for what was to come. I felt physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in tune. The best I can remember. I followed that with doing three day fasts each month. I was carrying my Bible with me everywhere and marking scriptures that the Spirit would draw me to constantly. I marked my Bible more in the first three months of our new endeavor in creating a 24/7 prayer room than in the previous three years combined. Television was almost nil as Ann Marie and I searched for intimacy with the Father.

But all that was last year. This year during the same time period, no 40 day fast and no monthly fasts. No Bible with me where ever I go. In fact it has pretty much become form and function to use it between the hours from 7 and 10am as I do this blog. Television has crept back into my routine and captivates probably more hours now than it did prior to giving it up last year. I must admit that I grumbled, and complained to God and to others far less then, than I do today. I had less questions and doubted far less about who God is and who I am.

I have a saying, "Garbage in, garbage out." Inner strength is slipping away from me. I see why the Spirit is leading me back to this familiar revelation from two years ago. Nothing like a self evaluation to open your eyes to reality. The outer collapses.... or perceived outer collapses, have become the focus of my thoughts and discussions. It appears that Inner strength has somehow been left to form and function and thus has become just that..... form and function.

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 6

There is a great danger of just pulling out a single verse and using it to make your point or to express a conviction. What can happen is that you end up making a truth the truth. Yesterday I used Philippians 2:13 as one of my favorite verses. Verse 13 is just that, 13th. What did verses one, two, three, four etc. have to say? And what about verse 14 and fifteen etc.?

Okay... so what does verse 14 say? Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves],

I had to ask! Do all things! Some things would be easier and a few things would be more realistic of my life. If you would ask me, I'd tell you that I'm not a big grumbler, faultfinder or complainer but truth be told I do my fair share. Questioning, I do more than my fair share which you already know if you have read my blogs for any length of time. And doubting.......... can I say I'm cautious verses doubting?

Isn't grumbling, faultfinding and complaining all the same thing? It sure would sound better if I was guilty on one count verse three counts. I really do believe verse 13, that it is not in my own strength but that it is God who is all the while. But obviously believing is not enough. If it were then wouldn't my life be oozing with thanksgiving in all things. Again, this is one of my favorite verses. I speak it often. No, there is more than just believing words on a page even if they are the words of God written in the Bible.

Grumbling - an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy; discontented mood

Faultfinding - tending to make moral judgments or judgments based on personal opinions;

Complaining - to express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

Questioning - a subject or point open to controversy;

Doubting - lack of trust.

Well there you have it! Can I just make small comments about each of these? Of course I can it's my blog. It's my mind that does the grumbling. In my heart there is contentment most of the time. Faultfinding, well... I was going to say that they are not my personal opinions but the moral judgements of the word, but.... I won't say that. Complaining just comes easy. I am really easy going and my inner being is not much for complaining but my outer being too often indulges in it just for the sake of conversation. Sometimes it's just to play devils advocate. Bad! I know.

I said it was more than just believing right? Here are the practical applications. Each one is a different color so you can see what's required easily.

Romans 12:1-2 So here's what I want you to do, GOD HELPING YOU: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 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.

Clear and precise actions. and then.... "You'll be changed from the inside out. God brings the best OUT OF YOU!"

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 5

My outer collapses take place because my inner strength cannot sustain them.

Okay enough of the outer collapses part. It's time to look at the inner strength side. My inner strength is nothing. I am like Paul when it comes to inner strength. I do the things I don't want to do and don't do the things I do want to do. The only inner strength that I have is from the Father. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 2:13 Amp. [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

While David would cry out things like, "My strength comes from you O God" He would also commit adultery and murder. And God was okay with it. He refers to David as a man after God's own heart. To me that speaks volumes about God. He is not looking at the outer collapses of David but at the inner strength of a man who in spite of the outer collapses always turned back to God. While we all know the outer collapses of David we know better the stories of his inner strengths. The lion, the bear, Goliath and so on.

In the western world we are so consumed with the outer. Even some churches require "the look" in order to be on staff or on the stage for a service. God apparently is looking beyond skin deep. On your own you can read all of I Corinthians 29:16-18 but I wanted to share one line from it. I know, dear God, that you care nothing for the surface—you want us, our true selves—and so I have given from the heart, honestly and happily.

Three more verses that reference God looking at the inner strength of a mans heart, intentions and attitudes.

Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

It would appear that some of my outer collapse opportunities may come as test of my heart. As a thermometer or measuring stick of how much inner strength I really have and...... where does it come from. I can be a pretty self sufficient person. It's great to say Philippians 2:13 is a favorite verse but is that because it sounds good to my ears or is it because I believe it in my heart?

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

A little scary when you think about it. God being the He, will bring to light, not may bring to light, but will as sure as I will die some day, what is hidden in darkness, darkness inside me, and will expose the motives of my heart. My first thought is, will He do that in private or will it be public? Then I realize that it should not matter if "To Him I have committed my cause."

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The word of God, living and active inside of me. Not just some words on a piece of paper and certainly not some memorization exercise to give me more knowledge. Words of life, words that are active. Words that are effectually at work IN ME. Creating and energizing in me the power and desire! Both to will and work!

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 4

This weekend I saw the original commercial where the words "Instant Gratification" caught my attention. It was for a car. It went something like this. If you don't like your car - you can get another one. If you don't like you wife - you can get another one And so you get the idea that you should enjoy everything you have and if not change it out for another one. It's a disposable mentality. Use it and dispose of it.

I have owned many new cars in my life and I can tell you from experience that the newness, the joy, the satisfaction wears off quickly, along with the new car smell. There have been times when I wanted my new car smell to last longer, so I would go to a car wash that offered fresheners and I would always ask for the new car smell. I did that on the last car we bought and after it was done, man did I regret doing it as the smell was anything but new care. It was more like nursing home and I couldn't wait for it to be gone. The most gratification that I have ever gotten from a car was the day I paid cash for one or the day I paid one off. NO CAR PAYMENT brings true happiness. We didn't have one for 20 years and then being convinced that we deserved a new car because of what we told ourselves was previous sacrifice, I am now unhappy with the payment I am struggling to make. It is not, I repeat, it is not, that God is not providing all my needs or that I am not walking in faith or calling into being whatever. I simply had to have the new car and now even though circumstances and employment have changed for both Ann Marie and I, we must still make the payments. The borrower is truly servant to the lender.

This idea that if your not happy with what you have, then replace it is dangerous. It has in my opinion been some of the problems of the church. If you don't like what the pastor said or did, remove him. Or go somewhere else, after all there's a church on every corner. If where you're going doesn't keep up with the programs that you want for your kids go somewhere that does. No this or that, find it elsewhere. And really, if God doesn't met your needs when, where and how you think He should, simply find another god. Don't be shocked, it's been going on for years.

Parents chose many of the worlds things in exchange for God things. Sorry can't do a small group because Johnny's soccer games are that night. Can't go to the prayer meeting before service because Jane's dance class is at that time. When those kids grow up and soccer is long forgotten and dance is a distant memory there will be no reason to ask why they are not interested in God. The answer is simple... a different god was chosen. Some will think this is cruel, harsh, judgemental but I do not intend for it to be. I do intend it to be honest. Ann Marie and I had to make those choices with our children. We chose God and even though our son did not even start playing football until his junior year of high school he was a starter on his college team for all four years and made All American. Today he is a growing man of God and while football is still of interest it is not the ruling factor. So what did he miss out on as a child by not doing all the little leagues? Most kid's are never going to make a living by what they do in childhood sports or activities. They may just need some of that prayer time or family value teaching time that was left out to do the things of the world.

Instant Gratification. In an instant you receive what you want and in the next instant it is gone.

Outer Collapse - Inner Strength Part 3

My OUTER collapses take place because my INNER strength cannot sustain them.

Build on the Rock

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

To get a simpler picture of this parable I am going to look at it in the Message Bible.

"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

I think that while the Message presents a clear picture it misinterprets a portion of what Jesus was saying. Quote "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life. homeowner improvements to your standard of living. Remember back a few days ago when I read the verse that said, "The church is not peripheral to the world"? Well that's what Jesus is saying so plainly here. He says, "Ed, what I have you doing is not just a homeowner improvement to yours or anybody else's standard of living." He goes on to say, "They are foundational words, words to build a life on." My mind immediately focused on the word foundation. In America foundations are made from concrete. So I went to the Internet and read much of what it said about concrete and how it's made. I began intermingling foundation, concrete and God into one illustration SO THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. But I began to hear, "WRONG!" Wrong? Yes wrong! I recalled the first thing I read about concrete. "Too much water reduces concrete strength, while too little will make the concrete unworkable." If I was going to compare God to concrete I'd have to resolve this issue of to much water/God reduces the strength, while too little makes it/God unworkable. Okay, wrong. To say that God is concrete is limiting God. Concrete does not just hang out there suspended in air. It rests upon ground. And the ground rest upon gravity etc., etc.

Then Jesus says according to the Message, "If you work these words into your life." STOP! WRONG!! This is where I think the writer of the Message missed it. We are not to work the word into our life. That says to me home improvement. I've tried that for most of my life. I believe what Jesus was saying and still is today is that we are to work our lives into the word. "The world is peripheral to the church." Not, "the church is peripheral to the world."

Let me see if I can summarize this quickly. If I am to work the word into my life that means that my life is the constant and the word is variable. But if I work my life into the word, well... then the word is the constant and life is the variable. If life is the constant and I add a little word here and there when I feel like it, is it any wonder that I get a roller coaster ride. But... if the word is the constant the absolute then I am an heir to the word which includes my Father's love, and grace. Life can be more consistent because the word is consistent and the Father is consistent. I'm not presenting a perfect life. It's not without trials and tribulations. It's not without effort. But it is contsistant because of who He is. I always have access to His love and am always adorned with His grace.