Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A Glorious Church VS a Laborious Church

This article BY DARIN HUFFORD is very good and very true in a lot of cases. I really, really encourage you to read it all. Catch the heart of the author. Its NOT a call for rebellion to break out, but a pointing back to Jesus and the simple REALITY that our UNION with HIM affords every believer!!
Father wants us to be OURSELVES! This is where Kingdom adventures are found....




“My wife and I made a decision about two and a half years ago that we were going to stop going to the “Institutional church”. We did not come to this conclusion through bitterness caused by church, we simply made a decision based on things that we had seen and personally felt for years but were (until that time) unwilling to admit. When I say “church” I am not talking about the Church Universal. I’m talking about the institution of church that we know today.

For the most part I think “church” is a business. In fact, many churches readily and openly admit that. I have a difficult time believing that what we know of “church” today is at all what Christ had in mind. It’s become a play. Worse than that; it’s become a rerun of a play. And yet even worse, it’s become a rerun of a play, lead by hijackers.

Someone somewhere along the line got the idea of putting on a “play” for people and calling it church. The spectators sit quietly waiting for the performance to begin. Each week they start with colorful music and someone leads them in four or five songs. Then the spectators sit down and wait for the announcements. Once that’s finished, the spectators are encouraged to give money to the “playhouse”. Then the spectators sit quietly and listen to a guy stand up and tell them what God is saying.

When he finishes, all the spectators file out the door, pick up their children and head for home. On the way home they discuss the play. How the worship team did, how the Pastor preached and so on. Seven days later, they return and experience it all over again.

I call it a “rerun” of a play because if you have been to church for three years or more, that’s exactly what it is.

They basically quit filming new episodes, and are now playing the spectators reruns of old episodes. It’s the same thing every week. Perhaps this is why Christ’s ministry was only three years.

After that, He would only be repeating Himself. Other than a new song here and there, everything else is pretty much the same. The Pastor reminds you that “Christ took the nails for you”, and you need not to sin, and you need to read your Bible and pray, and (most importantly) you need to come to church every week and put money in the offering, and then it’s over.

Week in and week out, it’s the same thing.


I’m not blaming the Pastors of America for this. I honestly don’t think it’s their fault for not preaching something “new” every week. Truthfully, I don’t think they could even if they wanted to.

I do however; blame them for making people feel like they have to continue coming week after week or else God will be disappointed in them.

This is where the “business” of the playhouse comes in. People are encouraged to keep coming back because the organization needs their money. If people ever felt like they could graduate from the institution, and live their lives in the world with what they know, it would be a devastating blow that eventually would destroy the institution.

It is this way because “church” as you and I know it today has been built on the teaching that “once you are in, you are never allowed to leave”. There is no such thing as graduation or moving on. We are taught that we must attend every week for the rest of our lives regardless of whether we know the Gospel or not.

If you think rationally about it; it’s a ridiculous notion to think that anyone benefits much from sitting through a re-cap of something they already know week after week.

It’s even more ridiculous to believe that people “need” to be there every week in order to grow spiritually. My personal opinion is that it’s just not worth going after a certain amount of time. It’s not even set up for fellowship.

You come alone, you sit alone, you worship alone, you listen to the sermon alone and you leave alone.

Real fellowship happens at Starbucks with a friend or in your home over dinner with people you love.

Yes the Bible does say, “Do not forsake the gathering together” but that’s a far cry from “Do not forsake going to a building and singing songs that were selected by someone else and sitting quietly while a guy talks for forty five minutes about a bunch of stuff you have either already heard or you already knew, and then leaving”. That’s not church; that’s tradition.

All in all I think the institutional church is great for people who don’t have any Christian friends. It’s a great place to meet other believers. If you DO have Christian friends however, why would you continue to go?

My belief is that you ARE the church.

When people ask me where I go to church, it’s like asking me where I go to Darin.

I AM the church. Wherever I go, church is there because I am there. I am outreach, wherever I go there is an outreach because I am there. I think the problem with the modern day church is that people “GO TO IT”.

It shouldn’t be a place we go. Church should be something we become.

I say that the modern day church is a “rerun of a play” that is lead by “hijackers” because I feel that the modern day church has hijacked everything that flows naturally from people who know and love God. They have institutionalized “heart things” and forced them into a robotic and ritualistic set of traditions.

The problem with the Institution of Church as we know it today is that it almost always seeks to “take over” or “hijack” every living expression that results from authentic relationship. Then it tries to purchase a spiritual Patent on each individual experience and dictate when and where it will manifest again.

Over time we find that everything that would naturally flow from relationship with God is no longer allowed to flow naturally. It must now flow under the orders and instruction of those who run the Institution.

Beautiful things such as communion have now become cold and institutionalized. After all “church” now owns the Patent on communion. It was originally created so that people who love each other could have dinner together and in the midst of that time of fellowship, they would stop and remember Christ and what He accomplished on their behalf.

They would acknowledge their present freedom and give praise to the One who brought it to them. Today, however, communion has been reduced to anything BUT communion.

We now sit in neat little rows, and are handed a shot glass of grape juice and a tiny cracker. We partake of it like robot-clones on a massive assembly line.

There is no fellowship, no eating together, no enjoying the company of the person next to you, no interactive conversation about the work of Christ, and no freedom. You see-dinner with friends and discussions about Christ are things that naturally flow from a person who knows Christ and has freedom. The institution has hijacked that natural thing and taken away its life.

Another intimate thing that has been hijacked by the institution is Worship. Did you know that everywhere in the New Testament where worship is mentioned, it is described as something that transpires between the individual and God alone? New Testament worship is a lifestyle of intimacy between a person and their God.

Today it has been hijacked by the institution and worship begins at 7:00pm and ends at precisely 7:30pm on Sunday nights. We are told what to sing, how to sing it, when to raise our hands to God, when to clap our hands, when to stand up and when to sit down. It begins when they tell us it begins and it ends when they decide it ends.

The very life of worship has been strangled out of almost everyone’s personal walk.

Giving is one of the most beautiful “natural manifestations” of a person filled with the love of God. Unfortunately the institution has hijacked that as well.

A “giver” by today’s Christian standards is a person who gives to the institution. Almost all teachings on giving today are in reference to giving to the church. Even the very essence of giving has been turned upside down. The New Testament teaches “freely you have received, now freely give” and the institution has turned it around and convinced an entire generation that “If you freely give, you will freely receive”.

I personally believe that the day “true giving” was murdered was the day that the teaching of “Seed Faith Giving” was introduced to the church. “Giving” went from being something a person did out of love for another, to being something we are taught to do in order to get something in return. We are even told how much to give, where to give and when to give it.

The spontaneity of giving from a heart of love (2 Cor. 9:7) has been quenched and beaten into an exact mold to fit the institutions purposes. I have said many times that the world is unaffected by the giving of the church, because the church doesn’t give to the world, it gives to itself. The church stiffs the world.

Today’s church members cannot even have relationships unless they were formed and directed by the institution. People are told where to go to “cell group”, who to open up to, what to do when at the meeting and how to do it. Nothing is allowed to happen on its own.

Everything is pre-determined and laid out in the exact institutional order. Gone are the days where each person chooses their own friends based on who they “click” with and who they don’t. Today, friendship is determined and ordered by the leadership and who ever the church links you together with.

If you live on 5th street and Main, and Mr., and Mrs. Jones live close to your area; they become your “home fellowship” group. You must open up to them and have relationship with them. Every Thursday evening at 6:00 sharp-relationship begins and at approximately 7:45 it ends. You are encouraged to NOT have friends outside of the church. The institution dictates where you can and cannot go after work, who you can go there with and what you can and can’t do while you are there.

If you look closely all throughout the institution, you will find that almost every single area of a person’s life is “taken over” and hijacked by the institution. Even things like “hearing from God” have been taken away. People are taught that the way they hear from God is “through the pastor” or “through others in the institution”.

Even the most personal things of all are stripped away. The beauty and honor of being responsible for your children growing up with an understanding of the Heart of God, is hijacked away from you. Now the institution makes no bones about the fact that they believe it’s their responsibility to teach your children. If you don’t bring your kids to their classes, YOU are failing.

How has this happened? In the beginning, the institution of church served the people. Today it has been reversed. The people are taunted and manipulated into serving the institution.

I do believe it’s time for people to take a stand and yell “FREEDOM”!!!!!” We need to take back what was stolen from us.

Monday, March 21, 2011

You gotta love the Bible!!

If your Bible doesn't bring you under the intoxicating influence of Abba's Love, it's the translators fault!!


I have been spending some time checking out the meanings some Greek words and going through many different Bible translations and have been utterly shocked at some renderings of some New Testament verses.

Most have been taught that we must believe everything the Bible, and we must NEVER question the Bible.... we must just DO what ever it says! Well, personally, I couldn't agree more!
The problem is that "the Bible" was not originally written in English but rather was translated into English (from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek).

Some Translations boast of huge numbers of translators used to get the "correct" English translations, and others rely on "original manuscript accuracy", but so often both camps completely miss it in many cases.
An easy example of such a case is that in the earlier NIV translations, the translators invented a new word based on the current theology of the day (and still going by the way!!). The word "sinful nature". This word previously did not exist and in most other English translation is correctly translated into English, mearly as "Flesh" (Greek: Sarx)
(NIV have corrected this error in most cases in their 2010 edition).


Since some of our English Bible translations have been known to horrendously "miss it" here and there, it stands to reason therefore that translators throughout time have put their own personal spin, or the general theological consensus of the day into their interpretation on certain words and contexts of verses - even without knowing it. (obviously without knowing it, because nobody ever said, "Yes!!, what I believe is totally wrong... praise the Lord!!" We all believe that what we believe is right.... otherwise we wouldn't "believe" it ).

I believe it would be of great benefit, therefore, to make sure that the translations of our bibles are rendered by translators that have a good understanding of the Cross, the New Covenant, and the reason for Redemption.... LOVE! (John 3:16)
Its a sad fact that many Translation houses have used various language scholars that are confessing non-believers, who obviously have no clue of Gloriously Good News, and therefore easily miss or water down certain emphases pertaining to New Covenant realities for the believer.
(And yes, its very healthy to read different translations.... not just the mainstream ones with a "reformed" theological stance, ie: NIV, ESV, NKJV, KJV, ASV, NASV....)



Often, people who have begun to understand God's Grace have told me that they were left with confusion - and NOT Freedom - after reading the Bible. Like I said.... "If your Bible doesn't bring you under the intoxicating influence of Abba's Love, it's the translators fault!!

If your NEW TESTAMENT is giving you some difficulties, and it's seeming to leave you CONDEMNED, or GUILTY, or weighed down with OBLIGATION, I would strongly suggest reading a few different verions of the same NEW TESTAMENT verse or passage to try get a better overview. I also strongly urge that you simply ask JESUS to help reveal the truth to you. Its His pleasure to reveal the NEW COVENANT to us!




Confusion:

Col 3:1-6 (ASV) If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.(2)Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.(3)For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.(4)When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. (5)Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; (6)for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:



What do we get from this? You have died (vs3), but you still need to put yourself to death (vs5), and if you dont manage to kill yourself (the second time) you are in danger of facing Gods wrath (vs6)!!
This is a very good example of slight miss-interpretation into English because the New Covenant context is not taken into account!! It makes a world of difference!
After a supper exciting word/Greek dictionary study and an extended translation search, I have found this to be more accurate:



Colossians 3:1-6 (TMT) Pursue with diligence the consequence of your co-inclusion in Christ. Relocate yourself mentally! His resurrection co-raised you to the same position of authority, seated in the strength of God’s right hand.(2)Becoming affectionately acquainted with Throne Room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly (soul-ruled) realm.(3)Your union with His death broke the association with that world; the secret of your life now is the fact that you are wrapped up with Christ in God.(4)Every time Christ is revealed as our life, we are being co-revealed in the same glory (likeness and image of God) being united together with Him.(5)Consider the members of your body as dead and buried towards everything related to the porn industry, sensual uncleanness, longing for forbidden things, lust and greed which are just another form of idol worship.(6)It was because of these things that the anger of God fell upon His son.


Please read those two passages again see the ridiculously huge difference!!

Out of the 11 "mainstream" bible translations I have at home, they ALL basically said the same as the ASV
Its little wonder that believers are not walking into Kingdom Freedom in the measure He intended when our bible's are telling us something different to the Spirit inside us!!



Am I saying we must throw out our old Bibles? No - that's silly!! But I am saying that we, as believers, ALL have the AUTHOR of "the Original copy" living inside us, and its OK to trust Him to lead us into all truth!

He loves you so much!
Keep keeping it real!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Holy Spirit Manifestations

I recently came across this Youtube clip and again the reality of Holy Spirit Manifestations is brought into the spot-light alongside some dodgy demonic manifestations.



Before watching, for those of you that have tangibly encountered Holy Spirit, have drunk deep from the realities of the Person of Joy and Love - and have often been frowned upon for it, I say this:

Act 2:13-18 But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions (that is: an appearance divinely granted in an ecstasy or dream), and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.



2Ti 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come.... vs5... people having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power-(That is: power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work; specifically miraculous power; which a person or thing exerts and puts forth) . Avoid such people.
VS 7 and 8 continues about these type of people... "always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith."

(A Jewish History study shows that Jannes and Jambres were Pharaohs the two magicians: "According to Unger's Bible Dictionary, page 554b, "Jannes and Jambres were two of the Egyptian magicians who attempted, by their enchantments, to counteract the influence on Pharaoh's mind of the miracles wrought by Moses," as recorded in Exodus chapters 7-8"....
They attempted to discredit the real manifestation of Gods power by showing it alongside the FALSE. They were - under the influence of Satan - trying to make Pharaoh sceptical of Gods manifesting power.)


Again, for those of you that have tangibly encountered Holy Spirit, have drunk deep from the realities of the Person of Joy and Love - and have often been frowned upon for it - I say, continue drinking deep!
For those who have not (and there is nothing wrong with that by the way :), I have attached an Objective study by Santo Calarco on the subject of Holy Spirit manifestations in Scripture that may help you. A Careful inquiry is awesome, but an offended heart will often cut you off from receiving revelation.







MANIFESTATIONS - IN SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY

I have received many phone calls and emails from sincere people who are attempting to understand the various spiritual manifestations taking place at my fellowship meetings in Sydney.

In order to meet this need I will attempt to give a brief biblical explanation of what is taking place.

The purpose of this paper therefore, is to succinctly describe what the Bible says about human reactions in the presence of the supernatural. This topic will be dealt with in two sections. The first will deal with God’s relationship to human objectivity and logic. The second will then build on this platform in order to examine some of biblical man’s bizarre responses when in the presence of the supernatural.


INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: PRESUPPOSITIONS

It is important to realise that God is not human and so is not bound by human logic and reason.

Western thinking is conditioned by Greek rationalism and thus maintains that logic is supreme. The scientific method and empiricism, major processes by which western man establishes truth, are totally dependent on rationality, reason and logic. These are the ways western man studies and analyses the natural world.

However, God is supernatural not natural. His ways therefore may not necessarily be able to be tested by the scientific method. God is not tied to man-made logic and reason.

God’s Ways not Ours

The bible emphatically states that God’s ways are not our ways, nor are his thoughts ours. See Isaiah 55:8-9. In fact, Paul says that God has “made foolish the wisdom of this world” because “the foolishness of God is wiser than man and the weakness of God is stronger than men”. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25. As a result “the natural man [man without the Spirit of God] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” 1 Corinthians 2:14. Hence God operates from the platform of human foolishness and not within the parameter’s of “natural man’s” rationalistic abilities. Hence Paul can say, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20.

Consequently, Paul continues to say that “if anyone among you seems to be wise in this age let he become a fool [God’s modus operandi] that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” 1 Corinthians 3: 18-19.

Jesus plainly taught on a number of occasions that God had “hidden these things from the wise [naturally intelligent] and learned [educated] and have revealed them to little children”. Matthew 11:25. Little children are not too concerned with the rules of scientific method nor are they impressed with the hermeneutics and exegetical methods of biblical scholarship [as important as these may be]. In fact these things oftentimes get in the way.

Both Moses and Paul were brilliant scholars according to man’s reasoning. They were some of the most educated men of their time; the former in secular thinking and the latter in spiritual. But they had to learn God’s wisdom [foolishness to man] for many years in the desert before they could be of any use to God. They had to first unlearn man’s wisdom before they could learn the things of God.

Scripture teaches that God has not revealed all things to man. Man’s knowledge and hence learning capabilities are limited. See Deut 29:29. Paul says that we “know in part”. 1 Corinthians 13:9. As a result man cannot empirically test God’s ways and thoughts!



God - A Law unto Himself

As a matter of fact, God is not even bound by the guidelines He sets out for limited, sinful, man. The Law of God states that a human judge was never to justify the wicked. Deut 25:1. Any judge who performed such an act committed an abomination, a detestable act! Proverbs 17:15. However, we read that our God does the very thing condemned! “God justifies the wicked,” says Paul in Romans 4:5.

The bible also says that any person caught in the act of adultery should be stoned. Lev 20:10. However, Jesus did not apply the law with the adulterous woman in John 8. Scripture further dictates that no man was to ever marry an immoral woman. Deut 22:20. Yet we find God commanding Hosea to marry a harlot! Hosea 1:2.

These few examples suffice to highlight the fact that God can not be bound to human logic and reason and neither does He have to conform to them. In fact there is only one place in Scripture where God invites us to reason together with Him. And even this scripture is not humanly logical. The gospel prophet Isaiah quotes God as saying, “Come now, and let us reason together” and then goes onto to say “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white”. Isaiah 1:18. Here God invites us to come and reason with Him and then goes onto say that red is white and white is red! This statement does not conform to human logic!

Having said this we can now list some of the many humanly bizarre and unreasonable phenomena found in Holy Writ. Phenomena originating within the mind of God!




Is God Weird?

In scripture and at the command of God we find the following:

*Donkeys speak ………………………………………………………Numbers 22:28-30

*Touching a dead man’s bones brings about a resurrection ………….……2 Kings 13:21

*Prophets publicly walk naked for 3 years ……………………………………….Isa 20:3

*Spirit falls/Saul prophecies naked & lay naked all day & night ………...1 Sam 19:23,24

*Men drop dead at God’s command & instantly devoured by worms ………...Acts 12:23

*Passing shadows heals …………………………………………………………Acts 5:15

*Handkerchiefs and Aprons heal and cast out demons ………………………..Acts 19:12

*People make important decisions by drawing straws ………………………Acts 1:24:26

*Sick await angels to stir waters of pool before entering in order to be healed …John 5:4



Please note the following practices of Jesus

*He speaks to, gets angry at and curses a tree for not having fruit when it is not even fruit bearing season! ……………………………………………………………Mark 11:12-14

*He spits in a man’s eyes in order to heal him …………………………….Mark 8: 22-23

*He put his fingers in a man’s ears and spat and touched his tongue in order to restore sight and hearing ……………………………………………………………….Mark 7:33

Is it any wonder then that men, yes even god-fearing believing men, in response to the activities of Jesus “were all amazed and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today!’” Luke 5:26.

At this point we can conclude that God does not necessarily operate at all times within the boundaries of human logic and reason. Being supernatural He does not of necessity at all times conform to natural reasoning.


Human responses to the Supernatural

Having demonstrated some of the unorthodox and “irrational” methods of God, we will now be better able to understand some of the humanly bizarre manifestations that people display when they come into contact with the supernatural.

Before we launch off into an examination of what the Scriptures teach us about manifestations and human responses to the presence of God [and angels] I would like to share with you a relevant story.

Moon-walking and Electricity

I was 10 years old. Neil Armstrong had just set foot on the moon [now you can work out how old I am] and my fifth grade class was involved in our own scientific experiment. The teacher asked for volunteers and so I foolishly jumped up without first knowing what I was getting myself in for.

Eight of us were told to form a circle and hold hands. What was happening? The teacher told us that she was going to run a gentle electric current through us. She assured us that none of us would get hurt. Some type of battery was set up. One person held onto the first terminal and the last onto the second. A complete circuit was established.

Slowly the teacher increased the power. At first we all laughed because we felt nothing. Then slowly but surely the power manifested itself. At first tingling, then laughing and finally shaking.

I thought that the girls [being girls!] would be the first to break the chain. Well was I surprised? Some girls laughed as the tingling passed through their bodies and some boys felt nothing. But me? I displayed the greatest manifestation and reaction to the power running through my nervous system!

I was shaking and screaming, my calf muscles began to twitch and suddenly I began to fall to the ground! But why only me? Some girls laughed, some boys too and others displayed no reaction whatsoever!

I was confused. Why was it that we all had the same power source running through our nerves, yet only some of us displayed some type reaction? [Just for the record, others finally began to shake and fall as well].

I believe that this small incident in my life well describes what can happen when the power of God, the Holy Spirit, manifests itself when the body of Christ meets for worship. We do not all react in the same way.

Admittedly I rarely experience any manifestations when worshipping with Christ’s body but have at these same times seen other worshippers, shake and tremble and even laugh or fall.

When I first encountered these phenomena [and as skeptical as I am] I thought the cause was more than likely hormones rather than Holy Spirit. I maintained that no such manifestations were in the Bible--- or so I thought.

Having given these manifestations more thought I remembered a book that I had once read on worship a decade prior. I remembered reading something about human worship expressions. Eagerly I turned it up and found the relevant chapter.

I was challenged by this brief summary and so decided to study the issue further.

The Weight of Glory

In my research I discovered many passages in the bible that described individuals as falling to the ground in the presence of God. These statements puzzled me for sometime until just recently.

I was recently talking to a scholar-friend of mine about this issue and he explained to me that the Hebrew word for God’s “glory” was “kabod”. According to him this word actually meant, “weight”. He concluded then that when God revealed His glory in bible times, His weight [glory, kabod] would sometimes prostrate people to the ground. God’s weight would cause them to fall. He also continued to point out that the modern practice of swaying back and forth by Jews at the Wailing Wall at Jerusalem reflected the jerking action of the OT prophets when, under the power of God, they would prophesy.

Being the skeptical person I am I researched the issue. Strong’s Concordance was revealing. Strong informs us that the Hebrew word kabod, and its derivatives and roots means “to be heavy, to make weighty, be heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, weight”. See Strongs Hebrew Dictionary word numbers 3513, 3514, 3515, 3517, 3519. Strong also points out that by extension the word means heavy-laden, a lot, much and so great. As a result God is “a lot, much and so great”. Hence glorious! These meanings grow out of the root meaning of weight. So God’s glory is a “lot, much, so great, laden”; hence weight.

Examination of bible dictionaries revealed the same truth. A standard dictionary, the “New Dictionary of Theology” edited by Professors Ferguson, Wright and the late and famous J I Packer state the following:

“Glory of God, The, fundamental characteristic of God to which believers respond by giving him glory. Biblical. ‘Glory’ in Heb is Kabod, from a root signifying ‘weight’ (a fact which Paul seems to remember in 2 Cor. 4:17)” p.271.



We will now turn our attention to the various human responses to the presence of the supernatural.


Human reactions to Angels

In the presence of angels both believers and unbelievers can exhibit fear, falling and shaking:

Daniel ………………………………………………………………………...Dan 8:16-17

Roman Guards ………………………………………………………………..Matt 28:2-4

Ordinary Jews…………………………………….……………….Luke 1:11-13,26-27,30
…………………………………………………….…………..Luke 2:8-10

A Gentile Centurion …………………………………………………………...Acts 10:3,4


Human Reactions to the Godhead

In the presence of the Godhead, humans and creation itself can react in fear, loss of strength, falling, trembling, become unconscious, shake, cry, laugh and even take on the appearance of being drunk. Note the following.

*Daniel fears, loses strength, falls and sleeps ………………………...Dan 10: 5-12; 8:27

*Israel at Sinai trembled ………………………………………………………Exod 19:16

*Disciples at Transfiguration fear and fall …………………………………...Matt 17:5-7

*John at Patmos fears and falls as dead ………………………………………Rev 1:17-18

*The Psalmist’s flesh trembles ………………………………………………...Ps 119:120

*Habakkuk shakes at the voice of God ………………………………………..Hab 3:2,16

*Israel fears and trembles at God’s presence ……………………………………..Jer 5:22

*Any person trembles at hearing God’s voice …………………………………...Isa 66:2

*Israel trembles and fears at hearing the law read …………………………Ezra 9:4; 10:3

*Places shake at presence of Spirit …………………………………………..Acts 4:29-31

*Abraham falls at God’s presence ………………………………………………Gen 17:3

*Angels, Elders and four living creatures fall before God’s throne ……………..Rev 7:11

*Paul [Saul] see’s a light and falls at presence of Jesus ……………………….Acts 9:3-8

*Judas and Temple Guards fall backwards at word of Jesus ………………...John 18: 3-6

*Israelites cry at hearing bible …………………………………………………….Neh 8:9

*Humans are filled with laughter from God …………………………………Job 8: 19-21

*God’s people laugh as a response to God’s redemptive acts ………………...Ps 126: 2-3

*Samuel appears drunk when worshipping in God’s presence …………...1 Sam 1: 12-17

*Pentecostal believers appear drunk when baptised in the Spirit ……………….Acts 2:13

It is also important to note that at times some experience manifestations at the presence of the supernatural and others do not --- even though they are also present. This is so with the case of Jesus, Daniel and Paul. See John 12: 27-29; Daniel 10: 5,7; Acts 22: 6-9.


MANIFESTATIONS AND CHURCH HISTORY
LEADING TO THE ADVENT AWAKENING


As we examine modern church history we find the above manifestations recurring at times of revival.

The late Dr J. Edwin Orr, a leading authority on the history of revivals, describes a number of major awakenings including: 1725, 1792 and 1830. The latter refers to the great Advent awakening. Professor R. E. Davies notes that in the ebb and flow of these revivals a number of constants always reappear. Among these constant features he includes (1) persistent prayer, (2) Powerful Christ-centred preaching and testimony and (3) a deep awareness of the presence and holiness of God manifesting itself in shaking, weeping, crying, laughter and holy prostration. Among more variable factors he lists (1) miracles of healing and (2) the exercise of spiritual gifts. See “I Will Pour Out My Spirit”, R. E. Davies (Monarch Publications; 1992) pp. 217-227.

Commenting on the Advent awakening leading to the great disappointment of 1844, Merlin D. Burt, from the White Estate in (DF 205) dated June 1998, states that manifestations of the Spirit including shouts of praise, prayer, testimony, holy laughter, weeping and holy prostration (falling to the ground) were part and parcel of Adventism. He perceptively notes that these manifestations were “a part of their own spiritual heritage. Methodists, Christians, Baptists and many other frontier groups frequently had dramatic physical and emotional activity as a part of their worship of God.” See p. 1. He goes on to quote from twenty three statements from the writings of Ellen White and correctly concludes “that Ellen White believed that the physical responses of shouting, weeping, laughter, and prostration were appropriate and valid under the influence of the Holy Spirit.” See p. 13. He adds, “American religious revival experience during the first half of the nineteenth century and the accounts of early Adventist experiences make it abundantly clear that God did manifest His power to help, comfort and inspire Ellen White and others through healing, a spirit of praise, and physical prostration.” P. 16.



CONCLUSION

In conclusion we have observed that humans respond in bizarre fashions at God’s request or even at his presence. This is because human logic or western etiquette does not bind our God. Even Jesus behaved in a fashion unacceptable to our modern minds! But God transcends human analysis and methodologies.

At his command donkeys speak and men walk naked. At his presence people respond in fear, tremble, shake, laugh, cry and fall. Such are true manifestations at the presence of God—especially at times of revival with special outpourings of the Spirit of God.

His ways are not ours ways nor are his thoughts ours.

It is only man without the Spirit that observes and analyses based on his rationalistic thinking and then concludes that the above is foolishness.

The great apostle Paul appropriately tells us the conclusion of the matter when he says that God has “made foolish the wisdom of this world” because “the foolishness of God is wiser than man and the weakness of God is stronger than men”. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25. As a result “the natural man [man without the Spirit of God] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him” 1 Corinthians 2:14. Hence God operates from the platform of human foolishness and confounds those who think they are wise!



Hope this helps!!
Loads of love
Andrew

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Get back into that Comfort Zone!!

Shortly after getting saved about 10 years ago, I was introduced to the very popular teaching about "Comfort Zones". The main idea of this teaching is that believers need to "step-out" in uncomfortable situations because this is where God can now use them.....

I would like to rather bring to you, that there is a much better way, which has its motive buried in the love of God and not in any obligation.


Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The implication of this word, "workmanship" is of an artist, painting a masterpiece on a canvas. That's what we are. We are HIS Workmanship. His brush-strokes in our lives, through our personalities and individual characters show His Glory to the world like NOBODY Else on the Planet could because we are each uniquely individual. We are designed to live out our individual uniqueness in communion with Jesus.... guiding us, and leading us each step of the way.

We live the most satisfied, fulfilled lives when we be ourselves..... because "ourselves" is who He loves, and made us to be.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Friends, it is no longer you who live, but your New Life is a life of mystical union with God Himself. The two (the new you, and God) have become one, and God has done this, and what God has joined together let no man separate:
Eze 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

We can see here that, now that you are made new (who you were always intended to be), AND, more than that, God himself has made himself one with you (your new spirit)... Now, the result of this Union is that HE WILL CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN HIS WAYS. It is not your Self will, or self effort that conjures up good works of faithfulness, but it is Christ in you.

Another Name for the Spirit of God inside you is, "The Comforter". God wants you to stay IN your Comfort zone and not behave contrary to your New Nature!
When we believe we have to do things that are outside of what we naturally are inclined to do, ie: "step out of our Comfort Zone", then we are conforming to someone else's Nature, and not your own! (I am talking about your new nature since this is who you now are).

So the thing is, ONLY you can be you, and fulfil what God has called you to do/be in order to reveal His master piece in/through your life. When we fulfil someone else's dreams/desires, we miss the Glory that God intended to reveal through us expressing Himself through your own personnel Gifting, Character and Personality! When we do what comes naturally to us, then we will fulfil our destiny (ie: "the good works planed in advance" for each of us). It is then that we walk according to the Spirit - The Comforter - and are being who He intended us to be.

Often times we are convinced into doing what comes naturally to someone else - whom we often love and respect - and end up having to respond out of obligation in order to "keep the peace".
But surely, as God tells us, instead of "peace with man" being the governing factor in our lives, we should let the "peace of GOD" rule/umpire/to direct/control/be the One that leads our decisions?

Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Jesus is certainly raising up a people of faith that are lead by peace rather than loyalty to the known. When we are trusting the "God of all Comfort" inside us to lead us, then we are begining to walk deeper into our kingdom destinies:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

When we find comfort and rest in the knowledge that Jesus knows how to build His Church, and leads us to go in directions that often dont make sense in the natural, then we are taking back that which Satan has stolen..... then we are becoming exceptionally dangerous to the fickle realm of Darkness. We are being lead by Peace and are Comfortable with Him:
Rom 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Kingdom Power and Authority is unleashed as we conform, - not in loyalty to a system, but to the person of Peace....
Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace,

For Heaven sake..... stay IN your Comfort Zone.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will (to cause you to want) and to work(to accomplish the desire He Himself place in you) for his good pleasure.
When we stay IN our comfort zone, we are delighting in Him... and when we delight in Him, HE will cause desires to rise up inside us, and them empower us to carry them out. (Ps 37:4)
The word "delight" here in Ps 37:4 means to "be Pampered"!!! When we allow the Comforter to Pamper us with His Love, then soon enough, we find we begin to desire the things that He desires. But all of this is expressed through the specific vessels he made us to be.

It is certainly NOT one size fits all in terms of works, and you need to be free to go in the direction He (your Peace) leads you and not feel obligated to conform to the direction of anyone else.

Enjoy the colours of Love his brush Pampers you with!
Loads of Love
Andrew