I have come to recognize some of the Lord's masterful methodology to purify His church. This still doesn't alleviate any of the pressure, but it does give me hope in the process and the understanding that it is for my good.
As we run hard after God and press in to lifestyles of prayer and fasting it is not unusual to see people become jaded. Some call it "burn-out", others describe the feeling as "spiritual boredom". It is an interesting pattern, but God (in His wisdom) chooses to take us through cyclical seasons of a little bit of pressure followed by more intense pressure followed by another degree of some type of increased or decreased pressure. We can't avoid His process, but we can avoid the damaging affects that we so often allow to creep in. We CAN actually avoid (or at least lessen) spiritual boredom. How?
We are able to weather the ups and downs by clinging to the constants revealed in the Word of God. Specifically- His love. His undying, unquenchable, fiery love. When I get a hold of His affections toward me and His devotion to me it causes me to reciprocate my affections and my devotion toward Him. When I meditate on His Love and commitment towards me, I am stirred to renew my commitment and love towrds Him. No matter the season or the amount of pressure this keeps me resolved.
Regularly feeding my spirit with the truth of His desire toward me helps me to obey when its hard, serve others when I feel unappreciated, and not just survive the dry seasons, but push through violently. This reminds me of the passage in Song of Songs 7:9-11 where the Shulamite agrees with the calling on her life, recognizes her Beloved's love, and expresses her commitment to serve:
"The wine goes down smoothly for my Beloved ... I am my Beloved's and His desire is towards me... let us go forth to the field"
Thank You Jesus that You love us in this way. Reveal more to us!
09
Strengthened by love
July 9, 2010
Three years ago I experienced a shift in the way that I look at the Bible and the way that I viewed prayer. I began to take prayer examples in the Epistles, and turn them into dialogue with the Lord. This took my reading of the Bible from a spectator learning a history lesson to a king and priest partnering with God in bringing His will from Heaven to Earth.
I began to learn the language that God uses through the Apostles and Prophets and in affect began to learn the very language and motives of God. God’s Kingdom, as with every culture (Ethnic, Geographic, Industrial, Familial, etc.) has a language and mode of operation that is unique to those operating in the system. I saw the pattern used to transform godless sinners into the Bride of Christ that shine bright in righteousness. One of my favorites is found in Ephesians 3:16, where Paul the Apostle uses the correlation between spiritual perseverance and the understanding of God’s love.
He prays that God would: “… Grant to you to be strengthened with might… being rooted and grounded in love, being able to comprehend the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
This handful of verses buried in Ephesians unlocks one of the ways God empowers His saints. He gives us the ability to stay in the heat of the battle for the long run by revealing new dimensions of the way He loves us. We are strengthened to choose Him, to die to ourselves, by giving us insight into His steadfast love. We are reassured and affirmed so that we can walk in confidence amidst the pressures all around us to conform to the world. This is an example of how Jesus “washes us with the water of His Word” so that He can present us to Himself as the ultimate Bride.
Thank You Jesus! Strengthen us with might, and reveal Your love to us.
19
Building the House of Prayer
June 19, 2010
In Haggai's day he was faced with the task of proclaiming a message to Zerubbabel the Governer of Judah at a time that seemed inappropriate.
The temple had been destroyed and all that was left was a literal mountain of rubble. The people had a jaded perspective and many were so discouraged that many had lost hope in ever seeing it rebuilt. That reality is again a common sentiment with the people of God and many are not concerned with building the House of Prayer. As a result the House of Prayer lays in ruins.
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built. Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
I personally felt such a weight of this verse about 6 weeks ago as I was contemplating whether I was going to do a home improvement project or not. Then it hit me. I am acting as the people in Haggai and Zechariah's day. I put my stake in the ground and determined that I would pour my finances, time, and energy into the "temple" of our day.
Over the past 6 weeks I have been so proud of the community at TPR who have answered the call to build His house. I really think that the Lord is so pleased at our efforts to build a place that He would receive glory and honor and praise every day. As we finish up the final week of construction and prepare for our opening rally I feel like the encouragement found in Zechariah 4 is fitting:
“ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
‘ Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “ The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
Grace Grace people of God. Build Him a house. Grace Grace to the House of Prayer.
bless you!
22
Zeal for His House
April 22, 2010
King David expressed a pain in his heart that I think is common among those in the prayer-movement today in Psalm 69:6-13
"Let not those who wait and hope and look for You, O Lord of hosts, be put to shame through me; let not those who seek and inquire for and require You [as their vital necessity] be brought to confusion and dishonor through me, O God of Israel. Because for Your sake I have borne taunt and reproach; confusion and shame have covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to my mother's children. For zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches and insults of those who reproach and insult You have fallen upon me. When I wept and humbled myself with fasting, I was jeered at and humiliated; When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword (an object of scorn) to them. They who sit in [the city's] gate talk about me, and I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable and opportune time, O God, in the multitude of Your mercy and the abundance of Your loving-kindness hear me, and in the truth and faithfulness of Your salvation answer me. "
Two thoughts I had about this passage I think are important at this point in time when those in the House of Prayer are mis-understood:
1) He did not want to be a stumbling block to those who genuinely love the Lord, but he did not relent in his pursuit and passion. He loved people while fearing and loving God more.
2) He found his strength, comfort, reassurance, and affirmation in the Lord. He took his hurt to God. He didnt try to lie to himself but instead used the circumstance as both the fuel and the catalyst to commune with God.
REMARKABLE! Jesus make me a man after God's own heart.
05
Getting ready for June!
April 5, 2010
We just finished up the preview trip this weekend with Thai Lam from IHOP-KC. I am stirred at what the Lord is doing in our city! He is truly raising up a generation for His name. The Onething conference that is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth in June will be calling the youth of our city to live lives of whole-hearted abandonment to Jesus.
Over the next 8 weeks it will be interesting to see all of the loose-ends come together, and ultimately to see the impartation and impact of the event in the spiritual climate in this region. We are expecting some of IHOP-KC’s anointed worship leaders and speakers.
Reports have come back from some of the other cities that have already hosted a Onething regional conference this year and the Holy Spirit is moving. They have seen a measure of awakening along with breakthrough in gifts of healings, words of prophecy, and a renewed zeal for His house. Come Lord Jesus!
24
Another Prayer Meeting!
March 24, 2010
We found out this past weekend that there are students at the University of Texas Arlington praying! I am so stoked that the Lord is moving on the students of that campus in our city. They currently have about 40 hours of weekly prayer meetings and have been going for 2 years.
When I graduated from UTA in 2008 my heart was torn because it was bitter-sweet to leave the campus that I spent 5 years of my life. On one side I was excited to end that season of my life and move on. On the other side I was saddened due to the overwhelming Godlessness on the campus, humanism, exaltation of sexual immorality, and drunkenness, and I was unable/ unwilling to take a strong enough stand to do anything about it. For months after graduation I felt like I had failed, because I did not impact my campus in a large or tangible way and had somewhat passively “paid my dues and got out”. I don’t know all that the Lord intended me to do at the campus while I was there, I don’t know what affect my prayers for the campus made, but I do know this:
There is a prayer meeting at UTA and it is going strong! Thank You Jesus!
“Father, I ask that you would add to the praying students at UTA: more intercessors, depth in Your word, more of Your presence, the anointing to shift the Heavens, and release an awakening among the students and faculty. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
14
Simple. Pure. Devotion to Jesus.
March 14, 2010
Jimmy Nimon and his crew from Gateway House of Prayer came down this weekend and my heart is stirred! The Lord is truly moving my generation and awakening love for Jesus. Jimmy shared a very basic and powerful core value that challenges my heart and mind: do not allow myself to be lured away from a simple and pure devotion to Jesus Christ (2 Cor 11:3).
Ironically, through the day in and day out of the House of Prayer I find that I am prone to losing sight of why I pray. Admittidly I sit through some not-that-lively prayer meetings. But it is because something clicked in my heart four years ago that made sense. I pray because Jesus pulled me out of the path of darkness and destruction I was on and revealed His love to me. He is worthy of all of my heart, soul, mind and strength! I “do the house of prayer” because it is the only way that I can make sure my life is in a prime position to partner with Him when He comes and not be offended when He shakes the Earth.
We will one day witness the literal five-foot something Jewish man Jesus break into the atmosphere, forcefully remove sin from the Earth, and bind Himself to a wholehearted people who love Him. Come Lord Jesus!
He warned us that most people would not be ready, and multitudes will mock the reality of who He says He is. I pray so that the numbers who fall into these categories are drastically less in my city. Father prepare the church for Your Son!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am signing back up.
