Blog https://www.nwac.live Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:37:12 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Holy Habits https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/holy- https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/holy-#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/holy- I have found myself currently in a season of “rest,” or contentment as I have come to experience it. I am truly enjoying where I am in life: happily married, with a sweet and happy toddler, enjoying my home, family, friends, and church. I love my job and the people I work with. Truly for the first time in my life I do not feel the need to pursue the “next thing.” I have always been driven by a calling to pursue whatever God has for me next. But for the first time in my life, I felt like I have arrived. Whew! I can breathe now, life is good. 

And it has been good! I have enjoyed the freedom to actually enjoy my life, and be truly content with where the Lord has placed me. As I find myself in the promised land, I am at rest, at peace, and worshipful. This is a good place to be!! 

In this place, I have continued to pursue spiritual disciplines of prayer and worship. In this sweet time with the Lord, He began to show me some things He wanted to work on. More specifically, even though I have grown in many areas of my life, there are some sharp edges and specks He would like to refine. 

It was almost as if the Lord was saying, “Hey Alex. You are doing great. This is a season in your life where you can be content exactly where you are at. OR. I could take you deeper. I could use this season to grow you even closer to me, closer to the person I have created you to be. You are uniquely positioned in this season to fully surrender the deepest parts of yourself, and if you are obedient, there will be victory in areas of your life you have struggled with for years.” 

What follows is my “Yes Lord. Have your way,” and the lessons He gave me. 

 

I have read two key books that are completely reframing the way I structure my life. The first book is a non Christian self-help book titled Atomic Habits by James Clear that has been extremely helpful in understanding how our habits shape our lives (thanks for the rec, Emma Hord!). The next book, Habits of the Household by Justin Early, took that concept and ran 1000000 times further with it as he explains how our habits are daily liturgies of worship that shape the culture of our families and communities (thanks for the rec, Lisa Smythe!) . Read in conjunction with each other, I felt ready to conquer the world! I could not recommend these two books enough. 

So these lessons I am about to share are not originally my own ideas, but lessons from these books and through prayer and processing that have sunk deep into my soul. I believe the Lord wants to transform my habits and systems to wholly sanctify the default me. To use how I structure my daily life to turn my eyes toward Him even when I am not thinking about it, or even thinking at all. 

1. What we do without thinking (habits) will either point us toward Christ or away from Him. 

How we structure our days have everything to do with what we believe. If I believe I am a tidy, organized person, then my daily habits of cleaning up after myself and doing dishes will reflect this belief. If I believe myself to be a healthy person, I will choose the fruit and make sure I move my body each day. If I believe I exist to be entertained, well, I will probably spend a lot of time scrolling down Instagram reels. If I believe that Jesus is the Redeemer of my life, then my days will reflect the love, praise, and thankfulness that truth requires. 

A revealing question I have been asking myself lately is this: What kind of person am I when I am on “default?” My default mode of being is what I do without thinking, and it directly reflects my deepest beliefs about myself and the world. For example, usually my default setting is to be lazy, comfortable, and take the easy way out. This reflects a wrongly-held belief that I am the center of the universe and my purpose is to fill my desire to be happy. This can manifest itself in some pretty unhealthy habits. I would rather sit on the couch with my takeout and watch a show, rather than go on a walk with my family and cook a healthy dinner. Now, obviously there is nothing wrong with couches or takeout or watching a show. But when it becomes my default mode of being, there is something out of place. If my default is to be lazy, one day I am going to wake up and literally be a lazy, selfish person. I will reflect this self-centered belief in how I care for my child, how I do my job, how I care for those around me (or don’t). Instead of my default mode pulling me closer to Christ and becoming more like Him (rightly held beliefs), it is actually making me more selfish and drawing me away from the holy, set apart life God has called me to. 
 
2. Because of this, our systems and habits determine the kind of people we are becoming.

Who has God called me to be? This is the second question that I have been ruminating over. If I believe myself to be a worshiper of God, set apart for His service, and called to serve His people, then how do my habits reflect these truths? This is boots on the ground Christianity. It is the application, the action of “I believe this, so I do this.” To quote from Atomic Habits, “Your habits are votes for the type of person you want to become.”  Done daily; small, minute habits will build compound interest overtime to snowball you into the person God calls you to be. This is why daily Scripture reading and prayer is crucial to the believer. Ten minutes of daily Bible study may not seem like much, but God is planting and watering and growing those tiny seeds in you and me that will not only transform us 5 years from now, but they will have eternal impact through Christ. So if I believe that I am called to be a worshiper of God for all of eternity, how am I forming my daily systems to allow myself to freely worship Him regardless of if I feel like it or not? For me, it looks like worship music in the car, playing guitar, writing in my prayer journal. Every day. For you it might look different, but I just wanted to give an example. 

3. Habits built on the foundation of God’s Word are a form of worship. They are also a weapon of defense in spiritual warfare. 

Speaking of daily worship, habits built in conjunction with the Holy Spirit are in themselves, a form of worship. And worship is the defense we have in spiritual warfare. This observation hit me in a time of prayer when I realized that as I was writing out my prayer, God was protecting me from sin. I could have chosen to do a thousand different things with my rare free time, a lot of them selfish or lazy or indulging. But because I have been careful to cultivate a habit of daily prayer, I began to long to do that in my first free space of the day. By default I grabbed my pen, and as a creature of habit, began writing. At first I wasn’t thinking, but then my heart caught up to my head and it hit me: I am being formed right now by my habits. And in it, God has the victory. He is redeeming my time by turning my eyes to Him, bringing me to awareness of His presence, and giving me tools to fight spiritual battles in me and around me. 

In the spirit of vulnerability, here are some yucky habits I am working on squashing and replacing with new habits:

  1. Instead of scrolling through social media, I am replacing this with intentionally reaching out to encourage someone each day. 
  2. Instead of defaulting to the couch, I am committing to moving my body each day.
  3. Instead of overindulging on food, I am intentionally choosing to eat something healthy when I need a snack. 
  4. Instead of dissociating from my family after a long day, I am pursuing them by thinking of an activity we can all do together, even if it's simply playing with toys in the living room. 
  5. And instead of going to video games or Netflix first, I am choosing to spend time with the Lord in intentional prayer, Scripture, and worship each day. 

Over time, my prayer is that my habits will begin to directly reflect who I am in Christ, and in turn, who I am in Christ will inform my daily habits. I can sense this has huge implications for me personally, but I currently cannot fathom how this will influence my family, my community, or my church family. I do believe it’s crucial, and that God has called me to go deeper in Him so I can keep showing up for those around me. I want to be the person that can step up to bat and be relied on to smack that ball every time for the sake of my team. I want to be the person that is so emptied of myself that I can exist solely to serve others and bring Him glory. And I want to be the person that has spiritual eyes to see and discern spiritual realities because walking with the Lord has become my default mode of being. 

Scripture on building sanctifying habits:

Romans 12:2 ESV 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV 

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV 

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV 

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

]]>
I have found myself currently in a season of “rest,” or contentment as I have come to experience it. I am truly enjoying where I am in life: happily married, with a sweet and happy toddler, enjoying my home, family, friends, and church. I love my job and the people I work with. Truly for the first time in my life I do not feel the need to pursue the “next thing.” I have always been driven by a calling to pursue whatever God has for me next. But for the first time in my life, I felt like I have arrived. Whew! I can breathe now, life is good. 

And it has been good! I have enjoyed the freedom to actually enjoy my life, and be truly content with where the Lord has placed me. As I find myself in the promised land, I am at rest, at peace, and worshipful. This is a good place to be!! 

In this place, I have continued to pursue spiritual disciplines of prayer and worship. In this sweet time with the Lord, He began to show me some things He wanted to work on. More specifically, even though I have grown in many areas of my life, there are some sharp edges and specks He would like to refine. 

It was almost as if the Lord was saying, “Hey Alex. You are doing great. This is a season in your life where you can be content exactly where you are at. OR. I could take you deeper. I could use this season to grow you even closer to me, closer to the person I have created you to be. You are uniquely positioned in this season to fully surrender the deepest parts of yourself, and if you are obedient, there will be victory in areas of your life you have struggled with for years.” 

What follows is my “Yes Lord. Have your way,” and the lessons He gave me. 

 

I have read two key books that are completely reframing the way I structure my life. The first book is a non Christian self-help book titled Atomic Habits by James Clear that has been extremely helpful in understanding how our habits shape our lives (thanks for the rec, Emma Hord!). The next book, Habits of the Household by Justin Early, took that concept and ran 1000000 times further with it as he explains how our habits are daily liturgies of worship that shape the culture of our families and communities (thanks for the rec, Lisa Smythe!) . Read in conjunction with each other, I felt ready to conquer the world! I could not recommend these two books enough. 

So these lessons I am about to share are not originally my own ideas, but lessons from these books and through prayer and processing that have sunk deep into my soul. I believe the Lord wants to transform my habits and systems to wholly sanctify the default me. To use how I structure my daily life to turn my eyes toward Him even when I am not thinking about it, or even thinking at all. 

1. What we do without thinking (habits) will either point us toward Christ or away from Him. 

How we structure our days have everything to do with what we believe. If I believe I am a tidy, organized person, then my daily habits of cleaning up after myself and doing dishes will reflect this belief. If I believe myself to be a healthy person, I will choose the fruit and make sure I move my body each day. If I believe I exist to be entertained, well, I will probably spend a lot of time scrolling down Instagram reels. If I believe that Jesus is the Redeemer of my life, then my days will reflect the love, praise, and thankfulness that truth requires. 

A revealing question I have been asking myself lately is this: What kind of person am I when I am on “default?” My default mode of being is what I do without thinking, and it directly reflects my deepest beliefs about myself and the world. For example, usually my default setting is to be lazy, comfortable, and take the easy way out. This reflects a wrongly-held belief that I am the center of the universe and my purpose is to fill my desire to be happy. This can manifest itself in some pretty unhealthy habits. I would rather sit on the couch with my takeout and watch a show, rather than go on a walk with my family and cook a healthy dinner. Now, obviously there is nothing wrong with couches or takeout or watching a show. But when it becomes my default mode of being, there is something out of place. If my default is to be lazy, one day I am going to wake up and literally be a lazy, selfish person. I will reflect this self-centered belief in how I care for my child, how I do my job, how I care for those around me (or don’t). Instead of my default mode pulling me closer to Christ and becoming more like Him (rightly held beliefs), it is actually making me more selfish and drawing me away from the holy, set apart life God has called me to. 
 
2. Because of this, our systems and habits determine the kind of people we are becoming.

Who has God called me to be? This is the second question that I have been ruminating over. If I believe myself to be a worshiper of God, set apart for His service, and called to serve His people, then how do my habits reflect these truths? This is boots on the ground Christianity. It is the application, the action of “I believe this, so I do this.” To quote from Atomic Habits, “Your habits are votes for the type of person you want to become.”  Done daily; small, minute habits will build compound interest overtime to snowball you into the person God calls you to be. This is why daily Scripture reading and prayer is crucial to the believer. Ten minutes of daily Bible study may not seem like much, but God is planting and watering and growing those tiny seeds in you and me that will not only transform us 5 years from now, but they will have eternal impact through Christ. So if I believe that I am called to be a worshiper of God for all of eternity, how am I forming my daily systems to allow myself to freely worship Him regardless of if I feel like it or not? For me, it looks like worship music in the car, playing guitar, writing in my prayer journal. Every day. For you it might look different, but I just wanted to give an example. 

3. Habits built on the foundation of God’s Word are a form of worship. They are also a weapon of defense in spiritual warfare. 

Speaking of daily worship, habits built in conjunction with the Holy Spirit are in themselves, a form of worship. And worship is the defense we have in spiritual warfare. This observation hit me in a time of prayer when I realized that as I was writing out my prayer, God was protecting me from sin. I could have chosen to do a thousand different things with my rare free time, a lot of them selfish or lazy or indulging. But because I have been careful to cultivate a habit of daily prayer, I began to long to do that in my first free space of the day. By default I grabbed my pen, and as a creature of habit, began writing. At first I wasn’t thinking, but then my heart caught up to my head and it hit me: I am being formed right now by my habits. And in it, God has the victory. He is redeeming my time by turning my eyes to Him, bringing me to awareness of His presence, and giving me tools to fight spiritual battles in me and around me. 

In the spirit of vulnerability, here are some yucky habits I am working on squashing and replacing with new habits:

  1. Instead of scrolling through social media, I am replacing this with intentionally reaching out to encourage someone each day. 
  2. Instead of defaulting to the couch, I am committing to moving my body each day.
  3. Instead of overindulging on food, I am intentionally choosing to eat something healthy when I need a snack. 
  4. Instead of dissociating from my family after a long day, I am pursuing them by thinking of an activity we can all do together, even if it's simply playing with toys in the living room. 
  5. And instead of going to video games or Netflix first, I am choosing to spend time with the Lord in intentional prayer, Scripture, and worship each day. 

Over time, my prayer is that my habits will begin to directly reflect who I am in Christ, and in turn, who I am in Christ will inform my daily habits. I can sense this has huge implications for me personally, but I currently cannot fathom how this will influence my family, my community, or my church family. I do believe it’s crucial, and that God has called me to go deeper in Him so I can keep showing up for those around me. I want to be the person that can step up to bat and be relied on to smack that ball every time for the sake of my team. I want to be the person that is so emptied of myself that I can exist solely to serve others and bring Him glory. And I want to be the person that has spiritual eyes to see and discern spiritual realities because walking with the Lord has become my default mode of being. 

Scripture on building sanctifying habits:

Romans 12:2 ESV 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV 

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV 

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV 

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

]]>
The Shower of Jesus' Blood https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-shower-of-jesus-blood https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-shower-of-jesus-blood#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-shower-of-jesus-blood The Shower of Jesus’ Blood

By Joy Cochran

12.31.2023

 

Have you ever noticed that when you want to feel good about yourself, it's easy to find someone who is down in the dumps to compare yourself to, and suddenly you feel much better? Likewise, when you are set on martyrdom, you find so many others whose lives seem perfect, and your “Woe is me!” echoes through the depths of your soul. The problem with both of these approaches is that they focus on me, and when we are the focal point, we will never be satisfied. Our souls long for much more depth. We want to be known and loved, but that type of vulnerability seems so risky.

As a result, we look for a safer approach, perhaps something more measurable or black and white. We like neat cause-and-effect diagrams, so we find our way to religion and legalism which point to our efforts. But, no matter how hard we try, we can't make our way to God's good graces. As we learn in Isaiah 64:6, we have nothing to offer. Even what we see as our “righteous” deeds are considered filthy rags to a perfect, holy God. If we left it at that, what a depressing message this would be.

We can't clean ourselves up enough or somehow make ourselves presentable enough. The outward facade we work so hard to put on means nothing. God is not fooled. “Right behavior” does not equal right standing with God. Just read Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5-7, and it's easy to see that God cares far more about the condition of our hearts. The problem is that we have been indoctrinated by our culture and rehearsed the story in our minds. We think that we have to prove ourselves worthy or somehow be able to pay back at least part of this debt we owe. That, my friend, is where we are so very wrong.

We need to be willing to stand before God naked and recognize that even the “good” we attempt to clothe ourselves in means nothing. It is only a barrier to seeing ourselves for who we truly are…the lost sheep in need of Jesus’ gentle rescue (Luke 15:3-7). It sounds scary, but when we humbly approach His throne, God is completely safe. Think of how shamelessly Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden in the very presence of God…

When we step into the shower of Jesus’ blood, our eyes are open to the depth of the Father’s  love and the comfort of His presence, the very Spirit of God ministering directly to us. We are no longer fooling ourselves with whitewashing our bodies of death. Instead, we are made alive as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and begin to see clearly what He has called us to, this mission to join Him in loving people into the Kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20). When we grasp His unconditional love for us and sense the unwavering security He provides (Romans 8), our hearts melt before Him. To receive such grace when we know we don't deserve it, is so humbling. Until we have seen ourselves as the one in need of His rescue, we will never share His heart for the lost. But, once we get that, it changes us, and we can't help but want to share this crazy love that God offers to any and all who will receive it.

 

Precious Lord,

Thank you for the gift of Your Son. We are so humbled by your incredible love  recognizing that it isn't about our worthiness or our ability to somehow repay You someday. Rather, it is about You, the very essence of Love (1 John 4), choosing us as Your own, adopting us as Your sons and daughters, and dispelling our fears. May we share Your heart and look more and more like You, “[the God of Peace], as You sanctify [us] completely, and may [our] whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [You, the Faithful One, have called us and You] will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:23‭-‬24‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

 

In the mighty power of the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

 

]]>
The Shower of Jesus’ Blood

By Joy Cochran

12.31.2023

 

Have you ever noticed that when you want to feel good about yourself, it's easy to find someone who is down in the dumps to compare yourself to, and suddenly you feel much better? Likewise, when you are set on martyrdom, you find so many others whose lives seem perfect, and your “Woe is me!” echoes through the depths of your soul. The problem with both of these approaches is that they focus on me, and when we are the focal point, we will never be satisfied. Our souls long for much more depth. We want to be known and loved, but that type of vulnerability seems so risky.

As a result, we look for a safer approach, perhaps something more measurable or black and white. We like neat cause-and-effect diagrams, so we find our way to religion and legalism which point to our efforts. But, no matter how hard we try, we can't make our way to God's good graces. As we learn in Isaiah 64:6, we have nothing to offer. Even what we see as our “righteous” deeds are considered filthy rags to a perfect, holy God. If we left it at that, what a depressing message this would be.

We can't clean ourselves up enough or somehow make ourselves presentable enough. The outward facade we work so hard to put on means nothing. God is not fooled. “Right behavior” does not equal right standing with God. Just read Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5-7, and it's easy to see that God cares far more about the condition of our hearts. The problem is that we have been indoctrinated by our culture and rehearsed the story in our minds. We think that we have to prove ourselves worthy or somehow be able to pay back at least part of this debt we owe. That, my friend, is where we are so very wrong.

We need to be willing to stand before God naked and recognize that even the “good” we attempt to clothe ourselves in means nothing. It is only a barrier to seeing ourselves for who we truly are…the lost sheep in need of Jesus’ gentle rescue (Luke 15:3-7). It sounds scary, but when we humbly approach His throne, God is completely safe. Think of how shamelessly Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden in the very presence of God…

When we step into the shower of Jesus’ blood, our eyes are open to the depth of the Father’s  love and the comfort of His presence, the very Spirit of God ministering directly to us. We are no longer fooling ourselves with whitewashing our bodies of death. Instead, we are made alive as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and begin to see clearly what He has called us to, this mission to join Him in loving people into the Kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20). When we grasp His unconditional love for us and sense the unwavering security He provides (Romans 8), our hearts melt before Him. To receive such grace when we know we don't deserve it, is so humbling. Until we have seen ourselves as the one in need of His rescue, we will never share His heart for the lost. But, once we get that, it changes us, and we can't help but want to share this crazy love that God offers to any and all who will receive it.

 

Precious Lord,

Thank you for the gift of Your Son. We are so humbled by your incredible love  recognizing that it isn't about our worthiness or our ability to somehow repay You someday. Rather, it is about You, the very essence of Love (1 John 4), choosing us as Your own, adopting us as Your sons and daughters, and dispelling our fears. May we share Your heart and look more and more like You, “[the God of Peace], as You sanctify [us] completely, and may [our] whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [You, the Faithful One, have called us and You] will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:23‭-‬24‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

 

In the mighty power of the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen.

 

]]>
The Lion of Judah https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lion-of-judah https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lion-of-judah#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lion-of-judah By Chad Sanders

 

When John sees the throne room of God in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation, he sees “in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll…sealed with seven seals” (5:1). John notes that no one in the universe was found who could open the scroll. John begins to weep. And then one of the “elders” in the heavenly throne room tells John that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” has conquered and can open the scroll. 

Of course, we understand this person to be Jesus Christ. By why? Why is Jesus referred to as the Lion of Judah?

Lions in Old Testament are depicted as fierce, hungry, ferocious, and savage. They hunt and kill and destroy their prey. We know the stories of Samson (Judges 14), David (1 Samuel 17), and Daniel’s (Daniel 6) battles with lions. There are many passages about lions but here are just a few:

Psalm 7:2 – “lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces with none to deliver.”

Psalm 10:9 – “he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket.”

Psalm 35:17 – “How long oh Lord will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.”

Proverbs 20:2 – “The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion. Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.”

Lions are nothing to mess with. Calling Jesus a lion speaks to his judgement. As lions are ferocious, angry predators, so also Jesus in his judgment of his enemies will be the same way. Judgement is a major theme in Revelation, the seals, the trumpets, the bowls…they all speak of judgement.

But Jesus is not just like any lion. He is the “Lion of Judah”. This is an allusion to one very important verse. The verse is Genesis 49:9. The context is Jacob blessing his 12 sons before he dies. Each son visits Jacob on his death bed and Jacob has a blessing for each son. When he gets to his son Judah, Jacob says this – “Judah is a lion’s cub, from the prey, my son you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion and as a lioness, who dares rouse him?”

But how this relates to Christ is in the next verse, Genesis 49:10, which says “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, not the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” What an amazing verse. Judah, and his lineage, is like a lion, who will be the father of many kings (the scepter is held by a king), until one particular king comes to whom the scepter belongs to…and all people will obey him. This is none other than Jesus Christ.

The Lion of Judah in Revelation is Jesus. He is from the line of Judah, the long awaited rightful king. It also speaks to the ferocious judgment with which Jesus will destroy his enemies.

]]>
By Chad Sanders

 

When John sees the throne room of God in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation, he sees “in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll…sealed with seven seals” (5:1). John notes that no one in the universe was found who could open the scroll. John begins to weep. And then one of the “elders” in the heavenly throne room tells John that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” has conquered and can open the scroll. 

Of course, we understand this person to be Jesus Christ. By why? Why is Jesus referred to as the Lion of Judah?

Lions in Old Testament are depicted as fierce, hungry, ferocious, and savage. They hunt and kill and destroy their prey. We know the stories of Samson (Judges 14), David (1 Samuel 17), and Daniel’s (Daniel 6) battles with lions. There are many passages about lions but here are just a few:

Psalm 7:2 – “lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces with none to deliver.”

Psalm 10:9 – “he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket.”

Psalm 35:17 – “How long oh Lord will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.”

Proverbs 20:2 – “The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion. Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.”

Lions are nothing to mess with. Calling Jesus a lion speaks to his judgement. As lions are ferocious, angry predators, so also Jesus in his judgment of his enemies will be the same way. Judgement is a major theme in Revelation, the seals, the trumpets, the bowls…they all speak of judgement.

But Jesus is not just like any lion. He is the “Lion of Judah”. This is an allusion to one very important verse. The verse is Genesis 49:9. The context is Jacob blessing his 12 sons before he dies. Each son visits Jacob on his death bed and Jacob has a blessing for each son. When he gets to his son Judah, Jacob says this – “Judah is a lion’s cub, from the prey, my son you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion and as a lioness, who dares rouse him?”

But how this relates to Christ is in the next verse, Genesis 49:10, which says “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, not the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” What an amazing verse. Judah, and his lineage, is like a lion, who will be the father of many kings (the scepter is held by a king), until one particular king comes to whom the scepter belongs to…and all people will obey him. This is none other than Jesus Christ.

The Lion of Judah in Revelation is Jesus. He is from the line of Judah, the long awaited rightful king. It also speaks to the ferocious judgment with which Jesus will destroy his enemies.

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The Branch in the OT and Revelation https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-branch-in-revelation- https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-branch-in-revelation-#comments Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-branch-in-revelation- By Chad Sanders 

 

Have you ever seen a new sprout grow from the stump of a tree that was cut down? Certain deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines will re-sprout once they are cut. Rose bushes, oak trees, maples, and may other species will grow new shoots from roots or from the stump after a disturbance.

In the prophetic books of the Old Testament, the authors will refer to a “branch” (some versions will say “shoot”, or “root”). What is this? This “branch” seems to be not an actual piece of wood, but a mysterious person, a hero, a figure who will someday come and save his people. Who is this “Branch”?

The first occurrence of the term branch is in Isaiah 11. But we need to start with chapter 5 in Isaiah to understand what is going on in chapter 11. In chapter 5, God says he planted a vineyard – that’s the nation of Israel. Chapter 5 uses the imagery of growing a vineyard to describe how much God loved Israel. God planted Israel on fertile ground, he cleared the land of stones, he built a watchtower over the vineyard, and he built a wine vat in the middle of it (5:1-2). In other words, God took care of his vineyard – Israel. He did everything for Israel (5:4).

But the vineyard (Israel), didn’t yield good grapes, instead it yielded wild grapes. All that work tending the vineyard seemed to be wasted. In other words, Israel ignored all the work God did and they sinned anyway (5:4). So what does God do? He destroys the vineyard (5:5-7)!

Imagine an entire field of grapes that has been destroyed and all that is left are stumps! Remember, certain plants will re-sprout. That’s what happens to Israel. They re-sprouted from the stump. They recover from this judgment, not by themselves but because of the “branch” that re-sprouts from their stumps. So we read in chapter 11, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,” TheBranch” is a person. Later in chapter 11 we read that the “Branch” will be a signal to all peoples and of him all the nations shall inquire (11:10).

We know Israel’s history. Despite all that God does for them, they continue to sin, until God judges them by sending them into captivity in Babylon. God’s judgement was like a farmer cutting down his entire vineyard. But after the sin of Israel and the judgement of God, the prophets speak of a “branch” that will eventually save Israel and the all in the world who believe in this “branch”. For example:

Jeremiah 23:5 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’. 

Jeremiah 33:15 – “In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

Zechariah 3:8-9 – “…Behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. …and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

Zechariah 6:12- “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

What does all this have to do with Revelation?

In chapter 5 of Revelation in the throne-room vision of God, John sees a lamb, standing as if it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes. And an angel tells John that the lamb is none other than the Lion of Judah and the “Root of David”. Branch, shoot, root are synonymous. This is the Branch spoken of in the OT prophets. Branch/Root/Shoot verses are also royal declarations. The Branch or Root comes from David (or David’s father Jesse) meaning the Branch/Root will be the King.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus himself tells John that he is the root or branch of David. Revelation 22:16 “…I am the Root, the descendent of David...”

The Branch figure in the Old Testament is the same as the Root figure of Revelation. It is an unbelievable story of hope after judgment. A sprout grown from the judged nation of Israel who will also save Israel and all people who believe in him by becoming their King.

]]>
By Chad Sanders 

 

Have you ever seen a new sprout grow from the stump of a tree that was cut down? Certain deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines will re-sprout once they are cut. Rose bushes, oak trees, maples, and may other species will grow new shoots from roots or from the stump after a disturbance.

In the prophetic books of the Old Testament, the authors will refer to a “branch” (some versions will say “shoot”, or “root”). What is this? This “branch” seems to be not an actual piece of wood, but a mysterious person, a hero, a figure who will someday come and save his people. Who is this “Branch”?

The first occurrence of the term branch is in Isaiah 11. But we need to start with chapter 5 in Isaiah to understand what is going on in chapter 11. In chapter 5, God says he planted a vineyard – that’s the nation of Israel. Chapter 5 uses the imagery of growing a vineyard to describe how much God loved Israel. God planted Israel on fertile ground, he cleared the land of stones, he built a watchtower over the vineyard, and he built a wine vat in the middle of it (5:1-2). In other words, God took care of his vineyard – Israel. He did everything for Israel (5:4).

But the vineyard (Israel), didn’t yield good grapes, instead it yielded wild grapes. All that work tending the vineyard seemed to be wasted. In other words, Israel ignored all the work God did and they sinned anyway (5:4). So what does God do? He destroys the vineyard (5:5-7)!

Imagine an entire field of grapes that has been destroyed and all that is left are stumps! Remember, certain plants will re-sprout. That’s what happens to Israel. They re-sprouted from the stump. They recover from this judgment, not by themselves but because of the “branch” that re-sprouts from their stumps. So we read in chapter 11, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,” TheBranch” is a person. Later in chapter 11 we read that the “Branch” will be a signal to all peoples and of him all the nations shall inquire (11:10).

We know Israel’s history. Despite all that God does for them, they continue to sin, until God judges them by sending them into captivity in Babylon. God’s judgement was like a farmer cutting down his entire vineyard. But after the sin of Israel and the judgement of God, the prophets speak of a “branch” that will eventually save Israel and the all in the world who believe in this “branch”. For example:

Jeremiah 23:5 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’. 

Jeremiah 33:15 – “In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

Zechariah 3:8-9 – “…Behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. …and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.”

Zechariah 6:12- “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”

What does all this have to do with Revelation?

In chapter 5 of Revelation in the throne-room vision of God, John sees a lamb, standing as if it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes. And an angel tells John that the lamb is none other than the Lion of Judah and the “Root of David”. Branch, shoot, root are synonymous. This is the Branch spoken of in the OT prophets. Branch/Root/Shoot verses are also royal declarations. The Branch or Root comes from David (or David’s father Jesse) meaning the Branch/Root will be the King.

At the end of Revelation, Jesus himself tells John that he is the root or branch of David. Revelation 22:16 “…I am the Root, the descendent of David...”

The Branch figure in the Old Testament is the same as the Root figure of Revelation. It is an unbelievable story of hope after judgment. A sprout grown from the judged nation of Israel who will also save Israel and all people who believe in him by becoming their King.

]]>
The Lampstand in Revelation https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lampstand-in-revelation https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lampstand-in-revelation#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-lampstand-in-revelation By Chad Sanders

 

In the Old Testament, God related to His people through the "tabernacle." The Exodus generation was given prescripted, detailed plans of a tent-like structure with six pieces of furniture that would be tended by priests. This tabernacle was where God would meet them and where priests could make intercession for the people with sacrifices and offerings. 

Within the Holy Place, outside the Holy of Holies, was the lampstand. Exodus 25 tells us the lampstand was to be hammered out of pure gold in one piece. It was to have six branches - 3 on each side - with a seventh branch in the middle (picture the modern Menorah of the Jewish faith).The cups on top of each branch were to resemble almond blossoms. Along each branch were four additional almond flowers. So each branch was essentially a series of almond flowers with the last being open like a cup. 

This flower-cup held oil. In the oil was placed a wick. Seven flower-cups with oil and a wick on each lampstand. The wicks were to be lit by the priest every evening and burn all night until morning, every single day. It was the job of the priest to tend to the lampstand. In Leviticus 24, Moses tells the people to make oil from beaten olives, and the priests would use the oil in the lampstand and trim the wicks and keep the fire burning by adding oil and lighting wicks throughout the night. 

It is difficult to say for sure what the light of the lampstand represents. It could be that the light of the lampstand represents the Presence of God. The lampstand was always to remain lit throughout the night. In John, Jesus was at the feast of booths, and He declares to the crowd that He is the light of the world. Many other places in the Bible associate light with God. It could also be that the light represences the people. The people, getting their light from God, are to keep their light shining. In Matthew 4 we see that God's people are like a lamp shining in a dark place. 

One other interesting Old Testament passage is relevant here. In Zechariah 4, Zechariah sees a vision of a lampstand that has pipes, or plumbing, going directly to two olive trees, so that the oil from the olive trees is contstantly flowing to the lampstand so that it will never go out. In that passage, we read the interesting verse that states: "Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit," says the Lord." 

In other words, the Holy Spirit is the oil! And there will be a constant, never-ending supply of the Spirit to keep the lampstand burning. 

What does all this mean for us? In Revelation 1, John sees a vision of the Son of Man (Jesus) standing among seven lampstands. The lampstand was in the Holy Place, so this is the heavenly temple. Only priests tended lampstands. Jesus is the priest. In verse 20 we are told the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches.

Remember seven is the favorite number of Revelation. It means "complete and whole." The seven lampstands are the whole, complete church universal. And Jesus stands among the lampstands (the church) tending and caring for us. And we have a never ending supply of the Holy Spirit - oil- to keep the light on. 

Chapter 2 and 3 of Revelation will develop this further. But for now, know that we are God's workmanship, hammered out of gold, tended by Jesus Himself, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to let our light - the light of God Himself - the light of the Gospel, shine in the darkness. 

]]>
By Chad Sanders

 

In the Old Testament, God related to His people through the "tabernacle." The Exodus generation was given prescripted, detailed plans of a tent-like structure with six pieces of furniture that would be tended by priests. This tabernacle was where God would meet them and where priests could make intercession for the people with sacrifices and offerings. 

Within the Holy Place, outside the Holy of Holies, was the lampstand. Exodus 25 tells us the lampstand was to be hammered out of pure gold in one piece. It was to have six branches - 3 on each side - with a seventh branch in the middle (picture the modern Menorah of the Jewish faith).The cups on top of each branch were to resemble almond blossoms. Along each branch were four additional almond flowers. So each branch was essentially a series of almond flowers with the last being open like a cup. 

This flower-cup held oil. In the oil was placed a wick. Seven flower-cups with oil and a wick on each lampstand. The wicks were to be lit by the priest every evening and burn all night until morning, every single day. It was the job of the priest to tend to the lampstand. In Leviticus 24, Moses tells the people to make oil from beaten olives, and the priests would use the oil in the lampstand and trim the wicks and keep the fire burning by adding oil and lighting wicks throughout the night. 

It is difficult to say for sure what the light of the lampstand represents. It could be that the light of the lampstand represents the Presence of God. The lampstand was always to remain lit throughout the night. In John, Jesus was at the feast of booths, and He declares to the crowd that He is the light of the world. Many other places in the Bible associate light with God. It could also be that the light represences the people. The people, getting their light from God, are to keep their light shining. In Matthew 4 we see that God's people are like a lamp shining in a dark place. 

One other interesting Old Testament passage is relevant here. In Zechariah 4, Zechariah sees a vision of a lampstand that has pipes, or plumbing, going directly to two olive trees, so that the oil from the olive trees is contstantly flowing to the lampstand so that it will never go out. In that passage, we read the interesting verse that states: "Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit," says the Lord." 

In other words, the Holy Spirit is the oil! And there will be a constant, never-ending supply of the Spirit to keep the lampstand burning. 

What does all this mean for us? In Revelation 1, John sees a vision of the Son of Man (Jesus) standing among seven lampstands. The lampstand was in the Holy Place, so this is the heavenly temple. Only priests tended lampstands. Jesus is the priest. In verse 20 we are told the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches.

Remember seven is the favorite number of Revelation. It means "complete and whole." The seven lampstands are the whole, complete church universal. And Jesus stands among the lampstands (the church) tending and caring for us. And we have a never ending supply of the Holy Spirit - oil- to keep the light on. 

Chapter 2 and 3 of Revelation will develop this further. But for now, know that we are God's workmanship, hammered out of gold, tended by Jesus Himself, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to let our light - the light of God Himself - the light of the Gospel, shine in the darkness. 

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The Seven Blessings of Revelation https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-seven-blessings-of-revelation https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-seven-blessings-of-revelation#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2022 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-seven-blessings-of-revelation  

The Seven Blessings of Revelation

 

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Revelation 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 

Revelation 19:9 “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

Revelation 22:7  “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”

A Prayer of Blessing Over North Woodbury Alliance Church

Heavenly Father, I pray your blessings over your bride who make up North Woodbury Alliance Church. I pray that you would fill your bride with a desire to pour over your Word, to be deeply desperate to read and know the Scriptures like a deer pants for water. Would you fill us as your people with a sense of urgency to know you deeply, so that THIS - seeking you - is the most pressing issue in our lives? In all our circumstances, happenings, and coming and going in this life, may we come to grips with our salvation and where we stand with you. 

Time is a luxury, and time is not guaranteed, but joyful will be the day when we see you face to face. When that day comes, I pray you find us nestled directly in your will; that you would find us obedient, worship-filled, and loving our neighbor. Keep us awake and our eyes open to see, hear, and know the deep things of God. There is a table set before us, a beautiful banquet, but all too often we fall asleep at the table for lack of understanding of who you are and what you have accomplished for us. You have not only made the table and set the table, but you have made a path for us to get there AND you have invited us personally! What a powerful image. 

You have bestowed upon us a future glory that is so far beyond what we can fully comprehend or imagine now. But we know that glory belongs to YOU and you will reign victoriously forever and ever. All I can think is to worship you now, because I was created to worship you forever. Behold! You are coming soon! It won’t be that much longer. Continue to wash your bride clean, Oh Lord. Make her shine and reflect your glory to the world. Help us keep your word and follow it in obedience. And one day, we will see you face to face. May that hope within us to enter into your Kingdom grip us and grow into a desire so powerful that we just cannot look away from you. Transform our hearts and desires. Make us fully yours, fully in your blessing. In your name I pray, Amen.

]]>
 

The Seven Blessings of Revelation

 

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Revelation 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 

Revelation 19:9 “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

Revelation 22:7  “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.”

A Prayer of Blessing Over North Woodbury Alliance Church

Heavenly Father, I pray your blessings over your bride who make up North Woodbury Alliance Church. I pray that you would fill your bride with a desire to pour over your Word, to be deeply desperate to read and know the Scriptures like a deer pants for water. Would you fill us as your people with a sense of urgency to know you deeply, so that THIS - seeking you - is the most pressing issue in our lives? In all our circumstances, happenings, and coming and going in this life, may we come to grips with our salvation and where we stand with you. 

Time is a luxury, and time is not guaranteed, but joyful will be the day when we see you face to face. When that day comes, I pray you find us nestled directly in your will; that you would find us obedient, worship-filled, and loving our neighbor. Keep us awake and our eyes open to see, hear, and know the deep things of God. There is a table set before us, a beautiful banquet, but all too often we fall asleep at the table for lack of understanding of who you are and what you have accomplished for us. You have not only made the table and set the table, but you have made a path for us to get there AND you have invited us personally! What a powerful image. 

You have bestowed upon us a future glory that is so far beyond what we can fully comprehend or imagine now. But we know that glory belongs to YOU and you will reign victoriously forever and ever. All I can think is to worship you now, because I was created to worship you forever. Behold! You are coming soon! It won’t be that much longer. Continue to wash your bride clean, Oh Lord. Make her shine and reflect your glory to the world. Help us keep your word and follow it in obedience. And one day, we will see you face to face. May that hope within us to enter into your Kingdom grip us and grow into a desire so powerful that we just cannot look away from you. Transform our hearts and desires. Make us fully yours, fully in your blessing. In your name I pray, Amen.

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The Flicker of the Holy Spirit https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-flicker-of-the-holy-spirit https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-flicker-of-the-holy-spirit#comments Thu, 19 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-flicker-of-the-holy-spirit Candles have long been used as a figurative expression for the Holy Spirit's presence.

Throughout church history, certain church traditions lit candles to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit within the space. The bouncing, burning light off of the wick can be a reminder to us that although we cannot see Him, the Holy Spirit inhabits believers, igniting a type of fire within us to make His name known. In prayer, the practice of lighting a candle can focus our hearts on the tangible reality of God’s presence.

The Bible contains pictures of God’s presence as a fire. The burning bush (Exodus 3:2-3). The pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). A prophetic description of Jesus at His return (Daniel 7:9). Clearly, there is something to learn from the metaphor of God’s presence and fire.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28:29

Unlit, candles smell great. We usually go to the store and smell a million different candle scents until we decide on which one we just absolutely have to have. We buy the candle based on its scent, but in all reality we are only smelling the potential of the candle. The real test comes when the candle is first lit, and the flame allows the smell of the candle to fill the room. I think we can all agree the best candles are the ones that have the strongest scents and burn for the longest amount of time! 

Likewise, the Holy Spirit inhabits believers like a flame on a wick. God the fire inhabits believers as a flame, and by His grace we aren’t consumed. 

I lit a new candle today. The wick, once white and stick straight, instantly blackened and bowed to the weight of the fire. It literally curled over, almost as if the weight of the fire was too much for the weak wick to bear. Almost. But once the candle was lit, I no longer noticed the wick, only the flame. It bounced and flickered and filled my office with the yummy smell of pumpkin spice. The candle with so much potential was fulfilling its purpose through the flame, the wick taking a backseat completely. 

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”  2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Lord, make me like this candle. Burn in me and make your aroma spread. Your fire spreads the aroma of Christ all around me. Less of me and more of you!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

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Candles have long been used as a figurative expression for the Holy Spirit's presence.

Throughout church history, certain church traditions lit candles to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit within the space. The bouncing, burning light off of the wick can be a reminder to us that although we cannot see Him, the Holy Spirit inhabits believers, igniting a type of fire within us to make His name known. In prayer, the practice of lighting a candle can focus our hearts on the tangible reality of God’s presence.

The Bible contains pictures of God’s presence as a fire. The burning bush (Exodus 3:2-3). The pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). A prophetic description of Jesus at His return (Daniel 7:9). Clearly, there is something to learn from the metaphor of God’s presence and fire.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28:29

Unlit, candles smell great. We usually go to the store and smell a million different candle scents until we decide on which one we just absolutely have to have. We buy the candle based on its scent, but in all reality we are only smelling the potential of the candle. The real test comes when the candle is first lit, and the flame allows the smell of the candle to fill the room. I think we can all agree the best candles are the ones that have the strongest scents and burn for the longest amount of time! 

Likewise, the Holy Spirit inhabits believers like a flame on a wick. God the fire inhabits believers as a flame, and by His grace we aren’t consumed. 

I lit a new candle today. The wick, once white and stick straight, instantly blackened and bowed to the weight of the fire. It literally curled over, almost as if the weight of the fire was too much for the weak wick to bear. Almost. But once the candle was lit, I no longer noticed the wick, only the flame. It bounced and flickered and filled my office with the yummy smell of pumpkin spice. The candle with so much potential was fulfilling its purpose through the flame, the wick taking a backseat completely. 

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”  2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Lord, make me like this candle. Burn in me and make your aroma spread. Your fire spreads the aroma of Christ all around me. Less of me and more of you!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

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Baptism is Life... But It's Also Death https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/baptism-is-life-but-its-also-death https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/baptism-is-life-but-its-also-death#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/baptism-is-life-but-its-also-death I am approaching my ten year baptism anniversary. I was baptized at the age of thirteen on a beautiful, warm, sunny Easter day. Even at that young of an age, I fully comprehended the commitment and testimony that baptism entailed, and I was excited. I was excited to share my testimony in front of my visiting family members, my church family, and all the guests that attended church that may be hearing the Gospel for the first time.

I knew baptism was about new life in Christ. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward grace that had entered my life and changed me through faith in Jesus Christ. As a follower of Jesus, I wanted people to know that I was committed to living my life in a way that pleased Him and gave Him all the glory. In my testimony, I shared Psalm 23 to the congregation and explained what it meant for me to call Jesus my Good Shepherd. In Him, my eternal hope is secure. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too was I experiencing new life through Him! Baptism is such a beautiful symbol of raising up out of sin and death to experience the life and freedom Christ has to offer.

As I waited my turn to enter the baptismal, I realized I actually felt quite nervous. I was about to be dunked in water in front of almost 500 people! They were all going to be watching me. My turn was next and I quickly began my way to the few steps down into this holy dunk tank. My foot didn’t even make it on the first step. IT SLIPPED. My wild foot MISSED the step and slid right off the edge, plummeting my legs forward and my butt straight down on the step. Boom, boom, boom! My butt, instead of my feet, continued the journey down the three steps making loud splashes all the way down. Oh, was I mortified! The service was even recorded, and you can HEAR the splashes and the resounding GASP of 500 people. It is quite the audio.

I couldn’t believe it. I was literally dying of embarrassment. To make matters worse, my pastor was absolutely soaked by the water that had splashed up from my fall. The whole baptism was truly eclipsed by this slip which has constituted as my personal “Most Embarrassing Moment” for ten years and running. I couldn’t believe how dumb I made myself look. I didn’t even enjoy the day after that. I actually cried on the way home.

As I look back on that fateful day, I truly believe part of me died in that moment when I slipped in the baptismal. Before this moment, it was easy for me to understand that baptism meant new life in Christ. Now, I can see, really vividly (probably too vividly), how baptism represents death as well. And in order to understand how baptism symbolizes our new life in Christ, we must also understand the brevity of the death that takes place as well.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” - Romans 6:3-5

I love the way author Preston Yancey explains this in Out of the House of Bread. “Burial proceeds resurrection, the fast comes before the feast. I trust God will not leave me in the country of death but will answer me by receiving me into God’s presence… The sacrament of baptism uniquely participates in pronouncing my being as hid in God, for in the waters I am lowered into the death of Jesus, identified fully and completely with Jesus in His death, so that in being brought up from them I may also share in His own rising again. Paul identifies baptism as a sacrament by observing our passing into the waters as the visible sign of the invisible grace at work in us. We have been buried with Jesus…  and raised to walk in life in the fullness of Him.”

It took me ten years, but I think I am finally learning why God allowed me to slip into my baptism in the first place. In my small, human way, God allowed me to identify with Christ even a teeny bit through death. I still care way too much about what people think of me and how they perceive me, but my baptism is a lesson to me to put that to death and follow Him. My feet may have slipped, but by the grace of God I was lifted out of those waters.

As you contemplate taking this next step of following Christ through baptism, my exhortation to you is this: Christ seeks to put to death every desire and sin in you that does not emulate or glorify Him. This is not something you can do in your own power, but through the power of God that works mightily in you! I challenge you to publicly proclaim your commitment to Him through baptism. The pain of putting to death your old self is totally eclipsed by the glory of the new life in Christ taking over! Go ahead and take the plunge!

And don’t worry - We will make sure you don’t slip.

]]>
I am approaching my ten year baptism anniversary. I was baptized at the age of thirteen on a beautiful, warm, sunny Easter day. Even at that young of an age, I fully comprehended the commitment and testimony that baptism entailed, and I was excited. I was excited to share my testimony in front of my visiting family members, my church family, and all the guests that attended church that may be hearing the Gospel for the first time.

I knew baptism was about new life in Christ. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward grace that had entered my life and changed me through faith in Jesus Christ. As a follower of Jesus, I wanted people to know that I was committed to living my life in a way that pleased Him and gave Him all the glory. In my testimony, I shared Psalm 23 to the congregation and explained what it meant for me to call Jesus my Good Shepherd. In Him, my eternal hope is secure. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too was I experiencing new life through Him! Baptism is such a beautiful symbol of raising up out of sin and death to experience the life and freedom Christ has to offer.

As I waited my turn to enter the baptismal, I realized I actually felt quite nervous. I was about to be dunked in water in front of almost 500 people! They were all going to be watching me. My turn was next and I quickly began my way to the few steps down into this holy dunk tank. My foot didn’t even make it on the first step. IT SLIPPED. My wild foot MISSED the step and slid right off the edge, plummeting my legs forward and my butt straight down on the step. Boom, boom, boom! My butt, instead of my feet, continued the journey down the three steps making loud splashes all the way down. Oh, was I mortified! The service was even recorded, and you can HEAR the splashes and the resounding GASP of 500 people. It is quite the audio.

I couldn’t believe it. I was literally dying of embarrassment. To make matters worse, my pastor was absolutely soaked by the water that had splashed up from my fall. The whole baptism was truly eclipsed by this slip which has constituted as my personal “Most Embarrassing Moment” for ten years and running. I couldn’t believe how dumb I made myself look. I didn’t even enjoy the day after that. I actually cried on the way home.

As I look back on that fateful day, I truly believe part of me died in that moment when I slipped in the baptismal. Before this moment, it was easy for me to understand that baptism meant new life in Christ. Now, I can see, really vividly (probably too vividly), how baptism represents death as well. And in order to understand how baptism symbolizes our new life in Christ, we must also understand the brevity of the death that takes place as well.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” - Romans 6:3-5

I love the way author Preston Yancey explains this in Out of the House of Bread. “Burial proceeds resurrection, the fast comes before the feast. I trust God will not leave me in the country of death but will answer me by receiving me into God’s presence… The sacrament of baptism uniquely participates in pronouncing my being as hid in God, for in the waters I am lowered into the death of Jesus, identified fully and completely with Jesus in His death, so that in being brought up from them I may also share in His own rising again. Paul identifies baptism as a sacrament by observing our passing into the waters as the visible sign of the invisible grace at work in us. We have been buried with Jesus…  and raised to walk in life in the fullness of Him.”

It took me ten years, but I think I am finally learning why God allowed me to slip into my baptism in the first place. In my small, human way, God allowed me to identify with Christ even a teeny bit through death. I still care way too much about what people think of me and how they perceive me, but my baptism is a lesson to me to put that to death and follow Him. My feet may have slipped, but by the grace of God I was lifted out of those waters.

As you contemplate taking this next step of following Christ through baptism, my exhortation to you is this: Christ seeks to put to death every desire and sin in you that does not emulate or glorify Him. This is not something you can do in your own power, but through the power of God that works mightily in you! I challenge you to publicly proclaim your commitment to Him through baptism. The pain of putting to death your old self is totally eclipsed by the glory of the new life in Christ taking over! Go ahead and take the plunge!

And don’t worry - We will make sure you don’t slip.

]]>
The Repentant and Mourning Heart https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-repentant-and-mourning-heart https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-repentant-and-mourning-heart#comments Thu, 31 Jan 2019 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-repentant-and-mourning-heart “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

 

These are the words of John the Baptist as he heralded the coming of Christ in Matthew 3. As he proclaimed, Jesus was preparing for His life changing ministry that continues today. While He is no longer here in bodily form, He continues to work on our behalf for salvation and ushering in the Kingdom of God. Those words of John still apply to us today -- especially to those of us who claim to be followers of Christ. Have you asked the question: Are we truly repenting? Are we repenting as the church in America at large, but also here in our own local church body? What things have we allowed to creep in that subtly distract us, actually harm us, and lead us astray?

We are in mourning because of the recent bill that was passed in New York State. We are in outrage that it can be legal to kill a baby all the way up to his birth… but the sad truth is that this isn’t a new issue. Shouldn’t we mourn as the church that has allowed for abortion at any term to go on for as long as it has? Should we repent of our lack of action, our lack of care, or our apparent apathy that says, “We can’t actually do anything to change this, so let’s just blame our enemies and wait for someone else to fix it.” Is this really our attitude? We need to repent.

The list goes on. Sexual abuse within our churches that are supposed to be a safe haven for the hurting. Self-obsessed leaders and pastors that exploit their churches for their own personal gain. Worship wars. Hurtful theological lies such as the health and wealth prosperity Gospel or moralistic therapeutic deism. Our lack of unity. Our lack of love.

Why is this such a big deal? “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43). The church is meant to be known for its fruit that points straight to Jesus Christ. This has everything to do with the Gospel and making Jesus known to those who have yet to believe. A bad tree can’t bear good fruit. Apathy is not an option for a healthy church. Lives are at stake.

We can go on to list the multitudes of things the church at large needs to repent of. We can shake our heads in sadness and disbelief and wonder how it got this far. We can be filled with a sense of overwhelming dread at the realization that we are powerless to fix any of this. Or we can play the blame game by pointing fingers at everyone else who made the church this way like some kind of blameless prophet. I believe all of these reactions are real because I feel them. But I believe each of these reactions fall short to the biblical emotional response to a culture of sin.

How must we respond? We must mourn, and we must repent. We repent over our own personal sins, but by and large as a church we must repent on behalf of The Church. Read the prayer of Daniel on behalf of Israel in Daniel 9:

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice…

“Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

This is travailing, intercessory, petitioning prayer. Notice how Daniel couples repentance with mourning: he turns to the Lord during fasting in sackcloth and ashes, worn as a sign for mourning for the dead, mourning in personal and natural disaster, repentance for sin, and in praying for deliverance. Daniel is offering repentance on behalf of his people caught in rampant sin that was systemic in nature. Systemic sin means no one is guiltless, even “our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.” Systemic sin is something only God has the power to change as we cry out to Him asking us to change our hearts.

I am making a cry to us as a church family to enter into this kind of prayer on behalf of this family, our community, and the American church at large. God has given us an incredible gift to be able to enter into His heart for the world through prayer. If your heart is breaking over the recent abortion law passed, you are feeling something right. I dare you to pray the prayer of Daniel. There is a place, an important place, for mourning in the family of God.

Repentance begins on our knees. Start there.

]]>
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

 

These are the words of John the Baptist as he heralded the coming of Christ in Matthew 3. As he proclaimed, Jesus was preparing for His life changing ministry that continues today. While He is no longer here in bodily form, He continues to work on our behalf for salvation and ushering in the Kingdom of God. Those words of John still apply to us today -- especially to those of us who claim to be followers of Christ. Have you asked the question: Are we truly repenting? Are we repenting as the church in America at large, but also here in our own local church body? What things have we allowed to creep in that subtly distract us, actually harm us, and lead us astray?

We are in mourning because of the recent bill that was passed in New York State. We are in outrage that it can be legal to kill a baby all the way up to his birth… but the sad truth is that this isn’t a new issue. Shouldn’t we mourn as the church that has allowed for abortion at any term to go on for as long as it has? Should we repent of our lack of action, our lack of care, or our apparent apathy that says, “We can’t actually do anything to change this, so let’s just blame our enemies and wait for someone else to fix it.” Is this really our attitude? We need to repent.

The list goes on. Sexual abuse within our churches that are supposed to be a safe haven for the hurting. Self-obsessed leaders and pastors that exploit their churches for their own personal gain. Worship wars. Hurtful theological lies such as the health and wealth prosperity Gospel or moralistic therapeutic deism. Our lack of unity. Our lack of love.

Why is this such a big deal? “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43). The church is meant to be known for its fruit that points straight to Jesus Christ. This has everything to do with the Gospel and making Jesus known to those who have yet to believe. A bad tree can’t bear good fruit. Apathy is not an option for a healthy church. Lives are at stake.

We can go on to list the multitudes of things the church at large needs to repent of. We can shake our heads in sadness and disbelief and wonder how it got this far. We can be filled with a sense of overwhelming dread at the realization that we are powerless to fix any of this. Or we can play the blame game by pointing fingers at everyone else who made the church this way like some kind of blameless prophet. I believe all of these reactions are real because I feel them. But I believe each of these reactions fall short to the biblical emotional response to a culture of sin.

How must we respond? We must mourn, and we must repent. We repent over our own personal sins, but by and large as a church we must repent on behalf of The Church. Read the prayer of Daniel on behalf of Israel in Daniel 9:

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice…

“Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

This is travailing, intercessory, petitioning prayer. Notice how Daniel couples repentance with mourning: he turns to the Lord during fasting in sackcloth and ashes, worn as a sign for mourning for the dead, mourning in personal and natural disaster, repentance for sin, and in praying for deliverance. Daniel is offering repentance on behalf of his people caught in rampant sin that was systemic in nature. Systemic sin means no one is guiltless, even “our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.” Systemic sin is something only God has the power to change as we cry out to Him asking us to change our hearts.

I am making a cry to us as a church family to enter into this kind of prayer on behalf of this family, our community, and the American church at large. God has given us an incredible gift to be able to enter into His heart for the world through prayer. If your heart is breaking over the recent abortion law passed, you are feeling something right. I dare you to pray the prayer of Daniel. There is a place, an important place, for mourning in the family of God.

Repentance begins on our knees. Start there.

]]>
The Embodiment of Heaven https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-embodiment-of-heaven https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-embodiment-of-heaven#comments Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.nwac.live/blog/post/the-embodiment-of-heaven From Eden to eternity, humanity was created by God to dwell secure with Him. We were created to worship Him in His manifest, constant presence with nothing getting in the way of us seeing Him in all His righteous glory.

God is the embodiment of heaven, and we were created to behold.

Throughout history, in His grace God designed a direct pathway to His beloved creation so that we might know Him and worship Him. In the garden, that was easy. God walked and talked with Adam and Eve with no hindrances. They enjoyed an intimacy with Him that tasted better than the forbidden fruit, but how were they to know that unless they tasted the opposite of God’s glorious presence? They ate, and sin was born.

The single greatest factor keeping humanity from knowing God is sin.  Humans are fundamentally separated from God because He is holy and we are not. Sin is innate unrighteousness causing a veil over our eyes keeping us from seeing and experiencing God for who He really is. Thus enters the second chapter of history, where God reached passed that veil once a year to one select human in His holy temple. His chosen people were the Israelites, and He revealed Himself to them only as they abided by His terms. He was holy and they were not, but in His temple He still dwelled with them. Still the veil was thick. Sin was rampant.

Then He came. The manifest presence of God took on flesh and dwelt among His beloved, marred creation. He is the embodiment of heaven that literally walked among sinners. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” He proclaimed (Matthew 4:17). Jesus came to usher in a new chapter; a new mercy of God swept throughout history on that fateful day. The punishment was upon Him but it brought us, the sinners, peace.  The dividing wall was cracked; the veil was torn. Sin was defeated.

And this is the part of history we find ourselves in. For those who have received the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, we are a new creation secured by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. The embodiment of heaven comes to dwell within us, securing us for a future that will see God in all His glory. He makes us able to be in His presence again. Do you sense the radical love of God in this? We don’t deserve it, but He wants us. He has secured His church, His people, to be the embodiment of heaven for a hurting, broken world. For those that believe, the veil is torn. The truth in that should cause us to fall face down in worship.

For those that don’t, the veil remains.

In eternity, the veil will be removed completely. For those that believe, heaven will be a glorious reunion with God and His beloved creation. We will get to spend the rest of eternity getting to know God more, and we will never fully get there because He is bigger than eternity!

“Jesus, the King of heaven, is going to come again to this earth. And when he does, this earth will become heaven. It will not merely be a little outpost of heaven surrounded by wilderness like Eden was. It will be far more expansive. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Imagine it this way — everywhere you look, all you will be able to see will be the goodness and glory of God” (Nancy Guthrie, “The Home Of Everything We’ve Always Longed For”).

Yet today we live in the in-between time, longing for heaven and toiling strong as the church to make His truth known. We don't wait passively longing for heaven. No, we have a job to do and if we are not doing it, then we are missing the whole point. Jesus has entrusted us with His presence and His gospel and has charged us to take it to the whole world, creating a little bit of heaven even now, glimpses through His church.

I long to see the Lord. I long to experience intimacy with Him as I worship at His feet. I pray for revival because I want others to see and love Him too. I get frustrated when His church is blind to the things of God. I feel like both the local and global church has a long way to go to look anything like heaven. But there's a reason why I am in vocational ministry... I love His bride. It draws me to Him in a way nothing else can or ever will. It is a picture of heaven, and it is beautiful.

Let's continue to charge ahead to make the church what Christ has entrusted her to be.


“For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” - 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

]]>
From Eden to eternity, humanity was created by God to dwell secure with Him. We were created to worship Him in His manifest, constant presence with nothing getting in the way of us seeing Him in all His righteous glory.

God is the embodiment of heaven, and we were created to behold.

Throughout history, in His grace God designed a direct pathway to His beloved creation so that we might know Him and worship Him. In the garden, that was easy. God walked and talked with Adam and Eve with no hindrances. They enjoyed an intimacy with Him that tasted better than the forbidden fruit, but how were they to know that unless they tasted the opposite of God’s glorious presence? They ate, and sin was born.

The single greatest factor keeping humanity from knowing God is sin.  Humans are fundamentally separated from God because He is holy and we are not. Sin is innate unrighteousness causing a veil over our eyes keeping us from seeing and experiencing God for who He really is. Thus enters the second chapter of history, where God reached passed that veil once a year to one select human in His holy temple. His chosen people were the Israelites, and He revealed Himself to them only as they abided by His terms. He was holy and they were not, but in His temple He still dwelled with them. Still the veil was thick. Sin was rampant.

Then He came. The manifest presence of God took on flesh and dwelt among His beloved, marred creation. He is the embodiment of heaven that literally walked among sinners. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” He proclaimed (Matthew 4:17). Jesus came to usher in a new chapter; a new mercy of God swept throughout history on that fateful day. The punishment was upon Him but it brought us, the sinners, peace.  The dividing wall was cracked; the veil was torn. Sin was defeated.

And this is the part of history we find ourselves in. For those who have received the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, we are a new creation secured by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. The embodiment of heaven comes to dwell within us, securing us for a future that will see God in all His glory. He makes us able to be in His presence again. Do you sense the radical love of God in this? We don’t deserve it, but He wants us. He has secured His church, His people, to be the embodiment of heaven for a hurting, broken world. For those that believe, the veil is torn. The truth in that should cause us to fall face down in worship.

For those that don’t, the veil remains.

In eternity, the veil will be removed completely. For those that believe, heaven will be a glorious reunion with God and His beloved creation. We will get to spend the rest of eternity getting to know God more, and we will never fully get there because He is bigger than eternity!

“Jesus, the King of heaven, is going to come again to this earth. And when he does, this earth will become heaven. It will not merely be a little outpost of heaven surrounded by wilderness like Eden was. It will be far more expansive. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Imagine it this way — everywhere you look, all you will be able to see will be the goodness and glory of God” (Nancy Guthrie, “The Home Of Everything We’ve Always Longed For”).

Yet today we live in the in-between time, longing for heaven and toiling strong as the church to make His truth known. We don't wait passively longing for heaven. No, we have a job to do and if we are not doing it, then we are missing the whole point. Jesus has entrusted us with His presence and His gospel and has charged us to take it to the whole world, creating a little bit of heaven even now, glimpses through His church.

I long to see the Lord. I long to experience intimacy with Him as I worship at His feet. I pray for revival because I want others to see and love Him too. I get frustrated when His church is blind to the things of God. I feel like both the local and global church has a long way to go to look anything like heaven. But there's a reason why I am in vocational ministry... I love His bride. It draws me to Him in a way nothing else can or ever will. It is a picture of heaven, and it is beautiful.

Let's continue to charge ahead to make the church what Christ has entrusted her to be.


“For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” - 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

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