When Ezekiel saw God he was stupefied. As he waited by the river Kebar during the Jewish exile at Babylon, Ezekiel was given a revelation of God and his divine beings. Image after image was presented to him that represented God and his attributes.
First there were the four Seraphim. These beings each had four faces, representing facets of God. They had four wings each, which coordinated their well positioned flight in perfect harmony. An intersecting wheel was shown in conjunction with the beings, representing further harmony and unison of mind. Wherever the creatures went the wheel went. As they turned, it turned. The synchronized perfection of these beings was only foretelling the majesty of God himself.
Shortly thereafter, these beings faded in the background, while the image of God was presented. Ezekiel saw God. Don’t let the simplicity of these words reduce their import. Ezekiel encountered the almighty creator of heaven and earth – God!!! He saw him afar off, suspended as it were above the beings, intimating his superior position to theirs. The image of God was as a man indicating the paradoxical nearness of his nature to ours. This being was like fire. His insides from the waist up was so bright and pure that it resembled fire. He sat upon a throne made of glittering sapphire. The splendour of this glorious display projected an image of a bright rainbow, circling as a halo around God. As Ezekiel got a snapshot of deity he was overwhelmed. I would be too. He fell face down prostrate before this holy scene, waiting on the glorious king, somewhat as a peasant would in the courts of an earthly king.
As God’s people seek God desperately, they begin to get a glimpse of heaven. The Jews were seeking for a reformation of their present condition in Babylon. They longed for their home, their temple and their God. It was during this period that God showed them his glory. In the New Testament God’s people were also seeking him desperately. In the book of Acts we see many appearences of heavenly beings and visitations from God. God’s people were in a time of revival, and he was giving them heavenly instructions to lay down foundational blue prints for his work on earth.
Our present emphasis at Revolution is on revival. Some of us are banding together, craving for God to do a reformative act in our hearts and lives that will spill over into our surroundings and community. It is still in its infancy and I am not sure what, when and how. I leave that up to God. Yet as I pore over the Biblical history, I sense God will repeat what he has done in times past and that we will receive revelatory visions of God. For some it will be visual, while others simply in the heart. Regardless of their nature, these revelations will spur powerful internal reformation, effecting a radical change in others around us.
To God be the glory. Amen
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Consecration
Jeremiah had invited a few of the Recabites for some drinks. These were Levites who served in the temple of the Lord. As is to be expected they declined the offer to drink wine, citing their religious vow of abstinence. The Recabites in fact lived a totally devout life. As Levites, they were required to live a consecrated life to the Lord.
Thus these particular individuals cited off their restrictions to Jeremiah as justification for their position on indulgence. Not only were they to abstain from wine, they had also sworn not to build houses, own property and possess g agricultural land. This practice was consistent through several generations of the Recabite family.
What an affront it was then for Jeremiah to even suggest that they were to drink wine. Surely their consecration to the Lord was evident. Did he not know this about their heritage?
Jeremiah later reveals his purpose in offering them wine. It was a directive of the Lord to illustrate to the Israelites the strength of the human will in works of righteousness. If humans like the Recabites could successfully adhere to rigid oaths, God was then justified in condemning those in Judah who had not obeyed his commands.
May I ask you something? How consecrated are you to the Lord? Here we have a clan wholly consecrated for generations who remained totally devoted to God, status and livelihood to religious regulations. Yet we believers are far privileged to serve God in dynamic relationship.
Recently some of us have consecrated ourselves in seeking God in prayer and penitence. It has been a blessing to see people broken before the Lord, passionately seeking God. As testimonies were relayed of deeper devotion, more joy, loss of desire for natural pleasures etc, I wondered why this is not normative. I dare to think that maybe it could be.
I see a revolutionary generation seeking the Lord of hosts. This is the generation of Jacob that the word speaks about - those who will have pure hearts and clean hands. These seek God in obedience and consecration, living out their faith humbly and boldly. May this be you and I as we consecrate ourselves daily and shine a tremendously bright light for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thus these particular individuals cited off their restrictions to Jeremiah as justification for their position on indulgence. Not only were they to abstain from wine, they had also sworn not to build houses, own property and possess g agricultural land. This practice was consistent through several generations of the Recabite family.
What an affront it was then for Jeremiah to even suggest that they were to drink wine. Surely their consecration to the Lord was evident. Did he not know this about their heritage?
Jeremiah later reveals his purpose in offering them wine. It was a directive of the Lord to illustrate to the Israelites the strength of the human will in works of righteousness. If humans like the Recabites could successfully adhere to rigid oaths, God was then justified in condemning those in Judah who had not obeyed his commands.
May I ask you something? How consecrated are you to the Lord? Here we have a clan wholly consecrated for generations who remained totally devoted to God, status and livelihood to religious regulations. Yet we believers are far privileged to serve God in dynamic relationship.
Recently some of us have consecrated ourselves in seeking God in prayer and penitence. It has been a blessing to see people broken before the Lord, passionately seeking God. As testimonies were relayed of deeper devotion, more joy, loss of desire for natural pleasures etc, I wondered why this is not normative. I dare to think that maybe it could be.
I see a revolutionary generation seeking the Lord of hosts. This is the generation of Jacob that the word speaks about - those who will have pure hearts and clean hands. These seek God in obedience and consecration, living out their faith humbly and boldly. May this be you and I as we consecrate ourselves daily and shine a tremendously bright light for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our victorious Lord
The Lord said to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies a foot stool for your feet. God is speaking of Jesus’ victorious dominion over all. The Psalmist prophesied what was to accomplished by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Jesus now the victor over sin, death and hell is seated on the right hand side of God according to Hebrews, where he has subjugated his enemies, with his leg on their necks (figuratively speaking).
While these are great spiritual truths, you may be wondering what does this all mean for us in the here and now. As I pondered Psalms 110 and Revelations 19 it became quite apparent to me. You and I are heirs and participants in Christ’s victorious rule. As Christ comes back victoriously riding on that white horse at the end time apocalypse, we join him among the countless troops in his cavalry. Psalms 110:3 indicates this troop is fearless, but yet loyal. How can this be? After all, in battle men are wound up so tight with knots in their stomach, apprehensively anticipating certain death.
As Revelation 19 indicates Christ is a victorious war lord. Anyone who puts their trust in him will not be put to shame. His example of fearless sacrifice, coupled with his insurmountable resurrection power, is enough to persuade his followers of assured victory. We have been called his body, seated with him in high places. Thus where he sits, we seat, and where he goes we go, as he rides to victory so do we.
This victory though eschatological in nature is ever so tangible in our day to day lives. I am assured that my daily struggles, battles and trials brought on by the enemy and worldly forces will have a victorious outcome. Christ is the victor. He battles for me. What do I do in response? I simply rest in his victory. Sure I follow him to battle, but it is one in which I do nothing in my own strength, for in him, we live and have our being.
Look ahead friend at the possibilities. Don’t get bogged down with the painful memories of yesterday or the frustrating turmoil of today. Set your eyes on your general, Lord Jesus Christ through whom we are more than conquerors. Let your spirit rest in his in confidence faith, knowing that his love and grace will see you through. He is our victorious Lord, meting out judgment to our foes, while dispensing blessings and grace upon us – his loyal followers.
While these are great spiritual truths, you may be wondering what does this all mean for us in the here and now. As I pondered Psalms 110 and Revelations 19 it became quite apparent to me. You and I are heirs and participants in Christ’s victorious rule. As Christ comes back victoriously riding on that white horse at the end time apocalypse, we join him among the countless troops in his cavalry. Psalms 110:3 indicates this troop is fearless, but yet loyal. How can this be? After all, in battle men are wound up so tight with knots in their stomach, apprehensively anticipating certain death.
As Revelation 19 indicates Christ is a victorious war lord. Anyone who puts their trust in him will not be put to shame. His example of fearless sacrifice, coupled with his insurmountable resurrection power, is enough to persuade his followers of assured victory. We have been called his body, seated with him in high places. Thus where he sits, we seat, and where he goes we go, as he rides to victory so do we.
This victory though eschatological in nature is ever so tangible in our day to day lives. I am assured that my daily struggles, battles and trials brought on by the enemy and worldly forces will have a victorious outcome. Christ is the victor. He battles for me. What do I do in response? I simply rest in his victory. Sure I follow him to battle, but it is one in which I do nothing in my own strength, for in him, we live and have our being.
Look ahead friend at the possibilities. Don’t get bogged down with the painful memories of yesterday or the frustrating turmoil of today. Set your eyes on your general, Lord Jesus Christ through whom we are more than conquerors. Let your spirit rest in his in confidence faith, knowing that his love and grace will see you through. He is our victorious Lord, meting out judgment to our foes, while dispensing blessings and grace upon us – his loyal followers.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Unyielding Word
Jeremiah was a prophet of God whose words rubbed his society the wrong way. Yet he was inflamed by the word of God and continued to boldly declare the oracle of God. Persecution came from every angle. The king wanted him dead, the clergy did and so did the people. How could this be so? What was so bad about the things he said?
The issue here is a spiritual one. God not so much Jeremiah was the initiator of these polemical words. Society was not ready to change their ideals to measure up with God. This was the case then and is the case now.
The Bible clearly indicates this tension as perpetual. We are told, God’s ways are never the same as our ways. Jeremiah indicates cursed is he who trusts in man, while blessed are those that depend on God. Paul in Galatians notes that the Spirit and flesh are in constant tension.
As believers who live in society, how do we then keep ourselves from being influenced by the world’s philosophies? Which inadvertently could cause us to persecute the Jeremiahs of today. The answer to this is quite intricate and may not be fully delved in here. Yet what keeps resounding in my heart is the concept of brokenness and penitence. As we have a broken spirit before God we exemplify humility at its deepest. We are saying to God that there are “no holds barred” in our lives. That we allow him to humble and speak to us I areas of our hearts. This inner work of the spirit creates in you and I a built in resiliency to the dictates of the flesh and the ever changing fancies of this transient world.
Maybe when we encounter Jeremiah we won’t recognize him as the messenger of God. We might initially judge him by earthly standards of dress, speech etiquette, etc. Yet as we have allowed God’s word to work in our hearts, we remember such verses as “we are not moved by what we see or feel, but only by the word of God”. A person with a broken spirit will pause and reflect, and allow God to lead him back to such a path missed or a message dismissed.
Remember God’s word never fails, despite its mode, packaging or cohesion with us. His word is unyielding, and will accomplish what its missional purpose. My prayer today is for God to have is way. For his word to prevail despite mine or anyone’s will. And that we will have a broken spirit whereby we can filter out the many voices in discernment of God’s.
Amen
The issue here is a spiritual one. God not so much Jeremiah was the initiator of these polemical words. Society was not ready to change their ideals to measure up with God. This was the case then and is the case now.
The Bible clearly indicates this tension as perpetual. We are told, God’s ways are never the same as our ways. Jeremiah indicates cursed is he who trusts in man, while blessed are those that depend on God. Paul in Galatians notes that the Spirit and flesh are in constant tension.
As believers who live in society, how do we then keep ourselves from being influenced by the world’s philosophies? Which inadvertently could cause us to persecute the Jeremiahs of today. The answer to this is quite intricate and may not be fully delved in here. Yet what keeps resounding in my heart is the concept of brokenness and penitence. As we have a broken spirit before God we exemplify humility at its deepest. We are saying to God that there are “no holds barred” in our lives. That we allow him to humble and speak to us I areas of our hearts. This inner work of the spirit creates in you and I a built in resiliency to the dictates of the flesh and the ever changing fancies of this transient world.
Maybe when we encounter Jeremiah we won’t recognize him as the messenger of God. We might initially judge him by earthly standards of dress, speech etiquette, etc. Yet as we have allowed God’s word to work in our hearts, we remember such verses as “we are not moved by what we see or feel, but only by the word of God”. A person with a broken spirit will pause and reflect, and allow God to lead him back to such a path missed or a message dismissed.
Remember God’s word never fails, despite its mode, packaging or cohesion with us. His word is unyielding, and will accomplish what its missional purpose. My prayer today is for God to have is way. For his word to prevail despite mine or anyone’s will. And that we will have a broken spirit whereby we can filter out the many voices in discernment of God’s.
Amen
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