Healing the Body

The Lord has been teaching me about ministering in the body. What I've been seeing and experiencing a lot is that there is always someone who is hurting, there's always someone who has fallen and needs a hand up. My friend Andy MacDonald was praying earlier this year when he got this picture in his mind. It was the army of the Lord actively engaged with the enemy. Whenever someone was wounded, their comrades around them would use their free hand (the other wielding a strong sword) to uphold and heal them. I think this is God's will for His army.

We are all actively engaged with the enemy, whether we realize it or not. The thief comes to kill steal and destroy, and he doesn't take breaks. He is constantly attempting to bring us down into sin, discourage us, and fill us with lies. It's our job as the united body to be actively using our spiritual gifts to help each other. And we need to be looking out for one another. If we are too focused on what we are doing, we won't notice that our brothers and sisters are hurting. So we need to be looking out for one another. If someone seems to be having a bad day, go and ask how they are doing. And if someone is asking how you are, be honest. If we hide all our hurt and pain inside of us, that's where it will stay; inside of us. We need to speak out what we are going through. If you are struggling with some sin, tell someone. If you know someone who is struggling, ask them about it. If we aren't actively trying to keep each other up, we'll end up with an army full of wounded soldiers who can't really fight. Conversely, if we are constantly seeking out the wounded in the body so we can heal them, we'll have an invincible army that will never fall. Imagine if Napolean's army had the ability to heal the wounded, every time. They would have won every battle and taken over the world! And so will we, if we can fight united, in the strength of the King!

Let the Redeemed Say So

During our last two weeks in the War College, we are having two exceptional guest teachers, Capts. Marshall from Portland, Oregon. Robert Marshall has been teaching us how to prepare ourselves to preach and how to "observe the text, observe the text, observe the text." In observing Psalm 107 today, I realized something...

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.

4Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! 16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

I read this time first time thinking it was about the lost. How silly was I! For I was the one wondering in the desert! I was the one in the darkness, in the slavery to my own sin! I was the fool, my soul the one perishing in it's own sin, I have been the one in the chaotic storms. Then I cried out and He heard my cry and answered! I am the redeemed! I am the redeemed! And the Psalmist commands "Let the redeemed say so!" He cries out "Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!" As the redeemed we must give Him thanks for all He has done! Let the redeemed say so! I've been redeemed! His steadfast love endures forever! Out of the wondering desert, I've been redeemed! From the cruel bondage of sin, I've been redeemed! From the death of my own sin, I've been redeemed! From storms and many troubles, I've been redeemed! Let the redeemed say so, His steadfast love endures forever and ever! Amen! I've been redeemed! Hallelujah! Glory to the Lamb! Glory and honor and power and all authority to the King of all kings, who was and is and is to come! Glory! Glory! GLOOOOORYYYYY!!!!!

True leadership potential

When looking for leaders, we often try to find someone who is ambitious, visionary, a good speaker, and someone who knows how to lead. We see those people who naturally take the lead as our "natural born leaders." I've heard someone call childhood bossiness "unsanctified leadership potential." I'm beginning to doubt this model of leadership. People will submit to someone who knows how to lead simply because no one else is leading them and we need to follow someone. However, people will submit to someone who is admirable and just because they want to. Even more, people will submit to someone who has been a servant to them out of love and gratitude. YHWH has been showing me a different kind of leadership lately.

I've also learned leadership from my friend Andrew Stringer. He is one the most humble men I know. He is a consistent servant and full of loving kindness. I've never struggled with him, probably because he is quick to make peace and submit. When he was put into a position of leadership, I trusted him and was willing to do whatever he asked of me. Why? Because I knew he had the best intentions. He was a servant at heart and wouldn't ask me to do anything he wouldn't do himself. He had loved me and in return I loved him and was willing to follow. That is natural leadership.

Or take a Biblical example. Why did people follow Christ? It wasn't because He was dominating or because He put Himself in a position of power. I would say people followed because they saw so much love and goodness in Christ. He stood up for what was right, reached out to those who were hurting and alone, and He was a loving servant to boot! Who wouldn't trust Him as a leader?

So how do you know if you're cut out for leadership? Forget leadership training seminars or self help books. Just try serving people, and ask the LORD to make you humble. If in your humility, He lifts you up into a position of leadership, you were made to lead! If you stay in humility and servitude, perhaps the LORD has more use for you there, so praise His name and give Him glory!

How do you like my model? Am I missing out on something? Or is this wisdom? What do you think?

Why I don't like the Sunday morning service.

Last blog was about my problem with preaching. Let me expand that to the Sunday morning service.

My first problem is more of a semantical one. Service is a verb. You can't go to a verb. And the verb "service" really doesn't describe why we're there. We don't go to Church to serve, we go to meet with God and the Church. It's corporate worship. I could harp on this, but its not that important, so I'll stop. In conclusion, I call it a meeting, because that's what we do. Meet. And meeting is a noun.

My biggest beef with the Sunday morning service is that it leaves many limbs numb. What I mean is we are the body of Christ. Paul uses this analogy to describe our unity. We are all different parts of the body, given different spiritual gifts to use, and when we use them, our body is functioning well and we are united. But in our Sunday morning service, the one time a week where the whole body is meant to meet, many people are only expected to sit and listen, singing when it's time and then putting some money into the plate. We have a teacher teach, worship leaders lead in worship, musicians play/sing etc., but most of the other gifts are not exercised. When does the prophet prophesy? When do we heal the sick? When do those with words of knowledge speak them out? What if someone is supposed to speak in tongues? What we end up with are limbs that go so numb, we forget they are even there.

Or how about this- Perhaps a church cycles through preachers to make sure all the teachers in the congregation get to operate in their gift. But what if God gives a teaching to teacher John when it's time for teacher Seth? Or what if during the sermon, Holy Spirit gives one of the intercessors a burden to lay hands on someone and pray for them outloud? Everything is so regimented and we expect Holy Spirit to work through our plans instead of the other way around.

Cells are a good alternative. They give everyone a chance to share and are fluid enough to let Holy Spirit take us by surprise. But cell is only meant for small groups. I like the old Quaker model of worship. Everyone comes together without any kind of plan. If they feel led to sing, they sing or to pray they pray, if some gets a word, they give it, if someone has a teaching, they teach. We all just come together and let Holy Spirit do the "Order of Service." Nice. And what if there is no leading? We sit in silence and listen for His voice. Glory to God! Beautiful!

So are my complaints legit? Do I make a big deal out of a small one? Do I even make sense? It's been a strange day, I'm feeling a bit off. Pray for me. I'm going through an awkward stage of transitioning. And as always, feel free to give me a little feedback.