Chapter 3
Replenish the Earth
We all have people in our life who love to point out our problems, yet don't want to help us one bit. It seems they get pleasure in criticizing us, tearing us down, which I guess makes them feel better about their own issues. We also seem to discuss problems so well yet have no solutions. We love to blame others for everything but take no responsibility ourselves. Have you ever asked someone to do something and they didn't do it and yet you got blamed? Imagine how God feels when He get's blamed for the problems of this world, yet we see from Genesis 1:28 He gave man the responsibility to take care of the world.
Since I was a boy I always dreamed of making a difference, helping the world become a better place. I thought as a child if I become famous and have lot's of money and influence I could achieve that, so I wanted to be a professional athlete, actor, talk show host, music producer, fashion designer and the list goes on and on. I soon discovered that few people become famous and when they do they forget about doing good. They become self absorbed as they are worshiped like they are a god. Many fall into drug, alcohol, sexual addictions, and the like. While others go as far as suicide because they can't live up to the pressure.
I have learned it first starts with me. My nature is selfish and until I gave my life to Jesus Christ all my works were as filthy rags. We don't change over night it is a process. I have been saved since 1995 and I am far from perfect, just ask my wife, but I am far from whom I use to be. Faith comes by hearing God's word. The Word is like seed as we water the word by daily soaking in His presence while meditating on the Word it begins to go deeper like roots from a seed, we become grounded, secure, established in Christ Jesus. Then like a plant we begin to bud and come forth as a new creation, then fruit blossoms, (the character of Christ is now seen). People begin to see that we are different and are drawn to God through us. Now we can go beyond just being changed ourselves to changing others. By taking what God has done and sharing it, reproduction takes place. This is how we replenish the earth. One soul at a time. As each ones reaches one we multiply, until we fill the earth. I have learned my greatest impact in the world is through the disciples I make. Each disciple is able to reach places I could never reach myself.
From the book Mega-shift statistics show that by the year 2032 if the rate of evangelization continues the whole world will be saved. That is why Islam is becoming more violent, the devil is at war to crush the seed. The devil knows his time is drawing near and is trying to delay the 2nd coming of Christ.
The time has never been more important to prepare the earth for Christ return. We must fill every part of society. The church can no longer be stagnant. We must move beyond the tradition that God's work is primarily for the clergy, but now clergy (five-fold ministry) are to equip the saints to do the work of the Lord as it instructs in Ephesians 4:12. We must no longer be in retreat mode, just waiting idly until we are caught up in the air. We have been left on Earth to continue the work Christ began by the power of the Holy Spirit, until the restoration of all things as promised in Acts 3:21 takes place and the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of God as promised in Revelations 11:15 and the knowledge of Glory of the Lord has filled the earth as promised in Habukuk 2:14.
Jesus is not coming back for a defeated church, a unprepared bride, a dirty world. He died that we can be victorious and be used to clean up the earth restoring it back to it's origin before sin.
Challenge: Let's ask God what our assignment on earth is and how are we to go about following through with it? For some it may be dealing with injustice so becoming a lawyer maybe your calling, for some it may be pollution, so working in a environmental job, others government corruption so going into politics, or like myself equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Let us not waste our time on earth, for the hour is urgent, so let each of us do our part as the body of Christ to replenish (fill) the earth.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Multiply
Multiply
Do you seem so busy in activity yet it seems like nothing of real significance is being done? I believe many of us are doing much good, yet not getting very far. Time seems to just go by so fast, day by day, appointment after appointment, meeting after meeting, event after event, but compared to the book of Acts so little kingdom advancement follows. We live in such a complex world, we have so many distractions, so many things to take our focus away from the will of God. Sometimes I want to escape to get away to a place where I can live more simple. Where I can have hours of prayer and worship, studying the bible, writing books, plenty of time with my family. Yet I think what hope would that give the world. Can I live in a complex world like most everyone else and yet fulfill the will of God? Can I remain focused against all distractions and obey God's voice in the midst of all the noise? Is God bigger than this world? Does the world have to continually consume me? Many of us desire to obey God's will and make commitments accordingly but don't follow through. I have had a few individuals seek me for discipleship, which is great, yet when I ask them to find the time when they can follow through with this commitment, they don't get back to me. I want to believe that the Great Commission discipling the nations can take place here in America by making disciples who make disciples.
How can we change this world? We can't, but Jesus Christ can. All we have to do is follow His example. He took twelve men and turned the world upside down. The first key as we learned in the previous chapter is to be fruitful. It is the fruit of the Spirit, the nature of God, that draws others to Him through us. Now are call is to disciple them. To show and tell them what we have received and learned and in so doing multiply ourself. This is done through relationship. Our chief aim must be this pursuit of being a disciple of Christ and discipling those He gives us. That is what being a good steward is all about, using everything God has given us, material things, spiritual gifts, and natural talents, for the purpose of discipleship. The Kingdom of God is within us, so the Kingdom can only advance through personal relationship, where discipleship can take place, where what is in one life can be shared with another. This is what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God, then all things will be added unto us. God will increase us when we are faithful over the little He has given us. If we are not increasing year by year we are in disobedience, we are not following through with His greatest command the Great Commission which will naturally follow if we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself.
In this fast paced society where we want to see quick results, instant gratification, we are going to have to go against the grain. I have witnessed so many ministers think so highly of themselves because of the crowd they can draw, the places they have been, the gifts that they have, but if I asked them who they are discipling there would be no response. Some of them even have the worst of character. The bible says to judge everyone by their fruit. We are not judged by our gifts for they come without repentance. It is our character that really matters, for our character is what draws others into relationship in where discipleship can follow and multiplication take place. John 15:8 says when we bear much fruit we are His true disciples and we bring much glory to Him. We might be pleasing man, but are we glorifying the Father.
Challenge: Let's examine our ways this week, is discipleship our chief aim, are we true disciples of the Lord, are we seeking the kingdom of God first in our lives? Like Jesus let's ask the Father who He has given us and begin to be obedient using all He has given us, our time, talent, material things, and spiritual knowledge and gifts to disciple each one, being fruitful and multiplying ourselves in which God will bring the increase and the kingdom of God will advance in our land.
Do you seem so busy in activity yet it seems like nothing of real significance is being done? I believe many of us are doing much good, yet not getting very far. Time seems to just go by so fast, day by day, appointment after appointment, meeting after meeting, event after event, but compared to the book of Acts so little kingdom advancement follows. We live in such a complex world, we have so many distractions, so many things to take our focus away from the will of God. Sometimes I want to escape to get away to a place where I can live more simple. Where I can have hours of prayer and worship, studying the bible, writing books, plenty of time with my family. Yet I think what hope would that give the world. Can I live in a complex world like most everyone else and yet fulfill the will of God? Can I remain focused against all distractions and obey God's voice in the midst of all the noise? Is God bigger than this world? Does the world have to continually consume me? Many of us desire to obey God's will and make commitments accordingly but don't follow through. I have had a few individuals seek me for discipleship, which is great, yet when I ask them to find the time when they can follow through with this commitment, they don't get back to me. I want to believe that the Great Commission discipling the nations can take place here in America by making disciples who make disciples.
How can we change this world? We can't, but Jesus Christ can. All we have to do is follow His example. He took twelve men and turned the world upside down. The first key as we learned in the previous chapter is to be fruitful. It is the fruit of the Spirit, the nature of God, that draws others to Him through us. Now are call is to disciple them. To show and tell them what we have received and learned and in so doing multiply ourself. This is done through relationship. Our chief aim must be this pursuit of being a disciple of Christ and discipling those He gives us. That is what being a good steward is all about, using everything God has given us, material things, spiritual gifts, and natural talents, for the purpose of discipleship. The Kingdom of God is within us, so the Kingdom can only advance through personal relationship, where discipleship can take place, where what is in one life can be shared with another. This is what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God, then all things will be added unto us. God will increase us when we are faithful over the little He has given us. If we are not increasing year by year we are in disobedience, we are not following through with His greatest command the Great Commission which will naturally follow if we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourself.
In this fast paced society where we want to see quick results, instant gratification, we are going to have to go against the grain. I have witnessed so many ministers think so highly of themselves because of the crowd they can draw, the places they have been, the gifts that they have, but if I asked them who they are discipling there would be no response. Some of them even have the worst of character. The bible says to judge everyone by their fruit. We are not judged by our gifts for they come without repentance. It is our character that really matters, for our character is what draws others into relationship in where discipleship can follow and multiplication take place. John 15:8 says when we bear much fruit we are His true disciples and we bring much glory to Him. We might be pleasing man, but are we glorifying the Father.
Challenge: Let's examine our ways this week, is discipleship our chief aim, are we true disciples of the Lord, are we seeking the kingdom of God first in our lives? Like Jesus let's ask the Father who He has given us and begin to be obedient using all He has given us, our time, talent, material things, and spiritual knowledge and gifts to disciple each one, being fruitful and multiplying ourselves in which God will bring the increase and the kingdom of God will advance in our land.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Dominon Mandate: Be Fruitful
Wisdom says if one loses something to retrace their steps and they should be able to find it. If we have lost our way we need to take ourselves back to where we began. So here we are: "The beginning - the book of Genesis." God after creating Adam and Eve in His own image now gives them their purpose, be Fruitful, Multiply, replenish the earth, Subdue it and have Dominion over every living thing (Gen. 1:27-28). Sin separated us from our purpose we became self-absorbed people. Now in Christ we have been restored to our original purpose, the dominion mandate. Let's break Genesis 1:28 down so we can fully understand our life purpose.
Be fruitful naturally means to have children but spiritually it means to reflect His likeness. I use to think that I need to sacrifice having children in order to devote myself to ministry. Until I learned that my greatest ministry is having children. My children are my greatest influence. They are made to reflect me. So if I reflect God they will reflect God and I will reproduce myself not just naturally but spiritually as well.
John 15 states how one bears fruit, this fruit is the fruit of the spirit, the nature of God described in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. First of all one must allow God to work in their heart, like a gardner does with it's crop. We must allow God to pluck off that which produces no fruit. As long as someone or something moves us outside of God their is removal needing to take place. I like to see my house, car, office nice, neat, and in order, the problem I have is finding the time to maintain it. It just seems like things always begin to pile up with time. So is my spiritual life without prayer, burdens pile up and I feel so dirty and distant from God. John 15 says to abide in Christ which means to remain, be consistent, dwell, this is what it takes to bear fruit. I must remain connected to God through prayer at all times for Him to continually be working in my heart. Like a plant that isn't being watered when I disconnect myself from God dead branches will follow. When a field is neglected the natural environment begins to be reflected, soil hardens, weeds grow, plants die, etc. The process of transformation where the old man is being plucked off and the new man is coming forth is all determined by the time I allow the gardner (God) access to my field (heart).
Challenge: Let's allow God more access to our heart. Spend more time in prayer. Allow God to remove dead branches, unfruitful activities, and to re-schedule our days so He is the center of all we do.
Be fruitful naturally means to have children but spiritually it means to reflect His likeness. I use to think that I need to sacrifice having children in order to devote myself to ministry. Until I learned that my greatest ministry is having children. My children are my greatest influence. They are made to reflect me. So if I reflect God they will reflect God and I will reproduce myself not just naturally but spiritually as well.
John 15 states how one bears fruit, this fruit is the fruit of the spirit, the nature of God described in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. First of all one must allow God to work in their heart, like a gardner does with it's crop. We must allow God to pluck off that which produces no fruit. As long as someone or something moves us outside of God their is removal needing to take place. I like to see my house, car, office nice, neat, and in order, the problem I have is finding the time to maintain it. It just seems like things always begin to pile up with time. So is my spiritual life without prayer, burdens pile up and I feel so dirty and distant from God. John 15 says to abide in Christ which means to remain, be consistent, dwell, this is what it takes to bear fruit. I must remain connected to God through prayer at all times for Him to continually be working in my heart. Like a plant that isn't being watered when I disconnect myself from God dead branches will follow. When a field is neglected the natural environment begins to be reflected, soil hardens, weeds grow, plants die, etc. The process of transformation where the old man is being plucked off and the new man is coming forth is all determined by the time I allow the gardner (God) access to my field (heart).
Challenge: Let's allow God more access to our heart. Spend more time in prayer. Allow God to remove dead branches, unfruitful activities, and to re-schedule our days so He is the center of all we do.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Kingdom Advancement Our Apostolic Mission
I so easily get caught up in the present. Focused on just dealing with the challenges I am facing day by day. I lose sight of the bigger picture. My eyes wander and I give myself over to insignificant things. The problems I face in life are harder and the zeal I had in my youth is fading away. My purpose filled life has turned to just mere survival.
I sense that this is the confession of many of you.
With this in mind I am beginning a journey to restore vision. For God to reveal to us the God who was so we do not repeat History, the God who is so that we embrace what He is doing now, and the God who is to come so that we are made ready.
This journey will take us from the book of Genesis through Revelations opening our eyes to see life through His view.
A Kingdom mentality will follow, advancement will take place, and our Apostolic Mission - the Great Commission will begin to be fulfilled.
Come along on this journey with me.
I sense that this is the confession of many of you.
With this in mind I am beginning a journey to restore vision. For God to reveal to us the God who was so we do not repeat History, the God who is so that we embrace what He is doing now, and the God who is to come so that we are made ready.
This journey will take us from the book of Genesis through Revelations opening our eyes to see life through His view.
A Kingdom mentality will follow, advancement will take place, and our Apostolic Mission - the Great Commission will begin to be fulfilled.
Come along on this journey with me.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blessed If I Do, Cursed If I Don't
God has broken the power of sin off my life, He has set me free. Therefore I have no excuse for continuing to sin anymore. When a child is ignorant of something wrong the punishment is light but when a child has been taught right and still does wrong the punishment is much more severe. To spoil a child means to let them get away with everything, to have whatever they want, but in doing so they rot inside. Parents who really love their children discipline them so they learn right from wrong. Likewise God our Heavenly Father will no longer let us get away with sin.
When I was in the the world the wrong I did took very little thought now that I am saved I know better and I actually must go against my conscious to do it. When I do wrong my consciousness now eats me alive. I can no longer enjoy sin. I feel this horrible guilt inside, I fear my sin being exposed, and the shame that follows. The peace I have in Christ is gone, and my world literally falls apart.
The children of Israel wanted to return to Egypt because they got tired of God’s punishment, they wanted to freely sin and get away with it. They would rather be slaves to sin that deal with the process of being free of it. Once I allow God into my life He will never let me go. I can never enjoy sin and get away with it again.
The punishment for sin as a saint seems much more severe than a sinner but really it cannot compare with Hell. I should rejoice in my suffering for it is producing righteousness. Just like the children of Israel we are in a process, the wilderness experience, where God is renewing our minds and transforming our hearts so that we can enter into our Promised Land, our ultimate calling where we rule with Him, driving out evil forces in this world until the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of God.
Challenge: Let's examine the areas of sin in our life and repent for the excuses we have made for continuing in them and believe God for complete deliverance and therefore greater freedom.
Biblical Reference: Romans 6:6-11, John 15:22, Hebrews 12:5-12, Matthew 9:13, 1 Timothy 1:16, Jeremiah 30:15, Psalm 32:5, Psalm 19:13, Isaiah 49:13,
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Holy Rest
As Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything. I have recently gone through a busy time filled with many challenges, in which I had a difficulty balancing everything out. It seemed like I had to deal with one challenging situation after the other. Now God has taken me into a time of rest.
Looking back at this difficult season, I see how I have grown in the way I handled these different responsibilities, and I also see where I have room to grow. Having a time of rest is for the purpose of recovery, reflection, and restoration. It may seem like it is non-productive but it actually paves the way for greater grace.
If a land doesn't rest and is overly worked the soil will be no longer fertile. So also our bodies when there is a lack of rest fatigue sets in with sickness and disease following. God has placed in His word both time for rest to the land and our bodies. Neglect of His word has resulted in the consequences of both natural disasters and wide-spread disease. It is hard to slow down once the pace has been so fast but it is necessary in order not to fall down. We need time for healing. We cannot advance to new challenges if we are still hurting from former ones.
Each season has it's lessons to learn from to prepare for the lesson's to come. If a student does not take time to study they will not have the knowledge needed to answer the questions on their test. So also the believer who doesn't take time to reflect on their experiences will not have the wisdom needed to pass the tests to come. This shortens our growth and we are stuck in the same lesson, repeating the same tests over and over again.
We all need time in our life for reflection. The bible says to examine our hearts. Some people are just simply ignorant of their own wrong because they don't take time to examine themselves. They blindly put themselves in the same situation time and time again. The greatest minds in History who have invented great things have been those who spend much time on reflection. Wisdom is always available to those who take time to listen for it.
Certain things may be lost in one season from the other. There are certain negative things that are not to be picked up again, but their are certain positive things that are. In the busy season I have been in it has been hard to maintain some of the spiritual disciplines I have had in my past. Reading, writing, praying, etc. have been neglected, because of the responsibilities I faced.
In this new season God is wanting to restore those disciplines in my life. Through the challenges I faced in the previous season it can actually strengthen those disciplines. From what I have experienced there are now certain areas I want to have greater understanding in through reading, and with that greater understanding comes better writing. I also now have more compassion in prayer gained from dealing with difficulties.
The children of Israel had rest every seventh day, seventh year and fiftieth year for Jubilee. We must know God's timing. Each individual is at different stages in their walk with God, we must know His leading, there is a season and time for everything. He has called me to rest, by lessening the load of certain responsibilities, and removing other responsibilities that are no longer necessary. I simply must follow His leading and not try to hold on to that which He is removing, and not add onto my life things that He is not leading.
Challenge: Take time to rest to recover, reflect, and be restored. In doing so you will discover the time and season you are in.
Biblical Reference: Leviticus 25, Ecclesiastes 3, Hebrews 4, Romans 11:11, Psalm 119:15, 55, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:107
Looking back at this difficult season, I see how I have grown in the way I handled these different responsibilities, and I also see where I have room to grow. Having a time of rest is for the purpose of recovery, reflection, and restoration. It may seem like it is non-productive but it actually paves the way for greater grace.
If a land doesn't rest and is overly worked the soil will be no longer fertile. So also our bodies when there is a lack of rest fatigue sets in with sickness and disease following. God has placed in His word both time for rest to the land and our bodies. Neglect of His word has resulted in the consequences of both natural disasters and wide-spread disease. It is hard to slow down once the pace has been so fast but it is necessary in order not to fall down. We need time for healing. We cannot advance to new challenges if we are still hurting from former ones.
Each season has it's lessons to learn from to prepare for the lesson's to come. If a student does not take time to study they will not have the knowledge needed to answer the questions on their test. So also the believer who doesn't take time to reflect on their experiences will not have the wisdom needed to pass the tests to come. This shortens our growth and we are stuck in the same lesson, repeating the same tests over and over again.
We all need time in our life for reflection. The bible says to examine our hearts. Some people are just simply ignorant of their own wrong because they don't take time to examine themselves. They blindly put themselves in the same situation time and time again. The greatest minds in History who have invented great things have been those who spend much time on reflection. Wisdom is always available to those who take time to listen for it.
Certain things may be lost in one season from the other. There are certain negative things that are not to be picked up again, but their are certain positive things that are. In the busy season I have been in it has been hard to maintain some of the spiritual disciplines I have had in my past. Reading, writing, praying, etc. have been neglected, because of the responsibilities I faced.
In this new season God is wanting to restore those disciplines in my life. Through the challenges I faced in the previous season it can actually strengthen those disciplines. From what I have experienced there are now certain areas I want to have greater understanding in through reading, and with that greater understanding comes better writing. I also now have more compassion in prayer gained from dealing with difficulties.
The children of Israel had rest every seventh day, seventh year and fiftieth year for Jubilee. We must know God's timing. Each individual is at different stages in their walk with God, we must know His leading, there is a season and time for everything. He has called me to rest, by lessening the load of certain responsibilities, and removing other responsibilities that are no longer necessary. I simply must follow His leading and not try to hold on to that which He is removing, and not add onto my life things that He is not leading.
Challenge: Take time to rest to recover, reflect, and be restored. In doing so you will discover the time and season you are in.
Biblical Reference: Leviticus 25, Ecclesiastes 3, Hebrews 4, Romans 11:11, Psalm 119:15, 55, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:107
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Light & Darkness
I cannot believe the things that come out of my mouth or the choices I make sometimes. I would love if I could take back time. Many times as it says in the book of Romans I do the things I don't want to do, and don't do the things I want to do. I hate being so inconsistent. I can just be so wrong at times and yet so right at other times. I feel so bad for the people around me especially my wife and kids who have to live with my imperfections. "Help me Lord" is all I can say!
Thank God for His grace and mercy for somehow He always gets me out of the mess I put myself in. I am not perfect but I am being perfected. I have changed, and I trust God that He will continually change me. For His Word promises that He will complete the work that He has begun. I will not always be impatient. I will not always spend money foolishly. I will not always make selfish decisions that hurt the ones I love.
In Leviticus 24 the Lord commanded Moses to have the people bring pure oil of pressed olives so that the lampstand in the Tabernacle would burn continually. Now remember everything in the OT was a type and shadow of what we would experience in the NT in Christ. We are now the lampstand and likewise need God's presence always evident in our life.
He wants to move all our inconsistencies, our sometime-ish ways, until their is no more darkness in our life only light. Heaven is lighted by the Glory of God. It is the Sun that brings light, and when the Sun is not present darkness sets in. So it is with us God's lampstand when the Son is present there is light and when He is not darkness sets in.
For lies to be exposed and darkness removed light has to consistently shine bright. God wants us to learn how to abide in Him. How to keep our eyes on Him. See our eyes are the light to our soul, so what our eyes gaze on will determine what comes forth from our soul. So for the light switch to remain on my eyes must remain on Him, it turns off when my focus is elsewhere.
World leaders cannot solve the world's problems. Cracking down on drugs, having stronger borders, better military defense, strikter enforcement of the law, is not enough. What repels darkness is the light and we are the light of the world.
Challenge: Examine your surroundings and remove the things in your life that take your focus off of Him.
Biblical Reference: Leviticus 24:1-4, Genesis 1:4, Psalm 18:28, John 1:5, Eph. 5:8, Romans 2:19, Matt. 6:23, Romans 7:14-25, John 15:4
Thank God for His grace and mercy for somehow He always gets me out of the mess I put myself in. I am not perfect but I am being perfected. I have changed, and I trust God that He will continually change me. For His Word promises that He will complete the work that He has begun. I will not always be impatient. I will not always spend money foolishly. I will not always make selfish decisions that hurt the ones I love.
In Leviticus 24 the Lord commanded Moses to have the people bring pure oil of pressed olives so that the lampstand in the Tabernacle would burn continually. Now remember everything in the OT was a type and shadow of what we would experience in the NT in Christ. We are now the lampstand and likewise need God's presence always evident in our life.
He wants to move all our inconsistencies, our sometime-ish ways, until their is no more darkness in our life only light. Heaven is lighted by the Glory of God. It is the Sun that brings light, and when the Sun is not present darkness sets in. So it is with us God's lampstand when the Son is present there is light and when He is not darkness sets in.
For lies to be exposed and darkness removed light has to consistently shine bright. God wants us to learn how to abide in Him. How to keep our eyes on Him. See our eyes are the light to our soul, so what our eyes gaze on will determine what comes forth from our soul. So for the light switch to remain on my eyes must remain on Him, it turns off when my focus is elsewhere.
World leaders cannot solve the world's problems. Cracking down on drugs, having stronger borders, better military defense, strikter enforcement of the law, is not enough. What repels darkness is the light and we are the light of the world.
Challenge: Examine your surroundings and remove the things in your life that take your focus off of Him.
Biblical Reference: Leviticus 24:1-4, Genesis 1:4, Psalm 18:28, John 1:5, Eph. 5:8, Romans 2:19, Matt. 6:23, Romans 7:14-25, John 15:4
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