There is a difference between the message and the messenger. Although this difference is sometimes like splitting hairs I believe it does exist. I don’t want to talk semantics and debating between this and that but I want to look at something that has been difficult for me to separate between at times. I have found myself for much of my Christianity wondering what my message would be, what would be the emphasis of my ministry the ministry of both Jennifer and I? In the day of mega Churches and the promotion of ministries and leaders within the Church world at such a rapid rate I found myself wondering where I would fit in. What would be the thing that I would have to say that would be different from the others?
I believe that this thinking has originated from a worldly thought process that I have not completely found within the Bible. When I say completely what I mean is that there is an element that you and I are responsible for the mandate that God places on our lives and our ministries. You might call the difference between ownership and stewardship splitting hairs but I feel that the difference between the two is the difference of how we live our lives. More than just wording it’s actually how we come across and how we fit into the larger Body Of Christ. When we say ownership it can often mean the same thing as stewardship but many of us struggle between the two.
What we must understand is that the message you and I carry to our world never originated in us, and is about Him more than it is about us. Herein lays the struggle. The message belongs to God, meaning we don’t find our place within body but rather God gives us a message and then places us within the Body. Yes, the message must become ours but only with the backdrop that it’s really Gods. Just like the Proverb says “We prepare for the day of battle but victory belongs to the Lord” (Prov. 21:31). Yes we get ready, yes we cloth ourselves with righteousness, yes we study and promote that which God has placed in us but truth be told God is the One who brings about the victory. Not us. We are unable to do that which is needed to be done and for this reason we confess our weakness before a strong God reminding Him that its His message, His battle and His victory.
The life of Moses clearly paints this idea of the message and the messenger. Let’s remember how Moses got his introduction in the Kingdom hall of fame and the title of a deliverer. He was taking a survey of the Church of his day, found a few things wrong, developed a comprehensive plan to fix it, called some leaders and held a summit, inspired the masses and wrote a book. Although this is clearly fictional it could look like much of what we have today in the Body of Christ. On the contrary Moses was a broken man dwelling in Midian because of the murder of an Egyptian man that was abusing one of His brethren. God visited Moses in his place of brokenness and told him “ I am going to use you as a deliverer of My people”. It was through this process that we have the Ten Commandments. In his second journey through the wilderness found in Exodus chapter 24 and verse 12 it says this;
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”
God says here to Moses I have something in my heart that is Mine, but I’m asking you to be a steward over it and teach them to the Children of Israel. God says I have written it that you may teach it. Receiving something from Someone and teaching it are different. This is the difference of ownership and stewardship. I believe it is the highest place of honor that God would give something to someone and ask him to declare it to others. In this place of receiving we must understand that we are stewards of what He has given to us. We press into His heart to hear what He has to say, and as He places His message on our hearts we become stewards of this message. We cultivate, guard, share and promote the message of God. What a joy that God writes and we teach. Trust that He has something that’s been written for you thus meaning that you will in turn teach it to others.
Jennifer and I have been in a season where we have depended on the Lord’s leadership over our lives more than previous seasons. Although this isn’t something that we have mastered and have complete confidence in, its rather something that we are struggling to work out. In my journey through the Old Testament I came across a passage in Exodus that encouraged me and inspired me to write a quick thought. In Exodus Chapter 13:17 the Bible says this;
Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt”.
In the days that we live in and those that are approaching our level of trust in Jesus’ safe leadership must increase. The Church and those that love Jesus must move into a place where we are not leaning on our own wisdom but in Jesus’ safe leadership. Although a vast majority of this principle (Jesus’ Leadership) must be gained through personal experience we also are strengthened through the written Word Of God. In this passage we get a glimpse into Jesus’ safe leadership over our lives.
As God is leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt he makes this statement about their direction and His foreknowledge concerning the path they are to take. There is a path that is closer than the one He chooses but its important for us to understand why He chose the one He did. We get the answer to His decision within this passage. God says that He lead them the way He did because He was concerned that if they went the short way they would have to engage in battle with the Philistines and He was worried that they would become discouraged and want to return to Egypt. Even though the way He lead them was going to take a little longer He was doing it out of love and His complete understanding of the future. He was at His core looking out for their interest and the safe arrival of the Children of Israel to the promised land. Sometimes in our lives God may lead us in a way that seems out of the way and its in this place that you and I must trust His safe leadership over our lives. The devil comes to try and convince us that He isn’t safe and that He’s not looking out for us. We must make a choice in whom we will trust.
Maybe the path your taking is a path that seems longer than another path that could have been taken, but if you are in the will of God we must trust that He knows what He’s doing. Jesus is more interested in you and I arriving safely at the end of this life and being joined with Him in the age to come then we are. To this end He is committed. Let us learn to trust His safe leadership over our lives more than our wisdom to navigate through the complexities of this fallen world we live in.
I have made promises that I have not kept. I have had right intentions but have not followed through on them. So this is just a quick update on life and whats to come. Jennifer and I have moved out of the blessing of basement lifestyle into our own place. We love being where we are, together and in our own place. God has opened a wonderful door and we stepped through it. We are O so close to being unpacked and all put together. Once this is complete it will make our lives some what normal again. Were both working two jobs apiece and finding time for each other in between. I will be back on here with some thoughts as soon as I encounter the Lord and put my heart once again before His fire allowing it to melt my cold heart. I look forward to connecting with you here!
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I would like to start this blog out by saying sorry for not checking in here more often and putting some material out there for you to read. So having said that here is an update from the past week up to present day. Jennifer and I have been busy working through the Christmas season. Working in retail is very demanding around Christmas time, more so than any other time throughout the year. Between working nearly every day through this season our local Church has canceled services due to extreme weather. For the past 55 years they have never canceled service twice in a row. It has been nice to have a little time off, but its also strange being away from Church family for three weeks now. I have twittered a little bit about my shoulder for those that follow me on twitter. Just yesterday it came to the point of pain that I needed to go into the doctor. After just a few minutes of the Doc viewing my shoulder and this small strange rash that has appeared on my arm he had a diagnosis. I have shingles. Shingles is a virus that stays dormant in your system after having the chickenpox and can awake under intense stress or a weakened immune system. So with both of those things taking place in my life it made me susceptible to this virus working its way from slumber to full alert. Its a virus that’s under the skin working through your nerves creating serious pain. The past two weeks on a scale of 1-10 it has been a constant none stop 5. With time and Vicodin it will work its course. So this weekend I am taking it easy with Jen and spending Christmas between both families. We will be leaving late Sunday night from Raymond becuase I have a mid-night shift Sunday night back in the Rose City. One last note. On January 4th we will be moving into our appartment. I will be writting some more, and continuing some topics I have already started. I am Looking forward to connecting with you. Thanks, and Merry Christmas!!
Having enjoyed so much the post What I’m Listening To, I have decided to write again about some new things that I am currently listening to. I am very committed to filling my mind and heart mainly with things that bring transformation to my life but I also enjoy some other things that are recreational. This fits the description of my Wordcast for it touches both sides of the human heart, spiritual and practical. So here is a list with more links, pictures and information concerning what I have been listening to. Doing graveyards I have about eight hours a night to listen to a variety of things. Here we go.
1) Luke Wood, IHOP, Video Of Luke Leading Worship
Luke Wood is a worship leader and the International House Of Prayer in Kansas City. Luke’s sound is mentioned as Americana, Folk, Classic Rock and Indie. I don’t know what category I personally would place him into unless I could chose all the above. One of the things like many of the worship leaders from IHOP I enjoy is their personal journey of going deep in God. Luke’s songs are sung from a deep place that he has went in his heart and personal life and that is reflected in his music. I have had the opportunity in the past to be in several services with Luke and each time have left feeling like I have had an encounter with Jesus. His music makes me think about things in a different way and even challenges my current thoughts on God, culture and life in general. This CD is actually his debut CD and he has a newer one out called ” The Sound Of War”. Out of the two I would recommend this one as a starting point and if you enjoy this one I would encourage you to pick up the newest one. This is a young man full of great songs, and many that have yet to be sung.
2) Mike Bickle,MIke Bickle’s Blog,Book Of Revelations Series, IHOP’S Youtube Page
For the past five years or so I have connected with the International House Of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo both in person and via the Internet. Mike Bickle is the director of IHOP-KC along with others that help oversee the mission base. For the past 35 years Mike has made decisions based on having oil in his lamp versus’ gaining influence in ministry. Although God has given him both, his passion is still growing in intimacy with Jesus through the Word and Worship. Mike has a myriad of sermon series that I would encourage you to listen to but the one I want to highlight here is his current series on the End Times. This is a 13 part series and he is currently still covering topics weekly concerning the end times and the final generation. Mikes views from the Bible are very different from that of cultural Christianity in the present day, but reflect the values of first century Christians. This series is moving and creates urgency for the hour in which we live. I would invite you to listen and enjoy not only this series but also some other teachings that have come out of IHOP-KC.
3) Justin Rizzo’s Website, Justin’s CD ” Found Faithful”,Video Of Justin Leading Worship
Justin Rizzo is another young worship leader at the International House Of Prayer and an intercessory missionary. Justin’s full time occupation along with hundreds of others at IHOP-KC is to stand before the Lord in worship and prayer. Justin has been called by some a Psalmist. He is a prolific songwriter and again, his songs are written from a deep place in God. I have also been in service with Justin and have enjoyed listening to him both in person and through the Prayer room. This CD “Found Faithful” includes some songs from a previous EP that him and Luke Wood released. Many of Justin’s songs have the theme of remaining faithful before the Lord through the seasons and hard times of life, both present and those that are to come. These songs are songs that you could sing in a Church service and also use in your private devotions. Justin has been a blessing to me and I trust you will enjoy him as well.
4) Brett Dennen, A Video Of Brett Dennen
Jennifer and I were on a Ministry trip one year ago when we ran into this red haired singer/songwriter. We both have been listening to him ever since. Brett has never really made it mainstream and that might be one of the reasons we really like him. Brett is challenging with his words in the songs that he writes, singing about a variety of topics, from war to unhappiness to foreign affairs and modern life. Not only is he fun to listen to but he makes me think about life in a way that I don’t in the normality of my life.
5) The Glossa Ordinaria On The Song Of Songs
About two weeks ago Jennifer surprised me with some really cool gifts and one of them was this book. Jennifer is so thoughtful when it comes to giving gifts. I stumbled upon this book completely by accident but what a blessing it has become. The book is written by Mary Dove and its called The Glossa Ordinaria On The Song Of Songs. This book is a collaboration of theologians and Bible scholars from centuries past. A Gloss is a Medieval way of looking at a topic in the Bible through a couple of different lenses. This book like I said is a collaboration of over 12 writers from history. These writers were first century writers that wrote with great clarity concerning the Song of Songs. This book is the first of several that I am going through,looking deeper into the book of the Song that is above all Songs.
6) Studies In The Sermon On The Mount, Martyn Lloyd-Jones
It was one and a half years ago that I began to look into the most important sermon that was ever preached by the Greatest Preacher. This sermon is what I call Christianity 101. Its called The Sermon On The Mount or as I like to refer to it as the SOTM. This book although I am only about a quarter of the way through has impacted me in a deep way, and sent me into a serious study of Matthew chapter five, six and seven. One of the things that I love about this author is that although he writes from a first century background with much history he was still alive in the 1900’s. I love that he was connected with the past but alive in the present. His writing is deep and heartfelt, you can tell that he was a man of passion for a right lifestyle before both God and man. This book would be a great introduction for anyone who is interested in looking into the SOTM. You might be surprised as I was when it comes in the mail. It has about 600 very full pages of information.
