“…and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship…” Exodus 35:31

Repeatedly throughout the book of Exodus we see God endowing the children of Israel with wisdom, knowledge and understanding for all manner of craftsmanship, workmanship, and leadership. I do not imagine that following their grasp of situations they sat amongst themselves and debated patents or copyrights. The people fully understood that the knowledge they so recently found themselves privy to was entirely from God. We seem to have lost this ability over the last few thousand years.

I have wondered often if this pattern existed in the early church. Can you imagine Matthew, Mark, Luke and John suing each other over coming up with the same story? Well… no. We understand today that there was a purpose and reason for having the same story told from four different viewpoints. Is the same God that orchestrated those circumstances still in control of His Church? As I look over the history of the Church I see the same thing occurring over and over. Every time there is a great surge forward in the Church, it is a result of several contributors all moving in the Spirit and approaching the topic from different vantage points. The reformation was a prime example of this happening in history. We attribute much of the reformation to Martin Luther but there were many other emerging leaders of that time that were preaching a similar message independent of each other. Johannes Hus, John Wycliffe, and John Calvin among a few were all influencing voices of their time. They all condemned the practices of the existing Church and ushered in a message of grace. Although they all seemed to come from a different viewpoint you can clearly see in retrospect that the Spirit of God was moving in and through these men to reform the Church and bring her closer to God.

A more contemporary example is the movement in teaching and expounding on spiritual gifts and how they are to be used in the body of Christ. Some names that pop out at us from this movement are Charles Stanley, Brian Carraway, Bill Gothard, and many other names that are denomination specific. I am not condemning or espousing any particular view, just suggesting that perhaps there is something greater than just one man that God is trying to teach His Church so that we may learn and grow.

In a more personal example, I wrote a book in 2008 that I was a bit nervous about as I had not heard anyone else teach on this particular topic or viewpoint. I slowly and cautiously sought counsel and input on the information presented. One year later a friend forwarded me an audio clip of a woman teaching on the same topic. Not only was it the same topic but it seemed as if she had followed the same exact course of research that I had followed. I experienced several emotions at that time. One emotion was panic as the prideful side of me wanted to cling to what I thought was mine. But another was tremendous relief that I was not crazy or far-fetched in my conclusions. I realized at that point that I had no right to feel envy over her platform and that I should be praising God that truth was prevailing and coming forward to provide insight and healing to others.

In another personal example a few years ago my sister had been praying long and hard about the direction of women’s ministry in her church and district and had come up with what she felt was a truly Spirit-led model to follow. Not long after that someone else was recognized and praised for the exact model she had come with and I recall she was devastated over this development. I knew exactly how she felt but I also knew how to encourage her. There were two possible options for why this occurred. The first is that perhaps God was moving in a major way amongst the women of her denomination and had given the same plan to several different people to assure that it would be implemented. After all, do we not see that God has done this over and over throughout history? The second option is that the person knew she it was a model she had proposed and failed to give credit where credit was due. It happens… it is rude… but it happens and is usually just a result of professional ignorance and underdevelopment. Time and maturity usually cure this.

*On a side note, it really is important to recognize others for their contributions no matter what. It is a tremendously powerful way to exhort, encourage, and confirm to an individual the validity of their own spiritual maturity and development. We empower one another when we appropriately attribute credit to one another; we tear the body down when we do not.

And now we arrive at the motivation behind why I felt the need to write this particular blog. It had to do with a particular status update on my “not-so-healthy” pastime, Facebook. One man was giving an update on the exciting new and transformational things happening in his church. One of the readers commented that he was simply copying another man’s ministry model. Now I am not going to deduce anyone’s motives I am merely interpreting this in the manner with which it came across to me. I know both of these men and have seen them “do” ministry over the last 30 years. Both are fully capable of hearing from God and allowing His Spirit to work and move through them. Both men are also extremely mature in spiritual matters and courtesy and would never take credit for the others’ work without giving proper credit. So knowing both these men the way that I do, I must conclude that both are hearing the same message from God on what He desires for the next step of growth in His Church. Its application and implementation will take on many different forms because the men’s ministries and gifts are different. My assessment is that no one is copying anyone else’s ministry model; they are simply listening to the SAME God and following His direction. It is the role of the Spirit to bind and unite us together to serve as one body and we may have faith that He is indeed doing this. Ministry models do not belong to man… they belong to God. We are only conduits of His greater plan.

And so I end this post with some suggestions. 1) Give credit to one another, building each other up, when we discover and recognize truths. 2) Ask God what He is attempting to teach the Church on a grander scale when you notice a pattern in teaching and ministry. 3) Acknowledge that the true reward for listening to God and following His direction will ultimately be rewarded when we stand before His throne and He says to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 4) And finally, we are a Church that is built on love and as such there is no place for pride and envy in a healthy Church. Let go of your personal proprietary concerns and celebrate the purposes of God expanding, growing and coming into fullness

I have been thinking a lot over the last year about the concept of forgiveness. The more I thought on it and compared my understanding against scripture the more I realized I was not properly grasping the motivation and intent behind forgiveness. I had always assumed that forgiveness on my part was for myself; that I had to forgive so that I would feel better and be able to move past the offense. While this may be a byproduct of forgiveness it is not the proper intent behind the act of forgiveness. I would never say that God forgives me so that He can feel better about His situation and move on. Why does God forgive me and shouldn’t his reasons for forgiving also be my reasons for forgiving? We are told in Matthew that God’s forgiveness to us is proportional in some degree to our forgiveness of others. And so I must assume from that, that my forgiveness should bear similarities to the forgiveness of God. Why then does God forgive?

God forgives, not for Himself but so that I may be freed of my debt. I am never under the impression that I do not owe God the debt of my very life for what sin I have committed and that even that payment is not sufficient. But God does not hold that over my head. I do not deserve forgiveness and yet He gives it so that I can be free from the consequences of death. If God did not offer forgiveness through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ then I would be trapped in a state of sin and guilt. And so God’s intent in forgiveness is to free me, whether I ever come to realize it or not.

I was plagued recently with the idea that perhaps forgiveness was not necessary on my part if the offending party did not know they had wronged me or would even admit to it. It sounded good to me and offered a level of comfort and justice. But as I analyzed God’s forgiveness I could not reconcile my thought with His actions. Whether or not a person chooses to accept God’s forgiveness does not change the fact that He has given it. God has given it in the hope that someday I will recognize my pathetic state and accept His offer to cancel my debt. So how does that impact my decision to forgive? I must forgive no matter what. It does not hinge on the acknowledgement of the offending party…at least for my part. Nor should I forgive out of some sense of self righteousness – “I forgave you, therefore I am the better person.” What kind of gross nonsense is that anyway?

Forgiveness is then for the benefit of others first and that should always be my motivation. If God forgives for the benefit of mankind and not His own then my motivation should be out of a greater love for my fellow man. Do I truly love others enough to set them free through the act of my forgiveness? Or do I begrudge them that freedom in hopes of elevating myself and enslaving them in a prison of guilt? At the end of all this there is indeed a benefit to myself but it should not be my primary motivation. The benefit to myself is a truly genuine and sincere relationship with others, free from the condemnation of sin and guilt… which by the way is exactly the same benefit God receives through the act of forgiveness to me. His primary objective however has always been His love for me and desire for my freedom. Out of that offering of forgiveness and my freedom, I am then able to enjoy a truly sincere relationship with my Creator.

We must then ask ourselves why are we forgiving or not forgiving others? Is our motivation self serving? “I am now the better person.” Or is it focused on the freedom of others? “Through my actions I will make him a better person”. I think this has been the hardest question for me this year as it has forced me to examine my heart and motives. Do I forgive so that others will look at me and think how great or merciful I am or do I forgive to free others? May we be true instruments of Christ; aiding in the setting free of our fellow man that we may not prolong his sorrow and that through the act of forgiveness we may enter into genuine relationships with one another.

The first role I want to mention is the role of a worshiper. That may sound somewhat obvious but it is very important.

 A couple of years ago I was asked by a church to help them with their worship ministry. The pastor had somewhat filled the role of worship leader and at times had their guitar player lead worship. When I agreed that is was God’s will for me to take this position I implemented a rehearsal night. The pastor and I agreed that if you don’t practice you don’t play. I quickly learned that the guitar player could not make rehearsals so I asked that he not play.

Sunday after Sunday I watched him stare at the words of the songs and never open his mouth to sing. Not once was there any outward expression of a heart that was in love with Jesus. Here was a young man who was part of the worship ministry, and at times led the Sunday morning service, yet appeared to be void of the heart of a worshiper. He was a very talented musician and a great performer but not a worshiper.

Those who are called to lead worship must worship. It makes no difference if they are on stage or sitting in the congregation. If a person can’t worship without being “up front” they have no business being “up front.”

Worship obviously goes beyond outward expressions. A worship leader should live a life of worship. Character building is vital. Daily devotion and time spent in worship when no one is watching are important aspects in leading worship. There must be time spent in developing a personal relationship with the One we worship. I have always felt it is easier to take someone to a place where you have already been. If I do not know what God’s presence is like how will I know if I am taking someone else there?

The next role I want to mention is that of a servant. The role of a servant applies to every Christian, but especially to those who are called to lead a certain area of ministry.

Jesus put a high value on the role of a servant. He said,  . .. but whoever desire to become great among you, let him be your servant. (Matthew 20:26) Again he said, . . . but he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)

My thought is this; it is one thing for someone to stand in front of the church to sing or play an instrument, but will they take their turn in the nursery? Will they show up for work day at the church? Will they help set up the sound equipment or manage the overhead projector? Of course there is no way a person can do it all. The question is, “What kind of attitude and willingness do they display when asked to do the “menial” tasks of ministry?”

It is very important that the worship leader be a servant to the pastor and other leadership in the church. This is accomplished by knowing and implementing the vision of worship established by the leadership, being flexible to last minute requests and coordinating special events that the pastor feels is necessary for the spiritual growth of the church. A willingness to submit to spiritual authority is at the heart of every servant.

A worship leader should also be a servant to those who labor with him to lead worship. Those who labor in leading the congregation into the presence of God are very important. The goal of every worship leader should be to make their job as easy as possible. The worship leader should make it a priority to see that each team member has the tools they need to perform their ministry well. This may include having lyric sheets and music available for musicians and singers, making sure visual aids are available to the people who need them, having the proper sound equipment set up and tuned to individual preferences. All of this means being the first to arrive at practice or church on Sunday and the last one to leave.

Several years ago while leading worship in a local church I received a blessing that I believe depicts a servant’s heart. In those days I was playing an Applause guitar. After years of use it had become increasingly harder to play and would not hold a tune. It seemed like every other Sunday I was breaking a string. One Sunday morning I broke two strings during the worship service. My finances were not so great at the time so I could not afford to have the guitar fixed nor could I replace it. Just before Christmas a good friend of mine who played bass on our praise team, began to approach individuals in our church asking for donations to buy me a guitar. He made it his personal goal to see that I had an instrument that would enable me to lead worship more effectively. Plus the fact that he wanted to bless me. Needless to say he succeeded in both. I was able to buy a very nice guitar which I still use to lead worship.

Today my friend is the worship leader at his church. Is it any wonder that God would call a person to lead worship who has such a servant’s heart? Service is its own reward, but oh the rewards that await the servant.

I just got back from my church’s annual camping trip. It’s a great time of living out community while smelling perpetually of campfire smoke.

On Sunday, we will hold our worship service (nothing reminds you that the church is us, not a building, like closing down the building for a Sunday). 

Not only that, there is something sublime about worshiping God out in nature, his “cathedral.” Accordingly, I will talk briefly about God’s self-revelation in nature. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. 

Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV) 

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 

Romans 1:20-23 (NIV) 

Here is an interesting thought: 

Creation itself is a testament to God. Almost in the same way that we have the Old Testament and the New Testament, we have God’s general revelation both in the universe around us and his specific revelation through the Bible. Both are vital. 

I know that, for myself, it his revelation in nature that is the starting point of my faith – I cannot make myself believe that all of this just happened. While we may debate the methods by which God created the universe, it is evident that he created it. 

However, (an important “however”) in the same way need New Testament in order to fully understand the Old, we need the Bible to understand the God of creation. Creation shows us “his eternal power and divine nature,” but not his character. 

So while I believe God exists because of creation, I have fallen in love with him because of his revelation, both in the Word and (infinitely more) the Incarnation – God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. 

But even still, God’s specific revelation should complement his general revelation, not replace it. Caught up as we are in the hustle and bustle of urban life, it becomes harder to stop and experience God, as revealed in creation and the Word. 

I will close with one of my favorite poems, “The Grandeur of God.” 

THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil

Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;

There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

And though the last lights off the black West went

Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

G.M. Hopkins

As most people can relate to in their own lives, my past consists of many adventures both good and bad, feats great and small, and tales murky and clear. All these elements add up to one main pursuit in life – my search for identity.
I recall vividly the year when my life assumed purpose in Christ and oddly enough it was well after conversion and many years into adulthood. The initial struggle I fought with narrowed down to this question, “How much of my past must dictate my present identity and overshadow my future?” Obviously one cannot discount the importance of the past in being a schoolteacher to us. After all, the past is the ONLY element of time that carries in it perfect clarity (ie: hindsight is 20/20). And so the purpose of the past must be to teach, so that with the knowledge accumulated from the past we may consummate that knowledge with the wisdom of the present and give birth to understanding in the future.

Taking into account the significance of the past, I was unsure of what to do with the negative elements. Obviously i can learn from them, but must they identify who I am? The answer is, apart from God, yes the past becomes who I am. But a miraculous transformation takes place when one adds God to the equation of life. As the divine nature is born within us and begins to mature and grow in us, God gives to us a most precious gift – His identity and His past. While my physical past continues to teach me, my identity is no longer defined by it but is defined by the Heavenly Father Himself, as He cultivates Christ within me.

And now we enter into the struggle all mankind faces in realizing identity – the age old battle between the Affirmer and the Accuser. This battle recently played itself out in a very real way for me, much to both my joy and dismay.

During a recent trip to visit my family, my father assumed a blessed and divine role bestowed on all fathers – the affirmer. When this role is exercised in the image of God it affirms those around it. Apart from the image of God it takes on a corrupt nature and turns into the role of the accuser – both roles struggle to identify us.

My father offered me words of affirmation; words that praised my role as a wife and how he had seen me change into a woman who honors and respects her husband even in difficult times and circumstances. He praised my role as a mother and my diligence in simultaneously caring for my children and my own health. He praised my maturity as a daughter of God and exhorted me in continuing to offer to others out of that growth. As he spoke these words I heard the words of the Heavenly Father echoing out of them, “This is my daughter, whom I love. In her I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:17). At the time, an element of that relationship escaped me. I forgot the nature of the accuser and his habitual appearance following moments of affirmation, to attempt to incapacitate us through whatever means he can grasp onto to attack our divine identity. (Matt 4:1-11).

But come, he did. The accuser (not my father just for clarification) appeared and began his assault in every aspect recently affirmed. He attacked my role as wife, wielding my past at me, pummeling me again and again with it. He attacked my role as a mother and in the final blows attempted to strip even my identity in Christ from me. And then he was gone. As I lay broken, striped, and ashamed on the proverbial floor, I cried out to God, not understanding what I was to do in light of this clear assault on every fiber of my being. Did the accuser have the right to hurl my past at me in an attempt to undo what good work God was doing in me?

A most miraculous encounter ensued at this point. The Ancient of Days reached down through the ages, weaving His way through my past and came to stand over me. His voice echoed from His Word unfolding an all too familiar conversation to me.

“Daughter, where are your accusers?”

I know this conversation…

“They have gone.”

“Then neither do I condemn you.”

He called me daughter… relief washed over me as I realized my identity in Him was still intact; that the Great Affirmer’s words continued to define who I was. My own father’s words again rang clearly in my ears, “You are a good wife, a good mother, and a good daughter.” The words of the accuser fell dead to the ground, impotent and puny next to the Giver of all that is good.

I do not resent or hate the vessel of the accuser’s choosing. My heart feels compassion and sorrow for the hatred harbored that allows the accuser to manipulate him to his purposes. But discernment allows me to separate the two – to hate the accuser but to love the man. If I cannot forgive the man, then do I not perpetuate a cycle of hatred and sin? And so I forgive.

My words are formed to speak to fathers; to bring awareness to the divine nature within you that reflects the image of God – the role you carry as fathers to offer identity and affirmation. But my words also carry warning to those who would corrupt this precious gift of God in an attempt to identify through accusation. Choose wisely. Whose nature will you reflect? The Affirmer or the Accuser?

Jesus the Good Shepherd was a master story-teller and a man of mystery.  From His original invitation to His disciples, where in only a hand full of words He convinced men to leave everything and follow Him, to His teachings and answers to the questions of the Pharisees, Jesus would leave individuals and audiences spellbound, scratching their heads, angry, or wanting more of His unfinished thoughts and compelling sayings.  Included in His teaching ministry, the gospels record 40 unique parables or stories, often describing parallels of the Kingdom that spawned more questions than providing answers.  Even the disciples of Jesus are often seen asking Him privately after His talks – “what did that mean?”

            Apparently, the talks of Christ were not intended to show off His speaking gift or give them information, but rather to stir hunger and a heart response.  The results of His words were that people began following Him, seeking to hear more and experience more of His power.  Since Jesus is the most effective, loving, articulate and inspiring person to ever walk the planet, as a Pastor, I’m rethinking my speaking philosophy.  I’m not nearly as effective as Jesus, yet I present full-course messages replete with scripture and examples that lead people on a 45 minute journey to provide answers to questions along with a safely landed conclusion that reinforces my main point.  Jesus does none of that.  Reading Jesus makes me wonder if our styles have removed the element of mystery that stirs the kind of hunger which compels listeners to seek for more and find God for themselves, rather than force-feeding already satiated diners.   

            God is the originator of mystery, revealing His mysteries to those who seek Him. Without the crucial element of mystery in any relationship (both with God and one another), our lives and Christianity become predictable and boring.  Knowing and experiencing the God of the Universe should be anything but boring.  Our message to a lost world should also be packed with mystery and hope, not full of Christian cliché’s. 

            What if we as teachers and speakers, used our creativity as sons and daughters of the Creator Himself to inspire those we share with (believers and non-believers) with contagious and relevant stories that purposely don’t provide all of the answers, but leave our audience stewing in their juices, wanting more?  What if instead of providing full course meals in our talks, we told unique stories that gave glimpses into the supernatural kingdom, initiating a spiritual journey for the listener?  

I’m becoming a bit of a techno-geek, and am using my computer for devotions, yellow pages, and communication. But as with all technology the battery gets low. So when you see the laptops plugged in, even though they can run for hours on the battery, they are being assured of power.Much like technology, we are to stay plugged in. Obviously, we need to stay plugged into God for our “charge”, but we also need to plug in to where God has placed us.

My devotion this morning was about the Israelites going into exile, and God wanting them to plug in. They were to build lives there. God wanted them to be a part of the community; to plant gardens, eat it’s fruit, and increase in number.

When God places us somewhere, He doesn’t want us to just show up and take. If we are doing what we are supposed to, we are taking in from Him, and need to use what we have: His love, our gifts and talents, and even our produce to touch the world. Even in the “great commission” we are called to go and (do something). We aren’t supposed to just go, receive, and enjoy.

If we are His, we will be known by our fruit. Fruit doesn’t just happen, it grows. We have to be alive, planted, and tapped into God. We will produce fruit, which is to be available to nourish others.
Where are you supposed to be planted, and how can your fruit help nourish others.