The Cinderella Church

We all know the story of Cinderella. It is one that can serve as a great metaphor and illustrate God's heart toward us - His church and children. Many of us may know the story by heart, however, if you are like me and either haven't read it or seen the Disney version of it in several years, here is a brief recap:

There once was a widower who had a kind and sweet daughter (named Cinderella) from his first marriage. The widower was married to a vain and proud woman who had two daughters of her own, equally as vain and proud as their mother. The step-mother and step-sisters reduced Cinderella into being a domestic slave. One day, the Prince of the kingdom announced he was having a ball from which he would chose a young bride. All the young women of the realm were invited. Cinderella, who dreamed of going to the ball, instead had to help her step-sisters prepare for it. They mocked and ridiculed Cinderella, telling her that the Prince would probably chose one of them and that a servant girl could never attend the ball. Therefore, Cinderella was sentenced to stay at home, forfeit her dreams, and live in perpetual servitude.

Once Cinderella's sisters left for the ball, she wept. However, in response to her tears, her Fairy Godmother magically appeared and vowed to help her. Common items like a pumpkin, rat, mice and a lizard were turned into a stately coach, uniformed coachman, well groomed horses and a footman. Rags were turned into an awesomely beautiful gown, along with the famous (no air cushion support or orthodically engineered) glass slippers. Cinderella goes to the ball, becomes the talk of the town, and captures the Prince's heart, as both of them dance the night away. Unfortunately, time marches on during the biggest evening of Cinderella's life, and she finds that she must leave in a rush - just as the clock begins to strike 12 midnight; the time she was warned by her Fairy Godmother that all the magically transformed finery would revert back into common things. In her flight, she left behind one of her glass slippers. Then after the Prince, who knows that he found the woman of his dreams, sets out on a search using the glass slipper to identify the owner and his future bride. The story ends with Cinderella, the once disdained and ill-treated outcast servant, identified as being the owner of the glass slipper and the woman who would become the future Princess. Great story! Not a guy story, but you have to admit, a great story!

Remember Israel, reduced to bitter slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1:11, 14)? They were in absolute utter bondage and despair with no possible hope or future. Like Cinderella, the Israelites were reduced to servitude under cruel masters. However, while Cinderella had a Fairy Godmother, the Israelites had God who loved and cared for them. God said enough is enough, raised up a deliverer, Moses, judged the evil oppressors and set His people free (Exodus 2-12). Throughout scripture, we see numerous accounts when God released His people from captivity. As a matter of fact, the list is almost endless (God rescued Noah, Lot, sent numerous Judges to fight for and free Israel, King David vs. Goliath and others, Esther, and then our Lord and Savior Jesus).

The Bible says in Micah 4: 7: "I will make the lame a remnant, the outcast a strong nation; so the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever." Our God has a heart for the lost, destitute, outcasts, lepers and the lame. He makes the "nothings" of this world into "somethings". He makes us, His children, to be His most treasured possession. He builds us up in Him, gives us a new identity and rules our lives by His Spirit with wisdom, power and strength.

In Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:16-24, Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who arranged a marriage for his son. He sent servants out to call those who were invited, but they refused to come... Again, he sent out servants imploring them to come, but they made light of it and went their own ways. Then the king became angry and told the servants to go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. The king compelled the people to come in that his house would be filled.

This is our God! He takes the base things of the world, like Cinderella - the abused and mocked servant girl, and transforms them into people of His noble purposes and plans, like Cinderella - the transformed Princess. He calls not many wise according to the flesh, not many noble... He is the One who chooses the the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise. He uses the weak things to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things which are despised God has chosen... (1 Cor 1:26-28).

While we know that Cinderella is a fantasy story, we also know that our lives and destinies in God are not! We serve a powerful God with powerful promises for His children. Consider the following promises He makes to us: Those who find God find His favor (Proverbs 8:35-36). He promises to make us the head and not the tail, if we obey Him (Deuteronomy 28:13). God promises that His words to us are flawless and that He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him (Proverbs 30:5). "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). Also, "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

Just as Cinderella had an evil step-mother and oppressive step-sisters who wanted to deny her any good thing, so the children of God have Satan and many who are enemies of the gospel opposing us. Yet, God in Micah 4:11-13, promises: "But now many nations are gathered against you (God's people). They say, 'Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion (His church)!' But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. 'Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron, I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.' You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.' Imagine that! Though we have many enemies who think they will defeat God's people, God turns the tide of destruction against them. He uses His church to confound and break the tyranny of the nations. God also empowers His people to use the wealth of the wicked for Him, His kingdom and purposes.

It is a great story and great destiny for the church - the people of God!! It is awesomely wonderful that we have such a place in the heart of our King.

"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and every. Amen" (Revelation 7:12).

Intimacy With God Is Our Prize When We Give Thanks

In less than a week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, an important national holiday in the United States. For many people it can mean different things: a turkey feast, a big football day, or the day before "Black Friday" which is the kick-off to the Christmas shopping season. Yet, the origin of the holiday in the U.S., has to do with the Pilgrims who gave thanks to God for their preservation, well-being, and the fulfillment of their hopes to live in a land where they could freely practice their faith. 

Thanksgiving is about honoring God. While it is a holiday, it should also be a way of life for us as believers. By giving thanks we recognize that we are a people who continually need Him. We also acknowledge the Lord as the source of our lives and every blessing that we've been given. To give God thanks honors and glorifies Him. Being thankful, along with a deep-felt gratitude and humility toward God, is indispensable to living a victorious life in Christ. Our King loves a thankful, humble heart and He rewards us for it (Psalm 146:6-8 & 1 Corinthians1:26-31). It deepens our love for God and creates within us a spirit of worship and praise.

King David is a great example of someone who knew the secret of giving thanks and was richly blessed for it. In 1 Chronicles 15-16 David, along with the elders and commanders of Israel, brought the ark into Jerusalem. As you may recall, he danced with all his might before God as they brought the ark into the city. Offerings and sacrifices were given by the people out of gratitude and worship. David entrusted to Asaph and those with him a psalm of thanksgiving (1Chronicles 16:7-36). This beautiful psalm encouraged the people of Israel to give God thanks; as well as to sing, glorify, praise, recall His mighty deeds, and called for all creation to acknowledge His worthiness.

When we get out of our comfort zone and radically thank God, like the Jews did when they worshiped at the arrival of the ark in Jerusalem, we are brought through the gate of our limited physical lives and into the presence of the King of Kings. Our thanksgiving turns into worship and causes our hearts and spirits to be one with God. We cannot help but know His pleasure and blessing by the atmosphere we create by our thanksgiving and worship. Yes, that is correct! It is the atmosphere we create, not God. We do this by initiating the thanks and praise, and He responds by blessing us with His presence.

The intimacy we experience as a result of our encounter with God causes us to know our Father's heart and to participate/partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). By participating in His divine nature, we see His glory and goodness in full measure. We also become aware that every single one of His very great and precious promises are given to us and meant to be fulfilled in our lives (2 Peter 1:3-4); regardless of our lives or circumstances. He is over all those things. In His presence we are meant to be transformed and deeply blessed.

Thankfulness is a crucial key for growing in intimacy and releasing the power of God in our lives. Expect God to richly bless and move in your midst as you cultivate a life of thanking Him with a sincere and pure heart. He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

God is Eager to Transform Your Life & Situation - Part 2: The Power of Worship

Worship is meant to be transformational. God allows us, even beckons us, to enter into His presence where we connect and become one with Him. In worship we abandon the limitations of our lives and the world around us. We transcend our circumstances and access the throne room of heaven itself. There we meet with the One who loves us and longs for our sincere love, adoration, and praise. As we love Him and worship with all our being (body, soul and spirit) we experience a blessing that is like nothing else in life. He lavishly loves, comforts, and blesses in return.

Our obedience to God makes our praise and worship become an acceptable fragrance and sacrifice before Him. God rewards us for our time, effort and faith in worshipping Him (Hebrews 11:6). Beyond the joy, peace, love we receive from being in His presence we also carry His glory and presence with us after we've spent time with Him. Remember Moses' face which was radiant with the glory of God (Exodus 34:29-35). Worship is indispensable in building a very rich, rewarding and deeply intimate relationship with the Lord.

Because worship causes us to experience God's perfect love, it casts out all fear (1John 4:18). Worship activates and energizes our faith. Because we are in God's presence in worship, He floods our lives with His peace, joy, love, and strength.

Worship frees us from bondages and releases blessing and freedom instead. Worship takes us from the hand of the oppressor and places us in God's protective hands. The devil cannot stand it when we worship God. Satan flees and the dark clouds of oppression leave when we worship. God becomes our rock and high tower. Read Psalm 18.

Our worship touches God's heart and motivates Him to come to our aid. We realize that we are not orphans. Instead, we are sons and daughters of the King with all the rights and privileges. This causes us to walk in victory and strength because we know our God and He knows us - we have His favor and that is better than life itself.

E.M. Bounds once said: "Only God can move mountains, but our faith and prayers move God." Worship releases the Holy Spirit to move on our behalf and causes His anointing to flow into our lives. We can speak a million words to no avail, but one word from God can birth something out of nothing, heal any disease or sorrow, and/or overcome any situation.

When we worship we should boldly and prophetically proclaim God's Word. This will cause mountains to move (Mark 11:23-24), crooked ways to be made straight, strongholds and gates to be torn down (Isaiah 45:1-3), captives to be delivered, healing to flow, and it will literally transform our lives and realities around us.

It may be easy to worship God when we are going well, but it is absolutely necessary to do so when we are going through a dark hour. It seems counter-intuitive to worship in the depths of despair, yet our worship will cause God to break forth the dawn and fortify us with His presence and love until our deliverance comes.

We need to hunger and thirst for worshipping God. Consider David and what he did while in a desert period of his life:

Psalm 63:1-8

 ¹ You, God, are my God,
   earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
   my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
   where there is no water.
 ² I have seen you in the sanctuary
   and beheld your power and your glory.
³ Because your love is better than life,
   my lips will glorify you.
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
   and in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
   with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
 ⁶ On my bed I remember you;
   I think of you through the watches of the night.
⁷ Because you are my help,
   I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

Worship is one of the greatest ways to become a victorious overcomer in Christ. As we become worshippers, we will know our God with an intimacy reserved only for those who take the time to cultivate it. We will also be transformed by Him, into His likeness, and see Him transform our lives as He unleashes His power and presence in and around us. Let's worship Him with all our hearts and make His courts resound with our praise.