The Resurrection is the Recalibration of Our Reality

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important historical event for mankind, next to the creation of the world. It demonstrated that Jesus is the Son of God with power over sin and death (Romans 1:4). Because He went to the cross, bearing our sin and shame, we can now live life abundantly in Him (John 10:10) escaping the corruption of sin (2 Peter 1:4) and judgment of God upon sin (Romans 5:9).

The resurrection is the great "game-changer" for those who turn to God and believe. Prior to this, mankind was separated from God because of sin and lawless acts (Colossians 2:13). But because of God's love for us, while we were dead in our sins, He sent His son as the ultimate sacrifice to die in our place (Romans 5:8). When Jesus shed His blood for you and me it reconciled and made us right (justified) before God, saving us from the penalty of sin and God's wrath (judgment) against us (Romans 5:8-9). When we turn from sin, considering ourselves dead to it, acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we now experience life by the power of God (2 Timothy 2:11). As a result, we partake of His divine nature, escaping the corruption of sin (2 Peter 1:4). The eyes of our understanding are opened so that we may may know the hope of His calling, as well as the riches of the glory of His inheritance for us - for His children who believe (Ephesians 1:18).

God wants us to understand and experience the incredible greatness of His power for our lives, which is the same power that God utilized when He raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places above every other power and authority, placing everything under His feet (Ephesians 1:19-22).We are no longer to walk in sin, nor are we to walk in defeat and weakness - we have God!

The Apostle Paul understood this and made it His life's passion to love and serve God, without reservation. He purposed to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10) in his life and ministry. We too are called to walk this way. Though we are weak in ourselves, we no longer serve ourselves and can call upon a God who loves us, blesses us and gives us His power to overcome the obstacles and problems in life, as well as minister with His power and love. As we seek God and love Him with all our hearts (Deuteronomy 6:5) obeying and trusting in Him, we come to see His glory and the goodness He had given us with His very great and precious promises that are for us (2 Peter 1:4). Because we belong to Him, He has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

For this reason we bow before God, serving Him with all reverence and love. We are strengthened by His power through the Holy Spirit in our inner self so that Christ dwells in our hearts by the faith He has given us. Being rooted and grounded in His great love, He reveals the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ - a love that goes beyond all knowledge, so we may know all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-20).

This is the true meaning and purpose of life - the life we are meant to live, as destined by God. This is the abundant life God has for us who believe. We are to receive the power of the resurrection from Him. God is so glorious and His love is so wonderful that it recalibrates our reality!

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).

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.

God is Eager to Transform Your Life & Situation - Part 1

Two days ago, while at church, God healed me of a progressive and debilitating injury to my left shoulder that I have had for the last eight to ten months. Healing for this injury has been an odyssey and a process of discovery of God's faithfulness and love.

Just as I had a shoulder injury, all of us have situations or circumstances that beset us and weigh us down. These things make me think about the concept of "entropy" and there seems to be a lot of it in life, things and life itself going from order to disorder, breaking down, etc. Since the fall of mankind into sin (Genesis 2:17), death, which is a form of entropy, is now a part of life, part of the "natural" but broken order of everything around us. Things going from life to death, from strength to weakness. Prior to the fall of mankind into sin this wasn't the case. Originally, God produced life and it was always abundant and fruitful. God's plan was for mankind to live in abundance and fruitfulness - to be living beings, not dying beings (Genesis 2:7)!

Fortunately, God the Father had a plan to overcome the fall and sin. As we know, it was revealed in Christ who came to restore His Father's purposes. In doing so, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. By His sacrifice, we can now enter into relationship with God and receive every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Jesus came to give us life and give it abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus conquered sin and death (Romans 7:24-25). In Him, we too conquer sin and death - "We are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus) who loves us" (Romans 8:37). Therefore, we have the power through Jesus to live this life overcoming the effects of entropy, breakdown, chaos, and death in all its various forms.

Jesus said: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Tragically, we tend to focus upon the ..."you will have trouble" portion of this verse because this is what we experience and know in this life - the brokenness that comes with the fall and sin. However, while trouble is "a" reality, Jesus wants us to experience a better, greater transforming reality. That reality is ..."take heart! Because I (Jesus) has overcome the world."

So how do we take heart? And, how do we move from taking heart to seeing God and His Word fulfilled in our lives and situations? God stated in Proverbs 4:20-22: "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's (or woman's) whole body." Nothing is more important in this life than God and His Word. He is a God of His Word. He is the Word (John 1:1). As we are in His Word; reading it, meditating upon it, praying over and through it, obeying it, saturating ourselves with it, growing in faith by it, He will perform His Word in us. He will do so because, again, He is a God of His Word.

Notice in the above verse the strong admonition to "pay attention", "listen closely". Often times and unfortunately, there are many things in this life that we pay attention to and ought not. However, we need to understand that nothing is more important than paying attention and listening to God and His Word. Sadly, we often frame our ideas about life and ourselves based upon what we see, hear, experience and think. But God calls us to a higher plane - to frame our lives only upon His Word (Psalm 119:105). We are not to let life dictate our faith or determine our circumstances. Instead, we are to boldly stand on the Word of God and let it dictate to our lives and transform/liberate us FROM our circumstances. As we shut out all the noise, listen closely to God and keep His Word continually before us, (allowing it to wash/renew and transform our hearts (Ephesians 5:26)), it will cause life and blessing to flow to us in every way.

Jeremiah 1:12 states: "Then the Lord said to me, you have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it." Our God eagerly desires to perform His Word in us. Do not listen to the lies that say He doesn't care or that His Word doesn't apply in all situations or only works sometimes. God is not uncaring. He is not random. He is a God of His Word. He EAGERLY desires to perform His Word in our lives. We serve a God who is eager, alert, active, and watching to bless His children in every way and in every opportunity, if we will believe and receive it.

2 Chronicles 16:9 gives us a wonderful promise when it says: "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are blameless towards Him." We must stand in unshakable confidence that Christ is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We can have His favor and blessing as we love, trust and obey Him (Psalm 90:17, John 8:31). He is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31-37).

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Yes, the victory belongs to Jesus and He has given it to us, to those He loves. Accept it, meditate upon the truth of it, bask in it, thank and praise Him for it.

Isn't He absolutely beyond all expectation? All glory and honor belong to Him.


(Note: This article is part 1 of a 2 part series. In the next post, I will discuss how to maintain a overcoming attitude and conquer every doubt and fear.)

Why The Wilderness??

The 'wilderness' is not a concept that is understood too well in Christendom, despite the fact that it is all the way through the Bible. From the book of Genesis right through Revelation there are clear references to the 'wilderness' as being something God often employs in His dealings with men. The pattern is undeniable.

When we look through the Scriptures we see that the wilderness is often a place of spiritual "crisis" and also preparation. It is the place God sends us before the "real action" begins - before we enter into the full purposes of God in our lives. There must be 'death' before there can be resurrection. There must be a desert place before the "promised land".

The wilderness is a place of trial and testing, of brokenness and full surrender to God. The props and activities that have kept us continually striving to "make things happen" are stripped away.

Our self-reliance is shattered and replaced with a total reliance on God alone. Every "idol" in our lives (often including our own ministry) is brought under the piercing searchlight of God. Our selfish motives and ambitions are shown for what they are. This process may take years. Finally we emerge broken, chastened and purified. The process has matured and cleansed us in so many ways. We are now ready for the fulfillment of all that God originally called us to do. But our heart-motives are vastly different from what they were before.

We see this pattern all the way through Scripture. Many lessons can be learned from what we read there. Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul the apostle - and even Jesus Himself - all had to go through this "wilderness" experience. Very often it lasted for years and years. Why then should we be surprised if it happens to us?

Probably the best-known instance of a 'wilderness experience' in the Old Testament is the story of Moses and the children of Israel. Moses had been raised and trained all his life in the palaces of Egypt. But when he came face-to-face with his heritage as an Israelite, he rose up "in his own strength" and killed an Egyptian slave-driver. He was then forced to flee into the desert, where he was to spend 40 YEARS as a simple shepherd in the wilderness.

What an enormous length of time! Imagine if every Christian leader had to spend that long in the wilderness before God would allow them to lead His people! It is almost impossible to imagine the depths of despair and "death" to all his dreams and hopes that Moses went through during this time. In fact, after 40 years it is hard to imagine anyone being "deader" to the usual ambitions and temptations of leadership than Moses would have been. And what PATIENCE these years of waiting must have produced in him!

We see here the lengths that God will go to in the "preparation" of a leader "after His own heart." (-Though 40 years is unusually long). The isolation, the chafing, the crying out to God for deliverance - all play their part. Such an experience is almost irreplaceable. That is why God uses it so often. The hearts of driven men are so similar in so many ways, that God's "cure" becomes similar also! He will even shut us up in a kind-of 'prison' for a time so we cannot escape the process. It is that important. He does not want 'self'- oriented leaders shepherding his precious sheep.

After his 40 years of preparation, Moses returned to Egypt at God's command to lead His people out of bondage. This was the beginning of the entire nation of Israels' wilderness experience. For when they left Egypt the only way to their "Promised Land" was through the desert. Some commentators say that in a straight line, their journey could have taken just a few weeks or less. But because of their disobedience and fear, the vast majority of those who left Egypt were destined to die in the desert, never reaching the Promised Land. In fact, their wilderness journey ended up taking 40 years!

Now we need to take special note of this fact:- Not everyone who entered the wilderness survived it. In fact, multitudes perished there. The wilderness tried them and found them wanting. They went to the place of testing and failed the test. This is a pretty crucial fact to realize in our day also. Just because we are "called out" and enter a wilderness time, does not mean that we will embrace the dealings of God and respond appropriately. It is entirely possible to lose everything out there. These people lost out completely. Only their children came through to inherit the promises of God.

How clearly we see this pattern over and over again - in both the Old Testament and the New:- That many whom God wants to one day use are sent into a place of aloneness and brokenness before being brought into their true destiny. We have not even mentioned heroes of God such as Noah, Jacob, Job and others who all had similar experiences. Part of this process lies in the "waiting" that takes place. Also, the fact that all the supporting 'props' are taken away. The "waiting" alone can be torture.

The wilderness also deals with any fear of man or 'systemized' way of looking at things. God often uses it to bring a whole fresh perspective, which is very important for leaders who are going to be representing a "new" approach or facing opposition because of the confrontational words that they are bringing. The lonely desert years give them backbone to stand up to the crowd or the powers- that-be, and declare God's truth without compromise. They now truly fear God rather than man. And they think differently from others. The wilderness is vital for anyone who is wanting to bring fresh manna to God's people.

Are you someone who has been going through such a "desert" experience, my friend? Be encouraged! Look up, for your deliverance draws nigh. God only ever sends His children through such experiences when there is a great purpose to it. Don't give up. Don't be cast down. On the other side lies a 'land of promise' if only you can hang on to Jesus. Be active, be praying, be prepared. Don't become "passive" and let the desert swallow you whole. Use this time to draw closer and closer to Jesus. Dig down and plant your feet firmly on the Rock. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up in due time - if only you can cling to Him.

 Andrew Strom

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/