Revival or Riots Ministries

February 14, 2010

The Waiting Game

God is gracious to those who trust and delight in Him. He cannot provide for those who doubt in His provision because when people believe a lie, they empower the liar. It has become my firm belief that God is the one longing for breakthrough for His people…but that the devil has come and stolen hope from the people in the church. We call Him God, and yet as a people we have allowed others to tell us what He can and cannot do.

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8 [show]Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (ESV)

I can see now how Jesus could ask such a question in the midst of the great miracles that followed Him everywhere He went. I remember when I first read this, it struck me as odd—with such a gospel being preached where the dead were raised, demons fled from people’s bodies, and the cancerous effects of leprosy being reversed before the eyes of hundreds—how could people not have faith after this?

And day after day now, I hear and see people who claim to be followers of Christ who blatantly ignore the instructions and methodology of the very one they suppose they are learning from. It has done something within my heart—bringing me to a place of holy discontent with the way things are taught and done in our Western churches. I say ‘our Western churches’ because of the stories of what I have heard and read about churches in other countries who are not nearly as domesticated and comfortable as we as Americans are.

There is less emphasis on what-God-can-do-for-me (humanism) and more emphasis placed upon the true Biblical model of what-I-get-to-do-for-God (New Testament Christianity). As such, without all the flashing lights and multi-million dollar church buildings, God’s power is much more commonly released and undeniable.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. He does not change. As with Moses’ outrage upon seeing the Israelites worshiping a god they had created with their own hands (the golden calf in Exodus 32 [show]Exodus 32 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, "Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." So Aaron said to them, "Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you." But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." But he said, "It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear." And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?" And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, 'Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.' So I said to them, 'Let any who have gold take it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." And when Moses saw that the people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies), then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.'" And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day." The next day Moses said to the people, "You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written." But the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made. (ESV)
), I have felt a strong indignation at the fact that many of the people in our churches have followed suit in fashioning God in whatever form they see fits their comfort level.

What I am finding also is that even the keenest intellect coupled with the most profound revelation of what God is truly like is about as effective as having an ant try to figure out the human emotions of love, anger, joy, etc. These concepts are so astronomically off the grid of the ant whose sole purpose is feed, gather, reproduce. Wash, rinse, repeat. The same can be said of our asinine attempts to explain, as created beings, our Creator.

When I was in my first semester of seminary pursuing a master’s of divinity degree in urban ministry (no longer doing so), the books that I was exposed to were somewhat laughable to me in the vain human endeavors that are made to explain God and His ways.

Surrender is so much easier than rationalism.

Humbly saying, “I don’t know” is a lot less stressful than trying to invent doctrines and theologies as to why some things seem to happen and others do not. Again, God opposes (fights against) the proud, and gives grace (unmerited favor) to the humble (James 4:6 [show]James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (ESV)
).

I’d much rather side with those who God grants favor to than those whom He fights against. The problem with fighting against God is that you will always lose. I will give a few examples of what I am trying to say.

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(The following was written on October 21, 2008)

As I write this, for the past several weeks and months, I had been feeling quite overwhelmed and, well, fearful, about the state of my finances. I had received several powerful and specific prophetic words about how provision was on the way, abundance was coming, etc.

However, as with the disciples’ reaction on the boat when Jesus was sleeping (WAKE UP! Don’t you care that we’re dying?!), I was quite a bit stressed out by all of this. God was mostly silent about the subject aside from saying things like, “Trust me. Don’t stress out. I’ve got it covered.” I did my best, and I am quite sure that He is pleased with that. He knows our feebleness as humans, as He was one.

I have heard God described as “the God of the eleventh hour”, meaning that if something is due at midnight, God usually shows up sometime between 11:00 and 12:00. In this case, He showed up at about 11:58. A few days ago, a close friend of mine called me and began to explain to me the state of her finances. I realized quickly that my problems were nothing in comparison to what she was dealing with. I heard the Lord speak to me to give her a check for $100. With the state of my finances, and with several large bills due within a few days, I struggled with this but I knew it was the Lord’s will.

To make a long story short, the day after I gave my friend that check, someone came along who gave me enough money to pay off my rent for the next two months. God is good. And so begins another waiting and trusting test.
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The heart of our Father is to release good things for His children. As I look back over the last few years of my life, I have seen time and time again the providing hand of God sweep in and make a way where there seemed to be no way. As I mentioned earlier, if you do not seem to be seeing this kind of miraculous provision in your life, it could be that you have bought into the lie that God can’t do it for you.

It is my firm belief that God wants us to be walking into a kind of abundance the likes of which many of us have never seen…but how would we steward abundance if we can not be trusted to faithfully steward what we do have already? This all goes back to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 [show]Matthew 25:14-30 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (ESV)
).

I know a lot of Christians don’t like reading or hearing about money because they’ve been burned or jaded by greedy televangelists that have exploited and manipulated the minds and hearts of so many people…but the fact is that for us to accomplish the things that God wants us to accomplish in this lifetime, we need to learn how to rely on the Lord to provide for us not just for our needs, but also for the good things that God wants to give us because He is a loving Father.

Trust God! We have learned that one of the major pitfalls in the life of a believer is to keep seeking God for ‘clarity about the future’…as if God is some kind of carnival fortune teller. If we had clarity about the future, we wouldn’t need to trust Him.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33 [show]Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (ESV)

Perhaps if you’re not seeing the inflow of “all these things”, there is a good chance you’re not seeking His Kingdom first.

February 11, 2010

The Great Commission is Not a Polite Suggestion

“When the principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then the battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith.” – Abraham Kuyper

What did Jesus tell His followers to preach?

“REPENT, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Repent literally means to change the way you think.

This is why Jesus and His disciples got so much flack from the religious leaders—because these uneducated, unknown young people (the disciples were probably between the ages of 12-15 because in the Jewish culture you started following a rabbi at age 12 and were considered a man) were telling everybody the way they had learned was completely wrong.

Another way to look at the message they preached is something the Lord spoke to my heart this morning. “Change the way you think, the Kingdom isn’t ON IT’S WAY, it’s RIGHT HERE.”

We need to stop praying for revival and start walking in the fact that revival came 2000 years ago.

It was in the next verse (Matthew 10:8 [show]Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (ESV)
) that He told them to heal the sick and cast out demons and raise the dead. That’s the Kingdom demonstrated. The supremacy of the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of darkness and of this world.

But it’s HERE. NOW.

Paul says “Today is the day of the Lord’s favor, now is the time for salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2 [show]2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (ESV)
)

That word ’salvation’ is the Greek word ‘sōtēria‘ which means saving from hell, healed of all diseases, delivered from all demons, NOTHING LACKING.

The devil has twisted it in the church to make people believe it is just about being saved from Hell or that you need something extra…some new anointing, some new impartation, some new mantle or other super spiritual term to get the job done. All things are ours in Christ.

These things are charismatic fluff that cause people to run around like a dog chasing it’s own tail, trying to get something they already have, and I tell you it is one of the biggest deceptions in the church today.

But it sure serves well to give people excuses to be disobedient to the Lord.

“Oh, I don’t have the gift of healing.”

“Jesus didn’t release the healing anointing in the last service…we can’t heal the sick now.”

“Big-name-Preacher-Man didn’t give me his impartation…I’m not able to go heal the sick or do the supernatural like he does. Guess I’ll just have to go to another conference.”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 [show]Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV)
).

Anything we do in our church services and in our lives for the sake of the Kingdom of God that we do not see demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ is either ILLEGAL or EXTRANEOUS and UNNECESSARY. Period.

The deficiency is never on God’s end. Read Matthew 10 [show]Matthew 10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." (ESV)
. Read the Great Commission. That was how Jesus sent His people out to go preach the Kingdom…by doing all the things that they couldn’t do unless God showed up.

“Oh, but I do prophetic dance.”

“Oh, but I do prophetic art.”

“Oh, but I lead worship.”

“Oh, but I’m an intercessor.”

“Oh, but I’m in kitchen ministry.”

“Oh, but I do homeless outreach.”

That’s all fine and good. But can you heal the sick? Can you cast out demons? Can you preach a word from the Lord that cuts like a sword, able to pierce between soul and spirit, joint and marrow (Hebrews 4:12 [show]Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)
)? Can you raise the dead? Are we so compromised?

Can you do the things that Jesus already (past tense) empowered us to do through the Holy Spirit and in His Name?

If you’re doing all those other things, that’s fine and good. But if you’re ONLY doing the things that you can do through human effort, I’m sorry to have to tell you that you’re not living the normal Christian life.

And you’re being disobedient to the commands of Christ.

Many would say I’m not walking in love when I say these kinds of things. Quite the contrary. I say these things because I love the Body of Christ and I want to see her step into the fullness of what Our King paid such a dear price for. I’m done with the ear-tickling fluffy messages that have so infected our churches.

“”If you love me, you will obey what I command” – John 14:15 [show]John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (ESV)

“[Jesus] replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’ ” – Luke 8:21 [show]Luke 8:21 But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." (ESV)

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’ ” – Luke 11:28 [show]Luke 11:28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (ESV)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22 [show]James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

This is the cause for most of the deception in the church today. A whole lot of hearing. A whole lot of conference hopping. A whole lot of good teaching. A whole lot of books. An absolute plethora of material that has so encapsulated what the Christian life should look like…and yet with all of the consumption of these things there comes along the illusion of action.

The smoke and mirrors of hearing the Word of the Lord and not doing it. Christianity is a bigger spectator sport on Sunday than the NFL. Sure, you can get the newest, freshest revelation from all of the charismatic superstars. But what are you doing with it?

Jesus was pretty clear that those who bury and don’t put to use what they have would not be pleased with the outcome (Matthew 25:14-30 [show]Matthew 25:14-30 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (ESV)
).

He called people that did that ‘worthless slaves’.

How’s that for Love personified walking in love?

“Oh, but I’m not called to the streets.”

Really?

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 [show]Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV)

Everything He had commanded them.

What have we resorted to with most evangelism in the Body of Christ? The total opposite.

Handing out tracts, handing out Bibles, telling people that they need Jesus to be saved from hell…etc, etc. etc. That’s all fine and good, and it has worked. Why has it worked? Because God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His service (Romans 8:28 [show]Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)
).

Is it His perfect will and His perfect method for reaching the lost? ABSOLUTELY NOT. He wouldn’t have had to come and die if it was.

If a Buddhist or a Muslim came into most church services in the states, having read and heard of the miracles that Jesus and His followers did—being hungry for truth, they come—and saw all our man-made programs and flashing lights and sounds of ‘Concert Christianity’ and the spectator sport that has become church-going, what would they think?

What would they say? They would say “How am I supposed to believe this book that you gave me is the word of the living God when you are not doing all the things that He said you would do? Either God is a liar or you are, and He says that He is not a man that He should lie.”

SOMETHING. IS. WRONG.

We need to get on our faces, humble ourselves, pray, and then GO.

What did God say? “IF my people would humble themselves and pray…THEN I would turn and heal the land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 [show]2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV)
)

It’s an IF/THEN statement, just like the rest of the Christian life. God will not humble us. We must humble ourselves.

That is the key to worldwide revival. Admitting we’ve been way off the mark. And the word ’sin’ literally means ‘to miss the mark’. Humility and prayer coupled with the GOING of the Great Commission.

We need to stop trying to figure out how to have better church services that cater to what people want (aka humanism and fear of man) and start figuring out what we need to do and stop doing so that God can show up to His church again and have His way like He did on Pentecost.

We need a baptism of the Holy Spirit and power that would shake nations like the early apostles did when they would walk into new places.

It will cost us everything, but we would get God.

Are you prepared for that?

February 10, 2010

Curry Blake on Humility, Boldness & Power of God

This was sent out in a newsletter last year from Curry Blake’s ministry at www.jglm.org.

It is lengthy, but please take the time to read it…especially if you have been offended or upset by the way that I present things at times.

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“When prospective students came to my martial arts schools, they came with one purpose, to learn to fight so they could win and never lose. It was not until I started teaching healing, that I started hearing people (Christians) say things like, ” You win some, and you lose some”.

But in healing, when you “lose some”, you are losing someone. I even heard some “Christians” say, “Well, you can’t expect to get everyone healed, if you did, you couldn’t handle the fame and you would become proud.” Well, it’s good to know that my humility is so important to God that He is willing to let other people die, to keep me humble. One problem I have with that is that God commands us to humble ourselves.

Today many “Christians” are more interested in how you do things than they are in the results you get. I agree that we should do things in line with what the Bible says, but when people want to keep doing things the way they have done it before just because the group they are with does it that way, even after being shown that it is not right, not scriptural, and not as effective as the scriptural way of doing things, they are following in the tradition of the Pharisees.

A Christian should always be willing to change the instant they find out they are doing something wrong, or as soon as they find out that there is a more scriptural way of doing something. That is another aspect of being humble.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. ” – James 4:10 [show]James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” – 1 Peter 5:5-6, KJV

I have also heard people say, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Usually it is the losers that say that.

In every human endeavor there are rules or laws that apply to that endeavor.

The person or team that practices right the most, usually wins. As many of you might know, I really like destroying the myths and sacred cows that the church has built up over the years. I believe that one of the conditions that help propagate many of the wrong teachings we have today is that we always picture the people in the Bible (no matter who they were or what role they played in the Biblical narrative) as being somehow more spiritual and less sinful than people who live in the 21st century.

As long as we separate ourselves from the people of the Bible, we will never receive what they did, nor will we accomplish what they did. When we look at Jesus and Paul, we would immediately be struck by their differences. But we might also want to look at their similarities. Many people picture Jesus as a weak depressed person, even though they would never say that. But the Bible says that He was anointed with joy more than all his brethren. The Bible also says that Jesus looked forward to the cross (or rather the results of it) with joy. Jesus has been portrayed as a meek and humble person while Paul has been portrayed as arrogant and proud. Some have even suggested that his “thorn” was his pride.

We are going to examine the lives, teachings and attitudes of possibly the two greatest people in Christendom.

We know that Jesus was humble, which by definition means that He was not proud or arrogant.

But, let’s look at some of Jesus’ statements.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” – Matt 10:34-36, KJV

Jesus plainly says that He came to bring division (variance). So much for the unity at all costs principle!
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matt 11:29-30, KJV

Here Jesus says He is meek and lowly in heart. But it’s Jesus saying that about Himself. Usually when someone says something like that about themselves, it has the opposite effect of proving humility. Maybe our definition of humility is not quite right.

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” -John 6:35, KJV

Here, Jesus has the audacity to call Himself THE bread of life and even goes on to say that if you come to Him, you will NEVER HUNGER and if you believe on Him you will NEVER THIRST. These are pretty bold statements and most would say that they were boastful.

Why don’t we believe this was bragging or pride? Because we know they are true. So one thing we find out is that if someone makes a true statement, it does not mean they are proud or arrogant or boastful. David Crockett use to say, “It ain’t bragging, if you can do it.”

Personally I believe the only way to be sure that it isn’t pride, is by judging the person’s heart. I don’t know about you but my track record of judging other people’s hearts hasn’t always been that great. I have a hard enough time just judging my own heart.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” – John 8:12 [show]John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
, KJV

Jesus plainly says that HE is the light of the world. Not Buddha, Not Mohammed, Jesus. That is mighty bold talk. But it is also true talk.

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:7-10, KJV

Here Jesus says that He is the door and ALL THAT CAME BEFORE HIM were thieves and robbers.

Another tremendously bold and true statement.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25, KJV

Another seemingly arrogant statement. It sounds like Jesus is wrapping everyone’s salvation in Himself. It sounds like He actually believes that He is supposed to be the center of everyone’s life. He sounds like He thinks He is God’s gift to the world.

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. “- John 12:46-48 [show]John 12:46-48 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (ESV)
, KJV

Again Jesus says HE is the Light of the world. But now He also says something that almost no one believes even Christians. He says that if someone hears His words and still doesn’t believe, He will not judge them. So much for the “God’s gonna get you” type of preaching. So much for the “God put that sickness on you because of His anger against your sin” type of preaching. (Don’t misunderstand me, there is such a thing as sowing and reaping, but it works just like a crop in the field, God doesn’t have to PUT IT ON YOU.

Most go out and find the seed of their own destruction.) Does that mean that people just get away with living wrong? No it just means that they are going to be held accountable to the Word of God, and shall be judged according to the Word of God in the LAST DAY (not Today).

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6, KJV

Imagine the audacity of a person telling all those religious Jews that NO ONE can get to the Father, NO ONE can get saved, except by going through Him. He doesn’t just say He knows the truth, He says He IS the truth and THE WAY. What I am trying to get across is that Jesus said all these things which don’t sound very humble as we define humility. So true humility is not putting yourself down, true humility is simply saying what the Bible says about you.

The Bible says not to think of yourself more highly than you ought. But you are also told to have the mind of Christ and to let his mind dwell and live in you. Paul, as I said before is also looked at in ways that are contrary to the scriptures. We will look at his life and ministry in a moment. Most people that know me personally, know that as far as my basic personality and beliefs, I am exactly the same person behind the pulpit that I am when I am sitting around a dinner table fellowshipping. When I am behind the pulpit I can be a little more direct and strict, because I am not speaking to any one person in particular, but to all in the congregation in general.

If I spoke to an individual the same way I say things from the pulpit, I would definitely hurt their feelings and if anyone else was within range to hear me, I would also embarrass the person in front of others. The Bible says to rebuke people publicly, but this is referring to those that have already been confronted in private and then with one or two other witnesses. Rebuke, reproof, and correction, whether in public or in private is for the purpose of restoration. It should have nothing to do with personal vindication.

The reason I say this is because I have had people bring up the fact that I do not like confrontation. This may sound strange if you have heard my preaching but we must remember that when I am preaching, I have no problem confronting a wrong doctrine or naming those who practice or preach wrong doctrine. That is because I only do it for the sake of the Body of Christ. It is not personal. I have made a personal decision not to defend myself. I will defend my doctrine, because I believe it to be the teaching of Scripture. Some have even commented on my lack of publicly confronting an individual as a weakness.

I would in no wise compare myself to the Apostle Paul, but, some people have said some things about me that brings some of Paul’s statements to my memory.

“For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ” – 2 Cor 10:8-12 [show]2 Corinthians 10:8-12 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. (ESV)
8, KJV

Here Paul says that the letters he wrote were very strong but in person he was much softer toward people, but not to let that fool them, he could be just as strong in person, if necessary.

“Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” – 1 Cor 4:18-21, KJV

In this verse Paul specifically tells them that when he comes he will be as strong toward them as necessary and that the only way to solve their situation was to see who could actually produce the power of God, because the kingdom of God is not just in words, but in power and in demonstration of the Spirit of God. Notice the use of the word “demonstration”.

This reminds me of something I told my wife recently. We were discussing how it seems that in modern Christianity, anyone can say anything they want and there is actually no one to stop them or “police” them. Even watching their prophecies not come to pass, doesn’t seem to be enough to get people to quit following them. I told my wife that I wished it was proper to confront or even challenge these “pillow prophets” that prophesy out of the vanity of their own mind.

But in today’s Christianity, not only is it not proper to challenge them, it is not even proper to expose them or even mention them. If you do it is called being “divisive”. Back when I was in martial arts, I would sometimes run into a person that wanted to make a name for themselves so they would challenge me to a fight, or they would want to insist that their art or style of martial art was superior to what I taught and practiced.

Usually they would call me on the phone and start bragging about their style and putting down my style. I would talk with them for a while and try to logically convince them of the merits of what I taught, but sometimes they would just get under my skin and I would finally just get tired of talking and say, “Look, why don’t you just come on over, we’ll get on the mat and cross hands (a common way of saying that we would duel).”

I was confident that I would prevail, but I figured that even if I lost, I would learn that there was a more effective style of fighting. I taught the same thing for almost 30 years. Some of the people that say they want me to be more confrontational don’t seem to like it to much when decide to confront them.

In my position, I will usually have someone else confront the problem, because I have found that once the leader confronts a person, they usually have a hard time staying around because they have lost face with the leader they were trying to attach themselves to. I really did not set out to lead an organization. I was just trying to share what I had learned that I knew could keep dying people alive. Now I have the task of leading in international organization that is planting churches, starting Bible Schools, conducting regular training seminars that activate the power of God in those that attend, and lead mission trips into countries on every continent.

Those that desire to do the works of Christ (and greater), are welcome to join with us. Those that are looking for someone to hold your hand every step of the way will become very disappointed with me because I just can’t do that, but I will try to help you connect with those that can. At this point in our organizations growth, I have to spend time with those who are actually going to take some responsibility and will put into use what I can teach them. The church has perfected the art of feminizing men to a point that most men want nothing to do with the church.

There is protocol and customs that should be observed, but there is also a need in the church to teach men how to be true men, which can only be seen when men become men of God. Paul would not be considered “humble” by today’s Christian standards. He would be called rude, boastful, and proud. Why, because he knew who he was in Christ and talked like it. When he had to exert his position as an apostle, he would give a list of what preaching the gospel had cost him; shipwrecks, beatings, whippings, stoning, hunger, etc. But he would also emphasize his apostolic position based upon God’s will and not his own. He made it clear he was what he was by the grace of God.

He would say things like, “You are forcing me to talk like a man. I don’t want to but you make me.” (Curry Blake paraphrase)
I have determined to be as gentle as possible but also as forceful as necessary to help establish the truths of the Bible in the Body of Christ. If those that hear this message have ears to hear, they will grasp it and run with it. Those that don’t will force me to say it in ever stronger words.

The thing to remember is this, the essence of Christianity is to die and let Christ live through you. If I say something that bothers you, check it out in the scriptures, when you find that it is true, change. Don’t whine about and fight me over it, just change. That’s the dying part. Now let’s get busy and do something great for God.”

-written by Curry Blake – www.jglm.org-

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