A lesson from Elijah

 1 Kings 17:1-3

King James Version

17 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

If you read 1 Kings 16, there is a succession of kings. Omri's dad was bad, but he was worse than all the bad kings before him. Then comes Ahab, who marries Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal. And it says that Ahab did worse than all that were before him. 

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

They pushed the worship of Baal and Asherah, a false god and goddess. Asherah promoted the temple prostitutes that, for a price, would have relations with men and somehow guarantee them that they would have children and their crops would do well. The groves that are so prominently mentioned in scripture were an outgrowth of this practice. The prostitutes would go to these areas and practice their "arts" to bless the locals out in the country with the opportunity to worship Asherah the same way as the city folks did. 

Part of Baal worship was child sacrifice! Another form of this false god was Molech. And God was very angry at his people for sacrificing their children "in the fires to Molech."

So the false goddess promised prosperity and children, while the false god required the same children to be killed in the fire for him. 

Yet, Israel and Judah, both turned away from the one true God and turned to worship these false ones.

Why? 

Jehovah God requires morals, honesty, morality, and faithfulness.  The false gods said, do this for me and I'll bless you and let you do what you want, how you want, and when you want. 

Along with this religious mess, the "school of prophets" that existed (not at God's behest, mind you), did little more than try and spit in the wind. Very few of these prophets prophesied truth. And the few that did flamed out very quickly. Note: ever notice in our history that whenever man tries to organize an education system in order to train workers for God that it never goes well and usually winds up badly? Study it out for yourself.

The school of prophets? No effect really.

The early church set up colleges to educate young preachers? The church wound up getting completely off track for hundreds of years.

One of the greatest evangelists of the 1800's started a college in order to help educate young preachers. It's now one of the most liberal and ungodly colleges in the world. In fact, nearly all of our major colleges and universities were started as Christian colleges to help young preachers. And the vast majority of them do not retain even a vestage of their original Christian heritage. 

It was in the backdrop of Baal worship and spiritual hypocrasy that Elijah seems to burst on the scene out of nowhere. He was not a member of the priesthood. He was not a member of the school of prophets. Yet, suddenly, boom! There he is facing down the king! 

And not only that, he makes an absolutely startling pronouncement. 

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 1 Kings 17:1

If you fixated on the part about the no rain or dew except by his word, you missed it. 

Yes, that was incredible. This previously unknown prophet has the audacity to burst into the kings audience room in the palace (God only knows how he got there in the first place) and makes his drought declaration. 

But, if you really pay attention, the most amazing part of his statement wasn't the drought. It was this phrase: "As the Lord liveth, BEFORE WHOM I STAND..."

Now think about this from a kingdom perspective for a minute. 

In a kingdom, when you go into the presence of the king, it is 1) at the kings request only (you don't just burst into his audience chamber. They'll kill you.) and at his chosen time, 2) and you must bow before him until he gives you leave to get up- IF he does. Only a precious few close friends and confidants were allowed to stand in the kings presence. It was a chosen place indeed.

Now Jesus is the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. Soon, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW before him. Even in the tabernacle or the temple, you didn't just enter into his presence any old way. There were strict guidelines and procedures, a select few to begin with, and sacrifices had to be made. 

Yet, in walks Elijah and says in his self introduction, "Before whom I STAND..."

This strongly implies a very close walk with God almighty. How did he accomplish this?

Think about it. 

We tend to look at things from our modern experience. We live in a country where the word of God is readily available and easy to access. We have Christian book stores, Christian radio, Churches both on every corner and in the middle of nowhere. Most people here, to some degree, claim some form of belief in God. So, when a preacher says we can hear the voice of God through his word or from the preacher/teacher, we don't bat an eye. 

But, in ancient Israel and Judah, the word of God was pretty well just Genesis through Deuteronomy and was only found in the hands of the priesthood and read in masse to the congregation of Israel only on certain feast days. Otherwise, only they had the word of God. And since most of the roaming "prophets of God" were false prophets out to make a living for themselves, hearing the voice of God from the "man of God" was a shaky proposition at best. The school of prophets was mostly a farce. 

So, how did Elijah even hear from God, much less become the great prophet that he was?

It's simple, yet profound really.

At some point, Elijah, who obviously had a heart for God, decided that he wanted to talk to God himself. Forget the false prophets, the idol worship, the priests who were just going through the motions, and the country's leaders who didn't care about the people or the one true God. He was going to bypass the whole system and go straight to the source. 

He'd heard the stories of Israel's deliverence and establishment in the promised land and he believed them. He looked at where things stood and asked, "Lord Jehovah, where are you?" 

But, rather than get despondant and depressed, or angry and crazy, he apparently began to seek God for himself. He began to pray to find God and establish a relationship himself. He bypassed the whole religious system of his day and went straight to the source. 

We don't know how long it took for the relationship to form and grow. We don't know how many ups and downs Elijah experienced in his journey. But we do know that at some point, Elijah made a strong connection with the God of the universe. So strong in fact that when God had had enough of his people's antics, that God bypassed their religious system and tapped Elijah on the shoulder and said, "I got a job for you to do, son." 

No high priest was contacted. No prophet from the school was called. God reached out to Elijah and sent him from the backwoods of small town Israel to the kings audience chamber. There, he used this unknown, backwoods prophet to rebuke the king of Israel in front of his entire entourage! 

Elijah would do amazing things for God. He never was a part of the religious establishment. He was tacitly recognized by the school of Prophets, but nowhere does it even imply that the priests and levites even acknowledged him. He would bring Israel to repentance, call fire from heaven on several occasions, temporarily set back Baal worship in Israel, and set up the next great prophet in his stead. 

He probably prolonged Israels stay in the promised land.

But, it all started with a desperate prayer on some backwoods hilltop. "God, where are you?"

Imagine, even as backwards as our current society is becoming. Even as crazy as things are going to get, if we (you and I) were to take Elijah's attitude and reach out to God to find him and have a relationship with him. 

Elijah didn't start out trying to be a prophet. He didn't start out longing to bring revival in Israel. He sure didn't see himself facing down the kingdom. He just wanted to find God and get to know him. That's all.

And that's what Jesus came to do. He came to open the door wide for us to be able to do as Elijah did- become more than worshippers of him, more than religious followers, but become his friends! Just as the Apostles and early church. 

This is what Jesus offers us:

John 15

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

With this relationship, Elijah shook Israel to it's core. With this relationship, the early church changed their world. 

Scripture says "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:9)

It's going to happen. Some people are going to reach past their limitations and find God and do amazing things because of that relationship. 

"...the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel 11:32

"20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:20

Since it's going to happen, why don't we decide to reach out to God and become whatever part of his endtime revival he wants us to play? Why don't we seek him and follow him- just to grow that relationship with him. How he uses us is up to him.

But, just as Elijah and the Apostles formed their relationship with God not knowing how they were going to be used, lets just fall in love with God and let him lead us. We may be amazed at what he decides to do with all of us nobodies. 

How about it?

Why don't we give it a shot? 

 

The peaceable fruit of righteousness: the fruit of the spirit

                                                         Photo by Andrés Dallimonti on Unsplash

 Hebrews 12:10-11

King James Version

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

When God corrects us, it is because he loves us. He corrects us because he is holy and will not allow unholy people to enter heaven. But, he wants and desires us to be holy. He went to calvary to pay the price for our sins so that we could become holy. 

All of this we know, but I've learned something else today. I've never seen this before. It totally changes what I've always thought and been taught. 

It's why we must always stay in his word so that he can teach us all things. It's why I love the word of God so much! It truly is the only truly "neverending story."

I've always understood that the peaceable fruit of righteousness was simply becoming righteous. But have never really understood what that was or entailed. I've never really been taught by anyone what this mysterious fruit was. I was always just told, well, it's just righteousness- or being right. 

But, what does that really mean?

I finally know the answer, thank you, Jesus!  

In preparing for today's bible study lesson, I saw something in Galatians 5, I'd never seen before. I've always been told that there are 9 gifts of the spirit (1 Corinthians 12). This truly isn't true because there are other gifts of the spirit mentioned in Romans 12 that are not included in 1 Corinthians 12. So, there are more than 9 gifts of the spirit. 

Now, follow me here:

Galatians 5:22-25

King James Version

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Now, what I and most others have done here is counted, love (1), joy (2), peace (3), longsuffering (4), gentleness (5), goodness (6), faith (7), meekness (8), temperance (9). 

And we say, "see, there's nine fruits of the spirit." 

But, read it again carefully:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is..... 

So the ONE fruit of the spirit produces love, joy, peace, etc. in our lives!  The one fruit of the spirit is made up of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. 

So what is the name of the one fruit of the spirit that produces 9 characteristics in the life of the believer? 

The peaceable fruit of?

Righteousness. 

So, righteousness is the one fruit of the spirit. And righteousness produces, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance in our lives. 

So the closer we get to Jesus, the more righteous we become. Now, our righteousness is him living in and through us. So, the more we crucify our flesh, the more we can walk in the spirit. The more we walk in the spirit, the more of his righteousness we display. The more righteous we become, the more love we show, joy we have, peace we have and give, longsuffering we are, gentle we are, good we are, faith we gain, meekness we display, and temperance we have. 

Here's a word picture:

They now have learned how to splice different trees together in ways that cause it to produce more than one fruit. For instance, you may have a tree that grows apples, oranges, pears, and plums- all from the same tree. They may produce each fruit at different times of the year, but the same tree produces all these different fruits. 

God was the first to do this.

When we become born again, he grafts his spiritual tree to our flesh tree. And then sets to  fertalizing us, pruning (correcting) us, shoring us up (providing support), getting rid of pests that will eat us up or eat our fruits up, etc so that we will produce the fruit of righteousness in our lives. Then, we will show forth love, joy, peace, longsuffering, faith, gentleness, goodness, meekness, and temperance. 

 One fruit.

Nine characteristics in the life of the believer. 

The name of that fruit?

Righteousness.

So, truthfully, rather than us stressing out over trying to be more loving, joyful, etc. What we should be doing is trying to grow in walking in the spirit. Then, we become more righteous and he can produce these godly characteristics in our lives.

That's the fruit he wants to find when he looks. 

Matthew 7:15-20

King James Version

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If we will allow God to show up, they will too!

 

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Full disclosure: I am not writing this as one who has arrived. I have not done what I am writing here. I am trying hard to do exactly what I'm writing here.

Churches in America used to have no issue gaining converts and attendees. As a self-avowed "Christian nation," it was a part of our national psyche to go to church. For millions of Americans, it was a normal part of life.

But, over the years, with government programs replacing church generosity, anti-God changes in our public schools, and anti-God policies being adopted by our leaders and entertainers, church attendance and participation have been falling. 

Add to this, the fact that many churches turned into little more than country clubs or bless me clubs, and the public view of churches has severely suffered. Many believe that all they want is for you to show up, pay up, and shut up.  

One thing, however, that has been a real constant in church history is that revival will draw people. People, at their hearts, are hungry for real. If they truly believe that God is there and will change their lives for the better, they will show up. And they will show up in masse! 

When Jesus was here physically on the earth and people got wind of his teaching and miracles, they showed up in droves. In the passage above, they forced him into a boat so he had enough space to teach! In many places, Jesus had to escape the crowds in order to pray and teach his disciples. 

One thing that marked his ministry was signs and miracles. It was the same for the Apostles and the generation after them:

Mark 16:20

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

So the early church grew like wildfire and turned their world upside down! From ungodly to godly in many places. 

Many of our churches have tried a "show up as you are" approach. Many more have brought in concert-like atmospheres- complete with light shows and sound effects- and why not? Millions flock to concerts every year. Some have tried giveaways. Yet, except for a hard-headed few, people stay away and church attendance falls.

Could it be that we've gotten away from "the gospel of the kingdom?" 

Have we become building-focused, rather than kingdom and people focused?

Have we decided that people are to serve our organization, rather than us having an attitude of serving the people?

If we will learn to listen to and follow the spirit of God- preaching and teaching what he wants us to, hungry people will show up!

If we will truly fall in love with Jesus and let him give us real burdens for real people, hungry people will show up!

More importantly, if we will dive deep into the waters of life, then God will confirm our words with his signs and wonders and people will come in droves! 

The great revivalists of the past were sold out to Jesus and allowed God to operate through them. The crowds showed up. Millions of lives were changed. Sometimes, because of the operation of the spirit of God, whole towns were shut down for a time in order to let people seek God! 

It can happen again! 

It can happen today! 

Biblical and historical revival is not a series of meetings that bring small changes, make us feel better, and see a few people saved. Don't get me wrong, I thank God for every soul reached for the kingdom, but we've set our sights way too low! 

What God did for the early church, he can and will do today! 

What God did a hundred years ago at asuza street, he can and will do today! 

If we will but repent and allow God to take us to where he wants us to be, he can start yet another wildfire that can encompass the whole world!

God help us all to die to ourselves, our platforms, our ideas, our programs, and our organizations, and rise to real life in you so that you can actually work through us in Jesus' name! 

When people truly believe that their lives will be impacted significantly, they will show up!

If we will allow God to show up, then the people will too!

Farewell to a great man of God

 It is with great adoration and love that I offer this farewell to a great man of God. Though I am not close to the family, brother Winslow made a huge and lasting effect on my and my family's lives and walk with God. He will be missed greatly! I pray those who watch this will be blessed and encouraged in their own walk with Jesus.

You've earned your rest, my friend. I love you with all that is in me! May the hand of God rest upon your family and the seeds that you've sown blossom until the Lord returns!

New Year, New Challenge: Want Revival? Go deeper!

 Ezekiel 47

King James Version

47 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

Luke 5

King James Version

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

Psalm 42:7

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

For most of us in America, we think of revival as a series of meetings where we feel better, get a little closer to God, and go on about our lives. 

But, revival in scripture was an all encompassing and life changing event! 

Whole swathes of society were changed on a personal level in a very short period of time. Sinners became saints. Thieves became honest men. Idolators and adulterers became God fearing family loving people. In seconds, they were all born again and changed.

 Then, he did it again in Kansas and LA in the early 1900's. Again, it effected huge numbers of people and changed their whole world- literally.

But, over time, embers fade and revival was reduced to what we see today. 

My wife and I have been praying for revival. Real, book of Acts and Asuza street revival. For months now, we've asked, we've sought, and we've knocked. We've begged and we've pleaded. 

Last night, as I was praying and listening to scripture, Luke 5 jumped out at me. I could see Jesus on that boat. He looked the big, burly, and experienced fisherman in the eye, and basically said, "If you'll launch out into deep water, I'll give you such a huge catch that it'll nearly sink both your vessels."

From any other man, Simon would've scoffed and said he didn't know what he was talking about. 

But, from this man, Simon felt something different. Though he argued a bit, something in Simon said, "Ok. Why not? We'll give it a shot."

When they reached the deep waters, they dropped their nets and nearly lost their boat! and even though their own net broke, the fish, miraculously didn't leave the area! Their second boat arrived and they had better nets. They caught so many fish that their boats were barely floating under the weight! 

Simon threw himself at the feet Of Jesus and recognized how unworthy he himself was to even be in the presence of God almighty! 

When the vision in my minds eye cleared, I could almost hear the Lord whispering to me:

"If you really want real revival to take hold in your home, street, city, county, state, nation, world, then go deeper in me."

For further explanation (and I don't know all what he said to me entails, just a small portion), he took me to 2 more passages. Ezekiel 47 and Psalms 42.

 "3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles."

Remember "he that believeth on me as the scriptures hath said, out of their belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER (but this spake he of the Holy Ghost...}" (John 7:38)

As these waters begin to flow in our lives, they rise up to our ankles. We enjoy the feeling of the cool waters washing over our dry and parched feet. It cools our aching feet, soothes the sore bones, washes away the muck and the mire we've been standing or walking in.

But it's only ankle deep. It truly doesn't affect the way we walk. The shallow waters lack the power to counteract the muscles in our body that still respond to the commands our brains give about where to go. We still have control- though we feel somewhat better.

 "4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees."

Now, the waters are a bit deeper. It has the power to somewhat touch our prayers. Some intercession can begin. There's a little more force to the flow, but we are still pretty much in control of ourselves. We still choose what we do and where we go.

"Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins."

At this point, the force of the waters has the power to affect how we walk. It's power reaches our baser instincts. It begins to effect our fleshly appetites. It brings some repentance and self control into our lives. We still have control, but we're much more willing to give some of that control over to our master.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

It's at this point that we have a choice.

Do we stay where we are and enjoy the change and living in the cool waters more powerful than we've know current, but still retain some control of our lives?

Or, do we "launch out into the deep?" Do we dive into the river of the Holy Ghost in total abandon? Do we give ourselves over completely to the control of the river? It's here that we experience there true power of the river. It's here that lives are changed. It's here that miracles, signs, and wonders occur. It's here that massive revival breaks out! 

Why? Because we gave God all the control. We let go of our agenda's and pet peeves. We hand every part of our lives over the the master and HE guides our steps. HE guides us to the destination that HE wants us to find. HE works through us and draws them to HIMSELF and the new birth! 

If we will do that, then HE will bring back book of Acts and Asuza street level revivals! 

But, we must give up control. We must give up our own status/reputations. We must give over our rights and die to ourselves- every day. 

If we will do that, then the harvest of souls that he brings in will not be able to be contained! We'll have to search for others to help us to contain and work with the massive harvest he wants to bring in! 

Cause it's not about us, it's about him! It's not about an organization, it's about him. 

It's not about us, it's about the souls he wants to bring into his kingdom!

It's not about who we are, but its's about who he is! 

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Psalms 42:7)

The word for deep here means "an Abyss (as a surging mass of water)..." and comes from  a root word that means "...to make an uproar or agitrate greatly."

Remember the flood?

The land was all in one piece. The waters had been separated from the land and there was one massive continent. When the waters from above combined with the waters down below it was a catastrophic and world changing event! 

Land masses were reshaped and beaten into place. New mountain chains and valleys were formed. The climate was dramatically changed! Nothing was as it was before. Everything was brand new.

The waters of God want to make an uproar and greatly agitate our lives. He wants to flow over, in, and around us and totally change our whole world! He wants to change how we think, act, dress, speak, what we do, where we go.....

But, for that kind of shaking to happen, we have to relinquish all control and allow him to have all control. 

So, WE have to go deep so that HIS deep can call to us. If we stay shallow, we can't hear his call.

Just as whales can communicate with whale song ONLY UNDER WATER, we can only truly hear God's call if we dive into his waters in total and complete surrender. Let him reshape us. Let him remold us. And let his water flow take us wherever HE wants to take us. 

Incidentally, the word for "calleth" here means "to call by name." 

He has a specific job for each and every one of us to do. I can't do your job. You can't do mine. But if we will all surrender to his life giving flow, HE will remake and remold on a massive, earth shaping scale! 

Souls will be saved on a massive scale. Diseases will be healed on a massive scale. People will be delivered from drugs, alcohol, porn, false religions, etc on a massive scale! 

Watch his pattern though. 

Abraham wasn't a great young man ready to rock his world. He was a nearly retired old man who'd never fathered a child. But God started a bloodline through him that led to Calvary and freed the world! 

He chose Israel, not because of how great and mighty they were, but because of how weak, small, and powerless they were.

He didn't go through the religious somebodies of the world to bring in his church. He chose a bunch of poor folk that the elites looked down upon to rock the church age! 

He didn't go through the religious somebodies to begin the Asuza outpourings a hundred years ago. He chose a bunch of nobodies that the somebodies wouldn't give the time of day to. 

His pattern hasn't changed! 

If we will really dive deep into his word and give ourselves wholly and completely to prayer and repentence, he will give yet another amazing and earth shattering revival! We're not somebody. But that means we're qualified in his eyes! 

Won't you join him? Won't you join us?

Wherever you are. Commit to study, prayer, and fasting. 

Dive deep. 

And watch him change the world!