At a later date, this same person invited me to play racquetball. I gladly accepted, after all I had seen him play softball, NO PROBLEM! While preparing to play, I watched him putting on kneepads and a nylon jacket. I thought to myself: “What next, a helmet?” Well, I found out the equipment was not for protection – but performance.  I was amazed as he would slide on his knees for shots along the wall, flip on his back and be upright before I could return his volley. He “smoked” me (our term of the late 70’s). What was the difference? He was gifted at one sport, the other he obviously was not.

How well this illustration fits many churches of today.  We create programs with positions, and then we seek to assemble ministry teams based on the needs of our programs. Many times individuals are asked to participate in areas that may not allow them to excel in their gifting. Unfortunately, this results in a lack of fruitfulness, which produces frustration and a high turnover of individuals.

There is a series I have adapted and teach on ministry foundations (1). One of the strengths of this series is that it first reveals to us how many traditional churches develop their ministries. The steps are similar to the following:

• First, the leadership determines there is a need requiring some action – reach the homeless lets say.
• Second, they develop a program – this is how we will do it.
• Third, they create a missions statement as to why and what they are doing to motivate people.
• Fourth, they then begin disseminating a vision – this is how this is part of the kingdom, what God wants to do etc.
• Finally, they go to prayer and ask God to bless what they have created.

Now, I am not saying these things are wrong. But I wonder as to the ultimate effectiveness of them. How many times do churches and individuals start something, yet in the long run it is not very productive? It becomes a challenge to motivate people to get involved. It can ultimately become a source of frustration for leadership. Yet God does want us to minister and be fruitful.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul compares the body of Christ (the church) to the human body. He tells us we are many members (parts) each being different, yet we are all one body. Since we are each different, we have different gifting. For our human body to function correctly, each part must perform the purpose it was created for. If we have a part not performing its job, we call it disease or sickness.

When the church structures its ministries according to the giftings God has placed in the body (not a program because we feel in it is necessary) we find that the members will be fruitful in their ministries and if fruitful they will be fulfilled.

Years ago, in the first church I pastored, I sought the Lord to see how we were to impact our city. His response was children’s and youth ministry. We spent a large amount of our resources and people on developing these ministries. When the Lord moved us on, over 50% of the church was under the age of 18. The last time I spoke with my successor, he reported they would have in mid-week bible study almost as many children as was the total Sunday attendance prior to my leaving.  All this in a small town of 10,000 people, with at least 23 other churches.

There were times during my pastorate, in my ignorance, I used to get frustrated about not having other ministries. There was a prison in town – yet we did not have a prison ministry.  We had a small women’s ministry and no real men’s ministry. It was not till many years later I came to realize, that we built a ministry based on the giftings and passion God had placed in the local body.

The discovery process we went through and what is now taught is summarized as follows below, obviously there is much elaboration on each that can be done.

• First, begin with spiritual formation – get a connection with the King and His kingdom.
• Second, from this spiritual formation, let Him give you a Kingdom vision. A big “spiritual” picture.
• Third, from this big picture, let Him give you the mission He has for you or the local church – notice His Idea, not ours.
• Fourthly, now develop the ministry to fulfill the mission He has given you.
• Finally, you should see your actions much more fruitful because the source is the King and His kingdom.

When we develop a ministry and initiate the actions based on this process,  because it is His idea, He will bless and we will be fruitful.

May I suggest, if you are frustrated in your ministry or have a ministry that is not as effective as you believe it should be, take some time to evaluate it. Was it initiated because it was a good idea or something you think every church should have? Or was it Jesus’ idea? If it was yours, go back to Him with a clean agenda and see what he will have you to do. If it was His idea, double check and see if you need to make any adjustments, and then be faithful in the mission and vision He has given you.

till next time
martin
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(1) Developing A Passion Based Ministry ~ The most effective ministry is one based on our spiritual giftings a passion derived from a specific Kingdom vision. This series reveals the process of spiritual formation and empowerment of a passion based ministry.

So, I have been told by credible sources that I do not think normal! I guess it is so: I tend to ask a lot of question, searching for the underlying reason of many things. A few years ago I got to thinking: Why did God do the creation thing? What’s His purpose for the earth, animals and man? The awesome thing about these questions is: God showed me an answer in His word! This answer, I believe, is truly the foundation for the Good News (I will cover this in another Apostolic Note).

So what was His answer to my off the wall question, why did he create the earth? The word of God tells us in the following texts:

• Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
• Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
• Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

From these texts we can begin to see a purpose for this created earth: God wanted to fill it with his glory. So…. Ok, this obviously prompts another question: What is the glory of God?

Glory Defined

In the OT, the most common word for “glory” is Kabhodh and according to the ISBE (1) it means “weight,” “heaviness,” and hence in its primary uses it conveys the idea of some external, physical manifestation of dignity, preeminence or majesty. The reference is most frequently, however, to the external manifestations.” In its most significant usages “it describes the form in which Jehovah (Yahweh) reveals Himself or is the sign and manifestation of His presence. Kabhodh conveys the idea of some physical, external manifestation; most commonly when God would reveal himself or his presence.” Based on this understanding, the glory of the Lord was some awesome, majestic physical manifestation that God would use to reveal His presence.

We see this played out in numerous occasions in the scriptures regarding “The glory of the Lord,” when there was a demonstrated manifestation, allowing individuals to recognize the Lords presence. Some of these include:

• The glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud as Aaron spoke – Exodus 16:10
• The glory of the Lord appeared in a cloud and as fire on Mt Sinai – Exodus 24:16-17
• The glory of the Lord appeared as cloud in the tabernacle – Exodus 40:34-35
• Four times in Numbers it states that the glory of the Lord “appeared.” – Num 14:10, 16:19 & 19, 20:6
  • The word “appeared” in these texts is ra’ah and means:
  • “to see, observe, perceive, get acquainted with, gain understanding, examine, look after (see to), choose, discover.”(2)
  • Basically ra’ah connotes seeing with one’s eyes:(3)
  • God speaks of those “which have seen” his glory in Egypt and the wilderness – Num 14:22
    • “which have seen” is the same ra’ah above
  • When Solomon dedicated the temple, the glory of the Lord filled the temple – 2 Ch 5:14
    • Fire came with this appearance – 2 Ch 7:3
  • Isaiah prophesied that the glory of the Lord would appear and it would be seen – Isa 35:2, 40:5
  • Ezekiel repeatedly referenced seeing the glory of the Lord – Eze 1:28, 3:23, 10:4 & 18, 11:23

  These texts and others state to us that glory, in reference to the Lord, spoke of a recognizable, demonstrable manifestation of God’s presence. There was no doubt in the minds of those who witnessed the glory, of whose presence they were in.

  We see a similar pattern in the usage of glory in the NT

  • Jesus told Martha if “thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God” – John 11:40
    • According to Vines, the word “see is optomai” and simply means “to see.”
  • Stephen as he was being stoned, “saw the glory of God” – Acts 7:55
  • Paul states that we are beholding the glory of the Lord – 2 Cor 3:18
  • In Revelation we are told the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God. – Rev 15:8

  The most common NT word for glory is “doxa,” and: “primarily signifies an opinion, estimate, and hence, the honor resulting from a good opinion. It is used of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation, i. e., what He essentially is and does, as exhibited in whatever way he reveals Himself” (4) According to Dr. Spiros Zodhiates (5), “doxa” has the following meanings: To “recognize a person or thing for what it is. Appearance, form, that appearance of a person which catches the eye or attracts attention, commanding recognition.”

  The practical usage of doxa is that God’s form or appearance of manifestation would bring about an opinion, estimation and recognition of who he is. Thus, the glory was a way of God revealing himself in a knowable way.

  The point of giving so many references is this: the biblical principle of glory is a visible manifestation that attracted the attention and brought recognition of the presence of God. It is all about the revelation of Him!

  When teaching our Living In Kingdom Authority series the working definition we use is a compilation of many resources and is as follows: Glory is a form or appearance that attracts attention and brings recognition – of who God is.

  Creation
  Now, to tie this back into creation: The eternal God, who is a spirit (Jn 4:24), which according to Jesus, does not have “flesh and bones” (Lk 24:39) has sought to reveal himself. To accomplish this, He created a place called earth to fill with His form or appearance that would attract attention and bring recognition of who He is. In short, an invisible and intangible God desired to make himself knowable.

  In the next few Apostolic Notes, we will discuss the importance of glory as it relates to understanding of the purpose for Adam, Jesus, the Gospel and the born again believer.

  In the meantime, when you read the term “glory,” think of “the form or appearance that attracts attention and brings recognition.” See how it will bring to light the scripture, especially the New Testament.

  Next apostolic note, we will present the idea of How God’s Glory would fill the earth.

  —————————————-
  (1) International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft
  (2) Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
  (3) Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers
  (4) Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers
  (5) Lexical Aids To The New Testament

How many times a week do you get asked for ID? You’re at the store, ready to check out with your card, the clerk asks you, “Can I see some ID please?” So what do you do? You reach for your drivers license. Ok, so what is so different about this 2×3 piece of plastic, that it would ease the mind of the suspicious (or bored) clerk? Well duh! It has your picture on it. So what?

Once we have given them the drivers license, the clerk looks at the picture, and then looks up at you, then back at the picture. Why? They are comparing you to the image on the card. It is this image that is used to confirm your identity. Note – the image is not you, it is a representation of you, but it causes others to recognize you.

Pictures are images are ways to capture the memories and people of a moment. Have you looked at a photo album lately? As you peruse the old photo’s you catch yourself saying “look at…” as you point to a friend or relative; releasing a flood of memories.

So to ask a facetious question, how did you know who that was: Because you recognized the image in the photo. Now we know that this particular individual was not there with you, but again, the image allowed you to recognize them.

So what is an image? “a representation or likeness of a person or thing ”(1)

An image is not the actual “thing” or person, but it is something that is used for identification. Why is this significant? Glad you asked.

Based on my biblical study, this is one of the key results of the Gospel and God’s purpose for mankind. From the creation story, we know that Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. He was given dominion and told to multiply and fill the earth. The significance here is that if he had been obedient, the earth would have become populated with the image God.

The OT word for image is tselem and means:

• “image or copy” of something in the sense of a replica:
• God made man in His own “image,” reflecting some of His own perfections
• The word also means “image” in the sense of essential nature as used in the following text:
  • So Adam “begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth” Gen 5:3.

So grasping the concepts of image, God made man in his own image to reflect his essential nature and perfection.

As God’s image, Adam was to manifest, reveal, make known to all of creation what God was like: his purpose was to make God tangible or real, ruling as God’s representative. When creation saw Adam, they saw God. Through Adam, God’s nature and character would be expressed.

Unfortunately, we know Adam disobeyed. Since sin entered in, he lost the likeness of God and could no longer act as His representative. Thus, banished from the garden.

From this point on, we see the good news (gospel) being worked out: not just to redeem man, but also to restore him back to his original purpose. A study of the scriptures reveals a focused part of the good news is a restoration back to the image and representation of God. This is seen first in the purpose of Jesus, then applied to the born again believer.

Jesus
It is common knowledge and understanding that Jesus came as the image of God, this is evidenced by the following:
The Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Col 1:15

• Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person… Heb 1:2
• he that hath seen me hath seen the Father… Jn 14:9
• I also think it is significant that in 1 Cor 15, Paul makes a direct connection to Adam, by stating that Jesus was the “last Adam:” implying a completion.

Us
The word tells us that we are renewed after His image

• And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Col 3:10
• For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son… Rom 8:29
• And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness KJV Eph 4:24
• …and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God’s image in righteousness and true holiness. ISV
  • The ESV states – created after the likeness of God…

These texts reveal to us that Jesus came as the representational image of an invisible God, to restore mankind to his original purpose. When we are born again, we are created after God’s likeness, bearing His image and to fulfill the role Adam was created for: representation!

As His image, our purpose is to live in such a way that others will recognize him.

However, we are not to just present an image of a good moral life, we have been authorized to conduct business as representatives of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We are to walk in His delegated authority, demonstrating to this world what life in His kingdom will be like. This manifestation proves to the world there is something better: We reveal to them that there is a King and He is coming with His kingdom and His name is Jesus!

Food for thought:
Is the focus of my walk, to make it to heaven? Or, am I seeking to fulfill the purpose of my creation: expressing His image to a hungry world?

——
Adapted from our teaching series: Living In Kingdom Authority and our book: Apostolic Authority, Every Believers Privilege

For a recent conference, I was asked to be one of the members of a panel discussion, our topic was: The Church in the 21st Century. A lofty theme for a two-hour dialogue.

In preparation, I spent much time ruminating on what has been written about the current church situation and what is seen as biblical models of a New Testament church. The following is a few thoughts I jotted down. Now they are not a complete dissertation, but I think, they are good discussion points to starts some dialogue. So, tell me what you think.

Church growth
We are well into the 21st century, yet when someone speaks of church growth it is predominantly from an old paradigm, ie: numerical growth of a local assembly. The typical concept of church growth is to find a better way to attract people to an event on Sunday. The thought is, if we can increase the number in a service, we think we can increase the chances of someone being saved and then continuing to attend on a regular basis. The fact is we are just looking to do what we have always done, just in a more attractional way!

In the traditional, attractional church of the 20th century, the Sunday event is seen as the major point of evangelism, or preaching of the salvation message. This mindset causes church leaders to search out the latest, greatest program that will attract a crowd. The majority of ministries can devolve into programs that actually promote the church, hoping it will inspire those to attend. (believe me, I have been there done that as a pastor!)

Unfortunately, this is still DOING church using a model that is becoming obsolete. Depending upon what sources you read, this way of church appeals to at best 40% of the population; but realistically, about 30% (Hirsch, Salter). So we have the majority of “churches” all scrapping for an ever-shrinking piece of the pie.

Now before you crucify me, I am not saying this is WRONG, just not as effective as it was many decades ago. Also, I am not saying to do away with the weekly gathering. But what we need is a new context/paradigm/box/perspective (buzz words) to see this gathering in to be more Gospel friendly.

So what is the answer to successful church in the 21st century? I believe it is focusing on BEING the church, not how we DO church. Or another way of saying it: grow people, not churches.

Discipleship
Jesus states that He would build his church: He did not empower us to do this. He did give us a commission, not to grow churches, but to make disciples by teaching them to be obedient to His way of life (commandments). If we focus on our part, He will do his.

If the church is to be successful church in 21st century, each born again believer must think like missionaries (missional): Contextualizing a holistic Gospel in the lives of the culture they are trying to reach. What this entails is living the gospel AS good news in the daily lives of those we interact with. It is taking the Gospel beyond the salvation experience and demonstrating its transformational power. It is the application of this transformational power of the Gospel that will result in disciples being formed.

If the church is to fulfill the commission to make disciples, there first must be an empowering and then a sending of the existing disciples. The empowerment process must convey that the believer has been authorized by Jesus to be His representative and image bearer to this world. The demonstration of this empowerment will present a relevant Gospel in the context of the culture they are living.

Relevant
Relevance -“having direct bearing on the matter in hand.”

Now what relevance means to the success of the 21st century church is this: Demonstrating how the gospel reaches into the nooks and crannies of life and address the deepest issues of our existence, reveals its relevance BEYOND the salvation experience.

For each of us, our choices determine the outcomes of our lives and those choices are dictated by our values. The relevant application of the Gospel reveals how the good news of the Kingdom challenges and transforms our values, which in turn, will affect our choices. Each person and culture has ideologies that are deeply ingrained in their value system. In the discipleship process, it is the responsibility of the believer to root these out and present the Good News in a way that addresses these, thus making the Gospel relevant.

So in summary, if the church is to be successful in the 21st century, it must change its paradigm from an attractional model only: to an attractional AND scattering process. The leadership of the local assemblies should focus on training and empowering the believers THEN sending them out to demonstrate Jesus and his kingdom, thus making disciples.

Then Jesus will build his church.

Much is being said today about the authority to demonstrate the miraculous power of the Kingdom. In using this terminology, I believe we are speaking of a similar authority that Jesus first demonstrated which was then passed on to the apostles and the first century church.

This authority was evidenced by powerful messages that were confirmed by miraculous signs and wonders. Currently there are some groups whose focus is on the manifestation of power and the miraculous outcome. However, there appears to be a lack of understanding of the source, means of transmission and biblical usage of this authority.

To begin with, we must look at the biblical basis of authority.  An examination of the biblical definitions of the words power and authority will establish a firm foundation for us to build upon.

Power & Authority

In the New Testament we see two words that are translated as power, they are dunamis and exousia.  It is significant to understand the meaning of each and its application to demonstrating Kingdom authority.

• Dunamis means: “strength, ability or power. It refers to an inherent power, a power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.” (Thayer’s)
• Exousia, on the other hand: “denotes a freedom of action or right to act.” (Vine’s)
• Authority, according to Nelsons Illustrated Bible dictionary is: “the power or right to do something, particularly to give orders and see that they are followed. It means a persons right to do certain things, It emphasizes the legality and right more than physical strength.”

Putting this in perspective, dunamis or power, is the strength or ability to do something while exousia or authority, is the legal right to use the dunamis of another and expect results.

This difference between power and authority is imperative to our understanding if we desire to minister with Kingdom authority. Dunamis or power is something inherent (abiding within) by virtue or nature of an individual. Exousia or authority is from an external source, it is the legal right to use another’s, i.e. Jesus Christ’s, dunamis.

A good illustration can be seen in a common scenario exhibited on our highways. A particular driver may be stopped for speeding by a five foot two, one hundred and ten pound female police officer. This driver is taller, heavier and stronger and could “take them.” However, the driver is respectful and holds his peace, because he is aware of who this officer represents. In examining this illustration it is apparent that the driver of the car may have a certain amount of power or dunamis that is greater than the power or dunamis of the police officer. However, the officer has more exousia or authority. They have the legal right to use the power or dunamis of the government they are representing, and this power is greater than that of the driver.

Grasping this truth will have significant bearing on our individual Kingdom demonstration. My authority is not based on my personal ability, strength or perceived worth: it is based on my understanding that I have been sent and authorized (authority) to be His representative.  There is a faith action required; I must be obedient to Him, to go and use His power in the manner that He has authorized or prescribed.

The liberating truth is that I do not have to get worked up spiritually, but by faith, obediently act on His authorization and I can expect Him to do His part.

(Adapted from our teaching series: Living In Kingdom Authority. For More info see our Ministry Topics. You can also view a video clip taken from the first lesson here.)

As I began to prepare the floor for the ceramic tile, it was necessary to tear off layers of old flooring. There was the obvious surface layer of tile and underneath it was a backing board. Once these were removed, the original tile flooring was evident – man was it ugly!! In one bath, I had to remove the tile flooring which consisted of 1” square blue tiles. To my dismay, once removed, water damage to the subfloor was evidenced. Just another thing when dealing with rehabs.

As I thought about this, I realized how this house was an expression of our humanness: we tend to cover up the ugly in our lives.

Through the process of life, we each experience hurts and failures that can leave us damaged and ugly: and lets face it, what we don’t like, we bury or cover up. We put on layers of emotional stuff as defense mechanism so we do not have to face it.  The challenge comes when we ask the Lord to use us, He will begin his process of transformation with de-construction.

In our desire to BE something for the Lord, we forget there is a PROCESS of becoming we must go through. It is during this transformation, the Lord removes the layers that are hiding our buried ugliness and damages. Only by addressing these issues can we really be set free and become the whole person He intended.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares what He was sent to do: Part of this involved the healing or setting free of captives. What held these people captive? It was the effects of their bruising or crushing; the buried damages and ugliness that would limit their lives of joy and peace.

Much like the removal of the layers of flooring in our rehab, the de-construction process of the Lord can be quite messy. In this process, He uses the things of life to reveal what is buried in us and bring us to a place of experienced maturity. James states: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (1) The results is being mature and complete.

Peter states: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (2)

It is the situation of life that are the great purifiers of our character and faith. As we walk through the stress and pressure, we see the layers of stuff pulled away and we come to the raw, damage and ugliness of what we have buried. It is here that Jesus can then begin to rebuild us, healing and shaping us into His image of wholeness and holiness.

food for thought:
What does your response to the stress of life reveal about you?

(1) James 1:2-4
(2) 1 Peter 1:6-7

The other morning, sitting at my office (Starbucks) cleaning files from my computer, I ran across an ebook entitled “Marketing Apple, 5 Secrets of the World’s Best Marketing Machine.” I remembered downloading, but never reading it: so I began to peruse it. The first section jumped out at me and I saw application to the Kingdom of God.

The section is titled: “Don’t Sell Products, People buy what other people have.” The author describes how each iPod user actually becomes a marketer (evangelist – my word) for Apple.  The article references the iPod commercials depicting happy and excited people dancing to the tunes on their iPods. These energetic people were not promoting the techno wonders of the iPod – they were marketing an experience.

Further, they pointed out the distinctive white headphones each individual was wearing. The marketing guru’s took the most visible part of the iPod and used it to create a status symbol of sorts, or an indicator you were part of the club. Thus, as you are living life, jammin’ or chillin’ to the tunes of your iPod, you are marketing to the world the Apple brand.

And you don’t even get a commission!

Now how does this apply to the kingdom of God? Glad you asked.

For too long, I believe our evangelism methods have been apologetics based: we have created a sound biblical thesis as to the fallen nature of each individual and the necessity of a life transforming, born again experience.  Once we have memorized the Roman Road, 4 Steps or Laws or any other exegesis, we then schedule our “outreach” time and descend upon the hapless lost souls needing the word of truth we have for them…. And for the most part, it is rejected.

At other times, people listen to what we say: then look at our lives and the two do not mesh well together. The experience we are marketing is inconsistent with our message.

So, what am I getting at?

We should be like Apple and the focus of our lives should be to demo an experience. While eternity is important, we need to demo that the journey is worth taking. Those outside of the Kingdom need to see that this life is exciting, full of joy, peace and adventure. This needs to be conveyed outside the confines of church services, in the real world of daily life.

We also need to create this “I’m part of the club” mentality. Now wait, I’m not saying an exclusive, cliquish group: but one that is noticeably different from the masses and appealing. Thankfully, the Lord has already created a way for this to happen: it is the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. Just as the white headphones identified the iPod users “club,” the demonstration of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit will identify us as part of the Kingdom.

If we consciously focus on our marketing (evangelism), we can create a demand for our “product.” People may not be concerned at the moment about eternity, but they come to desire what we are revealing to them and will be willing to make “the deal” to posses it.

Food For Thought
First – every day we are marketing (or evangelizing). So chose to market our King and his kingdom
Second – be conscious of the experience you are marketing.

“Faith faith faith, just a little bit of faith. You don’t need a whole lot, just use what you’ve Got. “ Who ever wrote the lyrics to this song: I wonder if they really listened to what they were saying? It seems that they are implying that faith is this magical, mystical elixir that just “a little dab will do ya!” I don’t know, maybe they have a better understanding, but this is not the faith that I see in the word.

The faith I read of is something that takes us on a process of discovery; an illumination into our innermost fears and the awesomeness of a loving God.

The initiation of this faith process is many times an exciting one. God speaks to us or “calls” us to some “thing.” We rejoice that He desires to use us, Wow! What the Lord may not tell us at that moment or we fail to hear is something like this: “I can use you, but not where and how you are right now, you need to leave this place.” The calling is to leave what and where we are and follow Him to another place. Sounds good until we walk a few miles on this journey.

This faith journey does not take us on the well-traveled expressways; but the meandering lonely dirt roads of life are where we find ourselves. And I might add without a road map! Oh don’t get me wrong, the Lord knows the way, he just doesn’t show us.

It is on these isolated back roads, by ourselves, that we begin to discover what is in us. This is where WE (the self) begin to wrestle with our FAITH. You see, faith is not some emotional high or repeating to yourself how much you believe God is able to …… (fill in whatever the situation may be). Faith is the belief, trust and COURAGE to ACT or CONTINUE the journey even when the road is rough, desolate or even none existent (at least to us).

I think of individuals who have traveled this journey, like Abram. God spoke to him – woohoo! But what did he say? Leave – your family, friends, and country – everything familiar to you. I can imagine a possible dialog like the following. “Where am I going Lord?” “Don’t worry, I will show you.” “But how will I know where to go?” “Just start walking.” “How will I know when I get there?” “Just start walking.” “But God?” “If you believe me, just start walking.” So we see Abram demonstrated his faith by action – he took a literal step of faith.

It was on this journey of faith; we see a revelation of what was in Abram. Twice he lied about his relationship with his wife – “she’s my sister.” Well, at least it was a half-truth – justification. In a time of weakness he followed Sarai’s advice and took matters into his own hand: we know the long-term affects of that. Yet in the end, God fulfilled His word and Abraham received his promise.

Joseph is another example. A young boy with a dream from God. Yet his faith journey was one of literal bondage. Ps 105: 17-19 gives insight into what God was doing in him during this process. Joseph revealed his understanding of God’s plans when he told brothers: “what you meant for my harm God meant for my good.”

So faith is a journey of discovery: it is doing when we don’t see the end, it is stepping when we don’t see the path, it is continuing when we don’t know the way. Faith is not so much about what I believe; it is about what I do.

Are you on a faith journey:
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What’s Happening, When Nothing’s Happening

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“What!” you may be exclaiming: “That is absurd, when can God’s promises hurt?” May I offer a response – when they do not seem to be coming to pass.

Think for a moment of the excitement you experience when the Lord gave you a promise. Maybe it is about your job, finances, loved ones or a particular ministry. Daily you anticipate its fulfillment. Yet as time passes and the promise does not seem to materialize, there is a change in our attitude. Excitement now becomes frustration, maybe even anger as time continues to pass.

This promise forever alters our paradigm of life: it is always there, sometimes in the forefront of our thoughts, sometimes just below our consciousness.  It places us in a position that we cannot go back to how we used to think, yet it seems we cannot go forward either. There are days you wonder if you really heard Him right? Has He forgotten you? Did you miss it? Did you do something wrong? Questions and emotions can run rampant causing such mental anguish.

So yes the promises of God can hurt. But there is a reason.

Joseph experienced the same pain, yet God was using it as a process of development.  As a young man, Joseph received a promise from God. In a dream his  family was bowing to him and Joseph proceeds to tell them of this wonderful promise. Obviously, the family was not too thrilled.  This starts a process of development in Joseph’s life: he is cast into a pit, sold to a slave caravan and transported to Egypt, re-sold to Potiphar, then cast into prison.  Some promise huh! Some pain! Yet there was a reason for this besides getting him to Egypt.

Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. Ps 105:19

Joseph’s promise required a process of preparation. The text above tells us that until the promise came to pass, Joseph was tried. According to BDB Hebrew Lexicon, “tried” means “to smelt, to refine, to test.” According to TWOT this word “is primarily used for gold and silversmiths and for the process of refining metals before they were worked into fine vessels.” The time between receiving the promise and its fulfillment was a refining time for Joseph. Ok, that makes sense and we can grasp that. So…….

Now this is what strikes me about this process: it was the “word of the LORD” that tried him. The very promise given him became his refiner! Think about that. How many times do we really associate a promise from God as purifying us? Usually we get excited: we claim His promises, we declare them and we look for them to come to pass. Yet have we ever stopped to think that His promise could also become the instrument of our purification?

All those years as a slave or in prison, Joseph must have been asking God about the promise. He probably questioned what he heard: wondered if he missed something or did something wrong. I can imagine there were many nights lying awake staring into the darkness of despair, wondering: “where is this promise?” Yet through this, there was a refining going on IN Joseph.

It was the purification process of the promise that equipped Joseph to fulfill the promise. Joseph was an immature seventeen-year-old when he received the dream, what did he know about leadership. Yet it was the pain of the years of servanthood in Potiphar’s house and the prison that equipped him as a leader and administrator. When It was God’s time, Joseph was ready to step into his promise.

Today, you may be wondering when will God bring his promise to pass. You are tired, frustrated and maybe angry. Don’t lose hope, if you are here, you are right where God wants you! You are in a process.

For a more detailed understanding of the process, see our book: But God, You Said: What’s Happening When Nothing’s Happening or click here

We have entered a transition phase of business marketing and advertising. There is this shift from interruption tactics to a more organic form. The day of mass TV ads, full-page magazine spreads, billboards, radio spots and direct mail seem to waning in effectives. Why?

• First, we are so inundated with these ads: we begin to block them.
• Second, many have become irritated with these unsolicited interruptions of our valuable time.

In short, the interruption marketing will actually shut the doors to the very people business are trying to reach.

Unfortunately, the church has as it’s mainstay of “witnessing”, interruption marketing. It is not uncommon to find well-intended believers knocking doors to invite strangers to some special event they are not interested in. Invite cards are handed out to total strangers in line at stores. I have witnessed strangers butting into another’s conversation, manipulating it to the heaven or hell issue. In each of these instances, the interruption implies that what I have is more important than what you are doing.

Then, those churches that do have some resources fill the highways with billboard telling me how they are the most personable church around (oxymoronic?). Then there are the radio and TV ads interrupting the programming: and we cannot forget the direct mail postcards that fill our mailboxes.

Now am I saying these are wrong? No. Just probably not effective. They are expensive and can potentially alienate the very ones we are attempting to reach.

The Answer – Go Viral
In the business world of today, the hot method today is the idea of word of mouth (mouse) or viral marketing. This is basically when one person is so enthralled with your product or idea; they willingly spread it to someone else by email, tweet, Facebook post, phone call or conversation over coffee. The idea is so relevant and easy to pass on, that people become the carriers of the “virus.”

The first church was the original viral marketers. They did not have billboards, mass mailings, invite cards, various ministries such as singles, youth, children. They did not have the mega buildings and phenomenal drama presentations. Yet they impacted their culture in such a dramatic way. How? Because they made the Good News (gospel) contagious.

They had something that was demonstratively real: they lived it out everyday of their lives. One contact with a “carrier” was so potentially infectious. The result was that the Lord added daily to the church.

What is the idea of The Viral Gospel?

First it must be virulent
Virulence is a virus’ ability to reproduce itself and affect changes in its host (simple def).

The Good News must be virulent in our lives; it must first be alive and active in us! This demonstration will make the gospel contagious – something that people want to grab

Second – Contagious
The good news must be easy to spread. Unfortunately, the average church mindset is come to our service – here you can get saved, healed etc. The majority of events happen around the building we call church or a specific sponsored event by the church.

To be contagious, we must take the good news out of the host carrier and touch the lives of others. Each believer (carrier) needs to be instructed in his or her giftedness and empowered to demo the good news of our King and his kingdom. As they move through their daily lives, the potential to transmit the good news grows exponentially.

Third replication
A virus spreads by injecting its DNA into a host cell: which then begins to reproduce the virus.

In the church, we call this discipleship. We must go beyond the focus of saved or lost, heaven or hell motivation and we must take the spiritual DNA we received at our new birth and through the power of His spirit, transfer it to others. The result is we are replicating the image and nature of Jesus in others.

The viral gospel – the powerful, life changing, replicating good news of Jesus is what will impact our communities.

Food for thought -
Are you a carrier?