Casting Down Giants

In quietness and confidence will be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

"Condemnation is the Giant, Sweetheart. The giant of Gath that says he will throw your bones to the dogs. He is the voice of the evil one who knows he cannot touch you but wants to make you cower in fear.


Do you know who you are, Daughter? You are Mine. You are totally covered in the righteousness of Jesus and wholly purchased by the blood of My Son.


What word of the enemy will I listen to? None. And neither must you. You are precious and holy, called by My name. What accusation will I allow to stand against you? None. I know your weaknesses and flaws, and I paid the ransom for everyone of them.


What is condemnation? It is the waves of the sea, driven and tossed by the ire of serpents and scorpions. But you must walk through the waves, and I will be with you. The storm will have no hold on you if you keep your gaze on Me.


You want to perform to silence Condemnation. Child, it cannot be done. Fix your gaze on Me and learn from Me. Ignore the voices of condemnation, fear, and self-pity. Ignore jealousy, bitterness, and wrath whether your own or others. Focus on Truth, on righteousness, justice and peace. Let Me be your joy and Hope will rise within you.


You are Mine. That is the basis of your dealing with the voices of condemnation. That and My goodness toward you. That old serpent the devil would rob you of your joy, but I already paid in full for all your mistakes. Focus on your identity in Me, on the riches of My goodness.


And remember, Daughter: for Me nothing is impossible. In no way will the taunts of the giant keep Me from pouring My blessing on you."

~Your Papa God

The Big Reversal

The Old Testament spends its entire volume dealing with the outward behavior in order to get to the heart. In other words, it focuses on external behavior but with the intent of exposing the corruptness of human nature (Jeremiah 17:9). The purpose for revealing our innate wrong way of thinking is not ultimately to condemn us but to get us ready for the Coming Savior (Ephesians 4:20-22).

Once Jesus walks this earth and accomplishes His mission of paying for all humanity’s rebellion, a big shift in focus occurs. No longer does God have to deal with us from the outside in, but He declares that He will live in us when we receive His payment (John 14:23). In other words, now He can work from the inside out (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Therefore, after Jesus’ ascension, the New Testament deals primarily with our heart, often called our inner man, showing how a new identity and the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to please God and bless others (Colossians 3:9-10). Behavior is now dealt with as a maturity issue (Hebrews 5:12-14). Just as children are human from the start, yet they must learn new skills, so the New Testament authors reveal the Lord works with us who believe (I Peter 2:2).

This Reversal is so vital to understand because it changes the way our symptoms (outer behavior) are diagnosed and treated. It also provides a freedom from conformity and man’s opinion based on outward behavior so that we can be open, vulnerable, transparent, and honest as God works on our hearts (Ephesians 6:6). This Reversal provides God the way to hold us each accountable for our heart attitude rather than just the appearance of righteousness (Colossians 2:16-23). It also frees us to walk in mercy, forgiveness, and grace rather than shame, condemnation, and judgment.

The amazing thing about the New Covenant (the Reversal) is that it allows God to prioritize mercy over judgment (James 2:13). It doesn’t mean His holiness has changed, but that an eternal payment has been made. He poured out His wrath on Jesus (Isaiah 43:10). When we accept Jesus’ stand-in for us, then we’ve stepped under the covering of His death, like an umbrella that repels the rain (Romans 6:6). Jesus took God’s wrath—the punishment we deserved—for us and replaced our heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Isn’t that amazing? He says, “No longer is your heart deceitful and desperately wicked, incurable. I’ve destroyed that old heart and performed heart surgery. You have a new heart! A pure heart, clean and whole and righteous, the home of My Spirit. You are now the temple of the Living God (I Corinthians 6:19). I live in you so I will no longer punish you for your sins but I will help you grow so that you hear My voice and have the power to obey (Philippians 2:13).”

The Apostle Peter said, “We have been given great and precious promises! The divine nature!” (II Peter 1:3-4) Incredible. Impossible. Accomplished. The divine nature means a relentless submission to the will of the Father, just like Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8). It doesn’t mean we’re perfect yet. God is working on our souls—our wills, hearts, and emotions. But because we know He is working, we can be kinder to one another (Ephesians 4:32). We can delight in each other’s growth and development like siblings delight in each new developmental stage (Hebrews 10:24).

Praise God, we no longer have to be afraid of judgment and we no longer have to strive to get our behavior to match people’s expectations (Galatians 6:13-15). Did you know that rules aren’t necessary when the heart is right? It’s true. Rules are simply a way to try to define what a humble, righteous heart looks like (I Timothy 1:5). The Apostle Paul tells us that rules are for the unrighteous and self-centered (I Timothy 1:9-10). Do we still have to have rules in place in our homes, businesses, schools, and countries? Of course, because none of us are perfect yet and too many people assume that liberty means we get to do whatever we want (Romans 13:1-5). But God’s liberty means we get to do whatever HE wants (Galatians 5:13). And that’s a big difference.

So the Great Reversal allows God to plant His heart in us and transform our thinking to mirror His (Romans 12:1-2). Once we’ve accepted this heart change, the Curse is broken over our lives. The Bible says, “Jesus became a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13-14). This means, He’s saying in effect, “I’m not going to hold you to a punishment that is more than you can bear. I’m not going to punish you at all! I’m going to help you grow and bless you. That blessing includes the greatness of My lovingkindness and mercy. It means I’m going to give you second chance after second chance after second chance, and add no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). My discipline will be like a chiropractor’s care. When something is out of place in your life, you’ll feel its pain like a dislocated shoulder. But when you bring your attitude and behavior to Me, I’ll fix it from within you. I’ll adjust your thinking and behavior to be like Mine, and then you’ll sigh with such relief and gratefulness, you’ll never be afraid to come to Me for My correcting mercy and grace again!” (Hebrews 4:16, 12:10-11)

 

The Purpose of the Law

When Adam and Eve sinned, God spoke a curse over man, over woman, and over Satan (Genesis 3:14-19). The Curse’s purpose became immediately obvious: it identified each one as rebellious. It’s purpose was to punish that rebellion, but it could never cure it. Nor did the sacrifice of the lamb to make the outer coverings for Adam and Eve atone for their sin (Hebrews 10:3-4). Rather, the sacrifice and the punishment were to show guilt and remind them of how terrible it is to listen to the wrong voice, to disobey God.(Romans 5:12-19).

In Genesis chapter 4, another curse is pronounced. This time, God declares to Cain, “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Therefore, you are cursed…” (v10-11). Cain cries out, “My punishment is more than I can bear!” (v13) His cry is the echo of every heart when a true understanding of the penalty for sin occurs (Romans 3:19, 6:23). When Israel becomes a nation and receives the Law from the Lord on Mount Sinai, curses and blessings are pronounced upon the people according to their behavior. The curses are meant to stigmatize and punish anyone who disobeys the Law while the Lord promises to bestow blessings on those who adhere to the Law and show that their hearts are set on obeying His voice (Deuteronomy 27:11-28).

The Apostle Paul explains much later in history, as a redeemed Pharisee, that the Law was designed to identify everyone as sinners but it could never save anyone out of that sin (Romans 3:20, Hebrews 7:18-19). In point of fact, the law condemned us all and etched an eternal identity of ‘hopeless sinner’ upon each and every one of us, because there is no one who meet the perfect standards of Heaven (Rom 7:7-24). Because of this stigmatism, this hopeless state, Jesus stepped in to pay for our sins with His own blood and place a new heart in us by the power of His Spirit. This is why Paul so fervently and joyfully declared the Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection, because He offered us what the Law could not: a new identity as children of God, forever free from condemnation when we accept the payment of Jesus' blood upon the Cross and the power of His Spirit giving us a new heart(Galatians 3:13, Romans 8:15, Ezekiel 36:25-27).

However, between the time of Moses and Jesus, the Israelite nation began to view the Law as a way to separate ‘sinner’ from ‘righteous’. They took the requirements, placed upon outward behavior (for only God can see the heart) and based their judgment completely on people’s outward behaviors. This is why, when Jesus began His ministry, He spoke ruthlessly against the attitude of a Pharisee. He exposed the sins of their hearts, not allowing them to hide behind the appearance of good behavior (Matthew 15:18-20). He called them white-washed tombs, full of dead man’s bones. He said they needed to cleanse not only the outside but also the inside (Matthew 23:25-28). And He preached the entire Sermon on the Mount with the intent to expose every flaw in a self-righteous person’s thinking. He said, “You haven’t committed outward adultery, but you’ve lusted in your heart, and to God, it’s the same thing” (Matthew 5:28). He said, “You haven’t physically murdered anyone, but you’ve lived hating that person and using all your power to hurt him in all other ways. To God, it’s the same thing!” (Matthew 5:21)

In all His dialogues with the nation of Israel, Jesus’ message is strong, personal, and clear: “God sees the inside. God judges righteously (John 5:30). It’s all the same to God. He cares about the heart attitude and not just the behavior (Luke 11:40). You’re wronging people and creating new traditions to call it good (Matthew 15:3-9). But the purpose of the Law is to show you how much you need a Savior (Romans 7:7). Yet you’ve turned God’s commandments into a cudgel that you wield upon others instead of falling to your knees in repentance (Luke 11:46).  David said a broken and contrite heart is what God desires, and he was right (Psalm 51:17)! I told Samuel the prophet, ‘Man looks at outward appearances but God looks inside the heart’ (I Samuel 16:7). I’ve come to this Earth to die for your sins, but you won’t receive Me if you don’t believe you’ve sinned!”

The whole point of Jesus’ strange harshness is to get the nation ready: ready to cry out in repentance and desperation for the mercy He was about to offer at the Cross (John 7:37-39). He ate with sinners because they already recognized their deep need for healing, mercy, and restoration (Matthew 9:12-13). They longed to be in fellowship with the One they had always been ostracized from. But the Pharisees, who upheld all the Laws and kept ‘sinners’ out of God’s holy presence, needed to know that they were in the same boat (Matthew 23:13). Jesus longed for them to recognize their need so they, too, could receive forgiveness and a new nature (II Corinthians 5:17).  

Identity in Christ: Heart Transplant

Becoming a child of God can happen in only one way: We must receive a new heart.


Jesus said that we must be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God. He said very specifically, "You must be born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:3-6)


Ezekiel prophesied this occurrence in the Old Testament. As a prophet of God, he declared God's promise: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit with in you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."(Ezekiel 36:26-27)


The prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah made it clear why a heart transplant has to take place. "A man's heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." (Jeremiah 17:9) "Our righteousness is as filthy rags."(Isaiah 64:6)


The Apostle Paul states clearly, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) Paul explains further that none of our attempts to earn heaven will ever cover up the sinful nature inherent within each of us. Nor can our good works even begin to compare to the holiness of God. (Romans 3:19-23)


Therefore, God offered a once-and-for-all solution: the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for our sins AND a complete DNA change: sin-riddled heart and dead spirit replaced with pure heart and spirit breathed alive by the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God inside us upon the moment of rebirth. (Ephesians 2:1-5)


Jesus promised to those who embrace Him, speaking of Himself and the Father, "We will come to them and make our home in them." (John 14:23) He declared irrevocably, "The Spirit of truth...dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:17) The Apostle Paul declares the same truth after Jesus' resurrection, "Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance." (Ephesians 1:13-14)


This heart transplant guarantees a new identity: Child of God (Romans 8:15-16). The Apostle John, who lived longer than any of the other disciples, rejoices in this amazing identity change: "How great the Father's love that He has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1)


Here then is Daddy's heart: That everyone who cries out for the mercy and covering of the Cross will receive a complete heart transplant! Jesus paid for it with His own life. The Holy Spirit performs the surgery and remains within us as the Absolute Guarantor that the surgery "took". He executes a complete coup on the enemy: delivering us out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light! (Colossians 1:13)


How amazing that the Father took full custody the moment, we said, "I want You in me!" He didn't just temporarily set up house to see if we mean it, which would put us back under the works of the law, because now it'd be dependent on our actions again instead of simply our cry for His mercy (Galatians 3:3). Rather, as soon as that cry for mercy bursts from the heart, He snaps His fingers and says, "Done! It is finished! The whole price was paid for every sin past, present, and future, and I'm never backing out of our deal. I'm taking that old sinful heart out right now--this instant--and giving you a brand new one. And I'm thrilled to live within you and begin the process of renewing your soul, so that your will, mind, and emotions will grow to reflect My new nature in you." (Romans 12:1-2).


I know there are some people who debate whether a person can lose this new identity, this new heart, and one's place in God's family. After all, there are many Scriptures that urge us to examine ourselves to make sure we are truly in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5). Paul spends several chapters in his epistle to the Romans explaining why we must not continue deliberately sinning, saying that it's not a big deal because we receive God's payment and forgiveness. His payment was His own life!!! (Romans 6) Not only was the payment extremely high and must be received with deepest humility and gratitude, but purposefully sinning brings us back under its power. Refusing to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who will always lead us into Godliness and holiness, opens us back up to the torment of the enemy within our souls (Matthew 18:33-34, I Timothy 1:20).


These verses give severe warning and appeal to our new spiritual DNA. Unbelievers must receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit to turn from self-righteous sufficiency to full dependence upon the redemptive work of Christ (II Corinthians 4:3-4). Scripture also warn us as believers not begin to think we need to earn continual infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes the entire letter to the Galatians to combat that heresy. We receive the Holy Spirit by pure grace, and He remains of His own great love for us--Praise God!!!


We humbly yield our lives to Him, and never is our efforts the cause of our salvation, godliness, giftings, or empowering. Obedience and salvation are both EFFECTS of the new identity we have as Children of God!!!

Lighthouse

“We are born to burn.” ~Bill Johnson, Hosting the Presence

There is one house that is built to burn. It is the lighthouse. It’s whole design is for that one function: to burn with intensity, fierceness, and purpose.

It’s commonplace to look at a lighthouse and think: yes, a fire burns inside it. But what a fire! It’s a fire that burns day and night, in the blistering heat of summer as well as the deadly blizzards of winter. This fire blazes so high and so fierce that small pieces of kindling from the forest just won’t cut it. No, this fire requires massive logs, severed by the sharpest axe and carried by the strongest lumberjack up grueling flights of stairs to the highest level of the lighthouse.

A lighthouse is also a glass house: a house that everyone else can see through. It’s windows around that fire are transparent and clear. They have to be because the light is meant to pierce storms and ink-black darkness. This light is so strong and fierce that going near it could mean death, but to those at sea, it is life-preserving and even life-saving. It’s a light that illuminates the way.

A lighthouse without a fire blazing is an ornament of the past. A lighthouse with pulsating flames serves with relentless determination its greatest purpose. The lighthouse keeper lives within this house, may even have a family in its abode. But if the fire goes out, the lighthouse keeper no longer operates in his true identity and calling.

Jesus called us to be consumed with Him. He is the fire that burns within us. His presence is warm and comforting, but He desires us to remember that He is meant to be more than a fire that flickers in an interior hearth. He designed our lives to be demonstrations of His love and fierce desire. He gives us His Holy Spirit to live within us as the Master LightKeeper, to empower us in our identity and teach us the skills necessary for the trade. Even our successes—those great oaks that are monuments of our most diligent efforts in God’s field—must submit to the Holy Spirit's greatest purpose: keeping the fire of abandonment ablaze in our hearts.

DNA Calling!!!

I think I grew up in a culture of the Church that said, “You’re not…” much more than “You are…” Perhaps that’s why I’ve struggled with insecurity about my identity in Christ’s body for so much of my life. You see, I know who I am to Jesus, but who am I to people in His Church? Whenever I step into a new church group, I usually put out feelers to see what peghole they put me in and conform to it.

But I’m tired of surviving, tired of fearing what people think, tired of cringing every time I try stepping out of the little box the enemy puts me in. I’m going to let other people off the hook and admit it’s me—it’s me listening to the lies of the enemy. He’s the one whispering the accusations and shaming me into keeping to ‘my place’. Seriously?

Our place is in Christ! Seated in the heavenlies at Daddy’s right hand! Our place is in the center of His heart and saturated with the love of His Spirit! So what about those times when Godly correction is needed? During last week’s prophetic worship conference at Faith Center, Graham Cooke said it wonderfully: “Accountability isn’t calling people out on their stuff but calling them up into their true identity.”

So let’s apply this to calling. What if God’s callings on our lives aren’t positions to be attained to but Spirit-infused DNA—the same spiritual DNA that transformed us into new creations the moment of our rebirth? What if spiritual growth isn’t advancing through categories (like church worker, deacon, teacher, pastor, prophet, apostle) but maturing in our ability to express the calling God infused into our spiritual genes from the get-go: the Bride of Christ?

I think that if we, the Church, can see each other as ALREADY who we are meant to be and simply growing in our ability to operate in our Spirit-fused callings and giftings, we won’t be so hard on each other. In fact, I think we’ll say, “Yes, you are…. Let me help you” rather than saying, “Who do you think you are? You can’t do that. You haven’t earned the right to do such and such.”

Granted, increased responsibility comes with increased maturity. We aren’t going to put a baby or child in charge of a church. But a child will seek to act like his Father. A little girl will do her very best to copy Daddy. So let’s show incredible kindness and joy as we see each other stepping out in faith and desire, doing what Daddy has put in our hearts to do. After all, the Holy Spirit is within each of us, and He absolutely delights to do what the Father is doing and help us grow in the calling we were created to walk in.

So maybe a baby lion can’t protect the pride. He’s sure going to practice his roar…and one day, he’ll be big enough to do what he was born to do!

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we ALL come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children…” Ephesians 4:11-14