28.11.04
It's just not cool - I don't care who you are.
Tonight as I was walking home from church, I witnessed a sight that both astounded and disgusted me. As I approached an alleyway, there was a young girl, perhaps in her early twenties with her hand covering her mouth as she peered into the dark hiddenness of the alley. As I drew nearer, I followed her gaze, curious to know what could be the source of this reaction.
There was a man standing beside the dumpster in plain view of passersby. There was no hiding the fact that he was urinating there. In my neighbourhood, it's not so extraordinary to observe a man using the alleyway as his lavatory, but what was disturbing about this man is that he was not one whom I would see on the corner selling dope, or pimping the young girl or being forced to the ground by police officers. They looked like they just walked out of a GAP commercial, and just because he could, he thought it would be funny to take a leak in the alley, and so he did, much to the amusement of his female companion who giggled as he zipped up his fly.

God spoke to me strongly through that bringing me to Galatians 5:13:

"But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature."


Although we condone it, it is not really OK for my neighbours to urinate in the alleyways, I wish they didn't have to, but quite often because of they circumstances they feel that they have little choice. However, it was certainly not OK for GAP boy to do it. He should've known better, because that's not how he had been taught to behave.

In the same way, God sees us act out in sin. He hates it on His lost children who may not know any better, and He still hates it on one of His redeemed sons or daughters.

ugly to Him when an addict takes a hoot off of a crack pipe. It's still ugly when a child of God takes the hit.
So don't do it.

It's ugly to Him when a pervert leers at a woman lustfully, imagining her in depraved sexual scenes. It's still ugly when a man of God leers.
So don't do it.

It's ugly to Him when an immoral woman will use her body as a means to beguile men. It's still ugly when the women of the church dress revealingly all in the name of 'fashion' at the expense of their visually stimulated brothers in Christ.
So don't do it.

We should know better.
"For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature"

Ruhani
 
posted by Hezza at 6:55 p.m. | Permalink | 1 comments
26.11.04
In Luke 6, there occurs a scene in which the disciples are walking through a field and because they are hungry, they begin to eat the grain that is there in front of them, freely and without fear of consequence, for Jesus was with them, nodding His approval.
The Pharisees, however, made a big stink about it, calling what they were doing "harvesting" (They rubbed the husks off with their hands and started eating the grain. v1) which is a ridiculous claim considering they weren't harvesting en masse to feed a village, only what would satisfy their hunger until they got to somebody's mother's house to eat a proper meal.
So what was the real issue here? It's the same old story of a bunch of legalists getting ticked off because someone with freedom through Christ comes along and unreservedly behaves in ways that they themselves could never imagine. Being locked into 'religion' rather than grace, they are envious of this glaring freedom.
To some Christians, ministry comes as naturally as walking casually through a field munching on a handful of grain, it's just part of an everyday lifestyle. Those 'Christians' who are fanatical about the Law see that and become angry and jealous and even become accusatory:
you can't do ministry like that, it's against Army
policy/tradition/spirit. It may offend other 'non-Christian
religious peoples' or endanger our governmental alliances."

Jesus uses King David as an example of someone who was revered and venerated and points out that he and his men were moving in the same spirit when they ate the sacred bread in the Temple. Then He continues by saying "I am the Master of the Sabbath" I say what goes.
How often do we eulogize our founders and their trailblazing, offensive ways with delight and yet turn around and condemn brothers and sisters in faith for following in the same spirit?

"The Holy Spirit of God will reveal to true Salvationists how they can exhibit that practical, loving and self-denying attitude to the straying, sinning and suffering world for which Christ died, which is the hallmark of the genuine Army spirit." Orders and Regulations for Soldiers Chapter 12, Section 1

Case closed.

Ruhani
 
posted by Hezza at 9:16 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
This morning I was filling in for a friend of mine facilitating a Christian discussion group. In prayer and through a dream the Lord directed me to bring the topic of 'Prayer for the Persecuted Church' to the table both to spark discussion on the Apostle Paul's writings in the book of Phillipians, to provoke prayer on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters globally and to gain fresh perspective on the ease of our more untroubled faith lives here in North America.
It all started off well, I presented what I had been hearing from the Lord and how it had challenged me. The others were engaged, nodding their heads in acquiescence and my heart rose in antipation of what God was going to reveal through us, His believers who had assembled to hear His Voice.
I was dismayed when I was coerced into playing 'referee' by the other members of the group. Somehow, a Spirit-led discussion focused on the adversity followers of Christ in other parts of the world face on a daily basis, dissolved into a God's kids bickering about their theories of salvation, forgiveness of sin, whether our sin really separates us from God, whether we need to ask for forgiveness. And on. And on.
Sadly, I had to come to terms with the reality that this discussion group wasn't going to get around to unselfishly considering others, or to be led into prayer on their behalf or even to commit to praying throughout the week in personal moments of prayer.
Nope - we argued and indoctrinated and catechized one another until our time was up.
I left feeling disappointed, because we had used our time to talk selfishly about topics that were high on our own agenda, but never made it to God's agenda.
The Lord spoke to me and revealed how often that happens in His personal relationship with me. He's ready to draw me someplace new, but I'm content to argue and banter about comfortable ideas, thereby missing out on growth and Holy Ghost's leading in my life.
By the Spirit, Jesus was led into the desert. (Luke 4:1)
By the Spirit, Paul was spurred on towards Jerusalem. (Acts 20:22)
By the Spirit, Philip was led exactly to where God wanted him to be. (Acts 8:39-40)

So let God and let God draw you in or out...or UP!

Ruhani

 
posted by Hezza at 11:55 a.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
25.11.04
God is big enough
In reading through the book of Ezra, I began to wonder how it is that Cyrus (King of Persia) ended up chipping in on the building supplies needed for the Temple of worship in Jerusalem.
The Matthew Henry Online Commentary says this:
"the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus"
and:
"the hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord."
This is powerful stuff! Do you get the fullness of that?
God can make any project happen.
He gives those who need to be involved the desire to participate. God moved King Cyrus to give a whole lot of stuff, which to him, barely made a dent in the palace treasury(1:9-10) but was exactly what the builders needed.
What stands out to me, is that nowhere in that Scripture does it say that Ezra had to go grovelling to Cyprus for help. There was no charming, bootlicking, sweet-talking or lunch at fancy restaurants to arouse him into making a donation to their religious cause.
God took care of business.
So, that being said, seeing as God is the same yesterday, today and always, I'd like to propone that as long as we are being 'about our Master's business' that He will provide for us in the same way that He provided for them.
However, as a Salvation Army, we'll never see it until we back off and let Him step in and move the hearts of the kings...
Ruhani

 
posted by Hezza at 10:28 p.m. | Permalink | 2 comments
19.11.04
RESURRECTION!
"I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn't be the end of me? Not on your life! It's resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live." 1 Corinthians 15:31-32 MSG
So what's the use in going out and preaching the Gospel day after day and serving meal after meal and handing out coat after coat if this is it? If the only thing we have to look forward to is whatever small happiness we can elicit for ourselves here on this fallen earth?
It may be easy to fall into the attitude of the Epicureans - those who believed that we could gain knowledge of the world by solely relying upon our senses. They taught that the point of all one's actions in life was to attain pleasure (conceived of as tranquility) for oneself. Get whatever happiness you can while you're still kickin' and healthy enough to enjoy it. Get ahead in life. Get your little piece of heaven. As Christians, though, we believe that this world is not our home, so we shouldn't be making ourselves cozy in it. Instead, we ought to live an exemplary life among the non-believers so that our actions will refute their prejudices. (see 1 Peter 2:11-12 MSG)
No friends, instead, as you walk through the cold night looking for the woman who sells her body for drugs over and over, or endure yet another unclean spirit spewing impurity all over you when all you were doing was asking for prayer requests, remember the heavenly rewards that have been revealed to you.
So when it gets hard (maybe like it is now) use the promise of the eternal blessings as fuel for perseverance and "may the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3:5
 
posted by Hezza at 7:48 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
Just a thought...


"How can two people walk together unless they be agreed? That is, how can they walk together in harmony unless they are of the same opinion with respect to the road they travel, the calls they make and a good many other matters relating to the jouney." William Booth


I am initially drawn to 2 Corinthians 6:14 with this quote;
"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

But also, in all fairness, it's not just a marriage thing - which is how it is generally interpreted, but it's also a parnership thing.
Check out verse 16:
"What agreement is there between the Temple of God and idols?

Where in the Army do we come into agreement with other 'organizations' -who worship idols- just to increase our pool of resources? God have mercy on us, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
What agreement is there between the Temple of God and idols?
Absolutely none.
No big deal you say?
What are the consequences to these sorts of alignments? The Old Testament is fraught with examples of the Israelites -a people set apart for God to display His love and righteousness to the nations- settling in and rubbing shoulders with the locals who worshipped all sorts of gods and who were involved in all sorts of dodgy and detestable worship practices (not just sacrifices of animals and children, but perverted sex acts, cutting their own flesh (bloodlust) and the list goes on). Jews were marrying into these families, taking on their rituals and generally becoming a people desecrated, all for the sake of increased land ownership, more exotic women...larger herds or maybe just because they were there. Do you catch my drift? Yahweh was prepared to meet every need His chosen people had forever. Instead, they chose to be yoked with unbelievers and have fellowship with darkness.
All very well and good you say Heather...but what are you getting at?
I suggest that there are occurences today in our Church where, in the interest of money and resources and distinction, we have partnered with people groups who worship false gods, who operate in ungodly business practices and support the promotion of lifestyles that Yahweh finds detestable.
It's not about being self-righteous. It's about being the Temple of the Living God. For God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people. 'Therefore come out from them and be separate says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you will be My sons and daughters' says the Lord Almighty." v16-18
He will be a Father to us - that means He will protect us from the one who comes to accuse us and to destroy us as we stand firm on His foundation. He will meet all of our physical needs as a Church - He won't deny us any more than a mother would deny her newborn the breast for nourishment.
Just as the Israelites made a hundred little decisions over time that led to their defilement, so have we made those same decisions. However, in the same way, through godly sorrow that leads to repentance, and then standing firm in Holy Spirit's resurrection p ower, we can break off alliances with the ungodly, and as we do, He will use us to display His love and righteousness to the nations.

posted by:
Heather Wright
The War College
Death and Glory
 
posted by Hezza at 7:44 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
18.11.04
"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet." Isaiah 58:1

God's Voice is compared to a trumpet blast at Mount Sinai:

"...and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the Voice of God answered him." Exodus 19:19

"When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled in fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses; "Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but do not have God speak to us or we will die." Exodus 20:18-19

Some questions to stoke discussion:

*Why didn't the people want to hear His Voice?
Was it fear? Conviction? The overwhelming knowledge of their own sinfulness compared to the perfect holiness of the Living God?
They still wanted to know what He had to say, just not from Him. Hmmm...

These days, we ask to hear a Word from the Lord. However, when the time comes, do we actually want to hear Him speak? Or do we chicken out too? Who then will be our Moses and hear His Voice on our behalf?

What holds us back from the desire to hear God's Voice?
We are meant to learn from the mistakes of the children of Israel and ultimately as the Gentiles, our relationship with God is meant to make the Israelites envious for a personal relationship with the Living God, we aren't meant to follow in their footsteps at rejecting the Lord's desire for intimacy.

Ruhani
 
posted by Hezza at 1:20 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
15.11.04
Psalm 84:10
"For a day in Your house is better than a thousand outside. I would rather be the one who opens the door of the house of my God, than to live in the tents of the sinful."

There are times when I become discouraged. Thoughts steal their way into my mind, like crafty sower searching for fertile soil wherein to sow his spurious seed.

Thoughts like:
  • Am I really making a difference in my neighbourhood? It's so big and I'm so small.
  • If God hears all of my prayers, why aren't more people getting saved faster?
  • Is anyone's life really different because of Christ living in me, or am I just kidding myself?
  • Wouldn't it be easier to just go back to where I came from and get a normal job like everyone else?
  • Can I really rely on God to pull me through these times? Things just seem so difficult - do I trust enough?

These thoughts are seeds sown by the evil one in cooperation with my sinful nature with the purpose of taking root in my life and bearing wicked fruit, fruit that looks like this:

  • sexual immorality
  • impure thoughts
  • eagerness for lustful pleasure
  • idolatry
  • participation in demonic activities
  • hostility
  • quarreling
  • jealousy
  • outbursts of anger
  • selfish ambition
  • divisions
  • the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group
  • envy
  • drunkenness
  • wild parties

(from Galatians 5:19-21)

Now I don't know about you, but these sinful ways are not as far away from my everyday behaviour as I would like to believe. The evidence of even one of those results listed above in my life indicates that somewhere along the line, I have allowed the evil one to sow a seed of deception within me and it has taken root and I have fed it by coming into agreement with it, contemplating it, and perhaps even trying to convince others to buy into it. This leads me into misery and the Word says that anyone living this sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

That's serious stuff.

The Scriptural guard against the deceitful sower is this:

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

That means that every thought, every argument, every pretense that currently exists in my mind that opposes the truth of God MUST be demolished. Torn down completely. Done away with entirely. As well, to avoid new growth, every thought that enters my mind that does not align itself with what God says is true and right must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

I imagine this to look like an undercover enemy spy who has made his way into my headquarters with the mission of setting off a string of explosives, ensuring my total destruction. If my sensors (Holy Spirit and Word of God) are on, the spy can be discovered and then taken as a prisoner of war and led to the ultimate authority, who is Christ and forced to submit to Him. Victory!
When satan plants the idea in my head that I am not making a difference here in the downtown eastside, and I may as well go back to who I was 3 years ago, instead of mulling it over and deciding for myself whether or not that is truth, I must seize this thought immediately, keep it under tight control and bring it right to Jesus, where He can speak the truth. When the truth comes, the lie is exposed and loses its power. What truth does Jesus speak to the lie that I am not making a difference as a Christian? He simply reminds me of what I was before I met Him. The futility of my life and the meaninglessness I felt. He draws to mind Psalm 84:10:

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

I don't ever want to return to the tents of the wicked - even if it means that I am merely a doorkeeper in the House of my God for the rest of my days, that in itself is the precious gift of eternal life. Life that produces eternal fruit and leads others to the Throne of Grace and renews gratitude towards my King for pulling me out of the slimy pit.

What has the enemy been planting in your backyard? What lies do you need to come out of agreement with? Have you become aware of the fruit that you've been displaying? Angry outbursts, jealousy, quarreling...and you are ready to turn from those wicked ways? It's not enough to just pray longer, read more of the Bible or attend more conferences. The enemy is planting weeds amongst the Master's wheat and if it is allowed to prosper, it will insidiously entangle itself amongst the good seed until the two are inseparable and to root out the weeds will damage the wheat. Therefore, ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you have allowed the enemy's seed to take root. Then repent. Ask God to forgive you for believing the father of lies over your Heavenly Father. Ask Him to tell you what the truth is and then in Jesus' Name, kick the enemy out. Know the truth, and the truth will set you free!

Root out the weeds! For Christ's sake!

Ruhani

 
posted by Hezza at 11:11 a.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
14.11.04
Dying to Ourselves Daily
"People love to talk of revival but seem to fail to grasp that things that need reviving are by definition close to death."
Revival, revival...we're crying out for it in the church. In The Salvation Army, we'll sing through verse upon verse of "Send the Fire" and get all stirred up in our inner man, but when we walk out the door of the corps, the lyrics may play in our minds, but the plea leaks out of our hearts. What's the truth? Jesus is coming back for a bride that is pure. Spotless. It would also be nice if she were breathing. Healthy. Does that describe the Church? Hardly.
What are we to do? First, recognize the truth - what is the truth? Try WHO is the Truth. That's Jesus. We are meant to be transforming more and more into His likeness with every passing moment, but how many of us are really being transformed? Is it for lack of asking? No. It is for a lack of receiving. Holy Spirit wants to do an incredible, transformational, resurrection power type of work in us, as individuals and as the body of Christ, but we need to recognize first that we are in need, to cry out with Paul
"What a wretched man I am! Who will save me from this body of death?" Romans 7:25
"Look down and see this waiting host
And send the promised Holy Ghost
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire today"

Ruhani

 
posted by Hezza at 11:44 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
The World for God?
"The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world."

Wow, powerful words. That's our MISSION STATEMENT folks! As an Army, that's what we're driving at, fueled by and existing to achieve. The part that captures me is the line that I shifted into italics - I am forced to linger on these thoughts.
  • Are we truly a transforming influence?
  • What would constitute an influence that was transformational?
What is transformational?
  • A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better
  • To change the nature, function, or condition of;
  • To change in nature, disposition, heart, character, or the like; to convert.

(from www.thesaurus.com)


Hmm...to be honest, if each corps/community church were truly a transformational influence then wouldn't the world be won by now? Or at least much closer? Wouldn't the Christian church be facing increased persecution? I'm speaking mainly to the North American church here, because we are they who are running so closely alongside the worldculture that no one notices our witness except to be mildly amused by our WWJD bracelets.

Do you disagree? Are you outraged? Am I being too hard on you?
Then leave a comment and tell me what YOU are doing to be a transforming presence in your community. Maybe even just in your church or on your street, or in your own home. I'd like to know, I'd love the encouragement that the Army hasn't totally sold-out and earned it's title of 'social organization'.

Look, we've got to start somewhere, and time is growing short. It starts with you. The deal is that once you begin by embarking on a personal reformation, and begin to adopt a cleaner, more consecrated way of life all for the sake of bringing glory to God, others will see and be attracted to Jesus as He shines through you.

It's the whole 'be the change you want to see' thing. C'mon, the Newsboys sang about it, so it must be meaningful.

So let's get out of the pew, take off the headphones and interact with your community.
Do the things you are afraid to do.
Go ahead and step out, God's already gone before you, and He's got your back.



Ruhani
 
posted by Hezza at 1:18 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
Comparisons are Lethal
In reading 1 Corinthians this morning, I came across an interesting expression from the Apostle Paul. Reading from The Living Bible - I love that paraphrase! - he says this:

(regarding seeing the resurrected Christ)
"...Last of all, I saw Him too, long after the others, as though I had been born almost too late for this. For I am the least worthy of all the apostles, and I shouldn't even be called an apostle at all after the way I treated the church of God. But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me - and not without results: for I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet actually I wasn't doing it, but God working in me, to bless me. It makes no difference who worked the hardest, I or they; the important thing is that we preached the Gospel to you, and you believed it." 1 Corinthians 15:8-11 TLB

That's full of good stuff, but to start off, I began to think on what sort of man Saul became after his conversion. Repentant? No doubt! Imagine what it would have been like to be running alongside the disciples with a reputation like Saul had. One would surmise that it would foster a desire to prove one's self amongst the others. That Paul was just as sold-out and consecrated to Christ as they were. Perhaps there was even a step in the direction of increased works to prove this devotion to Jesus. And our Jesus, ever patient and kind, knew what Paul needed to feel as though he were a workman approved. He put the strength into Paul and the opportunities in front of him to work harder than all of the other apostles, and then the realization that he wasn't doing ANY of this by his own strength, but that God was working through him. What a gift for the Living God to give Paul! To use him mightily. After this, he must have felt worthy, and adequate, because the fruit was apparent. At this point, he may arrive at the conclusion that:

It makes no difference who worked the hardest, I or they; the important thing is that we preached the Gospel to you, and you believed it."

That's a HUGE deal - especially for me right now. I just want to be used of God in the way that I see those around me being used of God. I realize that lots of stuff needs to happen within me to make me a better vessel for Holy Spirit, but just trying to achieve greater works for the sake of comparison is way off. It only leads to misery, because God doesn't love us for our works, or however many hours we spend on administration, or out in the street. It's not like that. He will give the strength to each, and the opportunity to each to achieve their calling. THAT is the gift. To be able to see myself clearly - my REAL self, as in who I am in Christ - and realize that He is working within me to do mighty works for the Kingdom, that He considers me to be a workman approved! And then to quit comparing myself to the other disciples who have had different experiences and different equipping than me. God, grant it! And soon please!

Ruhani

 
posted by Hezza at 1:13 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments
11.11.04
Welcome to The Double Edged Sword.
The Lord has been prompting me for some time to put the thoughts He gives me on paper, so here I am (so to speak) opening this site in an effort to pour out some of what is churning about in my head onto the rest of the world. The purpose? To win the world for Jesus, of course.

Glory to God,
Ruhani
 
posted by Hezza at 2:42 p.m. | Permalink | 0 comments