The Next Reformation – The Revelation of the Father

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There is an amazing spiritual pattern that takes place in the history of the world every 500 years or so that highlights a major move of the Spirit of God to reveal His heart to His children. Notice His unfolding revelations:

 

  • 2000 BC – Abraham chosen to be a blessing to the world (Gen. 12:1-3).
  • 1500 BC – Moses chosen to lead God’s people out of prison to be a nation of priests to declare His glory to the nations (Ex. 19:1-6).
  • 1000 BC – David chosen to be a king after His own heart and the descendant, the Messiah to rule the nations (2 Sam. 7:11-16).
  • 500 BC – Ezra/Nehemiah chosen to revive a broken people and bring them back to His love and joy (Neh. 8:10).
  • 0 AD – His Son Jesus chosen to die to redeem a fallen world to Himself and live in His children through the Holy Spirit becoming His body in the world.
  • 500 AD – Pope Gregory the Great a part of a monastic movement chosen to reshape culture and spread the Gospel to the nations.
  • 1000 AD – Pope Gregory the 7th chosen to reform the church and reawaken a spiritual fervor.
  • 1500 AD – Men and women of the Reformation chosen to redirect His children back to Christ, His Word, Faith, Grace, and His Glory alone!
  • 2000 AD – Children chosen to reveal the Father’s glory!

 

Today marks the 500th anniversary of the nailing of the 95 theses on the Wittenberg castle door in Germany by the monk Martin Luther. Luther’s protest against church abuses found in these theses launched a reformed movement in the church that would once again awaken the church spiritually by bringing it back to the Simple Gospel.

 

Another 500 year from October 31, 1517 is upon us and I’m convinced a new move of the Spirit of God is happening in our day. As in eras past once again we are in desperate need of God’s Spirit to reawaken His children from a slumbering sleep. I believe this Next Reformation will revive a struggling church, empower a new breed of discipleship, and flood the nations with a glorious revelation of God as has never been seen before.

 

As the last Reformation brought us back to Christ and a salvation by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9) I believe this New Reformation will bring us back to a greater Revelation of the Father. I am excited to unpack the truths found in the last verse of Jesus prayer in John 17:25-26:

 

Righteous Father…I have made you known to them and will continue to make You known in order that the love you have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

 

This prayer of Jesus sums up His mission, “I have made You known and will continue to make You known…” When the church or His children truly come to know who the Father is “the whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean deep, ocean wide.” (Isaiah 11:9 MSG).

 

I believe we are about to see this powerful wave of Isaiah’s prophecy hit our spiritual shoreline and awaken us to an intimate life changing revelation of our Abba Father that will flood the earth. Join me as we wait with expectancy and pray further into these promises.

Oceans, Mountains, and Seeking the Will of the Father

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Last weekend I preached at a church in Colorado Springs and the individual who introduced me said he was curious how Oceans Ministries came to be located in Colorado? I had to laugh and welcomed the opportunity to share how several years ago while pastoring in California and praying at the Pacific Ocean the Spirit impressed on my heart Habakkuk 2:14:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

 I often page back to the journal entry where I wrote, “one day I would be apart of a ministry called Oceans that would share the love of the Father all over the world.”

What exactly all that meant at the time-I really had no idea. But the ocean was not the only place I heard the still small voice of the Lord. The mountains were also a part of this journey as I spent time praying at a retreat center located nearby the very church I was at. There in the majesty of the mountains, I heard the Father’s voice prompting me that the time had come to start Oceans Ministries. This decision radically changed the course of life for each member of my family and although not an easy decision- I wholeheartedly believe that this was God’s will. But how did I really know it was HIS voice and HIS will?

These six key words assisted me and I hope they will also help you discern God’s will for your life.

 

  1. Presence-Take time to immerse yourself in God’s presence. Get away from the busyness of life and gaze upon the glory of the LORD. When I went to the retreat center in Colorado Springs it was just to be with Him. He was my agenda and I had no idea what was coming from that encounter.
  2. Partnering with the Spirit and the Word–Listen to these wise words from George Mueller: “I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. I if look to the Spirit alone without the Word I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them,” (George Mueller, Man of Faith, p. 46). That weekend in the Colorado Springs God continued to bring me to various Scriptures like Habakkuk 2:14.
  3. Providential Circumstances–There were many circumstances going on at the time that God was using, but one that stood out was a song from Hillsong called Oceans. I listened to it numerous times during the retreat and found myself in tears-as I felt Abba Father saying step out on the water in faith.
  4. Prayer-For 3 days I prayed while hiking. I prayed in my room. I prayed in the retreat gardens. In each prayer I pleaded with God to show me His will.
  5. People-While at the retreat I met with a Spiritual Director. God used her in an amazing way to help me discern the promptings I felt deep within my soul. My wife Patty also has a discerning spirit and I knew that if this were of God she would affirm it. I will never forget her response when I shared with her my impressions she simply said, “What are you waiting for?”
  6. Peace–Hear the words of George Mueller: “Thus through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions I proceed accordingly. (p. 47). Peace is a powerful indicator that you are walking into the will of God as Mueller states. I remember getting on the plane back to CA flooded with peace believing I was stepping into His will.

 

Each and every day we face situations where we need to discern God’s will for our lives. I pray that these 6 points will be helpful for you as they have been for me when we seek to discern the voice of The Father.

 

 

Returning to the Book of books

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For the last couple of years Oceans Ministries has donated Bibles to local prisoners in Lesotho Africa. Unfortunately Bibles are a rare commodity for those who find themselves behind bars and yet, the Bible is the most sought after book by the inmates.  One of the deliveries of God’s Word was to a dark and damp cinder block room filled with women of all ages. The women were alerted that we were coming with Bibles in hand and with just the very thought of the gift about to be delivered-the drab place was ignited with exuberant songs of joy accompanied with dancing. These inmates passion for God’s Word was humbling and caused me to examine my heart and survey my own response to the Living Word of my Father. Do I dance and sing with the words of Scripture? I have my favorite Bible and an entire bookshelf of various translations as well as study guides and commentaries.

 

The ladies in the prison rejoiced with a truth that I often take for granted. This rather plain looking Black Book when opened up and read with the inspiring work of the Holy Spirit has the power to transform a life from darkness to light AND set the world “on fire with heaven’s love.”

 

This day in an African prison caused me to reflect on my years in seminary where much of the budget was allocated for books and much time dedicated to reading hundreds of those books about the Bible. Yet, many times I found myself so busy grasping what others had to say about the Bible that personal reading and study of God’s Word was neglected. But I am thankful that one book in particular reminded me that I needed to KNOW God’s Word within my own heart and soul.

 

George Mueller’s words of wisdom revived my soul which was becoming like dead leaves on a dying tree:

 

Learned commentaries I have found to store the head with many notions and often also with the truth of God; but when the Spirit teaches, through the instrumentality of prayer and meditation, the heart is affected. The former kind of knowledge generally puffs up, and is often renounced, when another commentary gives a different opinion, and often also is found good for nothing, when it is to be carried out into practice. The latter kind of knowledge generally humbles, gives joy, and leads us nearer to God and is not easy reasoned away; and having been obtained from God, and thus having entered into the heart, and become our own, it is always so generally carried out.

(George Mueller, Man of Faith, p.44-45).

 

Mueller, who lived in the 1800’s and the dancing women in prison, KNOW the powerful gift that the Word of God alone is to those who read it, ingest it, and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate this love letter from our Heavenly Father. On October 31, 2017 we celebrate the 500th Birthday of the Reformation, where the Holy Spirit spoke to the Father’s children and said “Return to the Book of books and find abundant life!”

 

Oh how we need to hear the Spirit say these words in our day as well. Our social media frenzy has left us angry, empty, and half crazy. We need to return to the Book of books and start singing with joy and dancing in the Spirit for the gift of God’s Holy love letter to His children!

What Does God’s Kingdom Look Like?

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I recently spoke with a group of men from southern California, parents of students at Ontario Christian High School, who accompanied their kids on a trip to Lesotho, Africa, and experienced God’s Kingdom in a tangible way.

Dads Kevin Hardy, Perry Eichor, Chris Congleton, and Bryan Vander Tuig discuss their experiences of traveling to Lesotho with their kids, seeing and experiencing God moving and working with them and through them during their time in Lesotho. The groups teacher/leader, Jeremy Zuidema of Ontario Christian, also relates how God provided for him to step out of his comfort zone to embark on the trip and was faithful beyond expectations in blessing the group’s time and efforts.

Listen to the entire conversation below:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:38 — 52.4MB)

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The Rock Finder

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This past Monday morning as the news broke of the horrific, demonic attack that took place in Las Vegas, we are once again confronted with the unsettling prospect of a world out of our control. Because of deep-rooted depravity we have terrorism, gruesome civil wars, threats of nuclear bombs, and hearts filled with hatred leading to senseless violence that seems impossible to stop. The unexpected deep groaning of nature has reminded us of just how small we are: hurricanes, torrential flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and the like reiterate how little control we possess.

Indeed the times are unsettling as we by nature crave stability, predicability, and control. How should we as followers of Christ navigate our crumbling society? Simply put we must: Find the Rock that cannot be shaken.

Over the last several blogs I have shared with you about one of my spiritual father’s George Mueller. His life testifies as to one who Found The Rock! He lived in England during days of extreme hardship and poverty in the 1800’s. His heart broke for thousands of children left orphaned through the dire circumstance of the day. Yet, Mueller turned Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol into a Rock of Refuge that brought the Father’s love to over 10,000 orphans.

Amongst turbulent times Mueller provided food, shelter and hope to thousands of boys and girls as he ultimately pointed those he came into contact with to the Rock of Ages. Since Mueller found his own security through faith fixed on the Father’s love he was also able point others to this ultimate gift of Jesus as well. The fruit of this faith showed up in his fervent prayer life. He brought his needs, small and large only to the Father, fully trusting Him to do the impossible.

In the book The Path of Prayer Samuel Chadwick records a time when A.T. Pierson was a guest of Mueller. One evening George asked A.T. Pierson to pray with him since no food was available to feed the 2000 orphans breakfast that next morning. Pierson joined Mueller in the prayer yet wondered how such an impossible situation could be remedied without sharing the need with others. After the time of prayer Mueller slept in peacefully believing the Father would hear his request. And yes amazingly that morning food arrived in abundance!

The provision of food was donated by a man who was awakened in the middle of night and KNEW he needed to send breakfast to Mueller’s orphanage. This man knew nothing of the need, or of the two men in prayer, yet God spoke to him and he not only sent food for one breakfast, he sent provisions that would feed those 2000 in the orphanage for an entire month.

Mueller’s childlike trust continues to show me how to Find the Rock. A trust that calls out to the Father in the midst of a trembling world knowing that because of Him I can stand firmly and you can stand firmly on the Father’s Rock Solid Faithfulness and Love.

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge …I call to the LORD, who is worthy of my praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3.