An Unpredictable God

Many times we can look like someone who has come to a negotiating session with God. We bring to the meeting our list of demands and place them on the table in an attempt to negotiate a new contract for His performance.  We want Jesus Christ to be "the same yesterday, today and forever" except when it comes to a challenging moment in our personal history.  Heaven must laugh and cry over these attempted negotiations.  In these short sighted attempts to strike a new deal we will end up with a predictable god created in the image of our fear.

God promises to be unpredictable because He is always expanding our understanding of Him. Expansion is not always comfortable, but needed if we are to grow and mature. When we can predict how God will act in each and every situation we will have successfully removed the supernatural component from our description of Him. This happens when we are no longer willing to give Him permission to work on outcomes outside our current levels of comfort that are "infinitely more than we might ask or think."

God wants you to embrace His unpredictability because when He does something new and unpredictable the byproduct of that new thing will be worship.  Hold on to that heart of worship and wonder for the next time you face something you don't understand.  Worship, not negotiation, is where God reveals His heart and brings an understanding not available to those who demand a negotiated settlement.

Conspiracy Theories

I have lived long enough to hear the various conspiracy theories that have risen within each generation. I have noticed there is an industry of fear that surrounds these theories. This industry exists within elements of the media and in some sections of the Church. The fruit of these theories has been the robbery of peace and hope.  To those trapped in the bondage of these theories this lack of peace and hope has created fatigue and despair.

Paul said, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Our message will flow from our focus. Our righteousness has been described as a path resembling the light of a new dawn that grows brighter and brighter until the full day. Our message should do the same.

A Merciful History

Developing history is not as clear as recorded history. Looking back in time always provides a much clearer picture than looking forward from within a moment of time that is still developing one step at a time.

The people who were involved in the unfolding events of history were walking by faith, not by sight. Those who study the history of any group should use wisdom, discernment and most of all, mercy, as they attempt to judge the decisions made by those who were actually living in the experience of a rapidly unfolding moment of history.

Resurrection's Resolution

What makes our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ so powerful is the resolution it provides for the largest questions we have about life and death.  All we believe is crafted around Jesus rising from the dead into new life. No other belief system offers this kind of resolution.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ removed the sting of death and the cold grasp of the grave. He rose from the dead because He was in route to a throne to take His seat in a place of ultimate authority. That throne belongs to no one but Christ alone. Without the resurrection He would not have been able to make the upward journey to sit in a place of honor and He would not have been able to invite us to come and sit with Him. Resurrection made all of this possible.

Resurrection allows us to stand before situations in life that are heading for a death-defined end and proclaim the alternative resolution of resurrection life.  All gifts of healing and restoration are fueled by Jesus’ resurrection.  Your authority to challenge the embedded lies of hell within culture is empowered by the resurrection.  Without the resurrection Jesus would be just another prophet, among many, trying to offer you a form of faith without a supernatural resolution.

As you celebrate Christ’s resurrection take an honest inventory of your life.  Position the reality of Jesus’ resurrection in front of every hopeless situation you currently face and demand the lie of hopelessness to bow its knee to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus has given you the authority to declare a resurrection resolution. This is the resolution He is offering you this Easter and one that will be available every other day of the year until He returns.

The Doorway Of Hope

The doorway of hope is many times disguised with despair. On the first Easter, in the darkness of the early morning, it was the voice of Jesus, not His unrecognizable image that gave Mary her first sense of hope. 

Today, as you stand before a personal doorway of despair, listen for His voice. He will not leave you standing alone in the silence of your sorrow. He will speak and His voice will be your way forward.

An Uncluttered Faith

As your faith matures it becomes less cluttered with the demands, opinions and speculation of those whose circles of fellowship are birthed, fueled and maintained by increasing levels of discord.

You will know that you have come to this place of freedom when you find yourself uninterested in the battles that are created by people and groups who constantly wage war over the non-essentials of life and faith. This place of freedom will allow the Holy Spirit to move in your life with new and increasing levels revelation and power.

The Sound Of Hope

This morning, as I sat in the darkness of a still breaking dawn, a goose flew overhead and honked. I wondered how the goose could navigate through the darkness and then I remembered something from my past. It reminded me of my days as a pilot when I would make an early morning departure from a valley still wrapped in the predawn hours of darkness.  After takeoff, I would climb up to my cruising altitude and actually be able see what could not be seen while still on the runway in the valley.  My flight path had taken me to a higher altitude allowing me to see the first rays of a new sunrise not yet visible to those in the valley below.

When the goose flew overhead this morning, I felt the Lord wanted someone to know that it may still feel very dark in the place you now find yourself, but God is about to take you higher and show you the way forward.

On Easter morning, Mary, Peter and John saw the evidence of the empty tomb while it was still dark. The darkness you are seeing in the natural is not a barrier to the revelation God is about to bring your way.  Resurrection always begins in a dark place. In the darkness is where your first sound of hope will be heard.