Signs when the boy cried wolf

I had a strong dream last night, out of which I abruptly woke and then lay in bed thinking about it all for quite some time when the Spirit moved me to get up and write.  I don't feel to relay the dream, but what it stirred up in me follows.

Did you ever hear the childhood story of the boy who cried wolf?  paraphrased;  he goes out to the edge of town everyday and shouts there is a wolf; waiting to see the response of the townfolk.  At first, it stirs quite a response, as the men come running with weapons and such to rescue this boy and secure their town.  After a few times of realizing that the boy is doing this to get a "rise" out of them they quit coming.  The next day the boy goes to the edge of town and there really is a wolf and he cries out for help but nobody comes because they were weary of his games.

Sound familiar?  watch the news, and any station at that, and watch just the weather forecasting; I can see you smiling already.  You can basically see a modern version of the boy who cried wolf.  Sadly the church is suffering from the same condition;  so many for so long have wrongly predicted the return of the Lord that it is much like the boy who cried wolf now.  Matter of fact, because of this, in many "church" circles, the bible has been boiled down to symbolism only and life to just doing good and helping one another. 

Life is full of signs!  All day whether we drive, walk, talk, anything, it doesn't matter.  Even the "false" weather signs we still pay some attention to because even though it might be off, quite often they are close.

One sign we have coming up on the spiritual calendar are the four blood moons of 2014/2015.  Every time, not one or two but every time this event has taken place in this manner, major world happenings have occurred, specifically related to Israel.  I'm not "crying wolf" like we've heard so many times, about the rapture, I'm just echoing the sign that is ahead, and what I'm saying is are you ready?

This will sound shocking, but Christian readiness does not involve making disciples, and helping the poor, hungry and so on, but simply being ready yourself.  Now, before you turn me off, all of those other things I mentioned and great and part of our responsibility result from the love we now have for one another.  Still with me?  good; take a glance at Ephesians 5 and you will see He is not returning  for a bride with all the things I mentioned, but specifically a pure and spotless and sinless bride.  Those attributes produce all the other works I mentioned.

Readiness can be found in Matthew 25 in the parable of the 10 virgins.  Please read it again for yourself.  There is an underlying issue in this parable; namely a delay.  A shout that He is coming then a delay when the wise and foolish fell asleep.  Sounds almost like the boy who cried wolf.  The one and only difference between the wise and foolish is preparedness for this delay.  The wise had spent the entire time preparing for their wedding preparing extra oil.  Wow shocking!  Lets talk Jewish.  For a Jew to prepare oil to be used it was a Kosher process and took time.  Every step was very important.  Caring for the tree, harvesting on time, preparing the cold press, cleaning the olives, pressing the olives at the perfect time,  I think you get my point.  When it counted though they were ready when the big sign arrived and they went into the wedding feast. 

My heart is tender and full of love for us all.  I know many have been hurt or discouraged by preachers and signs and timing.  I also know that many church communities have boiled all of this down to good fellowship and works and being plugged in to that group to help them and so on, without any forecasting of how to be ready.  Please hear me, continue all of the great stuff we are all doing in our communities, but lets also be preparing the oil.  In other words ensuring that our vessel is prepared for His anointing and presence.  One of the biggest signs the church has had since Israel becoming a nation is about to be upon us.  The parable clearly says ALL fell asleep, but when the cry went out only half had oil.  I love you

When love is glorious

Ephesians 5:27 tells us that Jesus is going to return for a glorious church one not having spot nor wrinkle. Let’s take a look at this scripture from the plank; and not to understate the spiritual principles of this verse at all, but to see it through the eyes of Love. When Jesus tells us in Matt. 7 to walk the “straight and narrow”, it’s not because God is a prude. It’s a statement of design. He is telling us what His bride looks like, how she dresses. You see, glorious isn’t some ambiguous word about a condition that only God knows. It’s His love language for His bride. 

Think about it; husbands/wives remember a moment when you looked at your spouse and said “you look glorious”. By the way, love isn’t just skin deep either. It’s the way we move, act, and speak, our attitude, everything about us that contributes to that statement.

One more example; Song of Solomon is a great book to read to get an idea of the love language of Glorious. When you ask your beloved if they would like to join you on a romantic weekend or something, what is the response? Well, I’m really busy with, or I’m just tired I really don’t feel like being that way and on and on. Would you schedule that event? No. Glorious means we are passionate about Him and what He is about, and where He is. 

Song of Solomon shows us scriptural evidence in chapter 5 of this kind of heart and it wasn’t glorious. It’s not something to fake to avoid confrontation like we do with others; it’s a love language that the Lord wants to engage with us. To the point that our passions for Him are stronger than the pulls of this society and age and we begin to echo the passions of the Spirit. 

Revelation 22:17 sums it up pretty well; the Spirit and the bride say “COME”, same passion, same language. We celebrated Pentecost again this week remembering when Holy Spirit was given. Maybe we can take that further with this in mind, and practice our love language with Him. COME, we are passionate for you our King.
See you on the Plank.

Seeing Through a Clear Lense

The proper understanding of grace is never at the expense of truth, and the proper understanding of truth is never at the expense of grace. As we face an ever changing dynamic of the human expression, the church must step out of personal preference. The proper way to give agape love is without the filter of the flesh nature which means we give grace and truth without sympathizing with sin.