These are a couple of glimpses of God's greatness. I saw these years ago, and now is the time for me to give others a peek.
OUR HAIRS ARE NUMBERED, BUT...
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matt. 10:30 NASB
Every hair on your head is numbered. I believe all the hairs on our bodies are numbered. God has assigned a number to each one.
Jesus said that every hair is numbered, but He didn't say they were counted.
I don't think that the Father was just sitting around in heaven one day, bored with nothing to do, so he decided to count the hairs on my head. He didn't have to send Jesus or the Holy Spirit or an angel to inventory my hair. He already knew!
Our hairs are numbered, BUT NOT COUNTED!!
God knows not only how many hairs we have, but He knows the position of each hair, and He knows right to the femtosecond when each hair formed. He knows how long each hair is, how straight or curly it is. He knows when each hair is cut, dyed, or shampooed. He knows how many cells are in each hair. He knows how many molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, and nuetrons are in each hair. He not only knows this about our hair, He knows this about every part of us!
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle tells us that, the more you know the position of a particle (electron, proton, nutron, etc.), the less you can know about its velocity, and the more you know about the velocity of a particle, the less you can know about its instantaneous position. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle) This is something man can't know, but God does!
God not only knows our quirks, He knows our quarks!
THE ANGEL AND THE STONE ON RESURRECTION MORNING
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying."
Matt. 28:1-6 NASB
I have heard song lyrics that say the stone was rolled away, and Jesus came walking out of the tomb, or the stone had to be rolled away to let Jesus out of the tomb. But that is not the sequence the Bible presents.
The angel appeared and rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. Then, he sat on the stone and told the women that Jesus wasn't in the tomb. Jesus didn't need the stone rolled away before He could leave the tomb. He had already left the tomb before the angel appeared!
The angel rolled the stone away, not to let Jesus out of the tomb, but to let us in so we can see for ourselves that JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Known Confessions - Why?
The purpose of confession is to "call those things that be not as though they were." (Rom. 4:17 KJV) This is what Abraham did when God changed his name from Abram to Abraham. He went from a lifetime of calling himself "exalted father" to "father of a multitude." Any man can be exalted to fatherhood by adoption, and sometimes we refer to early pioneers in various fields as "fathers" of their fields. But only one who has produced offspring from his own loins can become a father of a multitude.
Many have trouble 'calling those things that be not as though they were' because they are used to stating things as they currently are. Calling things into existence seems to be occultic, a denial of reality, or an obsession with fantasy, and therefore futile.
The operation of faith eventually calls for confession. Faith can grow only so much before it needs to be expressed through words and actions.
With Known Confessions, if you have problems with confessing the Word, you start by confessing basic truths that you already "know," but you have trouble remembering or applying. Known Confessions can also include positional truths that you have yet to walk in, but you accept as truth because they are in the Word. For example, here is the opening paragraph of my Known Confessions:
God loves me unconditionally. He cannot love me any more than what He already does, neither can He love me any less than what he already does. He is Love, and He does not change, so His love for me will never change. I cannot do anything to make Him love me any more than what He already does, neither can I do anything to make Him love me any less than what He already does. His love for me is based on what He is, not on what I do or don't do.
The eventual result of confession is to build hope in you heart, then turn hope into faith, and then the truth becomes manifest in your life.
Many have trouble 'calling those things that be not as though they were' because they are used to stating things as they currently are. Calling things into existence seems to be occultic, a denial of reality, or an obsession with fantasy, and therefore futile.
The operation of faith eventually calls for confession. Faith can grow only so much before it needs to be expressed through words and actions.
With Known Confessions, if you have problems with confessing the Word, you start by confessing basic truths that you already "know," but you have trouble remembering or applying. Known Confessions can also include positional truths that you have yet to walk in, but you accept as truth because they are in the Word. For example, here is the opening paragraph of my Known Confessions:
God loves me unconditionally. He cannot love me any more than what He already does, neither can He love me any less than what he already does. He is Love, and He does not change, so His love for me will never change. I cannot do anything to make Him love me any more than what He already does, neither can I do anything to make Him love me any less than what He already does. His love for me is based on what He is, not on what I do or don't do.
The eventual result of confession is to build hope in you heart, then turn hope into faith, and then the truth becomes manifest in your life.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Known Confessions - Getting Started Confessing The Word
Last summer, I posted an entry at IktusNETwork about getting started in confessing God's Word. In it, I put forth the idea of composing a confession based on basic things you know from the Word.
[That post is no longer available, so I have removed the broken link to it.]
What I came up with is a document I call "Known Confessions."
If anyone wants a copy of it, contact me at dougdlee@cox.net. However, I encourage you to compose your own known confessions. I offer mine only as a guide for those that want or need a hint of how to put one together.
[That post is no longer available, so I have removed the broken link to it.]
What I came up with is a document I call "Known Confessions."
If anyone wants a copy of it, contact me at dougdlee@cox.net. However, I encourage you to compose your own known confessions. I offer mine only as a guide for those that want or need a hint of how to put one together.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Words I'd Like To Outlaw
Sometimes I wish I could outlaw the use of certain words in the Church. These words are the ones that you can tell by the way people use them, the people either do not know the meaning of the word, or they chose to give the word a meaning totally opposite its original definition. By the misuse of these words, the words either come to mean nothing, or they are twisted into a perversion of what they once where.
This change is not always deliberate. Most of the time it happens because people don't know the original meaning, or they don't think about the meaning when they use the word.
The two words I would most like to outlaw are "gospel" and "ministry."
You may be thinking the Gospel is the very core of the Christian message, so why would I want to outlaw it? I don't want to outlaw the Gospel itself, just the way I hear people use the word "gospel."
Remember, the word "gospel" comes from two Old English words that mean "good news." The Christian message of salvation from sin, guilt, condemnation, poverty, sickness, and death through Jesus Christ is indeed good news!
But how many times do you hear a "gospel" preacher proclaim a message you would call good news? Some spend their time focused on negative things and condemning people for their shortcomings and failures. When they do finally say something positive, they add on so many preconditions and requirements their message becomes one of bondage.
Too many think their message is gospel just because it sounds spiritual. You can often tell these people by their uptight expressions and voices. They don't say the word "gospel" like it is something positive and exciting. They often pronounce it as "Gaaawss-pullll." You can hear the religion dripping from their voices as they speak.
Because of this, I am training myself to use the words "Good News" when I speak of the Gospel. Doing this will help remind me of what the Gospel really is, and how to recognize a fake one when one comes along.
This change is not always deliberate. Most of the time it happens because people don't know the original meaning, or they don't think about the meaning when they use the word.
The two words I would most like to outlaw are "gospel" and "ministry."
You may be thinking the Gospel is the very core of the Christian message, so why would I want to outlaw it? I don't want to outlaw the Gospel itself, just the way I hear people use the word "gospel."
Remember, the word "gospel" comes from two Old English words that mean "good news." The Christian message of salvation from sin, guilt, condemnation, poverty, sickness, and death through Jesus Christ is indeed good news!
But how many times do you hear a "gospel" preacher proclaim a message you would call good news? Some spend their time focused on negative things and condemning people for their shortcomings and failures. When they do finally say something positive, they add on so many preconditions and requirements their message becomes one of bondage.
Too many think their message is gospel just because it sounds spiritual. You can often tell these people by their uptight expressions and voices. They don't say the word "gospel" like it is something positive and exciting. They often pronounce it as "Gaaawss-pullll." You can hear the religion dripping from their voices as they speak.
Because of this, I am training myself to use the words "Good News" when I speak of the Gospel. Doing this will help remind me of what the Gospel really is, and how to recognize a fake one when one comes along.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Father's Heart
Many people struggle with the image of God as a father. I can understand that, for my own earthy father was not perfect. He was a drunk, and cussed like the sailor he was. He also had that famous Irish temper. But he was never physically abusive with me. He did get carried away one time while disciplining my oldest brother. But after that, he left the discipline to Mom because he was afraid he would get carried away again. I know he loved me, but he was weak.
Unfortunately, many people have been abused by their fathers. Some have never seen their fathers because their fathers died before they were born, some due to war, some due to crime, illness, or injury. Some people do not know who their fathers are.
Despite the shortcomings of many earthly fathers, God represents Himself to us as our Father. Why? Because that best represents Him and how He wants to relate to us.
The first thing a man does to become a father is to give life. Because God is the Creator of all life, even someone who is not born again can call God, “Father.”
The next thing a father does is work to provide for his offspring. Jesus spoke about how God provides for the birds and He adorns the flowers with beauty. John the Baptist said that no man can receive anything except it be provided by heaven. James wrote that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.
Fathers also provide instruction and wisdom. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon said much about the value of a father's instruction. He was also quick to label as fools those who ignored such teaching.
Finally, fathers correct and discipline their children. Discipline is not just for the fathers to vent their anger at the child's misbehavior. The discipline should work for the child's benefit by directing him away from wrong behavior.
All this is motivated by love.
One of the most well-known stories illustrating a father's heart is The Prodigal Son. A Baptist pastor I knew years ago preferred to call it The Forgiving Father, because the father's forgiveness is the dominant element in the story. We call it The Prodigal Son because we identify with him so much.
I have another story that shows a father's heart.
In The Rockford Files TV series, James Garner played Jim Rockford, a private investigator who lived and worked out of his mobile home at Malibu Beach. Jim's father, Rocky, was a crusty, but good-natured, retired truck driver.
One day, Rocky fills in for another truck driver by making his delivery for him. He winds up at the wrong place at the wrong time and almost witnesses a murder. But the bad guys think he did. So, a couple of thugs go to Rocky's house and they have a fight.
Rocky gets away from the thugs and goes to Jim's trailer. Jim wants Rocky to stay at the trailer while he goes to investigate.
Rocky doesn't like that plan. He's not the type to run and hide. He wants to get out and help find those thugs to bring them to justice. You can see that Jim and Rocky are headed for a BIG argument.
Then Jim does something really underhanded. He softens the expression on his face and says one word, “Please.”
Rocky stayed. What else could he do?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Two Rich Men
The story of The Rich Young Ruler is one of the most well known episodes from the life of Jesus. One of the least known of Christ's parables is the one about the landowner who hired workers for his vineyard at various times throughout the day, but he paid them all the same. These two stories are connected.
The context begins at Matthew 19:3 ends at chapter 20, verse 16. Before looking at those, we need to consider the background passage in Matt. 18: 1 – 4.
In the background passage, the disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the Kingdom. He uses a child as an example.
Why a child? In verse 4, Jesus says, “Whoever then humbles himself as a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” We don't often associate humility with children. We often think of childishness as a form of selfishness, but childlikeness as a form of virtue. What I see now is that children are transparent. When a child is being selfish, we can see it easily. Even when the child is pretending to be good while being bad, we can stil see it When a child is humble, he is truly humble.
Now in Matt. 19: 13-14, Jesus rebukes the disciples because they obstructed parents that brought their children to Him to have Him pray for the children. He adds, “for kngdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” How does a child receive a kngdom? The only way a child receives a kngdom is as an inheritance. He does not work for it. He does not borrow or save up to buy for it. He does not raise an army and go to war for it. The only thing the child can do is just receive it as an inheritance.
Next, we see The Rich Young Ruler, Matt. 19: 16 – 22, followed by discusssions on entering the kingdom (vs. 23 – 26) and a disciple's reward.
The key to understanding the story of The Rich Young Ruler is in how Jesus responded to the young man calling Him 'Good Teacher.' (Mark 10: 17 – 18) “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Was Jesus saying that He wasn't good? You better know better than that! No, what Jesus was saying is, “Do you realize that by refering to Me with a term that applies only to God, then you are recognizing Me as God?”
The Rich Young Ruler was focused on works, but he realized that something was missing. “What must I do to have eternal life?” he asks. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The young man replies that he has done that, but he know he needs to do more.
Jesus tests him further by challenging him to dispose of his material possessions and to become a disciple of Christ. What Jesus was saying is, “If you reocgnize My divinity, you will submit to all My instructions, even if it costs you all that you own.”
At this point, people might assume that the young man might have missed out, because the Bible says he went away saddened. However, two accounts in the NASB (Matthew and Mark) say that he was grieved. Grief is a sadness felt at a loss. We can feel sadness over many things, including things that don't directly affect yus, but grief is always assoicated with our own loss. Maybe this man realized he was losing out on the Kingdom. But then, maybe he left to dispose of his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and then return to follow Jesus. He would then be grieving over the loss of his property. His position of authority as a ruler was probably tied to his property ownership, so he could have been been grieving over giving up that as well.
This very well may be what The Rich Young Ruler did, for in the next passage, Jesus speaks about how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom. The difficulty lies not just in their attachment to their material things, in their pride in what they have accomplished or in the value of their stuff. For rich people to enter the Kingdom, they have to humble themselves and submit to the King. Jesus said it was difficult, not impossible.
Now, some would twist these passages into making poverty a virtue. Poverty is not a virtue. The Law of Moses and the book of Proverbs are very open about it being a result of sin and laziness. The only time that poverty does not come that way is as a result of being persecuted for righteousness' sake. Even then, the poverty is caused by the sin of the persecuter. Plus, Jesus speaks of the material rewards of discipleship in the next passage. In the Kingdom, what is important about material possessions is not what or how much you have, but how you got it, and what you're doing with it.
Finally, we come to the parable of the landowner and the vineyard workers. I have heard this presented from the perspective of the workers. But I want to look at this from the landowner's viewpoint.
The landowner saw nothing wrong with paying those who worked only one hour the same as he paid the ones who worked all day. He paid them what their labor was worth to him. Everyone who worked for him had an agreement as to what he would pay them, and he stuck to the agreed amount. “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?” he asks. Of coourse it is! His vineyard, his vines, his grapes, his money are for him to do with as he pleases. If he wants to those who work one hour the same he pays those who work eight hours, that's his business.
Now, let me ask this: Whose Kingdom is it? God's Kingdom is God's. We inherit the Kingdom only because we are His children. We enter into our inheritance by humbling ourselves honestly the way a child would, recognize that God's Kingdom is God's for Him to do with as He pleases, and to submit ot His instruction even if it costs us everything.
The context begins at Matthew 19:3 ends at chapter 20, verse 16. Before looking at those, we need to consider the background passage in Matt. 18: 1 – 4.
In the background passage, the disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the Kingdom. He uses a child as an example.
Why a child? In verse 4, Jesus says, “Whoever then humbles himself as a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” We don't often associate humility with children. We often think of childishness as a form of selfishness, but childlikeness as a form of virtue. What I see now is that children are transparent. When a child is being selfish, we can see it easily. Even when the child is pretending to be good while being bad, we can stil see it When a child is humble, he is truly humble.
Now in Matt. 19: 13-14, Jesus rebukes the disciples because they obstructed parents that brought their children to Him to have Him pray for the children. He adds, “for kngdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” How does a child receive a kngdom? The only way a child receives a kngdom is as an inheritance. He does not work for it. He does not borrow or save up to buy for it. He does not raise an army and go to war for it. The only thing the child can do is just receive it as an inheritance.
Next, we see The Rich Young Ruler, Matt. 19: 16 – 22, followed by discusssions on entering the kingdom (vs. 23 – 26) and a disciple's reward.
The key to understanding the story of The Rich Young Ruler is in how Jesus responded to the young man calling Him 'Good Teacher.' (Mark 10: 17 – 18) “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Was Jesus saying that He wasn't good? You better know better than that! No, what Jesus was saying is, “Do you realize that by refering to Me with a term that applies only to God, then you are recognizing Me as God?”
The Rich Young Ruler was focused on works, but he realized that something was missing. “What must I do to have eternal life?” he asks. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The young man replies that he has done that, but he know he needs to do more.
Jesus tests him further by challenging him to dispose of his material possessions and to become a disciple of Christ. What Jesus was saying is, “If you reocgnize My divinity, you will submit to all My instructions, even if it costs you all that you own.”
At this point, people might assume that the young man might have missed out, because the Bible says he went away saddened. However, two accounts in the NASB (Matthew and Mark) say that he was grieved. Grief is a sadness felt at a loss. We can feel sadness over many things, including things that don't directly affect yus, but grief is always assoicated with our own loss. Maybe this man realized he was losing out on the Kingdom. But then, maybe he left to dispose of his property, give the proceeds to the poor, and then return to follow Jesus. He would then be grieving over the loss of his property. His position of authority as a ruler was probably tied to his property ownership, so he could have been been grieving over giving up that as well.
This very well may be what The Rich Young Ruler did, for in the next passage, Jesus speaks about how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom. The difficulty lies not just in their attachment to their material things, in their pride in what they have accomplished or in the value of their stuff. For rich people to enter the Kingdom, they have to humble themselves and submit to the King. Jesus said it was difficult, not impossible.
Now, some would twist these passages into making poverty a virtue. Poverty is not a virtue. The Law of Moses and the book of Proverbs are very open about it being a result of sin and laziness. The only time that poverty does not come that way is as a result of being persecuted for righteousness' sake. Even then, the poverty is caused by the sin of the persecuter. Plus, Jesus speaks of the material rewards of discipleship in the next passage. In the Kingdom, what is important about material possessions is not what or how much you have, but how you got it, and what you're doing with it.
Finally, we come to the parable of the landowner and the vineyard workers. I have heard this presented from the perspective of the workers. But I want to look at this from the landowner's viewpoint.
The landowner saw nothing wrong with paying those who worked only one hour the same as he paid the ones who worked all day. He paid them what their labor was worth to him. Everyone who worked for him had an agreement as to what he would pay them, and he stuck to the agreed amount. “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?” he asks. Of coourse it is! His vineyard, his vines, his grapes, his money are for him to do with as he pleases. If he wants to those who work one hour the same he pays those who work eight hours, that's his business.
Now, let me ask this: Whose Kingdom is it? God's Kingdom is God's. We inherit the Kingdom only because we are His children. We enter into our inheritance by humbling ourselves honestly the way a child would, recognize that God's Kingdom is God's for Him to do with as He pleases, and to submit ot His instruction even if it costs us everything.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Hope and Faith - They're Electric!
The following is an article I posted in two parts on my blog at IktusNETwork. It started with a seed from Gary Carpenter's Face to Face series. In those messages, he was reviewing a series of messages he received directly from the Holy Spirit ten years earlier, with the perspective of those ten years of additional experience of walking in the spirit. One of those messages is "The God of Hope," and it tells the importance of hope. (I recommend you go to his website, www.garycarpenter.org, and download the whole Face to Face series.) Gary's comments about Hope got me to meditating on the relationship of Hope and Faith, and this article came out of those meditations.
Today, we see a large number of "Faith" churches, teachers, and ministries, but hardly ever hear much about Hope, yet the Bible says a great deal about Hope.
Hope and Faith - They're Electric!
In recent months, Gary Carpenter has been teaching some on Hope in relation to Faith as part of both the Face to Face and the Ephesians series. The key verse has been one of the most famous verses on Faith, Hebrews 11:1.
Heb 11:1 (NASB) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The King James says "substance" instead of "assurance." The Greek word is hupostasis, which means: a support, substance, steadiness, hence assurance, or confidence. Faith gives substance or support to the things hoped for. But how does this relationship between Hope and Faith work? Let me tell you - it's electric!
Gary said several times that Hope applies to the future. That is the general view of Hope - it pertains to things of, or in, the future. Faith, on the other hand, is now. It changes future Hope into present reality.
Especially when speaking of people and situations in the future, we use another word, relating to Hope, that sprang into my mind and started me on this path. That word is "potential." We often say a person has potential if they demonstrate talent, skill or ability that needs developing. We speak of situations that are potentially dangerous if we notice a threat.
"Potential" reveals the electrical nature of the relationship between Hope and Faith.
In today's world, we use electricity often for work, lighting, heat, communications and entertainment. Over the last couple of centuries, man has developed electrical circuits and devices to serve human needs, starting with motors to do work through machinery. The invention of the telegraph gave us the first means to send information over a very long distance in a very short time, and became the foundation for electronics. We are all familiar with what electricity can do for us, but not all of us understand how it works.
The various electrical and electronic devices we use must be part of an electrical circuit to work. A basic circuit has a power source, a working device, and a conductive path that allows electricity to flow to and from the device, or to the device and then to ground. Men have developed electrical circuits to serve human needs and wants, and some are very complex. But the first electrical circuits exist in nature as part of God's design. More on those in a minute.
If you have studied electricity in depth, you know the term "difference of potential." For those not familiar with it, it's what makes electricity flow.
Let's take a quick review of basic electrical theory.
Everyone is familiar with the basic structure of the atom: a nucleus of protons and neutrons orbited by electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. Two protons not in a nucleus will repel each other. Electrons not in orbit around a nucleus repel each other. Protons and electrons attract each other. Thus the old saying that "opposites attract."
In some substances, electrons can move more freely than in other substances, and we call them conductors. The other substances are called insulators. Sometimes, even insulators will conduct electricity under the right conditions. Ever walk across an carpeted floor on a winter day and then touch a door knob? Your body became electrically charged by the friction between your feet and the carpet. As you reach out for the door knob, you set up a difference of potential between your hand and the knob. Air is normally an insulator, but when your hand got close enough, the difference of potential become strong enough to overcome the insulating properties of air and ZZZZAP! You complete the circuit, and electricity flows as a spark between your hand and the knob.
The difference of potential is the combination of repulsive and attractive forces working on the electrons and protons. You can have a very strong difference of potential but no flow or current unless the difference of potential is strong enough to overcome the insulating effects of any SUBSTANCE between the positive and negative charges, or you place a conductive SUBSTANCE between the charges.
Where have we seen that word "substance" before? Oh, yeah! "Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for!"
Hope is the difference of potential between human need and God's power, and Faith is the conductor that allows His power to flow to meet our needs! Hallelujah!
Now let's expand on this and take a closer look at electrical circuits.
As I said, the first electrical circuits exist in nature as part of God's design. You have probably seen them in action. We call them lightning. Here's how a lightning circuit works:
The surface of the Earth normally has a negative charge. When a thundercloud grows, it develops a negative charge at its base, and a postive charge towards the top.
You can already see a difference of potential has developed inside the cloud. Sometimes processes inside the cloud will create conductive paths between the base and the top of the cloud. I once observed a supercell move towards Sapulpa around sunset and it had numerous "anvil crawler" strokes going up the sides of the main storm tower. It was one of the most impressive and beautiful lightning displays I have ever seen.
Sometimes, lightning can happen between two different clouds, but what we usually see most is cloud to ground (CG) lightning.
As the base of a thundercloud develops its negative charge, that charge repels the normal negative charge at the surface, and the surface develops a positive charge. This creates the difference of potential between the cloud and the surface. Research has shown that the attraction between the charges create ionized (electrically charged) channels that grow from the cloud base towards the ground, and from the ground towards the cloud. If they meet, a conductive path forms that completes the circuit, and zzzt-BOOM! LIGHTNING! If it happens close enough to me, I call it LIGHTNI-NI-NI-NI-NI-NI-NING!
Now, CG lightning is known to be dangerous to humans, but we do benefit from it indirectly. When CG lightning hits topsoil, it generates nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is a key ingredient in many fertilizers, so CG lightning helps to keep soil fertile.
Now consider for a minute these verses:
Heb 12:1-2 (NASB) Therefore, since we have so great a CLOUD of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We just looked at how clouds produce lightning. If we are surrounded by the cloud, we are in the cloud, and maybe we have become part of the cloud. Now consider that this discussion of Hope has come in the context of warfare. Is God calling us His stormtroopers?
Most electrical circuits designed by men serve some human need. Let's compare Hope & Faith circuits to these man-made circuits.
The Hope within us exists as an image of an all-powerful, loving God Who is more willing to use His power to bless us than to harm us. This image creates the difference of potential when compared to our need.
Faith is the conductor that delivers His power to the device that meets our need.
Most circuits that designed to meet human need have a switch. Our will is that switch.
As James said, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." Jas 2:17 (NASB) A wire not connected to a working device does no one any good. The works of Faith are the gifts and tools He has given us to use, from His Word, to our words, to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to the armor of God.
1Cor. 13:13 (NASB) But now Faith, Hope, Love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is Love.
Gal. 5:6 (NASB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but Faith working through Love.
Love is how we determine when and where to use the Hope & Faith circuit.
Every part of the circuit must be in good working order to use it according to the Father's will. Our Hope must be strong. Our Faith must be unbroken and free from obstruction and corruption. We need to keep our working devices clean and in a good state of repair. Our Love must be pure, focused on the needs of others more than ourselves, and on the needs of the Kingdom.
How can we maintain our Hope - Faith - Love circuits?
Jude (NASB) 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Today, we see a large number of "Faith" churches, teachers, and ministries, but hardly ever hear much about Hope, yet the Bible says a great deal about Hope.
Hope and Faith - They're Electric!
In recent months, Gary Carpenter has been teaching some on Hope in relation to Faith as part of both the Face to Face and the Ephesians series. The key verse has been one of the most famous verses on Faith, Hebrews 11:1.
Heb 11:1 (NASB) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The King James says "substance" instead of "assurance." The Greek word is hupostasis, which means: a support, substance, steadiness, hence assurance, or confidence. Faith gives substance or support to the things hoped for. But how does this relationship between Hope and Faith work? Let me tell you - it's electric!
Gary said several times that Hope applies to the future. That is the general view of Hope - it pertains to things of, or in, the future. Faith, on the other hand, is now. It changes future Hope into present reality.
Especially when speaking of people and situations in the future, we use another word, relating to Hope, that sprang into my mind and started me on this path. That word is "potential." We often say a person has potential if they demonstrate talent, skill or ability that needs developing. We speak of situations that are potentially dangerous if we notice a threat.
"Potential" reveals the electrical nature of the relationship between Hope and Faith.
In today's world, we use electricity often for work, lighting, heat, communications and entertainment. Over the last couple of centuries, man has developed electrical circuits and devices to serve human needs, starting with motors to do work through machinery. The invention of the telegraph gave us the first means to send information over a very long distance in a very short time, and became the foundation for electronics. We are all familiar with what electricity can do for us, but not all of us understand how it works.
The various electrical and electronic devices we use must be part of an electrical circuit to work. A basic circuit has a power source, a working device, and a conductive path that allows electricity to flow to and from the device, or to the device and then to ground. Men have developed electrical circuits to serve human needs and wants, and some are very complex. But the first electrical circuits exist in nature as part of God's design. More on those in a minute.
If you have studied electricity in depth, you know the term "difference of potential." For those not familiar with it, it's what makes electricity flow.
Let's take a quick review of basic electrical theory.
Everyone is familiar with the basic structure of the atom: a nucleus of protons and neutrons orbited by electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. Two protons not in a nucleus will repel each other. Electrons not in orbit around a nucleus repel each other. Protons and electrons attract each other. Thus the old saying that "opposites attract."
In some substances, electrons can move more freely than in other substances, and we call them conductors. The other substances are called insulators. Sometimes, even insulators will conduct electricity under the right conditions. Ever walk across an carpeted floor on a winter day and then touch a door knob? Your body became electrically charged by the friction between your feet and the carpet. As you reach out for the door knob, you set up a difference of potential between your hand and the knob. Air is normally an insulator, but when your hand got close enough, the difference of potential become strong enough to overcome the insulating properties of air and ZZZZAP! You complete the circuit, and electricity flows as a spark between your hand and the knob.
The difference of potential is the combination of repulsive and attractive forces working on the electrons and protons. You can have a very strong difference of potential but no flow or current unless the difference of potential is strong enough to overcome the insulating effects of any SUBSTANCE between the positive and negative charges, or you place a conductive SUBSTANCE between the charges.
Where have we seen that word "substance" before? Oh, yeah! "Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for!"
Hope is the difference of potential between human need and God's power, and Faith is the conductor that allows His power to flow to meet our needs! Hallelujah!
Now let's expand on this and take a closer look at electrical circuits.
As I said, the first electrical circuits exist in nature as part of God's design. You have probably seen them in action. We call them lightning. Here's how a lightning circuit works:
The surface of the Earth normally has a negative charge. When a thundercloud grows, it develops a negative charge at its base, and a postive charge towards the top.
You can already see a difference of potential has developed inside the cloud. Sometimes processes inside the cloud will create conductive paths between the base and the top of the cloud. I once observed a supercell move towards Sapulpa around sunset and it had numerous "anvil crawler" strokes going up the sides of the main storm tower. It was one of the most impressive and beautiful lightning displays I have ever seen.
Sometimes, lightning can happen between two different clouds, but what we usually see most is cloud to ground (CG) lightning.
As the base of a thundercloud develops its negative charge, that charge repels the normal negative charge at the surface, and the surface develops a positive charge. This creates the difference of potential between the cloud and the surface. Research has shown that the attraction between the charges create ionized (electrically charged) channels that grow from the cloud base towards the ground, and from the ground towards the cloud. If they meet, a conductive path forms that completes the circuit, and zzzt-BOOM! LIGHTNING! If it happens close enough to me, I call it LIGHTNI-NI-NI-NI-NI-NI-NING!
Now, CG lightning is known to be dangerous to humans, but we do benefit from it indirectly. When CG lightning hits topsoil, it generates nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is a key ingredient in many fertilizers, so CG lightning helps to keep soil fertile.
Now consider for a minute these verses:
Heb 12:1-2 (NASB) Therefore, since we have so great a CLOUD of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We just looked at how clouds produce lightning. If we are surrounded by the cloud, we are in the cloud, and maybe we have become part of the cloud. Now consider that this discussion of Hope has come in the context of warfare. Is God calling us His stormtroopers?
Most electrical circuits designed by men serve some human need. Let's compare Hope & Faith circuits to these man-made circuits.
The Hope within us exists as an image of an all-powerful, loving God Who is more willing to use His power to bless us than to harm us. This image creates the difference of potential when compared to our need.
Faith is the conductor that delivers His power to the device that meets our need.
Most circuits that designed to meet human need have a switch. Our will is that switch.
As James said, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." Jas 2:17 (NASB) A wire not connected to a working device does no one any good. The works of Faith are the gifts and tools He has given us to use, from His Word, to our words, to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to the armor of God.
1Cor. 13:13 (NASB) But now Faith, Hope, Love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is Love.
Gal. 5:6 (NASB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but Faith working through Love.
Love is how we determine when and where to use the Hope & Faith circuit.
Every part of the circuit must be in good working order to use it according to the Father's will. Our Hope must be strong. Our Faith must be unbroken and free from obstruction and corruption. We need to keep our working devices clean and in a good state of repair. Our Love must be pure, focused on the needs of others more than ourselves, and on the needs of the Kingdom.
How can we maintain our Hope - Faith - Love circuits?
Jude (NASB) 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
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