An Open Door...

When I was a teenager, my family moved to a farming community in Missouri for a time. I had lived my whole life in the city in California, and I understood grapes and peaches and wheat from a distance, but had never worked in produce myself.

When we later lived on the farm, I wanted to plant a garden, vegetables not flowers, and I worked hard to till the ground and plant the seed. Did you know that the hardest thing to do is realize that it takes a lot of time for a seed to start growing? It takes a whole season for the seed to germinate, poke up through the ground and then begin to develop into a sturdy plant that can handle rain and wind, and still come to age where it produces the fruit you expected a week after you planted.

There were days I felt like tearing up one just to see what in the world was taking so long!

Eventually though, the little plants would appear and growth could be measured. You had the faith then to know you would be eating of this garden and that all the work you invested was worth it. But the first time you plant a garden, it seems almost forever before you can see it growing.

I have recently seen growth in my church that amazes me because it has seemed forever that some young person was so immature and worthless and unable to do anything, and I worried about the future of the church because that young person is part of the future church. I would be sitting in the church as an oldster while they ministered in service! Boy, how is that person going to be able to do that in the shape they are in?

I thought about this several times throughout the last few years. I thought that about my own children, too. I thought that about me; what can I do like this God? How am I supposed to work in the kingdom while I am still trying to figure things out myself?

Well, I am amazed in what I see. Strong sturdy burdened workers where before there was just a lazy or troubled kid. Leadership in the most unlikely places is popping up out of the ground. God has been developing some seeds into tough stalks that can withstand the wind and the rain and still produce fruit!

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

The time has come when vision is to be executed. God has given vision, and we have struggled to understand how that can come to pass. I am amazed at the workings of the Almighty to bring to pass that which He promised. Everything is popping up out of the ground ready for the task at hand; the task of the end-time; the task of the harvest.

A door is open, and we are to go through it. How? By listening and waiting for the leadership God has provided, by praying and listening to God’s voice; by study and careful watching for opportunity.

There is an open door before us, what lies beyond is the burden of your heart. For me, it is a harvest of souls white and ready. For you it may be a mission field, a calling to the ministry, or a desire to stand in the gap for those who cannot or a combination of the above. Whatever the burden of your heart, the door is open.

Changes are going to take place in your life, and you will not recognize yourself in the near future. You will change to the purpose God has for you. You will be doing things you never felt able to do, and your desire will change to the task before you.

God has opened a door and no man can shut it. It is time for work.

What if I do not want to go through the door? What if I just want to sit on the pew like I have for twenty years and be preached to and go home and fix dinner and live like I have always lived?

Let me tell you that you will not stay the same. Not going through that door causes God to re-position you. Maybe there will be another door in your future, but you have not helped yourself.

Jeremiah was a prophet to Israel, and He had the sad job of foretelling for Israel the result of not going through the door. This passage sums up the whole chapter:

Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

The one positive event that took place in Jeremiah’s day was the great end-time revival. The one positive event that we anticipate is a great end-time revival and a harvest of souls.

There is a harvest, white and ready. The door in your life is opening, go through it. When God opens a door, no one will shut it; be not discouraged or afraid, but proceed with the confidence that God has grown you to this task, for such a time as this.

The Asian Churches

The second and third books of Revelation were written for our edification in the area of spiritual growth, or the lack thereof. Each of these churches is described allegorically, providing us with information about how Jesus sees the church (and the person in the church) and what remedy for the particular problem might be. Each of these churches are described so that the person can envision success if the remedy is followed. One church, the Philadelphia Church, has the best situation as far as salvation is concerned. This church will be an exception from the appointed suffering of tribulation coming on the world in the last days, because they had not denied the Name of Jesus.

This is the subject of discussion, what it means to deny the name of Jesus, and what consequences there might be as a result. It is not as it seems, and it is done very commonly in the church today. Many people suffer form this Laodicean spirit.

The Laodicean church is the actual focus of this discussion because it is here that we learn of the conditions and inferences that surround the rest of the church descriptions. A little history and geography will help because the words used by the Revelator are allegorical and idiomatic.

The book of Colossians refers to Laodicea a number of times, referring to several people in that city nearby to Colossae, eleven miles away. This is in present day Turkey, but was at that time a Roman city. These cities were supplied water from springs; the hot springs at nearby Hierapolis and the pure cold water of Colossae are well known. The archeology of the area shows Laodicea had an aqueduct that carried water from hot mineral springs some five miles south, which would have become cooler, of course, before entering the city.

This is an allegory that people understand well. Who would want to drink tepid water? Being spiritually lukewarm therefore is a bad thing. Hot water has a purpose, it can carry energy to the tissues for increasing healing and relaxing muscles, and very little harmful bacteria would thrive in it. Cold water is great for drinking, and bacterial bloom would be minimal or zero. It should taste great. Spiritual states hot and cold are preferable. Why would they be preferable?

A bacterial bloom occurs when the conditions of high oxygen content and warm temperatures exist. The count of bacterial cells per unit volume of water becomes significant, and the waste products of the bacteria produce a foul smell and a bad taste. So this water supply to Laodicea could be pretty foul smelling and tasting. Therefore, when you drink of that water, you spew it out of your mouth because of the taste.

3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

According to Strabo there was a medical school in this very wealthy city, where a famous ophthalmologist practiced. The city also lies within the boundaries of ancient Phrygia, from where an ingredient of eye-lotions, the so-called 'Phrygian powder', was supposed to have originated. Therefore the references in these scriptures have particular import not only to those who were in that church at that time, but would be unmistakable to us, far in the future.

3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

The nakedness and lack of wealth speaks of the spiritual destitution of this body of people. Surely it does not refer to the lack of finances and clothing for these people of such a wealthy city. The Jewish population of the church alone would have cared for this destitute state of the people if they were able. Why are they naked and destitute?

An idiom is a phrase that says one thing but means another thing and is built upon common knowledge of the time. This is important to know because it is very prevalent in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The concept of nakedness comes from an Old Testament referent. To “see the nakedness” is a Hebrew idiom that means “to have a relationship with a man’s wife” or to expose and take advantage of the other internal secrets of a family’s weakness.Ultimately, it results in an interruption of the proper authority and organization of the family. The Bible says the wife of a man is his “covering”. Uncovering a man’s nakedness was referring to a an illicit relationship with his spouse. This was an abomination to God and represents, as an idiom used in Revelations, the decadence or the destruction of the family. This happened to Noah with Ham, Jacob with Rueben and Lot with his daughters. In each case horrendous family circumstance ensued.

The Laodicean family was fragmented and facing destruction. The fabric of family life was becoming frayed because a particular component was missing.

The words “poor and wretched, and miserable” in the literal sense mean: “having weak faith, the inability to survive trials and temptations, and the inability to learn from chastisements and rebukes”.

From these translations we are now able to understand these symptoms of the Laodicean spirit. The remedy is given in verse 18:

“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”



This is a clear dichotomy that is intensified by the allegorical statements. Contrasting to “poor” is “faith” as gold tried in the fire, nakedness with the “white raiment” of the sinless saint, and eye salve as the healing balm of Gilead found in the blood of the sacrifice which gives back sight of the spiritual sort; the ability to see your need.

How does this happen? The answer is in the name.
Laodicea is translated form the Greek words laos (of the people) and dikio (to rule).
The translation literally means “the rule by the people”.
The destruction starts when the authority of God and the ministry is subverted in the mind of a person. This is denying the Name of Jesus.

Ways that denying the authority of Jesus can occur:
1. Rationalization- this is not my sin
2. I am like this, just ignore me
3. I am not wrong, I am just misunderstood. That preacher is not talking about me. I am fine.

What is the authority of God? The Philadelphia church knew it- the name of Jesus Christ. Adam was required to name all things on the Earth to give him authority over everything on the Earth. God named the Earth and the Universe (he even calls the stars by name)and holds authority over them. When you gave your heart to God at the altar, you gave him authority over you, as you took on his name in baptism. The Laodicean spirit removes that authority of that name-you deny the name of Jesus.

God was telling the Laodiceans exactly the same thing he was telling Jerusalem-

“O Jerusalem Jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered you together as a hen does her chicks, but you would not”

Jesus said He came to save that which was lost: was that not everyone? No it was not. Some could not be saved for they did not know they were lost. This is the spirit of Laodicea, to remove the ability of Jesus to address the sin in your life. A single hidden sin will keep you from heaven.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Zealous: careful to miss nothing. David prayed that God would search his heart for the hidden errors. To be zealous here requires that you are certain everything is out of your heart, and every sin is repented. Holding a grudge, bitterness, or other interpersonal issues are very common. These will give rise to a denial of the Holy Ghost to remove them, and God cannot forgive them without your authority to do so. You need to re-negotiate the covenant to begin the process of repentance. You must request exposure by God before He can save you.

Luke warm then is a condition that prevents conviction from working for you. You cannot be saved if you do not know you are wrong or do not believe you are wrong. You cannot be convicted if you have the attitude that "I am o.k."

If you are not worried about your heart when you pray, as any person should be(work out your own salvation with fear and trembling), and you are not backslid (cold-you know you need to pray and the Holy Ghost can then convict you as in the Ephesus church), you should examine yourself and pray for God to reveal to you the hidden errors, the things which will condemn you because you do not know they are there. Seek His face, be zealous, repent and be saved.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

You must open the door, You must hear, before you can recover form the Laodecian spirit.

Blasphemy

In ancient times the outstretched right arm was an emblem of authority while the shortness of the arm or hand spoke of authority that had been diminished and extended only to a certain point. King Artaxerxes eventually reigned over an empire that was so far reaching that he was named "Artaxerxes Longimanus" which means long-handed, because the far reaching boundaries of his empire encompassed the known world.

It was common custom that a king would reduce the reach of his right hand after a covenant or concession to a neighboring kingdom was made, thus showing that he was willingly reducing his authority and strength over that land and people.

There are over sixty references to the right hand of God in the O.T. and the N.T. Many of these references are specific. In many cases they refer to the strength of God to save, heal, provide, and to destroy.

It is important to differentiate between the left and right hand. For instance, Ecclesiastes 10:2 says:
“A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.”

thus indicating a real difference in import between the two.

samal Left. The left hand represents wickedness and a resource of diminished strength and ability. The left hand is the hand utilized for functions considered impolite to discuss. One who was left handed was considered a wicked person, and use of the left hand was discouraged (and is still discouraged) in children. The text of the Hebrews and other cultures of ancient derivation are read from right to left because the result of the tools used to write in the clay or stone were observed best when writing in that direction. It was difficult to have precision when using the left hand on the tool. It is also interesting to note that in the ancient script, the word “left” begins with the letter “sin”

The “right hand” is translated form the ancient word yamiyn:
Right: The right hand or the direction of the right hand.
This word literally means toward the south. Because east is the principle cardinal direction, when facing east this implies the right side points to the south. The correct translation is, since this is “toward the south”, is the right side. This word is a child root of miyn. All child roots share the basic meaning of the parent root from which they derive. Child root formation is to produce grammatical changes such as gender, verb tense, nouns, and pronouns form the parent verb.

The parent root miyn is defined as: action of verb form: Firm concrete concept: Kind abstract meaning: Sure: The pictograph of mem is a picture of water or other liquid such as blood, the nun is a picture of a seed representing continuance. Combined these mean "blood continues" and gives the meaning of strength through the blood. Each species (kind) continues by passing its blood to the following generation, which comes from the parent.

Another child root of this word is aman which is literally to be firm like a pillar commonly translated as faithful.

The Biblical reference to the strength of the Right Hand is a common idiomatic phrase in Hebrew writing meaning “enough strength to accomplish any task and a continuing supply of it”.

It is important theologically and doctrinally in that this phrase is used to describe Jesus Christ. Many assume it means that Jesus is in heaven seated next to the Father, this is completely wrong. There is no other referent anywhere in the Bible that suggests there is a physical seat next to the throne, or that there could be anyone seated there. This word, throne, is also idiomatic and refers to the seat of power and authority. To have a second one would diminish the authority of the actual throne, and this contravenes the Bible which states emphatically that all authority in heaven and Earth is given unto Jesus. This would then be a complete contradiction in the bible.

The right hand of God, as it applies to Jesus Christ, must mean that He is the holder of all the power and authority of God in himself. Jesus is not seated next to the Father in heaven as the Bible declares he is the Father.

An example of that power in His right hand is related in that situation where the Apostle found himself in a stormy sea:

Mat 14:30-32 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

The power to heal was in His hand as well:

Mar 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Jesus used this physical expression of reaching out the hand indicating that there is no limit to His authority, and He can grant forgiveness, and has power over death. To the Jewish leaders this was a blasphemous thing, using this physical expression and thus identifying Himself as the Almighty.

Mat 26:64-65 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

The High Priest was charging Jesus with blasphemy because he made himself God. How did he say that? Jesus was claiming to be the right hand of God.

Self-Deception

Dignity in humans involves the earning or the expectation of personal respect or esteem - Wikipedia, a public domain encyclopedia.

As a member of the faculty at a University, I must represent the discipline of my trade in a dignified manner. It is a requirement of all who teach the public that they hold themselves in a position of dignity, that is, to expect to receive the acknowledgment of their students as experts and authorities in a particular discipline. Without this respect or esteem, it is impossible to impart the difficult lessons required to master a subject. Our classrooms would be full of chaos, and students would become argumentative rather than carefully listening and learning. In essence, dignity is a status requirement for any professor who is successful at teaching. This may have been earned, or it may be false, but it is essential and is part of the training received while earning the recognition of a University to teach and practice a discipline.

You can have false dignity because you are not really competent at a job and are merely pretending to be an authority, or you have a false illusion of your ability and character which can lead to a rise in arrogance and self deceit. In any case, dignity is a pretense. Perception is a powerful tool as it can discount even the most obvious facts in the minds of people and lead them away from reality. It is a form of falsehood that is portrayed by your actions.

In society one must hold others in esteem or in a dignified manner when certain events transpire. Funerals are the best example of dignity in action. The staff of a funeral establishment respects the privacy and rights of the family and of the deceased in order to alleviate certain psychological problems associated with grieving. To be dignified is to act or strive to be esteemed worthy of special consideration and attention. The staff must regard the family members as people who are dignified. This allows the family to accept respect from the staff in a subtle way. The family can grieve openly without fear of insult or other offensive responses from those around them, and this environment must be nurtured by the funeral staff so that emotional healing might take place in the family members who are left behind to grieve. This is a mark of professionalism in the funeral staff.

The word dignity however is not really a positive thing. For instance, when the Chaldeans were given power to overcome Israel as a judgment for giving themselves over to evil, the prophet Habakkuk utilized this word dignity in a fashion that gives an impression of disdain or disgust:

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of
themselves.And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every stronghold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. (Habakkuk 1:2-7, 10)

These Chaldeans are an arrogant and self-centered lot with only one goal in mind. They are dignified by their own evaluation, but not upon any success or worthy attribute. They are characterized as bitter and hasty and regard no other authority but their own. These are not positive attributes, but they are the attributes of a spirit that allows us to think of ourselves in a way that produces dignity in us. These attributes will show up in any person with a dignified mindset. Even earned dignity will allow a person to react negatively to authority if they believe in their own right to do so.

A further example of the negative connotation of dignity is found in Ecclesiastes 10:5, 6:

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

This is interpreted as accepting dignity as an important measure of a person, while success marks a person as undesirable. We see this twisted thinking very often in the world of today, and this is a trend associated with an ungodly mindset and lifestyle which intends to bring only pleasure and happiness from that lifestyle. The prophet called this behavior folly.

The history of European Elizabethan civilization suggests that dignity was held as the great social attainment of the times. If you were of lowly descent and poor, as long as you held yourself in a dignified way, you were acceptable. It is common in British folklore that a true citizen of Britain would hold dignity dear unto death and not waver from the fixed heart and set jaw so as to face their death square on. This is the form of the hero mindset in the UK, even today. This is also typical of many modern societies.

Present society relies on dignity to differentiate between acceptable public social behavior and that which is derived from a crass and diminished person. If you do not behave in a dignified manner, you may be considered socially unacceptable. If you do not follow this norm of behavior in our society, you become uncomfortable around those who value it to the point of being personally alienated and uncomfortable.

The Bible holds a somewhat different viewpoint of dignity; it seems dignity is not something to be coveted or nurtured.

Why would such a useful social context be so negative in the Bible? A look at the definition of the Hebrew word for dignity (marom) is very revealing. It means lifted to a height to deceive or to be deceived. Dignity can deceive those who observe it in others, and most often the person who portrays dignity is deceived in their own mind!

When Israel began to drift from the righteousness of the law, they moved the sacrificial worship from the temple to the high places (so that travel to the temple was not necessary!). The high places were historically used for the worship of gods who reside in the heavens and other idolatrous figures. The deception for the people of Israel came about because it seemed that the worship was correct, it was just done in a different place, that’s all. Later, the method of the sacrifice became further corrupted until it became the worship of false gods.

A person who possesses great dignity is very often operating under self deception. They may have a wrong self image, or they may have had a success which leads them to believe incorrectly about their own abilities and merit or other personal or self-obtained characteristics. In any case this is a personal attribute to be shunned for a Christian.

A particular reason to avoid dignity on a personal level is because of self-deception. When we worship God, people are to be wholly dependent upon His will and not their own. Dignity is a way of exerting personal will, and leads to false worship, or otherwise hinder worship. You excuse yourself from demonstrations of worship because that just isn’t acceptable for a person of your status and responsibility. You can easily express concern about those who may run laps around the building, or dance in the aisle in a spirit of worship and regard them as being un-dignified. They are indeed un-dignified in a social context, and rightly so, for the Lord of heaven requires us to forfeit our pride, dignity, and self aggrandizement in order to place Him above us. When people exhibit restraint in worship for this reason, they hide themselves from Him. This is the same response that Adam and Eve had in the garden after they sinned. You hold back our worship in order to prevent someone recognizing you as un-dignified because internally you feel that we deserve to be dignified.

Nothing could be further from the truth. A Christian should lay no claim to dignity because the essence of being a Christian is to be a servant (of low esteem in society) and completely dependent upon His ability to allow us to exist in the kingdom of God. We have absolutely no saving merit at all of our own effort and ability in the kingdom of God.

The spirit of antichrist is the one which elevates above God. It belongs to the spirit of self-will and to the opponents of the kingdom of God. It is a very dangerous attribute for a Christian.

A Christian must recognize that dignity is the antithesis of Christianity. It is in fact the spirit of antichrist (opponent to the Messiah) to be of dignified demeanor for some personal reason. The scripture states this by the Hebrew word translated as dignity. It means a high place, a place to deceive or beguile, and is the attitude of those who resist God. The concept of being lifted up in any way, except by God, is to be elevated above God. An individual cannot afford to let this spirit into the heart or it will lead to personal destruction.

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.(II John 1:7)

Worship of God is a sign of obedience and allegiance to Him. You must not refrain from whole hearted worship, regardless of how uncomfortable you feel. If you are so uncomfortable that you cannot openly rejoice and worship, then there may be something deceiving you. Search your heart and ask God to reveal to you any and all deception so that you can freely worship God. Pray for conviction. David said it best:

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. (Psalms 19:12)

An example of righteousness refusing to obtain dignity is King David who was dancing before the Ark of the Covenant as it was returned to Israel. His dance was so undignified that his wife was offended. Why would David do such a thing? Because he was giving God his best worship, indicating to God that he was completely obedient to Him and dependant upon Him. The only way for a King to show the people and God that he was completely sold out to God was to dance before God and the people with an undignified, whole hearted dance in worship; something a king would never do. The word that is translated “fear before the lord” in this passage is “Khaool Kaheel” which literally means to twirl or dance about in a circular motion. It was in David’s heart to love God, and he wanted God to know that this was everything he had to give. David knew that God had already given him everything else!

It may be possible to be a dignified person and get to heaven, but you must leave that aside when it comes time to worship God. A side effect of the dignity involved in keeping employment is to bring your dignity to the house of the Lord and you may begin to believe it. Resist the tendency to regard yourself as something you really are not and search regularly to notice when this may be occurring. Then, throw your dignity to the wind, as it can become the spirit of Antichrist within you, and then begin to worship the Lord with all your heart. Like David, we must worship with everything we have; it is what God wants from us. God responds to the meek, the contrite, and the lowly and returns to them joy and peace. The only thing God seeks is people on Earth who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Rabboni

John 20:15,16
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.


In the day of Jesus, the term Rabbi was common as a reference to individuals of respect and authority who were teachers of the law. In Hebrew the word is “Ravi” (pronounced Rahbee) and the Greek form is Hrabbi. They both mean “my Master” or “my Teacher”.

There were three levels of this terminology. Rabbi is actually a term of intermediate level used much as the degree levels in America for an education: Bachelor, Master, and Doctor. The terms were developed about 30A.D. and Gamaliel was the first in history to own this title.

The first level of title is Rav (Rab) meaning “Master”. Derived form Babylonian custom, This was bestowed upon a man who had been anointed by the laying on of hands in the rabbinic school.

The next level bestowed was from Palestinian custom: The teacher was sat upon a high stool above the people and then through elaborate ceremony, given a scroll, and a key that was worn about the neck that was also buried with the teacher upon death. The key represented the authority of the Master teacher, and the scroll represented his devotion and ability in his studies. The teacher was now called “Rabbi”.

The third an highest level was the Title “Rabboni”(Rabonee)which means “My Great Master”. The difference between the two highest titles was with respect to Disciples: a Rabbi was expected to have Disciples who followed him. These Disciples were expected to help recruit other Disciples. A Rabbi who had seen the second Generation of his Disciples was called Rabboni “My great Master”.

In the passage above Jesus was speaking to a woman who had no good reputation among the people, even among the Disciples of Jesus she was treated poorly. She was looked down upon by other women, and scorned for her lifestyle. She was woman who was vilified for her low social status.

Jesus received this woman without the negative treatment given her by all others. He placed upon her a special status. It was this woman who was given the part of seeing Jesus first after His ascension. It was this woman who discovered the missing body, was spoken to by the Angel, and then spoke to Jesus first. It was this woman who received the truth of the newly resurrected Lord, and therefore forever superseded the privilege of all of the women and Disciples in that it was her lot to know before all humanity what had happened to Jesus who had given her life, and whom she loved.

It was this woman who referred to Jesus as “Rabboni”, a form of honor and respect that went beyond the title used by all others. She was claiming the place of a second generation Disciple, the hallmark of which would be love, adoration and highest respect and honor along with special privilege. She worshiped the Lord out of the love and acceptance that drove her to follow Him.

Just like Mary Magdalene, when we “discover” the Great Teacher we are made a part of that second generation of Disciples. We become a worshiper, a lover of the Lord because He saved us and gave us a special status that we did not deserve.

Herein is the source of our love of the Lord, that while we were yet in our sins He loved us (read IJohn 4:19)

The Good Shepherd

This morning during prayer I was interrupted. I was told to be quiet and listen. This happens infrequently, so I had to work at being still.

It was not my wife, or the kids, or even the dog. It was not the telephone. I was told to write. I was given words to write, and the courage to write them. I believe this will be for someone, and will help them through the present times of trial. It has certainly helped me.

When Jesus called His disciples they were a young group each having a particular role in life that was suddenly changed for them. There was something in them that Jesus wanted to use, and He does not make mistakes. Each of the Disciples was personally trained by God over time. He taught them, and they were confused so He opened their understanding. They eventually came to the place where they received the Holt Ghost, and suddenly things made sense to them. The New Testament was written by them when they were much older and much wiser and much more experienced. What they wrote about happened to them many years before they wrote.

Jesus looked at these men on the other side of the blood. He saw the future in them; He invested in them the future of the church. After the Holy Ghost fell, they became the leadership of the church in the whole world. The largest, the smallest, the Jewish and the Gentile churches. It is still the same today.

These men had particular styles and talents and skills and wisdom, but none of that was what caused God to appoint them to the leadership of His flock. They all developed these things more through the years, true enough, but initially it was something in their character. They all understood the necessity for the day to day dependence on God to help them and those they led. They understood the burden of Jesus for the lost. They were political, stubborn, willful humans with all the same problems we face today. But they learned through the Holy Ghost to listen for God’s will to do the things they must.

When the prophet prayed for rain, he had to return to do so seven times before God answered his prayer. It was not that God did not hear the first prayer, but that Elijah had to pray until the prayer was right. That is, he prayed until his will was finally the same as God’s will. I believe that Elijah did not really want the rain, because he was the one who prayed that it would stop. He wanted to punish some more, He was not satisfied that the enemy had suffered enough. But he kept praying until God changed his tune. Then the clouds formed and the rains came.

There are certain things that a Pastor must have. Like the Disciples, these must be present. It is not great wisdom; it is not the skills of a silver tongued orator. It is not a cyclopedic knowledge, or the diplomatic skill of a statesman. It is character, a burden, and the practice of seeking God’s will everyday for everything. All of these other things are great, and come with time to all good Pastors, but they are icing on the cake, so to speak.

I have had over the last 36 years, the privilege of being shepherded by great men of God. They were not supermen, a number of them were men of simple background and means. But they had the ingredients that were essential to greatness. They had character, morals, attitude, and a great burden for the soul. They were willing to hurt my feelings to preserve my spirit. They were willing to sacrifice a great deal to obtain the freedom of one more soul. They taught consistently and without fear or favor. What I have become is their fault. Most have passed on, and those did not see me at this point in my life. They only prayed and taught and struggled for a future they knew was important. They were Great men of God. When I was a stubborn loudmouthed nuisance, they asked me to help make peanut brittle. When I was brand new in the Holy Ghost they put me on a door to door witnessing team. When I hurt, they prayed for me. My poor life did not daunt them in their task. They saw me on the other side of the blood.

There is a passage of scripture where the church is admonished to avoid certain things. The Bible called it “itching ears”. Let me explain something: itching ears is a trait all humans will fall prey to without constant vigilance and prayer. It is the Christmas list of “what I want most”. Self-indulgence in building the comfortable environment for me to live in is what this refers to. There is a tendency in people to build a list if things you would like to have different “next time”. If you had your way, you would “fix this” so it would be more to your liking. When people heap to themselves teachers “having itching ears”, meaning their ears not the teachers, they are out of the will of God. They have arranged the future by bringing together those things that they want. We always want what we want, that is our nature. What the Apostle was warning of was caving in to the desire to arrange your circumstances to your liking, rather than following the plan of God.

When praying, realize that you must pray for your will to become God’s will. You cannot be responsible to pick and chose what you need on your own, because you do not know what you need. God has a plan. You need to pray until you understand and can accept what that plan is.

God will not leave you to fall apart and He will help you if you will obey this one simple thing. Pray seven times if you have to; fast a much as is needed, but remain humble before God until you have His will. If you fail to do this one thing, you will prevent God’s will. God does not rule the kingdom with an iron fist. You can willfully decide against God’s will and prevent Him from providing what you need. This is why it is important to pray until you understand God’s will. Making decisions based on human wisdom can curtail or completely prevent God.

Do not set parameters for God to operate within. He is perfectly able to bring about what is needed if you allow Him.

I have been a professor for over twenty years. I know how to make the learning process work, and a number of degrees that provide me with skills and knowledge. I have a resume “longer than your arm”. All of these things matter when I am trying to obtain a job as a professor. All of these things are unimportant for the work in the kingdom of God. God qualifies those whom He calls. Wisdom that comes from God is hugely more important than carnal wisdom. Following His leading makes a Pastor sound like the Good Shepherd.

A man with a burden for your soul, who loves you, is a million times more important than a good entertainer or the most organized and proficient business manager. If he cannot sing or play an instrument or is not handsome, that is no disadvantage. If he can pray and touch God, if he will “trim you down” when you need it, if he will preach without fear or favor, then that is the one who sounds like the Good Shepherd.

When God Turns the Page...

Recent events in my life have prompted me to evaluate changes that are occurring for myself, my family, and my church. From the beginning of the year, it has become abundantly obvious that many changes will occur for many people in the months ahead. I have not witnessed so many deaths among the saints in my life as have come about in the last four months. Personal challenges and fiery trials have been abundant in the last four months. Physical and emotional stress is greater than ever.

After an accident three months ago, for the first several weeks, I spent time near death where only God and I were in conversation. It was a unique and profound period of time, and I have learned a great thing from God through it all. He has given me a great gift. For three months I have suffered without my voice, and always whispering with pain. Yet, I have grown spiritually more than even I am aware of just yet. A page has turned in my walk with God, and I am forever changed by it.

I am reminded of the prophetic words of Jesus Christ when talking of the last days “everything that can be shaken will be shaken”. I am convinced we are faced with the attempts of the adversary to sift us as wheat.

This series of unfortunate events have most recently been punctuated with the resignation of my Pastor. This man, who has been my friend for only five years but has had more impact on me than any one else I have been privileged to know, has finally been discovered by the District in which he ministers as the finest and most reliable man for the job. He was elected away from us, and we are left with no doubt among us that he will succeed famously. It is the hand of God in his life. A page has turned in this life journey for him.

I am very proud of my friend, my Pastor for the last few years. He leaves behind, however, a great vacuum that will not easily be filled. I am certain that there is no other like him. I know of no person in my church family who feels differently. A page has turned in our church, and the story must go on. We will have another Pastor, and we will learn his voice too; his name is written on the next page.

How much more can a person take? Has Job found his associates in misery among us, Gods people of the latter days? I am comforted in all of this because Jesus prayed for us. How can we falter, worry or be afraid? If God be on our side, who can be against us?

We have to keep changing. We must try to read the next page, and let the story of our lives continue. It is a hard thing, but God never intended for us to be static, just as He is not static.

After pondering the events and results of the recent past, I am forced to concede that it is a net gain for us all. Even though it might sound absurd to the fair thinkers in this world, I am certain that what has transpired has served to bring us all so much closer to the needs and effects of the kingdom of God. While we are in a revival state, and many are gaining ground in a spiritual walk, I believe this is much more than your usual spurt of revival feelings. This has a “permanent” feel to it. The page is turning for my city.

I think the page is turning for everyone on planet Earth.