Malay Believer Refused Right to Marry Under Sharia

In Malaysia, many Muslim background believers lead double lives as their conversion faces them with the death penalty. Any ethnic Malay is considered a Muslim from birth and under Sharia law to convert from Islam to any other faith is to commit apostasy, which is punishable by death.

Finally this stuff is getting out in the news, not only on VOM but in the New York Times. Check out the article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/world/asia/24malaysia.html?ex=1156737600&en=89d3620e741606ee&ei=5087%0A

Our Role as a Disciple

Women's Ministry Series - Session II

Now we know that God has called us to be a worshiper of Him. The purpose of man is to bring glory to God. This is what we were created for. Another thing that God has called us to be is a DISCIPLE.

In the New Testament the word “Christian” is used only three times. The church started among the Jewish people in Jerusalem, but they considered themselves as Jewish followers of Jesus. They did not say, “I am a Christian” or “He is a Christian.” They said, “I am a follower of the WAY.” They said, “I am a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.” It was at the city of Antioch, years later, that the word Christian began to be used.

Now although Christian is used only three times in the New Testament, the word “disciple” is used over 200 times to describe the followers of Jesus. The word disciple literally means “student” and “follower.” If we are to be a disciple, we must be a student of Jesus. We must be a student of Jesus’ word. In order to be a “follower of the WAY,” we must know the way! Jesus shows us the way and gives us all the instructions, the “map” we need to follow the Way. If we don’t read our instructions, if we don’t look at the map, we won’t go anywhere. In today’s session we will talk about the power of the Word of God, why we need to know it, and how we can study it to truly be a disciple of our Savior Jesus Christ.

So why study the Bible? Isn’t it enough to come to meetings once or twice a week? Isn’t it enough to listen to a preacher preach the Word of God on Sunday meetings? I’m telling you, no it’s not enough. Why? Because God has called us to be transformed and made new by the renewing of or minds (Romans 12:1-2). If we come every Sunday and on the inside, in our hearts, we remain the same, then we are not growing. We are not becoming a student and a follower of Jesus. We are merely listening to someone else. God wants us to know His Word in our hearts and in our minds.

If you have your Bibles please turn to Acts 20:32

In this chapter Paul is leaving the church at Ephesus. Ephesus is in modern day Turkey. The apostle Paul spent three years in Ephesus and he is now saying goodbye to the elders of the church. As he leaves, this is what he tells them:

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Paul is leaving. He will no longer be the shepherd over this flock. He commits the Ephesian church to God AND to the word of his grace, being the Bible. Now he says two things about what the Word can do. Here we see that the Bible, the Word of God, has supernatural power.
The word can build you up. When you build a building you start with the foundation and then you build up up up. Sisters by reading the Word of God you will grow in your Christian walk. Now I don’t mean merely reading the Word, but reading it, meditating on it, and praying it back to God. You must turn the Bible into conversation material with the Lord. There are two things you can do with the Word when you read it. There are scriptures, verses, that can cause us to praise God. We read in Psalm 84, “How lovely is your dwelling place O Lord Almighty.” If we only read this verse, it will not do anything to build us up. If we even memorize it will not do anything to build us up. We must use it to TALK to God. We can read it and say, “God – your dwelling place is so lovely! God I know that you have created heaven as a beautiful place. Wherever you live, God, surely must be the most beautiful place. God thank you that you are beautiful. God thank you that have created a beautiful place for me to live in heaven.” Now there are also Scriptures/verses that encourage us to obey God. Two weeks ago on Sunday the preacher shared from John 5, how you are the light of the world. You can read that verse and say, “God thank you that you made your people the light of the world. I know that sometimes I’m afraid and I don’t want to share the gospel with my neighbors, but God help me to be the light. I want to be the light of the world. Lord let my light shine before men that they may give praise to You in heaven.” With every verse of the Bible we can pray something from it. With every verse of the Bible we can turn it into a dialogue with God. God wants us to be in a relationship with Him, and that means we need to have conversations with him! And guess what, not only can we talk to Him through His Word, but He can talk to us. Once we start using the Bible to talk to Him, He will use the Bible to talk to us. He will give us wisdom and understanding when we cry out for it. But, if we don’t ask, we don’t have. We must get in the Bible, read it, meditate on it, and use it to talk to God. In this way the Word will build us up.

So back to Acts 20:32 – Paul also says that the Word can give us an inheritance. How do you get an inheritance on earth? Your parents have money and they leave some behind for you when they die. Did you know that you have an inheritance from God? Part of our inheritance is in this life and part of it is after we die, in eternity. Our inheritance in this life includes the things that God will allow us to do to serve Him and to serve others. It includes our ministry, our families, our relationship with God. Part of our inheritance is that we are lovers and worshipers of God. In this life we have part of our inheritance. In eternity we will have all of it, but as Paul said, it is the WORD of God that gives us our inheritance. Wow! In eternity our inheritance will be ruling and reigning with Christ Jesus as he rules over all. Do we want that? Do we want to be seated with Jesus? Do we want to serve Jesus in heaven? This is part of our inheritance. But God does not give us our entire inheritance freely, we must fulfill some obligations. We must know the Word of God. We must be a true disciple/student/follower of the Word of God.

The Word of God can build us up and give us an inheritance.

Now most Christians who love Jesus think that they spend time in the Bible and that they know it. They bring it to their Sunday meetings. They bring the Bible to the prayer meetings. They carry it on a trip or put it next to the bed. But they don’t read it! They don’t use the Bible to make conversation with God, and therefore they are not changed. It is the same thing in America as it is here. Most believers, who love the Lord, don’t spend time in the Bible. They do everything else they possibly could. They do ministry. They get involved in a youth group. They teach children about the Bible. They preach. They teach, but even then they may not have a connection with God through the Bible. Jesus promised us that our hearts would flow like a river. That means that each person individually will have a connection with Jesus as a friend and as one who loves them.

Turn with us to Hebrews 4:12 – “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

God’s Word is alive! It is not dead. It is not boring. It is alive and it can change your heart and make you more like Jesus. If you think the Word of God is dead then you will have no reason to read it, but if you think that it is alive and active then you will want to read it every day. Not only is the word alive, but Paul tells us that the Word of God is our only weapon which is offensive. This means that the Word of God is the only thing we can use to attack darkness. The Word is often represented in the Bible as a sword. If you own a sword, does it mean you know how to use it? If I keep my sword sitting next to my bed for twenty years, and suddenly a robber breaks in, will I be able to use my sword to fight him? Probably not. If I do not train with my sword I will not be ready for battle. If we do not read our Bibles and use them to talk to God, we will not be ready for battle.

Jesus is coming back to the earth. He is shaking the nations. Spiritual warfare is on the rise. Do we know how to use our swords? Have we spent hours and hours training with our swords so we can use them? I don’t think we have. I don’t think we are ready. We own our swords, our Bibles, but they are not in proper use. We don’t know how to use them. When the time comes, we will surely be defeated if we do not know how to use the swords. Not only will we be defeated, but many will fall away from the faith. Many people who call themselves Christians will turn away from Jesus because they don’t understand who he is. They won’t know how Jesus works. They won’t understand. They will be offended by his judgments and they will turn away from Jesus. They will turn away from Jesus and spend eternity in hell. Are you ready? Do you know who Jesus is? Do you know what it says in the word? Are you ready to use your sword? Because I tell you, if you don’t know the Bible, if you don’t know the Word of God, you will surely fall away when that day comes. It might be easy to say “I am a Christian” now, but things are going to get much worse as Jesus comes to judge the earth. Are you ready? Do you who He is? Are you His follower? Are you His student? Are you truly his disciple?

In James 1:21 it says that the Word of God which is planted in us can save us.

“Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

What does James mean? I thought we were saved if we confessed Jesus and believed in his death and resurrection? Many people confess Jesus with their mouths, but do they really believe in him in their hearts? Do you really believe in Him in your heart? Do you believe his word is living and active? Do you believe He is coming back to judge the whole of mankind? If you do, you’d study the Word. You’d be ready. You wouldn’t be happy with business as usual. Day in and day out doing the same thing. You’d see there was urgency and that you have NO CHOICE but to know the Word of God. For the Word of God can save you. In Revelation it says that those who stand firm to the end will be saved. It is the Word of God which will help you stand firm. The Word of God can save you.

The Word can build us up, give us an inheritance, be our sword, and it can save us. So what then, sisters will we do?

Our Identity in God - Part 1 - Worshiper

Here are the rough notes from Part I of the Women's Ministry Sessions

Having Vision/Understanding Our Identity in Christ
What does it mean to have vision? Proverbs 29:18 says that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Another translation says, “where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” Let’s say this together, “Where there is no vision…..the people perish.” If we don’t know where we’re going in life, we just do whatever and end up wasting our time. Vision is a mechanism that grabs the heart. If you want people to be committed to something you must give them vision. Without vision we have no focus, no goals, nothing that drives our lives. Some people have the vision to make a lot of money and gain many material things. This controls their lives. Everything they do is for money. Some people have the vision to become famous or powerful. Their pride drives their lives. Everything they do it to try to become more famous or more powerful. Some people have the vision just to survive to the next day. If their family is struggling to find enough to eat, everything they do is focused on just make enough to survive. Everyone repeat: “Where there is no vision……the people perish.”

All of those visions are limited and can lead us down a wrong path. Why? Because God has created each of us with a purpose that He wants us to walk in. God said these words to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet for the nations.”

God appointed Jeremiah as a prophet even BEFORE he was born! Not even just before he was born, but before he was conceived, before Jeremiah was even a thought to his mother and father. In the same way, God created each of you with loving care and has chosen you to be HIS. He has set you apart and He has purpose for you in your life. God has created you and He has a plan for you. Also in Jeremiah it says,

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11

In order to catch God’s vision, we must first learn WHAT we were created for. What did God create us to be? In our sessions we will look at the five things that God has created each of us to be. God created us to be:
A Worshiper
A Disciple
A Member of the Church
A Minister to the Church
An Ambassador to the World

Today we will look at what it means to be a “Worshiper of God.” What is worship? Usually in our churches we talk about the worship time as the time when we praise God with music and song. Worship is used to talk about the style of music, and the worship team is the group of people who lead the music. Now I’m telling you, if we think worship is just music we are wrong. Worship is SO much more than that. Worship is not just singing. Worship is not just music. Worship is a lifestyle.

In Hebrew the word for worship is Shakhah. It literally means “to bow down.” What do you think of when you think of bowing down? Who would you bow down to? A king, a leader, a master if you are servant? Bowing down to someone shows reverence. It shows submission. It shows respect. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is a lifestyle of bowing down, submitting to God and fearing Him. It does not mean we literally need to bow down when we pray. It means that we need to be willing to give our whole lives to Him.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment was this, “To love the Lord your God with all of your heart, your soul and your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” First and foremost we must LOVE God with everything that we are. We must be willing to give God everything. This is worship. Worship is not just singing. Worship is a lifestyle.

The apostle Paul shows us true worship when he writes to the church in Galatia,
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me.”

I have been crucified with Christ: what does Paul mean? He means that all his earthly wants and desires are now gone. He means that he lives every day for Christ and Christ alone. He is bowing down to God with his lifestyle. He was willing to go to prison, to be shipwrecked, to be ridiculed, to be beaten, and even to die for the Lord Jesus. Worship is a lifestyle. Worship is the lifestyle of giving everything we are to God. Paul gave all of his insecurities to God. He gave all of his wants to God. He gave all of his needs to God. He gave all of his desires to God. He gave all of his worries to God. He gave all of his plans to God. He feared God. He was submissive to God. He was a lover of God. He was a worshiper of God. Worship is a lifestyle.

Listen to what Paul said in the book of Acts:
“I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However I consider my life worth NOTHING to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

Paul considered himself as nothing. He only boasted in his identity in God. He had vision! He did not live life without restraint, doing whatever he chose as the wind blew by. He lived life with a goal, with a purpose. To serve as a worshiper of God and to be all that God created him to be. He was not a special person. He was empowered by the Spirit of God. We each can live in that reality, but first we must realize WHO WE ARE in God. We were created by God. We are worshipers. Worship is a lifestyle.

Can we worship God through singing? Yes of course we can. We can praise God with singing. We can praise God with dancing like King David did. This is just one expression of our worship. But you know what else is worship? When you sit at home selflessly taking care of a dying family member. When you read your Bible. When you take time to pray. When you thank God for providing for you. When you aren’t afraid to tell your neighbors about the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. This is all worship. This is how we love God. We love and worship God by obeying Him. God wants a church who knows Him and loves him intimately. This is why the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our hearts, soul, minds, and strength. We were created to be worshipers and lovers of God. Worship is a lifestyle.

Before we go, I want you to learn Paul’s words from Galatians 2:20.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me.”
(read one part at a time with women repeating….do two or three times until they know it and can probably say it on their own)

Remember:
Without vision the people perish.
God created us to be worshipers.
Worship means “bowing down.”
Worship is more than music. Worship is lifestyle.

Commencement of Women's Ministry

Last saturday evening we commenced the women's ministry and equipping sessions. The newly appointed women leaders led prayer and worship which was then followed by a teaching on our identity in God and having vision. Afterwards I was able to pray for and give words to several women. Amen!

God Breaking In: A Model for Revival

I’m back with my friends in S**lk*t attending the Sunday gathering. It couldn’t be more different than the service I went to in my city a few weeks ago. It’s not just different because this meeting takes place in the open air as opposed to a large ornate church building. It’s not just that people are sitting on the ground instead of in hard wooden pews. It’s not just that the pastor wears a simple button down shirt and dress pants, instead of a flowing white robe. The difference is that God is here. He is in our midst in a manifest way and there is no way to deny His presence or His power.

Jesus’ disciples were quite distraught when they started to get what he was saying about going back to the Father.

“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

Jesus assured them that it was better if he went away! How could that be possible? Because after Jesus went to be with the Father he sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a consolation prize. “Oh sorry, you can’t have Jesus for the time being, so just have the Holy Spirit.” In contrast, the Holy Spirit is powerful, and Jesus himself promised us that after he himself went to the Father, we would do greater works than even he had done on the earth.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-13)

So then what’s the catch here? Jesus said, “anyone who has faith in me” will do what he was doing while he was on earth and MORE. Why don’t we see that happening? Why don’t we see signs and wonders in our midst today? Well, we don’t have simply because we don’t ask. We don’t expect these things to happen because we may not see them happening in our congregations. Does that mean they don’t happen? No. On the contrary, this is God’s model for revival in the land. If it is not happening, there is something wrong. If the model of church that we have in the New Testament is a far cry from what our ministry looks like, we have some reorganization to do.
As I sat at the Sunday meeting, sweating in my yellow plastic chair, I watched as people lined up to share testimonies after the Word had been preached. An old woman praises God for healing her of blindness the previous Sunday. A little girl of about seven, previously mute, gets up and makes her first public speech, praising God for giving her voice. Her voice was a bit raspy and it seemed as if her vocal chords were stiff, like during a cold, but she was talking. Another woman who had been partially blind praises God for healing her through the prayers of the saints. Finally, an impassioned woman tells the story of how after having two sons she remained barren for 10 years. Some members of the intercessory team had prayed for God fill her womb again, and this Sunday she stood on the stage holding her newborn baby daughter and offering praise to God. This same woman had converted from Islam and left her family, and in this society all of her earthly security, when she came to know Christ.

After the testimonies and some more prayer, we launch into another time of worship. I felt ashamed of myself for being more concerned with the heat than praising God for the testimonies of his grace. I was literally ready to pass out and felt as if my cotton dupatta (scarf used for covering the head and upper body) was a woolen winter hat made for keeping the heat in. I “accidentally” let my dupatta fall to my shoulders, hoping that some of the heat might escape in the thirty seconds before I put it back on. I looked out at all the people, men and women, young and old, mostly dirt poor but in their nicest clothes, who have gathered together to worship the King. Some are standing with hands raised up to heaven. Men are dancing, and women are swaying a bit to the rhythm. Some have their heads bowed to their knees. All are praying passionately and praising God for all that he has done here. They come expectant and they ask for more. The people can not stop praising God as the worship leader launches into a chorus of “Hallelujah.” For over thirty minutes the people sang the words “Hallelujah” over and over again, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the presence of the Almighty God. They are hungry for God and they have labored in prayer asking for what he is doing amongst them. Muslims are coming to a saving relationship with Christ. Those who were only Christian by name are becoming born again. God is transforming this community.

The more and more that I see and hear about how God is moving throughout the earth, the more I am convinced that God never meant the gospel to go forth without the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, yes, we say that the gospel itself has power, and it does as Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) The gospel message is the only message with the power to transform our hearts and minds and allow us to enter into a right relationship with God. This is true, but we also see in the Word that signs, wonder, healings, prophecy, and deliverance should come hand in hand when we bring the gospel. It is not that is beyond God to bring people into the kingdom without physical displays of his power, but it is in His mercy to show his power in order to show the greatness of his name. God’s primary goal is to glorify himself and God is glorified when a lame man walks in the name of Jesus. God is glorified when a blind woman comes to see. God is glorified when a possessed man is set free. God is glorified when those who have witnessed his power come into a saving relationship with him. Jesus came with miracles, signs and wonders, and his disciples followed suit when they brought forth the message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Sadly, I have to decline an invitation to go pray at a hospital for a demon possessed man, as I must be heading back on the early bus in order to teach my class. If someone in your church asked you to go pray for a demon possessed man, would you go? What would you think? It would be quite out of the ordinary in the typical American church. But here, where the people expect great and mighty things, it is commonplace. People are delivered from demons each week at the evening gathering and in people’s homes. The influence and possession of demons is real, and some are the kind that go out only by prayer and fasting. People are not only delivered from their torment, but they are delivered from their sin and brought into a saving relationship with Christ Jesus. This is the gospel. We need to tell those demons to "chordo!" (come out!) This is the power of God who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Do we really believe that? Do we pray into it? If not, it’s time to start. If we do, we can’t stop pressing in until God breaks in. He is faithful and He will do it. It is in his heart to glorify himself and to make his name known throughout all the earth.

Father, we believe that you are all powerful. We praise you for the mighty works you have done throughout history. We praise you for the mighty works recorded in your word. God, we ask that you would come and bring revival to our area. We ask that you would manifest yourself. That you would ARISE and show your power. Just as the early church prayed in Acts 4 and the place was shaken, we ask that you would shake this place. We ask that you would shake this nation. We ask that you would raise up your church as a house of prayer. We ask that you would raise up intercessors who pray in accordance with your heart. We ask that you would stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders in the name of your Holy servant Jesus. Humble your saints that we may be used by you. God do not let us settle for anything less than “greater works than these.” You promised that anyone who has faith would do even greater works that you did while on earth, not for our own fame or pride, but for the glory of your name. Release the power of the anointing on your saints. Let us not be satisfied with anything less than ALL that you have for us. Let us press in and press on for the rest of our days. Let us not be satisfied when we come to church for “Sunday morning.” Let us gather together and CRY OUT for your presence and your healing hand. If we do not hear your voice, let us CRY OUT to hear it, for prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Let us not be busy with ministries, models, or programs, but instead let us follow your model of revival. Falling on our knees with fasting, weeping and mourning, calling you to come and show your face.

Taking the Land - Rick Joyner

I was inspired by the weekly word from Rick Joyner of Morning Star Ministries

www.morningstarministries.org

July 10, 2006

As the church begins to enter its Promised Land, it will demonstrate to the world the distinction between the citizens of the kingdom of God and those of this world. Presently, there is very little distinction in anything, including the morals, basic integrity, and therefore not surprisingly, the things which afflict Christians and non-Christians. This will not continue. There will be a pruning of those branches which are not bearing fruit, so that those who are bearing fruit will bear more.

As true apostolic and prophetic authority grows in the church, the benefits of being a citizen of the kingdom will become increasingly apparent, as will the accountability for disobedience. Just as the account of Ananias and Sapphira sent shock waves of the fear of the Lord through the church in Jerusalem, as the anointing of the Holy Spirit increases, the price of disobedience will grow with it, and the pruning of those who compromise by trying to live in both realms will take place.

For those who are going to cross over, there will be an increasing identification with the kingdom of God and a decreasing one with this world. For those who will enter into their identity as citizens of the kingdom, it will become greater than any other identity they have—as a citizen of any other nation or member of any other entity. For the church to accomplish its purpose, it must become the community it is called to be—a holy nation, a set apart people who stand out so brightly from anything else on this earth that they are like a city set on a hill.

There is an increasing movement in Christianity toward much more casual church relationships. There is also another movement toward a greater bonding and deeper commitment to church fellowship. If you want to fulfill your purpose, and want to be numbered with those who will cross over and begin to possess the kingdom, choose the latter.

The reason we examined the need to apply the cross again and get healed of our bitterness in last week's study was because many have been wounded and disappointed by previous church relationships. Therefore, they are much more prone to gravitate toward casual relationships. This may give us temporary relief, but in the long run it will prove disastrous. The move toward casual church will lead to an increasingly casual faith. It will rob many of their purpose on this earth and many of their faith altogether. It is the easier way at first, but it is the broad path that will lead to destruction. The narrow way, which will be more difficult for a time, will be much easier in the end.

Presently, more Christians have drifted from a committed church relationship than are in one. Many of these are just waiting for the church to get its act together before returning, but when the church does, it will have been through a process in which those who are on the outside waiting to get in will no longer fit. Those will be like the foolish virgins in the parable, who tried to find oil at the last minute, and got to the door and found it locked (see Matthew 25:1-13).

Church life is not meant to be easy. All relationships are hard. When there were just two brothers on the whole earth, they could not get along, and one of them basically said, "This world isn't big enough for the both of us!" All relationships will be under increasing pressure as time unfolds, including marriages, business partnerships, even racial and national identities. Ultimately, only the true church and the true Christians who have learned and walked the way of the cross will hold together.

As fear and selfishness rises and increasingly divides, those who have chosen the way of the cross will grow in love and self-sacrifice, and will be bonded together in a fellowship which all of the pressures of this world cannot break. This unity will stand out as the greatest witness, even above all miracles, in the last days. This is explained in the Lord's prayer to His Father during His last night as a man on this earth, as recorded in John 17:22-23:

And the glory which You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one:
I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (NKJV).

If there was ever a prayer prayed that we can expect to be answered, I think it would be the Lord's own prayer to His Father. Also, if you knew you only had but a few hours left in this life, your prayers would certainly become focused on the most important things to you. We can assume that this was likewise true of Jesus, when He knew He only had a few hours left as a man on this earth. Therefore, this prayer recorded in John 17 is probably the most concise articulation of the most important things on the Lord's heart. Should they not likewise be the most important issues of our hearts as well?

Probably the main theme of the Lord's prayer recorded here is the unity of His people. He did not just ask for unity of doctrine, or even unity of purpose, but He asked that we would be one just as He and the Father were one! As incomprehensible as this may be, I think we can certainly expect the prayer of the Son of God to be answered. In my thirty-five plus year search of church history, I have not found a time when this could have even been remotely accomplished, especially considering the proof had been accomplished would be that the whole world would know that Jesus had been sent by the Father.

So, it is obvious that His people coming into this same great unity, which He has with the Father, is yet in the future—but it will be accomplished. Of course, we know this must happen before the end of this age because at the end of it, the world will already know that He was sent by the Father because He will have returned in great power and glory. Before this happens, we can expect His people to have been "made perfect in unity." This will be a miracle so great that the whole world will have to acknowledge it, and Him.

One of the greatest of all signs that we truly are coming to the end of this age, will be an increasing unity of the church. This is not a political unity, or a doctrinal one, but a true unity much greater than just politics or doctrine, though we can expect it to include these.

The mention of politics here is in relation to human alliances of any kind, not just those in relation to civil governments. The true unity of the Spirit that we can expect will trump any kind of human alliances, spiritual or otherwise. The ultimate unity we can expect is not going to be just because leaders of denominations got together and worked things out so that they could unite these different organizations. One of the things we can expect by the end of this age is that mere human alliances will not have endured the pressure of the times—only those built on the kingdom, which cannot be shaken will endure.

Because it is basically and profoundly important to the Lord for His people to come into unity, this should be a basic devotion of all of His followers. For this reason, I rejoice at any efforts of the different denominations or movements to at least attempt to build bridges of trust and interchange. These will almost always bear some good fruit and are therefore a worthy cause. However, the ultimate unity, which His people will come into at the end, will be because they have all been truly joined to the Head, Jesus. He alone is the only Source of ultimate and true unity. One of the greatest texts in the entire Bible which sums this up is Colossians 1:9-20:
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Our highest purpose as human beings is found in loving God, and by this being joined to Him. Except we abide in Him, we can accomplish nothing of true eternal value. To abide in Him is to be "strengthened with all power..." Nothing is impossible for God or for those who abide in Him. The greatest unity of all is to be in unity with Him. However, just as the Apostle John explained that it is not possible to truly love God without also loving one another, it is not possible to be in true unity with Him without also being in unity His body also.
Those who are growing in the true love of God will also be growing in their love for one another. Those who are growing in a true unity with God will also be growing in unity with one another. This cannot be accomplished through a casual Christianity, or a casual church relationship. Before the end, the world will witness true Christianity, and it will be demonstrated by true church life, the most remarkable culture the world has ever seen. Those who are in true pursuit of God, will not have to settle for anything less than Him and the full benefits of citizenship in His kingdom, which His church will be a revelation of at the end.

Contextualization NAHIN (Not)- Reflections on Sunday Morning

I attended a local church service this past sunday morning. These are my reflections from during the service:

It just seems that this imported Western style of worship doesn’t fit with the culture. Why have hard wooden pews when people generally sit on the floor or on cushions? As they sing loudly I can tell the people want to be expressive and praise God. They know they have some reason to, although I think most aren’t completely sure of what that reason is. Who came up with this hard and fast model of Sunday morning Christianity that has not only plagued the west but been exported all over the world?

Stand up. Sit down. Pray together from a book. Read a Scripture. Stand up. Sit down. Is this how church was created to be? Is this the “perfect model” of worship? What happened to contextualization? How did we confuse spreading culture with spreading the gospel? Do Christians world over need to wear jeans?

What is the real purpose of the church? The purpose of the church is to love God with everything that it has. The church, as in the people who believe in faith through Christ, are to be the Bride of Christ when He returns. We must prepare to be the Bride. We must be a house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7), we must equip the saints. We must be a light to the world (Matt 5:16) so that all my come to hear the truth of the gospel.

This is my question for any church, in any country, are we doing those things or are we doing “Sunday morning?” Are we living as followers of the Way, the Truth and the Light, or are we living as followers of tradition? Do we know God? Do we aspire to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

If the church is not doing its job, what then is it doing? If the church is not a place where we come together and encounter Jesus, then why do we come at all? If the church is not a house of prayer, then what is it a house of?
God in his manifest presence is not here, yet He longs to be. Our purpose in gathering should be to cry out for it. To cry out for God to make Himself known in our midsts. To ask Him to have mercy on the land, to heal us and our neighbors. Call a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all who live in the land. The need is DIRE. The situation is urgent, for behold the day of the Lord is coming. It is at hand. A day of darkness and gloom. And we are not ready. How can we be the church and the Bride that we are called to be?

But this Sunday morning there is no alarm. No sounding the trumpet. Jesus is coming. We are not ready. We are not expecting it. We sit in our uncomfortable, impractical pews and pretend to pay attention. Yet the Word is not pentrating our hearts and minds. It is not washing us and making us new. It is not changing us. Every week we come. We go. We remain the same.

We keep coming because we must. I mean, we are Christians. Christians go to church on Sunday morning. They stand up. They sing a hymn or two. They sit down. They listen to a message from a man in his white robes. Bibles closed. Eyes fighting to stay open. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. And life goes by. Same. Same. Same. Different shoes for Easter. A new suit for Christmas. But the heart remains the same.
Is this the fruit of the Haystack meeting? Of the Northfield 100? They would sit up in their graves and jump out if they saw us now. I have no idea why the church is full. But wait, I take that back. People are hungry for God. They want to know Him, but no one is telling them how. They think this is it, but something deep inside is saying there must be more than this.

After the service they ask me, “What did you think of our worship?” Kaisa laga hai? I think worship is not songs or Sunday morning. It’s a lifestyle. It is bowing down in reverence in submission to God. I use the pretend I didn’t understand the question card. “What did you think of our service?” they ask again as if it was a show. I have all this blog written in my notebook, but now is not yet the time to share with new friends. “Kab bijli chali gai, mai samaj aie. Lekin, kab bijli a gai, microphone kharab hai aur mai nahib samaj aie.” (When the electricity went out, I could understand. But when the electricity was on, the microphone was bad and I didn’t understand.) I try to avoid the questions by saying I had a language problem. This is something which needs much more prayer. My Korean friend knows how I feel and tries to help me avoid the question, as she already knows the answer.

I pause as my audience waits expectantly to hear more about the opinions of their guest. I am not one who thinks rating services is a good thing. The others start remarking that in America the style is not that different. “Bench hai, aur music bhi hai.” (There are pews and music). I think to myself, as if pews and music make the church. Finally I say, “America mai, mera church building nahin hai. Bench nahin hai. Kiomki church log hai. Church building nahin hai. Kabhi kabhi, ham ghar pe mile. Church log hai.” (In America, my church doesn’t have a building. We don’t have pews. Because the church is the people. The church is not a building. Sometimes, we meet at people’s houses. The church is the people.)

I want to say more, but I’m at a loss for words and I feel as if this is enough for one Sunday morning. The elder of the group smiles in agreement. “Ji, I like this idea. Church building nahin hai. You are right. Accha xayal hai. Church log hai.” (Yes, I like this idea. The church is not a building. You are right. Good idea. The church is the people.)

Join with me in praying for the body: Oh Lord cast a vision in their hearts to know you intimately. May they know that they can be born again and made new in you. May they know that they can come before your throne in confidence. May they understand your grace and your desire to make them your children. Oh Lord let them not only be Christian in name, let them not only be Sunday morning Christians. Let them be DISCIPLES who seek after your heart as David did. May they become lovesick worshipers of You. May they be saints whose prayers will be incense rising up before your throne. And God, send us teachers. Send us preachers. Not people to be in it for their glory or their fame, but those messengers who are only doing it for the glory of your great name. Oh God, in this time of urgency, send forth laborers for the harvest here. The church in this country needs to hear and understand the message of truth just as badly as the rest of the community. They need solid food. Over a hundred years on milk will not grow a church. Oh Lord grip their hearts to give them a hunger for your Word. Let them be restless, unsatisfied, constantly seeking One Thing: God and to spread your glory.