1/1/11
Greetings, I hope everyone is doing well! The BRIDE emails are back and will continue weekly throughout the year of 2011. Those of you that received these letters in the past will recall that the topics of discussion varied significantly from week to week. During the year of 2011, there will be some significant changes. For the duration of this year, every letter will be based around one topic—unity. Although we will address a multitude of aspects, the central theme will be unity. The unity of the body of Christ will change the world.
How can we talk about one topic for an entire year? Below I will make a list of just a few issues directly tied into unity. They are admittedly far-reaching. We will begin our first topic in this letter.
Ø Unity must be based on a unified effort to establish truth
Ø Unity will be progressive, it cannot and will not happen overnight
Ø Unity must happen on purpose
Ø Unity requires the glory of God
Ø Unity is the heart of the Father
Ø Unity reveals the extreme power of God
Ø Unity is required for societal progression towards sheep nations
Ø Unity is required for the return of Jesus
Ø Unity requires all of the spiritual weapons that God has given us in order to be established and perpetuated
Ø Unity cannot come about before dealing with the heart (subconscious)
Ø Unity requires that we all accept we do not know everything, and that we all will be laying down preconceived notions at one point or another.
Ø Unity leads to the manifestation of God’s justice
There is a phenomenon coming that will shake the world to its core. God will ordain sheep nations (Matthew 25:31-33). These will be entire geographies that reveal and herald the kingdom of God to the world. This will come before the end. It will not happen overnight and it must begin with you and me. This destination will require unity. This destination will require justice. This destination will require the power and glory of God to manifest in the midst of His people causing everything that we touch to prosper (Genesis 39:3). The creation and development of sheep nations is the ultimate goal of my life, but the road to be traveled will be hard, painful, and uncomfortable.
For too long now, Christians have looked at the seemingly overwhelming differences in theology, church government, race, culture, political opinions, and other areas. They have buried their heads in the sand and settled. “If we all do our part separately,” they say, “God can still bring about His plan.” We assume that God works this way. We assume that even if we disagree on everything else, as long as a few of the church leaders in a city can pray together—everything will work itself out. We assume that if there are enough people hiding in their prayer closet praying, everything will work itself out even faster.
Fact: it is not enough to pray. In fact, it is not enough to pray and preach. Action is necessary. For too long, the saints have assumed that if only we can get around to praying, God will move mightily in our nation. This is not true. If we are not praying, all is hopeless. If we do pray, God will unveil His plan. If we receive His plan, we must do so through sacrifice. God will prove us in our sacrifice. Once we have sacrificed, it is time to fight the war according to the power and direction of God. If we refuse to accept defeat, victory will define us as Jesus intended. As it is written:
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Consider the story of Gideon, the sixth judge of Israel in the book of Judges. His story provides a great outline of God’s strategy for delivering a nation. Israel rebelled and God allowed them to come under the oppression of the Midianites (Judges 6:1). Prayer rose up when the Israelites cried out to God (Judges 6:6). God responded by unveiling His plan. He sent a prophet to the people (Judges 6:8-10) and an angel to the appointed deliverer (6:12). The plan of God was not received immediately because Gideon protested that the angel was mistaken. Gideon did not perceive himself as the deliverer of Israel. He felt that he was not a warrior or a leader (Judges 6:15). Gideon had to sacrifice his self-perception, and then prove his sacrifice by removing the idols from his father’s house (Judges 6:26). After this it was time to fight the war according to the power and direction of God. This required downsizing an army of 32,000 troops to 300 troops (Judges 7:3, 7). After all of this, Israel looked out upon the opposing armies and saw them numbered as grasshoppers. Fear could still have hijacked God’s plan—but it didn’t. They refused to accept defeat and remained obedient to God’s plan, taking pitchers and trumpets into the enemy camp. Apart from all conventional methods of fighting a war, God gave them the victory (Judges 7:22).
As we move forward throughout this year, you will understand that God is also giving us a strategy. His strategy is bigger than delivering one nation. His strategy is to create multiple nations that will operate according to heavenly laws and justice. His strategy is to create nations that herald His kingdom to the world. This strategy requires unity. Until we embrace it, we cannot get past the stage of sacrifice.
Discussion
1.) What are the three goals of the BRIDE e-mails for 2011?
2.) How does the incomplete list of topics associated with unity speak to you? What do you think they will practically entail? Which are you most curious about?
3.) Why won’t prayer change everything by itself?
4.) Who was Gideon?
5.) What are the parts of a plan for delivering a nation as outlined in Gideon’s story?
6.) How can this plan be practically implemented in our communities, cities, states, and ultimately in our nation? (Please respond to me regarding this question with novel ideas)
